Patrick wrote:I think RM is spot on
I can't remember so much hysterical reaction to a cup defeat - I'm truly astonished
It's as though beating west broom last night would have guaranteed us a trophy
The accusations of arrogant and inept management say much more about our inability to understand our clubs priority this year
Winning the minor cup would obviously appease those who allow the scums banner to get on their tits but that's all.
In fact winning any cup this year is really no more than a bauble
CL qualification is the be all and end all this season. The long term impact of CL for city at this stage of our development is immense, it changes the ball game entirely and will not only deliver domestic success but will truly put us on the world stage
I
Read this... and if you dont agree or understand it read it again...and if you still dont get it.. read it again.
While each fan has their own priorities.. some are results obsessed, some just want trophies, some just want great football and thats why a manager can never get it right whatever he does.
The truth is the club wants to break into the elite and the manager is charged with doing that. Giving us the best possible chance of a good showing against Chelsea ( for its effect as much as the points ) is a priority far far and away above what the CC can offer in terms of the clubs progress this season. No new players are going to want to come to City cos we bagged the CC. If however we land CL football and in the process show that we are on a par with the current elite, then we will be achieving what the club has set out to do and we can look forward to attracting some of the best players around and competing at that level for years to come.
The game against Chelsea is massive and it has little to do with the points, City have to show that we can stop the Chelsea juggernaught in its tracks and by doing so throw down the challenge to the rest of the prem to do the same. I know a lot of posters on here dont like that way of thinking but the truth is we are no longer an Everton type club hoping to bag an FA Cup now and again, Chelsea are the competition along with Arsenal etc.
We are all trying to square how that can be when we have not shown the customary progress to that status.. CCs etc etc, but we haven't followed the customary path, quiet the opposite.. same effect though.
As for last nights game it is just bad timing that it came less than 72 hours before our 'CL final' and most of our defense out injured. It is unfortunate, it is maybe a fucled up world but the fact remains Sat is our priority by a margin something akin to the difference between Everton and Chelsea.