Is it mental?

[The Great Mass Debater]

OK - disclaimer, I didnt see the game yesterday, but having read the posts by other members, and reflecting on this season and the last few, Im left asking the question - is the problem a mental one?

Consider the Lambert years - Lambert's mantra was 'Young and Hungry'. In the beginning we didnt have many particularly talented players, but Lambert seemed to recruit based on mental strength - drive and determination. Consider what became Norwich's signature during that period - last minute winners from a team that never gave up. A team that went out and had the balls to try and give the opposition a bloody nose. Lambert kept this kind of recruitment up until he left, then in came Hughton.

Hughton started a mass overhaul of the team. We didnt question it as all managers do this, and we saw the replacement of our evolved League One side with better players as a normal and expected development of the side. Hughtons business was widely praised by all, and everyone felt he was bringing in more talented players.

We all know what happened though. And more than anything, was this because Hughton recruited players who had more technical ability, but were far weaker mentally? Bassong a case in point.

The culture changed, and Hughton, Calderwood and Trollope were blamed. Of course they were responsible, but how much also came from the type of player they recruited?

Gone was the culture that was so successful in the Lambert years. A product of Hughton we all thought. But now in comes Adams, with largely the same players, and the culture doesnt seem to have changed. The exciting driven attacking football we expected isnt there.

Relegation hangover? (and if this is the overriding culture it could arguably seep into players who werent here to experience it) or product of the personality types of the players brought in?

Young and hungry worked. Nothing we've had since really has.  Have Hughton and Adams failed where Lambert was so astute in recognising the importance of mental attributes, and that sometimes this can mean outperforming more talented teams?

This team should be swatting most other teams away. It is stronger than last season, when it shouldnt have been relegated from the Premier League. This isnt just because I have my yellow and green glasses on, this squad is superior to most in the league. They shouldnt be able to cope with us, but they are doing. Quite easily.

The team is underperforming, and this is now trans-managerial. Is the problem a mental one? If so, is it a quintessential feature of the players in question (ie we need different players)? Are the players fine and is there a deeper problem within the club? Or have we just simply installed another poor manager who doent know how to correct this problem?

Is Phelan the answer? In his current role, or as manager-elect?

 

[Dubai Mark]

It's simple, yes the Board must be mental to have chosen NA in the first place, and even more so to now not do something about it.

Yes, Phelan could be the answer, but he will need his own team around him to achieve what is required.

 

[Highland Canary]

Phelan is not the answer. Only an experienced manager is likely to be able to stabilise us in the Championship now.

 

[ZLF]

there is now a strong mental element - the confidence is gone from the team and must be affecting morale - slow,  sideways passing as no one takes responsibility and no leadership on the pitch or anyone incl the captain organising the defence.

It is also structural - the tactics (4222??? yest) are beyond belief,  the team selections poor and lack of coaching on the defending managerial incompetence to the extreme.

We need a boost to the squad (left winger?) and leadership at cb and a change in manager - not sure phelan can do that.

 

[SussexYellow]

NA has lost his way, if ever he found it in the first place, in not having a clear vision of what he wants to achieve, how he is going to do it, what the role of the players is in achieving that vision and instilling the motivation to get there. Without these essential ingredients what is done at Colney Monday to Friday will be ineffective and we are seeing the results on Saturday.

Rabbit in the headlights is fair comment.

Mike Phelan whilst not having experience as manager is from an entirely different mould than Gunn or Adams. He has sat alongside arguably the best manager around for years, and would be key to implementing SAF's vision on the training ground. Without having been a manager there surely can have been no better training. Plus he has years of experience dealing with the egos of senior professionals. No easy task and something that Gunn and Adams were totally devoid of.

So for me he is a an option.

 

[Lake District Canary]

Its a bit like an actor forgetting his lines.   You do it once and it is ok, you do it twice and you start doubting your ability to remember lines...... 

Personally I think one or two players are shell shocked - Ruddy in particular - which is why I have been suggesting giving Rudd a chance in the last couple of weeks.  Martin and Turner too.   Three seasons of unceasingly pressurised football is not going to help, especially when it has included heavy beatings and relegation.  So yes, some of it is mental - which again is something you would have hoped Adams would have taken on board. Our defence and midfield this season is very much the same as last season.  That in itself says something. 

 

[The Great Mass Debater]

NA has lost his way, if ever he found it in the first place, in not having a clear vision of what he wants to achieve, how he is going to do it, what the role of the players is in achieving that vision and instilling the motivation to get there. Without these essential ingredients what is done at Colney Monday to Friday will be ineffective and we are seeing the results on Saturday.

Rabbit in the headlights is fair comment.

Mike Phelan whilst not having experience as manager is from an entirely different mould than Gunn or Adams. He has sat alongside arguably the best manager around for years, and would be key to implementing SAF's vision on the training ground. Without having been a manager there surely can have been no better training. Plus he has years of experience dealing with the egos of senior professionals. No easy task and something that Gunn and Adams were totally devoid of.

So for me he is a an option.

Phelan's experience alongside SAF during a period of success at the highest level means he is going to be respected. Following Bassong's 'Are we supposed to know who you are?' comment, it could be suggested that Adams might not command the level of respect from his players that a manager should. Phelan has authenticity/credibility, where some players might genuinely question Adams' experience, know-how and right to tell them what to do on a daily basis.

We know players can behave like this - see how AVB's methods were undermined by egotistical footballers. Is it beyond the realms of possibility to think some players might think 'who are you? and why should I think that you are the person to cow-tow to?'. Never a world class player, no managerial experience other than with a youth team. Not much older than the players so no natural paternal relationship going on - what do you know? There might even still be a bit of Bassong-like loyalty to Hughton going on.

 

[lyb]

It is a psychological problem, absolutely. Relegation can't help but leave scars that leaves confidence in the players brittle, and that sort of confidence has to come from within. The talent is there to turn it around and do well, but not while so many are turning a bad situation into a full-blown crisis by getting hysterical instead of showing a bit of resolve and supporting in the hope that the players might get a bit of inspiration from it after showing this setup does have the technical ability to succeed with a flying start in our first 10 games.