Everyone's best friend, Owen Columba Coyle

[largehat]

Discussion of Coyle has been done to death of late. I think we all have a pretty good idea how everyone stands and I have no desire to open up that particular can of worms.

I am however, seeking your views on Owen Coyle's habit of bigging up his opposite number ahead of every game. It is starting to get on my nerves. Our claret and blue friends whose town is stuck in a 1960s timewarp warned us of this when he left their club to come to ours. They were right, and If anything it's getting worse this season.


“He’s a fantastic manager and someone who I have a lot of time for... he is a football man who loves the game. Those are the people I like having in my company."

- Coyle on Neil Warnock, ahead of the QPR game


“It’s coming up to 25 years that Sir Alex has been at United... and you look at all the great teams he’s had, but as well as the vast array of trophies, the infrastructure he’s put in place, the building blocks for youth, will serve that club for years and years."

- Coyle on Ferguson, ahead of the United game.


“I’ve got no doubts he’ll be a very successful manager but he remains a very humble person, a gem of a lad, and someone I’ve got a lot of time for."

-- Coyle on Paul Lambert, before the Norwich game.


And now, in spite of him insinuating that our chairman is a liar at a press conference just three weeks ago...

"I am a huge admirer of Arsene Wenger. He is the perfect fit for Arsenal."

So what I'd like to hear from you guys is, am I overegging the pudding by thinking it's inappropriate for Coyle to be giving morale boosts to his next opponent so often? Do you think rival managers pay attention to this stuff or remotely care? Or is Owen just a nice chap? I want to hear "I'll be looking to prove a point against Arsene on Saturday" or "we will see if Arsene has any regret over his offer for Gary Cahill after Saturday" - you know, a bit of mind games, a bit of an edge.

Thoughts?

[Squidgy]

Nothing wrong with a bit of professional courtesy.

If it's reverse psychology he is trying though he appears to be failing.

[texan dave II]

He must have a reason because Neil Warnock is a class A prick

[Le God]

All the managers do it because they're asked "what do you make of ......"

I guess he could say "no comment" or stay silent but it's the done thing to say "always a tough game there... great manager... good players.

not exactly earth shattering is it.

[Sluffy]

I think they all arse lick each other in public.

When did you last hear a manager slag another manager off?

I'm sure if you were to ask a fan of any other club what their manager says about their opponent managers, that they would tell you that they too 'talk them up' and never actually say what they really think - that they are clueless cnuts!

[bwfcbob123]

He must have a reason because Neil Warnock is a class A prick

Very much agreed.

[Malcolm Everett]

largehat, I like your posts but I think on here you may be wrong to feel it gets on your nerves. I have played football manager many times and it is very important to have good relations with other managers when you are at a club like ours who wants to loan players and maybe sign fringe players for reasonable fees. Coyle has managed to loan some really good players like Wilshere, Sturridge, Kakuta and manager's of these bigger clubs will be happy to help Coyle out when he is singing their praises and is a friend.
I love all these compliments Coyle gives other managers, I think its genius.

[Big_Sharps]

i think in the Arsenal case we may have soured out relationship with them during the transfer window so it can only help to get them onside a bit.

[Keegan]

I'd like Coyle to say something like this - "We're playing Arsenal this weekend and it's a going to be murder in the Emirates. I want to eat Wengers kids, I want to tear his heart out of his chest and eat it while he watches in the few seconds he has left before he dies..."

[largehat]

Well on balance and taking into account everyone's comments so far, maybe I am being overly critical of Coyle on this point. I do enjoy a bit of aggro between managers every now and then, it's a team game of course but also one of individual rivalries.

[Big_Sharps]

I'd like Coyle to say something like this - "We're playing Arsenal this weekend and it's a going to be murder in the Emirates. I want to eat Wengers kids, I want to tear his heart out of his chest and eat it while he watches in the few seconds he has left before he dies..."

Coyle should say - I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there's ever been. There's no one can stop me. Wenger is a conquerer? No, I'm Alexander, he's no Alexander. I'm the best ever! There's never been anybody as ruthless! I'm Sonny Liston, I'm Jack Dempsey. There's no one like me. I'm from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!"

[Natasha Whittam]

Coyle should say - I'm the best ever. I'm the most brutal and vicious, the most ruthless champion there's ever been. There's no one can stop me. Wenger is a conquerer? No, I'm Alexander, he's no Alexander. I'm the best ever! There's never been anybody as ruthless! I'm Sonny Liston, I'm Jack Dempsey. There's no one like me. I'm from their cloth. There is no one who can match me. My style is impetuous, my defense is impregnable, and I'm just ferocious. I want your heart! I want to eat his children! Praise be to Allah!"

He'd still pick Zat Knight and play 4-4-2.