Liverpool striker Luis Suarez has been in the news again. Last season it was the unfortunate spat with Manchester United defender Patrice Evra. Now it’s an issue over diving.
Tony Pulis deemed that Suarez should be banned by The FA for his perceived dive in the Premier League game at Anfield last Sunday. The world of football generally agrees with Pulis, including ex Liverpool players, normally unfailingly loyal in their support of their former club.
Brendan Rodgers however has described the criticism of Suarez as ‘vilification’. Strong accusations. But inside the defense of his player is a formula that Sir Alex Ferguson has used so successfully over the years. It’s the classic US v Them strategy.
Rodgers is seeking to creating a fortress mentality at Anfield. One that implies that outside of the football club there are enemies. The THEM. The ones who stand against Liverpool succeeding.
Thus far, Rodgers has highlighted referees who are failing to spot obvious fouls against Suarez. They belong in the camp of The THEM. The press will probably be in there too with their criticism of Suarez’s antics.
And Tony Pulis will probably find himself in this anti-Liverpool group now, alongside any other professional who has openly stated that Rodgers should speak to Suarez about his diving. No doubt The FA will soon be in the ever growing THEM camp shortly too.
An US v Them strategy works on very simply principles. The idea is to create an enemy, The THEM that causes the US to come together in strength to fight off this external threat.
The stronger the THEM is perceived to be, therefore the more united the US should become. The manager wants all his players to be part of the US. for to not be, by implication, makes you part of the THEM. Or an enemy within!
And when you have a strong US, the group become united and working together towards the same goal. As the unity develops, success should follow, thus reinforcing the belief inside of the group, about themselves. Look how strong we are in defeating the external enemy! And so no one inside the US camp want to let the rest of the group down, as that makes them part of the THEM by implication.
If Brendan Rodgers has the trust of his players, then they should naturally want to follow him into battle against the THEM. And with Liverpool struggling to get their Premier League campaign going, the Irishman needs a very strong US to fend off the doubts and uncertainties lingering over Anfield.
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