From Sam : it was McLeish v Wenger
I’ve come to realize was that it wasn’t just the Blues v AFC, it was a case instead of McCleish v Wenger & Wenger got stripped!
When it came to the big game mentality, McCleish was far superior in handling and motivating/inspiring his team.
On tactics; team selection/lead up and substitutes, Wenger was nowhere to be seen.
Such a shame for a man who is so able to spot great potential.
The motivation and inspiration to win big never came from Wenger – it was down to the back four commanders in the dressing room and Dein’s frequent visits there before/after matches and outside of games too.
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From Michael Salmon: Rising to the occasion
Hi Myles,
I had a bad feeling about yesterday that began well before Szczesny brought down Lee Bowyer.
It started as we saw the teams arriving at Wembley.
Birmingham looked smart, they looked focused.
They were dressed for the occasion in cup final suits with flowers in their lapels. They were talking to one another, their minds on one thing – the cup final.
Arsenal, by contrast, arrived in tracksuits. Most players listening to their MP3 players.
They were relaxed and chilled. Do I want my team relaxed and chilled before a cup final? No.
I want my team respecting the competition and dressing for the occasion; thereby understanding that this isn\’t any old game.
It has prestige, it is an occasion in itself. It is something to make an effort for. I want my team talking to one another, discussing the match ahead on the bus – not listening to music.
For me, the wearing of a cup final suit was symbolic.
One team understood the occasion, one team didn\’t. The tempo, focus and preparation were evident in the match. Every Birmingham player gave everything. Arsenal, by contrast had two performers – Wilshere and Van Persie. The pre-match attitude was wrong for me. I was embarrassed by our players dressed in tracksuits whilst Birmingham were in suits. One team respected the final and the occasion, one didn\’t. One team had focus, the other didn\’t. One team had tempo, the other didn\’t.
Are we surprised by which team won?
I\’m not. Alex McLeish is a winner.
He is a smart tactician who demands respect, focus and effort from his players.
Last week in an interview he spoke about Birmingham\’s approach to the game.
He said that Arsenal are a great team but that no one would want to win more than his Birmingham players. He was right. Would Alex ever accept his players arriving to a cup final in a tracksuit? No.
Congrats Alex and Birmingham. You deserved to win.
Alex McLeish\’s managerial record:
Club honours
Motherwell 1994–1998
Scottish Premier Division runners-up (1): 1994–95
Hibernian 1998–2001
Scottish First Division winners (1): 1998–99
Scottish Cup runners-up (1): 2001
Rangers 2001–2006
Scottish Premier League winners (2): 2002–03, 2004–05
Scottish Premier League runners-up (2): 2001–02, 2003–04
Scottish Cup winners (2): 2002, 2003
Scottish League Cup winners (3): 2002, 2003, 2005
Birmingham City 2007–
Football League Championship runners-up (1): 2008–09
Football League Cup winners (1): 2010-11