Football legend John Terry has weighed in on the world of professional darts, offering surprising and unconventional advice to struggling Premier League player Stephen Bunting. With Bunting yet to secure a win three weeks into the season, Terry suggests that the famously “nice” darts player needs to tap into a “nastier” side, employing what he calls “dark arts” on stage to disrupt opponents and find that crucial winning edge. This bold strategy is presented as essential for Bunting’s success, especially as he faces an uphill battle in upcoming Premier League nights.
Stephen Bunting, known affectionately as “The Bullet,” has found himself in a tough spot in the current Premier League season. After three weeks of competition, he’s still searching for his first nightly victory, a frustrating start that echoes a challenging run last year where he failed to score any points over seven weeks. His recent 6-3 loss to Gian van Veen in Glasgow only adds to the pressure as Night 4 in Belfast approaches.
It’s this struggle that has caught the attention of John Terry, a man synonymous with winning during his illustrious football career. Terry, a keen observer of darts, believes Bunting’s inherent kindness might be holding him back on the competitive stage.
“I have to say, with him, he seems like the nicest guy you will ever meet,” Terry remarked. “When I am watching the darts — and him in particular — I want to see a little bit of nasty. Just barge someone or create a little something to throw people off.”
Terry’s advice isn’t about outright aggression, but rather about psychological warfare and strategic disruption. He advocates for Bunting to embrace the “dark side” of the game, employing subtle tactics to break an opponent’s rhythm – a critical factor in the precision sport of darts. A player’s rhythm, which includes their throwing motion, pace, and mental focus, can be easily disturbed, and Terry sees this as an untapped advantage for Bunting.
Unconventional Tactics: Terry’s “Dark Arts” Playbook
Terry detailed several specific, albeit small, actions Bunting could use to gain a mental edge:
- Prolonging the Walk-Out: Deliberately extending the time taken during the walk-out to the stage, making opponents wait longer.
- Strategic Entrance Timing: Choosing to be the second player to walk out, which can subtly alter the atmosphere or preparation time for the first player.
- “Accidental” Disruptions: For instance, “accidentally” dropping darts during an opponent’s throw or before a crucial leg. This isn’t about cheating, but about creating a momentary pause or distraction.
- Any Small Rattle: Identifying and executing minor actions that can break an opponent’s concentration or flow, even for a split second.
“All of these bits — why not give them a go?” Terry challenged. “If somebody is really good in their rhythm, how do you break that? You have to tap into stuff like that, and he needs to because he is so nice. I want to see a nastier Stephen Bunting.”
The former Chelsea captain emphasizes that these aren’t malicious acts, but rather smart, tactical maneuvers designed to gain an advantage in a high-stakes environment where every point and every dart counts. For Bunting, who is clearly struggling to find his winning form, such an unconventional approach might just be the secret weapon he needs to turn his Premier League campaign around and finally secure a night victory.
Source: Based on an article from Darts Planet TV.
