Problem of Spartan Leadership, episode 1
Has Spartan Leadership remained the same? Can it?
The decisions that were made at Pylos were made by leaders, but how different is Thucydides' description of the Spartan leaders from what we see at Pylos to what another Spartan leader, King Archidamus, tells us about how leaders must plan in times of war? Check out Born To Run's section "Enemies worse than chance" to understand a little more about ancient warfare.
Thucydides knew how this battle at Pylos ended yet was this a case of bad leadership? Bad "followership"? Unusual context in a no-win situation?
Next, take a look at "Born to Run" and the OODA Loop: can you apply the same sequence here at Pylos and Sphakteria? Was it possible for the Spartans to act quicker?