Gavin Mahon / Gavin Mahon / 11 December 2008 / Leave a comment

He won virtually everything that one could win at club level and was part of Portugal's "Golden Generation" but what is Paulo Sousa like as a manager? Who better to ask than QPR's midfield dynamo Gavin Mahon....

Paulo Sousa, our new gaffer has been here for about a month now, although he's settled in so quickly it feels like he's been around the place longer.

When he got appointed, I went straight to You Tube to have a look at a few clips of him in action. I remember watching him on the box in midfield for Portugal with Rui Costa, but some of the footage of him - for both country and club - reminded me what a special player he was.

He's got that winning mentality which all top players down the years have had. And he's won things in his career, which marks him out from some top-notch professionals who never quite finish the job off.

He's played in different countries and experienced different types of football so I'm not surprised he's really confident about what he wants. He's come here to build a team that wants to play for him. He'll pull you to one side straight away in training if you haven't understood what he wants from you - and that's just one example of how he's very thorough with his coaching.

It's great for me on a personal basis, because I play the same role in midfield that he used to. When we've worked on team shape, Paulo has explained things in person about how he wants me to be the pivot in the midfield diamond. The 'lighthouse', as he calls it, with the other lads being able to see you and use you all the time.

His English is very good, so there's no problems getting his point across. We've got a few foreign lads in the squad but the boss always speaks English to them and will only break out of that if they're really struggling to pick up what's being asked of them. I think Paulo knows how important it is that everyone's ingrained in the English mentality to a degree.

So yes, there's been a noticeable change in how we're operating. Like most sides, we were a hard-working side without the ball before the gaffer took over. But now we're working just as hard in possession because, for him, it's all about creating new angles, working in triangles and keeping your shape as a team.

I think that's a little bit of the Italian influence creeping in from his days at Inter and Juventus. He's certain about us keeping our shape, saying that teams exploit opponents who don't.

I'm thoroughly enjoying it and I think this will prove a really shrewd appointment by the Rangers board. I'm not totally surprised they've gone for someone fresh. Those in charge are ambitious and forward-thinking and want someone young and new to bring their hopes for the club to life.

The game's all about young, up-and-coming managers these days; guys who are hungry to improve and might not be tarnished with a failed managerial role already on their CV.

That means he'll have his eye on certain players come the January transfer window. I know he's watched an awful lot of games in this country so I reckon our recruitment drive is very much a 'Watch This Space' job. Paulo has had friends who've both played or coached over here so he's well in touch with what's needed to be successful

He really is something different, a breath of fresh air.

Charlton Athletic v Derby County,

Sky Sports 1, Mon Dec , 7.45pm

Every week Betting.betfair.com's regular Premiership previewer Richard Walker chats to Gavin about the biggest of the weekend's televised matches in The Championship and recommends a couple of bets based on Gavin's insight into the match.

Gavin says:

No club is sacred now when you get relegated. It's not easy to get straight back up. One minute you're playing in front of TV cameras all the time, the next moment you're in Yorkshire on a cold Tuesday night on a horrible pitch in the Championship. That's life for both these teams right now.

Especially with Charlton, their fan base would be expecting them to be up there challenging. Instead they're rock-bottom and in danger of undoing all that great work Alan Curbishley did. All clubs share the fans' ambitions but it's only a handful each season which end up delivering.

Derby have gone through a massive transition, with their squad turning over virtually completely. They went on a bit of a run after they won 2-0 at our place - but it's no good winning two or three then losing four or five, you've got to be better than that to succeed.

Similar to us, they've struggled for a bit of consistency but I think they've got a real opportunity to start nailing down Charlton's coffin here.

It will be close I reckon and I'm not convinced about Derby winning it, but if anyone's going to, I think it'll be them.

They've had one eye on the Carling Cup but can leave that for a month now until the semi-finals, to concentrate on what Paul Jewell will know is what's most important.

Richard suggests:

Lay Charlton with 40% of your Match Odds stake to a [3.2] liability, back Derby to win with the remaining 60% at [2.88].

Cover both 2-1 to Derby [8.4] and a 1-1 draw [6.0] in the Correct Score market.

Go with Gavin's hunch about a tight County win. Support Draw/Derby in the Half-Time/Full-Time list when that market develops liquidity.

Editor's note:

I remember watching this match as a kid and as a Benfica fan it remains one of my favourite-ever matches involving my team. Watch out for Paulo Sousa bossing the midfield and then performing heroics....in goal. Jamie

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=HjA0SL9UWns