supercity88
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 9 Aug 2009
- Messages
- 12,525
It looks like the club are thinking strategically about Gabriel and managing the situation very well. Young player with a lot of hype over from Brazil vs a media desperate to see the failure of City and our players/manager.
Announce him early and the hype begins, if he isn't fit and doesn't play cue the negative headlines "city sign unfit brazil flop". If he then comes on the pitch and performs poorly the press ramp up their attacks on him, Pep and the club.
Instead he is getting up to fitness away from the media circus and when he is announced to play will only have to focus on the hype in the stadium and his own ability. It's worth sheltering him when we can. I really think he is tough enough mentally to succeed and deal with whatever is thrown his way but it's better to do things this way. Throwing him into a game at Goodison might not be wise either. A home game where he has our support and more protection (slightly) from officials makes sense too.
Nice to see this management as opposed to how the club has done things previously particularly with young players. The Pellegrini and Sterling situation particularly where before the game he's mentally strong enough to handle a return to Anfield and at half time he is hauled off. Great way to damage a players confidence.
Announce him early and the hype begins, if he isn't fit and doesn't play cue the negative headlines "city sign unfit brazil flop". If he then comes on the pitch and performs poorly the press ramp up their attacks on him, Pep and the club.
Instead he is getting up to fitness away from the media circus and when he is announced to play will only have to focus on the hype in the stadium and his own ability. It's worth sheltering him when we can. I really think he is tough enough mentally to succeed and deal with whatever is thrown his way but it's better to do things this way. Throwing him into a game at Goodison might not be wise either. A home game where he has our support and more protection (slightly) from officials makes sense too.
Nice to see this management as opposed to how the club has done things previously particularly with young players. The Pellegrini and Sterling situation particularly where before the game he's mentally strong enough to handle a return to Anfield and at half time he is hauled off. Great way to damage a players confidence.