The Confidence Coach's Sports Psychology Articles
On The Couch With Dr. Martin - 442's Sports Psychology Expert
The Confidence Coach's monthly Sports Psychology Article in 442 magazine. This article comes after Sam Allardyce was put under pressure at Newcastle United after a string of poor results.
Newcastle United
For Sam Allardyce to make a real difference will take time. Perhaps a season to eradicate bad habits and attitudes and to build new methods and patterns which would lead to consistency and success. At least another season would be required for his methods to bear real fruit.
It is inevitable that there will be resistance to this process. Change is often uncomfortable. People are taken out of their comfort zone. Traditional habits and patterns are challenged. The status quo is under threat. And if results don’t support these changes immediately, then resistance gathers its own momentum. Often, it gets to the point that fear eats at the soul of the team, and positive results become too hard to achieve. It’s a significant, and sometimes impossible, management ordeal.
Unlike many of the top Premier League clubs whose marketing tentacles are spread worldwide, Newcastle has an essentially local fan base. And this umbilical link between club and supporters can sometimes lead to a lack of perspective. The need for success becomes suffocating. It puts insufferable pressure on any new manager to provide attractive football and, hopefully, a trophy.
Clearly, the long suffering fans need some evidence that things are moving forward. But for Newcastle to re-establish themselves in the top echelons of English football, major heart surgery is needed. Reflections on how the club thinks about itself cannot take place in an atmosphere of constant, fervid uncertainty. Allardyce's long-term vision and strategy needs to be fully supported and appreciated by the chairman. Anything less will simply negate the change process.
Sam Allardyce might like to quote Margaret Thatcher who, on winning the 1979 general election, cited Francis of Assisi ‘Where there is discord, may we bring harmony. Where there is error, may we bring truth. Where there is doubt, may we bring faith. And where there is despair, may we bring hope.’ But he could not be certain that anyone would be listening.
Martin Perry - Confidence Coaching & Sports Psychology: 0044(0) 77897 56425