Handling the pressure - Mentality

[Unknown_Genius]

I was just wondering, whether there is some sort of a "mental" thing in the team, when it comes to a big match at home, where the pressure is on. I was thinking about games this season, where if we got a win, it would put us in a great position. Look at the games; Liverpool, victory, and a healthy position in 4th, only drew and seemed content with it, Everton, win and you go 4th, lost 2-0, and then yesterday where we seemed to freeze again. I'm not saying we have the god-given right to win every game at home, but I don't think in any of them we played aswell as we could have done. Neither am I saying we're big game bottlers, but there seems to be a psychological problem, like theres a fear of taking that next step.

 

[Garry.Cook]

No doubt there is a lot of pressure on us at the minute, probably more than our guys have ever had on them before with a lot of them being quite young, but it is something that they will get used to.

In the meantime, we need to show them our support even when things don't go our way! To act like petulent kids and spit our dummies out when we lose in the last 20 secs isn't going to do much for confidence is it lads?

CTID.

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

It shows the difference between being champions and chasing a CL slot. Just one chink of light and they will find it.

We match MANUre yesterday at every turn and the only full on chance they had they nick the three points.

We were well worth a share of the points yesterday, and if MANUre fans were in the least objective about it, the thing they would come out with first would be a rather large sigh of relief.

They know we are a match for them. They know we can score against their defence. They know we can blunt their midfield and spike their attacks, but in 90 mins you cannot always shut the door behind you.

 

[Garry.Cook]

It shows the difference between being champions and chasing a CL slot. Just one chink of light and they will find it.

We match MANUre yesterday at every turn and the only full on chance they had they nick the three points.

We were well worth a share of the points yesterday, and if MANUre fans were in the least objective about it, the thing they would come out with first would be a rather large sigh of relief.

They know we are a match for them. They know we can score against their defence. They know we can blunt their midfield and spike their attacks, but in 90 mins you cannot always shut the door behind you.

A rag mate of mine hasn't gloated once since the derby (granted, I almost chinned him when Owen scored last time). He has admitted that both teams only deserved a draw and said it scares him how shit they are without a fit Rooney. Times are-a-changing boys.

 

[Stiss]

Man United play to win every game. As much as I hate to say it that's why they are a good side and can hurt teams because they never give in, and we have seen this 3 times this season and not learnt from it yet.

I think it is a mental thing though, thats why he brought Vieira on. Because he has experience, he might not be the best player now but he has been there in big games and knows what it takes. We will get to the stage where we can see a game out, or even steal it in the end ourselves but that comes with experience.

Saying this and looking back, all 3 derby defeats due to last goals could have been stopped. It's not really a particular defenders fault or even the defence as a unit but lack of composure. Take yesterday for an example. There last attack before the goal, when we cleared it to Bellamy all the United players knew it was game over, they all dropped to there knees when Bellamy had the ball because they knew if we kept possession it was game over. But Bellamy hoofed it to SWP and it was cut out. The worst thing we could have done was give it to a red shirt, thats what we did and thats when they gather belief that they can score because they can make things happen when they have the ball.

 

[warringtonmcfc]

The original post is bang on. When the pressure is on we still come up short. There is a lack of leadership and belief in the side still.

You knew that goal was coming the longer the game went on. When was the last time we had a clean sheet against United at home?

We never win those sorts of tight derbies (home leg of CC semi excepted but two leg game so different scenario). When we hadn't scored by the hour mark I think most sensed the worse.

We can say we are getting closer but that game yesterday was no different to many of the recent derbies. We failed to test their keeper enough, let their midfield take control. It was obvious we had to do something about Scholes from first ten mins but didn't.

There is a lot that still needs to be done.

I just can't see us beating Spurs at home as we will now need to do. Our recent record against them is poor and our recent history in big home games against them is even worse.

United were there for the taking yesterday and we weren't good enough to do it. End of. They will be stronger next season. Let's hope we advance further than them.

 

[Bet_Lynch]

Think OP could be right. I was thinking last night - do the club's media dept do the players any favours bigging up the important games? The ticker tape, loo rolls, music, poster campaigns, blue moons etc are great for the fans to see, but does it have a positive or negative effect on the players? I suppose it would depend on personalities - some people might feed off it, but it would put me right off if I was a player - I'd just want to get on the pitch and get the job done.

 

[Unknown_Genius]

Think OP could be right. I was thinking last night - do the club's media dept do the players any favours bigging up the important games? The ticker tape, loo rolls, music, poster campaigns, blue moons etc are great for the fans to see, but does it have a positive or negative effect on the players? I suppose it would depend on personalities - some people might feed off it, but it would put me right off if I was a player - I'd just want to get on the pitch and get the job done.

Think you could be on to something there. I think all the hype around important home matches just burdens the players rather than helps them. There is a "you must win" expectation thats never been there in the past. I remember in 2006 when we won the derby 3-1 (Vassell, Sinclair and Fowler got the goals that day) and there was no big hoopla surrounding the game, no poster campaigns or anything like that, just a "they're expected to win so all the pressure is on them" seige mentality, felt by the fans and players. We had a much worse team than now, United had a better team than they do now, yet we played them off the park and got a fantastic result. Now though, fans and club alike are just hyping up big games, making them out to be cup finals, and it just doesn't seem to be helping.

 

[Manchester1894]

Lets hope we can be 2pts behind on the last day and pull it out of the bag true City style!

 

[Barcon]

Come on people. If there was only two minutes of injury time would we be having this discussion? We handled the pressure just fine and lost the game with 20 seconds to go. We have won games in injury time and we have lost games in injury time.

 

[pee dubya]

For all the big money we spent, how many of our players have actually won serious trophies?

Vieira, Tevez, Toure, Bridge, Sylvinho and RSC. I think that's it?

Only Tevez is really in his prime, maybe Bridge and Toure too. The other 3 are on their way out, bit part players.

 

[Unknown_Genius]

Come on people. If there was only two minutes of injury time would we be having this discussion? We handled the pressure just fine and lost the game with 20 seconds to go. We have won games in injury time and we have lost games in injury time.

You misunderstood, its not the result I'm really talking about, but the performance to go with it. When we beat them in 2006, we were aggressive, we pushed them, tackled and harried them, Ireland was superb that day. Yesterday, we just let them control the midfield and it was no real surprise they nicked it. The players just seemed to freeze on the big occasion. It wasn't just this game I was talking about but the matches against Liverpool and Everton aswell.

 

[warringtonmcfc]

Come on people. If there was only two minutes of injury time would we be having this discussion? We handled the pressure just fine and lost the game with 20 seconds to go. We have won games in injury time and we have lost games in injury time.

When was the last time that we won a game in injury time? It's not springing readily to my mind!

Without going back and checking I am pretty sure it's not happened this season.

 

[haggis95]

It's about comfort zones.

Being self-employed I've gone to some self-improvement courses (which often use sports' analogies, since they are so apt).

One thing I've learned, and which fits for me, is that people have comfort zones for things like money/income. When I make more money than I want/need I back off and coast for a while, until I'm reaching the end of my money and start to fall beneath the amount of money/income I need to feel comfortable. Then I start to work and make money etc... etc.,....

To make MORE money I need to start feeling uncomfrotable with what I am NOW comfortable making.

Back to the topic.... City need to feel uncomfortable being 6th or 4th and feel a DIRE need to be be first!

While the fans and the team are happy with 4th then City will never rise above fourth.

Being first has to be on every one's mind.

What seems to be on everyone's mind is beating United, and that's why City has a better record against United than it does against other topflight teams.

What seems to be on the players' minds is their contracts, not being first.

Until the team is bigger than any player then City will never top the league with any regularity. And that's why Nani was dumped for a month or so when he complained about Fergie. Meanwhile Bellamy cvan mouth off about the team and not get sanctioned, which reinforces that the players are bigger than the team.

Until the manager can drive this goal with a rod of iron and dump any player who steps out of line this will never happen.

Until beating United in a Derby comes second to winning the league City will not win the league with any regularity.

When players and managers have got the team's priorities straight THEN they will have a winning mentality, and they won;t fold in the final minutes.

That's why United played OLDER and more tired players against City yesterday and won. On paper they should have lost. Giggs, Scholes and Neville don't know how to spell that word.

 

[Barcon]

Come on people. If there was only two minutes of injury time would we be having this discussion? We handled the pressure just fine and lost the game with 20 seconds to go. We have won games in injury time and we have lost games in injury time.

You misunderstood, its not the result I'm really talking about, but the performance to go with it. When we beat them in 2006, we were aggressive, we pushed them, tackled and harried them, Ireland was superb that day. Yesterday, we just let them control the midfield and it was no real surprise they nicked it. The players just seemed to freeze on the big occasion. It wasn't just this game I was talking about but the matches against Liverpool and Everton aswell.

I disagree that it was no real surprise that they nicked it. I still thought we could win it and was hoping to see more injury time added on. The players didn't freeze when we played Chelsea and Arsenal and they were big occasions.
In 2006 when we were aggresive and pushed them and tackled them and Ireland was superb we played a different team and like you say, Ireland was superb (and I'll have to take your word on that because I honestly don't remember). But, he aint superb now. As far as when was the last time we won in extra time goes, I don't know, but we have. I'm not looking to argue, I just don't think there's any mental problems, we lost a game of football and we'll loose a lot more before I die.

 

[Unknown_Genius]

You misunderstood, its not the result I'm really talking about, but the performance to go with it. When we beat them in 2006, we were aggressive, we pushed them, tackled and harried them, Ireland was superb that day. Yesterday, we just let them control the midfield and it was no real surprise they nicked it. The players just seemed to freeze on the big occasion. It wasn't just this game I was talking about but the matches against Liverpool and Everton aswell.

I disagree that it was no real surprise that they nicked it. I still thought we could win it and was hoping to see more injury time added on. The players didn't freeze when we played Chelsea and Arsenal and they were big occasions.
In 2006 when we were aggresive and pushed them and tackled them and Ireland was superb we played a different team and like you say, Ireland was superb (and I'll have to take your word on that because I honestly don't remember). But, he aint superb now. As far as when was the last time we won in extra time goes, I don't know, but we have. I'm not looking to argue, I just don't think there's any mental problems, we lost a game of football and we'll loose a lot more before I die.

The Arsenal and Chelsea games were both different. Everton and Liverpool were billed as the win and you go forth and get Champions League. It was always as if they were cup finals. There were no other matches playing at the time that would have affected our position, so the sole focus was on us, and both times we buckled. The whole media attention, and hype before them does not help the players, there is a load of them that have never been under that sort of scrutiny, attention and expectation before.

 

[Gelsons Dad]

I would question the fans mentality before the players!