Let’s focus on ourselves

So Adkins’ mindset in league one seemed to be:

“Let’s focus on ourselves. Win each game as it comes. Don’t worry what other people are doing as we can only affect our results”.

So for him to come out criticising Villa saying “they’ll be a wounded animal after that defeat against Bradford in a game they’d have been expected to win” is disappointing. This isn’t a comment I expect Adkins to be making. To be making psychological comments to opponents hasn’t been a feature of his press conference comments in the past, so what has spurred him to do this?


Bad day on the training ground?
Cortese saying to him to ruffle the opposition managers feathers before playing?
Adkins knowing that he’s going to have to play Hooiveld and Yoshida at the back?
Danny Fox’s fake tan?




Nigel Adkin’s Red Army!

 

Like everyone involved with it he has been corrupted by the Premier league.

 

I think you're reading too much into it. All he means is: "Villa might be a crap team but we'll have to watch out for a backlash from being beaten by Bradford City."

Villa might turn out to be a Bristol City lying in wait for us tomorrow and the team will need to be on top form and play them as though they were Arsenal.

 

They are going to put up a massive fight, thats for sure. No walk in the park this one.

 

Chilco is right, you're overreading this. He's just warning against complacency, and besides, he's made similar comments about virtually every other team this season.

 

That was a comment in return to a question and is more a warning to Saints. Most of his comments were along the usual lines of one game at a time and concentrate on us. He wouldn't be drawn on future games for example. Has to give the press something as he usually deadbats everything...nothing Villa fans could take offence at as I'm sure they are saying the same thing.

 

I don't think commenting on another teams demeanour following their defeat, in reference to how they may play against us, is the same as worrying about the 'uncontrolables' ie other results.

 

Totally agree!

 

Except city beat us convincingly twice last year. So far we have trounced villa.

 

Fair enough, but I really meant the optimism we all felt before going to Ashton Gate where not only did they beat us but Rickie got crocked as well (God forbid).

 

I think you've missed his point. He talks about focusing on our next game each time. Our next game is Villa and so he comments on where they might be mentally now. Nothing in this at all. You should fill your needs later by watching Mel Gibson in Conspiracy Theory ...