The clash of mindsets within the squad (22 replies)
If you are one of the plodders and you see that the new owners have removed the only manager in the league that rates you within a few weeks of the takeover, you are likely to suffer a shift in mindset. "What does the future hold for me?"
We appoint flare manager.
Plodder leaves for his home country and is replaced by a flare player which coincides with the signing of another flare player. Both of whom can't possibly fit the team that has been doing just fine whilst utilising the plodder formation for a couple of years.
...
Unless of course we change the formation from 442 to a 352. This upsets the plodders.
Plodders deep down know that they can't play effectively in this 'alien' formation. They become confused and unsettled. Their motivation plummets.
We lose games. We sign another flare player with excellent pedigree from Turkey. But he plays in the same position as one of the other newly signed flare players.
We lose games. The leader of the plodders has had enough and disappears for a few months.
We lose games. Plodders become irritant as they can't grasp the new flare formation, which only accomodates a handful of the squad.
Plodders fight with the flare players.
We manage a couple of narrow wins, but the damage is done. Flare manager resigns.
Plodder mindset and formation reinstalled for the final 3 games. Back to what they know. 2 of 3 flare players dissapear. Remaining flare player just about copes.
Season ends.
Plodder manager changes to flare manager over the summer. We sign many flare players and a few plodders.
The majority of the wasted and under utilised pre season was spent with 2 flare trialists starring in most of our games. Flare trialists are told that they're not needed and that the plodders already in those positions are good enough.
Season begins and the squad is unfit and nowhere near finished. Plodders are unmotivated and annoyed. New flare players begin to regret joining.
We lose games. We sign more flare players.
We lose games. We neglect the positions that have needed filling for years.
Transfer window shuts. Squad is half plodder and half flare.
Chaos ensues.
A toxic concoction of wage inequality, contrasting footballing ability, a losing mentality and different ideas has temporarily paralysed our great football club.
There are 2 possible solutions.
1. Revert to majority plodder.
2. Become majority flare.
Keep right on.