Robertos Mind games

[john68]

They can have Guardiola Ted. It would suit me down to the ground mate. Pep is long term. No short fixes. It would take them years and resources they don't currently have to rebuild in Pep's image. The rags demand instant success, they would run out patience in the 1st few weeks. They need instant success to underpin their global marketing and merchandising strategy.

Their best replacement would be someone (who?) to continue to do what Taggart has done for years, The rag bootroom.

Looking at Taggart yesterday and the condition he was in, leads me to think he has not simply lost the mind games but also the mind. He looked fucked and defeated. Very passive about the game and City.

[Beefymcfc]

Not seen the presser yet as it's not been shown on the OS, however here is a few comments from an article on Goal.com. Seems Mancini has learnt to keep his emotions under check and you can clearly see his intent in these quotes.


"For the last 20 years Manchester United have been winning constantly," he told reporters.

"Even when they are coming from behind in the table, they know deep inside they can come back.

"They have this internal force born from all the success they have had.

"Playing often against United has helped our progress and allowed us to learn. We’ve moved closer to them but they are still better than us.

"They have more experience and that team spirit that we are in the process of building here."

"We didn’t watch United’s match with Everton because we were preparing for our match with Wolves," the Italian insisted.

"I hadn’t asked to be kept informed on what the score was, so I didn’t see Steven Pienaar’s goal that made it 4-4 live. In any case, that goal doesn’t change anything, United still have a big advantage and an easier run-in.

"They will play Swansea and Sunderland — who no longer have anything to lose or to gain — and we are facing Newcastle, who are doing very well, and QPR, who are playing for survival.

"The match against United could end up not deciding anything."

"We can be proud of the work we’ve done," he declaerd. "It’s not 10 years City have been fighting for the title, just two.

"In 2010, we finished fifth and, the following season, we finished third with the same number of points as Chelsea in second.

"We’ve played really well and were top of the league for 28 matches. If we don’t win the title this season, we will win the next one and have a lot of success in the years to come."

[Ted Hughes]

Each success against these turds moves us up a level; Bob is right.

The semi final was the first time since the League Cup winning year when we've actually beaten them in a big cup game with a final in sight. It was also the first time since '81 that we've beaten anyone in a big cup game of that nature, we ALWAYS blew it uptil then.

The 6-1 at their place was the first time we've beaten them there as equals in a title challenge since Bell Lee Summerbee etc. If we win this one, it will be the first time since the 60's we've beaten them at the business end of a run in, so even if we did then fuck up at Newcastle, it would be another rung up the ladder.

We are gradually knocking off all their little edges. It could be Monday, it could be next year, but soon enough their advantage will be gone & we will start to move away.

[Beefymcfc]

Didn't we finish strong last season, winning 5 of our last 6 and all of our last 3. Could we go one better and record 6 out of 6?

I like the number 6, seems to have some poignancy this season.

[Bluedays]

Well I don't see that as an impossibility beefy. I mean QPR aren't a worry as we are at home ... However don't get complacent otherwise we could get another 3-3 :-( ... And as long as nerves don't affect our players and we finish our chances then I think we could finish with 9 points extra . Overall it just depends on which city team comes out of the tunnel. No nerves and creates loads of chances and good finishing or the team that got slaughtered by arsenal

[Beefymcfc]

Well I don't see that as an impossibility beefy. I mean QPR aren't a worry as we are at home ... However don't get complacent otherwise we could get another 3-3 :-( ... And as long as nerves don't affect our players and we finish our chances then I think we could finish with 9 points extra . Overall it just depends on which city team comes out of the tunnel. No nerves and creates loads of chances and good finishing or the team that got slaughtered by arsenal

The truth is, we have more than enough in the bag to win all 3 games and it has been great to see that we're coming on strong again in the run-in. We have proved that we can beat anybody on the day and have beat 2 of our last 3 opponents away from home, these games should be seen in that context. Newcastle, however, have proved to be a very good side this season but we beat them 3-1 at home during a period when they were flying high (3rd I think) and they went onto the next game to draw at the Swamp. That alone says something about them as they could've just folded going into that game.

The reality is that we could/should win all of our remaining games if you look at it on previous form but we all know that football games don't always pan out like that. That's why I won't be taking anything for granted and will be giving it my all for the last 2 home games. And I'm sure they'll be hearing me in Newcastle as well.

Nice first post mate, good to see you have a nice balance.

Welcome aboard.

[Bluedays]

Well we shall see what happens :-) tbh at start of the season I would have been happen with second so doesn't bother me to much. As long as the rags don't rub it in to much... And thanks for the greeting :-)