The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

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Post n°1

The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by fcb on Wed Jul 23, 2008 8:13 am

It's started!

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/teams/m/man_utd/7520773.stm

Ferguson doubts Chelsea challenge

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson believes Chelsea's ageing squad may struggle to challenge his side for major honours next season.

The Scot says Liverpool and Arsenal are as much of a threat to United's hopes of retaining the Premier League title.

"Chelsea are an experienced side and I don't see outstanding progress coming from a team in their 30s," he said.

"I wouldn't write off Liverpool or Arsenal. It has been understated what Arsenal achieved last season."

Ferguson added: "They suffered injuries at a bad time, Arsenal - in February they lost most of their midfield.

"Who is to say that it would not have been closer if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit?"

As for Chelsea, they have high hopes of regaining the title after bringing in new manager Luiz Felipe Scolari and splashing out £24m on Portuguese internationals Jose Bosingwa and Deco.

But Ferguson says it will be difficult for Scolari to improve on what they have done in the past, with essentially the same group of players.

"I'm not concerned about Chelsea, I just don't know how far that team has got to go," stated Ferguson.

"They have lots of experience and big-game temperament and in a sense Scolari is fortunate, joining a big club with a team of internationals.

"But it's hard to see where there is going to be an improvement. Maybe they have reached a plateau - although perhaps that's not the right word."

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Post n°2

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Dwarf on Wed Jul 23, 2008 9:25 am

Says the guy carrying 4 players over 33, including a 37 year old goalkeeper. Typically inane start to the mind games.

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Post n°3

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Fade out on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:26 am

stupid fergie at it again?

He sounds sympathetic on ARsenal n liverpool, meaning he doesn't fancy them to win this year.

His comments on Chelsea could only mean they're intimidating the miserable old man.

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Post n°4

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Parks lives on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:27 am

Dwarf wrote:Says the guy carrying 4 players over 33, including a 37 year old goalkeeper. Typically inane start to the mind games.

I think the massive difference is we have young players to replace them or rotate with them who are almost on their level.

Anderson - Scholes
Nani - Giggs.

Plus Brown despite being 28/29 can do the same with Neville.

He did go on to mention the young players we have coming through in his interview, which hasn't been picked up by the BBC.

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Post n°5

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by fcb on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:53 am

But just like you spent 20 million on each of those youngsters, so will Chelsea when they need to.

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Post n°6

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by The-Frank-Tavern on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:56 am

this thread should be in off topic the whole thing is fooking pointless bullsh¡t

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Post n°7

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Obispo on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:57 am

zizoued wrote:

He sounds sympathetic on ARsenal.

if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit

Erm

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Post n°8

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Parks lives on Wed Jul 23, 2008 10:59 am

kas wrote:But just like you spent 20 million on each of those youngsters, so will Chelsea when they need to.

Well they should be doing it now, whilst these players have 2 years left. Not when they are finished as they won't be around to share their experience and the players will be just thrown in.

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Post n°9

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Dwarf on Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:24 am

Parks lives wrote:
kas wrote:But just like you spent 20 million on each of those youngsters, so will Chelsea when they need to.

Well they should be doing it now, whilst these players have 2 years left. Not when they are finished as they won't be around to share their experience and the players will be just thrown in.

Except that doesn't justify why having players aged 30 will hamper them this season, especially when the two triplets, Ballack-Deco-Lampard and Drogba-Anelka-Schevshenko play in the same positions and so it's effectively an advantage.

The problem for them is that there depth is so strong in those areas that they have no room for inexperienced players so they'll always go through such cycles, but that's only a concern when they are coming of a summer of change.

As that hasn't happened Ferguson's comment is typically worthless, but no doubt it will be etched on the mind of Andy Gray and be perpetuated for the rest of the season.

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Post n°10

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by fcb on Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:26 am

Parks lives wrote:
kas wrote:But just like you spent 20 million on each of those youngsters, so will Chelsea when they need to.

Well they should be doing it now, whilst these players have 2 years left. Not when they are finished as they won't be around to share their experience and the players will be just thrown in.

The way things are going at Chelsea, there could be yet another new manager, system, and style in place within 2 years. So getting young players in to settle is pointless since they have no long term stability at the club like Man. Utd. do. Kalou's been there for 3 (or more) seasons and we've hardly seen significant improvements in his performances.

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Post n°11

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Fade out on Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:26 am

Glenn Hysén wrote:
zizoued wrote:

He sounds sympathetic on ARsenal.

if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit

The stupid git blames the coach for injured players. lol!

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Post n°12

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Parks lives on Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:28 am

zizoued wrote:
Glenn Hysén wrote:
zizoued wrote:

He sounds sympathetic on ARsenal.

if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit

The stupid git blames the coach for injured players.

He never said it in that way at all.

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Post n°13

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by fcb on Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:30 am

Parks lives wrote:
zizoued wrote:
Glenn Hysén wrote:
zizoued wrote:

He sounds sympathetic on ARsenal.

if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit

The stupid git blames the coach for injured players.

He never said it in that way at all.

In a way Ferguson is right - wasn't Van Persie rushed back too soon, re-triggering the injury?

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Post n°14

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Fade out on Wed Jul 23, 2008 11:38 am

IS van persie is made of glass? Laughing

(of course, we have robben in our ranks)

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Post n°15

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Parks lives on Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:04 pm

Essien's response,

Sir Alex Ferguson may have begun the pre-season bluffing with his dig at Chelsea’s not-so-golden oldies, but now he has been called and raised by Michael Essien, who claims Manchester United will be out of the title race by May.

Essien is not even sure United will finish second, insisting Ferguson’s men are not even Chelsea’s ‘principal rivals’.

The midfield powerhouse has just signed a five-year contract at Stamford Bridge, and he is adamant that Ferguson forgot one major factor when questioning the age of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s squad.

Essien is in no doubt that he has improved immeasurably as a player since playing with the likes of Michael Ballack and Frank Lampard, and he insists it is impossible to put a price on such experience.

“Players like Ballack, Lampard and Deco are world class. They can change a game in an instant,” explained the Ghanaian.

“When you are working with them on a regular basis, you improve every day as a player and as a team.

“I don’t think United will be our principal rivals. Liverpool and Arsenal are signing good players.

“We’ve got the best players in the world and we will be the only team in contention come May.”

Bit like his calculator quotes a couple of seasons back. Very Happy

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Post n°16

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Cesc Soler on Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:08 pm

Sounds like Peter Kenyon's “the winner of the Premier League will come from a small bunch of one” quote from a few years ago.

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Post n°17

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Parks lives on Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:15 pm

Essien did a similar quote when we were ahead in the 2006/2007 season, think it was around January, February time. Something like he'd been checking every fixture and working out the points and Chelsea would comfortably finish in front. Laughing

Cech is the same every year with his quadruple comments.

People moan about Terry's personality but at least he just gets on with it off the field and congratulate's the other team if they finish ahead.

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Post n°18

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Obispo on Wed Jul 23, 2008 12:27 pm

"I'm not concerned about Chelsea, I just don't know how far that team has got to go," stated Ferguson.

"that team" finished 2nd narrowly and lost the CL final on penalties. It's not like United walked the league and let's not forget they had a fit and happy Ronaldo in those days.

Remember those days? When United had a fit and happy 40 goal a season Ronaldo?

Do you Fergie?

They just about won the league and Champions League with the fit and happy 40 goal Ronaldo. What's it going to be like next season?

"I'm not concerned about Hull, I am confident we will get to 40 points" stated Ferguson.

Whistle

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Post n°19

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by lrdsucksgoats on Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:44 pm

zizoued wrote:
Glenn Hysén wrote:
zizoued wrote:

He sounds sympathetic on ARsenal.

if Arsene Wenger had kept his players fit

The stupid git blames the coach for injured players.

Well, Wenger did sign those players, and tell them how to play (remember Eduardo got injured less than 7 days after he did an almost identical challenge to Taylor's), and decide when to play them again on their return, and how often to play them without resting them, and decide not to sign backup because he though the latest football playing foetus stolen from *insert club here*'s academy would suffice.

So yeah, I'd say that's all Wenger's fault. Though injuries didn't cost Arsenal last season - having a dickhead as captain, a dickhead as manager, and no mental strength at all is what cost them.

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Post n°20

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Obispo on Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:55 pm

Robocop wrote: having a dickhead as captain, a dickhead as manager, .......... cost them.

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Post n°21

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by lrdsucksgoats on Wed Jul 23, 2008 1:59 pm

You forgot one crucial difference Glenn - G Neville was injured all last season.

As to Fergie - sure, he's a dickhead, but unlike Benitez he doesn't know what it's like to lose a European cup final.

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Post n°22

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by S4P on Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:49 pm

Cech (26)

Bosingwa (25)
Carvalho (30)
Terry (27)
A Cole (27)

Essien (25)
Ballack (31)
Deco (30)

J Cole (26)
Kalou (22)
Drogba (30)

The bench might be slightly older (Sheva, Ferreira, Belletti, Pizarro, Anelka) although none of them are older than Giggs or Scholes, who are still capable of playing in Championship winning teams.

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Post n°23

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Obispo on Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:57 pm

who are Chelsea's outs so far? Just Sidwell?

Will Alcides be a squad member this season or is he off on loan again?

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Post n°24

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by S4P on Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:57 pm

Boulahrouz and Makelelelelelele too.

I have no idea about Alcides, that's up to the gaffer I guess.

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Post n°25

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Obispo on Wed Jul 23, 2008 2:58 pm

BoulahrOooh! was already gone as far as I was concerned.

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Post n°26

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Luis on Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:01 pm

Benitez calls Wenger a cockmuncher:

23/7/08
Rafa Benitez has today called Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a 'cockmuncher'. The pre-season mind games were in full flow after Benitez was questioned about the Frenchman, "We know he is a cockmuncher no?"

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Mind Games Rolling Eyes

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Post n°27

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by lrdsucksgoats on Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:04 pm

Luis wrote:Benitez calls Wenger a cockmuncher:

23/7/08
Rafa Benitez has today called Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a 'cockmuncher'. The pre-season mind games were in full flow after Benitez was questioned about the Frenchman, "We know he is a cockmuncher no?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mind Games

I think Glenn already made this joke.

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Post n°28

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Parks lives on Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:05 pm

Must be getting their material from the same place.

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Post n°29

Re: The Big 4 managers' mind games Thread

by Luis on Wed Jul 23, 2008 3:06 pm

Robocop wrote:
Luis wrote:Benitez calls Wenger a cockmuncher:

23/7/08
Rafa Benitez has today called Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger a 'cockmuncher'. The pre-season mind games were in full flow after Benitez was questioned about the Frenchman, "We know he is a cockmuncher no?"

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Mind Games

I think Glenn already made this joke.

Source?