Quote from heimdall on Today at 04:32:33 pm
For us it was a bad day against a very good team and when we lost Mane we completely lost our confidence and shape.
Agreed, not a point touched on enough yet in my opinion.
Jürgen noted this problem around January/Feb when we hit our slump that when things go against us the negativity and expectance of failure seems to kick in. We don't have that personality in the team that sees adversity and spits in it's face outside apart from Mane. Firmino will never let his head drop and will keep pushing but that arrogance, sure it might be what got him sent off today, but more of our lads need it.
Most especially this is needed in your midfield, from that position you can influence tempo more than any other, in both a defensive and attacking sense. I'm not talking Roy Keane, level of aggression, but something just a bit nasty that gets the lads fired up, while we took a couple of punches today there was nobody bouncing back from the ropes with their own. We'd had our guard lowered and were simply there for the taking.
This character trait can't be coached either, or not in my opinion anyway, it's a way of life. You either accept failure as "one of those things" or "oh well" or you fight against it and while sometimes, perhaps many, you wont overcome it, there will be times when "one of those things" or "or well" was actually wrong and a bit of grit/determination and pure anger that "this is not happening to me!" Will get you through to the other side.
Are we a bunch of wimps that are easily intimidated by both the way things unfold and aggressive opponents, in the middle of the park and in between the sticks this is an over-riding problem that has been with us and will remain with us as long as these same players continue to be selected. Spit in the face of adversity, a bit more of "bring it on bi*ch!" attitude, I'd love to see it from us.
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