Is it true that players mentally ‘hit the beach’ at this stage of the season? Dealing with a lack of motivation is a genuine challenge for any manager, especially when that accusation is leveled at your own squad.
To be completely honest, a drop in motivation becomes tough to manage when you’re in charge of a mid-table team with, in the players’ eyes, nothing left to fight for. Clubs often offer survival bonuses, but I’ve been at places where hitting 40 points secured safety, and once those extra payments were banked, results simply tailed off.
That’s never the case for a manager, though. Premier League prize money for each position—say, the difference between eighth and 12th—can run into millions. So the club itself always has a reason to finish as high as possible, even if that means a mid-table spot. That extra cash might boost next season’s transfer budget, or at least help cover a bill somewhere.
Players don’t think that way. As a manager, it’s incredibly hard to maintain the relentless focus you’ve demanded for nine months, especially without the cutting edge that only comes from a clear target. Offering financial incentives is probably the only solution. Premier League players earn enormous base wages, but at times like these you’d rather cut that figure and replace it with win bonuses, appearance fees, and league-position bonuses that run right through to the final game of each season.
**Getting Priorities Right**
Another current bone of contention—especially for fans desperate for other results to go their way—is managers picking and choosing which games to prioritize. Aston Villa boss Unai Emery made seven changes for his side’s Premier League match against Tottenham, drawing accusations that he was focusing on the Europa League tie with Nottingham Forest rather than fielding his strongest XI against Spurs.
Whatever Emery was thinking, this has always happened. Look at Manchester United and Tottenham last season, when both focused on winning the Europa League and had nothing left to play for domestically. I definitely prioritized some games myself, for different reasons, with Stoke in our early Premier League years, putting top-flight survival ahead of cup competitions.
That wasn’t popular with a section of our crowd, but as the seasons went by and we established ourselves, the more confident I became in taking risks with team selection. One example: we faced Valencia in the Europa League knockout stages, and I was heavily criticized for the team I picked in the away leg after making many changes from the home leg, which we lost 1-0. We lost 1-0 in Spain too, and I hold my hands up—it was a massive mistake. I should have used that lineup for the home game, because they played a lot better.
In the past, Blackpool and Wolves were both fined by the Premier League for making multiple changes when Ian Holloway and Mick McCarthy were in charge, fielding several squad players in games that affected other teams. But that rule changed in 2010—you can now pick any player from your nominated 25-man squad without repercussions. So Villa and Emery won’t face any Premier League backlash this time. I’m not so sure about all the unhappy West Ham fans, though.
**Planning for Next Season Already**
Image source,
Getty Images
Image caption,
Goals in each half from Raul and
