by red37 » Tue Nov 21, 2006 4:07 pm
no, your probably right. In the Dalglish era success was familiar and in that frame of mind its far easier to deal with the 'negatives' because the 'positives' far outweigh their consideration anyway, so long as it all goes to plan. But this isnt the 80's any longer. The world of the Premiership (like it or not) and all it stands for, has allowed a vast number of these modern players ego's to become unreasonably aimed at 'shooting for the stars' at all costs. Success nowadays breeds the desire for more and more 'widening of the goals' Scant time is allowed in contemplating their mental frailties - They are supposed to be indestructable, the onus is on regaining their peak of 'physical' fitness as opposed to whether or not they 'feel Ok'- they have to be ok!! The board want success- the manager wants to be seen to be attaining it - the fans expect victory, regardless. And as a whole the 'screw' has been tightened to an extent where a pampered/cuckolded player at a club of this size, gets very little window of opportunity career span wise in which to reap such reward that is available from almost every direction they allow their heads to be swayed towards. Never mind the loss of form or physical condition adding to their woes. £££ is king, and the greedy pursuit and acquisition of it leads to all sorts of pressures arising. Not all of them within the scope of a manager to resolve. Hence the outside (though not always, as you've seen above) services of a Psychologist. the bar is set at such an acute angle for the overcoming of, its no wonder that help is required for the sanity of all concerned. They have to live with such great expectations demanded of them , they set goals for themselves that should be secondary of import because of the lifestyle they tell themselves they need. and in striving exhaustively in chasing these 'goals' something will eventually have to yield, in order for any clarity/stability of mind to prevail for the wheels to be turning smoothly at all. And as the anxious, relentless quest for the 19th crown rumbles inexorably on. each and every season without it, only serves to raise the stakes even higher.
TITANS of HOPE