Give A Little Lovin'

Confidence. Sometimes it’s all you need. Take the case of Everton striker Victor Anichebe. For seven previous years, he’s been toiling in the Everton reserves, making the odd substitute appearance here and there, seldom in the starting line-up, getting the rare goal here and there, almost forgotten basically. Fast forward to right now, and boy have things changed. The Nigerian international is now the first-choice striker at Goodison Park, ahead of Croatian superstar Nikica Jelavic, who is currently on a Fernando Torres-like scoring drought. With recent outstanding performances, including the latest goal-scoring game against QPR, Anichebe is revelling in standing ovations and looks finally to have secured the recognition his potential had always suggested. It didn’t look possible in the last seven years.

His pace, power and mobility have always been there, but the difference has been the Confidence. Even his manager David Moyes has admitted that Anichebe needed some lovin’ from the fans, some assurance that they wanted him and liked him. That he is good enough for them. And it’s clearly shown right now. With his glorious back-to-the goal assault, general hold-up play and intense work-rate, Anichebe has become a firm fans’ favourite. He is causing Premiership defences problems all over the shop. Next up: it’s Arsenal at the Emirates in an ‘All-Or-Nothing’ European showdown.

So confidence is sometimes all you need. A colleague facing some Monday Blues. A team-mate feeling lacklustre after a poor run of games. A person feeling awkward in a social setting and clearly not in the mood. Sometimes, a dose of confidence can turn it all around. It makes a person go from zero to hero. It’s like you know you can do something before you even do it, and thus you end up managing to do it. Like a self-fulfilling prophecy. Like all the skills and talents have suddenly come to the fore. An awesome, under-rated thing. Just ask Victor Anichebe.