Griff’s a natural but he won’t stay top without hard work
There’s an old saying that hard work only beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard. It’s true. Being a natural is no longer enough.
Something Leigh Griffiths is finding out the hard way under Brendan Rodgers.
The Celtic manager gave the striker some tough love last week, going public with some pretty stinging criticism that the way Leigh was living his life as a pro wasn’t good enough.
I really hope for his sake he takes it on board.
As a striker myself, I love watching Griff. Any player who scores the goals he does makes the game exciting.
And as a Scot I want to see him at the top of his game for the benefit of the national team.
I remember watching him as a young boy at Livingston where he played beside my husband Colin – and he was brilliant. Daring, creative, making chances, producing the unexpected ...
He’s a natural player and it’s a shame he’s not getting time and playing at the top of his game – especially when Gordon Strachan is crying out for a scorer.
But what Brendan says is so right. If all you rely on is your talent, then there are players who are so committed that they’ll catch you up and overtake you, even if they have less ability.
The best players, their physique, their fitness levels – they’re absolute machines now.
You could be the best finisher in the world, the most instinctive, the most predatory in the box, but if you don’t have the sharpness and the strength and the endurance to compete with those athletes, you’ll end up losing your battles.
There’s been a massive change in the way footballers live their lives.
The ‘old’ football culture had you playing on Saturday then straight to the pub for a drink and an all-nighter.
These days players at any kind of level are in training on a Sunday more often than not, so they’re expected to go home after a game, rest, refuel and prepare.
The women’s game is no different.
I said it a couple of weeks ago, but the minute Anna Signeul came in, there was an understanding that alcohol simply wasn’t tolerated. It wasn’t part of your life during the season, full stop.
Same with certain types of food – especially sugar.
I’ve been in dressing-rooms where the coaches would pass round the sweeties but it was an absolutely taboo under her.
I saw it in the two years I spent in San Diego playing as well. I didn’t drink alcohol until well into my 20s anyway but in America we had just one night out in two seasons.
Hardly anyone was drinking and I was home in two hours.
The environment and culture were great because you got an understanding of how a professional athlete should be looking after themselves, what to eat, drink, when to sleep. We lived as a community and it rubbed off on everyone.
It’s not as if we’re short of examples of best practice the days. Look at Cristiano Ronaldo.
Everything he eats or drinks is designed to make him the best player he can be.
Right on our own doorstep, Sir Andy Murray is doing exactly the same. It’s how you become the absolute elite.
Look at their physiques. And it’s such a short career.
People grow up wanting that life, dreaming of it.
If I could do it all again I’d do so much differently in terms of my diet and my regime.
That’s what it takes just to compete on a level playing field with everyone else who’s taking the sensible options.
Let’s face it, if you want it enough, surely it’s not much to sacrifice a pizza or a pint on a Saturday night to live the life you always dreamed of – especially if your talent has carried you so far.
Hopefully that’s exactly what Leigh has realised.