The last few weeks has been a real wobble. From a promising start, results wise, blooding of youth and some obvious tenacity when performances weren't always that great, we seem to have hit a wall (hopefully temporarily).
I personally have a lot of faith in Kenny signing some players to turn it around (his record so far in this dept has been good), I think that the future is clearly the youth (batth, Doherty, price, mcalinden, ebanks-landell, Evans, + Kenny's signings McDonald, ricketts, golbourne, Henry and Jacobs). I hope the business we do in January supplements this plan and well and truly moves us forward.
However, with the lapse in mind it got be thinking about leadership and whether we have the right leaders in the team. Reality is successful teams have a number of leaders throughout the team and I wonder if we are lacking here (due to inexperience or characters we gave) and maybe this is part of our Achilles heal. We have Ricketts and Batth, both defenders my query is whether this is enough or in terms of signings we need to take leadership material into account as well !. This leadership can come from jackett, but it simply has to come from the pitch as well.
My feeling is that we lack vocal, inspirational leadership in midfield and upfront. These are obvious gaps for players reinforcements, but I also think obvious gaps in terms of leaders. So I hope this is a criteria Kenny and Thellwell are considering in our recruitment, because to turn form, get back on track and help the youth / new signings deliver I believe that leadership is key.
Leadership is key
posted on 5/1/14
It is interesting you see 'leadership' as a captain-esque character to lead the team vocally on the pitch. Batth and Ricketts are your typical candidates but look at leadership differently and you see others.
There are many kinds of leadership. For me, some of our biggest leaders are in our midfield, who lead the team through example, in the way they play. Due to our style of play under Jacket they are trusted to lead our team in most of our play - far more so than Ricketts can from defence.
McDonald is our greatest orchestrator. He is a tall presence that leads our play. Fans look for him to control the play and he doesn't often disappoint. He more than anyone instills confidence in the team. They trust him with the ball. Henry and Jacobs are two other players where expectation is big for them to perform and they don't often disappoint. Jacobs' seven assists in as many games is leadership and carrying the can when the pressure is on.
posted on 5/1/14
In fact I would even suggest that Griffiths, Jacobs, Sako, Doyle, McDonald and Henry play with arrogance. They are cocky, experienced and more than self-assured.
I don't think it's leadership we lack. More so a quality striker and creative central midfielder.
posted on 5/1/14
Maybe, leadership comes in many forms as you suggest whether that be vocal, by example or by confidence. I just think we are lacking those qualities in central midfield and especially upfront.
It's hard to lead and inspire if you aren't performing (Doyle), a creative midfielder could also lead via ability, exuding confidence and class, again currently lacking
posted on 5/1/14
McDonald was meant to be playing behind the striker at Sheff Utd. I haven't seen many of those forward runs.
Maybe we could see him be that player if we did get in a defensive midfielder that would improve the team. A leader-like one you suggest, like a Paul Ince.
posted on 5/1/14
I think we lack a leader in terms of a player who will drive the team forward when they are having a particularly poor performance. Look at the amount of times in the past Liverpool have put in a poor performance or been behind in a game, only for the determination of Gerrard to cover every blade of grass and create something lift the whole team. That kind of player inspires the rest of the team to up their performance.
I don't think we have had that sort of player since Alex Rae. Even when we were losing he had that never say die attitude that drove the team forward. I think we lack a player like that, which is why we have struggled during this rough patch and can't really see a way out without using the transfer window.
Obviously, all these attributes need to come hand in hand with ability on the pitch which is why a player with those qualities is so rare. However, most successful teams at any level will have at least one.
posted on 6/1/14
Well said Tam. I was thinking Alex Rae myself when I first started reading the thread.
posted on 6/1/14
Players that are real leaders are thin on the ground unfortunately. Mike Bailey was a great captain from the heady days of the 70s and we have bought in a few since like Emlyin Hughes, Paul Ince and Alex Rae.
It was an interesting experience to share a hotel with Wolves players a few years ago on a pre season tour. It was clear on that why Paul Ince had picked up the nickname the Guvnor. Every player clearly looked up to him and he seemed to be orgainsing the whole show even more than manager Dave Jones. From organising the players after breakfast to get the coach to training, keeping the young players in line and organising the evening entertainment, he was totally the man in control. Players like that are worth far more to the club than just what they do on the pitch, and he was of course also an inspirational character when it came to match time.