Mind games from Wisey's pal?
When Kevin Keegan ranted how he would "love it" if we beat Manchester United to the title, you just got the feeling that Fergie's comments at Old Trafford about teams "trying harder" against his side than against Newcastle had well and truly got under the Messiah's skin.
Now as Newcastle go into their most crucial stretch of matches in the second tier and with West Brom starting to falter it would appear Di Matteo is indeed attempting to give it the Fergie treatment.
Here's is Di Matteo's craic today: "I have been saying for a while now that it is probably going to go down to the last few games."
"But I think this month will probably be decisive in terms of Newcastle pulling away or not.
"If you look at their squad they have a gear more than anyone else.
"Swansea are still hanging in there and Leicester and Cardiff aren't far off.
"It's difficult to say because there are still a lot of points to be played for and this crazy league teaches us that crazy things happen."
Thankfully it looks like Newcastle have enough mental strength this season to pull away.
And if they can recover from the mess that was the pre-season of 2009, they can easily brush off this.
What are your thoughts on the crucial run-in for Newcastle United and can they be caught?
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Lee Ryder - Proudly born and bred on Tyneside, the Chronicle's chief sports writer has followed the fortunes of the club over the last three decades as a Toon fan and football writer.
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It actually sounds nothing like Fergie's mindgames, Lee. Another non-story.
I thought WBA was one of the best teams we've played all season, but they were also one of the dirtiest.
Hope they don't go up.
Ryder's reply: Yes you are right it is actually a non story,it's actually a blog piece which is classed as opinion with a few Di Matteo quotes chucked in.
"it would appear Di Matteo is indeed attempting to give it the Fergie treatment."
Come on Lee, you're better then this. None of your 'RDM' quotes supported this
Ryder's reply: Come on Alex Ingle, he has gone out of his way to mention Newcastle United when most managers at the moment are opting to talk of nothing but their own team and their own chances.
Mind games are part of management and the mere fact that the Fergie version of them has been mentioned because many people feel it was contributing factor to Newcastle losing the title in 1996.
Lee, what's the latest on Haris Vuckic? Is he likely to make a return to the first team before the end of the season?
Ryder's reply: He is due a reserve team run out in due course and there's every chance Vuckic and some of the other Toon young guns could get a sniff if promotion is secured.
Lee I'm in full agreement................ with Tom Titley, this is a non-story! And sorry, before you correct me for it being an opinion piece can you please explain what opinion you're expressing? Because surely Di Matteo's comments are a response to a question relating to West Brom's promotion chances as it seems to me that the 'opinion' he is expressing is that the Baggies biggest threat is from Swansea, Leicester and Cardiff 'cause they're no threat to us! And as for the statement about Newcastle he couldn't be more factual - this is the decisive month that will determine if we pull away or not? Yours sincerely, Confused Reader.
Ryder's reply: OK, it is my opinion - which I'm entitled to - that Di Matteo's comments today are an attempt at mind games and I also used my blog to reminisce the Fergie comments which sparked Keegan's furious reaction.
Lee, i like you and i know the difference between a blog and a piece.
However, i am sick of your blogs and/or opinions being about 1996 or Keegan.
How long will it take for you to write an opinion whereby you don't go on about the past?
The past is what has got us where we are today so why not look at the team now and look forward? Its the same old rubbish everytime and i'm beginning to fell let down. Great to see that you are responding to people mind, kudos on that.
lee i think WBA are in trouble they've slipped up cause NForest have come charging in. we had a shake but we've pulled our socks up. there might be a bit of mind games trying to get us to relax but i don't think CH will allow that to happen and i don't think he'll respond to it verbally. I think he'll just let WBA and NF fight for second and we'll just keep doning what we've been doing. I would also add that Di Matteo's english need to improve before he sets off down that route or he'll end up just confusing himself.
Agree with the comments below ... the piece just doesn't make sense in light of what RDM actually said.
What he said was totally spot on - we have got another gear and this is the month where we will probably pull away if we're going to.
In what way is that even slightly comparable to Fergie claiming that other teams don't try as hard against Newcastle as they do against MUFC? Fergie was needling Keegan. RDM isn't needling anyone!
Sometimes you display a very pronounced victim mentality Lee. Like when you bad mouth 'southerners' or 'cockneys'. Not sure you're representing the views of even a large minority with these kind of comments.