Fear Factor - Teams scared of us?

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GX Blue

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For all the younger posters, many many years ago, Utd used to win trophies. I know that’s hard to believe considering how embarrassingly shite they are now.

The media, like they do now, used to televise nearly every game they had. These days there’s about 5 PL games on a weekend but back then it was a big deal if you were chosen for TV and many of us had them Tossers rammed down our throats.

As a City fan dying for anyone to put up a fight against them it was somewhat frustrating when teams rolled over and died within first 5 min. It was blamed on a fear factor of mentally weak players.

Years later, we are now the top dogs destroying most opponents at The Etihad. When we talk about teams coming here I do think due to what Peps done we have created the biggest fear factor arguably of all time in the PL.

Yesterday, a lot of blues and pundits had Newcastle down to get a result. However for the first 70min they seemed scared to death to take us on. Even with all the players missing and the trip to Greece they still didn’t play maybe as well as they could have against us.

So, it seems like I’m dismissing how well we did yesterday which is not my intention as we were the superior team but we should consider years of excellence have now got that other small aspect in our favour, the fear factor, which I think is a massive plus for us and it’s something we don’t often mention.
 
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It should be termed more as a belief factor.
We have belief in our manager and his methods. The players follow the instructions and are committed to it.
Utd had that with the pisscan in charge.

Teams come to our place with a lack of belief due to a poor strategy, poor condition, weak link player(s), manager playing with damage limitation in mind, and also a trauma of past mauling(s).

Teams don't properly fear other teams, they recognise the disparity in all round ability and internally accept there will most probably be a bit of a beating.

This lack of belief can be counter-acted by the "we've got fuck all to lose" mentality. But even that only works very occasionally.
 
Didn’t a Newcastle player last year admit it was like Men against Boys when they played us and not a game he looked forward to. Once you have that mentality it’s almost lost before the game. We have a very physically imposing side now too when we were very recently a side lacking in height etc. the defence looks so solid and if we win a lot of games by a couple of goals to nil, I will be very happy.
 
I think it's a reasonably recent phenomenon. We were somewhat patchy at home early last year - conceded 2 goal leads to Palace and Spurs; won a scrappy match vs Fulham with a stoppage time penalty; and actually lost to Brentford. The big difference was shoring up the defensive line (as Pep commented after we won the title) - Ake replacing Cancelo was critical, the whole 4 CBs philosophy, and perfecting the Stones into midfield.

The fear factor was definitely there late in the season - both Bayern and Real were incinerated and Real said it was the most intimidating atmosphere they had ever faced. One right in the eye for the scousers who think they are the ultimate cauldron and our place is a whimper.
 
GX Blue said:
For all the younger posters, many many years ago, Utd used to win trophies. I know that’s hard to believe considering how embarrassingly shite they are now.

The media, like they do now, used to televise nearly every game they had. These days there’s about 5 PL games on a weekend but back then it was a big deal if you were chosen for TV and many of us had them Tossers rammed down our throats.

As a City fan dying for anyone to put up a fight against them it was somewhat frustrating when teams rolled over and died within first 5 min. It was blamed on a fear factor of mentality weak players.

Years later, we are now the top dogs destroying most opponents at The Etihad. When we talk about teams coming here I do think due to what Peps done we have created the biggest fear factor arguably of all time in the PL.

Yesterday, a lot of blues and pundits had Newcastle down to get a result. However for the first 70min they seemed scared to death to take us on. Even with all the players missing and the trip to Spain they still didn’t play maybe as well as they could have against us.

So, it seems like I’m dismissing how well we did yesterday which is not my intention as we were the superior team but we should consider years of excellence have now got that other small aspect in our favour, the fear factor, which I think is a massive plus for us and it’s something we don’t often mention.
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My take on it is I think there is too much hype regarding Newcastle,yes they qualified for the CL,fair play,but 4 teams can every season so it’s nothing too significant.I mean even rags qualified and look how shite they are.

We all expect them to be a team challenging,because of the money they have to spend,do they qualify for top 4 this season,well time will tell,so for any success in next year or so I don’t think it’ll happen yet.

I ain’t knocking them by they way,I mean you could say arguably they kept Liverpool out of it for which I’m happy,but it’s too early yet for them to become a top top team,they hardly layed a glove on us last night,and in the last 15 mins or so when I thought we’d get more leggy they still didn’t,and today I read Howe was saying it was a bad performance,but if you have a bad performance then it usually ends in not getting any points.

You know who my teams are that’ll come to us with no fear……..fucking none of them my mate,none of them
 
There's definitely that now.

Even yesterday for Newcastle, walking out seeing 3 trophies and a big display. There's got to be a psychological element to it where you realise what you're up against.

Like fighting a prime Golovkin, when they're announcing the fighters and you look across the ring, see his team holding up all the belts and you know he's been knocking everyone out for fun. No matter how confident you are, reality is going to dawn on you a bit.
 
Roy Keane used to talk about seeing in opposition's eyes that they were already beaten in the tunnel.

I'd say we've had aspects of that post-centurions. Some teams turn up happy enough to only lose by a goal or two and not get embarrassed. Thought Newcastle had a bit of that to them yesterday.
 
So if we lose a game at home does our fear factor suddenly go?

Our team is obviously good and fans being negative or doubting the team doesn’t change that. We can beat anyone and if the opponents are better on the day they can beat us, yesterday thought us nothing, except trust Pep and the players.
 
Crooked_rain said:
There's definitely that now.

Even yesterday for Newcastle, walking out seeing 3 trophies and a big display. There's got to be a psychological element to it where you realise what you're up against.

Like fighting a prime Golovkin, when they're announcing the fighters and you look across the ring, see his team holding up all the belts and you know he's been knocking everyone out for fun. No matter how confident you are, reality is going to dawn on you a bit.
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Talking about those 3 trophies on display, where was the Super Cup?
 
Mancity1980 said:
Talking about those 3 trophies on display, where was the Super Cup?
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It was in the corner on a plinth with Natalie & Danny pre game….Spoke to a geordie on the train home & he said they bottled it, the midfield got over run & their players where like rabbits in a headlight. The pre match stuff had a definite double edge to it, in that it was done in such a way to intimidate Newcastle, but also give our own players & fans a boost,
 
After last night's performance, I definitely agree. I would have happily settled for a point last night, but to boss the game as we did was incredible after having to travel in midweek; play in 30 degrees heat and humidity; and then to use mostly the same players who'd put in such a massive shift.

There's an extra fear being generated here by the fact that we've lost Gundo, Mahrez and KDB, Stones + Bernardo currently, but we looked absolutely awesome - retaining the ball like never before and still creating. Newcastle must have thought they were in with a chance of something after their first match, and witha clear week to recover and prepare, but our tired team outran them and toyed with them for most of the match - they managed 1 shot on target - and should have had a player sent off!

So, yes; we've created a definite fear factor.
Be afraid; be very afraid!!!
What a team!
 
Brightwell Bros. said:
Roy Keane used to talk about seeing in opposition's eyes that they were already beaten in the tunnel.

I'd say we've had aspects of that post-centurions. Some teams turn up happy enough to only lose by a goal or two and not get embarrassed. Thought Newcastle had a bit of that to them yesterday.
Click to expand...

Also, the delight the home fans show when they nick a point. One year WBA did a lap of honour.
 
I think what does it for most teams is our ability to play out from the back under intense pressure with seemingly no space. From thinking the have us under the cosh, then two or three passes later being on the back foot and struggling to get back in position, it must be so demoralising for the opposition.

It's the reason Newcastle came out in the second half trying to kick lumps out of us yesterday - pure frustration.
 
This is from a Newcastle fan on Red Cafe...

"City are ridiculous. Maybe only 15 real minutes of pressure/threat of equalizing from us in that 2nd half but comfortable for them otherwise. It's not like we even played too poorly either; we didn't go there scared or with thoughts of sitting back and hoping for a smash and grab. The gap between the sides is still just that big.

Think we'll rinse Liverpool next week if we show up with the same verve and appetite tbh."

Hope he or she is right on the last bit.
 
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