The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes after Nigel Pearson's first game in charge at Southampton ends in defeat.
Football: Nigel Pearson - The Challenge!
It's a tough time to take over a football club. Into the last third of the season. Hovering above the relegation trap-door. Nigel Pearson has walked into a real challenge at Southampton. Too many good players to go down say the pundits. But that is no guarantee. Good players aren't always the ones you need for a relegation dog-fight.
Nigel Pearson may need to tread carefully. He will have his own methods and systems. But time is against the introduction of new ways of playing. By the time his players have integrated his new ideas, the season may well be over. Better to begin in the one area where he can make an immediate difference. In the minds of the Southampton players.
Nigel Pearson can help them improve their thinking. Their mental preparation before games. Their decision-making. Their belief in themselves. Their belief and trust in each other. Their attitudes. Their team-spirit. Qualities Southampton will need if they are too avoid the drop into League One.
Pearson must be wary of trying to do too much too soon. Keep it simple is the message. Subtle changes in areas that can have an immediate impact. When it comes to fighting relegation, its the teams with the greatest mental strength who come out on top.
