The Sports Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog looks at the challenge facing Derby County to survive in the Premier League.
Football: Derby County - Relegation Certainties?
After their Saturday mauling at the hands of West Ham United, many of the press are labelling Derby County, the wost team ever to play in the Premier League. Certainties for relegation. Odds of 22-1 on being offered by the bookies for The Rams to go down. It's inevitable they say. But is it?
With a quarter of the season gone, Derby are only four points away from the pack. And this season, there is a whole gaggle of teams who could get drawn into a season long struggle against the drop. Clearly Derby are in trouble. They have only secured six points to date. But how they think about their own situation is critical to their ability to avoid relegation.
After a 5-0 home reverse, the players must sit down collectively and honestly assess their performances. Where can they improve? How will they improve? Are the problems technical? If so what training routines can they incorporate that will help? Or is the problem attitudinal? In which case, what do they need to do to change their attitudes?
The players simply cannot hide from what is being written about them. But they can use it as motivation. The worst side in the Premiership to survive! Pride and passion. Stung into action. They may not be able to outplay teams. But there is no reason why Derby cannot match teams for Effort. For Desire. For Heart. For Honesty. For Will. For Courage. For Togetherness. The seven elements of a fighting spirit.
If Derby start to believe the press, then they will be relegated. For certain. But their belief must come from within themselves. It's about being able to start the season again and again. Putting defeat behind you. Learning from the weaknesses and turning them into strengths. Not becoming subject to despair and defeatism. It can be done. It will take everything that Derby can muster. Everything. But that is why they are competing at this level.
