The Football Psychology Blog
This Football Psychology blog, comes after Paul Scholes explains why he retired from international football.
Football Psychology: Paul Scholes - Selfish!
In a week of frank admissions, it's Paul Scholes explaining why he retired from international football.
The perceived view was that Scholes was unhappy with being played out of position on the left side of midfield. But it transpires that Scholes was deeply unhappy with the selfishness showed by England players.
Players putting themselves before the team. Playing to put themselves in the shop window, and/or enhance their bank accounts.
But the question has to be asked, is why players were able to get away with this. Get away with playing 50 yard Hollywood Balls, when a simple pass would be more effective.
Surely you have to ask, what kind of culture existed that enabled players to put their own needs before the England team.
Only when the leadership is weak, can this happen. Strong leadership creates clear rules, that let players know exactly what is expected of them. Creates a common and powerful unifying cause that players can buy into.
In the absence of that cause and clarity, individual ambition holds sway. But it's the managers role to observe and react when players put themselves before the team, and deal with the mis-alignment, there and then.
Let them know exactly what is expected of an England player. But that presumes that the England coach has a grip of those expectations!
Paul Scholes comments reveal a little, of why England have serially under-performed over the years. It's what most fans recognised. But for the first time, an ex-player has given us an insiders insight into one of the reasons why.
Of course it's too late to turn back the clock. But it's one of the many lessons, that the next England manager must take on board, if England are to finally match performance to potential on the world-stage.
Try a Football Psychology Taster Session...
