Nerves 4-2, 1-0

Tottenham beat Manchester City 1-0 with a well-drilled and mentally tough performance, restricting them to few chances.

Yet last time, we threw away a two-goal half-time lead with a mentally weak performance.

Jimmy Greaves is considered one of the greatest goalscorers in English football history. He had a prolific career, scoring 266 goals for Tottenham Hotspur, 44 goals for Chelsea and 57 goals for England, where he remains the country's highest scorer in international tournaments.

He was known for his quick thinking, sharp shooting, and clinical finishing in front of goal.

In foreign media, Jimmy Greaves was highly regarded and respected for his exceptional skills on the pitch. He was admired for his goalscoring record and his ability to find the back of the net in pressure situations.

His finesse and technique were also widely praised and he was considered one of the most complete forwards of his generation. Overall, Jimmy Greaves was seen as one of the true greats of the sport and his legacy continues to inspire generations of football players and fans.

Channelling nerves is an important part of football. The sport is played at the highest level in front of large crowds and under intense pressure, which can make even the most experienced players feel nervous.

However, being able to channel those nerves in a positive way and use them to your advantage can make a big difference in a player's performance.

If you have never felt the butterflies in your stomach, then your game has never reached its potential, you have played, unknowingly, within yourself.

It is part and parcel of unlocking the extra that's inside you, that you don't even know exists.

It is something I If you have never felt the butterflies in your stomach, then your game has never reached its potential, you have played, unknowingly, within yourself.

It is something I went through when I looked at our team on the day and thought, if I don't perform, we are going to get hammered. I produced possibly my best game, one that stands out in my mind and one I recall with pride.

Some players use visualization techniques like Pele, Didier Drogba and Glenn Hoddle or deep breathing to calm their nerves, while others use adrenaline to focus their energy on their game.

Learning how to manage and channel your nerves effectively is a key part of developing mental toughness and becoming a top-level player.

Additionally, being able to stay calm and composed in high-pressure situations can help a player make better decisions on the field and lead to more successful performances.

Have some of the Spurs players over the last 10 years developed their ability to channel their nerves? I'd argue not.

You'd look at a player like Clive Allen in 1986/87 scoring 49 goals in the season and say he could channel his nerves, he had the mental ability.

Sports Psychologist

A sports psychologist can help players in several ways to manage their nerves and perform at their best. For example:

1. Mental training: A sports psychologist can teach players mental training techniques such as visualization, goal setting, and relaxation methods to help them handle the pressure of competition.

2. Confidence building: The psychologist can work with the player to build their confidence and develop a positive mindset, helping them perform at their best even when feeling nervous.

3. Dealing with failure: A sports psychologist can help players develop resilience and a growth mindset, so they are better equipped to handle setbacks and failures and bounce back stronger.

4. Performance enhancement: The psychologist can work with the player to identify and overcome any mental barriers that may be affecting their performance, such as negative thoughts or past failures.

5. Injury rehabilitation: If a player has suffered an injury, a sports psychologist can help them manage their mental and emotional response to the injury, and work on their mental preparation for their return to the game.

By working with a sports psychologist, players can develop the mental skills and resilience needed to perform at their best, even under the most challenging circumstances.

Do Spurs use their 1st team sports psychologist enough in these areas, I'm not so sure.

In my view, a greater appreciation of the results a sports psychologist can achieve is needed, but if you are dealing with non-believers, then it's a tough job.

Let's put together then, a short dosier to hand to Antonio Conte outlining your plan.

Dear Antonio Conte,

As a sports psychologist for Tottenham Hotspur, I would like to propose a mental training plan to help our players improve their ability to channel their nervousness and make fewer mistakes on the field.

1. Mental Skills Training: Players will undergo regular mental skills training sessions that will focus on techniques such as visualization, goal setting, and relaxation methods. This will help them handle the pressure of competition and perform at their best even in high-pressure situations.

2. Confidence Building: Players will engage in regular confidence-building activities designed to develop a positive mindset, self-belief, and a growth mindset.

3. Dealing with Failure: Players will engage in regular sessions to help them deal with failure and setbacks, develop resilience and a growth mindset, and learn how to bounce back stronger.

4. Performance Enhancement: The players will engage in regular performance enhancement sessions that will help them identify and overcome any mental barriers that may be affecting their performance, such as negative thoughts or past failures.

5. Injury Rehabilitation: If a player has suffered an injury, the mental and emotional response to the injury will be managed through regular sessions, and mental preparation for their return to the game will be emphasized.

This mental training plan will help the players at Tottenham Hotspur perform at their best, even under the most challenging circumstances. By focusing on their mental game, they will be better equipped to handle the pressure of competition and make fewer mistakes on the field.

Thank you for considering this proposal.

Best regards, A Sports Psychologist at Tottenham Hotspur.

P.S. Please see the attachment.

Here are some examples of mental skills training exercises that I might use:

1. Visualization: Players would be taught to visualize themselves performing well in future games. They would be encouraged to imagine themselves making successful plays, scoring goals, and handling the pressure of competition.

2. Relaxation Techniques: Players would be taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness to help them manage their nervousness and stay calm during games.

3. Goal Setting: Players would engage in goal setting exercises to help them focus on what they want to achieve both individually and as a team. This will give them a clear purpose and motivation to perform at their best.

4. Mental Rehearsal: Players would engage in mental rehearsals, where they imagine themselves playing a game from start to finish. This will help them prepare for real-life scenarios and develop their mental toughness.

5. Positive Self-Talk: Players would be encouraged to engage in positive self-talk to build their confidence and maintain a positive mindset. They would learn to replace negative thoughts with positive ones and to focus on their strengths and successes.

These mental skills training exercises are designed to help the players develop their mental toughness and perform at their best under pressure.

By regularly practicing these techniques, players will be better equipped to handle the challenges of competition and make fewer mistakes on the field.

Example Confidence Building exercises:

1. Positive Affirmations: Players would be encouraged to write down positive affirmations and repeat them to themselves regularly. This will help them build a positive mindset and develop self-belief.

2. Success Log: Players would keep a log of their successes, both big and small, and reflect on them regularly. This will help them focus on their strengths and past successes, building their confidence in their abilities.

3. Gradual Exposure: Players would engage in gradual exposure exercises, where they face small challenges and gradually work their way up to more challenging scenarios. This will help them build their confidence gradually and handle challenges with greater ease.

4. Reframing Negative Thoughts: Players would be taught to reframe negative thoughts and replace them with positive ones. This will help them develop a positive outlook and overcome self-doubt.

5. Mental Imagery: Players would engage in mental imagery exercises, where they visualize themselves performing well in games and overcoming challenges. This will help them develop a positive mindset and build their confidence.

Examples of exercises I might use to help players deal with failure and build a growth mindset:

1. Reflection: Players would be encouraged to reflect on their failures and setbacks and identify what they learned from them. This will help them develop a growth mindset and see failure as an opportunity for growth and improvement.

2. Mindset Shift: Players would be taught to shift their focus from avoiding failure to embracing challenges and working towards growth. This will help them develop a growth mindset and see challenges as opportunities for growth.

3. Resilience Building: Players would engage in exercises designed to build resilience, such as facing challenges and practicing bouncing back from setbacks. This will help them develop a growth mindset and become more resilient in the face of challenges.

4. Mindset Training: Players would engage in regular mindset training exercises, where they focus on developing a growth mindset and learning to embrace challenges as opportunities for growth.

5. Positive Reframing: Players would be taught to reframe setbacks and failures in a positive light, focusing on what they learned and how they can use that knowledge to improve in the future. This will help them develop a growth mindset and see challenges as opportunities for growth.

1. Mental Rehearsal: Players would engage in mental rehearsals, where they imagine themselves performing well in a game scenario. This will help them prepare mentally for the game and perform at their best.

2. Goal Setting: Players would engage in goal setting exercises to help them focus on what they want to achieve both individually and as a team. This will give them a clear purpose and motivation to perform at their best.

3. Pre-Performance Routine: Players would develop a pre-performance routine, which would include mental skills training exercises, physical preparation, and visualization. This routine would help players focus their mind and body for optimal performance.

4. Self-Talk Training: Players would be encouraged to engage in positive self-talk to build their confidence and maintain a positive mindset. They would learn to replace negative thoughts with positive ones and focus on their strengths and successes.

5. Relaxation Techniques: Players would be taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness to help them manage their nervousness and stay calm during games.

1. Goal Setting: Players would engage in goal setting exercises to help them focus on what they want to achieve during their rehabilitation and return to competition. This will give them a clear purpose and motivation to work towards their recovery.

2. Mental Rehearsal: Players would engage in mental rehearsals, where they imagine themselves successfully performing their rehabilitation exercises and returning to competition. This will help them prepare mentally for their rehabilitation and stay motivated.

3. Relaxation Techniques: Players would be taught relaxation techniques such as deep breathing, progressive muscle relaxation, or mindfulness to help them manage their pain and stress during rehabilitation.

4. Mindset Training: Players would engage in mindset training exercises to help them develop a growth mindset and embrace the challenges of rehabilitation as opportunities for growth and improvement.

5. Pain Management: Players would be taught pain management techniques such as guided imagery, visualization, or distraction to help them manage their pain and stay focused on their rehabilitation.

6. Return-to-Play Planning: Players would work with the sports psychologist to develop a return-to-play plan, which would include gradual progression through rehabilitation exercises and a gradual return to competition.