It’s all about the Team

For the non-sporting fans, last weekend was probably a bit of a washout, but for those who enjoy spectating, what a weekend it was!  International Cricket, World Cup Football, Grand Prix, Wimbledon Finals, Tour de France etc. Everywhere you looked, every TV channel, Radio programme, tweet, status update, there was something being said about the various sporting achievements happening at the time.

The tennis final was between the two giants of the game, proving once again why they are the best at what they do by battling their way through all the rounds to face each other one more time.  The rallies were exhausting to watch, let alone play and, unlike finals of old, there was no clear favourite.  The spectators in Centre Court and everyone who was watching at home knew that they were witnessing first class tennis.  The two were so evenly matched that it seemed a shame for there to be one winner.  It was more of an appreciation of talent, stamina and wit and throughout the match you couldn’t pick a clear winner between the two.  It demonstrated sheer dedication; the players to their training, the families to the players, the trainers to their protégés etc.

There is so much involved in creating a tennis champion, although blessed with amazing talent, it takes teams of people to make this one person great: fitness coaches, nutrition advisers, training partners, mentors, sports psychologists, the list goes on and although there is only one person out on that court, the team is immense.  Not to mention the work that is indirectly linked to those players, the sponsorship deals, the PR and media processes and the design of these players as a brand.  Everything they wear, eat, drink, train with is carefully thought through and is unique to them.

The other demonstration of great team work last weekend was during the Costa Rica vs Netherlands World Cup football match.  It was the quarter finals and therefore a lot at stake.  After 120 minutes, not a single goal had been scored and so it was coming down to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.  However, 2 minutes before the final whistle the Dutch Manager, Louis van Gaal, made a decision that had never been seen before.  He decided to substitute his goalkeeper, Jasper Cillessen, who had played the full match, made plenty of saves and indeed had not allowed a single goal slip past his fingers or through his legs.  In his place was to go the substitute goal keeper, Tim Krul.

Jasper Cillessen was inevitably shocked and even when he approached the bench to see his replacement standing there he made one last check at the board to make sure that it definitely was his number that had been called.  He didn’t object, he didn’t kick and scream and make a fuss, he accepted that his Manager’s decision was final and made for a reason and it was his job to act professionally and get behind Tim.  The commentators were shocked, everyone wondered what on earth was happening.  They said this could be his best decision ever, or his worst and we all waited to see what the outcome would be.

It turned out to be the best decision as Tim Krul went on to save two penalties putting the team through to the semi-finals.  What was warming to see was, during the shoot out, the subbed Keeper, Jasper Cillessen was with the rest of the team cheering Tim on and was absolutely thrilled for him when he made the saves.  A sign of true strength of character; many others would have been found sulking in the changing room!

The Manager knew where the strengths and weaknesses were in his players and maybe his confidence was in the substitute goalie to save more penalties and that Jasper Cillessen was better in open play.  Maybe he didn’t want his first Keeper to get injured because he wanted to play him in the next game (knowing that they would go through), we don’t know.

Sometimes we never know what the reasons are behind managerial decisions, whether we like them or not, ultimately they are going to be for the better of the team and we have to acknowledge that the Manager is a manager for a reason and there will always be rationale behind those decisions.  It’s down to us as fellow team members to accept them with enthusiasm, get on with the job where our strengths lie and support other members as they do the same….

Of course what happened in the Netherlands and Argentina’s penalty shoot out a few days later was quite a different story. Rather than replace the goalkeeper, Louis van Gaal had to burn his third and last substitution in the 96th minute as striker Robin van Persie simply didn’t have anything left in the tank. A tough decision, one the Manager will have to live with – and while the end result was not a success, the team will align once again and move forward to plan the next win.