Ever had a bad day at work?
Have you ever had a bad day at work?
I think it is fair to say that . When anticipating the opening match of the season, I certainly had no desire to be on the end of a heavy defeat and to have conceded two penalties.
Our visit to Aberdeen, of course, produced such disappointments, and has provided a first test of the season for me individually and Hamilton as a team in terms of our response to this opening-day loss.
In a previous blog I have commented upon how players react in the event of poor performances and individual errors and rather than cover that ground again, I thought it would be better to touch upon just how much players reflect on their displays.
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I would suggest that more players are a lot more self-critical than supporters might imagine. There are many who will analyse their own performance in great depth, and have a tendency to focus on what they could have done better within that game.
Of course, those who are able to use this as a learning tool and not as a way of destroying belief in their own ability are the players who go on to prosper.
If we accept, therefore, that players are fairly self-critical and that it is a reasonably healthy attribute, how long should the analysis and discussion of performance last. Should it be only for the hours after the game? Or for days to follow, or even until the next match takes place?
I am not sure there is a definitive answer but immediately after a game is probably not the best time as emotions and adrenaline levels still run high and these can cloud your judgement.
The next one or two days could be best, when a considered view can be taken on a match. Thereafter I think it is vital to begin to focus on the next fixture because at SPL level it will bring another difficult test.
To give you an example of what I am trying to describe, the penalty I gave away for a foul on on Saturday was in my opinion a consequence of me being in a poor position as a cross came into the box.
While some analysis would simply focus on whether it is a foul or not, my focus is on my own body shape as the play developed on the other side of the pitch. Rather than being in an open position where I could see my opponent and the ball, I was too square and found myself facing my own goal and on my heels as the ball came into the area ultimately resulting in me conceding a foul.
These inquests into a personal performance are not always centred on specific mistakes or successes but can simply be on general aspects such as passing, crossing, heading, etc.
In terms of a debut, it was one which could have been a lot better. Some players enjoy memorable first games for new clubs, others disappointing ones and yet they certainly don't always set the precedent for things to come.
In my own career, they have probably been somewhere in between, although one does not stick in my mind.
In my first game back in professional football with Clyde I was asked to man-mark the former Hibs player Willie Irvine.
The final score in that match was1-0 to Alloa and, yes, Willie scored the winner. Hopefully the rest of my time at Clyde eclipsed my initial performance!
In conclusion, the weekend's performance has seen me disappointed and hurt, with a great deal of self-criticism felt, but am I ready and looking forward to the Hearts match?
Of course, and with huge desire to put things right!
I was released as a teenager from the Scottish Premier League, had the hardening experiences of junior and part-time football and came back to the top flight with four years at university thrown in! I'm Jack Ross, a defender with Dunfermline and I aim to give you an insight into the life and mind of a professional footballer.
Comment number 1.
At 17th Aug 2010, JoC wrote:Unlucky at Aberdeen Jack..the Dons seemed really fired up for their home opener especially captain Paul Hartley. You're right to say a healthy bit of self-criticism isn't a such bad thing especially if the mistakes you are focusing on are easily corrected in training or with a bit of tactical help from the manager and teammates.
It only becomes a problem when a player becomes overly concious of his error that he tries too hard to compensate - he begins to overthink plays leading to even more mistakes. Keeping it simple..he just needs to keep faith in the ability that got him there in the first place. I think positioning errors are probably most common at the start of the season before players find their natural rhythm and pace - particularly in a new team. Good luck against Hearts!
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Comment number 2.
At 17th Aug 2010, K19 - Radio Jambo wrote:To be honest, Jack - if you can lose 4 goals against Aberdeen then you are in for a pretty rough season. And, if you give away 3 penalties against Aberdeen, think how many the refs are going to give against you at Ibrox or Celtic Park!! Doesn't bear thinking about...
Oh and btw, don't expect to give away two penalty kicks against any other team and stay on the park (or stay in the squad). You will be extremely lucky to find a ref (or a manager) who will let you away with that sort of performance twice!
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Comment number 3.
At 17th Aug 2010, Gossie wrote:Disastrous start to the new campaign. I'm bringing my 3 Arsenal supporting sons-in-law up from Berkshire for the Kilmarnock game in September - executive box hospitality and all. I've promised them some "proper" football compared to the namby-pamby stuff they are used to at the Emirates! Let's hope the Accies are back on track by then and manage to win otherwise I will never hear the end of it.
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Comment number 4.
At 17th Aug 2010, U14357625 wrote:I thought Hamilton would be pushing towards the top six this season and finish above Aberdeen. It might still happen but it's an awful start.
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Comment number 5.
At 18th Aug 2010, ally9 wrote:no luck jack ross
k19 was a wee bit rough with you, i've witnessed stone wall penalties not given by referee's in all games so you maybe a bit unlucky. what i will say is that it would be interesting if the whole team wrote individual blog's about that game and to compare them to your interpretation of the game, now that would be a good read, you say that most players are self critical but i don't agree, the further up the leagues you go you see more of a blame game, very seldom will you see players actually take it on the chin and hold their hands up, it's all finger pointing and gestering and handbags, it's pretty sad, so i applaud your frankness to a degree.
what intersts me is that way you can put your side of a game out there for everybody to read, it does give you a certain power as a player, nearly as powerful as a journalist when you think about it, i wonder what you would have wrote if another defender had given all 3 penalties away and had an absolute nightmare, how would you have tackled that scenario? .
good luck in your next game, if selected.
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Comment number 6.
At 19th Aug 2010, billymehmetisalegend wrote:Get it up ye!
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Comment number 7.
At 19th Aug 2010, Greg wrote:Appreciate your honesty and fact you've not blamed ref or opponents. However, as a Dons fan I'm delighted you had a mare and can now hopefully look forward to a half decent season.
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Comment number 8.
At 20th Aug 2010, Spl football wrote:Bad day at work? I think you've had more bad days at work than David Brent ffs.
Im surprised wee billy didnt swing on the dugout n pull the full pitch up with it and go flat on his ersepiece like last time haha. You made his fall last season look respectable. Must do better ya pie.
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Comment number 9.
At 21st Aug 2010, Rob04 wrote:Guess we won't really see how good Aberdeen and Hearts are until they play teams other than Hamilton eh!?!
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Comment number 10.
At 22nd Aug 2010, ally9 wrote:it could be worse, if you were a brick layer or joiner you'd have been picking up your p45 , at least you'll have an opportunity to save face in future match's
the forth goal for hearts will take a bit of explaning , as a defender
could you have a bash at it. i just want to know why a defender lets a player run right in on goal to score without shutting him down when he can, please please please can you explain that one situation jack.
i have never seen defending like that before, is that in any coaching manual.
i hope you's can turn it round.
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Comment number 11.
At 22nd Aug 2010, K19 - Radio Jambo wrote:ally9 - I think you will find that Jack was pulled off at half-time so he can hardly be blamed for any slack defending for the fourth goal. He was probably relieved to see that happen as he could say "well that just proves I'm not the only weak link in the defence." Cold comfort maybe but perhaps it will give him hope where previously (half-time) there was none.
Btw, I have huge respect for ANY player who is paid to play but even the best (cough) players can be made to look stupid when faced against (semi) intelligent footballers!
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Comment number 12.
At 22nd Aug 2010, ally9 wrote:k19, jumping in to defend jack ross. thats a first.
i know jack ross was pulled at half time, what i wanted to know was his professional explanation to why a defender didn't close down a player who had the ball running in on goal, i know the defender was probably covering a pass to another striker but he just let him go and run straight in to score the fourth goal.
jack was very self critical about his performance in the first game, as a pro he must have a view on that fourth goal, his view on that really interests me.
as for the stats for hamiltons first two games, 8 goals against, none scored, thats not just a defending problem, thats a team problem k19, the first line of defence is the centre forwards and so on, its safe to say the whole team wasn't at the races.
for the record, i haven't a clue what you meant by ''respect for any players paid to play'' can you spell that one out for me, i respect anybody who plays football, paid or not, good or bad, there are some pro's who are paid hansomely and deserve no repect, earning respect has nothing to do with MONEY or how much your paid, YOU have to earn respect.
you being a jambo should know that being paid to play football at hearts you have to be very lucky and very good, it's a fantastic club, it's an institution with a tremendous history with a great support but with an absolute character as an owner, i can only point to mr romanov fist fighting roman bednar outside the ground, what an advert for hearts, what i'd given to watch wee hartley, craig gordon, steven pressley , infact most of the ex board get that opportunity that bednar got that afternoon, that would have been interesting.
i hope jim jefferies doesn't fall foul to the owner, there's a guy who's earned respect in footballing terms.
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