by londongull63 » 11 Mar 2013, 18:28
Maybe there is a time for reminding players they need to give 100% (although that’s in terms of running as no player intends to misplace a pass or shoot wide), but now certainly isn’t it when the two things our survival relies on are effort and confidence.
To be honest, I don’t think these players ever did drop effort levels at least until the negativity of the last few weeks – you only need look at their battling at Exeter. And interestingly our goal difference is far superior than most teams at the bottom because we haven’t been getting spanked like a team that’s outclassed and then throws in the towel when they are losing.
But for the rest of the season now we totally rely on the players fighting 100% for this club, which is a difficult one as whereas the fans can’t change club, and perhaps the backroom staff and everyone else working there, the players are in an odd position where they don’t rely on Torquay Utd. So I’m afraid regardless of anyone’s views on whether they should or shouldn’t be criticised, we need to have them wanting to play now for the fans as our only hope - so we can only encourage them now to do that. Get on their backs and it’s over.
In football when quite a few aren’t trying or having a stinker it spreads to others, so the last thing we need is to upset any one of them now. I only hope none of them are in a position where they’re disliking the fans, or what would they be playing for?
A good player is no good if they’re not trying. In our situation I’d rather have less talented ones giving their all even if it means making mistakes. Perhaps if you really were convinced these players were the best in this division and yet landed themselves in our current situation, you might start questioning/criticising them. But if people think they are average or less than how does that help, as the only way up a league would be to get them to play above their ability and level.
Football is quite an easy game to “hide†in to avoid the ball and responsibilty without looking terrible by making glaring mistakes, but that doesn’t help the team. You can just avoid getting in places were you have the ball, avoid taking people on, avoid the opportunity of a killer pass that might not work etc etc. Yesterday I guested for a team about 3 levels above my usual one and they were all very talented players who took it very seriously and criticised any team-mate for a wrong decision or mistake. While I might have just about held my own anywhere but left back - when I’m totally right-footed - I found myself not really wanting the ball as I’d have to distribute it with my left and probably make a mistake and let them down. So I was happy to just run and tackle. You can sit back, not find space etc, and then when you get the ball just hurriedly play the simple pass to another team-mate, content in the knowledge if the ball reaches their feet you’ve passed the buck, although they might not be in a good position. And if you’d taken your time or run with the ball you might have found a better option. There’s the chance you may have given the ball away too, but if everyone avoids risks, doesn’t shoot/cross, passes backwards, sideways, you will lose. So now is not the time to build up confidence, not destroy it.
Incidentally, at no time in the past would I have dreamed of advocating Chris Zebroski’s return, but perhaps needs must and we could do worse. Not because he’s the hugely match-winning super player (who we won’t get anyway), but we just need people who will now care for the club enough to fight. Benyon hopefully will do that because he feels an affinity. And perhaps Zebroski, who we certainly could do worse than talent wise, hopefully would still retain feelings for the club and fans if people got behind him, and would give it everything. He always gave 100% and with Howe I reckon we could pick up some points. It wouldn’t have to be long-term, but perhaps he would respond to the challenge of a saviour rather than some loanee who doesn't have many other options, and is plunged into a negative atmosphere and who it doesn't really matter to at the end of the day. (that's not meant to mean Labadie who on paper looks a decent recruit)
Oh and also before anyone criticises the board, I know at several games recently they've been forced to get out their chequebooks and give more of their money than they were budgeting for. Like anyone perhaps they made a mistake by not realising a bit more money could have been spent to strengthen when we were in a better position to spend it, but it's a fine balancing act between spending (money which you may not have) and saving for another time on our budgets. A big debt would have really finished off our club quicker. Their hearts are with the club and I don't think anyone else with the same money could have done better.
Maybe there is a time for reminding players they need to give 100% (although that’s in terms of running as no player intends to misplace a pass or shoot wide), but now certainly isn’t it when the two things our survival relies on are effort and confidence.
To be honest, I don’t think these players ever did drop effort levels at least until the negativity of the last few weeks – you only need look at their battling at Exeter. And interestingly our goal difference is far superior than most teams at the bottom because we haven’t been getting spanked like a team that’s outclassed and then throws in the towel when they are losing.
But for the rest of the season now we totally rely on the players fighting 100% for this club, which is a difficult one as whereas the fans can’t change club, and perhaps the backroom staff and everyone else working there, the players are in an odd position where they don’t rely on Torquay Utd. So I’m afraid regardless of anyone’s views on whether they should or shouldn’t be criticised, we need to have them wanting to play now for the fans as our only hope - so we can only encourage them now to do that. Get on their backs and it’s over.
In football when quite a few aren’t trying or having a stinker it spreads to others, so the last thing we need is to upset any one of them now. I only hope none of them are in a position where they’re disliking the fans, or what would they be playing for?
A good player is no good if they’re not trying. In our situation I’d rather have less talented ones giving their all even if it means making mistakes. Perhaps if you really were convinced these players were the best in this division and yet landed themselves in our current situation, you might start questioning/criticising them. But if people think they are average or less than how does that help, as the only way up a league would be to get them to play above their ability and level.
Football is quite an easy game to “hide†in to avoid the ball and responsibilty without looking terrible by making glaring mistakes, but that doesn’t help the team. You can just avoid getting in places were you have the ball, avoid taking people on, avoid the opportunity of a killer pass that might not work etc etc. Yesterday I guested for a team about 3 levels above my usual one and they were all very talented players who took it very seriously and criticised any team-mate for a wrong decision or mistake. While I might have just about held my own anywhere but left back - when I’m totally right-footed - I found myself not really wanting the ball as I’d have to distribute it with my left and probably make a mistake and let them down. So I was happy to just run and tackle. You can sit back, not find space etc, and then when you get the ball just hurriedly play the simple pass to another team-mate, content in the knowledge if the ball reaches their feet you’ve passed the buck, although they might not be in a good position. And if you’d taken your time or run with the ball you might have found a better option. There’s the chance you may have given the ball away too, but if everyone avoids risks, doesn’t shoot/cross, passes backwards, sideways, you will lose. So now is not the time to build up confidence, not destroy it.
Incidentally, at no time in the past would I have dreamed of advocating Chris Zebroski’s return, but perhaps needs must and we could do worse. Not because he’s the hugely match-winning super player (who we won’t get anyway), but we just need people who will now care for the club enough to fight. Benyon hopefully will do that because he feels an affinity. And perhaps Zebroski, who we certainly could do worse than talent wise, hopefully would still retain feelings for the club and fans if people got behind him, and would give it everything. He always gave 100% and with Howe I reckon we could pick up some points. It wouldn’t have to be long-term, but perhaps he would respond to the challenge of a saviour rather than some loanee who doesn't have many other options, and is plunged into a negative atmosphere and who it doesn't really matter to at the end of the day. (that's not meant to mean Labadie who on paper looks a decent recruit)
Oh and also before anyone criticises the board, I know at several games recently they've been forced to get out their chequebooks and give more of their money than they were budgeting for. Like anyone perhaps they made a mistake by not realising a bit more money could have been spent to strengthen when we were in a better position to spend it, but it's a fine balancing act between spending (money which you may not have) and saving for another time on our budgets. A big debt would have really finished off our club quicker. Their hearts are with the club and I don't think anyone else with the same money could have done better.
