COME with me on a journey...

A voyage, an expedition, into the minds of the Adelaide United coaches and hierarchy as they plan for the upcoming A-League finals campaign.

Careful consideration is given, in turn, to all of the factors they can influence.

Firstly, they give thought to the fitness of the team. They acknowledge that the players are, in medical terminology, “stuffed”. A training schedule is thus devised that will give the team as much rest and recuperation time as possible, whilst still keeping them sharp.

They then think about the opposition. They discuss individual players, their strengths and weaknesses. Tactics and formations are analysed. Scouting missions to training sessions are planned. No stone is left unturned. If Archie Thompson changes the ring tone on his phone they want to know about it.

And then they come to the often complex issue of team morale and motivation.

They brainstorm ways in which they might inspire their players to greater heights. Ways to urge the players to dig deeper in the heat of battle. Ways to make the team as a whole further embrace the collective cause.

Suddenly, it arrives. A simple thought. A thought that evolves into an action.
It’s as though it were inspired by Ernie Merrick himself.

On the verge of the finals, the Reds, in their “wisdom”, decide to tell three players that they’re not wanted next year. Chalk one up for “great motivational blunders”!

The three players in question (Salley, Costanzo and Diego) may well have crucial parts to play in the club’s finals campaign. Perhaps they’ll be professional enough to overcome their disappointment and play well. Perhaps they’ll perform because now they’ll be in the shop window for other clubs.

Perhaps.

I can’t help thinking though, that when you’re trying to build team spirit to reach a common goal, you don’t need any potential impediments to motivation.

You don’t want cause for disharmony.

This action, in my mind, is one such impediment. The club doesn’t need it. Not right now.

I say have a mid-year cut-off point for signing players to new contacts and for any other players coming out of contract, discuss it once the season has ended. They’ll still have time to find new clubs if they’re not wanted but are still good enough.

Winning a title is hard enough. You don’t want to have to jump extra hurdles, especially if they’re of your own making.