Phil Brown hilariously recreated his on-field team talk during the talkSPORT Trophy, telling the knackered presenters: “If I could swear, I would!”
The former Hull City manager earned legendary status for giving his players a dressing down at the Etihad Stadium on Boxing Day in 2008 during a mauling by Manchester City.
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With the Tigers 4-0 down at half-time, Brown made a show of his players by delivering his team talk in front of the travelling supporters in order to show how seriously he was taking the matter.
It was that approach that the 64-year-old took once again as he led the talkSPORT All-Stars’ pep talk, with his side losing 10-8 at the break (depending on who you ask… Alan Brazil is still furious about the scoreline debacle).
Speaking to his squad that featured Darren Bent, Jimmy Bullard, Alex Crook, Spencer Oliver and Darren Ambrose, Brown said: “Unfortunately, I can’t swear because if I could swear, I would be. Trust me on that one!
“Listen to what I’m saying here, the first time I did this team talk I had two players who went out on the lash the night before – [the talkSPORT Breakfast team] have got three who had eight pints before the game and we’re 10-8 down, what’s going on?!”
He could have been referring to any number of players on the Breakfast team considering they included Ray Parlour and Alan Brazil.
While the former Hull boss’s team talk didn’t pay off against Man City 15 years ago with the side going on to lose 5-1, the talkSPORT Trophy clash had a much more positive finale.
Brown’s side, the talkSPORT All-Stars ended up victorious by clinching a penalty shootout win following the 17-17 draw in normal time.
Perhaps there’s still a place for the South Shields-born gaffer’s old-school managerial approach in the current day after all.
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