Time to rely on the naivety of youth

TWO weeks chilling, doing whatever professional footballers do to unwind, is now followed by an intense and crucial run of games.

They travel down to Ashton Gate to play Bristol City on Saturday. Good Friday sees Birmingham City visit the SCL, and then on Easter Monday it is a long trip up to Preston.

The break came at a good time, though some of the squad have been racking up the air miles. Lucas Joao made his competitive debut for Angola against Ghana. Amadou Mbengue is representing Senegal U23s against Mali. Jeff Hedrick has faced Latvia, and mighty France for his Republic of Ireland. Cesare Casadei is playing for the Italy U21 team this week.

For Reading manager Paul Ince, it must be a nervous time. He already has eight players out injured. Losing a couple more, coupled with a six- point deduction, could send his team down into League 1.

Shane Long, Tom McIntyre, and Liam Moore are among those out for the rest of the season. Sam Hutchinson and Junior Hoilett look unlikely to feature again.

As Ince rightly points out “we’re back to where we were earlier in the season with all these injuries”. Yes, but let’s not forget the bleaker the injury crisis the better results have been.

When the bench has looked like a kindergarten, and Ince and his staff have been pre-occupied with nappy changing and bottle feeding, Reading’s results have been better. When the squad has appeared in rude health and selection decisions have caused headaches results have dipped.

Based on results the faith shown in the more experienced, better paid, senior pros has been misplaced. Some of the younger, perhaps more eager pros have put in good shifts when called upon.

That naivety of youth, that energy, that untainted enthusiasm, that joy and love for playing the game is what has been missing from Reading’s recent performances. It has all started to look like terribly hard work and frightfully serious for the senior players turning out each week.

The ramifications of relegation are serious, financially and in terms of employees’ careers. Above all though, egos will be dented.

That said, it is most likely avoided if the players are relaxed enough to express themselves and play with a carefree abandon that allows them to produce their best.

The odd smile, the understanding what they do is all very frivolous, and keeping the whole thing in perspective is easier said than done.

Having fun is the single most important thing about sport, whatever level you play. As luck would have it, if you are enjoying it you’re also likely to do it better.

If you want the weight of the world on your shoulders spend some time in an environment where decisions have truly massive impacts on people’s lives. Doctors and nurses, policy makers, teachers, public service providers and a whole host of other workers could be excused for looking a bit over-whelmed.

Cheer up, play the youngsters and enjoy the experience. What’s the worst that can happen?