Tim Sherwood refuses to rule out sports psychologist for 'scared' Aston Villa players
He used the ‘f’ word for the first time and it is the spectre of failure which means he will consider bringing in a sports psychologist to help Aston Villa’s fragile players.
The Villa manager saw his first match in charge end in a sixth successive Barclays Premier League defeat, a result which leaves the team second-from-bottom.
On Saturday Sherwood takes his shattered side to Newcastle hoping that another week on the training ground has instilled some extra confidence.
‘If we’re going to fail, we fail trying and really expressing ourselves,’ insisted Villa’s boss.
‘If there’s someone out there that I think can help the group, whether that be a coach or sports psychologist, whoever it is, we wouldn’t turn it down. You look at it and say they should be used to it (struggling) but I don’t think you can ever get used to this.’
When Sherwood breezed in to Villa’s Bodymoor training complex a fortnight ago he exuded confidence and positivity. Reality has set in.
Losing to an injury-time Stoke penalty last week has only served to highlight the problems he has inherited from Paul Lambert.
‘I beat myself up about it,’ admitted Sherwood. ‘I dwell on it because I’m always mulling over the game. Could we have done anything differently?
‘We haven’t got a fantastic amount of time so when we’re on the training field, I have to give the boys some key messages. If I flood them with information then it will go to waste.
‘They’re picking it up on the training field. It’s completely different when you transfer your training form to match day. It takes a lot of character and a lot of bravery and confidence to be able to do that.’
The underlying message is that there has not been sufficient courage on show so far and a glance at the table would confirm that decent players have been under-performing.
Sherwood added: ‘It’s a psychology job. I really mean it when I say “don’t be scared”. Don’t be scared to lose. Just get out there and give everything. You leave nothing on the pitch.
‘The quality is in the group but there is something in there which we need to dispel. I don’t think there’s any shame getting it out in the open because they’re going to have to dig deep.’
Villa face a crucial eight days, starting with the trip to north-east and followed by two meetings with close neighbours West Brom in Premier League and then FA Cup.
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