How do you actually go about doing it?

[Craig_H]

Just had a general wondering as to how a manager goes about getting the confidence back into his side.

Our biggest problem right now (aside from utterly bizarre decisions from the manager) is that there's simply no confidence in the side. After we scored at Wigan, it looked like it was on the brink of coming back. If we'd netted a 2nd or held on to win, i think it would've been a useful catalyst to set us on a nice run maybe. But of course, it didnt happen.

So aside from the obvious solution that's known as winning a game of football, how else can the confidence be restored? Or, more to the point, what can a manager do to get it back, in the absence of that much needed win?

I'm sure different managers do it in different ways. It's actually quite fascinating seeing the different effects that different managers have on teams.

Ramos couldnt get anything out of Spurs, yet Redknapp, whilst clearly not taking them into the dizzy heights of the top 5, has clearly got them playing, albeit on a semi-regular basis. What does one man do that another cant?

Or more specifically, if you were the manager at LFC, what would you be doing at this precise moment in time, at the training ground, to try and restore the confidence?

I've heard stories of managers sitting players down and making them watch videos of their best performances or best goals, to simply show them what they're capable of. It cant just be that simple though. Or can it?

Any thoughts?

[-V-]

Score a couple of early goals and take the pressure off your defence.

We draw so often because we miss too many chances, simple really

[EwarWoo]

Gee, we need to score early goals, that's a marvelous insight. Want to be the manager?

The trick is not knowing what's needed, the trick is knowing how to achieve it which is a completely differrent thing.

[MrMichael]

Gee, we need to score early goals, that's a marvelous insight. Want to be the manager?

The trick is not knowing what's needed, the trick is knowing how to achieve it which is a completely differrent thing.

True

One thing I have noticed this season is how few goals we've been scoring from distance. With the exception of Gerrard, and one Riera goal, I can hardly think of a goal this season scored form outside the box. One of our strengths over the last few years has been how regularly we've knocked them in from distance, and knowing players are a threat from those positions effects the way a team defends, giving the strikers more space as they try to close down midfielders in shooting positions.

So, on the training ground one thing I would be working on is encouraging our midfielders to just take a pop. Shooting practice all round please

[-V-]

Gee, we need to score early goals, that's a marvelous insight. Want to be the manager?

The trick is not knowing what's needed, the trick is knowing how to achieve it which is a completely differrent thing.

The point I intended to make was that we are not playing with enough urgency. We should be telling the players to get at the opposition from the first second of the match but our play of late has been of a very patient and lethargic pace. We need to step it up, our team has the ability to attack and attack fast, we have seen that urgency but it only comes out when we go behind

[Icon]

Play a good old fashioned 4-4-2 get some bloody goals going in - et volia!
Even 3-2-3-2.

ATTACK!

[EwarWoo]

The point I intended to make was that we are not playing with enough urgency. We should be telling the players to get at the opposition from the first second of the match but our play of late has been of a very patient and lethargic pace. We need to step it up, our team has the ability to attack and attack fast, we have seen that urgency but it only comes out when we go behind

The problem is we have so many players at such a low ebb they can't hit a cows arse with a barn door.

Giving them early chances will just give them more chances to fail and increase the lack of self confidence at the moment.

They need to improve confidence before anything else.

[Matt]

Redknapp told all his players they were brilliant - couldn't really see that conversation working out between Rafa and Keane or Babel.

Maybe these next two games have come at the right time - we always up things against the bigger sides and then I think maybe the best thing Rafa could do against Everton is pick an attacking team and keep the team talk to "don't worry about losing".

As soon as we start knocking in a few goals the pressure will be lifted from every area of the team.

[Reece]

This may sound silly but I think if we can get Torres back in form and banging the goals in then the confidence would spread through the squad.

[The_weatherman]

I think we should go back to basics and use a settled line up for the next three games 4-2-3-1 with Mascher and Alonso in midfield with Gerrard and Torres and Riera and Kuyt.

Pick a defence to settle down and keep things simple, when we start to be too clever things get out of hand.

[el matador]

rafa's not a motivator so i dont think he can give confidence or a gee up to the players.

for the situation we're in now, the best possible thing that could happen to us is for us to be losing 3-0 at half time against chelsea, rafa takes off lucas and bring on keane, so we've got gerrard, torres and keane as the front 3.

score 1 goal early on, score 1 goal on 70 mins, one goal on 80 mins and one goal in the 93rd minute to make it 4-3 to us.

There's nothing like a huge turnaround to get the players believing again.

[Big Dave]

This may sound silly but I think if we can get Torres back in form and banging the goals in then the confidence would spread through the squad.

Agree.

With Torres not scoring, we only have Gerrard in the team who's ever shown that he can be a consistent goal threat. I'm sure Torres isn't far away from a return to form, as hitting the post in two consecutive games hopefully shows.

I wonder if the rest of the team is "folding" a little under the pressure of NEEDING to score the goals for the team? This also could be adding pressure at the other end to keep the goals out.

[Jack D Rips]

The problem is we have so many players at such a low ebb they can't hit a cows arse with a barn door.

Giving them early chances will just give them more chances to fail and increase the lack of self confidence at the moment.

They need to improve confidence before anything else.

Why would anyone want to hit a cows arse with a barn door?

[Elvoz]

I think we should go back to basics and use a settled line up for the next three games 4-2-3-1 with Mascher and Alonso in midfield with Gerrard and Torres and Riera and Kuyt.

Pick a defence to settle down and keep things simple, when we start to be too clever things get out of hand.

making the best of what we have in my eyes

[PTP]

my idea yesterday is the only way forward - get all the players, managment, owners, staff etc and go out and get bladdered, hit town, go to the pen and wig, get a few dancers on the go, rip the piss out of each other, have a general good laugh and enjoy themselvesm, let of a bit of steam and relax building up some team spirit

then go out and play 4-3-3 and just attack and enjoy it.