The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes as Stoke City attempt to pull away at the head of the Championship table.
Football: Stoke City - Believe!
Tonight Stoke City head to Deepdale. Three points away to Preston and The Potters will have a four point cushion at the top of the table. Up until now, Tony Pulis's side have toiled away quietly in the Championship. The pressure has all been on Watford and West Bromwich Albion. Not any more.
Now the focus is on Stoke. Are they ready for the Premiership? Will they fold under leadership pressure? They are in the spotlight. The question is, will the media attention have a negative affect on them?
Tony Pulis is a smart operator. He will keep his players focused on the simple things. We are top of the league. This has happened for a reason. Top of the league is a manifestation of us doing certain things consistently better than other teams. Better team-spirit. Better decision-making. Better fitness. Better disciplines. Better preparation. The players focus now, must be on maintaining and improving on the standards set to date.
His players know what they have to do. They have been doing it well all season. If they keep their focus on matters they can control, promotion will be theirs. It simply requires strict mental discipline and a trust in what they do. And an absolute trust in the managers methods.
Only if they start to get caught up in the 'what might-be's', the things they can't control, will Stoke City blow this golden opportunity.
