Gareth Southgate

Frame it.

If you're delivering that discussion, frame it.

I'm trying to help you, but it's coming from a place of love, if you like.

I'm trying to help you get better.

It's not I'm trying to highlight that you're poor at this.

You're going to be a better player.

You're going to be a better person for this information I'm handing on, which means that then the other conversation where you're delivering bad news...

I don't think you should spend too long on that.

I don't think people hear too much.

Once you've told them that bad news, I think they switch off.

And was that what the conversation was with Wayne?

Well, I think we were further down the line.

So, you know, I'd ask to go and see him.

That's not normally a good discussion.

So he's semi-prepared for what's coming.

But to broaden it more generally, if I've got to leave a player out of a game, then I think it's...

tell them the bad news, no use fluffing it up, but then give them the opportunity to come back later when they've had time to process their thoughts, go through what they're really thinking, what their emotions are.

Simply because, as I said, I think if you waffle for a long time and try and make yourself feel better, because I'm giving them a bit of sugar here as well as the bad news,

I don't think they're hearing any of that.

I think all they're thinking, you know, I know I've been dropped from teams.