Steven Reid is big fan of the Italian Job
Steven Reid felt an early blast of Roberto Di Matteo's temper. But Albion's summer signing is confident the Hawthorns head coach can remain 'Mr Cool' this season – with a little help from his players.
Steven Reid felt an early blast of Roberto Di Matteo's temper. But Albion's summer signing is confident the Hawthorns head coach can remain 'Mr Cool' this season – with a little help from his players.
Former Ireland international Reid rejected a move to Celtic this summer to turn his loan with the Baggies into a permanent switch.
And, despite his early exposure to the Italian's 'hairdryer treatment', Reid admits Di Matteo's style helped convince him to commit to the club.
"My first game was QPR away and I only joined on the Friday, and the gaffer went 'into one' at half-time," recalled Reid, who earned his permanent move with an impressive stint on loan from Blackburn last season.
"He wasn't too happy at half-time, but that was probably the only 'hairdryer moment' that I saw.
"And I don't think we lost another game after that, so it worked.
"He had a go at the whole team.
"It was on the back of an international week and maybe a few people were a bit tired, but maybe it needs that kind of result and that kind of reaction from the manager to spur the lads on for the rest of the season.
"We went unbeaten from there and hopefully we won't see too much of that this season because that will mean we're doing well.
"Different managers have their own ways. I have played for a few managers that can lose their rag and I have played for a few calm managers as well. He seems to have the balance right and hopefully we can reap the rewards of that."
Di Matteo's rise up the management ladder has been meteoric, from a rookie at MK Dons two years ago to the newest addition to the Premier League ranks this summer.
And Reid is confident the Baggies can prosper under the guidance of the Italian, with the support of the staff who helped take the club out of the Championship last season at the first time of asking.
"His record speaks for itself after last season," said Reid.
"Sometimes you get a new manager in and it doesn't quite work out, but he hit the ground running and ultimately he's got a decent squad of players to work with.
"He brings a calm authority with his manner and he's got a good coach in Eddie Newton. He's got Ade Mafe on the fitness side, Dan Ashworth working behind the scenes and Michael Appleton so the players are looked after well.
"That showed last season with the great season we had in winning promotion."
Reid is no stranger to the Premier League arena, with all of his seven-year Blackburn stint spent plying his trade in England's top division.
It is that experience that made him one of the Baggies' prime summer transfer targets, and the former Millwall man is in no doubt what Albion's aims should be for the new campaign.
"The main aim for two thirds of the Premier League is to get to 40 points as soon as possible and see where you are after that," he said.
"It was the same when I was at Blackburn. You get to the 38 or 40-point mark and then see if you can kick on to the top 10 or even the top eight or Europe.
"Birmingham had an outstanding season last year and they went on an unbelievable run of 11 or 12 games unbeaten at one point.
"If you get to the 40-point mark you've got nothing to lose then.
"You can kick on and see where it takes you.
"We won't be going in thinking that 17th will do.
"We'll be looking to reach that safety mark as soon as possible and then hopefully kick on from there.
"The main aim is to get that first season back in the top flight under your belt.
"If you can stay in the league and then build on that, like Blackburn have done over the last few years, there's no reason you can't be a force to be reckoned with in the Premier League."
