16-09-2015, 18:27
Where is the difference between great players and merely good players in the modern game? I have never subscribed to the opinion that great players have unique physical
abilities above and beyond their peers. If it was a physical limitation then training would
merely be a matter of doing more weights in the gym; more miles on the track etc until
your players simply became measurably finer physical specimens than the others. This
doesn’t work so that leaves the mental aspect of training. I suspect that Chelsea’s manager
has the ability to instill into his teams a sort of self belief, arrogance, ubermensch mentality
that carries them a long way. Similarly Wenger has a sort of mystical deep-thought introspection that he imbues into his teams that give them a maturity above their actual
development. Van Gaal,s abrasive attitude spreads into the team giving United a sort of
“we expect to win” demeanour despite their sometimes chaotic approach on the pitch. So
we have Mr Pulis to get into the heads of our players and lift their performances. I think he is probably an “arm across the shoulder, word in your ear” type which may work well for the
younger players but for seasoned players he needs a more cunning psychological plan. I
hope he realizes that at this level the game is won and lost between the ears and he is able
to call on all sorts of motivational experts to assist him. COYB.
abilities above and beyond their peers. If it was a physical limitation then training would
merely be a matter of doing more weights in the gym; more miles on the track etc until
your players simply became measurably finer physical specimens than the others. This
doesn’t work so that leaves the mental aspect of training. I suspect that Chelsea’s manager
has the ability to instill into his teams a sort of self belief, arrogance, ubermensch mentality
that carries them a long way. Similarly Wenger has a sort of mystical deep-thought introspection that he imbues into his teams that give them a maturity above their actual
development. Van Gaal,s abrasive attitude spreads into the team giving United a sort of
“we expect to win” demeanour despite their sometimes chaotic approach on the pitch. So
we have Mr Pulis to get into the heads of our players and lift their performances. I think he is probably an “arm across the shoulder, word in your ear” type which may work well for the
younger players but for seasoned players he needs a more cunning psychological plan. I
hope he realizes that at this level the game is won and lost between the ears and he is able
to call on all sorts of motivational experts to assist him. COYB.