Weight of expectation of being a Liverpool player

[Fosterbloke]

I've probably worded the title quite clumsily but could a case be made that our honouring of previous tragedies and the expectations of honouring them be a mental block for players performance? Is this what playing for Liverpool means?

I'm struggling to find reasons for our abjectness when many of our players are clearly much better than they're showing now. Even Klopp doesn't seem to be able to get them to play properly (not a criticism of Klopp btw).

PS. I in no way disrespect those that lost their lives in previous tragedies, I'm just wondering if the weight of those events play on players minds.

[Nicey]

I think the tragic events of the past bare absolutely no baring on the team or players performances . Memorials come around once a year and they don’t seem to have any effect on the players or team positive or negative.

I tell you what does thought, past glory and lack of a Lg title for 26 years, its almost like when English players play for the national team, the expectation levels are not inline with reality, the first sign of trouble and you can almost hear the atmosphere going out of the ground.

The reality of the matter is most fans are completely mentally shattered after years and years of a slow slide to the 6th best team in the Lg . Every year, every new manager is cause for optimism but overall we seem to take one step forwards two steps back. This makes the fans impatient, irritable and deadly silent and the players can feel that. We had rotten luck with Rafa ... Rafa and these owners would of seen us win the lg I am sure, people forget just how good a team he assembled in the end.

With the appointment of Jurgen Klopp the number 1 young manager in world football right now and a complete and utter exact match for the city and club, we stand our best chance of breaking back into the top 4 regularly and back to the top of the lg and top of Europe

[BG1973]

I think the tragic events of the past bare absolutely no baring on the team or players performances . Memorials come around once a year and they don’t seem to have any effect on the players or team positive or negative.

I tell you what does thought, past glory and lack of a Lg title for 26 years, its almost like when English players play for the national team, the expectation levels are not inline with reality, the first sign of trouble and you can almost hear the atmosphere going out of the ground.

The reality of the matter is most fans are completely mentally shattered after years and years of a slow slide to the 6th best team in the Lg . Every year, every new manager is cause for optimism but overall we seem to take one step forwards two steps back. This makes the fans impatient, irritable and deadly silent and the players can feel that. We had rotten luck with Rafa ... Rafa and these owners would of seen us win the lg I am sure, people forget just how good a team he assembled in the end.

With the appointment of Jurgen Klopp the number 1 young manager in world football right now and a complete and utter exact match for the city and club, we stand our best chance of breaking back into the top 4 regularly and back to the top of the lg and top of Europe

Case closed.

[Fosterbloke]

Yup! Close the thread.

[Tee]

Great post Nicey. The ones with a proper set of cahonas, added to their talent, will always shine. I also think there are too many mentally weak players in our squad, afraid to express themselves and showcase their supposed talents.

[baitman]

Too many prospects bought on the basis of stats and nobody actually looking at the character and drive of the player as an individual or as a main man/ leader within the team.
when the **** hits the fan there is no one who wants to step up and take hold of the game.
too many pussies, not enough beef.

[Slinky Skills]

There's Pussies Galore in our team.

[Irishnev]

There's Pussies Galore in our team.

Yes Mr Bond!

[baitman]

There's Pussies Galore in our team.

Yes Mr Bond!

[ATTACH]3009[/ATTACH]

if only our midfield could be such good team players

[Exiled_red]

Playing for Liverpool (or any top club) has different expectations compared to most other clubs, if you have been used to being a big player for a Southampton or an Aston Villa, or whoever yoou don't have the expectation to perform game in game out, at those clubs you are 'allowed' an off game. If the team has been doing well and you are the star player for Southampton or Villa if you have had a few good games then you have a stinker an contribute nothing, you will still probably stay on the pitch for 90mins and you will still get picked next game and people will forgive you. At Liverpool because all the teams that play us turn up and are usually bringing their best game, our players too have to be at the top of their game. For where we want to be we need to get a result in every game, and as we have a larger squad if you have a stinker in the first 45-60mins you will almost certainly get brought off and there is (in theory) someone else ready to take your place in the side for the next game.

This constant pressure for your place in the side is something than most of the players that we sign aren't used to. Perhaps what we need to look at when we are scouting players is not how good they are when they are playing well, but how good they are when they are playing badly. If despite playing badly they are still able to contribute to the team (by doing simple things such as: working hard, winning back possession making simple passes etc) they are probably the players we want to be signing, if they aren't doing those things then despite how good they are when they are on their game we probably shouldn't be signing them.

[Assassin]

The simple answer is.......The "Weight of expectation of being a Liverpool player" is exactly the same as the weight of expection for any other for any club.

Players are contracted to represent a club. They should honour this representation both on and off the pitch. This means giving nothing less than 100% to their employers for the duration of their contract. Anything less than this is unacceptable......

[gratziani]

I Have seen Benteke , Lallana and Firmino miss sitters that a third tier player should put away in the last month.

Looking at them all I just think that we over paid for them and they are not good enough to take us back to the top in the first place, all ok as squaddies or maybe one of them in the team but when all three are involved we lack any threat as people have said not enough character in them.

Looking at Stevie G and putting away chances year after year just showed what makes a great player and the difference to the three attacking players we have now.

Same as Sturridge comes back after being injured for months against Villa and scores a brace and also Suarez making everyone improve while leading.

The more games I have seen of us this year and it is becoming move evident that we massively lack leadership on the pitch. Maybe Can can do this for us in the future but think we need to spend some money again to change it.

Think Lecter said it in another post we need some pace and Physical players to change our mindset on the pitch.

[Fosterbloke]

Playing for Liverpool (or any top club) has different expectations compared to most other clubs, if you have been used to being a big player for a Southampton or an Aston Villa, or whoever yoou don't have the expectation to perform game in game out, at those clubs you are 'allowed' an off game. If the team has been doing well and you are the star player for Southampton or Villa if you have had a few good games then you have a stinker an contribute nothing, you will still probably stay on the pitch for 90mins and you will still get picked next game and people will forgive you. At Liverpool because all the teams that play us turn up and are usually bringing their best game, our players too have to be at the top of their game. For where we want to be we need to get a result in every game, and as we have a larger squad if you have a stinker in the first 45-60mins you will almost certainly get brought off and there is (in theory) someone else ready to take your place in the side for the next game.

This constant pressure for your place in the side is something than most of the players that we sign aren't used to. Perhaps what we need to look at when we are scouting players is not how good they are when they are playing well, but how good they are when they are playing badly. If despite playing badly they are still able to contribute to the team (by doing simple things such as: working hard, winning back possession making simple passes etc) they are probably the players we want to be signing, if they aren't doing those things then despite how good they are when they are on their game we probably shouldn't be signing them.

I think Ings falls into this group.

[Mattshark]

The simple answer is.......The "Weight of expectation of being a Liverpool player" is exactly the same as the weight of expection for any other for any club.

Players are contracted to represent a club. They should honour this representation both on and off the pitch. This means giving nothing less than 100% to their employers for the duration of their contract. Anything less than this is unacceptable......

It is not just about effort though. Playing for a club with greater expectations can have a psychological effect.

There is also the effect teams set up very different to face us than they do to face teams like Southampton or Villa. They sit deeper and allow much less space for players to work in. This is something that players tend to have the hardest time dealing with.

[Assassin]

It is not just about effort though. Playing for a club with greater expectations can have a psychological effect.

There is also the effect teams set up very different to face us than they do to face teams like Southampton or Villa. They sit deeper and allow much less space for players to work in. This is something that players tend to have the hardest time dealing with.

It could be said the lesser clubs have greater expectations. As for psychological effect, most players are not smart enough for this to be a problem

The latter issue, the players should listen to the managers tactics against such teams. It seems they did against one of the teams you mentioned, Southampton