<div id="attachment_758" style="width: 228px" class="wp-caption alignright"><div><figure class="external-image"><img aria-describedby="caption-attachment-758" loading="lazy" class="size-full wp-image-758" src="http://epltalk.com/wp-content/blogs.dir/7/files/2010/01/Gylfi-Sigurdsson_2372258.jpg" alt="Note To Self: Bring Motivation To Every Match" width="218" height="298"></figure></div>Note To Self: Bring Motivation To Every Match</div>
In a season where the passion and relevance of the English F.A cup have been in question, one team defies the odds and shows a true cup spirit. Of course I am referring to Reading, the team who have become all to familiar to football fans around the world after deservedly knocking out Liverpool in the 3rd round and Burnley are the latest top flight victim to the Royals. If you needed any sort of proof that the F.A cup can bring out the best in players, take into consideration that Reading haven’t won a game in their last six league outings and only won three league games in 2009 at their home ground, the Madjeski Stadium (and two of them came in January!). Their win in the 4th round once again got me thinking about how players become differently motivated when the competition changes and the mental challenges that players obviously face.
In the third round replay against Liverpool, at Anfield, Reading completely out played Liverpool and there were several occasions where the players were so confident that they were tricking and nut-megging their way through Carragher and Agger – two experienced decorated defenders. Yet we never see play like this from Reading in the league and they’re often guilty of dropping their heads when things don’t go their way. They’re a talented set of players, obviously the team isn’t of the same calibre as the previous season, but this team shouldn’t be in the relegation zone and that is clear when we know that they are capable of beating the likes of Liverpool and Burnley who are in the league above them.
So it comes down to confidence and belief, one week you’re in the league and struggling to garner belief that you can play to the best of your ability and the next week the cup comes about and you have all the confidence in the world. But why? I’m not sure even a Reading player could answer you that, it’s almost as if there are two Reading teams at the moment and although the scalps of two Premiership teams are impressive, they need to transfer this confidence they get playing in the cup over to the league otherwise Reading may not be starting next seasons cup run from the 3rd round…
It’s a strange phenomenon not only in football but psychology itself; the aspect of motivation is something fascinating and strange. From an outsiders view, it doesn’t make much sense how Reading can get beat by Plymouth (a team below them in the league) 4-1, then soon after outplay Liverpool – twice. Players are obviously very motivated to take on the top teams with the top players as if to prove a point to the football world, yet why do motivation and confidence levels change so dramatically because the name of the competition changes?
Now Reading come up against Sheffield United in the league, away; not an easy game for an team in the Championship. And I wonder if Reading will return to their poor league form or will be inspired by their cup performance. They recently played quite well against Nottingham Forrest away from home but the punters will no doubt prefer the Blades. This also raises the question of how much is ability down to confidence and motivation? Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo obviously have a lot of confidence in their play and the raw talent to match it, but could there be players that maybe could have been a lot better if they had just played with confidence and motivation. I believe that the more you think about motivation and confidence, the more it hinders your play and maybe the likes of Kaka, Ronaldo and Messi don’t even consider their motivation and instead try to focus on how their actual talent – so as if motivation takes a back seat therefore is constantly high.
You look at the England goalkeeper situation at the moment and people constantly mention the word ‘confidence’. David Seaman was England’s number one for years and I can’t ever remember his confidence being questioned, whereas people are worried that Robert Green is losing his concentration because of all the goals he is conceding. Seaman didn’t need confidence – he was just ability and although I’m not questioning how good Robert Green is but how good can you say England’s goalkeeper is if he loses faith in his own ability? A lack of confidence can ruin any player.

Am I Reading This Right? Royals Into 5th Round &#8211; Motivation Phenomenon

Am I Reading This Right? Royals Into 5th Round - Motivation Phenomenon - World Soccer Talk

Am I Reading This Right? Royals Into 5th Round – Motivation Phenomenon

This year’s baseball season is shaping up to have more MLS cities in contention than in past years.&nbsp; The Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners are off to really good starts, and this is not&nbsp;good news&nbsp;for MLS.&nbsp; Currently, both teams sit in first place of their respective divisions.&nbsp; These two cities have drawn better at the gate than any other MLS teams, but will it continue if their baseball counterparts continue to position themselves for a playoff push?
In Toronto on Saturday, Soccer outdrew baseball.&nbsp; According to MLS-daily.com’s attendance and YahooSports attendance figures for boxscores in baseball, Toronto FC had 19,998 and the Toronto Bluejays had 18,331.
The one city MLS need not worry about in baseball is Washington, D.C.&nbsp; The Nationals are the worse team in baseball.&nbsp; But on Saturday, they still outdrew arguably the proudest MLS team.&nbsp; They drew 19,9950 to the United’s 14,225.&nbsp; Go figure that one.
The biggest story in baseball so far has been the Los Angeles Dodgers.&nbsp; They look like they might run away with the division.&nbsp; If they do, ultimately, that could be better for the&nbsp;2 LA soccer teams.&nbsp; But, surely they will be a story to watch for Southern California sports fans this summer.&nbsp; It also looks like the LA Angels will hang around to try and win the division as they have hung around pretty well for each of the last 10 years , either&nbsp;winning divisions or making it close.&nbsp;
The Dodgers drew 47,000 Saturday, while the Galaxy drew 21,000.&nbsp; Surely, the Galaxy would have done better head to head Saturday had Manny not signed that big contract, and had Beckham stuck to the plan.&nbsp;
At Wrigley&nbsp;Field, the&nbsp;Cubs drew 40,000, probably to be expected, knowing the history there.&nbsp; The Cubs are a decent team this year and they carry&nbsp;a more than 100 year relationship with sports.&nbsp; Their drout makes them always the lovable loser and an interesting team when they win.&nbsp; It would be better for the Fire, who drew 10,000 on Saturday, if the Cubs have a crappy season, but that’s not happening apparently.&nbsp; &nbsp;
The Fire need to be compared head to head to the White Sox too, who also seem to be contending.&nbsp; In fact, because of parity, it seems many MLS cities are competing in baseball this year, like the Astros and Rangers.&nbsp; But, maybe they’ll sail out of contention as the year moves on.&nbsp;
The Royals of Kansas City would definitely seem a likely candidate to sail out of contention, but it doesn’t help MLS or the Wiz that the Royals are having a decent season.&nbsp; They have been bad for a long time, so when they are good, it seems an anomaly, and fans start to pay attention.&nbsp;
One team who won’t fall out of contention this year is the Philadelphia Phillies, the defending champs.&nbsp; They are riding a wave in which the core of the team is sticking around.&nbsp; The Phillies have reestablished themselves with their fans&nbsp;via a new stadium and may make it rough on the newest expansion team for MLS next year.&nbsp;
In Colorado, the Rockies seem to be in the decline, and it appears it will be a long season for their fans.&nbsp; But, the Nuggets of the NBA are picking up the slack, pulling out John Elway of Arena Football League fame to announce their starting 5 in a crazed playoff atmosphere last night.&nbsp; The hockey team had a bad year and the Broncos had an unusual year, so as the Rapids average 11,000 in attendance,&nbsp;is it maybe a result of too much sports for one town?&nbsp; 5 pro teams may be one too many.&nbsp;
Colorado seems a good case for general managers&nbsp;from MLS to look to not schedule head to head against rival sports leagues.&nbsp;
It seems it is best to hold back on any judgement on the Red Bulls as everyone awaits their new stadium, which looks appealing.&nbsp; Next year will be interesting to see how they do head to head versus the Mets and Yankees.

Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities

Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities - World Soccer Talk

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Am I Reading This Right? Royals Into 5th Round – Motivation Phenomenon

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Looking closer at MLS and MLB cities