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Post by tuum on Sept 30, 2009 1:16:37 GMT
Sounds like the truth to me! I agree it is the truth, but what purpose does it serve talking up the opposition before each and every game! What is demonstrates is that TP's obsession with the opposition's strengths is deeply entrenched in the psyche of the players. Not necessarily. Perhaps TP is just being polite and showing some respect in public. I agree that it can be frustrating but try and look at it from a more positive angle. I would be a bit more than upset if the above formed the basis of TP's pre-match team talk in the dressing room but I doubt that would be the case. In general, TP does a good job of getting the team fired up to play and I find it best to try and ignore his pre-game comments. |
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Post by Staffsoatcake on Sept 30, 2009 10:20:31 GMT
TP should say.
Right lads its Everton next up.
They are a decent side, but not world beaters.
We were unlucky last season against them at home & if we had played the 1st half like the second half at their place we could have got a point.
They are beatable so lets go out there and show no fear.
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Post by spitthedog on Sept 30, 2009 16:45:06 GMT
TP should say. Right lads its Everton next up. They are a decent side, but not world beaters. We were unlucky last season against them at home & if we had played the 1st half like the second half at their place we could have got a point. They are beatable so lets go out there and show no fear. that would make a refreshing change...... i know that footballers and managers talk all kinds of bland crap in interviews, partly due to the ridiculous level of hype and over-exposure of premiership football. But this repetitive talking up of opposition projects a team with limited ambitions, that is in stopping the opposition rather taking them on. As a psychological ploy it doesn't make that much sense. The question is how much of that is ingrained in the players on the pitch. Let's face it there is no other team in this division who play as deep as we do especially if we happen to go ahead in a game. Phrases akin to 'We can beat anyone on our day', or 'we will let them worry about us' can be cliche, but can also instill in the players a sense of fearlessness and self assuredness, not to mention the fans. In many games I sense that our players are scared of the losing rather than playing with a conviction of winning. Teams like Clough's Notts Forest and the cup winning Wimbledon of the past had success over several seasons against the odds on very limited resources because of a sense of all games being winnable. Of course to sustain that is another thing altogether. I have alot of faith in TP but I worry about the limits of his ambitions on the pitch, and the fact that the players are come out repeating his comments pre-occupied with the strengths of our opponents, suggests a fairly defensive mindset. |
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Post by march4 on Sept 30, 2009 17:01:54 GMT
Never give the opposition ammunition in public that will motivate them.
You can say what you want in private.
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Post by Beardy200 on Sept 30, 2009 17:15:35 GMT
TP should say. Right lads its Everton next up. They are a decent side, but not world beaters. We were unlucky last season against them at home & if we had played the 1st half like the second half at their place we could have got a point. They are beatable so lets go out there and show no fear. that would make a refreshing change...... i know that footballers and managers talk all kinds of bland crap in interviews, partly due to the ridiculous level of hype and over-exposure of premiership football. But this repetitive talking up of opposition projects a team with limited ambitions, that is in stopping the opposition rather taking them on. As a psychological ploy it doesn't make that much sense. The question is how much of that is ingrained in the players on the pitch. Let's face it there is no other team in this division who play as deep as we do especially if we happen to go ahead in a game. Phrases akin to 'We can beat anyone on our day', or 'we will let them worry about us' can be cliche, but can also instill in the players a sense of fearlessness and self assuredness, not to mention the fans. In many games I sense that our players are scared of the losing rather than playing with a conviction of winning. Teams like Clough's Notts Forest and the cup winning Wimbledon of the past had success over several seasons against the odds on very limited resources because of a sense of all games being winnable. Of course to sustain that is another thing altogether. I have alot of faith in TP but I worry about the limits of his ambitions on the pitch, and the fact that the players are come out repeating his comments pre-occupied with the strengths of our opponents, suggests a fairly defensive mindset. So are you suggesting that if TP says all of those things to the players all week in private, that they'll then ignore that and think they are not good enough should they here 1 line in a Sky Sports interview like the one quoted here? I think not.  If he talks like this in private then it's worth discussing. Let me know when you have the video tape. |
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Post by spitthedog on Sept 30, 2009 17:38:04 GMT
that would make a refreshing change...... i know that footballers and managers talk all kinds of bland crap in interviews, partly due to the ridiculous level of hype and over-exposure of premiership football. But this repetitive talking up of opposition projects a team with limited ambitions, that is in stopping the opposition rather taking them on. As a psychological ploy it doesn't make that much sense. The question is how much of that is ingrained in the players on the pitch. Let's face it there is no other team in this division who play as deep as we do especially if we happen to go ahead in a game. Phrases akin to 'We can beat anyone on our day', or 'we will let them worry about us' can be cliche, but can also instill in the players a sense of fearlessness and self assuredness, not to mention the fans. In many games I sense that our players are scared of the losing rather than playing with a conviction of winning. Teams like Clough's Notts Forest and the cup winning Wimbledon of the past had success over several seasons against the odds on very limited resources because of a sense of all games being winnable. Of course to sustain that is another thing altogether. I have alot of faith in TP but I worry about the limits of his ambitions on the pitch, and the fact that the players are come out repeating his comments pre-occupied with the strengths of our opponents, suggests a fairly defensive mindset. So are you suggesting that if TP says all of those things to the players all week in private, that they'll then ignore that and think they are not good enough should they here 1 line in a Sky Sports interview like the one quoted here? I think not. If he talks like this in private then it's worth discussing. Let me know when you have the video tape. You don't really need a video tape, because there is a obvious correaltion between what is said in public and the way that we tend to play. i.e. respect/awe for opposition team = 4 central defenders and 3 defensive midfielders parked on own 18 yard line. |
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Post by tuum on Oct 1, 2009 2:39:52 GMT
I agree with Spit that perhaps TP could occasionally focus on our strengths when talking to the media rather than those of the opposition. Comments such as "we will play to our (attacking) strengths" are not disrespectful to the opposition but create a small air of positivity rather than one of negativity & fear.
Unfortunately, TP's version of playing to our strengths may sometimes include a 10-man defensive wall in and around our penalty area.
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Post by The Occasional Man on Oct 1, 2009 13:28:58 GMT
Well according to a toffee I know, despite their results, he isnt overly convinced yet. According to him, they were very lucky agaisnt Pompey On the plus side - they seem to be still getting over Lescott at the back and look more shaky than last year. Plus they will have played Thursday On negative - Saha is in fine form and the Yak is back who can be crap or unplayable on his day (now who does that rmind me of?) They were very lucky against Pompey - off the line clearances and Pompey hit the woodwork a couple of times! They won because Saha produced a quality finish out of not a lot. Very much a Stoke style away performance. We really need to get in them and rely on Abdy & Shawcross keeping Saha quiet and we can win it. |
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