nnfox Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 So here we are, 13 games from the finish line and all of a sudden we find ourselves 5 points clear at the top of the league - a position absolutely unthinkable to even the most optimistic Leicester fan 12 months ago. I think that this past weekend has altered the mentality of the title race this year and we have gone from being plucky Leicester who will surely fall away to genuine title contenders that the likes of Man City and Arsenal in particular are worried about. And so it comes with the territory I guess - the mind games have begun. Ferguson and Mourinho were masters of them but Pellegrini and Wenger and their respective squads are also experienced in such matters. I expect all this will intensify the closer we get to achieving the dream and I'm interested as to how we cope with what gets said. This weekend we have had this from Pellegrini: Leicester City have the advantage in the title race because they only have the Premier League to aim for, says Manchester City boss Manuel Pellegrini. "Going forward, Leicester have an advantage," he said. "But I don't think that will be the only thing they need from now to the end of the season." Hmm... What else do you think we need Manuel? Care to elaborate? How about Mr. Wenger? He had this to say: "Leicester were running away and us playing them next week makes the game very interesting," he said. "It's a big game and an important weekend for the Premier League. In one week, Leicester have beaten Liverpool and Manchester City, so that means that they suddenly become the favourite to win the Premier League." So as we know Claudio as always deflects attention saying that we play without pressure, we are not favourites, the other teams are, the bookies get things wrong etc etc. But will that line need to change now? I swear I saw a quote from CR saying that the big clubs have invested millions over many years to win them the major trophies and all we want to do is win football matches. I can't find it now but I think this is exactly the line we should be taking. We don't have pressure because we shouldn't be there, the others do have pressure because we are there. FWIW I think our players will cope OK after experiences from the last couple of seasons for many of them and I really like guys like Fuchs bringing his level-headedness to the dressing room. The squads togetherness is unbelievable and so far they have appeared bullet proof to everything. Long may it continue. It's going to be really interesting to see how theses mind games develop over the coming weeks and how we react or don't react.
foxfanazer Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Let them get on with it. They're all meant to be there, we're not. We're crashing their party and they don't like it
Guest kristianity77 Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 The pressure they were under at this exact point last season is far far greater than the pressure they are under now. So from that standpoint, I think they will be able to cope with it easily enough. With regards to them being in a new position of being able to win a league, they will be able to stand that pressure too because at least half the team coasted to 100+ points in the championship and we have other players who have already done so before with other clubs like Huth etc. Also, what both Pellegrini and Wenger have said, whether it be mind games or not, is totally true. It IS an advantage that we only have 13 games left whilst the other teams could have upwards of 20 and with travelling all around Europe to boot.
Vlad the Fox Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 If you look at the tunnel cam from the weekend it's remarkable how relaxed our players look compared to man city. Even the post match interviews with Mahrez and Huth with Mahrez smiling and bouncing off the wall. They look happy and relaxed, we as supporters can help it stay like that.
Christoph Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 A lot of the players have came from the championship when we were pretty much top towards the beginning and held on to it for most of the season.
Finnaldo Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 A lot of the players have came from the championship when we were pretty much top towards the beginning and held on to it for most of the season. Exactly, didn't we have a sticky December-February, come out on top by a reasonable gap, then just dominate on the flat track? The signs are there...
Mikey Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 The pressure they were under at this exact point last season is far far greater than the pressure they are under now. So from that standpoint, I think they will be able to cope with it easily enough. With regards to them being in a new position of being able to win a league, they will be able to stand that pressure too because at least half the team coasted to 100+ points in the championship and we have other players who have already done so before with other clubs like Huth etc. Also, what both Pellegrini and Wenger have said, whether it be mind games or not, is totally true. It IS an advantage that we only have 13 games left whilst the other teams could have upwards of 20 and with travelling all around Europe to boot. Yep agree with this. Plus the fact that a lot of the squad were here after going out to Watford in the play offs. The nerve to come back after that and coast to winning the Championship showed a huge amount of character. The character that we've shown in the past couple of seasons, what we've bounced back from or dug ourselves out of, shows that when the pressures on, that's when we probably perform our best. If we don't win the title, it will be nothing to do with not being able to stand the pressure and crumbling. Whatever happens now, the players know what they've achieved. Let them play their mind games all, honestly can't see it affecting the players, and especially not Ranieri.
surrifox Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 as someone pointed out the pressure was greater last year when we were confronting possible relegation and every game was must win from around this time
ozleicester Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Only the weak feel pressure - Jermaine Beckford 2013
It'sblueupnorth Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 I think my nan could dish out better mind games than arsene wenger
AKCJ Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Mind games are the biggest load of bullocks going. Do you really think that Ranieri and the squad will care that Wenger has said we are favourites? Honestly...
Foxxed Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 **** 'em and their tactics of distraction. I noticed Ranieri's fired one back, though, saying it's down to the teams that have spent the most money, and therefore the players - clever.
Kitchandro Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Mind games are the biggest load of bullocks going. Do you really think that Ranieri and the squad will care that Wenger has said we are favourites? Honestly... This. If people feel the pressure it's from within themselves. It's even silly in penalty shoot outs. I remember at the last world cup the goalkeeper was pointing to one corner and the player blasted it down the middle and it was saved. The commentator was like 'Oh he's outwitted him there with the mind games!' How the hell do you come to that conclusion?
Jon the Hat Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Hahahaa Arsenal trying to make out our boys are the ones under pressure. We beat them and we are 8 points ahead. 8. Points. Ahead. We lose, and we are still 2 points ahead. Leicester city, mid Feb, 2 points clear at the top of the league. And at the end of the run of four games against Stoke, Liverpool, Man City and Arsenal. Pull the other one Arsene, it hath got bells on.
Steven Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Let us be clear. It is Man City, Arsenal, Man U. and Tottenham that are in the title race. Our focus is the next game and nothing else.
davieG Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 When you’ve spent much of 2015 coping with pressure, setting the pace in the Barclays Premier League should be an adventure to enjoy.Claudio Ranieri thinks so. So when asked frequently whether his swashbuckling Leicester City side could stand the top-of-the-table heat after their latest victory – a comprehensive, head-turning 3-1 win at Manchester City – the Italian didn’t appear overly concerned. The Foxes are five points clear at the summit with 13 games of the season remaining and building considerable momentum ahead of Sunday’s trip to third-placed Arsenal. image: http://www.lcfc.com/cms_images/match/pi-012-mancityaway280-2941669.JPG But while the watching world continues to be absorbed by Leicester’s improbable rise from relegation certainties last term to league leaders this, how City might cope with the pressure of leading from the front remains a regular question for Ranieri to field. “Last season was a big pressure for them,” he said. “Now they have to smell what the pressure was like last season and stay calm. “For us it’s important to be concentrated with our feet on the ground. For the first time for a lot of them, they are doing something special. Don’t look behind you. It’s like a climber, it’s important to keep looking up. “For Leicester, the pressure was at the beginning when we started, because our goal was to stay in the Premier League. Now the pressure is on the teams that have spent a lot of money to win the league, to win the Champions League. “Now we are enjoying it.” image: http://www.lcfc.com/cms_images/match/pi-020-mancityaway280-2941677.JPG Central to City’s rise up the Premier League table has been the unbreakable spirit that exists between the players – a bond their manager has regularly compared to a brotherhood. And Ranieri feels the shared experience of last season, where the Foxes produced the greatest escape from relegation the Premier League has ever seen, makes it a bond like no other. “I think the pressure was bigger last season because if you don’t survive you go down and it’s not easy to come back up. That’s helped their spirit,” he said. “I love this kind of spirit, but it’s inside my players. I want this kind of spirit, but if you don’t have it you can’t give it to me. For me it’s important to link this spirit together.” Read more at http://www.lcfc.com/news/article/claudio-calm-as-foxes-flourish-2945322.aspx#4fsIF3H1aLJ2KHCl.99
Bluetintedspecs Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 And Don Claudio's retort to being made bookies favourite " Yes and I was made favourite to be sacked first" Enough said or the Don will have you swimming with the fishes COYB
Larry_LCFC Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Bollocks to them. To the top teams, we are like that kid that only came to your birthday party because your mum made you invite them. You don't want them there and you don't want them touching your stuff. In this case, stuff being their title. Well I for one we leave sticky fingerprints everywhere.
Fox Ulike Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 This is quality from Pelligrini: “"Going forward, Leicester have an advantage," he said. "But I don't think that will be the only thing they need from now to the end of the season." So first he puts the pressure on by telling us we have the advantage, but then drops his shoulder, and checks back the other way by immediately hinting that we don't have enough to win the League!! That was liquid mind games.
KFS Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Funny how these guys often take on Mourinho, Van Gaal etc with comments like this. Little old Leicester are worthy of this kind of thing now apparently. Love it.
Countryfox Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Here come the mind games ? .... Yep, they're worried alright !
fuchsntf Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Leicester dont have to win, we have nothing to prove...the others do , they to a man including managers really do.!!. Spurs are Bigger than Leicester (they keep telling us so) even they will feel it...
StanSP Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Martin Keown thinks having a week in-between fixtures will hinder us as it will mean we can't keep momentum after beating Liverpool and Man City in the space of 5 days.
desertfox2 Posted 8 February 2016 Posted 8 February 2016 Think a lot of people underestimate our Claudio outside of Leicester.... He's played a blinder so far. He's been there, seen it done it. Just shows that we have other teams getting scared now. #topoftheleagueproblems
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