I suspect the 'second year blues' are like everything else.
Some will experience them, perhaps for the reasons LP suggests.
They get a bit more attention and scutiny.
Others don't experience them at all and have better second seasons than first.
I had a look at about half a dozen of the best players and almost to a man their second season was better than their first.
Maybe, the better the player the less the likely the phenomenon or perhaps the mentally strong can work through it.
You know what we're doing here, in this exercise of prediction/expectation... is just 'guessing'.
The reality is that none of us have any idea of how things will work out and what part a whole range of variables will play in our 2024 season.
For every reason we can think of for a successful year, there will be a reason why things could go pear shaped.
There was a time when I used to go into a season not even thinking it wouldn't be successful.
I wonder whether we might be a bit 'gun shy' these days after such a lean period.
We look for reasons why we can't have a good year, and adjust our expectations accordingly.
At the moment I just cant see how we aren't a big chance in 2024 other than bad luck with things like injuries.
Some will experience them, perhaps for the reasons LP suggests.
They get a bit more attention and scutiny.
Others don't experience them at all and have better second seasons than first.
I had a look at about half a dozen of the best players and almost to a man their second season was better than their first.
Maybe, the better the player the less the likely the phenomenon or perhaps the mentally strong can work through it.
You know what we're doing here, in this exercise of prediction/expectation... is just 'guessing'.
The reality is that none of us have any idea of how things will work out and what part a whole range of variables will play in our 2024 season.
For every reason we can think of for a successful year, there will be a reason why things could go pear shaped.
There was a time when I used to go into a season not even thinking it wouldn't be successful.
I wonder whether we might be a bit 'gun shy' these days after such a lean period.
We look for reasons why we can't have a good year, and adjust our expectations accordingly.
At the moment I just cant see how we aren't a big chance in 2024 other than bad luck with things like injuries.