I get what you're saying and I'm a scientist first and foremost. I question everything and assume almost nothing. In most circumstances I would never make an assumption and state "its obvious". But this is one of them I'm afraid. Like I said too many confounding variables, player/team/coach morale, fan/media expectation, plans for next season, accepting relegation. Teams in that situation have a lot more problems than just being bad on paper, as a team I think they often don't "want it". Then there's the opposing team, so many safe teams who have 'nothing to play for' can be dangerous. What I'm trying to say is there are far too many factors to just look at results and conclude that motivation has no effect.
Yay lawro has predicted us to lose. Says palace will win and pulis is doing well but they won't pull away from the rele battle. Confusion.
Motivation must have some effect or why would people hire motivators. Desperation for points may make someone take risks...I remember a Saints player (sorry forget who) heading a goal when he knew he was going to also head the post...desire made him risk it. Of course, such desperation could also make you risk a red card which would have the opposite effect to that desired. I would suggest we are also highly motivated after 3 losses and with several players wanting to prove themselves to Hodgson.
The question regarding "wanting it" is an interesting one. So, imagine the situation where two teams are out on the last day of the season. Both in the same position, need to win not to go down, both against identical mid-table sides with nothing to play for. Team A goes out and runs around like energetic headless chickens. Team B goes out and calmly plays their usual game. Team A will look like it "wants it more" but may not necessarily win. If it does, then confirmation bias will kick in and it'll be remembered. If they lose, they'll just be tomorrow's "plucky but unlucky underdogs" and forgotten. Meanwhile if team B wins, nothing memorable has happened and it's forgotten immediately. If they lose, confirmation bias starts up and they "didn't want it". Clive Woodward pointed out that England's final points to win the Rugby World Cup came because at the end of the final, momentous game, the team just carried on playing exactly how they had trained. No panic, no heroics, just steady play to try to build a normal scoring opportunity. So, I don't buy "wanting" a game. What people see as "wanting" often leads to poorer play IMO as people substitute visible effort for following their training. Vin
You're contradicting yourself!! Of course it is a significant factor. Hence why teams play better when a new manager comes in. They want to impress, and thus up their game. In a 50-50 challenge, the player who wants it more is more likely to get the ball. Isn't this the one of the most obvious things in football??
Would prefer it if you could get more than just the one early on. We need all the bloody help we can get
I used to play my mate every week at squash. I never beat him. I used to really want it, definately more than him. He was just better than me Just saying
Again, not sure teams do play better for a new manager. Another myth imo. Ok, palace hav improved under pulis. But fulham, cardiff, swansea & sunderland hav all changed managers this season with no discernable improvement.
I wasn't suggesting that it happens every time. But even if it happens rarely, it still happens, thus proving that it is indeed possible for teams to improve almost immediately with a new manager, and thus proving that teams will play better if the players want it more.
I'm not saying that Stenhousemuir would beat Bayern Munich simply by wanting it more. Obviously it comes down to more than just the "wanting it" factor alone, but it does still play a part. (and yes, FLT, I am calling you Stenhousemuir, my friend).
I think you are missing a more important aspect than desire- belief. Belief is much more important than desire in raising performance. This ability to instil belief in the team that they can win, will win, is the most important talent in any type of management. You can desire lots of things but if you don't believe you will succeed then you will contrive subconsciously to fail. So, I hope that sorted that out. You are both wrong
Jay Rodriguez I think. Saints are doing a good impression of a team that can't hit a barn door with a banjo (is that the phrase?) of late. I don't want to make any predictions, but Jason Puncheon does **** when he wants, and possibly even where he wants. So let's not **** ourselves. I think that pretty much sums it up.
I would be satisfied (not happy but satisfied) with a draw as one point takes us to the magic 40 points! Remember we are taking on not only Palace but Webb too
Are the BBC correct in saying, on Lawro's predictions, we've only won four times in the last seventeen Premiership games? Not really that impressive if you lay it out stark and bare like that.
