No matter who the opposition are, a defeat affects you, particularly when it is as emphatic as Coventry’s loss to Brighton on Sunday. Every manager feels the impact.
For Frank, losing at home to Hull or Brighton will be painful, just as defeats against Arsenal and Manchester City would be.
However, his response to those setbacks will determine what comes next.
As the person responsible for leading a young squad, he cannot arrive on Monday morning looking exhausted and defeated after a heavy loss.
He may be suffering internally and feeling wounded pride, but everyone at the club will look to him for a response and follow his example.
Turning up at the training ground in a gloomy state and displaying negative body language will not help, regardless of his private emotions.
I experienced that situation many times as a manager. The answer is to show confidence, restore the group’s direction and encourage everyone to work even harder while concentrating on the next match.
That is how strong leaders behave. It can be exhausting, which is why using your time wisely and focusing on problems you can actually solve are so important.
When I guided Stoke into the Premier League in 2008, I was still learning through experience.
Our opening results were disappointing, so I had to work with the squad available to me and concentrate fully on finding a way to collect points.
At the same time, I kept planning for the future and quickly identified what we required to strengthen our chances of avoiding relegation.
By the time the January transfer window arrived, talks with Tottenham over Matty Etherington were already under way because we wanted his ability to deliver crosses and create opportunities from wide areas.
We also needed a greater goal threat, so I signed James Beattie from Sheffield United. Although they were competing in the Championship, his proven record of scoring in the top division made him an appealing option.
Bringing in suitable players for specific roles remains just as vital now as it was then. Both signings made an important contribution to our survival.
Coventry are still waiting for their first goal, so observers may assume their attacking positions are the main concern. The common expectation is that a central striker, winger or number 10 should provide most of the goals.
In reality, every player must contribute. I would also repeat a point I raised last season: disciplined defending is equally essential.
Statistically, keeping a clean sheet tends to produce more points than scoring once, and I regularly reminded my players of that fact. Whatever form a team is experiencing, success depends on performing effectively at both ends of the field, because that is where matches are ultimately decided.
What do you feel about this post?
Like
Love
Happy
Haha
Sad
