1. I take your point, although for there are still plenty of players in the dressing room who will remember the hard work it took to go from 15th to the top half who you'd expect to be fighting (i.e. Steele, Lamptey, Dunk, March, Gross, Lallana, Veltman, Webster, Welbeck).
2. I wish I shared...
1. Not being able to qualify for Europe hasn't stopped Bournemouth from gunning for a top half finish. Or Palace. Or Wolves.
2. And if the manager and players aren't able to recalibrate their goals then God help us if we get into a relegation fight.
3. What worries me are the parallels...
1. I think his basic grasp of English has let him down. I think he meant incentive, rather than motivation - a subtle but crucial difference.
2. Professional pride to finish in the top half of the table should be incentive / motivation enough. For most of us a top half finish and knockout...