The Sports
Psychology Blog
Today's Sports Psychology blog comes as Sir Alex Ferguson expresses his concern at the level of vocal support emanating from the Old Trafford faithful.
Football: Sir Alex Ferguson - The Funeral
That was the quietest I have heard the crowd, it was like a funeral," he said. "There are some situations when we need them to get behind us and give us a lift. The players need the crowd sometimes but the atmosphere inside the ground wasn't good."
The words of Sir Alex Ferguson after the home defeat of Birmingham City. But why should it matter how quiet the crowd is? Surely professional footballers should be able to deliver whatever the atmosphere?
It was said that the Anfield Kop was worth a goal start to Liverpool in its heyday. That they were the twelfth player. That the intensity of sound, noise and song would lift Liverpool. And that is the purpose of a good crowd. They form a partnership with the team. The team represent the people of the city. The people of the city support the team. The Golden Triangle of Team; City; People. A state of no difference. Whereby the players are the fans representatives on the pitch.
It was as if Sir Alex Ferguson was saying that the crowd were not upholding their part of the bargain. The unwritten rule of team and fans. That, whoever we play there will be a guaranteed level of support. The same chants, songs and anthems. The background music to success.
Perhaps the dispersion of United's fan base is taking it toll. That the relationship between fans and players has changed. Less fans, more spectators.
Either way, Ferguson knows that without their twelfth player, United's path to success just won't feel right. He needs the intoxicating atmosphere the loyalists create. He needs to feel it in his heart, as Frank Sinatra needed to feel the rhythm of the Nelson Riddle Orchestra.
Without that feeling, it's just a game of football. Without that feeling, the experience of winning is incomplete.
