Confidence, or commitment - which is key?

Trying to think positive - we have played three games and won one at and lost the two away. Win on Saturday and we will restore the feeling that we will at least tread water again this season. Lose and it looks difficult. The desperate run last season seemed to be triggered by a loss in team morale following the key departures of Vaz Te and Drinkwater and the refusal of new contract by Butterfield. It must have felt like 'will the last player out of Barnsley please turn out the lights.' Hill talked about player confidence as a key factor in the poor form and we cannot afford that to take a grip again early this season. Great managers are the ones who are able to get players to punch above their weight and Hillflicker will need to do that yet again. I will always say that the inspiration for them needs to be Clough and Taylor, who did exactly that with the likes of McFarlane from Tranmere, Hector from Bradford and McGovern from Hartlepool. That's our dream and I would guess it is also Hillflicker's in their taking the job in the first place.

But I am also concerned about player commitment. A similar problem put paid to the Spackman era, during which too many players not so much under-achieved as did not achieve at all and there was, allegedly, a drinking culture as well. We also had players at that time who preferred to rest on the physio's couch, rather than turn out for the team. I am not saying we have that problem now, but it is really important that the likes of Etuhu and Mellis really show that they appreciate the second chance they have been given by KH.

It is good to note that the Swansea performance was better in respect of confidence and commitment. We now need to continue from the Middlesbrough performance at home to in-form Bristol City (Sam Baldock and all) on Saturday.

I was pleased that we were being linked with Gordon Greer of Brighton in the close season. It suggested that KH had identified what we most needed to strengthen in central defence. It now remains to be seen how the Wiseman, Cranie, Foster and, hopefully not long away, McNulty combinations manage to shore up our wiki-leaks. KH was a central defender, so he should be aware of what is needed.

Keep the faith.

 

Should have read 'three league games.'

 

A good read that, mate

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Re: A good read that, mate

Culture is something that is influenced from the top ie. the Manager.

If the culture is good, then confidence should follow.

As I have said before, what concerns me is the massive difference in performance/comittment between the 'Boro game and Brighton game.

We should not get too carried away with the Bristol City result......a win (which would be 2 from 4 league games) would be nice.........I am keen to see that drive and comittment we had in the 'Boro game because that sort of performance has "mid/upper table" written all over it. We've shown we can do it.......