The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes, as Hull City beat Arsenal at The Emirates, and, in doing so, prove many doubters wrong.
Football: Hull City - WBA!
It's Match Of The Day 2, and Lee Dixon is analysing Arsenal's defeat to Hull City. Dixon informs us that 'Arsenal must beat the bottom teams, like Fulham and Hull if they are to win the league'.
Arsene Wenger was so perplexed after Arsenal's home defeat, that he paid credit to West Brom, rather than Hull City. All of which is the most perfect motivation for Tigers manager, Phil Brown.
To be described by the pundits, as a bottom team, when you are sixth in the table. To be mistaken for another side altogether, by one of the world's best managers. It's all evidence that Hull City have been totally dismissed by the football world, as a credible Premiership outfit.
Another Derby County, is the likely expectation. But Phil Brown is steeped in Premiership know-how, from his time at Bolton Wanderers. And the more Hull City are dismissed out of hand, by the 'experts', the stronger they can become.
The group will become closer, as they build collective defiance, in the face of these superior attitudes. The group have a clear focus to fight against. A highly visible enemy.
If they maintain these current standards, then perceptions of Hull City will change. But, right now, Phil Brown will hope that his team are dismissed, as a bottom of the league side. Or mistaken for West Brom.
For it enables him to keep his team completely focused, on proving the 'experts' wrong. And when a team has such a visible enemy, a THEM, to unite the US, then his job is made so much easier.
No one of his players, will want to be a part of the THEM. Those who know nothing about Hull City. Which naturally draws his players into the US mentality. It negates internal cliques and division. And when a team has a united US, then there are no limits, upon what they can achieve.
