The Sports Psychology Blog
This Sports Psychology blog comes after Crystal Palace concede a last minute goal to draw against Bristol City.
Football: Neil Warnock - Them!
It's the post-match interviews at Ashton Gate. Sky Sports's Greg Whelan is interviewing Neil Warnock. He has seen his side concede a last-minute equaliser. And the Crystal Palace manager is fuming. Fuming with referee Richard Beeby. Fuming over a contentious penalty decision given against his side. Fuming about time added on.
Warnock even explains to Whelan that he has seen Beeby raise his arm in triumph when Bristol City equalised. Such was his desire to see them get a goal.
Warnock is exaggerating to make his point. But his diatribe against the official serves him well. It serves to reinforce a management strategy. A strategy designed to create an US v THEM mentality. US - Neil Warnock and his band of brothers; fighting a battle against an enemy. THEM - the enemy. The officials. The incompetent ones. They who have never played the game. They who can go back to their cushy day jobs. They who don't understand the game.
For Neil Warnock, his Crystal Palace team may have dropped a vital two points in their promotion push. But, he will take away from Ashton Gate, more ammunition to feed his team. Ammunition that will support his claim that there are forces out there, who do not want him and his team to succeed.
An argument designed to bring all of his squad closer together in solidarity. For no one on the inside wants to be seen to be part of the THEM. That is only for those too incompetent to be able to play the game.
