Mind Games, do they actually work?
Throughout the past few months, we've gone from the "Rafa's cracking up" headlines, to the latest exchange in criticising Rafa's reaction to our second goal against Blackburn; all of which are apparently returns of serve in the wonderful art of mind games. Is this whole mind games thing a myth, or do they actually work?
I've read and heard that Alex Ferguson is apparently the master of the mind games; that's he's chewed and spat out managers over the years who've dared get into a war of words with him. Could it not just be that he happened to have the better team that year, rather than him winning the battle of the mind games?
Who has he actually defeated in a battle of mind games anyway? Kevin Keegan was the first high profile casualty, as he exploded with comical effect; but for me, he's the only one to feel the affect of the mind games war. The likes of Wenger and Mourinho have given as good as they've got, and have each won league titles over the past decade. The side that has won the title has generally been the best side in the country, not just the side with the manager who's the master of carefully chosen words.
Rafael Benitez spoke out at the turn of the year with his list of "facts" about Alex Ferguson. He was slaughtered for those words, not because they were untruths, but because of his sides failure to win their next few games. A 7 point lead at the top of the league was turned into a 7 point deficit in the blink of an eye. How that run of poor performances had anything to do with highlighting hypocrisies with Mr.Ferguson's behaviour and listing his bullying tactics I'll never know. Those points stand true today as they did back then. Since that "rant", Mr.Ferguson has done nothing to dismiss those claims and everything to reaffirm them. They weren't mind games; they were statements of fact.
The latest exchange from last weekend was laughable. The secret society that is the League Managers Association ganging up on a non-member in order to ridicule him; when all they have done is brought ridicule upon themselves. Every man and his dog has seen through the embarrassing attempt made to criticise Benitez, all while our manager maintained a dignified silence. A response that will have annoyed his aggressors more than any verbal retort.
Mr.Ferguson accused Benitez of "contempt" and "humiliation" of a fellow manger, citing his work for the LMA as a reason why he shouldn't be looked down on. This is the same Sam Allardyce that stated Rafael Benitez wouldn't be in a job if it wasn't for his European success and gave his "Johnny Englander" view on foreign managers. The same Sam Allardyce that thinks he's a far better manager than he actually is. The Newcastle side he left in ruins are now fighting for their lives, and his current side Blackburn have been dragged right into the dog fight at the bottom. The self proclaimed tactical genius played Samba up front at Anfield last week, with Steve Warnock in behind him. Two defenders up front and one of the worst sides I've seen at Anfield in years. Good work Sam.
Mr.Ferguson accused Benitez of contempt and criticised him for calling Everton a small club. Mr.Ferguson then follows that up with selecting a second string side for an FA Cup semi final against this "big club" called Everton. If that's not showing contempt for the FA Cup and showing contempt for Everton then what is? You can bet your last pound, that if United were playing a big club like ourselves, Arsenal or Chelsea, then there's no way on earth he'd have selected that side. Hypocritical seems to be his middle name.
The one thing Rafael Benitez has started this season, is the fight back against Alex Ferguson and his merry men. He's stood up to him and his bullying tactics. For far too long Alex Ferguson has held too much power over the FA, The Premier League, referees and other clubs in this country. By Benitez standing up to that, he's invited others to do the same.
One of the most influential press conferences this season was the one that followed our 4-1 win at Old Trafford.
While Alex Ferguson refused to face the cameras, and bizarrely stating United were the better side as he left mumbling obscenities, Rafael Benitez highlighted exactly how we'd beaten United. He detailed the tactics used and proved to everyone else that they are beatable if you have a go at them. No longer do you need to hide in the shadows and employ a damage limitation exercise; attack them and they will wobble.
A week later they went to Fulham and lost 2-0, with Roy Hodgson's side having a real go at them. Aston Villa went to Old Trafford and did the same, and were very unlucky not to win the game, never mind coming away with nothing. Porto went to the so called Theatre of Dreams and can count themselves unlucky not to have won the game. They are beatable, and Benitez let everyone know that.
If any of these mind games have had any effect, then the exchange of words following the 4-1 win at Old Trafford could be the most important. They are the words that actually influenced games; childish insults do not.
Mr.Ferguson's touchline antics at the failure to award his side a penalty at the weekend had all the hallmarks of a man under pressure. If any manager is cracking up, it's not the manager with the goatee beard.
Paul Jones
The last few paragraphs are spot on.I never realized it though!! Looks like if there was a thing called "mind games" Rafa was the victor.
« Last Edit: May 19, 2009 04:10:13 pm by Bpatel, Reason: Put in news article format. »
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