Their personalities have rubbed against each other for a while now. It played out behind the dressing-room door, away from the cameras.
Outlook
Repeated incidents may damage dressing-room status.
Established as a regular starter
Serious
Cause
Several solid weeks have made him an undisputed pick.
Reassured by the manager's half-time message
Minor
Cause
The team were behind, and the manager needed a response. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
Reassured by a calm full-time message
Minor
Cause
The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
Reassured by the manager's half-time message
Minor
Cause
The team were behind, and the manager needed a response. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
Criticised in a full-time post-mortem
Minor
Cause
It was a private show of faith after a tough recent run. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Repeated transfer talk is becoming a distraction
Minor
Cause
Stage: loose rumour. The national press has carried the story. The link is speculative for now. The same rumour keeps coming back. The talk has begun to distract him.
Stage: negotiations are opening. Briefings from the interested club leaked. The move would step into a bigger league. The destination league is bigger. Publicly calm, but privately the link interests him. It would be a clear sporting upgrade.
Turned down the move to Brighton over personal terms
Minor
Cause
Stage: the player rejected the terms. Briefings from the interested club leaked. The move would step into a bigger league. The destination league is bigger. Publicly calm, but privately the link interests him. It would be a clear sporting upgrade.
Stage: the bid was rejected. It became public after the bid was rejected. The move would step into a bigger league. A bid has already been rejected. Publicly calm, but privately the link interests him. It would be a clear sporting upgrade.
Outlook
Contract request risk increased.
Reassured by a calm full-time message
Minor
Cause
The team had won, and the manager wanted to reinforce the standards. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
Stage: the interest has cooled. Briefings from the interested club leaked. The move would step into a bigger league. The destination league is bigger. Publicly calm, but privately the link interests him. It would be a clear sporting upgrade.
Outlook
Likely to settle unless repeated within the next few weeks.
Criticised in a full-time post-mortem
Minor
Cause
It was a private show of faith after a tough recent run. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Stage: concrete interest. The interested club has formally approached. The move would step into a bigger league. The destination league is bigger. Publicly calm, but privately the link interests him. It would be a clear sporting upgrade.