I hate how they talk about lowered confidence.

[Bluemoon]

I think what I'm saying is that you don't need confidence to kick a ball around.

You need confidence to pass your driving test or to sky dive for charity. Kicking a ball around and getting payed stupid amounts for it is nothing compared to those. It may be a technically challenging game but it's not something that strikes fear into you or you wouldn't play it.

It's not so much confidence perhaps, but team spirit.....I've played enough games of football in my life to know how important that is.

Hopefully sending home the trouble makers will have done the trick.

Whatever happens, come the end of the game I don't expect any more Ollie rants at the players - the dead wood is gone.

[WetFlannel]

I think what I'm saying is that you don't need confidence to kick a ball around.

You need confidence to pass your driving test or to sky dive for charity. Kicking a ball around and getting payed stupid amounts for it is nothing compared to those. It may be a technically challenging game but it's not something that strikes fear into you or you wouldn't play it.

you say you wouldnt be intimidated by 20 thousands fans booing you and jeering, just for 'kicking a ball around'... of course it would play on your mind

[Zingari]

It's not so much confidence perhaps, but team spirit.....I've played enough games of football in my life to know how important that is.

Hopefully sending home the trouble makers will have done the trick.

Whatever happens, come the end of the game I don't expect any more Ollie rants at the players - the dead wood is gone.

yes, as you and ched have said , team spirit and confidence in your team mates, not just personal confidence

[Zingari]

you say you wouldnt be intimidated by 20 thousands fans booing you and jeering, just for 'kicking a ball around'... of course it would play on your mind

my confidence was shattered by 20 people booing at a karaoke bar

[WetFlannel]

my confidence was shattered by 20 people booing at a karaoke bar

*gives sympathy*

[Zingari]

*gives sympathy*

you probably wouldn't if you had been in the audience

[Trav Le Bleu]

Ok so you're saying that the money should be motivation enough for the players to go out and win?

But the players they are playing against are getting paid the same or even more than they are... so they too should go out and win.

THAT is where the confidence is the factor - can't be bought

and is most vital for strikers - listen to Shearer and Lineker on MotD, they'll tell you and I think they should know what they're talking about

[Geo V]

It's bullshit. Confidence has nothing to do with how shit things are. They're not good enough, that's all. Holloway was right to slam the team and come out with his "I'm buying players in January statement" because quite frankly that's what's needed. If you're a good enough player, you'll pull through and play well, confidence is just an excuse for players who are too shit to do anything about the position they're in.

[/End rant]

I disagree fella. Most footballers are so weak willed and fragile that confidence plays a huge part in modern day football. You see strikers who cant score in a brothel over a couple of months then become versions of George Weah and score goals for fun.

What is important is that whoever the manager is does blend the team together and plays a system that works for those individuals. What isn't healthy is having 3 managers who each have the favourite players, players go on the list and then the next manager plays them, one manager plays 433 and another plays 532 and this is within the same squad and over a period of wait for it....5 MONTHS!!!

Its absolute lunacy whats happened but these are some of the reasons why we are where we are.

Lets hope Ollie gets his own squad with some of the decent players already here upping their game and we start playing like a side that knows what its doing because the game plan is set out and not this inconsistent madness that we have seen over the last few months.

[MPH]

I agree with both sides.

Confidence can be vital, but could a hinkley side full of confidence beat a man utd side low on confidence? I think not... well, they may play well in one game against them ( might not win) but over the course of the season... i'm sure you know what i mean..

but it could help them in their own division alongside players of similar skill... thats when confidence plays a part.. when you are playing against similar skilled players...

hate to quote the watford game again... and then results just a couple of weeks ago... roughly same bunch of players....

[davieG]

I agree with both sides.

Confidence can be vital, but could a hinkley side full of confidence beat a man utd side low on confidence? I think not... well, they may play well in one game against them ( might not win) but over the course of the season... i'm sure you know what i mean..

but it could help them in their own division alongside players of similar skill... thats when confidence plays a part.. when you are playing against similar skilled players...

hate to quote the watford game again... and then results just a couple of weeks ago... roughly same bunch of players....

And that's why in this case with this team it is vital and one of the key missing ingrediants that's put us down the bottom rather than mid table.

The whole club lacks confidence and belief, sometimes I think we're still in mourning, suffering from post admin trauma. Everyone was on a high with the advent of MM but it was short lived, I believe the fans were unimpressed and disappointed with the overall quality and class of the summers recruits even before they started to play. The exciting players that were mooted did not materialise and disappointment has led to a lack of belief from the fans

Like wise with the managers I don't think any one has been seen as the one to make the difference and Holloway is a typical example with names like Jewell and Tigana being linked he was seen by many as another disappointing alternative.

I think this has had a major impact on our home form, I know it's down to the players to perform but they can sense the mood of the crowd and it's not good. These has now spread to our away performances.

For whatever reason Holloway has not been able to make the difference, he's not been able to motivate sufficient numbers of players because they have shown on rare occasions that they can win.

I really hope he got something in his bang of tricks other than the ability to turn out a funny thought every week but I'm not confident.

[Zingari]

And that's why in this case with this team it is vital and one of the key missing ingrediants that's put us down the bottom rather than mid table.

The whole club lacks confidence and belief, sometimes I think we're still in mourning, suffering from post admin trauma. Everyone was on a high with the advent of MM but it was short lived, I believe the fans were unimpressed and disappointed with the overall quality and class of the summers recruits even before they started to play. The exciting players that were mooted did not materialise and disappointment has led to a lack of belief from the fans

Like wise with the managers I don't think any one has been seen as the one to make the difference and Holloway is a typical example with names like Jewell and Tigana being linked he was seen by many as another disappointing alternative.

I think this has had a major impact on our home form, I know it's down to the players to perform but they can sense the mood of the crowd and it's not good. These has now spread to our away performances.

For whatever reason Holloway has not been able to make the difference, he's not been able to motivate sufficient numbers of players because they have shown on rare occasions that they can win.

I really hope he got something in his bang of tricks other than the ability to turn out a funny thought every week but I'm not confident.

you too it must be contagious

[MPH]

you too it must be contagious

how much lower can we go? ( confidence-wise. )

i reckon we will come out fighting today..

Backs against the wall type of stuff

and not because the Blue Oyster bar franchise has opened a place near to molineux.... ( although i wouldnt be suprised if they had)

[l444ry]

Confidence is a massive thing. And it's a thing that the fans can give. The best example of this at the moment is Leeds Utd. They are littered with average players but their supporters are carrying that side over the finishing line with late goals in matches. Rather than groan and shout "you useless c***" at a player when he makes a mistake, like they used to, they now cry "unlucky".

What would you want to hear if you were playing for this club. Unfortunately, our support has been driven into the ground through the mediocrity we have witnessed, just like the Leeds fans were. But it is from the fans the the recovery will start. When we change as a set of people and transmit positivity to the players rather than the negative silence and moaning then the whole club will be lifted quicker than any Mandaric quote or Holloway signing spree.

[Monk]

Whatever Holloway does in January it will not solve all of our problems. Lets be clear on that. We are not going to sell ALL of our shit players, because there are some, Rab Douglas being a prime example who nobody wants.

There is no doubt that we need a clearout. It is not about moral, it's about effort. I am not happy in my job but I still try hard as I am paid to do it. They are played loadsamoney (queue harry enfield) and a lot of them don't put the effort or pride in. To be honest its probably not because they are all lazy bastards its more to do with the disorganised nature of the club of late.

What matters is that Ollie gets January right. Not only must he bring in some quality, but they must be players with something to prove and who want to wear the shirt. Holloway will unfortunately be judged almost entirely on how this gamble pays off. I fear that if we avoid relegation by a narrow margin he will still get sacked and we will be back to square one.

[Daggers]

It's been like Groundhog Day during the past three seasons. Same dross, different managers.

Holloway is absolutely spot on to get rid..

It's very rare that me and Chunky Studmuffin ever agree on anything - but his view on this matter is correct.

Unfortunately we didn't do it during the summer when we should have lobbed out 8-10 players and signed some actual talent.

[Thracian]

Whatever Holloway does in January it will not solve all of our problems. Lets be clear on that. We are not going to sell ALL of our shit players, because there are some, Rab Douglas being a prime example who nobody wants.

There is no doubt that we need a clearout. It is not about moral, it's about effort. I am not happy in my job but I still try hard as I am paid to do it. They are played loadsamoney (queue harry enfield) and a lot of them don't put the effort or pride in. To be honest its probably not because they are all lazy bastards its more to do with the disorganised nature of the club of late.

What matters is that Ollie gets January right. Not only must he bring in some quality, but they must be players with something to prove and who want to wear the shirt. Holloway will unfortunately be judged almost entirely on how this gamble pays off. I fear that if we avoid relegation by a narrow margin he will still get sacked and we will be back to square one.

There's much in what you say but I'd honestly see no point in changing Holloway before next Christmas.

It is clear he intends to have some of his own choice players in by January 31 and if we have yet another manager some months along it will involve yet more major staff changes and probably another policy change.

Sooner or later we HAVE to give a manager chance to finish his commission.

Managers sometimes move into clubs with ready made teams that they only need to fine tune.

Holloway has inherited a real mess with more than a third of his squad "not fit for purpose".

How that situation was allowed to arise is hard to understand but at least MM and IH seem to recognise it can't go on.

Let's trust that the resulting upheaval is quick and effective but let's hope too that people have the patience to accept that it might take time and there might be further setbacks in the process.

[Babylon]

There's much in what you say but I'd honestly see no point in changing Holloway before next Christmas.

It is clear he intends to have some of his own choice players in by January 31 and if we have yet another manager some months along it will involve yet more major staff changes and probably another policy change.

Sooner or later we HAVE to give a manager chance to finish his commission.

Managers sometimes move into clubs with ready made teams that they only need to fine tune.

Holloway has inherited a real mess with more than a third of his squad "not fit for purpose".

How that situation was allowed to arise is hard to understand but at least MM and IH seem to recognise it can't go on.

Let's trust that the resulting upheaval is quick and effective but let's hope too that people have the patience to accept that it might take time and there might be further setbacks in the process.