If Sunderland’s 3-0 home reverse to Wigan Athletic had come in the Premier League, then serious questions would have been asked about the Black Cats survival chances. As it was, this FA Cup upset was buried beneath greater shocks elsewhere. It also, possibly, marked the end of Roy Keane’s extended honeymoon period as Sunderland manager. Fans shouting to him that he should be ashamed of his sides performance. And he was. No hiding from the truth. This next phase of the season promises to be a serious test of Keane’s management capability. As a player he set vigorous standards. And […]
Read More...Sports Psychology Blog
Welcome to the Sports Psychology blog. Here you will find insights on current sporting events, from the perspective of a sports psychologist.
The purpose of this blog, is to get inside the sporting drama…why the player or team do what they they do…their thinking…mindsets…attitudes…their fluctuating state of confidence…and all the other mental and emotional pieces that create the psychology of sports.
The most recent articles are at the top of the List Of Sports Psychology Blogs Index.
Roy Keane
Its been a difficult start to the new year for Roy Keane. Firstly, his Sunderland side gets dumped out of the FA Cup by Wigan Athletic, Makems letting their manager know that he ought to be ashamed of his teams performance. And he was. And he told us so. Then, in another blow to his nascent team-building plans, tough-tackling, straight talking midfielder Robbie Savage turned down Keane and joined Derby County, a club where he is loathed by the fans. Where he accepted, furthermore, that he would be playing Championship football next year. Savage stated that he has teamed up […]
Read More...Darts: Kirk Shepherd – The Flag
So Kirk Shepherd was unable to rediscover the fearlessness that characterised his adventure into the World Darts Final. The first clues that this seemed a step too far for the sheet metal worker, came as he made his way onto the main stage. Kirk brought the flag of St. George with him. He waved it at the crowd in a bid to evoke a powerful sense of patriotism. In doing so he forgot to shake the hands of the match officials. When he remembered to do this, he then stumbled, nearly tripping over. Perhaps the reason he needed the crowd […]
Read More...Football: Paul Jewell – Leaders!
‘Instead of the miss spurring us on, our heads went down. It’s just not good enough. We’ve got to get rid of this losing culture’. The words of Paul Jewell, after his sides Pride Park defeat to Blackburn Rovers. Derby were one nil up. A penalty to go two up. It’s missed and immediately Blackburn got back in the game. It’s a sure sign of a team that has simply got used to too much losing. Expecting things to go wrong. Worn down by the inevitability of it all. Paul Jewell has his work cut out to turn this challenge around. He […]
Read More...Darts: Kirk Shepherd – Fearless!
It had been expected that Wayne Mardle, three times beaten semi-finalist, would prove too strong for the qualifier Kirk Shepherd in tonight’s semi-final. But the form book was overturned. Kirk Shepherd played without fear. Nothing To Lose + Supreme Confidence = Fearlessness. For Wayne Mardle the weight of expectation was too much. Spirited in defeating Phil Taylor in the quarter final. Now, as favourite, there was little joy. Only pressure. Fearlessness marks the arrival onto the sporting stage of many of the greats and legends. As if they have yet to experience doubt or uncertainty. As if the potency of […]
Read More...Football: Sam Allardyce – The Challenge
It’s another defeat for Newcastle United. Another sub-standard performance. More dissent from the travelling fans. You sense that much more of this, and Sam Allardyce’s long-term project may be brought to an early close. It is possible in a football club, that disaffected players can bring on a managers demise. Players disaffected with a managers style; routines; strategy. Players who subtly under perform, knowing the pressure it will bring on the manager. Players who will carry the burden of defeat, knowing the manager can do nothing about it. Sam Allardyce betrayed some of this sense of anxiety a few weeks ago. […]
Read More...Darts: Raymond Van Barneveld – Zen!
So Raymond Van Barneveld is using Zen meditation techniques to improve his concentration. There is much sense in this. In darts there can be high degrees of pressure. A small target. A double to win the leg. Little margin for error. It’s easy to get down on yourself if you miss a double and let your opponent in. Van Barneveld’s technique will enable him to keep calm under pressure. Remain neutral. Almost in a dream-like state. Just let his game flow, easily and naturally. No dramas. No unnecessary shows of emotion. Just calm and steady. Staying in the moment is […]
Read More...Football: Roy Keane – The Value Of Restraint
It’s the last minute of Sunderland’s trip to Reading. The Black Cats look to be returning north with a useful away point, when Stephen Hunt’s close range shot is deemed to have crossed the line by the assistant. It’s a close call, and one which you would expect Roy Keane to take serious issue with. Especially after last weeks expression of dissatisfaction with referee Steve Bennett. But no – Keane is the model of restraint in the post match interviews. Unhappy with the decision – yes, but emotions kept well under control. With Sunderland dropping into the bottom three, it’s […]
Read More...Football: Sir Alex Ferguson – A Clear & Potent Message
So we understand Sir Alex Ferguson is angry with his players for their Christmas Party shenanigan’s. And so he should be. The hard fought for values of Manchester United were denigrated. One player arrested on suspicion of rape. Lurid tabloid tales of sexual debauchery dominating the front pages. What players get up to in their private lives is their business. But the football club Christmas Party is the business of the football club. The senior players should carry the clubs core values with them wherever they go. On and off the pitch. Failure to do so, suggests a misalignment with those values. The Christmas Party’s first […]
Read More...Football: Everton – Beyond Blame
It’s nearly two months since Everton’s stormy derby match with Liverpool. A game which ended in controversy with Everton being denied a last-minute penalty by referee Mark Clattenburg. A decision which led to harsh, direct comments from David Moyes about Mr. Clattenburg’s performance. Since then Everton have looked almost unbeatable. Through to the semi-final of the Carling Cup; progressing nicely in the UEFA Cup; unbeaten in the League. Interestingly David Moyes puts the turnaround down to events on Derby Day. He recognised that a successful team takes matters into their own hands. They cannot lay the blame of failure at […]
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