The Arsenal Game

[brite blu sky]

I'd doubt the players have been influenced by the fans that much. They have a job to do and tbh I'd expect them to be more worried about current form than anything, they must be desperate to turn things around and look like a team again. With training everyday and the general being together working I'd rekon more on them having an innate sense of the need to 'have something emerge' from the effort they put in individually.
I do think that they have let the pressure get to them though, recent games have been too disjointed and trying too hard.. looking very uninspired.
Personally if I had a concern it would be that it all has to slip out of control before they collectively say 'fuck this' and just get on with it. Imo the team still has to click into shape for real and not just because of newness. I wouldn't know if piling the pressure on or taking it off is the way to go but either way the run to the end is going to be the making of the team. Mancini is also learning and we have to take that into account, like it or not.

As for the media and all that, Iv'e literally paid no attention as we all know what the agenda is, how practiced they are at it, both in subtlety and whammies. It was always going to be that way, so we just have to do it the hard way. If players are taking note of any of it they are making a mistake and they won't be the ones who make the cut at the critical time.

As fans we have to learn to enjoy this... this is what it is all about, a title is never handed over on a plate and it will never be easy on the nerves. The only way to learn what it takes is to be there in the thick of it ( what happened to Spurs by the way? ). Recent games were critical... but maybe not critical enough. Now they are all hyper critical... will that be enough for everyone to step up?

Can't wait for Sunday and I couldn't give a toss what the rags do.

[Dubaimancityfan]

A win at the Emirates would be great but even a draw would still keep us in the title run.
I did the BBC Predictor and input below results which see us finish the season on 88 points with the Sum on 87.

Maybe it's a pipe dream but completely realistic IMHO. Any surprise from QPR and Wigan would completely change the equatio of course. I had high hopes on BB but we all saw how that ended although BB had their chances.

Arse 1 City 1
Scum 2 QPR 0
City 3 WBA 0
Wigan 1 Scum 1
Nowrich 1 City 2
Scum 2 Villa 0
Scum 2 Everton 2
Wolves 1 City 2
City 2 Scum 1
Newcastle 2 City 2
Scum 2 Swan 0
City 2 QPR 0
Sunderland 2 Scum 1

[Swales4ever]

There's a difference between optimism and blind faith. There's also a difference between being a pessimist and realist. In all likeliness united won't drop anything against qpr. They might but come on, how many of you seriously expect them to? We are far more likely to drop points to arsenal. I'm not being a negative sod, it's just being realistic. Another thing is that people seem to ebe taking it for granted that we'll beat united. I'm not saying we can't or won't win the league but looking at our respective fixture lists it's unlikely.

But football defies all that doesn't it. That's the catch that makes it addictive. Reading stuff on here recently it seems that most have forgotten that and been overtaken by their expectations and now cannot enjoy the fight any more. The Arse game is crucial, tbh it is now the biggest game of the season. Win, Lose or Draw it is going to be one of the games that helps define this team. If we stay in this fight then all the next games are going to be the same. Imo that is enjoyment unparalled since the late 60's fighting at the very top. Every pass, every tackle, every movement is going to be watched with an intensity bordering on hysteric. Isn't that why we watch football to experience that level of right here right now insanity?
Well City are right there, this team has brought the fans right into the white heat. I can't believe there are fans flaking out all over the fucking place just when it is getting exciting... this team is learning on the job, the next games are crucial to that, they don't have the experience and have to get it somehow... well this is how.
If they don't do it, there is no need to go awol, the team has improved no end from last season and this fight to the end will make the team and give them the experience they lack, there is no other way, enjoy it for what it is. Pride in Battle

This is a post of rare eloquence.
You, BBB, once pissed me off and made me feel insulted by joking and going sympathetic toward my capability of disserting my thoughts with my limited grasp.
Now I am prepared to fairly accept You as a language lecturer.
I obviously do agree with the whole points made, even if to be perfect and complete it miss to raise the ultimate Mancunian tabu: it is not all due to "being overtaken by own expectations" , because that miss to explain why every manager failed to restore City glory for decades: the compulsory need by some daft minority to put every manager under pressure, spread discontent amongst fellow Blues either at the stadium and social venues, failing to understand that once they succeed there will always be few other dafts feeling entitled to run the same way toward the next incumbent.
Hat off nonetheless, BBB. superb one.

[Moses]

Tevez hattrick