Football: Sir Alex Ferguson – Referee!

”Managers get sacked because of things like that and he’s going to referee a game next week.” Sir Alex Ferguson, bemoaning the fact that Martin Atkinson failed to award United a penalty after Ronaldo was challenged by Distin. For many seasons, visiting teams to Old Trafford, rarely received the benefit of a penalty award. Whilst, United, on the other hand, have usually been generously served by the officials. So for Martin Atkinson to turn down a United penalty claim, takes courage. It means that he wasn’t swayed by the crowd; the United players; or by the United manager. He made his mind […]

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Football: Gary Peters – The Play Off Comedown

So Gary Peters is sacked as manager of Shrewsbury Town. After a season that began so optimistically. Fresh from a Wembley play-off appearance. Beginning life in a brand new stadium. Everything augured well for another crack at promotion. So what went wrong? Shrewsbury Town would not be the first team to suffer a comedown after a play-off final defeat. In fact, few teams are able to rally themselves for another assault on the summit, after tasting defeat at Wembley or the Millenium Stadium. But why is this? With the play-offs coming at the end of the season, players have to dig […]

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Football: Michael Owen – Stare Down The Beast

‘The game against Blackburn this Saturday, is one you look at and think Newcastle at home should be getting something out of it. If we can do that, we can get a bit of confidence. We then play Liverpool, and after that we have got a few games that are winnable’. The words of Newcastle United striker Michael Owen. Owen’s thoughts reveal the lack of confidence that is undermining Newcastle’s season. Like a gambler on a losing run, the belief is ‘one-win and all will be well’. It’s a mind-set of hope. But hope is not enough. Hope lacks the […]

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Football: Avram Grant – Show No Pain

“I’m in charge. Please, you need to respect my professionalism. You didn’t behave too nicely. Now I don’t respect you too much because we lost one game and you’ve taken it too far. I don’t like it. You hurt my players, you hurt the club and this is not the right way.” The words of Chelsea manager Avram Grant at today’s press conference. Whilst Avram’s frustration is understandable, this may not be the best way for him to proceed. If your feelings are hurt, don’t show it. Keep your emotions back to share privately with those who understand you. If […]

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Football: Robbie Savage – Trying Too Hard!

‘Ineffective’. The words of Paul Jewell, describing the form of Robbie Savage. ‘Robbie is very low on confidence’, the Derby County manager continued to say. Robbie Savage – low on confidence? For a player who has made his reputation on his trademark ability to scrap, its an unusual revelation. Savage was the player who never ever seemed to have self-doubt. It was this sense of self-certainty that meant you either loved him, or hated him. Paul Jewell goes on to suggest that maybe Robbie Savage is trying too hard. Maybe trying too hard to show he hasn’t lot that edge. […]

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Football: Martin Taylor – Beyond Eduardo

So now that we know that Eduardo will be out of the game for twelve months. the focus shifts to Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor. Taylor has to find the mental strength and resolve to overcome the psychological effects of his late tackle. Knowing that he has almost ended an international players career. Firstly, Taylor has to work through any guilt he may feel. Then he must analyse the tackle. If he was late, then why was he late. Was he too slow? Was his focus and concentration poor? Once he is clear as to why his tackle was the […]

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Football: Kevin Keegan – Confidence!

“You see these players pulling out of taking chances. A few are scared of making mistakes, scared of giving the ball away. If you are confident you try things. They aren’t but that will change.” The words of Newcastle United manager Kevin Keegan, after Saturday’s mauling by Manchester United. This is a critical point in the season for Keegan’s team. They are hovering above the relegation zone. They are on a losing streak. And to compound things, confidence is low. As a born enthusiast and communicator, you would expect any team of Kevin Keegan’s to ooze confidence. To have no […]

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Football: Paul Dickov – Enthusiasm!

Causing panic in the Charlton Athletic defence, Paul Dickov scored his fifth Blackpool goal in six games on Saturday. The man christened by ex-manager Joe Royle as ‘The Wasp’, has not lost his sting. Yet, amazingly, we have to go back to 2006 for Dickov’s last league goal. Having failed to score for both Manchester City and Crystal Palace, you could be excused for thinking that his best days were behind him. But the seaside air has had a galvanising effect on the Scotsman. Sometimes a players arrives at the right club at just the right time. He is exactly […]

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Football: Avram Grant – Fear Of Failure

So in Avram Grant’s first major final as Chelsea manager, his side go down to Tottenham Hotspur. Beaten, playing a brand of cautious, inhibited football, that lacked passion. Lacked verve. Lacked boldness. In taking over the reins from Jose Mourinho, Avram Grant had to tread carefully. Try too hard to be his own man and change too much too soon, then the shock could be counter-productive. Better to make small, subtle changes. A little at a time. Avam Grant negotiated that challenge well. The absence through injury of the Untouchables, John Terry and Frank Lampard, allowed new leaders to emerge. […]

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Football: David James – The Psychological Edge

“I do it in the hotel room before the game, do it on the bus and do it on the pitch. I work on every eventuality and hopefully don’t get surprise.” Portsmouth and England goal-keeper David James, talking about his use of sports psychology. James is referring specifically, to his use of Visualisation. Mentally imagining outcomes; possibilities; potentialities. Expecting the unexpected. Thus in the white heat of a competitive match, his mind is able to coolly handle the pressures he is put under. Handle it, because he has been there before. Been there before in his mind. His mind, therefore, […]

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