Tim Sherwood has been slammed by football fans after accusing modern managers of "brainwashing" people with their terminology.
The Englishman captained Blackburn Rovers to the Premier League title in 1995, but has not been able to replicate that success as a manager. He has been in charge of clubs just twice, a six-month spell at Tottenham before spending less than a year at Aston Villa.
That short stay at Villa Park was his last spell in management, though he was briefly director of football at Swindon Town. Since then, he has mainly worked as a television and radio pundit, without taking on any more coaching roles.
The former Blackburn and Tottenham star has now launched a furious rant about the standards of modern coaching. And he has insisted that buzzwords such as 'low blocks' are "baffling" supporters.
“Listen the game is exactly the same as it was way back in the day. The terminology is changed. You are getting baffled by science, talking about half-spaces, low blocks, mid-blocks – nonsense," he told talkSPORT.
"It’s all about counter-attacking, pressing,. All this rubbish about press from the front, this team does this, no-one tackled me more than Ian Rush, he was a centre forward, I was a midfield player – now that is pushing from the front.
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"The game is exactly the same, the terminology and the brainwashing what is coming in from these modern managers is just incredible at the moment.”
Those comments left fans baffled though, with many taking aim at the former Villa boss. They highlighted his failed moves into management as evidence that Sherwood was out of touch with the modern game.
One fan said: "You really need to have been a successful manager before voicing opinions like this. Have some shame man." Another added: "There’s a reason Pep is the best manager of the last 10/15 years. And there’s also a reason why disciples of his are doing well (Arteta, Ten Haag, Kompany)."
A third said: "2 points - why would it be in the interests of any modern managers to 'brainwash' anyone. Also you can literally physically see how the game has changed in this country over the past 10 years, let alone longer than that. What on earth is he on about?!"
A fourth fumed: "Some modern terminology does just explain things that aren’t new…BUT anyone who watches game from ‘back in the day’ can see the evolution of the game, plainly. That he doesn’t, is why Sherwood is a failed manager."
Sherwood has faced a mountain of criticism since his rant was published by talkSPORT. Many fans have also insisted that the game has totally changed since Sherwood's time as a player.
One wrote: "And you wonder why Sherwood flopped as a manager if football's the same and nothing's really changed."
Another added: "This is why tim failed as a manager. Modern manager look at the most minute detail to get the edge."
A third said: "The modern day is miles away from his day! I loved 90’s footy! Watch it bk now and it’s not what my young eyes remember! Lot more tactical now!"
A fourth concluded: "He’s wrong, the games completely changed, players have changed, standard of coaching has changed, society has changed. So terminology has changed with it."
