Derek Whyte: Brave and bold, but Neville’s in for a rough ride

This content was originally posted in 7DAYS UAE website at: Derek Whyte: Brave and bold, but Neville’s in for a rough ride Having tried my hand at management for a short time, I have nothing but respect for Gary Neville’s brave move to become the new Valencia head coach. After I finished playing I certainly had that itch to get back into the game and I’m sure Gary is no different. He’s been analysing games as a pundit and I can just imagine that he was desperate to get back out onto the pitch. I’m sure there were plenty of offers but to take a job in Spain says much about the man. He is a born winner who has experienced nothing but success and I’m sure he feels he has what it takes to thrive in the managerial hotseat. And while his decision should be applauded, I have a word of warning for the former Manchester United and England defender. This might be your first and last job as a football manager. Of course I hope that Gary thrives in Spain, but history is certainly against him. British managers have traditionally struggled when coaching abroad. Yes there have been rare successes, like Steve McLaren winning the league with FC Twente in Holland, but most have failed. Just look at David Moyes and Chris Coleman. Moyes was brilliant at Everton but really struggled at Real Sociedad. Coleman lasted just seven months at the same club, yet he has been superb as Wales boss. I definitely would like to see more British coaches being brave and testing themselves in other leagues, as learning from different cultures can only help you improve. But the language barrier will be key. Communication is everything in football and getting your point across at half-time is crucial. Believe me, if your manager can’t explain himself properly then it can cause havoc on the pitch. I know of some players labelling their manager the riddler as they couldn’t understand what he was talking about. That’s the last thing Gary needs in his first managerial job. Of course I hope he is successful, but dealing with the fans’ expectations, the intense Spanish media and winning over the players will not be easy at all. Good luck Gary. LVG feeling the pressure After David Moyes’ nightmare spell at Manchester United, the experienced Louis van Gaal was always going to get some time. He’s also had plenty of money to spend to improve a United squad that is a poor imitation of the teams under Alex Ferguson. But failing to make it out of a poor Champions League group, spending nearly $400 million on players who aren’t up to scratch, and playing boring football means his time could soon be up. The only saving grace for the Dutchman is that the Premier League is so open this season that United are still contenders for the title. But with no real goalscorers and a lack of world-class talent, Van Gaal is reminding us much more of Moyes than Sir Alex. Read the original story at: Derek Whyte: Brave and bold, but Neville’s in for a rough ride