Lacking in Confidence and Self Belief

[foreigner]

I think the reason for our dismal performances is that the players lack confidence and they don't believe they can win.

Whenever we lose a star player ( Bucks, Taz, Rocca, Burns), either through injury or otherwise other players go into a shell. This was evident some games last year, but due to our almost perfect run with injuries we were able to make the grand final. Come grand final, we lost Rocca and we had lost the game in the players minds even before the first bounce. Now, after losing most of our top players ... no one on the ground believe that we can win. We started well against the Lions, Taz gets injured and we go back to our shell.

This is in stark contrast to teams like the Lions and now the Saints. If one player goes down or doesn't play ... others pick up to cover the loss. That's the attitude we should follow. Case in point ... Jonathon Brown gets knocked out cold in the first minute on GF day ... he refuses to leave the field, and later kicks a few goals too. Who in our team will ever do that ... I can't think of any, except maybe Bucks and Burns.

Our second tier players lack courage and the attitude to never give up. We need the will to win. Even if our best 10 players are not playing, the players should believe that they can win and play to win.

Watching through the games this year, this is quite apparent. No real tackling, kicking the ball straight to opponents, indecision when moving the ball and refusing to put their body on the line. It was like clockwork when we used to move the ball forward during the last two years. But now it's a real pain to watch.

Sure, we have inuries. So does the other teams ... like Brisbane and St. Kilda ... but they refuse to give up. Sadly the Pies have given up already. Maybe we need a motivator to tell the players this - to have the players put up their hands and say, I will deliver no matter what and never give up.

I wonder how many of the players believe that we can win against the Saints ... but I believe we can, it has been done before ... no reason why it can't be done again ... if we give it a real go ... no half measures.

Your comments please.

 

[afc9798]

http://www.theage.com.au/letters/index.html?from=lhsnav

Worth a read. This is a letter from a Collingwood supporter and the theories about why they are where they are at the moment. Food for thought maybe? Interested in what you guys think, as I am very surprised to see Collingwood at the foot of the ladder and believe that you are obviously a much better team than the current position indicates.

PS the letter is the at the bottom of the section, last one in fact.

 

[Lonie_from_50]

a simple reason is that of the title - lacking confidence and self belief.

 

[jerry springer]

Desperatly need a to recruit a player with a bit of a "dog" in him (like Molloy did before he got injuries),to inspire other players when burns and buckley are out.Rocca used to be a good captain but is not leading by example at the present.