Professional sport at the highest level has very fine margins. It's said and heard all the time. It could not be more true. And it's mostly Psychpological this season in my view.
Big decisions in important games (against big teams) aside:
- the tactical fouling tag
- the freekicks given against us for small or sometimes imaginary infringements (especially around our penalty area)
- the lack of free kicks given for us for 50/50s or even definitive fouls
all of the above causes loss of momentum in games.
Ruling out sterlings goal in 2nd game injury time causing city to lose points and be behind liverpool so early on means affecting the mindset of the players from literally almost the start of the season.
Getting unfair treatment in most games when your main competitors get beneficial treatment sits in anyones mind, players and manager included regardless of how mentally tough they are.
It would dishearten anyone knowing they are being handicapped.
So a combination of:
- Tactical fouling tag (creating doubt in players mind about tackling anyone, anywhere on the pitch, at any point of the game)
- Pressure of being behind liverpool most season from the very beginning
- Feeling disheartened by getting unfair treatment against every team, including your main competitors and all the while Livarpool getting the helping hands - (accepting that maybe its not their season)
You can fight all these psychological effects in one game or over a short period of time but over a longer period, it takes its toll and players who are misfiring are low on confidence due to all those things.
Then the injuries and loss of a strong leader have their own impact. But in my opinion, these would be negated if the players did not lose their confidence as above. Instead, the effect is multiplied.
On the opposite end, the opposition like Livarpool have had favourable treatment, favourable decisions and helping hands to keep winning, keep ahead of the competition which again psychologically makes you very confident and makes you think you are invincible. This would normally be followed by complacency which has crept in their game more recently but with the helping hands, they are just about overcoming it.
The fine margins that usually make all the difference are making all the difference. Next season, everyone starts from 0 again and with some luck with injuries and good recruitment, fine margins might not matter so much to us (here's hoping).
