Red Bill
Active member
- Joined
- Dec 9, 2011
- Messages
- 2,882
One thing I think Matt Taylor is universally respected for by the fanbase has been his honesty in interviews, when he talks about a match it usually reflects what I've seen myself. Certainly a refreshing change compared to the last incumbent!
However although I'm sure he isn't the only manager who does this, but one thing that does annoy me is the pre-match comments about what a tough test it will be and what a good side the opposition are. Now sometimes that will be true but these comments seem to be made every game, regardless of the opposition. It comes across to me as making excuses before a ball is kicked and I personally find it negative and disheartening.
Now we all know that in football, sometimes the best teams can lose to the very worst teams, its part of what we love about football, but generally I would rather see us being bullish about our chances ahead of a game. This may of course be an attempt at some kind of reverse psychology but i find it is also provides the players with an excuse and is a rather clumsy way of managing supporters expectation and also plays into the 'lil ol us' image.
Its not just MT and I've heard similar from other managers, but as a fan, its not what I want to hear. I want to hear things like 'we're confident, we can beat this side', or 'if we get it right and play our game we will win this, we've got a great team', not 'they've got really good players and they've spent big this year so we're the underdogs'.
Maybe its just my general desire for optimism and I'm on my own here, but I'd be really interested to her what others' take on this is.
However although I'm sure he isn't the only manager who does this, but one thing that does annoy me is the pre-match comments about what a tough test it will be and what a good side the opposition are. Now sometimes that will be true but these comments seem to be made every game, regardless of the opposition. It comes across to me as making excuses before a ball is kicked and I personally find it negative and disheartening.
Now we all know that in football, sometimes the best teams can lose to the very worst teams, its part of what we love about football, but generally I would rather see us being bullish about our chances ahead of a game. This may of course be an attempt at some kind of reverse psychology but i find it is also provides the players with an excuse and is a rather clumsy way of managing supporters expectation and also plays into the 'lil ol us' image.
Its not just MT and I've heard similar from other managers, but as a fan, its not what I want to hear. I want to hear things like 'we're confident, we can beat this side', or 'if we get it right and play our game we will win this, we've got a great team', not 'they've got really good players and they've spent big this year so we're the underdogs'.
Maybe its just my general desire for optimism and I'm on my own here, but I'd be really interested to her what others' take on this is.