gio's side step
Well-Known Member
Ok, I know there have been a lot of posts lately regarding predictions, goals, targets, who's going to be in the final squad, however I want to issue a 'sort of' rallying call on this subject which I find some people want to hide behind sometimes. That desire to hide, and creation of a belief that it's 'better, safer to be more realistic', because it's 'city', and it 'could all go pear shaped' is understandable. I started watching City in the 80's, and most of my life, City have let me down massively. So even I, approached the semi-final(s) last season, querying whether I should put 100% faith in them, when in reality, I had fear. But enough is enough. Fear of failure no more. And this is why.
Firstly, there is the point about what we should in reality, actually be targetting after all of the investment by our owner. I understand economics, and appreciate sustainability, relative growth, however, as someone excellently pointed out over the week, we haven't surely invested this amount again this summer to acheive one position higher, regardless of how much that one position brings in terms of CL revenue and prestige. Certainly, we shouldnt need to have spent this much in order to achieve CL football, when we were likely to have a hell of a chance of achieving it with the squad we already had. So let's stop bulshitting. Let's stop being unrealistic. We have spent this, to have a go at winning the league. Let's no longer talk about this top 4 bollocks, this 'we are in the race for 4th with Spuds, Dippers, Everton and Villa (as Mancini is quoted today on Sky Sports - even if mind games). As fans, yes remember where we have been 10 years ago. Remember. But let's move on. We are on the crust of success. Only failure of it will prevent us, as a team, as a group of supporters, as a club from achieving it. Let's not set the bar at 4th, but raise it to a genuine and realistic ambition to be champions. If we don't achieve that, and finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th, then we can all reflect on what an outstanding achievement that still is.
Secondly, let's again be realistic. There is one key factor why people perceive we can't win the title. Experience. Of having won it, and knowing how to win it. Bollocks. It's not experience of knowing how to win it, it's experience of not being afraid to win it. To face the fear of failure head on. We now have moved on from the Pearce/Keegan era. We have winners in the team. Even if we arent littered with players who have won the title, we certainly have the potential to be a squad which doesnt fear winning it. Chelsea and Utd do NOT have better squads overall than us. That isnt a city heart speaking. It's a genuine belief. It is an aging Chelsea team. And one of the worst Utd teams in the last 20 years ability wise. We are capable of beating them both twice. And they fear us. The only difference, is they have experience of not fearing failure. And are far more disciplined than us.
As noted before in a previous post, they don't conceed as many last minute goals in games which matter, they don't lose concentration and give silly free kicks away at vital times, they dont conceed early goals, they have an ability to score just before half time, and in injury time. This is all about mentality and discipline. If we can find this, and I believe we can, then we have the ingredients to win the title. Not 4th. This is where Mancini's real test for me lies. Because I think it's this quality, the discipline, which is the most important.
So let's believe. Because if we dont, or are afraid to, we are merely repeating the reason why we won't achieve what is possible. And it's only because of fear of failure, preventing us from doing something special this season. Older heads might laugh at this post, they might offer words of wisdom and experience, they might call this naivity, but I say to those people, it's much easier to sit on the fence, to hope rather than believe, to use the past as a way of preventing the future. Chelsea and Utd are thinking about us every morning, noon and night. They are fcking scared. Let's not afford them our own fear of ourselves. Let's show them, that their fear is real and valid. Because this season, City can win the title. Fck this 'gelling' argument. It's not gelling as a team, or formation, good players can play together as football is a simple game and a universal language. It's the gelling of a mentality and a discipline which if we find, and I believe we can, we can win it. And it starts on Saturday. With a win at Spuds. Stop making excuses why we cant, or why its unlikely, or why a defeat can be followed with a win against the dippers. We can. We should. And we will. Hunger and desire comes from us as supporters too. It's not just the responsibility of the players.
Believe. And don't be afraid.
Firstly, there is the point about what we should in reality, actually be targetting after all of the investment by our owner. I understand economics, and appreciate sustainability, relative growth, however, as someone excellently pointed out over the week, we haven't surely invested this amount again this summer to acheive one position higher, regardless of how much that one position brings in terms of CL revenue and prestige. Certainly, we shouldnt need to have spent this much in order to achieve CL football, when we were likely to have a hell of a chance of achieving it with the squad we already had. So let's stop bulshitting. Let's stop being unrealistic. We have spent this, to have a go at winning the league. Let's no longer talk about this top 4 bollocks, this 'we are in the race for 4th with Spuds, Dippers, Everton and Villa (as Mancini is quoted today on Sky Sports - even if mind games). As fans, yes remember where we have been 10 years ago. Remember. But let's move on. We are on the crust of success. Only failure of it will prevent us, as a team, as a group of supporters, as a club from achieving it. Let's not set the bar at 4th, but raise it to a genuine and realistic ambition to be champions. If we don't achieve that, and finish 2nd, 3rd or 4th, then we can all reflect on what an outstanding achievement that still is.
Secondly, let's again be realistic. There is one key factor why people perceive we can't win the title. Experience. Of having won it, and knowing how to win it. Bollocks. It's not experience of knowing how to win it, it's experience of not being afraid to win it. To face the fear of failure head on. We now have moved on from the Pearce/Keegan era. We have winners in the team. Even if we arent littered with players who have won the title, we certainly have the potential to be a squad which doesnt fear winning it. Chelsea and Utd do NOT have better squads overall than us. That isnt a city heart speaking. It's a genuine belief. It is an aging Chelsea team. And one of the worst Utd teams in the last 20 years ability wise. We are capable of beating them both twice. And they fear us. The only difference, is they have experience of not fearing failure. And are far more disciplined than us.
As noted before in a previous post, they don't conceed as many last minute goals in games which matter, they don't lose concentration and give silly free kicks away at vital times, they dont conceed early goals, they have an ability to score just before half time, and in injury time. This is all about mentality and discipline. If we can find this, and I believe we can, then we have the ingredients to win the title. Not 4th. This is where Mancini's real test for me lies. Because I think it's this quality, the discipline, which is the most important.
So let's believe. Because if we dont, or are afraid to, we are merely repeating the reason why we won't achieve what is possible. And it's only because of fear of failure, preventing us from doing something special this season. Older heads might laugh at this post, they might offer words of wisdom and experience, they might call this naivity, but I say to those people, it's much easier to sit on the fence, to hope rather than believe, to use the past as a way of preventing the future. Chelsea and Utd are thinking about us every morning, noon and night. They are fcking scared. Let's not afford them our own fear of ourselves. Let's show them, that their fear is real and valid. Because this season, City can win the title. Fck this 'gelling' argument. It's not gelling as a team, or formation, good players can play together as football is a simple game and a universal language. It's the gelling of a mentality and a discipline which if we find, and I believe we can, we can win it. And it starts on Saturday. With a win at Spuds. Stop making excuses why we cant, or why its unlikely, or why a defeat can be followed with a win against the dippers. We can. We should. And we will. Hunger and desire comes from us as supporters too. It's not just the responsibility of the players.
Believe. And don't be afraid.