In George Orwell’s 1984 he writes about this dystopian world where one political party controls absolutely everything. If Orwell had thought of the idea today, he would’ve most surely come across Livorno in 2014. The Amaranto are living a dystopia dominated by one common notion that goes by the name of relegation, even when it is avoidable. Livorno are living in a self-created dystopian world.
The Amaranto’s 4-2 loss against Chievo on Sunday was an epitome of the Amaranto’s season. ‘Your most vulnerable when you’ve just scored’ is a saying that has been circulating for years, but in the game at the Armando Picchi on Sunday it couldn’t have been more relevant. After going up in the first six minutes, Livorno conceded three minutes later. Although some might label conceding the goal as incompetence, lack of belief is the suitable description.
Before the start of the season, several renowned media outlets tipped Livorno to go down immediately after getting promoted. Their attitude compared to the two other promoted sides Hellas Verona and Sassuolo is too different. The Neroverdi are in a much tougher position, yet against Cagliari they were playing for their lives. In a previous Club Focus, I wrote about how the players must believe they’ll stay up if they want to stay up. Chievo believed, and Bologna did as well. Livorno on the other hand lack belief.
Room 101
Also in Nineteen Eighty-Four, Room 101 is a room where the political party (Ingsoc) , led by an omnipotent ‘figure’ by the name of Big Brother, tortures the prisoners. Room 101 isn’t your orthodox torture room, it contains your own fear or phobia. In Livorno’s case, it’s Serie A. It comes as to no secret that Livorno have yo-yoed between Serie A and Serie B in recent years. Did it reach the players? That’s the logical explanation. In a relegation-battle, it’s imperative for a side not to lose concentration and hope. Chievo were the visitors, but they turned up and netted four goals past Livorno, because they believed they could do it, Livorno didn’t. The Amaranto looked petrified, and had no cutting edge whatsoever.
2+2=5: History repeats itself
The term 2+2=5, first used by George Orwell in Nineteen Eighty-Four is used to describe a false dogma. In Livorno’s case it’s the lack of belief that they can achieve survival. In the 2009/10 season, Livorno were back in Serie A after achieving promotion from Serie B. It’s almost as if history is repeating itself. In that season, the Amaranto were relegated after finishing bottom of Serie A and three different coaches took over the side. Vittorio Russo was replaced by Serse Cosmi early on in the season, before Cosmi himself got the sack late on in the season and was replaced by Gennaro Ruotolo.
The similarities are uncanny, and this season Livorno also endured three coaches, only this time they’ve played much better, and still could survive the drop if they believe they could do it. Three coaches a season is definitely a sign of desperation; sacking Attilio Perotti after only one week in charge perfectly portrays that struggle. Mistakes should be learnt from, not repeated. The truth is that the Tuscan club have yo-yoed between the division in recent years and that has affected their confidence.
Relegation hopes are slowly fading away, only the players now can help the Tuscan club overcome such a dogma. Only the players can prove the doubters wrong. If the whole squad is lacking belief and living in a dystopian fallacy then Livorno are destined to go down this season. If the words of the media have affected the players, then the dystopia will not end. The run of games is tough, but a squad full of confidence and belief can do the impossible, however it looks far from that at this juncture.
Follow Ahmed Assem on Twitter: @CalcioTown
