The Swiss Army Knife POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES There’s a groove developing. A little swagger. Beyond the natural boost of confidence earned when you start winning and keeping clean sheets, what are the details? 1) INDIVIDUAL IMPROVEMENT Have you noticed? We have 11 players that we can pick who are either on a run of […]
Sometimes the Solution is the Winner POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES So, we didn’t get 3 points but….. what did we get? We got returning players, Partey in particular. We got a better performance from our central midfielders. Our backline looked solid and we defended against two of the trickiest players in the league, admirably. A […]
January 2 December 0 POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES I kid you not, I wrote that headline on my notepad before the game. I looked at the line up and wasn’t entirely disappointed as the key players needed to be rested, but I saw Willian and some of his buddies and predicted that the ‘December crew’ […]
A World of New Feelings POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Do you remember frustration, anger, hopelessness and possibly a desire for a new coach? That was the 3rd week in December. Two weeks later and I don’t know how you feel but I feel relieved, excited, hopeful and energized. Two weeks. Just two weeks later. I […]
Small risks, Big rewards POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES When confidence is spoken of we think of the ball and how confident we look when we have it. When I was young we didn’t care about clean sheets and defending was certainly not the whole team. Two thoughts that have much truth attached. Times have changed […]
It comes from within POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES With the relief felt and a headline like that, this could be a ‘braveheart moment’, but the game wasn’t that yet. I could say I told you so, but I’m just one of thousands who have been saying the same thing. The truth of what happened yesterday […]
Football without Flair POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES I go through a check list before every game that I coach. I have to because I have a tendency to be an over thinker. Certainly when it comes to football and my team. I used to try to be clever and when I was a new coach […]
It’s time to get in the ambulance The Positives, Needs and Hopes will return but I don’t think they are relevant today. I think this is more relevant… Over the last few years I’ve been avoiding the doctor. I didn’t feel right and knew I needed to go but fear and the hope for a […]
A sliding doors moment POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES The headlines were being written. Two big hammers were about to be swung. ‘Arsenal with worst record in the history of the club.’ ‘Arteta has to go!’ As most of us react out of anger, that could’ve been enough. Done. Rip everything up and change it. We […]
180 in 90 POSITIVES, NEEDS and HOPES Ninety days ago Arsenal were offering an overdose of optimism. We’d healed so much so quickly. The defensive structure which needed a doctor in 2007 was almost fully healed. The accountability which hadn’t been present for about the same amount of time seemed to be reinstated. The opportunity […]
