When Winners Become Losers

[Cormac]

Leinster losing their fifth ERC final got me thinking about other teams that have gone from enjoying routine success in the "big one" to perennial chokers in same and the reasons behind it.

Mayo are the obvious benchmark in this part of the world with 11 AI final losses (three wins prior to the "curse").
Cork have lost their 5 previous AI hurling finals despite being one of the most successful teams in the sport.
Further afield you have the likes of Juventus with 5 European Cup final losses after two successes.
The Miami Heat won 3 NBA championships before losing 3.
The Buffalo Bills lost 4 Super Bowls in a row in the 90's but they have never won the big one so I don't think they qualify.

Any other obvious ones?

Is it purely psychological?
Does losing one or two plant the seed of doubt which subsequently grows out of control despite the team in question having tasted success in the past?
Does the fact they have tasted that previous success change the equation by introducing a certain amount of arrogance and/or complacency?
How does a team overcome it and break out of the cycle of failure that they have adopted?

 

[Yermon]

Prior to 2016 Hibs, who’d won a number of Scottish Cups at the start didn’t win it for 100+ years. Then the The Rangers were a goal up with just minutes to go…..

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

For a number of years Cork City and Dundalk were dominating the League of Ireland and FAI cup, and then both got relegated and haven't got back to anywhere near where they were.

Manchester United are probably worth a mention too. From being one of the top teams in the world to going to shit when Ferguson left. 15th in the Premier League last season I think?

And then Wales in the rugby. From a major global force to being the worst team in the Six Nations year after year.

 

[cork2030]

Leinster losing their fifth ERC final got me thinking about other teams that have gone from enjoying routine success in the "big one" to perennial chokers in same and the reasons behind it.

Mayo are the obvious benchmark in this part of the world with 11 AI final losses (three wins prior to the "curse").
Cork have lost their 5 previous AI hurling finals despite being one of the most successful teams in the sport.
Further afield you have the likes of Juventus with 5 European Cup final losses after two successes.
The Miami Heat won 3 NBA championships before losing 3.
The Buffalo Bills lost 4 Super Bowls in a row in the 90's but they have never won the big one so I don't think they qualify.

Any other obvious ones?

Is it purely psychological?
Does losing one or two plant the seed of doubt which subsequently grows out of control despite the team in question having tasted success in the past?
Does the fact they have tasted that previous success change the equation by introducing a certain amount of arrogance and/or complacency?
How does a team overcome it and break out of the cycle of failure that they have adopted?

Kilkenny

 

[Cormac]

For a number of years Cork City and Dundalk were dominating the League of Ireland and FAI cup, and then both got relegated and haven't got back to anywhere near where they were.

Manchester United are probably worth a mention too. From being one of the top teams in the world to going to shit when Ferguson left. 15th in the Premier League last season I think?

And then Wales in the rugby. From a major global force to being the worst team in the Six Nations year after year.

There's a difference between choking and just becoming sh*t though.
Like Leinster are still a good team () and have the resources and players at their disposal but to lose their last 5 ERC finals suggests a serious mental issue.
Same with Cork.
Wales however just don't have the players or the structure anymore to even compete.

 

[Lee Bushwacker]

Liverpool surely? Absolutely dominated British football for 25 odd years and then went 25 odd without winning it

Longer than 25 years. Can't remember exactly how many Jim. 1990-????

 

[MerchantOfEnnis]

Leicester.

Premier League winners, playing in the Champions League, and now they're in League One

 

[BettyDoesMallow]

- Huddersfield won 3 league titles in a row and nothing since.
- Wexford footballers won 4 in a row and nothing since.
- Dublin footballers won 9 All-Irelands and then lost to two weak teams in Leinster in successive years. This despite huge financial and population advantages.
This is more of a predictive one.
- Chicago Bulls, 6 titles in the 90s and not even a Conference title since
- Ballymacarbry - 42 Waterford titles in a row and fuck all since.

 

[Handy Run]

Wales however just don't have the players or the structure anymore to even compete

Ugh. I hate to say this but...

We need Wales to not be utter dog shit. They're genuinely on the brink of ruin.

 

[Nollaig O Muracu]

Hulk Hogan.

Dominated the 1980s before running off to DubyaSeeDubya in the 90s.