The former Preston North End manager has spoken to the Undr The Cosh podcast - hosted by ex-PNE forwards Jon Parkin and Chris Brown
The stories from Graham Westley’s time in charge of Preston North End still fascinate, ten years on from his stint in the Deepdale dugout.
Now, the 55-year-old has gone into depth on his North End tenure with the popular Undr The Cosh podcast - hosted by ex-PNE men Chris Brown and Jon Parkin. It was 13 months in the hotseat for Westley, who joined Preston in January 2012 and was dismissed in February 2013 - following defeat at Yeovil.
Here are six stand out snippets from the almost two-hour long episode, in which Westley addresses some of the big tales from his North End reign.
Here are six stand out snippets from the almost two-hour long episode, in which Westley addresses some of the big tales from his North End reign.
5. On picking Aaron Brown - a centre-back - to play up front against Sheffield Wednesday
“If I had a problem, then I would always try to think outside the box to solve it,” said Westley. “I would not think that I had to go about it in the stereotypical way. I can’t remember all the circumstances, but I think Neil Mellor had been injured the whole time I was there - so I was down Neil Mellor. I can’t remember who else I had, whether Humey was fit, not fit or coming back from injury. Jamie Proctor had been out injured I think, so I was probably devoid of options up top and we were playing Sheffield Wednesday - who were a big, set piece orientated side. You needed to pick a side that could go forward and attack them, but defend them. I was probably light on height in the side and spoke to Aaron in the week leading up to the game to say: ‘Could you do a job for me up there? Give us someone to go up to and hold the ball up.’ We would’ve had a conversation and maybe it didn’t work on the day; it happens doesn’t it? You try things. When they work, great. If they don’t work, don’t ‘kill’ yourself. If you don’t try things and make mistakes, you never go forward do you? There would’ve been a logic - I can’t remember it exactly - but it would’ve been something like that.”
6. On getting PNE players to pick their starting XI and feedbacking results to the squad
“I saw something in a newspaper once that looked at Man United with Roy Keane and Man United without Roy Keane, so I started doing it for my team,” said Westley. “I’d look at every player. I used to draw it to their attention, not as a humiliation tool - more of a learning tool. That created a lot of conversations that I thought may put players under a lot of pressure, to perform. If you used it in the right way, it was a positive pressure. When I first started to do what you are talking about, I can’t remember if I did it on text or a form that they worked out. I think the way I did it more, was ask what team I should pick to get the best out of you. What is the team you would you put around you? It was more to learn about you and then I had the data. I had a lot of conversations that helped me. And I could go to a player and say: ‘Listen, I am leaving you out at the weekend and I will tell you why. I don’t feel like you’ve been doing enough, but in the team thing we did, two players out of 26 put you in their team. Does that surprise you?” I suppose, if you want to put it across in a negative way, you’d go: “Guess what he did? He turned me on him and him on me.” But, I was trying to help you become a better player and build a better team. If you know what everyone is thinking and saying about you, it gives you a better chance to become a better version of yourself.”
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