Things really have changed these days. We once gathered here to dread the following days derby. Not anymore. The busiest thread here is no longer the pre derby thread. We all have nerves of course. If you care about something, then you worry. The difference now is that we believe we should win, not "if" we win. We all know that we can also lose. Again the difference is that if we do lose it wasn't because it was to be expected, just one of those days.
Winning a derby used to be the only highlight of the season. Well that and reaching 40 points!
If we do lose, we know that there is more to play for and can quickly get over the disappointment.
Out of curiosity, I popped over to "redcafe" ( I know, I know get over it). Their pre match thread is a delight read. You could almost swap a thread from here just four years a go. Gone is the over egotistical big headed swagger. It has now been replaced by genuine fear. The fear isn't just about losing, but by how much. Some just expect to lose, some would take a draw, most just don't want a hammering (the 1-6 has had a real physiological effect!). Of course the odd poster is bucking the trend and predicting a win. None are predicting giving us a beating. I find this very strange. We are no where near being at our best. Derbies by their very nature never carry "form" into it. It is about desire and courage. We could have a mare, a bent ref and half a dozen other things go wrong. But no, they are all there, already planning their excuses. Injuries, fergies abilities as a manager, playing us at home, our unbeaten record, Paul Scholes, you name it, they are all getting the blame and we haven't even played yet!
Now getting back to us. We lose tomorrow so what? They get a six point lead (they already have a three point lead). Again so what? Didn't they have a eight point lead with six to go? Some here are predicting this could really derail us if this was to happen..."no chance!"
We could get absolutely hammered tomorrow. Again so what? It would only be three points dropped. Sometimes it takes a hiding to wake some players up.
I prefer to look at this a different way than normal. Just imagine if another 1-6 (6-1) was to happen? I know a simple 1-0 will do......but just imagine...
Winning a derby used to be the only highlight of the season. Well that and reaching 40 points!
If we do lose, we know that there is more to play for and can quickly get over the disappointment.
Out of curiosity, I popped over to "redcafe" ( I know, I know get over it). Their pre match thread is a delight read. You could almost swap a thread from here just four years a go. Gone is the over egotistical big headed swagger. It has now been replaced by genuine fear. The fear isn't just about losing, but by how much. Some just expect to lose, some would take a draw, most just don't want a hammering (the 1-6 has had a real physiological effect!). Of course the odd poster is bucking the trend and predicting a win. None are predicting giving us a beating. I find this very strange. We are no where near being at our best. Derbies by their very nature never carry "form" into it. It is about desire and courage. We could have a mare, a bent ref and half a dozen other things go wrong. But no, they are all there, already planning their excuses. Injuries, fergies abilities as a manager, playing us at home, our unbeaten record, Paul Scholes, you name it, they are all getting the blame and we haven't even played yet!
Now getting back to us. We lose tomorrow so what? They get a six point lead (they already have a three point lead). Again so what? Didn't they have a eight point lead with six to go? Some here are predicting this could really derail us if this was to happen..."no chance!"
We could get absolutely hammered tomorrow. Again so what? It would only be three points dropped. Sometimes it takes a hiding to wake some players up.
I prefer to look at this a different way than normal. Just imagine if another 1-6 (6-1) was to happen? I know a simple 1-0 will do......but just imagine...
