Do teams play "softer" against Man Utd?

After Roberto Mancini's comments before the Manchester Derby this week, do you agree that teams play "softer" so to speak, against Man Utd?

I personally think it's some of the biggest load of crap I've heard in a long long time

Its called reverse psychology Oliver. He's just trying to rattle Man Utds future opponents so they want to prove him wrong and do him a favour at the same time and take points off Utd.

Sir Alex done it with Keegan when he slagged Leeds off after they beat them and then knowing they were playing Newcastle next, basically said no one plays as well against Newcastle as the do us. Leeds went on to draw with Newcastle basically ending there title hopes. Then ensued the 'I love it if we beat them' rant.

Referees tend to get softer...

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:

Sir Alex done it with Keegan when he slagged Leeds off after they beat them and then knowing they were playing Newcastle next, basically said no one plays as well against Newcastle as the do us. Leeds went on to draw with Newcastle basically ending there title hopes. Then ensued the 'I love it if we beat them' rant.

Newcastle won that Leeds match 1-0 Soldier. It was the Forest match they drew, I know I am being pedantic here

I remember Ferguson's interview where he questioned Stuart Pearce's attitude going on into that game and whether he would put in the same effort as he would against United. Newcastle proper blew it that season regardless.

I'd imagine that a dozen teams that go to Old Trafford expect to lose and anything else is a bonus. Look at Wolves a couple of years back. They fielded a weakened team to concentrate on the Burnley match a few days later. This would have happened a fair few times over the past 15 years.

Like Soldier said it's reverse psychology but it's all nonsense because a good big-un will 9 times out of ten beat a good liitle-un anyway.

FreekShow wrote:

Soldier_Of_Fortune wrote:

Sir Alex done it with Keegan when he slagged Leeds off after they beat them and then knowing they were playing Newcastle next, basically said no one plays as well against Newcastle as the do us. Leeds went on to draw with Newcastle basically ending there title hopes. Then ensued the 'I love it if we beat them' rant.

Newcastle won that Leeds match 1-0 Soldier. It was the Forest match they drew, I know I am being pedantic here

I remember Ferguson's interview where he questioned Stuart Pearce's attitude going on into that game and whether he would put in the same effort as he would against United. Newcastle proper blew it that season regardless.

I'd imagine that a dozen teams that go to Old Trafford expect to lose and anything else is a bonus. Look at Wolves a couple of years back. They fielded a weakened team to concentrate on the Burnley match a few days later. This would have happened a fair few times over the past 15 years.

Like Soldier said it's reverse psychology but it's all nonsense because a good big-un will 9 times out of ten beat a good liitle-un anyway.

Haha no yer right, I was only going off what I thought I remembered when I was a wee nipper haha. Think I was only 10 at the time

Do teams play "softer" against Man Utd?

Only if Big Sam is their manager....

opposite if im honest, since the formation of the prem, united more than anybody else has been the "cup final" game, where your your playing the best out there so raise your game. there has been plenty of teams lacking confidence to do the job but thats hardly uniteds fault for being so good for so long.

mancini just spouting rubbish again in a desperate attempt to pull the gap in, after all they would have won the league if they had spent some money

Howard Webb does