Agree Ivor, dumb comments only serve to provide kindling to the fiction writers in the media. I can easily see ML internally rolling his eyes and just letting it all go. He knows what he's about and he has a contract, so frankly - barring Ki-type constraints of guaranteed starts, which he apparently dealt with by having him shipped out - I don't think he worries too much about. He's even beginning to mess with the media, in his typically subtle way, during the usual pre-game interviews.
I have nothing bad to say about our Chairman, after all he's a Skewen boy like me, so shut your fat gobs!.....................
I did not see the programme but this would be a completely idiotic thing to say. I believe we have competed against the bigger clubs, but we have been a little unfortunate in some games not to get more eg Liverpool and I think Tottenham at beginning of season and Everton beat us by two wonder goals. It is a real boost to the team and supporters if we to get points in theses games and no doubt the Swansea Business benefits but we are not going to get 40 points against these teams. Gaining and taking points from teams outside top 6 will keep us up. I doubt laudrup tells the players not to worry about the bigger games but it does take the heat from media by talking of different leagues within the league. I accept this is not what the chairman or supporters necessarily want to hear. Laudrup does not say it quite so directly but HJ is printing this stuff. What manager says they are going to smash Man city not even Mourinho. When Laudrup does leave, what does HJ want him to tell his many contacts in football about our club and chairman. When we try to do "things differently" and get overseas young ambitious talent and they contact ML or associates or ex-players what will they say?? The board needs to have a word with HJ
The board needs to have a word with HJ And the sooner the better!! Best leave him to concentrate on contracts and the like. Oops!! I forgot, he's ****e at those as well.
I totally disagree. The Board need to have a word with ML. Yes, we have competed well against the top sides - but by ML keeping on about different Leagues in Press conferences, it does get into peoples minds. Even if the players believe it in their sub conscious it is adverse to their performance, so ML has got to stop saying it.
Listen guys HJ is not perfect, just like you lot, after all I did warn you years ago, when I penned an article on the old BBC606, entitled 'Throw Jenkins in the Dugout', this of course was under the Sousa era, bit of Déjà vu here, if you ask me, shame Norway and Ivor are so slow to catch on!................ please log in to view this image
Agree, though generaly Laudrup is doing fine, but he dropped a clanger on this which undermines positive psychology. We could do with another win on Saturday, that will help relation between board and manager, West ham will not be looking forward to our visit!...............
Why does the pitch to the media have to be the same pitch to the players. To the media ML is laying it out in plain and simple language so that they can get their minds around the disparity in the league between the top teams and the batch of stragglers that battle it out each year for survival. He is providing the media with a context for life the Prem and what he and the players have to deal with every week. Internally, to the players ML is pitching the strategy for that match based on some rolling plan accounting for the variables — line-up of matches, the frequency of matches, the players available for selection — and the opposition strengths and weaknesses and the team and system the opposition are likely to field based on those sames variables. Do you really think the players don't understand that there are differences between clubs, club investments in squad and facilities etc. You only have to walk up to the Etihad and the Liberty to know things are different. The players are also highly competitive and they believe in themselves otherwise they wouldn't be playing at this level to start with. They get the differences but they also get that for every 90 minutes they can be just as competitive, just as good as any team they face. It is a disservice to ML and the players to believe that ML's context for his conversation with the media is somehow part and parcel of every day life on the practice ground. And if HJ can't get his mind around that then he is too simple.
I would take a **** 0-0 now. Any away Premiership point is worth it's weight in gold. Last season we lost 3-0 to Fulham at home and lost 1-0 to West ham away - so we are three points better off already.
It won't be Yankee. In private he is probably telling the players the opposite. But the damage will already have been done in the Press Conference. Several posters from other clubs have picked up on this point. Sports psychology is a huge part of football - and I'm afraid that Sir Mike, even though he has played at the top of World Football, could be a bit more street wise. Look at how many other managers in the PL are saying the same as him .....none.
I'll go on to say that I have been involved in competitive sport for almost thirty years and have spoken to others involved in other sports at international level for a similar period and we all agree - what ML keeps on saying about different leagues in the PL is damaging to our players minds. Does Chris Hughton, Pardew, or The Saints Manager talk about it? I am a great ML fan - but this is an area where he needs to improve. Personally I put it down to his own personality. Sir Mike is a shy unassuming guy - he is too polite and truthful for his own (and the Swans ) good!
I think he should not have said it, and I also think Jenkins was right to voice his disquiet about such negativity coming from manager and dressing room. Laudrup I respect, but he has his faults and a lot to learn still, and I won't start on his motivational skills either or his pitch side presence or the lack of it!.........
