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Well we've had a lot of practice at it.
We should be ranked 1 in this stat.
Its more that the opposition slacken off. Tonights game is a prime example. Manly were down 40 nil and scored 4 tries in the last 17 mins. Does that also mean manly play their best playing catch up footy? I don't think so, Manly are one of the best front runners in the comp and have been for years. Souths took their foot off the pedal.
Is this just a sign of a crap team that makes an art out of losing?
They have lost more games being behind at halftime than they have won, so I guess they were still too crap to win.
Love your work Ian - I like a man that digs deep - and you are right
Parramatta is what I call a "Good Time Charlie" footy team - when no pressure is involved - ie enter game as underdog and/or get off to a fast start and score points early - Parramatta usually performs better and often Wins, esp if, as your stats show, they score early
However, when things get tough and faced with MENTAL PRESSURE - and that includes, entering game as favorite and/or not scoring early and/or giving away field position and time of possession through repeated penalties and turnovers and/or being in a "must win" game - Parra have proven that they are MENTALLY WEAK
Slip is correct by saying Parra performs well when playing catch up but it is more than that - they cannot handle pressure - so when there is ZERO pressure, they play their best footy
It is no co-incidence that our biggest wins were against some of the weakest teams after we got away to fast starts - no pressure - big scoreline
However - if you look at our losses and the opponents and put that in context to when Parra shifted from underdog (rounds 1-8) to favorite (rounds 9-19) and the must win games (rounds 20-26) - an awful pattern of being a mentally weak footy side emerges
Alot can be said about the residual effect of being "losers" for the past 4 seasons prior to 2014. The losing culture and lack of belief is still part of the Parra DNA - even though BA is certainly changing this.
Another contributor is youth.......lack of experience can only lead to an inferiority complex amongst the Team until they LEARN to win and overcome adversity
And lastly, the major contributor to Parramatta's mental fragility is poor on field leadership - there is NO "go to" guy around the ruck or in the forwards that instils belief, or fight, or courage or has the ability to get the team back on track when in difficult situations
It is no co-incidence that Parra started their "must win" games so poorly and could not start to play until all pressure from winning was removed and "underdog" status was resumed - a perfect case is the second Manly game - with the season gone and from an impossible position - a miracle win. Parra played it's best footy against Roosters in Round 4 - once again as the ultimate underdog
But the real Parra to study is Rounds 9-19 as the favorite or danger side then Rounds 20-26 - the must wins
Rounds 1-8 - reigning wooden spooners, new coach - the ultimate underdog
game 1 W warriors
game 2 L 56-4 Roosters
games 3-6 WWW impressive wins over Penrith Bris Roosters (still the underdog)
game 7 (fav) L - first time as favorite & lose to Tigers
game 8 L first PRESSURE GAME of the season and get flogged Nth QLD 42-14 L
Round 9-19 - Parra the DANGER Team - no longer the underdog
games 9-10 WW -easy wins over lightweights Sharks and St G
game 12 L 2nd time FAV against a top side - get flogged L Penrith 38-12
game 13 W impressive against NQL - Parra the underdog
game 14 W depleated Bulldogs / 4th time FAV against a depleated Top side
game 15 L 5th time FAV against a top side - get flogged by Storm 46-20
game 16 L * must win PRESSURE game / FAV L NCastle
game 18 L * must win L 6th time FAV against a top side - get flogged by warriors L 48-0
game 19 L to Souths no disgrace - but underdogs for sure. Parra played well
Round 20-26 Semi Final run - "The Heat is On"
game 20 W * must win W over Titans
game 21 W * must win W easy win over sharks
game 22 W * must win - struggle to win against Raiders
game 23 L * must win / 7th time FAV against a top side L against Dogs
game 24 W * must win W impressive against Manly - Parra the underdog
game 25 L * must win L Knights - implode under pressure get flogged
game 26 L * must win L Raiders - implode under pressure get flogged
note - when I say favorite - I mean - NOT underdog and have a realistic chance of winning
Look how many games where expectations and pressure being a realistic winner and/or MUST WIN games that Parra simply imploded
Parra is one of the talented sides in the NRL but is also one of the weakest and mentally fragile sides in the comp,
just going through a major Parramatta withdrawal syndrome at the moment - not coping well with no Team to watch, no matter their form
Looking at stats is my methadone, but it's not helping
......as his neck and eyes begin to involuntarily twitch..........lol
You should have watched Manly last night tele 1 - it was just like watching the Eels. lol
lol lol lol
touche Sir Col - I'll pay that one lol lol
yes haha was good wasn't it.
Well just goes to show ya despite having DCE and Foran WATMOUGH etc etc without the heart in it AND a good hookers go forward also, a very determined Souths made them look crap.
Thx Ian - it's good fun diggin deep lol - fellow shoveller
have a look what they do in games compared with a pressured environment ie underdogs or get a fast start then compare to games- when expectations before kick off against a top 8 seem realistic to compete for a win and the "must win" games - this may help to explain WHY the starts are poor - they simply cannot handle it mentally
I believe this also helps to understand why there is such a contrast in our bad performances - the psychology of our Team basically a disturbing trait of youth, poor leadership and still not being able to BELIEVE when under pressure - then instantly crumbling into oblivion
mentally fragile in a bad way