The best, most successful managers in the modern era are those who can keep a player happy even if he is not in the team. Given the size of the squads and the use of rotation nowadays, that's tougher than it's ever been.
Gary LinekerMy eldest son George had acute myeloid leukaemia when he was a tiny baby, he is now 20 and doing very well. He is a mini-miracle in many ways.
Gary LinekerI'm disappearing from twitter for a while. Need a break from the bile. Local prejudice just seems to bring out the worst in some people.
Gary LinekerWhen you're winning games, everyone thinks everything the manager says and does is fantastic. Then it goes the other way, and those earlier criticisms of players can backfire.
Gary LinekerVery sad to hear the news about George Michael. An incredible talent who brought joy to millions of us with his music.
Gary LinekerThe big thing is, everybody says it's being in the right place at the right time. But it's more than that, it's being in the right place all the time. Because if I make 20 runs to the near post and each time I lose my defender, and 19 times the ball goes over my head or behind me - then one time I'm three yards out, the ball comes to the right place and I tap it in - then people say, right place, right time. And I was there *all* the time.
Gary Lineker