The Psychology of Ambition

[Tangerine Tractor]

As fans, we're looking at the future of the club in terms of five, ten even fifteen years down the line. New training ground, new stand withing the next 5 years, and we've not realistically got the infrastructure to go much higher up the leagues sustainably until that's implemented.
But footballers are typically only at a club for two or three years, so selling the dream and ambition of new facilities and an improved infrastructure is somewhat irrelevant to them. That's why the club has spend significant cash on upgrading Squires Gate - players care about what's happening now, not in four years. So while the development plans are greeted with huge optimism and a sense of progress by the fans, it's really irrelevant to players, and being a club "on the up" is not necessarily the massive attraction to players that perhaps the rest of us think it is.

 

[AngelBFC]

Not sure that's right.

If you are competing with another club to sign a young player with bags of potential they tend to go to the one with the better training facility.

That's why over the last ten years we 've had very few homegrown players in the first team.

A mate of mine (not Blackpool based) told me that Blackpool and another club offered his son terms 10 years ago. They visited both clubs and their respective facilities and he chose the other club because of the training facilities.

Develop young players get them in the first team push the club forwards and then sell the odd one for £20 million and we might get promoted in the process.

 

[Tangerine Tractor]

Not sure that's right.

If you are competing with another club to sign a young player with bags of potential they tend to go to the one with the better training facility.

That's why over the last ten years we 've had very few homegrown players in the first team.

A mate of mine (not Blackpool based) told me that Blackpool and another club offered his son terms 10 years ago. They visited both clubs and their respective facilities and he chose the other club because of the training facilities.

Develop young players get them in the first team push the club forwards and then sell the odd one for £20 million and we might get promoted in the process.

But that's what I'm saying. it's the facilities NOW that matter to the players, not what's going to be here in 5 years time. And I'm talking about first-team players choosing which club to sign for, not kids and development squad players.

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

I think this is also true of Managers and especially with the way the game has gone.

For example, it’s easy to see why Barnsley in L1 (with a decent chance of early success) might be more attractive than a much longer, steadier role like Blackpool, which is less likely to produce fast results.

In fact whilst from a fans perspective and the board’s perspective Blackpool is now a much more attractive football club, I wonder if we were more attractive to a potential up and coming Manager as a L1 Club.

 

[Wizaard]

I think this is also true of Managers and especially with the way the game has gone.

For example, it’s easy to see why Barnsley in L1 (with a decent chance of early success) might be more attractive than a much longer, steadier role like Blackpool, which is less likely to produce fast results.

In fact whilst from a fans perspective and the board’s perspective Blackpool is now a much more attractive football club, I wonder if we were more attractive to a potential up and coming Manager as a L1 Club.

When a managerial career averages less than 12 months, short termism is the obvious choice for many managers.

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

When a managerial career averages less than 12 months, short termism is the obvious choice for many managers.

That’s it…. Where can they have an immediate impact etc…

It’s almost better to take on a club that’s in a relegation dog-fight than one who have perhaps reached the pinnacle of their reasonable expectations….

When you reflect on the position at Blackpool as things stand it’s easy to see why a) Managers might not be up for the challenge and b) Why the Club might not have had confidence in certain candidates.

 

[Lytham_fy8]

I think this is also true of Managers and especially with the way the game has gone.

For example, it’s easy to see why Barnsley in L1 (with a decent chance of early success) might be more attractive than a much longer, steadier role like Blackpool, which is less likely to produce fast results.

In fact whilst from a fans perspective and the board’s perspective Blackpool is now a much more attractive football club, I wonder if we were more attractive to a potential up and coming Manager as a L1 Club.

Depends if the manager was ever offered the job.

 

[BFC_BFC_BFC]

Depends if the manager was ever offered the job.

I’m speaking generally as opposed to specifics really.

Obviously from a Blackpool perspective the fans will view things very differently than a player or manager might. (Especially a young manager who is looking to establish a reputation)

Of course if we are talking specifics then from the Club’s perspective you can imagine we would have got a sense of how each individual might have viewed our job in the interview process.

 

[SEASIDE2020]

When a managerial career averages less than 12 months, short termism is the obvious choice for many managers.

Absolutely Wiz.

You have some folk talking about the need for policies/projects to ensure goals are achieved in x years and some demanding the manager is sacked after 3 defeats on the trot, maybe just 2 heavy defeats in a row.

Often the same folk mind !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Wizaard]

I’m speaking generally as opposed to specifics really.

Obviously from a Blackpool perspective the fans will view things very differently than a player or manager might. (Especially a young manager who is looking to establish a reputation)

Of course if we are talking specifics then from the Club’s perspective you can imagine we would have got a sense of how each individual might have viewed our job in the interview process.

The message we get is that it's all about the longer term strategy, and we as fans buy into that, but looking from the outside, prospective managers will see three years of the new regime and already three managers.

Again, we understand why that's happened but if you're a casual observer you won't see the nuance of the situation.

For me, we need to trust the real top brass to have picked someone who fits the ethos and stick with it regardless of early results. What the club needs right now is stability throughout.

 

[LA1 Seasider]

I think the above explains exactly why a 4 year contract was offered. The club wants a manager willing to work on both the long term plan and short term goals. A lot of managers would put all their energy into the next 6 months and neglect the overall development of the club as ultimately they won’t bear the fruits one way or another. With a 4 year contract we’re saying you’ll be judged on short term and long term goals. It encourages the manager to think in the same way of the club. That temptation to spend the budget on 2/3 28/29 year olds hopefully changes

 

[SEASIDE2020]

I think the above explains exactly why a 4 year contract was offered. The club wants a manager willing to work on both the long term plan and short term goals. A lot of managers would put all their energy into the next 6 months and neglect the overall development of the club as ultimately they won’t bear the fruits one way or another. With a 4 year contract we’re saying you’ll be judged on short term and long term goals. It encourages the manager to think in the same way of the club. That temptation to spend the budget on 2/3 28/29 year olds hopefully changes

All sounds very nice that LA but you can make it a 4 year contract, a 6 year contract or a 46 year contract but the manager will be gone as soon as it is his own interests to be gone.

Not a criticism of you, Appleton or the club.

 

[LA1 Seasider]

All sounds very nice that LA but you can make it a 4 year contract, a 6 year contract or a 46 year contract but the manager will be gone as soon as it is his own interests to be gone.

Not a criticism of you, Appleton or the club.

I completely agree results have to be good enough. But also it’s not JUST the immediate results he needs to be judged on. If we finish 1 point above relegation this season but we get 4/5 academy lads playing semi regularly comes seasons end (and clearly developing) then its a success.

 

[SEASIDE2020]

I completely agree results have to be good enough. But also it’s not JUST the immediate results he needs to be judged on. If we finish 1 point above relegation this season but we get 4/5 academy lads playing semi regularly comes seasons end (and clearly developing) then its a success.

Sorry LA1, I actually agree and didn't make myself clear.

You make good points about how a manager SHOULD be judged but the reality is that it is all about the now.

When on field results are not so good, people are quick to jump on the manager and nobody will want to know about the development of the young players at the club.

This short termism is exactly why I have no problem with managers accepting opportunities elsewhere whenever they become available.

It's a two way street, clubs will sack their manager when it suits and long term contracts are usually for the benefit of the club (compensation) rather than the manager (contract can be terminated with penalty of 3 months pay).

I'm moving things away a bit LA1, what I really wanted to say is that you made good points on how things should be regarding planning and the long term.

 

[1966_and_all_that]

Posters are being a tad disingenuous on this thread. Our club is the size it is. Obviously our owner is looking to bring us up to date with the infrastructure and make us a more attractive proposition in the long term. As for the short term well, we've been in the Prem and that was achieved by the manager, his players being very together and talented and some financial input from Belokon. Once we had been in the Prem, attracting good players became easier - hence our ability to attract the likes of Kevin Phillips, Ludo Silvestr and lua-lua. What I'm saying is that these two activities - the strategic development and the tactical progress - will always operate on different timescales. Let Sadler get on with what he needs to do and let Appleton get on with his, without worrying that the project cannot succeed without them dovetailing.

 

[fcblackpool]

When a managerial career averages less than 12 months, short termism is the obvious choice for many managers.

Exactly. Which is why they can never have control of transfers.

 

[Graves]

Positivity breeds positivity. If the fans are happy with the direction the club is going, with the ambition that the owner and key staff are showing, then regardless of short term contracted players or not, Blackpool FC will rise.

 

[JerryYatesShirt]

being a club "on the up" is not necessarily the massive attraction to players that perhaps the rest of us think it is.

I think we now have a good reputation, we have a good coach, we have plans and ambition and I’d say the majority of English footballers would consider playing in the Championship a very reasonable level.

Where we fall down (IMHO) is location and ‘wage demands’.