Sports psychology

[CoatesyBlade]

With Boro playing the night before us I was wondering which result would have the biggest impact on our players.
Obviously to the fans we want Boro to lose.
Does a Boro win spur the dressing on to ‘go for it’ more? Or does it make the players more cautious?
Would a Boro defeat spur the dressing room and give our boys more impetus? Or does it make for a more cautious approach?
If you was playing, how would either result effect your mentality approaching the Sunderland game?

 

[raimond]

With Boro playing the night before us I was wondering which result would have the biggest impact on our players.
Obviously to the fans we want Boro to lose.
Does a Boro win spur the dressing on to ‘go for it’ more? Or does it make the players more cautious?
Would a Boro defeat spur the dressing room and give our boys more impetus? Or does it make for a more cautious approach?
If you was playing, how would either result effect your mentality approaching the Sunderland game?

Dunno mate because I've never been in that situation at this level.

What I think I do know though, is whether from motivation of going up or fear of being chased, and whether my motivation was pride in the shirt, personal achievement or even just money, I'd be trying my bloody hardest, busting a gut and trying to get all my teammates going to do the same too. That's what was so bloody odd and worrying about Saturday.

 

[mattbianco1]

Remember when we bottled it in 2012. We played BEFORE Wednesday about 3 weekends on the bounce. Eventually we dropped points and they overtake us.

Boro won't slip up tonight

 

[Russtheblade]

With Boro playing the night before us I was wondering which result would have the biggest impact on our players.
Obviously to the fans we want Boro to lose.
Does a Boro win spur the dressing on to ‘go for it’ more? Or does it make the players more cautious?
Would a Boro defeat spur the dressing room and give our boys more impetus? Or does it make for a more cautious approach?
If you was playing, how would either result effect your mentality approaching the Sunderland game?

Doesn't make a scrap of difference,you treat EVERY game as a cup final,as if it's your last game, otherwise you're in the wrong job

 

[SwissBlade]

Remember when we bottled it in 2012. We played BEFORE Wednesday about 3 weekends on the bounce. Eventually we dropped points and they overtake us.

Boro won't slip up tonight

You’re right, because they’re focused on the target rather than the chaser

Something that was visible under wilder for the promotion seasons and that first season in the prem was that the focus was always up the table or a points target, rather than looking back

It’s clear that as soon as talk started of Boro closing in on us that we were looking backwards and not towards Burnley. Even now with a gap to Burnley that’s where we should be looking.

When we lost at home to Boro it wasn’t a cause for alarm but it’s become one since.

We had a huge gap, it should’ve been a one off. But we’ve made it a weight around our ankles

Hecky should’ve been coming out after Boro and saying we’re still chasing to spot, divert the attention and look beyond the position we’re in

 

[SUFC Guy]

Win 9 out of 10 and job done.

Simples

 

[SwissBlade]

Doesn't make a scrap of difference,you treat EVERY game as a cup final,as if it's your last game, otherwise you're in the wrong job

Top sides do that every game. That’s what Carrick will have done at Boro and Luton Will be doing now

 

[raimond]

Doesn't make a scrap of difference,you treat EVERY game as a cup final,as if it's your last game, otherwise you're in the wrong job

Fair enough mate and that's what we're bound to think as fans who would give anything to be in their place, but it's not true is it? Speak to anyone who's played any professional sport- if you're playing 500 games in your career of course some are bigger than others.

You'd want to see our players giving a bit extra in the derby wouldn't you? Or against a top of the league team? Or against a fellow promotion contender when you're second in the league like last bloody Saturday.....

It's not that players don't give their all, it's that the adrenaline of a big occasion lifts you extra still. Again, that's what was so to cock in the the last match.

 

[Eric_Brooks]

In my view the best thing that can happen for us is for Boro to overtake us now. It's already impacting on us. Mindset should start changing when we are chasing

 

[Tingo Fandango]

In my view the best thing that can happen for us is for Boro to overtake us now. It's already impacting on us. Mindset should start changing when we are chasing

A home defeat for them would be enough, a Stoke side on the up, Boro aren’t infallible. They don’t have to overtake us for Utd’s performances to improve.. we need closure of this takeover business more than we need to lose more points, for some much needed clarity.

 

[CoatesyBlade]

Some good and interesting responses.
To add my view I’d say… We play better on the front foot with an attacking mindset. If there was a magical switch I’d want to see us go after every team. The players need to believe they are better than the opposition… truly believe. Of course if it was that simple then every team would do it. What our boys have in their favour is that we ARE 2nd in the league for a reason. 10 cup finals… let’s go get what we deserve and silence the doubters!

 

[ekke287]

If you’re in a foot race and the bloke behind you is gaining do you slow down or speed up?

I think if Boro win it’s the kick up the arse to go for it. If they lose I think we’ll be super defensive and play for a draw.

We should be going for a win regardless of the result obvs.

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Shouldn't even enter their mindset.

To quote the great Bill Belichek's mantra: "Do your job"

Focus on what it is you have to do. If you're LB, RCB, CF - leave the others to do their job. You focus on preparing, recovering and performing to the best of your ability. Leave the histrionics to us fans. Just focus on what you have to do...

That's the message Hecky should be giving the players. Get in the bubble, form a siege mentality and get them laser focused on their individual tasks.

 

[John Street West Terrace]

Shouldn't even enter their mindset.

To quote the great Bill Belichek's mantra: "Do your job"

Focus on what it is you have to do. If you're LB, RCB, CF - leave the others to do their job. You focus on preparing, recovering and performing to the best of your ability. Leave the histrionics to us fans. Just focus on what you have to do...

That's the message Hecky should be giving the players. Get in the bubble, form a siege mentality and get them laser focused on their individual tasks.

Perfect sum of team sports science there my friend , do your own task to the best of your ability , concentrate on winning your own personal battle & the old adegy of taking one game at a time .

 

[IdLiketoRogerMoore]

Perfect sum of team sports science there my friend , do your own task to the best of your ability , concentrate on winning your own personal battle & the old adegy of taking one game at a time .

Exactly. For example, I'd hope Max Lowe is carb loading, staying hydrated, stretching and watching game tape of Sunderland's right hand side setup whilst reminding himself of where his starting positions are and where his release balls are, whilst reviewing the points the performance team have identified from the game tape from Saturday highlighted where his mistakes were.

 

[Jimmy Fleck]

Forget about boro they’re already 2nd in my mind, our players need to focus on finishing in top 6 and start getting ready for play offs

 

[CPB]

Every match we should be approaching the same way.
Go for the win, if we don't win, don't lose.... HOWEVER if we were to start picking up too many draws that wouldn't do us good either.

In my opinion and I hope this is the case, they need to have a reset.
Final 10 game season, lets achieve something!?

For peeps saying do they really want it.
They should, financially they will get bonus'. One's staying will have contract increases automatically upon promotion and the one's that get offered new deals will be better off too you'd think. One's that leave in the summer can have a promotion on the CV and that will help them get a better new club.

I don't think there was a lack of effort on Saturday or has been. But the fluidity hasn't been there. Often in previous matche/runs we've been on that fluidity in our attacks has sometimes only resulted in about 20-25mins of game time. Yet we have managed to grab a goal, or 2 or 3 because we do have quality.
Saturday for me was a combo of not acting when we could all see the lineup wasn't working, their goal knocked the stuffing out of us but we just had no answers and started to look panicky.

Personally I think the pressure will be on us more tomorrow if Boro win. That said it might mean they go for it more so.... But we could well look that bit more nervy too.

Ultimately as it stands right now, it is still in our hands, that might not be the case soon but right now it is.

 

[CoatesyBlade]

The young lads are fearless!
You love to hear such comments!

 

[Badger Blade]

Every match we should be approaching the same way.
Go for the win, if we don't win, don't lose.... HOWEVER if we were to start picking up too many draws that wouldn't do us good either.

In my opinion and I hope this is the case, they need to have a reset.
Final 10 game season, lets achieve something!?

For peeps saying do they really want it.
They should, financially they will get bonus'. One's staying will have contract increases automatically upon promotion and the one's that get offered new deals will be better off too you'd think. One's that leave in the summer can have a promotion on the CV and that will help them get a better new club.

I don't think there was a lack of effort on Saturday or has been. But the fluidity hasn't been there. Often in previous matche/runs we've been on that fluidity in our attacks has sometimes only resulted in about 20-25mins of game time. Yet we have managed to grab a goal, or 2 or 3 because we do have quality.
Saturday for me was a combo of not acting when we could all see the lineup wasn't working, their goal knocked the stuffing out of us but we just had no answers and started to look panicky.

Personally I think the pressure will be on us more tomorrow if Boro win. That said it might mean they go for it more so.... But we could well look that bit more nervy too.

Ultimately as it stands right now, it is still in our hands, that might not be the case soon but right now it is.

I feel like a big mistake Hecky made in one of his interviews over recent weeks was not worrying about how we were playing and just to get the result. I agree that there are games where you have to graft and get over the line despite not being particularly fluent but it's not a get out clause for playing like shit every week and coming up empty. If we get the ball down, play the game properly and everyone gets their heads in the game because it's not down to a lack of ability, we're more than capable of getting there.

The Spurs game is the main case in point where we've shown what we can do when player's heads are in the right space. I just think that some of the players who were a big part of that victory should be rewarded for their efforts. Must be pretty demoralising for the likes of Doyle and Brooks to then be dropped in favour of blokes who aren't producing but get in regardless.

The team lacks old fashioned leaders. Do they still exist in the modern game? There's nobody on that team like a Morgan who players would be fearful of disappointing and getting on the wrong side of or would equally challenge the manager. We're a bit meek and mild with Sander Berge being the epitome of that. A nastier, more competitive bloke in his body with his ability could be one of the best in the world whereas if he kicked someone, he'd help them up and say sorry rather than leave them sprawling on the deck and shouting in their face to get up.

We've lost to Blackburn, Middlesbrough, Millwall and Luton when if we'd even drawn two of those, we'd still be in a position of relative comfort with the onus on them catching us.

 

[raimond]

Shouldn't even enter their mindset.

To quote the great Bill Belichek's mantra: "Do your job"

Focus on what it is you have to do. If you're LB, RCB, CF - leave the others to do their job. You focus on preparing, recovering and performing to the best of your ability. Leave the histrionics to us fans. Just focus on what you have to do...

That's the message Hecky should be giving the players. Get in the bubble, form a siege mentality and get them laser focused on their individual tasks.

Perfect mate. Coaches like Belichick are geniuses who've won over and over again- and what they've normally got in common is the ability to think clearly then express that simply and clearly to take the pressure off the players and inspire confidence.

I hope that Heckingbottom has at least the tiniest slither of that behind closed doors, and doesn't come across to the players like he does to us.

 

[Sheffsteel]

If you was playing, how would either result effect your mentality approaching the Sunderland game?

People respond different to pressure.
Some step up whilst other wilt.

You would like to think that the Boro result will have zero effect and they will perform at their max irrespective of what Boro do.

 

[Boxer Blade]

For me all the team need to do is put loads more energy into the game from start to finish ,their skill will then come through and,most of the time we will win, up the energy levels,it's not as someone said,rocket science.

 

[CoatesyBlade]

People respond different to pressure.
Some step up whilst other wilt.

They’re all individuals of course. But there’s something to be said for team spirit. Look at how someone like Ian Poulter raises his game for every Ryder Cup. Again that comes down to his personality. But if you get the mentality right in the dressing room, create an ‘us versus them’ ethos then those with the potential to wilt will feel like they’re part of something and come to the fore.

I’m just putting some theories out there. It’s a very complex situation.

Someone mentioned a Morgan type style of leader. Such an important role that is sometimes overlooked in the modern game. I think Baldock epitomises that sort of ethos. I certainly believe he brings the best out of Sander. I hope he starts tomorrow cos we need fighters for this run in!

 

[LS16Blade]

It has been mentioned before, but the way that the players threw in the towel at 1-3 against Middlesbrough, when there was still 20 minutes plus added time to go, raised serious concerns about the mentality of the side.

An almost completely changed side displayed far more attitude against Spurs, but the restored ‘first team’ showed that they might just be mentally shot, for whatever reason, against Luton.

There were 35 minutes of the match still to play when Luton scuffed their goal in. The reaction of the players was awful, though, and that is why it was so noticeable.

There was no geeing up or even remonstrating with each other about how such a nothing goal had been conceded. No sense of ‘how the hell have we conceded to this lot?’ They just turned round, to a man, and walked back into their positions, looking resigned. I can still see Egan in my mind now, walking back with his head down. And he’s the captain.

God knows, our players had long enough to get themselves together and rally, by the time the turds from Luton had finished their 3 minute long slow-walk for the re-start. There was nothing, though.

 

[CPB]

It has been mentioned before, but the way that the players threw in the towel at 1-3 against Middlesbrough, when there was still 20 minutes plus added time to go, raised serious concerns about the mentality of the side.

An almost completely changed side displayed far more attitude against Spurs, but the restored ‘first team’ showed that they might just be mentally shot, for whatever reason, against Luton.

There were 35 minutes of the match still to play when Luton scuffed their goal in. The reaction of the players was awful, though, and that is why it was so noticeable.

There was no geeing up or even remonstrating with each other about how such a nothing goal had been conceded. No sense of ‘how the hell have we conceded to this lot?’ They just turned round, to a man, and walked back into their positions, looking resigned. I can still see Egan in my mind now, walking back with his head down. And he’s the captain.

God knows, our players had long enough to get themselves together and rally, by the time the turds from Luton had finished their 3 minute long slow-walk for the re-start. There was nothing, though.

I would argue that the crowd played a big part in that when we went 3-1 down vs Boro.
Crowd fell proper silent and felt like game was done. This was then replicated on the field, although I do remember Jebbo should have done better with an opportunity. We did keep going but it felt like the game was done. You could argue that in the players minds they were thinking about the fact we had 2 other clear cut chances in the 1st half and could have been out of sight.

Again against Luton, they kept trying but for me it wasn't the effort more so intent and composure. Luton were super solid unit defending all game and then this intensified when we went 1-0 down. We revered to being more direct overall and were relying on crosses from deep or a long throw and then resulting set pieces. We seemed concerned to go wide all game. And this did us in.

They’re all individuals of course. But there’s something to be said for team spirit. Look at how someone like Ian Poulter raises his game for every Ryder Cup. Again that comes down to his personality. But if you get the mentality right in the dressing room, create an ‘us versus them’ ethos then those with the potential to wilt will feel like they’re part of something and come to the fore.

I’m just putting some theories out there. It’s a very complex situation.

Someone mentioned a Morgan type style of leader. Such an important role that is sometimes overlooked in the modern game. I think Baldock epitomises that sort of ethos. I certainly believe he brings the best out of Sander. I hope he starts tomorrow cos we need fighters for this run in!

Baldock, Robinson, McBurnie are a bit like these sorts of players. Even Bash and Sharp.
There are the lads there that have the experience of promotion last time or even from L1 too in Bash and Sharp.
They need to step up the rally but lets not forget just because you don't see a player squaring up to an opposition player doesn't mean they don't have fight either.

I think the way the game is though now regards Morgan he would get sent off every few weeks. In the PL with VAR probably every other game!

 

[Russtheblade]

Fair enough mate and that's what we're bound to think as fans who would give anything to be in their place, but it's not true is it? Speak to anyone who's played any professional sport- if you're playing 500 games in your career of course some are bigger than others.

You'd want to see our players giving a bit extra in the derby wouldn't you? Or against a top of the league team? Or against a fellow promotion contender when you're second in the league like last bloody Saturday.....

It's not that players don't give their all, it's that the adrenaline of a big occasion lifts you extra still. Again, that's what was so to cock in the the last match.

Yes I agree adrenaline makes a huge difference, but that's largely an involuntary reaction, whereas mindset is a conscious thing, & ours was negative v Luton along with poor decision making why? It's been a worrying trend for long enough

 

[raimond]

Yes I agree adrenaline makes a huge difference, but that's largely an involuntary reaction, whereas mindset is a conscious thing, & ours was negative v Luton along with poor decision making why? It's been a worrying trend for long enough

I'd agree. But you can get your own adrenaline going, as can your teammates, as should your manager. Saturday was a bloody huge match and shouldn't have taken any getting up for whatsoever.

It was flat as anything and worrying- there was very little talking/bollocking each other amongst the players. They looked resigned and disheartened.... could be something we don't know or could very well be not believing in the manager, who knows.