COMMENT:
Camp Keegan is no fun palace but nor is it a workhouse where the boys live in fear of saying a word out of place.

You can say as many words as you like at Camp Keegan. The more the better in fact. The boss loves it that way.

Unlike many other England managers, Keegan has gone out of his way to encourage democracy within his camp here in the thickly wooded hills of the Ardennes.

Tactics may not be his strong point, but when it comes to communication he's as swift and sure-footed as the sleekest public relations executive.

He's been working overtime with his players since the 3-2 defeat by Portugal, drawing from them 22 different views of what went wrong.

He cannot say this, of course, but the opinions of some players carry considerably more relevance and influence than others. What could be more wasteful than to ignore the thoughts of experienced internationals like Alan Shearer, Tony Adams or Paul Ince?

'He wants to know what we think,' explained the Chelsea captain Dennis Wise. 'It's all good natured and constructive and he takes it all on board.'

Is this democratic management style a sign of weakness? Is it, as some believe, fostering the first rumblings of discontent among Keegan's squad of highly-paid players?

It wouldn't be the first time that player power has swayed the thinking of an England coach in a major tournament.

After all, Bobby Robson's England were stumbling through the 1990 World Cup when senior players like Peter Shilton, Terry Butcher and Gary Lineker persuaded him to change course.

Robson started the tournament with a flat back four in a guileless 1-1 draw with the Republic of Ireland. He introduced three centre-backs in the goalless draw with Holland and then reverted to a conventional back four against Egypt.

A woeful performance in a 1-0 win convinced many of the players that progress could only be achieved with a system that accommodated three centre-backs.

Robson accepted their argument and with Des Walker, Mark Wright and Butcher in the heart of the defence they reached the semi-finals.

To be fair to Keegan there is no evidence that the players are dissatisfied with his tactics or management style.

On the contrary, he has established a rapport with them which has fuelled an infectious belief in their ability to surmount the obstacles now presented by the Germans on Saturday and Romania next Tuesday.

The players like him, share their meals and relaxation time with him, and respect his achievements both as an England captain and manager of Newcastle and Fulham.

Personally, I have enormous regard for Keegan. The son of a mining family, he built a fabulous playing career on willpower and workrate after Coventry City rejected him for being too small.

He's an emotional man, an impulsive idealist, but he's shown that he's willing to learn and change if necessary. The fact that he now listens to the views of his players suggests that the stubborn streak that once ran through him is diminishing. It would be foolish, though to interpret this as a sign of weakness. Keegan's willingness to consult his players is surely a sign of strength and confidence in his own ability.

But, like the general who consults his staff officers before battle, what matters is what he does with the information received. There is little point in Keegan asking for opinions if he chooses to ignore the feelings of the majority.

If he has a problem, in my opinion, it is that he refuses to have an acknowledged tactical brain, with international experience, on his coaching staff.

Don Howe, assistant to three former England managers, has a vast store of knowledge of football at this level and someone of his calibre would have been useful in helping Keegan sift and evaluate the opinions of his players.

But Keegan, I suspect, associates Howe with Robson, the manager who abruptly brought to an end his own international career in 1982. Keegan has never forgotten how he learned, via the media, that his England career was over at the age of 31.

That moment still irritates and the hurt and disappointment he felt at the time may have coloured his own management style. But he must realise that, whatever the opinions of his players, his is the opinion that counts.

He's paid to take hard decisions. Sir Alf Ramsey did when he dropped Jimmy Greaves in 1966. Robson did when he dropped Keegan. Graham Taylor did when he axed Gary Lineker and Glenn Hoddle did when he dropped Paul Gascoigne.

To date Keegan has either avoided the hard decisions, or genuinely believes that none are necessary. But, however strong the bond with his players, he will learn that there has to be room for hard decisions in his democracy.