Title Race

[Tee]

This 14 game on the trot win isn't even relevant. we have 6 games left and whatever we have won in the past is now irrelevant. All we have to do is win the last 6 games.

Could not agree more.

And that is where Brendan and especially guys like Dr Steve Peters earn their money. Its all in the head now, lets stay focussed and finish the job!

[Muddled]

[rudedog]

But with each passing victory, there becomes more pressure and that's before you look at the mental exertion, the expectation and the fact it's at the end of the season - I think you can say it gets harder. You're touched on the law of averages earlier; I guess it depends on superstition, fate, etc.

I would think that winning makes you mentally stronger, not weaker.

[Pablo]

I would think that winning makes you mentally stronger, not weaker.

Yep, old pros always say you never get tired when you're winning. It's a classic cliché but I think there's probably a lot of truth in it.

[john316]

True, but each game doesn't get harder just because your on that streak does it, it's dependant on how we and the other team play and not the fact we are on a run, is really my point.

"Every game is a cup final"

Tired old football cliche which just has no real substance to it. Its just really, really hard to play well enough to beat so many teams in a row under pressure. No matter if you're the best in the world at something, you can still have games where every thing seems to go wrong. You hit the woodwork 3-4 times, they score a worldie and their keeper is man of the match. If we finish this season on a 14 game winning streak then nobody on earth can doubt our credentials.

[dom9]

I would think that winning makes you mentally stronger, not weaker.

Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. That's not the whole story though.

If winning games was a factor in teams winning the next game, then winning streaks of 10 games or more would not be unusual. You'd expect them to be common place as the chance of winning each increases with winning results from the preceding games.

In Liverpool's entire history, even when trophies were routinely picked up, the longer winning streak is apparently only 11 games.

Sure, we have to go on a new 6 game winning streak, but that in itself would result in an unprecedented run of results. The chances are extremely slim. Although not impossible.

[Vermilion]

"Every game is a cup final"

Tired old football cliche which just has no real substance to it. Its just really, really hard to play well enough to beat so many teams in a row under pressure. No matter if you're the best in the world at something, you can still have games where every thing seems to go wrong. You hit the woodwork 3-4 times, they score a worldie and their keeper is man of the match. If we finish this season on a 14 game winning streak then nobody on earth can doubt our credentials.

I didn't use that tired old cliche, you did.

It's nothing to do with every game being a cup final at all, it's more that every game is a single event, the games that have been played previosuly, have no effect on what will occur in the next game, (apart from maybe mood and form of players obv) the fact we've won them all and are on this run, doesn't mean the next game will be any harder, is the point i'm trying to make.

[RedReet]

It is relevant.

Surely it gets less relevant the longer the run goes on. If we at 13 wins on the trot, does that make the Newcastle match harder, purely because no other team has won 14 in the same season (ignoring all other factors obviously)?

Also going by statistics and laws of average, how many teams in the PL era have won 8 in a row and not went on to win 14? Not many I'm guessing.

[Vermilion]

[rudedog]

Maybe it does, maybe it doesn't. That's not the whole story though.

If winning games was a factor in teams winning the next game, then winning streaks of 10 games or more would not be unusual. You'd expect them to be common place as the chance of winning each increases with winning results from the preceding games.

In Liverpool's entire history, even when trophies were routinely picked up, the longer winning streak is apparently only 11 games.

Sure, we have to go on a new 6 game winning streak, but that in itself would result in an unprecedented run of results. The chances are extremely slim. Although not impossible.

That's way too simplistic - there are far more factors involved than that. I was just pointing out that I believe winning games will have a positive effect rather than a negative one.

[G]

I would think that winning makes you mentally stronger, not weaker.

I agree, with every passing win the feeling of invincibility will be growing. However because it's the end of the season and the title is there to be won that also adds to the pressure.Mr Peters will be of massive importance to us handling that pressure and landing this title.

[dom9]

That's way too simplistic - there are far more factors involved than that. I was just pointing out that I believe winning games will have a positive effect rather than a negative one.

Of course, but if winning had a statistical effect on the chances of winning the next game, there would be evidence to prove it.

Rather, winning one game is more common than winning two games, which is more common than three on the bounce. So statistically, the more games you win, the less likely it is that the next game will be a victory.

Or something.

[G]

We've been breaking records all season. We'll break this one too. I've said it now, you can all relax

[rudedog]

Of course, but if winning had a statistical effect on the chances of winning the next game, there would be evidence to prove it.

Rather, winning one game is more common than winning two games, which is more common than three on the bounce. So statistically, the more games you win, the less likely it is that the next game will be a victory.

Or something.

Not if there were other factors which had a bigger effect on the outcome.

[Vermilion]

Statistically in sport, the majority of records set in the past are broken in the future.