Sbragia gets squad onside
Jan 15 2009 by Stuart Rayner, The Journal
ANDY Reid has revealed how new Sunderland manager Ricky Sbragia has built a bridge between himself and his squad, by giving veteran Dwight Yorke a degree of influence he never had under ex-team-mate Roy Keane.
By the time Keane resigned as Black Cats manager in early December, rumours were rife that the bond between the Irishman and his players had irrevocably broken. Relations between the squad and its boss have noticeably improved since, and Reid believes that is partly down to the choice of 37-year-old midfielder Yorke as Sbragia’s assistant.
Keane used to describe Yorke, who he played alongside at Manchester United, as his “eyes and ears” in the Sunderland dressing room. But their relationship deteriorated in Keane’s final months.
Keane persuaded his friend to sign a new one-year contract in the summer but was bitterly disappointed when the former Trinidad and Tobago player quickly reversed his decision to retire from international football.
The Irishman memorably described Yorke as “a clown” for doing so, and his influence – not to mention his appearances – appeared to wane from then on.
But according to fellow midfielder Reid, Yorke is now more important than ever at the Stadium of Light.
“He’s very important in the new management structure,” he revealed. “He’s the link between the players and the manager. He’s still in the changing room with us when the manager’s not about. He doesn’t grass on us, you know, he’s able to relay back how we’re feeling and what we need in training.”
The talented midfielder also hinted at the detachment between Keane and Yorke on a professional level throughout the latter’s tenure.
“He has always been very good in the dressing room, but perhaps he didn’t get the opportunity to voice his opinions as much before,” he added. “His opinions are valued by the players and the staff.”
As well as having played more than 50 times for his country, including in the 2006 World Cup, Yorke’s club career also hit the heights. A cv which took in Aston Villa, Blackburn Rovers, Birmingham City and Australian league side Sydney FC reached its peak at Manchester United, where the European Cup was the most prized of a multitude of honours. Reid says he has put the experience to good use since his promotion.
“He’s very experienced in football with everything he has done and achieved,” said the Republic of Ireland international. “He knows the game and it’s very important to have those people around the place, their opinions and their views. He understands what the players are feeling, what they are going through.
“Since I’ve been at the club, he’s always been like that. He has a veteran’s point of view and I don’t meant that disrespectfully.” Like many Premier League players, as Yorke has got older he has evolved from an unlikely authority figure into one considering making the jump into coaching. Despite his playboy persona, Reid believes his team-mate has the qualities to be a manager at some point.
“I can see him going into management one day,” he said. “People might say he’s a little too laid-back for management, but maybe that will be a good style to have. I still think he’s learning and it’s funny to say that about someone who has done as much as he has in the game, but it’s very different going into the management side. You need to learn new tricks, but he’s on that ladder now and he has been given a good opportunity to learn more by the new manager.”
Like Yorke, Reid is also studying for his coaching qualifications, though he is non-committal about how much use he plans to put them to. “I think it’s important, although whether I go into it is a completely different matter,” he said.
