The Mail Bag
Simple as A,B,C
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Reading the OS article by Pienaar (http://www.evertonfc.com/news/archive/pienaar-we-re-a-scalp.html) about EFC being targeted scalps for smaller clubs got me thinking about the team and club's psychology at the moment.
IMHO, a team's psychology can make a huge difference to performance. Not sure about you folks but as a Blue, I always feel more comfortable as the underdog. That backs to the wall and "dogs of war" attitude to me epitomises the Everton spirit. So, given our current situation (let's forget why we are where we are for a moment), this is the rallying call I would be making if I were DM.
A is for attitude. I'd be trying to motivate every team member to go out and prove to themselves, team mates, fans, the top 4, International managers, DM or whoever, that they are great players. Basically, DM needs to get them fired up inside.
B is for belief. DM needs to talk to each player, explain their role and show real belief in them. Its not a "you're dropped if you lose the ball", its a "I know you are a great player who can do XYZ. Go and show me". This goes for all players but I have particular players like Castillo in mind here.
C is for commitment. Putting A & B together with team spirit gives team commitment. The Everton team that won the league back in 86-87 did so through team spirit. There were some great players but they also had a fair share of injuries and quite a few unknowns who stepped up to the mark and played their part. We need that same spirit and commitment now.
I hope DM can instill these values into the current squad. Signing his contract might help too!
Ciaran Duff, Posted 13/10/2008 at 08:34:34
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This arm over shoulder has gone on too long, it?s a bloodly kick up the backside to most of the players.
But for starters, someone needs to lecture Moyes the meaning of attitude, belief and committment (how?s the contract situation?).
In recent years Everton have improved a great deal, and inevitably the underdog status has been shed somewhat in line with this improvement.
I for one, would be far happier if we improved further still and were seen as underdogs in less and less matches.
The challenge is for Everton’s players and manager is to raise their games and prove that they deserve to have got rid of their perennial underdog status.
Do you believe that Real Madrid, Man Utd etc ever go into a game believing they are the undergog? The answer is NO!!! and that's why they are winners.
They believe they are the best and that they should win and that they will win. Not "these are better than us but if we put a shift in, you never know..."
I doubt it.
A = Atrocious
B = Ball watching
C = Calamity
Ok, maybe my use of the term underdog is misleading. What I?m getting at, is instilling a siege mentality in the team. That doesn?t mean that we expect to lose in fact it means the opposite. It also doesn?t mean being defensive and hoping to hang on for a draw against Arsenal or Manure. Basically it is a mental attitude where we are out to prove a point to every team we play by beating them. I think the 86-87 team probably started the season that way. Lost Lineker, key players injured etc but they stuck togther and toughed it out.
You are correct in saying that what every manager in the EPL should be instilling this into their players. However, I get the feeling that DM isn?t doing this. We make excuses, don?t sign contracts, don?t give players a decent run, seldom praise players etc. That's just my gut feeling.
Bit
Crap
Pretty much sums up our season thus far and also Phil Neville.
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1 Posted 14/10/2008 at 06:21:36
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In a way I think you encapsulate all that is wrong with our club, we seem to only focus on OUR problems, top teams don't focus on their own shortcomings, they concentrate on the oppositions.
Take our next two games for example. SAF and Wenger will be instructing their players to drive forward and exploit the absence of a defensive midfield insurance policy in our ranks. Wenger will totally ignore the fact that he has an identical problem. He will probably give will give someone like Fabregas a free role. One thing is certain, DM won't do the same, he won't say to Arteta "listen Mik, we?re really going for it today, no Flamini, go where the fuck you want today, hurt them!"
Edwina Van The Tart is having a nightmare at the moment, he?s not even getting in the same post code as some of the crosses into the United box. But we?ll spend our time worrying about big Tim. We know already Moyes won't play Baines in front of Lescot and instruct him and Mikky to keep getting down the flanks and getting crosses in to exploit the big tart.
DM will instruct our boys to try to stay compact, he always does, it may work ? law of averages and all that ? but how do you inspire confidence in a team when you don't show any???
I would rather take a hammering from these teams by having a go, than succumb to the inevitable late goal trying to grind out a point. Fortune, and league tables, favour the brave.