Big Ron Manager Ep3 (1/4)

Big Ron Manager is a television documentary series based on Ron Atkinson's efforts as a troubleshooter at the English football club Peterborough United, at the time playing in Football League Two. The series was screened on Sky TV in 2006.

Originally, the show was going to feature Swindon Town and Sky spent around four weeks filming there before being asked to leave by the Swindon management. Peterborough United received a fee of around £100,000 from Sky TV for access to the changing rooms and for Ron Atkinson to assist the rookie manager Steve Bleasdale. Bleasdale was unhappy at Atkinson's involvement in the changing room and subsequently banned him and the cameras from the changing rooms on matchdays. However, later in the series Bleasdale relented after being overruled by Chairman Barry Fry.

Some scenes caused quite a stir in Peterborough when the show was aired, including a dressing room brawl between Mark Arber and Paul Carden and Bleasdale rowing with youngsters Sean St Ledger and Adam Fry.

St Ledger joked about suing Sky TV, after claiming the programme showed him as the team's bad boy, which he denied. The media alighted on this, and he was later forced to clarify that the statement was in fact, a joke.

There were several instances during the filming of Atkinson upsetting Bleasdale:
Although the club were short of funds, he persuaded Barry Fry to hire a goalkeeping coach in Tony Godden

Suggesting during an injury crisis to go for Queens Park Rangers striker Stefan Moore on loan. However Bleasdale overruled Atkinson and instead snapped up Lloyd Opara on a free transfer from a local team.

In April 2006, Bleasdale walked out of Peterborough United only 70 minutes before a game against Macclesfield. It was later reported that this was due to clashes with Atkinson. Chairman Barry Fry put himself in charge for the final two games of the season.

Big Ron Manager was regarded as a low point in the fortunes of Peterborough United. However, it proved the catalyst for future revival. Property businessman Darragh MacAnthony—who previously had no connection with the club—watched the show on television and a few months purchased the club and later became chairman. Under MacAthony's investment and his appointment of Darren Ferguson as the club's manager in 2007, Peterborough gained promotion to League One in 2008 and then to the Championship in 2009.

Episode 3

Part 1: http://youtu.be/BfYhg_LCAoY
Part 2: http://youtu.be/g61eAGP9xpE
Part 3: http://youtu.be/Llk1t1LhnYg
Part 4: http://youtu.be/1_DkNBwHkwA

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Closed Caption:

Ron Atkinson is a legend in the world of
four after seven years away from club
management he's back in a new role as a
football troubleshooter for major
trophies may prove there's more to him
than champagne and sun tans
but now style one has issued him with
his biggest challenge yet
does big Ron still have what it takes to
guide low early clubs to success
we sent in to 2nd division peterborough
united to find out
coming up on big one manager ok
Plus to lose our tactics I don't want to
play 80 yard lot more water going to do
and that's what we're doing
Steve struggle for the players respect
comes to a head and arduous training
program in funny something that you want
to just have a little respect permission
and Barry blows his top of the teams
perform
we got fucking slaughter the oxford and
you know why because we didn't have any
fucking guts
yeah
yeah
ok
six weeks into one's challenge of
peterborough united attention is rising
after a promising start on the rookie
Steve
Leo please del the wheels have started
to come off the scent
they haven't won in three games key
players including strikers are injured
Steve's backing to impose authority of
growing divisions in the camp was gonna
go with ya
fuck you what I study Saturday's
defeated ops that means the partial
dropped out of the playoff positions
with just seven games left
Steve must stop the rock stand any
chance you'll need to win over the
support of the unruly players but can he
rolled his management start to win them
over and into attacked it's a clear and
consistent
and Karen stick two years a big match
experience make a difference
with the postseason going into three
four
troubleshooter wrong will have a tough
job turning things around keeping alive
those player posts
the whole club is shaken by the weekend
shock defeat one knows the only way
forward is to learn from it away from
the heat of battle
he analyzes the game it's dressing room
for at her on hiding players are the
real issue
good television mind
covered by the one I help you know
seeing that were being a name players in
that there's nothing the cameras are
within 10 minutes straight talking runs
more concerted evidence of growing
tensions between the teams younger stars
and older players and how Steve's
handling the problem
I just get the impression that maybe
want to the senior players might just be
hiding behind the fact that the young
ones are going to take the flack
you know it's too easy not kids and say
you know you're not doing this you're
not doing that
I happen to think that alleges the best
play they've got an antique row 19 years
of age
first time you've been in this a
situation and he's been single out in
shape
I'll fucking voice my opinions about the
manager
however runs worried Steve short fuse
could prove his undoing bad results
especially against poor sides keeping
ever more pressure on to the rookie
manager
he's so uptight you know it's a big
challenge from it's his first job is it
it's a big opportunity for him
maybe sometimes it just goes over the
top a little bit you know that there is
there is a theory that's motivation from
shouting apply as it doesn't danger of
doing that so often is it loses its
impact
you know if players every week in and
week out to go away we go again
you know it doesn't have the effect of
fucking wrong selling me
are you in a fucking pass inside fuck up
I'm gonna go through fucking 13 for
fucking free energy tactically ones
particularly worried this confusion
between the passing game practiced in
training and the long ball game Steve's
encouraging the team to play on match
days
so what's the difference between the
passing of the long ball game
a lot of people to a particular lower
down to the only way to be successful
his long board basically what that means
is wherever you've got the ball you if
you fall back to about you try and hit
60 yards forward
they hid behind their defenders so the
defenders turn around and face their own
goal and press up and pressure them
now that's a way . it's never been my
way of playing and if I was a fun i
would want to watch it
I prefer it seems when they've got the
ball to pass the ball around because if
you get the morning prepared to be brave
enough you can pull people the
opposition all over the place salmon toy
one decides that his first big job this
week is to tackle Steve about his match
tactics
what puzzles like every training session
I ever watch you know passing and they
do it very well
yeah now why why don't like running
including by that way matches you gotta
do one but I just feel seven games to go
but if we all the plan yeah I don't
think we're going to do with him box but
all the players and I think they're
conditioned to get it now and thinking
wherever they are on the field they just
got in going wall up the balls are most
balls in this league most goals were
scored on Saturday 75% scored for the
mobile but it was a good long i
understand what you saying
I don't want to play HD yard look what I
was going to go too deep and that's what
they're doing
honestly I think they're capable of
playing high tempo 12 th progressive
passing it's obvious Steve fundamentally
disagrees with wrong
back at peters london road home owner
Barry fri it's still so angry at his
players poor showing against oxford
doesn't want to pay them this month
I'm breaking my neck online but in all
my family rich or what the baby don't
give it Josh
but no why don't I will certainly happen
to go eat some of them because i'll be
telling them straight in their eyes that
I ain't doing it and they aren't good
enough their performance and if I was
married I won't be in a bloody chain but
I don't pick the chain anymore
hello while Barry is going ballistic
Steve pleased outcalls to alert him of
yet more player problems it seems Danny
crow cawing st. Leger and others are in
open revolt of extra training that Steve
has tried to impose
he thinks it will improve their skills
they feel it's some sort of punishment
was a punishment
I've implies in to work on individual
players / 19 20 21
are you fucking sure one actually date
first start stays hard fucking off some
of them I Todd fucking off are really
would have many chain would have anyone
named it is having problems with the
prize is no doubt about it but we want
no negative we are seven games to go
we got seven not cut final bloody world
cup finals repay your burrow
later that afternoon
steve is in crisis talk to Barry on the
extra training issue
right on cue the Negro insurance a
ledger turn up to see Barry about the
same subject
although they weren't backing on having
their save in front of Steve Jobs you
sure you want to see me
I've never been used to find this place
six games in a season of music playing
crazy games that also not the same as it
to me feels like his punishment is it
that punishment I can't believe that any
each just to walk through situations to
say well if we get it like this tanning
I expect you to spin off there that will
you explain
you've got the ball you fucking relation
when you see me turn put it in that
space for him go and try it
so you do it in a training ground for a
couple of afternoons then on a saturday
hopefully you do design whatever you
think you fucking know it all then
do you think you're such a brave girl
I'm and applause I don't know you're
saying down
that's fine i love you but he sent me a
difficult the our arduous training
program in learning something is you
just have a little respect for me some
issues that what you think about me show
you that bored and I just don't want you
to feel disrespected and I was just like
I fuckin love the balls are you Sean
thinks I don't like him a fucking
problem
you look very disciplined you'll adjust
the world's against you the world and
against everybody at this Football Club
think you fuckin number one bunch so
what was the math what's happening
between them
really you know you're obviously not
it's shawn thinks i'm picking on what is
the place to see any clothes and I said
look can you tell me i'm a pic on should
make sure
so you have a strong man that's my car
you have a few of us but every time you
got something to say
she always got something to say against
you and it's not just extra training the
young girl and object to
they also question Steve's tactics he
said that seems to pass the ball in this
league about where things he said right
now you have seen that the manager tells
you not to play football
we said today we're going for it I said
I'm going through one of those seven
games
we're going to die that on but pictures
with the weather
you never know everything in this game
ship
you never do and no many you think he
did you go down your fucking fast you
can show you got ya fuckin body language
just shows me just as we have not only
emotion I just don't want this
the following morning Steve arrives at
training full of the joys of spring
bad sweating the way
Roberts jumping the edges spring is here
wide awake this morning 25 got about
bacon agate seven
I don't understand between five and
suddenly stopping Leo may be bubbly
but he's got a lot to worry about his
team is in disarray on the pitch and
disunited office and his manager it
falls to him to repair the damage and
get the push back on the right track
the troubleshooter feels this is the
crucial moment when the boss must get a
grip and become more decisive
it is a testing time for state now you
know yeah the nice bright start and when
things are going well that's easy to
manage TV because that everything you
try comes off your testing time is when
things are starting to drift howdy
arrest the slump
how do you if you like get the
confidence back in the players
it is possible even when things are
going to drift
you know to keep the legs or believing
that in the course they need strong
management and it needs a special kind
of management if you like
sometimes you either got it or you
haven't got it
jog don't get that part for the Sun it
seems steve has put yesterdays running
with Sean saying they could behind him
the young stars mana suggest he
certainly hasn't still as it's vital to
keep the player spirits high
Steve extend the olive branch it's just
feel like she's safe with me
and fortunately said Nature doesn't seem
too impressed with speeds diplomacy
sunday at the outset of this exquisite
but i think one insisted the lads give
the manager is due respect there's one
guy in charge that's the boss the gaffer
yet even now the younger lads aren't
exactly losing respect and judging by
veteran Mark barber has reaction to
instructions
it seems the attitude problem isn't
confined to them
mark mark now one can go with the third
strike Jack Hobbs
they just want to know steve has
recruited and a leg is his full-time
assistant but it's proving just as
useful as a sounding board for the
troubled gaffer senses me down the
fucking sense to me if I have sort of
fucking fight ER for cannabis morning
it's not about them it's about focus
from sign you know I've got away from
for kids to look after and then please
forget your shotgun
after his rant the boss dons his
peacemaker hat and has another go at
making up with Shawn st. Leger
thanks a lot all right you got the rules
so it's for before she comes in you take
it out looks like us plus the postulated
okay you're right
okay . take away
well we'll see how long the uneasy truce
holds 12 coming up Barry and Ron read
the riot act
the Pasha's underperforming stars look
in the mirror and say am i doing in a
Leo speaks from the heart but the
burdens of management
it's a lonely job on the supposed to
melee
so my eyes are lonely de villiers and
the wash face their biggest game of the
season
yeah
yeah