The Sports Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog comes as Leicester City manager Ian Holloway sees his side fail to record back-to-back wins, yet again.
Football: Leicester City - Consistency!
It was the worst performance I have seen for a long, long time. It was hard to take. We have six games left and all I will say is we will have to do a damn sight better than that." The words of Leicester City manager Ian Holloway, after a home defeat to Hull City, has left The Foxes deep in the relegation mire. And this, after an unexpected four-one success at The Hawthorns last Saturday.
The Leicester City manager is desperate for his side to string back to back wins together. For it would give him confidence, that a Leicester City win is not just a fluke. Not just a happy one-off. Not just an off-day for the opposition. That it is founded on good footballing principles.
But, it is one step forward, one step back for The Foxes. As if, this is a side that does not expect to win two games running. That, somehow, in the psyche of Leicester City, is the presumption of defeat. If not today, then next week. A football club that has simply got used to losing. That defeat confirms a deeply held belief, that something must go wrong. Maybe, so many managerial changes at the Walkers Stadium, have created a feeling of permanent instability.
Back to back wins would give this team confidence. But to secure those wins, they need the confidence. Confidence in themselves. Confidence in each other. Confidence in the manager. And that must be Ian Holloway's main job right now. Infusing his squad with sufficient confidence, that will propel them to two wins in a row.
How does he do it? The best option is to bring in a specialist to help. A Winston Wolf. A problem solver. Someone who can help the manager take a step back and assess things lucidly. Away from the pressures. Help him see the negative influences that are impacting upon team confidence. Then support Ian Holloway in addressing those negative influences.
And also be a confidante to the manager. An external influence that offers a sounding board for the managers thoughts and frustrations. To take the pressure off him.
In a high pressure, end of season, relegation dog-fight, sometimes a manager can try too hard to put things right. It is not a weakness to ask for help. But a sign of strength and a recognition, that, as good as you are, there are some problems to which you may not have all the answers.
With six games to go, it will be interesting to see how Ian Holloway resolves this crisis of confidence.
Note: Winston Wolf is a character played by Harvey Keitel, in Quentin Tarantino's film Pulp Fiction. He is a professional problem-solver. He gets the job done with the minimum of fuss and the maximum of efficiency. He specialises in removing dead-bodies from the garage.
