Phookin

[Pacaman]

Interesting ask Pacaman.🤔

My answer to folks who say "bottlers" is that anxiety is the real problem & experience helps that situation to be overcome - so i'd always have experience in the crucial line up's starting eleven for the matches you mention.

With the exception of Joseph who has what is required mentally & should start, imo.
Gnonto's mentality worries me in big games & he is a similar type to Max Gradel for me & we all remember his play off day.

We need to be able to perform free of "others validation" & "opinions" in order to play to our full potential in expressing ourselves - not all our current players have that experienced mental ability yet !

The pressure to meet high expectations & the fear of disappointing others only contributes to the intensity of anxiety (bottling/stage fright) etc, imo, for such games you mention.

The aim for our players is not just to feel good about ourselves after the performance but to feel good "during the performance" as well, cos it'll produces a more spontaneous positive performance - thus successfully self generating confidence to perform well over the 90 mins.

The pressure to meet high expectations & the fear of disappointing others will only contribute to the intensity of stage fright for sure.

To overcome my illness i started singing as a way to stop stress/anxiety which can trigger my illness.
No matter how much i practiced in rehearsals going into a venue was different as to perform in front of people created differing emotions but i had the basic tools to cope - namely experience by my side & reactions from them lets my confidence flow, which makes the anxiety fade away & after time i just gave it what i'd have in my locker so bottling or stage-fright just disappeared - hence why i highlighted EXPERIENCE.

Regarding Joffy ?
For me he tries too hard & that can be his downfall as its counter productive to his natural busy-mindset on the pitch & several coaches now have found it hard to fit his individual strengths into a team pattern cos of it, imo, over 90 mins but as the last throw of the dice he's certainly a useful weapon to unleash in such a game.

Just saying.

….. and saying well 😊

[WTF11]

Could be right and Kamara is also a bit older too which probably helps.

You want big characters and leaders on the pitch. Not sure Farke likes that type of player too much as they are probably ‘too challenging’ on the training ground.

Good comparison of Gnonto to Max G.

Would want someone like Cresswell on the pitch too who would bleed for the shirt.

Think we miss Steuijk’s physical presence and leadership a lot.

Think you're right on several counts. Was thinking before the QPR match as to who, no matter what the starting line-up might be, is the sort of totemic player that has anchored the side, shown fight when it might seem hopeless, wind-up the opposition to "get under their skin", direct and control areas of the pitch where attacks can be mounted, and defence put in place.

I didn't come up with anyone. We don't have characters and leaders any more, no player who inspires others and can be looked to for support and guidance. Club captains we seem to have aplenty, none are captains of any sort IMHO.

A few names from the past....of course Bremner, Giles, Hunter, Charlton, Madeley, Collins, McQueen, Sheridan, Woodgate, Hasselbank, Delph, Strachan, Batty, Jones (Vinny!), Macallister, Viduka, Snodgrass, Becchio, Beckford, Alioski, Hernandez Berardi, Dallas, Cooper, Ayling....and then there was.....? Wouldn't expect all that lot to actually "get on" (never mind play well together!), but a couple of such players, in the right place, at the right time, could change our fortunes, but we don't recruit such players any more (and very few cost stellar amounts)

And your observation regarding Der Fuhrers attitude to challenge from the lower ranks? Spot on, as evidence see what has "developed" since the Cresswell spat for the player, wasn't even on the bench for the QPR game.

[WTF11]

And another nightmare "playing out from the back" from Spurs.

[WTF11]

And from the Arsenal keep!