The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes as Charlton Athletic lose ground in the Championship promotion battle following a home reverse to Preston North End.
Football: Charlton Athletic - Hidden Agendas?
''We have let our fans down. They have vented their frustration and so have I in the dressing room afterwards''. The words of Charlton manager Alan Pardew, after today's home defeat. And this, coming after another unacceptable performance at Blackpool, a couple of weeks ago. There is a sense that something is not quite right at The Valley.
At this point in the season, Charlton's promotion push would expect to be gathering momentum. A settled team, all pulling in the same direction. Battling for every point. Right behind the manager.
Instead, they are losing games to teams that they should be beating, if their promotion ambitions are to be taken seriously. But not just losing. Losing after putting in sub-standard performances.
For whatever reason, Charlton Athletic are not performing for their manager. Sometimes, this can be down to personal agendas. Agendas that self-sabotaging a good managers plans and strategies. Players who can't muster up the required enthusiasm for what they are being asked to do. Players who, for personal reasons, usually because they are being taken out of their comfort zone, do not believe in their manager. Players who are happy to see the manager fail. Either way, Charlton do not resemble a team united behind a common cause.
Whatever the problem, Alan Pardew and his players, had better resolve matters quickly. At present, another season in the Championship beckons. Given time, Alan Pardew has the experience, and capability, to return Charlton Athletic to the Premier League. But to do that, he may need to rid the club, of the potentially corrosive, hidden agendas.
