14-02-2018, 14:19
I'm not trying to make a case for CO'G when I say I think Dennis might be the problem in forming a partnership. Some players just play their game their way no matter what, and I think he may be one.
The truth is I think we possibly needed a second goalscorer so he and Dennis could play together as and when, like any two other positions on the pitch ......... rather than playing as twin strikers or partners - just two strikers playing their own game. Without that second source of goals I don't think there are enough goals in the rest of the team or enough of a threat - we just can't afford a non-scoring forward. Once you think the opposition can't hurt you, it is easy to dominate.
My other thought is Pooch's piece on Jack's interest in psychology. That's essentially a good thing, but knowing about it and getting the players fully on board aren't always the same thing. Wasn't it Richo who had a degree in psychology? That didn't quite come over to the players did it? The trouble is in making the players aware of the benefits of being fully in the moment, you cannot help also alerting them to their shortcomings. If you remain as fully focused in the last minute as the first I can see the benefits of that, but if you become too aware of the dangers, for instance of conceding in the last minute, you become more likely to fall prey to it ......... because you start looking for a safety first option you'd never usually choose ....... and end up being less not more safe. Spend the week warning people not to concede a last minute goal and you'll see them doing all kinds of weird things at the end of a game AND conceding.
People don't always learn the lesson you think you are teaching ..........
The truth is I think we possibly needed a second goalscorer so he and Dennis could play together as and when, like any two other positions on the pitch ......... rather than playing as twin strikers or partners - just two strikers playing their own game. Without that second source of goals I don't think there are enough goals in the rest of the team or enough of a threat - we just can't afford a non-scoring forward. Once you think the opposition can't hurt you, it is easy to dominate.
My other thought is Pooch's piece on Jack's interest in psychology. That's essentially a good thing, but knowing about it and getting the players fully on board aren't always the same thing. Wasn't it Richo who had a degree in psychology? That didn't quite come over to the players did it? The trouble is in making the players aware of the benefits of being fully in the moment, you cannot help also alerting them to their shortcomings. If you remain as fully focused in the last minute as the first I can see the benefits of that, but if you become too aware of the dangers, for instance of conceding in the last minute, you become more likely to fall prey to it ......... because you start looking for a safety first option you'd never usually choose ....... and end up being less not more safe. Spend the week warning people not to concede a last minute goal and you'll see them doing all kinds of weird things at the end of a game AND conceding.
People don't always learn the lesson you think you are teaching ..........