Jump to content

Psychology


Cill Mheàrnaig

Recommended Posts

I'm as frustrated as you about the home form, so IMO it's time to try something a bit different - a psychological attack on the opposition from the moment they arrive at the stadium.

Firstly - stop allowing the opposition team bus to park two steps from the entrance. That's way too comforting. Away bus should park round the back of the Park Hotel and the players be made to walk to the away entrance.

Then, when they get to the dressing room it should be anything but comforting. We need to do a bit of DIY, and firstly block out the windows meaning no natural light getting in. Next, build a partition wall, even just hiding a wee bit of the room, to make it much smaller and more cramped. We want away players basically sitting on each others laps and no room for stretching, moving around, extra coaching team members. No longer should the walls be a plain white, they should be painted as garishly as possible.

Once they're ready to make it on to the pitch, force them to use the 'tunnel' at the far end of the stadium. Make them walk through the narrow hallways of Rugby Park to the other end of the stand to make their way out.

If you want to be extremely cheeky, then break the radiator in the away dressing room so it's always piping warm/off. Make sure the bulbs aren't fitted properly and so they flicker constantly etc etc

I read about Diego Simeone having a say in the psychology aspect of Atletico's new stadium, and we need to try something! Now, none of these 'tricks' are going to win 3 points on their own, its all about making the experience of visiting RP as unenjoyable as possible for the away players.

Edited by Cill Mheàrnaig
Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 04/12/2017 at 9:01 PM, Cill Mheàrnaig said:

Then, when they get to the dressing room it should be anything but comforting. We need to do a bit of DIY, and firstly block out the windows meaning no natural light getting in. Next, build a partition wall, even just hiding a wee bit of the room, to make it much smaller and more cramped. We want away players basically sitting on each others laps and no room for stretching, moving around, extra coaching team members. No longer should the walls be a plain white, they should be painted as garishly as possible.

Have you seen the away dressing room? It's bloody tiny!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I remember reading a really good article about this, I try and find it and post a link.

Basically, it was an ex-player (I think one of the home nations) talking about the WC Qualifiers. Stating how when a team comes to play us we roll out the red carpet, they stay in the best hotels and get escorted to the stadium, plenty of security etc etc.

In contrast, when they were travelling to some away countries you knew from the second you touched down that A) They didn't like you and didn't want you there, and B) They really wanted to beat you.

Flights would be at horrendous times, roads would be closed to make any journey tortuous, the best hotels would be 'fully booked' meaning you stayed in a s**thole. Fans would be allowed unrestricted access and there would be unnecessary noise levels. 

Stadium, as above, would be cold,damp cramped and pretty much horrific from the word go.

Obviously pretty extreme levels to go to - but it has an effect. However it's kind of an admission that we're s**te and need all this help to level the field.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

At Boca Juniors, the home team has a nice changing room underneath the hospitality section of the stadium whilst the away team are directly under the Barra Bravas stand, their Ultras turn up 3 hours before kick off making a racket, bouncing up and down in the stands right on top of the away dressing room. The away fans when allowed to travel are up in the top tier, caged in with one toilet and no snack bars between them. Intimidation plays a big part and making the stadium an unpleasant and difficult place to come definitely benefits the home team.

Although we are a 'family club' so we need to make it a pleasant and enjoyable day for all and hope we manage to win the FourFourTwo 'best away day prize'

Link to comment
Share on other sites

1 hour ago, Gaz of the 20/20 said:

Although we are a 'family club' so we need to make it a pleasant and enjoyable day for all and hope we manage to win the FourFourTwo 'best away day prize'

Nae wonder. Handing out points like sweeties. I think we need to look at having unallocated seating. Would help get all like minded folk together in the stand. 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

On 06/12/2017 at 1:09 PM, Gaz of the 20/20 said:

At Boca Juniors, the home team has a nice changing room underneath the hospitality section of the stadium whilst the away team are directly under the Barra Bravas stand, their Ultras turn up 3 hours before kick off making a racket, bouncing up and down in the stands right on top of the away dressing room. The away fans when allowed to travel are up in the top tier, caged in with one toilet and no snack bars between them. Intimidation plays a big part and making the stadium an unpleasant and difficult place to come definitely benefits the home team.

Although we are a 'family club' so we need to make it a pleasant and enjoyable day for all and hope we manage to win the FourFourTwo 'best away day prize'

There's also an inflatable tunnel to get the players to the centre circle as they throw stuff on the pitch. At half time 50% of the ground spark up joints! The away fans fill buckets with piss  and pour it over the fans below. Outside before and after the game is mayhem. I loved it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Restore formatting

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...