| Direct factors, although directly related to the teams themselves, are sometimes not spotted by the bookmakers and can give you an edge when you figure how the changes will affect the performance of a team. Being familiar with and informed about teams, their players, managers and their inter-relationships will help you spot such opportunities easily.
"Direct factors, although directly related to the teams themselves, are sometimes not spotted by the bookmakers and can give you an edge when you figure how the changes will affect the performance of a team. Being familiar with and informed about teams, their players, managers and their inter-relationships will help you spot such opportunities easily.
Early in the 2004-2005 season, Sir Bobby Robson was fired as the manager of Newcastle United when they managed to pick up only one point four games into the season. A search for a new manager was quickly mounted and Graeme Souness, then manager of Blackburn Rovers, accepted the job after a few managers from other clubs in the Premiership declined.
Coincidentally, the very next game for both of them was Newcastle vs Blackburn. It is useful to consider the psyche of the players in unusual situations like these.
For the Newcastle players, Robson had been almost a permanent fixture with the Toons and probably a father figure to most of them for the five years he was there. What happens when you realize that your performance has not been good enough and indeed so lacking that it has caused the dismissal of your coach and mentor? The whole team will recognize the gravity of the situation and you can be sure the level of the game would be raised.
Switch to the Rovers. What happens when your coach who has been instilling discipline and team spirit jumps ship and goes for the first offer that comes along from a bigger club? To quote a Blackburn player when he first heard the news of Souness' acceptance, Barry Ferguson, "I'm shocked and gutted." I am sure this same sentiment was felt by all his teammates. Morale would be at an all time low.
Not surprisingly the game ended 3-0 to Newcastle." |
| |
|
Direct factors, although directly related to the teams themselves, are sometimes not spotted by the bookmakers and can give you an edge when you figure how the changes will affect the performance of a team. |
BACK
|