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THE SPURS OF MOTIVATION PART TWO 20-12-05
Continued from yesterday's Part One
On Motivation (part 3254)
Well what else can be said? Sunday's must-win game against Spurs was, in all predictability a draw, which did no-one any favours. It summed up our mediocre season all too well and is a further sign that if we are to finish in the top half of the table this season we will be lucky.
Indeed since the end of September we have fluctuated between tenth and thirteenth place in the league and there seems to be little chance of that changing in the coming months. Still McClaren in his post-match Spurs comments couldn't fault any of the players, which is relieving to hear I am sure. That's the same players who hardly played in the first half, who were over-run in midfield and conceded three goals is it? Good to hear the ship is in steady hands...
Against Spurs it wasn't the attack that was the problem but the defence, which was about as porous as a hooker's underwear. Yes we may be getting the excitement (our performance at Anfield excepted) but the results are still wildly erratic and you still don't know which Boro are going to turn up- the can't-be-arsed one or the only-slightly-can't-be-arsed one.
As usual, on Sunday the team didn't get out of the traps until we conceded, which has been a major flaw in nearly all of McClaren's teams over the years. Last season meanwhile, we only ever played in the second-half although thankfully we could generally get to half-time still at 0-0. This season if we can be bothered to play at all then we only do so in ten minute bursts, which is frustrating for all those who pay good money to watch the likes of Doriva and Rochemback do their stuff. Furthermore it doesn't help when our midfield is weaker than one of Pogatetz's clearances and is often over-run by even the most mediocre of players.
But what can realistically be done? Well, part of the problem will be solved by the competition for places that will be generated upon the return of Downing and Parlour. This is because, finally, the players who are in the team can no longer rest on their laurels and launch shots high into Row ZZ without the fear of being dropped. Furthermore we will also have a creative midfielder in the side (a shock I know, but bare with me) in the form of Downing, who actually frightens the opposition.
I personally think he is over-rated and some teams have started to suss him out but this fear factor is still an important psychological one and one that could be used to our advantage come the New Year. Downing's return also bodes well because he and Morrison have a good understanding of each other's games through their youth side exploits and this can only be of benefit to our midfield which, in terms of attack, has suffered ever since Zenden's departure. Add Mendieta into this mix and drop Doriva and a midfield of Boateng, Mendi, Downing and Morrison doesn't sound too bad. Factor in the January transfer window and our inevitable lack of activity during it (which, remember prolonged last season's three month depression) and surely we have a lot to look forward to. I personally can't wait.
However the related problem of the lack of motivation is still a concern and one that must be addressed before we start slipping further and further into mediocrity. Looking at the players, there seems to be little collective belief in the club, with many of them just aimlessly plodding around the midfield hoping for things to happen. Now why?
As I have said this was a problem last season too, particularly in the first half of games, and has been a factor of nearly all McClaren teams since his arrival in 2001. Add to this the fact that we only seem to be motivated for the big games- against Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and the European ties- games when motivation from the coaching staff would be required less.
Thus you do have to wonder who is failing to do their job properly on the coaching side if the players cannot be motivated for games against the likes of Charlton, Sunderland, Everton and West Brom. This is particularly the case when all the usual excuses that are put forth to mitigate a lack of effort are considered and found to be somewhat wanting as acceptable explanations.
The simple fact is that tiredness is not a good enough reason- these people are played x thousands of pounds a week to play football and quite frankly two games a week should not be beyond them. And if it is then they are not evidently fit enough to be professional footballers. Furthermore what with the squad rotation policy we employ, the tiredness factor should not be a factor at all.
This leaves two possible reasons for the lack of motivation in the club: either there is a rift in the dressing room and the players don't want to play for the manager or there is insufficient motivation coming from the managerial and coaching staff at the club. Either way I wouldn't like to speculate, suffice to say that McClaren's signing of his contract in November heralded an upturn in fortunes, yet now we are in the same situation we were in in October.
Whether this means anything or not is up to the reader to decide as frankly I am not too sure, but either way the motivation crisis needs to be sorted and sorted now. Personally I am glad that McClaren is talking positively after Sunday's 3-3 draw, and indeed after nearly every fixture this season. It is evident in his voice and actions that he has the passion to take the club further, he just needs to find a way of translating this into better, more motivated and more combative performances on the pitch.
Because at present we are only seven points away from relegation, and a long way away from the top six. And if we are ever going to claw this distance back then the time to act is now- before it's too late. And if the club implements more fan-friendly policies, particularly with respect to ticket prices, then they will come back, we can get behind the lads and thus motivate them more and everything will be fine again. But at the moment, if the players can't be bothered half of the time then why should the fans be? And it is this that is really starting to hurt the club at the moment.
Finally may I say that I am personally delighted to have drawn Stuttgart in the UEFA Cup last-32. In qualifying top of our group we avoided all the difficult sides yet Stuttgart are still quite a big name and will be a tricky test. Hopefully motivation will not be a issue when we play them.
Until next time
Have a howling good Christmas...
Packwolf.
BACK TO PART ONE
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