Motivation, Motivation, Motivation

A funny thing is human behaviour. How we react to a situation, how we react to each other’s reactions, and possibly most important, how we want people to react to our action.

I can only imagine how exactly Phil Brown thought Hull would react to his Boxing Day on pitch rant.

I assume Mr Benitez was unaware what happens when you poke the bear with a factual stick

And I'm pretty sure Fabio Capello didn't care how Michael Owen would react to not being picked for England!


Hull reacted brilliantly to the pundits who, before finishing sentences congratulating their promotion, had already condemned them to relegation. A win against Arsenal at the Emirates in September ranked as their number 1 scalp in an early few months of big results. Then, leading 2-0 at Anfield inside 25 minutes, the season changed. The Gerrard effect took hold; it often does on the most innocent of targets. The match finished 2-2, a great result but in context Hull had thrown away 2 points that come next week could be huge! Next up came a humiliation, in front of the home fans at the KC Stadium, at the hands of Sunderland. The Black Cats scored 3 goals in the last 12 minutes to win 4-1.

Then came the moment that Phil Brown may never forget, and one the media may never let him! 45 minutes into the Boxing Day fixtures, Hull found themselves 4-0 down against Manchester City. Ian Ashbee and the rest of the players couldn't have expected Brown's centre circle team talk as he shouted at his players and wagged his finger as if they were a bunch of extremely naughty young children. Motivation? I think not! Hull have spiraled from 6th to 17th and with one match left are still staring relegation in the face. And the early season brilliance of Geovanni has been replaced by an anonymous Brazilian who throws strops at being subbed looking a bit like Geovanni.

On the Eve of Liverpool's match against Stoke at fortress Britannia Rafael Benitez tried to motivate the FA to act against Sir Alex Ferguson and possibly try to motivate his players for a title run against the old enemy. In a shocking and calculated attack on the champions, and specifically their manager, Benitez took out a piece of paper and started quoting some "facts" about Sir Alex. It was all about the Respect campaign and how only Ferguson could get away with speaking about referees without punishment. The funny thing is Benitez may have even been correct. But it was the way he went about it, the malice, and the fact he was answering to a simple question about the chances of Liverpool cracking under the pressure of the run in. With his rant Rafa answered the question, if not the players then at least the manager could not handle the pressure. Now with the title over with a week to go Benitez will know he did motivate, shame for him it was Manchester United he motivated.


On a more local note the manager of a Sunday league team recently had a motivational word with an under performing player privately on the phone. Told him off for his lack of effort and shouting at other players. This player went on to play extremely well the next week in a charity tournament! I guess motivation is the key, you've just got to do it at the right time in the right way. If Phil Brown and Rafael Benitez can learn from history then next seasons relegation battle might not include Hull (should they survive this one) and the title run in may just be a little closer.