Gary Megson bemoans lack of chat (From The Bolton News)

Gary Megson bemoans lack of chat

9:00am Tuesday 1st December 2009

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AS the old advert said, it’s good to talk — but Gary Megson reckons the art of conversation is fast fading in the Premier League.

The Wanderers boss has criticised the lack of communication his own side have exhibited at times this season.

But Megson does not believe the problem is confined to the Reebok, and had bemoaned a lack of ‘talkers’ in the modern game.

“It’s one of those things you can ask your players to do but you can’t teach it,” he said.

“Those kind of players are few and far between. Most will be the international players and the captains of the team.”

Megson considered bringing such a player back to Wanderers over the summer after enquiring to Newcastle about the availability of former club skipper Kevin Nolan.

He was knocked back in his efforts, conceding that the midfielder’s organisational skills on the pitch had been missed since he was sold to the Magpies in January.

And the Whites boss claims he is not alone in his pursuit of a chatty leader on the pitch.

“When you talk to other managers and coaches, that’s one of the things we readily agree on,” he said. “There are not too many old fashioned type players who, regardless of how they are playing, will still keep cajoling and driving players on.

“It’s a pity because they are worth their weight in gold.”

Meanwhile, Megson has supported Sir Alex Ferguson’s claim that modern-day players are “too fragile”.

The Manchester United boss lamented earlier this month that the job of dealing with today’s pampered Premier League stars is becoming more difficult.

And Megson agrees that the financial rewards that now exist in football see younger players enter the game with a different mindset than they had when he was a player.

“That’s a society thing, it doesn’t just apply to footballers,” he said. “That’s the way the world is.

“Thirty years ago people wanted to come into football as something they would do readily even if they weren’t getting paid.

“Now lots of people are looking to come into football for that reason but also because they think it’s the land of milk and honey, and that’s the important thing.

“It’s not going to come to you unless you are professional.”

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