I wish that was us tonight

[stinky pete]

why do teams struggle to get into europe then play crap teams so there up for premier games????

[sky_blue_stew]

I wouldn't worry about an immediate step up to the CL, I know Everton crashed and burned when they tried it, but that's because breaking the top 4 for tehm took a colossal effort with a very limited squad. I know it wouldn;t be easy for us, but at least we'd have the depth to avoid some of that burnout if we did break through, and in players like Ade, Robinho and Tevez we have some much needed experience in the dressing room.

Added to that, Rangers got absolutely routed the other night by Unirea Urzizini, some Romanian team with no CL experience at all. It''s possible to make an instant impact when you step up, but higher level experience sooner, can in my book only be a good thing.

[kinkylola]

why do teams struggle to get into europe then play crap teams so there up for premier games????

more prize money for finishing higher in league = more funds to improve team = chance to get a cup or two = more money = chance to snatch a place in CL = dreamland, financial safety.

[Original Dub]

Couldn't really give a crap.

It was a great experience and I got over for the last three home games including Hamburg which was the best atmosphere I'd seen at COMS...

But it's a secondary european competition and I'd rather concentrate on qualifying for the main one.

Leave the uefa cup and ITV7 or whatever it is to the Fulhams and Evertons of this world. We've far more important things to concentrate on.

[MHiggi]

I wish that was us tonight

I'm glad I'm not you.

[Im_Spartacus]

Couldn't really give a crap.

It was a great experience and I got over for the last three home games including Hamburg which was the best atmosphere I'd seen at COMS...

But it's a secondary european competition and I'd rather concentrate on qualifying for the main one.

Leave the uefa cup and ITV7 or whatever it is to the Fulhams and Evertons of this world. We've far more important things to concentrate on.

Very arrogant view, I'm surprised.

Of course we would rather qualify for the big one, but as you say yourself, the Hamburg game was one of the best for gates/atmosphere/noise ever. I wonder therefore what you want from a "secondary" game, because although we lost the game, the Hamburg game was one of the best nights ever for any city fan. It was a quarter final of a European competition ffs.

It was not the champs league, but jesus, I would have given anything to be in it. However, we did well to ge to where we got.

[Original Dub]

Well mate you can look at it as arrogance but I think of it more as developing into a top top side.

I loved the play off final against Gillingham. Quality. I loved the season under Keegan in Div1. Amazing.

But they were part of our growth and look to be behind us now, just like I think and hope the Uefa Cup is. I'm not sure how often its happened, but I'd imagine its quite difficult for a team to be taking part in Uefa Cup whilst trying to qualify for the champions league in a top domestic league for the first time ever.

Whether or not we prove it this season, we are now one of the strongest clubs in Europe and we need to be playing in the biggest competition AT ALL COSTS asap... for a number of very very important reasons.

So that's what I mean when I say I couldn't give a crap. And if you think Hamburg was good night, wait til our first home match in the champions league!

[Im_Spartacus]

Well mate you can look at it as arrogance but I think of it more as developing into a top top side.

I loved the play off final against Gillingham. Quality. I loved the season under Keegan in Div1. Amazing.

But they were part of our growth and look to be behind us now, just like I think and hope the Uefa Cup is. I'm not sure how often its happened, but I'd imagine its quite difficult for a team to be taking part in Uefa Cup whilst trying to qualify for the champions league in a top domestic league for the first time ever.

Whether or not we prove it this season, we are now one of the strongest clubs in Europe and we need to be playing in the biggest competition AT ALL COSTS asap... for a number of very very important reasons.

So that's what I mean when I say I couldn't give a crap. And if you think Hamburg was good night, wait til our first home match in the champions league!

Top, top response mate, thats why I come on here.........

I, like u cant wait till the first CL game,it will be awesome, and i for one will be disappointed if it doesnt happen next year. The Hamburg game should be a thing for us to aim for though, for whether it was EL or CL - it was a QF, and we havent had too many of those recently.

We have to finish top 4 in future to manage that first CL game, and that will be the big task this year. I think we will do it......but if we dont, I wont (like last year) be shouting Hughes out. Because I expect we will be top 4 afer the way Livderpool have fallen in.

[Original Dub]

Well mate you can look at it as arrogance but I think of it more as developing into a top top side.

I loved the play off final against Gillingham. Quality. I loved the season under Keegan in Div1. Amazing.

But they were part of our growth and look to be behind us now, just like I think and hope the Uefa Cup is. I'm not sure how often its happened, but I'd imagine its quite difficult for a team to be taking part in Uefa Cup whilst trying to qualify for the champions league in a top domestic league for the first time ever.

Whether or not we prove it this season, we are now one of the strongest clubs in Europe and we need to be playing in the biggest competition AT ALL COSTS asap... for a number of very very important reasons.

So that's what I mean when I say I couldn't give a crap. And if you think Hamburg was good night, wait til our first home match in the champions league!

Top, top response mate, thats why I come on here.........

I, like u cant wait till the first CL game,it will be awesome, and i for one will be disappointed if it doesnt happen next year. The Hamburg game should be a thing for us to aim for though, for whether it was EL or CL - it was a QF, and we havent had too many of those recently.

We have to finish top 4 in future to manage that first CL game, and that will be the big task this year. I think we will do it......but if we dont, I wont (like last year) be shouting Hughes out. Because I expect we will be top 4 afer the way Livderpool have fallen in.

Exactly mate!

It seems the city fans are a lot more together this season and we'll need that as the season wears on and we get our first very disappointing result. Rather than splitting into two camps like last season, it would be nice to be realistic and accept that even though we have spent money to try and catch up with the big four, it does not mean we are invincible and poor form/results will happen regardless of who's in charge.

We're on the right path and I think 99% of us can see that. If we get to a certain point and its obvious Hughes is holding us back, then the writing will be on the wall. But giving him one full season of united support is the foundation for a great season.

I'm loving it, but I'm starting to get frustrated waiting to see who this team is that we're about to knock the shit of of, because we haven't even started playing yet!

Maybe its gonna be Fulham... :)