Photo: Paul Rudderow
Andrew Wenger is a talented and smart soccer player with one major problem.
He thinks entirely too much.
You’ve seen it on the field this season. He sees an opportunity, questions himself, and then gives that opportunity to someone else instead of taking it himself. When lacking confidence, he seems to follow what his mind tells him rather than what his instincts say. In the process, he overthinks and makes the wrong choice or hesitates too long before making the right one, which was probably what his instinct told him in the first place.
Wenger appears the type of person who looks in the mirror, sees his flaws, and magnifies them. He proves unable to forget his failures, placing them on a mental shelf higher than his successes. In the end, he becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy as he questions his abilities and saps his own confidence in the process, thereby exponentially growing his real or imagined deficiencies.
Right now, Wenger is a study of mind over body. The athlete and thinker. Last year, there was less thinking and more doing, and Wenger looked like a superstar in the making. Now, he looks like a tentative player lacking in confidence.
It seems a little presumptuous to go inside his head like that and draw those conclusions, doesn’t it?
Now tell me it isn’t true.
You can’t, can you?
Overthinking in sports
After a year with the Union, the book on Wenger seems clear in some ways, regardless of his position.
- He’s a fantastic athlete with legitimate soccer skills. Just watch how he dismantled defenders one-on-one during the second half of the 2014 season. This guy can be an All-Star.
- He’s an intelligent, analytic person. Just read his words.
- He appears to be an introspective person who believes in personal accountability. Watch his postgame interviews. If he hasn’t had a fantastic game — it’s not enough to have a good game, mind you; it has to be great — he looks like someone mentally dismantling every element of his performance.
These are positive traits, provided your self-analysis and deep thinking do not cross the line into self-destruction.
Sports psychologists have often highlighted the problem of players overthinking. (For some examples, click here, here, here, and here.) It’s not that you shouldn’t think about the game. It’s just a question of how best to balance conscious thought and instinctive action and prevent your brain from getting in the way of your instincts and muscle memory.
The great Tony Gwynn was famous for analyzing video of himself hitting a baseball long before it became common in sports. He would dissect at-bats, analyze them for flaws, and alter his approach accordingly. High repetition turned the conscious changes into muscle memory, he learned from mistakes without overly dwelling upon them, and he improved as a result.
On the other hand, you have the cautionary tale of Rick Ankiel, the supremely talented former pitcher who famously self-destructed in a high-pressure situation in the 2000 playoffs and inexplicably lost the ability to throw strikes. He was so good a natural ballplayer that he reinvented himself as an outfielder, something extraordinarily rare in baseball history, but his pitching career ended.
A personal experience, and advice for Wenger
If you’ve played sports, you’ve come across players who think too much on the field.
I was often one of those players.
As a pitcher, I once struck out 20 guys in a game but later dwelled so much on the walks and wild pitches that nearly cost us the win that I changed my throwing motion, turned into a high school Rick Ankiel, and eventually wrecked my pitching elbow before I could right my mindset. On the basketball court, I led my team in scoring as a high school senior but spent weeks in a funk (and eventually on the bench) after blowing the game-winning shot on a play called for me against North Brunswick.
Sure, my analytic approach to sports helped me in many ways, as it probably helps Andrew Wenger. For example, I can tell you more about the mechanics of a basketball jump shot than probably anyone you’ve ever met, and it’s how I became a dead-eye shooter. That analytic approach probably made me a good coach and an insightful analyst, but it took something away from my performance on the field.
I was at my best on the field when I stopped thinking and started doing.
During one high school basketball practice, my coach directed me to shoot four free throws in rapid succession and then close my eyes while shooting the fifth. For someone briefly nicknamed “Priest” in part because I was throwing up prayers at the free throw line, this seemed a daunting task. But he left me no time to think, grabbing each rebound and quickly passing the ball back to me. I netted each shot, including the one with my eyes closed. I subsequently became an 80% free throw shooter.
It was a lesson I didn’t fully understand until years later, while playing center back on the soccer pitch. I had played well for 65 minutes, only to get burned on a great through ball for the game’s first goal. I spent the next five minutes dwelling on the error and nearly gave up a second goal in the process, while my left back yelled at me to shake it off and forget the mistake.
Now that I’m older, I recognize this flaw in myself, even if I still repeat it at times in other aspects of life. (Old habits die hard.) I was someone who thought too much and too often failed in that singular, important ability on the field: The ability to cordon off the negative performances in your mind so that they do not sap your confidence and mentally prevent you from playing your best.
The trick for players is to learn from mistakes without dwelling upon them. For the introspective, analytic types, that can sometimes be difficult. When you’re good, you’re real good, but when you make a mistake, everything changes.
Andrew Wenger appears to be experiencing that.
For him, I have this simple advice:
Stop thinking about it. Everyone knows you have the ability. Just do it.
I think most, if not all, footballers go through this at some point of their careers……..it happens at every level up to the pros. I had a rough patch playing in college and yes……you find yourself not starting matches….you over think, you try too hard physically when its not the issue, and yes, you lack confidence. When I found myself in that state mentally……you start building it back up with the easy pass. You start connecting your easy passes….you get into a rhythm…and forget. Then you start making the harder passes and take people on……its a step by step process…….it worked for me. At the pro level….I imagine its amplified even more……I didn’t have 20,000 people screaming for my head…….he does. That can’t be fun……….
and….I’ve read other commenters on here question whether he could be a viable LB……..I think even Twellman has brought it up. I think he ran there in college a bit. The more I think about it………..that could be his outlet. He likes space, he likes running at people…….the question is, can he defend? He has all the physical attributes to do it…….whats going on between the ears is the issue. Now, does putting him at LB screw him up mentally even more? Does he take the move as a dejection of some sort? Or, does he take the opportunity….and literally run with it?
It’s gotta be hard to have no natural position…. Getting used to one role and then getting switched. I’d like to see him at left back, but I’m not sure the team can afford positional experiments right now. I feel bad for him. He definitely showed some moments of real promise last season, and looked great in the preseason matches I saw.
I think at Classics and at Duke he was in a 4-3-3/4-5-1 set up. He was a winger, a striker, and he even played some CB for Duke. Playing in a 4-4-2 doesn’t really suit his style….where do you play him in that? He’s not a midfielder……he’s not what Jim’s looking for in a two striker set……where do you play him? And I agree….you don’t want to play around with your back 4 too much…..especially since the seasons rolling. Tough spot.
KISS is your friend when you get into a funk like that. One of the hardest things to do in life is look at your flaws and think “I can fix that and improve myself”, as opposed to “This is proof that I suck.”
exactly……the KISS formula gets you out…….
Or…..if I don’t fix that and improve myself….I’m going to be picking splinters out of my ass for the rest of the season!
Agree 100%
This is well said.
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It could be Andrew is just in a funk. He needs a few things to go his way and ‘poof’ we’re right back on track.
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In the game against NY he took on a defender 1v1 – cut to the top of the box and I was expecting him to rip a shot – but he dealt this little square ball to a player not in space. Uh oh.
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This is all imminently fixable. In the parlance of golf, Andrew is on the bogey train – just needs a solid drive, smooth iron to the middle of the green and two putt par – then away we go.
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“Heal thyself.”
Joel? Is that you? The writing style is very familiar……..
Vision. Philosophy. Plan.
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Death is the only way out, el pachyderm!!!!
blood in……blood out! Lol!
yup….I knew it was you. Glad your still here brotha! You had me worried about you……..
I think I’m being followed – for rabble rousing. Afraid of receiving a fish wrapped in The Post.
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Need to distance me from myself – – become, ‘incognito in the afternoon’ as Dire Straits sang.
Speaking of Tony Gwynn – did you see TG Jr. do this?
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http://www.nj.com/phillies/index.ssf/2015/04/watch_former_phillies_of_tony_gwynn_jr_hilariously.html
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This is what some Union players need more of…a little levity can go a long way in a sports town like Philly.
Levity. Works every time.
+1!
Interesting article. Now, take the name “Andrew Wenger” out, and replace it with “Rais Mbolhi”. How much of the analysis still fits?
A decent amount, I think, but the difference being that Wenger hasn’t lashed out at his teammates during games, injuring his relationships with them.
Barring fisticuffs in the locker-room (which I suspect to be the case), Rais’ exile is a mistake.
I think there has probably been more than one instance of that in this locker room, this season. From everything I’ve heard from people at the match Sunday……..Mo was about to kill Wenger ( I’m not going to mention the play though for tranquility’s sake!). If I’d have dogged it after the play like that…….I know I’d be getting it in the locker room after the match….then I’d see my name up on the whiteboard to report to coaches office……..from experience!
Mo was ripping anyone near him. It was over the top.
I wasn’t there…..I’m going on what you guys are saying about that…..stand corrected.
Andrew Wenger is a good footballer. He seems to struggle when looked to be “the guy”. The pressure was on him, the minute his plane touched down. The Union had traded Lord Jack Mac (overrated) for him. He felt the immediate pressure…and struggled. Only when that microscope was removed from above him, was he able to get into a groove…and it was a nice groove.
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He can, and has, help(ed) this club immensely, when he is able to focus on playing his game. I think that this is a case of a guy trying to do it all…and that is preventing him from doing anything. He is in his head and you can tell, from his body-language, that he isn’t able to shake off mistakes. I’ve been there…it sucks. You bust your ass, but the hole gets deeper. He needs to step back (as AliCat said) and focus on ‘baby-stepping’ back to playing his game. He’ll get there. It would be a mistake to write Wenger off.
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This is where Curtin needs to recognize his players struggles and MANAGE him through it.
That’s a great point about Curtin needing to manage him through this. For example, I can’t imagine Mo’s undressing of Wenger after the now infamous bounce helped him much. But that is in no way Mo’s fault. The team has a job to do, Mo’s the captain and if you ain’t helping, it’s his job to let you know.
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But it IS Curtin’s job to get the most out of this team, and to get the most out of this team, he needs Andrew Wenger on his game.
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This is where managers separate themselves from coaches.
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Curtin knows the game, we know this. But can he take a player of obvious talent, set him back on course and get the most out of him? His job just might depend on it. After all, he doesn’t have the luxury of better options. Andrew Wenger IS his option. Here’s hoping JC can make it work.
Andrew, you need to stop being a human be-ing and become a human do-ing.
You win the internet..great allusion
In the immortal words of Crash Davis: “You just got lesson number one: don’t think; it can only hurt the ball club.”
One of the greatest movies of all time………..why do you keep calling me Meat???????
“Well, I believe in the soul, the cock, the pussy, the small of a woman’s back, the hangin’ curveball, high fiber, good Scotch, that the novels of Susan Sontag are self-indulgent, over-rated crap. I believe Lee Harvey Oswald acted alone. I believe there oughta be a constitutional amendment outlawing AstroTurf and the designated hitter. I believe in the sweet spot, soft-core pornography, opening your presents Christmas morning rather than Christmas Eve. And I believe in long, slow, deep, soft, wet kisses that last three days. Good-night.”
……..he just called him a cocksucker didn’t he?
Is he shaking me off? I have this kid throwing a one-hitter and he’s gonna shake me off? Ok…..here comes the number one…..and speak kindly of me…
Charlie, here comes the deuce.
thats right…..I knew I butchered that….still one of my favorite parts of the movie……I still roll on the ground at that scene!
Man that ball got outta here in a hurry. I mean anything travels that far oughta have a damn stewardess on it, don’t you think?
Breathe through your eyes Andrew.
I believe I meant eyelids. But you get the idea Andrew
I have been always amazed at Wenger’s physical skills. His deceptive speed and power is really something to watch. Even when he was matched up against a physical presence like a Josh Williams, he was still able to burst by him with pace and power. Same thing with Yedlin last year in the Open Cup final. When he’s on his game, he can be positively beastly.
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However, at the professional level, it’s all about how you recognize and make adjustments as well as how consistent you are in your play. That’s the subtle difference between someone who is starter vs. a squad player. And while we would like to think that Wenger can become a star with a consistent position and getting his confidence back, this may just be what & who he is going to be as a pro…an inconsistent squad player. I hope that I’m wrong here.
This article does seem to get to the heart of Wenger’s issues.
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Two additions:
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1) Wenger wrote an article on this very topic himself (linked below). In it, it seems to me that he’s trying to tell himself the same things Dan is writing about here. Of course, it’s nowhere near as easy as the final advice in this article makes it sound.
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http://www.theathletestory.com/#!instincts/cb7s
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2) Last Open Cup during the game with the dust storm, I sat right behind the player bench. Usually being in the River End, I was excited for the chance to see how the benched players react during the game. I learned that largely, they don’t really pay attention. Most were socializing; Fred endearingly made a rude gesture at the River End when they were chanting about the Brazil v. Germany World Cup game. But Wenger, Wenger was dialed in. He was hanging on every play in an intense, hunched over posture, head darting back and forth. You could see him actively working to process everything that was happening. He clearly wants it. The whole thing is a problem with a guy that just cares too much.
Had no idea he had written that. How interesting.
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And no, it’s definitely not easy. I still fall into this trap myself, and I’m the guy writing this, you know?
Great link! Thanks
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Dan, a good coach, as some mentioned, is able to get the most out of players. Look at how Tim Sherwood has transformed players in recent weeks: http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32375885
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Curtin is clearly not in the same league and is to blame as far as I am concerned.
I am not sure I can agree with the initial premise: Wengner is talented and smart.
Agree Jerry, that’s what makes it so frustrating with him. We know what he can be capable of…….when he’s banging on all cylinders……he can change matches.
maybe narrow down his options by restricting what he can do. Give him a few -if this, then that- otherwise just maintain possession. By simplefying things, he might get some confidence in repeating just a few things succesfully to get some positive results. He is worth being attended to as a reconstruction project. He will probably never get there by himself. The problem is the coach seems kind of unemotional and analytical, kind of like Wenger maybe?
Last game, after Wenger was substituted into the match, he was playing on the side we were sitting in the stadium.
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Everytime that Wenger got the ball, with the Onion down by 1 goal, he paused, looked lost, and did not run at the defender in front of him.
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When playing his best, Wenger will drive at that defender and get him off balance. He showed no signs of the confidence needed to flat out challenge the defender on the wing with his dribble.
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It may sound silly but Wenger is probably a high sensitivity person (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highly_sensitive_person) when it comes to personality. Meaning, he spooks himself out of his optimal performace with his own head.
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I hope the kid finds his way. He is one of my favorite players to watch off the dribble when he is not overthinking.