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.
Distracted in training by transfer speculation
Minor
Cause
Rumour around his future appears to be weighing on his focus.
Led the defence in a tight match
Minor
Cause
He held the back line together when the game was hanging in the balance.
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.
Frustrated after the club rejected interest from Police Union
Moderate
Cause
Stage: the bid was rejected. It became public after the bid was rejected. The link is speculative for now. A bid has already been rejected. He is irritated by the constant speculation.
Outlook
Contract request risk increased.
Made his senior debut for the club
Criticised over his pressing work
Moderate
Cause
The criticism focused on missed pressing triggers and slow recovery runs. His match rating of 5.7 weighed heavily in the talk.
Outlook
Manager intervention may be required if it persists.
Away supporters were hostile
Moderate
Cause
He drew sustained jeers from the away end.
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 link is speculative for now. His ambition is outgrowing the current project. He is irritated by the constant speculation.
Reassured by a calm full-time message
Minor
Cause
The moment called for a quiet show of support. He does not always respond well to pressure, which softened the lift.
Outlook
Trend is improving — relationship should keep strengthening.
Signed a new contract
Moderate
Cause
He committed to the project on terms both sides could live with.