Motherwell boss Stephen Robinson is hoping that he can replicate the success of Northern Ireland by creating the same sort of tight-knit atmosphere his national side enjoys within the Fir Park dressing room.
Robinson was part of Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill’s coaching team before being appointed as permanent Motherwell manager, and he continues to practice what was preached there now that he is his own boss.
Robinson sees huge parallels between his club and his country, with both teams trying to wring out the absolute maximum that they can from their comparatively meagre resources against the big fish in their respective ponds.
“I learned from Michael O’Neill with Northern Ireland that the boys who don’t start play as big a part as anyone because they drive the others on,” said Robisnon. “It’s their attitude which decides what your dressing room is like.
“That’s what we have here, players who are always pushing and I try to give them a chance. And, if they do well, I keep them in the team, so there’s a real fight for places.
“I’ve brought loads [from Northern Ireland]. I see huge similarities between Motherwell and Northern Ireland. It’s a smaller nation and a smaller club fighting against the big boys.
“If we’re being honest, that’s the way it is with our crowd base and our financial base. We can’t sign top, top players for millions of pounds, but what you can do is create an atmosphere that brings everyone together.
“That’s the whole club, even the people on the outskirts of it; the people who do the kit, the people who clean the place, we’re all in it together and everyone sits together and takes part in everything.
“I think when you have a little bit of success they enjoy it so much more because they feel a part of it, and Northern Ireland is exactly the same.
“I’d be stupid not to copy things from there with the success that Michael has had.”
Among the changes that Robinson has made about the place is an insistence that players sit together at lunch, and he has made sure the conversation rarely stutters by banning mobile phones.
“They were eating lunch in a long row, and all we’ve done is put the table in a square so they are all at the same table,” he said. “Then, they then have to speak.
“We took mobile phones off them as well. I believe that Brendan Rodgers does the same at Celtic, and that allows you to get to know someone. If you get to know them, you might fight a little bit more for them.”
It is fighting for one another that has brought Motherwell success so far this term, but while Robinson took Aberdeen’s rather cynical approach to last Sunday’s match as a compliment, he doesn’t expect more of the same when Partick Thistle come calling this weekend.
“I actually think that Thistle can mix it up,” he said. “They have three big boys at the back, and I think they are quite similar to ourselves. It will be a good game.
“Aberdeen completely changed the way they play, but I can’t see Thistle coming here and changing what they have done. They have been quite successful with what they have done.
“I just expect a good, open and honest game.”
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