The Law of Attraction, if you’ve not heard of it is an esoteric concept, loosely backed up by theories within the world of Quantum Physics (stay with me). The Law states simply that whatever you direct your attention to, you will get more of; that it is our intention, both individually and collectively that manipulates the universe, like a dam manipulates the flow of water. It puts you in the role of scriptwriter, and makes you the director of your own hollywood blockbuster. No doubt it’s a lovely idea, but is that all it is? I don’t know, and quite frankly I don’t really care because it’s immaterial, as even on a logical level, the sort of platform I find hard to argue with, it makes perfect sense.

The basic tenets from my understanding are:

1. Focus your attention on what it is you want
2. Identify how best to get it
3. Take deliberate action towards that end
4. Have the unshakeable belief you will achieve it
5. Don’t give up, no matter how many times you fail

6. Learn from your mistakes

So irregardless of whether or not the universe opens cosmic doors for doing it, applying those rules can only be beneficial in almost every situation. I say almost, because there may be some potential stalkers out there rubbing their hands with glee, but I’m afraid no matter how persistent, Angelina is unlikely to leave Brad for you, so I wouldn’t even try.

So what does all this have to do with football? Well, ninety per cent of football matches are won up there.

...Okay, you didn’t see that, but

I’ve just patted the side of my head three times with my dialling finger (for those who don’t know what that is - ask your parents, twats!). The figure quoted is entirely arbitrary and not the result of any painstaking research, simply a number to illustrate the importance of having the right mental attitude.

The circumstantial evidence for this is vast, just within our own club. Bill Shankly was once questioned about what it was he looked for in a player before he considered buying him. "Bob [Paisley] and I have a list of attributes that a player must have before he comes, but if he doesn't have the most important attribute, he will never play for Liverpool" stated Shankly. Upon being pressed as to what this special attribute was Shankly revealed "Table manners son, Table manners".

Now Shankly wasn’t referring to a player knowing which spoon to use for his soup, or with which knife to butter his bread nor any other such convoluted practices of the landed gentry and upper classes. Levels of pretentiousness which would no doubt have been anathema to the straight-talking Scot anyway. No, the manners he was referring to was the sort you’re mum taught you, like not putting your elbows on the table, chewing with your mouth closed and excusing yourself when you’ve finished, the type of actions that show a very basic level of respect.

Our home kit was changed simply for the psychological advantage Shankly believed it would provide the team. Red being the colour of danger, The all-red strip giving the illusion of height, and subsequently menace. The ‘This Is Anfield’ sign wasn’t put there because it was pretty, it was a psychological tool to sap the belief from opposition teams when they visited. Shankly’s systematic verbal demolition of a visiting Manchester Utd side, tempered by a cheeky “if you can’t beat a team with 3 players” when asked about Law, Best and Charlton typifies the attitude of the man, and his emphasis on having the right mentality.

Mentality? where have we heard that word before? Virtually at every post-match interview and press conference Rafa ever did. He was obsessed with the mentality of his players. They had to have the right attitude, and if you didn’t then no matter how good you were or how much potential you had, once it became apparent, you would quickly find yourself sidelined; It’s why Lucas, Skrtel and Kuyt have succeeded while Pennant, Keane and Riera had short-lived careers in a Liverpool shirt.

For all the talk of team selection, formation, tactics and money in the sport, football to quote Jimmy Greaves “is a funny ol’ game”. It is probably why we love it so much, it provides you with shocks, upsets and Lazarus style comebacks. So what is that magic ingredient that has the potential to bankrupts the bookies? luck?

Well for me there are two types of luck, pure and worked for. The pure luck is most often seen in football where a team has 70% possession, 30 shots on target, hit the woodwork with 10 of those and at the first opposition corner, concede a goal in the 92nd minute; invariably an over-hit set piece ricochets off a beach ball, hits the crossbar, bounces off the goalkeeper’s backside and nestles into the back of the net, one-nil. Whistle blows.

Worked for luck isn’t really luck at all. It again comes down to mentality. It could be the exact same scenario as above, but with the one-nil score line going in the dominant teams favour, it’s not luck, it’s reward for preparation, maximum effort and relentless persistence. The vast majority of time the latter result will-out, which is what happened against Blackburn on Tuesday night.

The reason Manchester United have continued to rack up title after title with teams, which you would have to say have not been the best in their history, and certainly no better than some of ours, man-for-man over the years is in a large part because when opposition teams take to the field against Manchester United, they are half resigned to walking away with nothing from the game, the best they feel they can hope for is a draw. A consequence of this is sometimes the oppositions key players are rested for more ‘winnable’ games. It’s a psychological advantage we used to possess, and one we need to claw back.

Everton go to Wembely ;) at the weekend on the back of a four goal rout against Sunderland, were as we arrive after an emotionally draining hard-fought victory at Ewood Park. Moyes men turn up unbeaten in five, with four clean sheets. Kenny’s army seem devoid of firepower having won one in five, kept no clean sheets and lost their number one and two goalkeepers. Brad Jones nervous display against Blackburn doesn’t inspire confidence; if he doesn’t possess the mentality in a virtually meaningless league fixture, what will he be like in a semi-final derby at Wembley in front of a crowd of Evertonians baying for blood? We’ve recalled Peter Gulasci from loan, presumably to deputise, but will a 21 year old prospect be up to the job in such a high profile fixture? It’s down to the King to choose his best option. 

So with all that in mind, the psychological advantage is surely with them, you would expect the smart money to be on Everton in that case, but it’s arguable that we go into a derby for the first time in years as underdogs, and despite every single thing I just wrote we like it when we’re underdogs

Dave Gill