HOW bad do things have to be, how awful can they get, before they get better?
Six draws on the trot is bad enough, but two practically identical games against Fury is just soul destroying. I thought I was unfortunate to have not been able to see much of the last couple of Phoenix games, now I'm glad, because Saturday night was just painful.
I have spent the last two and a bit seasons sticking behind Ricki, through good times and bad, but I think I may now be edging towards joining the 'sack Ricki' brigade; only edging, though.
He's obviously a very bright bloke, who knows a lot about football, and I think that he is a pretty good tactician; but it has become blatantly obvious that he struggles to control his players once they step out onto the pitch, especially when they're under pressure, but that's also the fault of the players.
I am completely certain that RH wanted to go after a second goal in Townsville, because I've seen us park the bus, and it is far more organised than the shambles we saw. It all comes down to the players' inability to handle the pressure (and RH's sometimes absurd substitutions or lack of haste in making the right ones).
I'm currently participating in a year-long development programme for young cricketers, and when it comes to ensuring consistent high performance, we are told to make sure we 'control the controllables'. One of those controllables is making sure we handle pressure well. So obviously, Phoenix are not adhering to this principle.
I want to see the club employing the services of a sports psychologist, or at least a coach who knows a thing or two about building mental strength in players, because the tactics aren't the problem, it is mental weakness, pure and simple. These players need spines surgically implanted in their backs.
To be honest, it isn't a problem that only affects this club either; it is league-wide, and the reason why players and teams play so inconsistently, and two or three-goal leads disappear. It may also play a part in why some of the bright young things out of Brisbane haven't pushed on, and if it is, all players developing in the A-League are missing out on learning the mental skills that turn talent into quality. Technique-wise football is a fairly easy sport to pick up, and many of the skills that separate state-league players from EPL ones are related directly to the mind (positioning, anticipation, etc).
Maybe every A-League club needs to be looking at coaching their players in mental skills, because they are skills, and it will improve the standard of the league. I hope that if my humble advice is heeded, Wellington Phoenix could lead the way in looking at this area.
If they don't, they could always take my spine idea literally (think something like Spiderman 2).
James Malthus would like to thank Daniel Jourdain for the 'Wellington Phoenix Drawing Club' gag. Next week he will examine how Michael Ferrante went from FA Youth Cup winner to completely hopeless.
