The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes after Liverpool's Jamie Carragher admits that Liverpool are suffering more than just a 'bad spell'.
Football: Liverpool - Now Or Not At All
It's the final minute of the Fifth Round FA Cup tie between Liverpool and Barnsley. Barnsley's Brian Howard picks up the ball deep in the Liverpool half. He waltzes pass a half-hearted tackle from Xabi Alonso. Then he tricks Jamie Carragher on the edge of the box. Carragher then turns side-on to Howard, and offers minimal resistance, as the Barnsley mid-fielder drills the ball into the Liverpool net.
It's an unusually weak challenge from Carragher. The one man Liverpool can usually rely on, to put themselves on the line for the cause. Not this time. It's as if he is no longer prepared to carry Liverpool's burden on his shoulders. No longer prepared to mask Liverpool's deficiencies. Liverpool's under-achievement.
It's a pivotal time in Liverpool's season. And the career of their manager, Rafael Benitez. It's the moment for straight talk. From the players to themselves. The players to the management team. The management team to themselves. No excuses. But getting to the cause of Liverpool's problems.
Whether it's the managers rotation policy. Or players simply not being up to the honour of representing Liverpool. Either way, Liverpool are heading for a season of mediocrity. It's now or not at all. Who will have the courage to say the difficult things?
Rafael Benitez knows his methods are good enough to win Liverpool a Champions League title. But, perhaps, he is too stubborn to change his methodologies, when they need changing. He knows they work. But does he know when they are not working? And does anyone in the football club have the natural authority to speak directly to him on these matters of leadership? Being strong can be both a blessing, and a curse!
