Carling Cup Run

[lythamblue]

I just hope Mancini cares about this competition as much as we do!

Our first major semi final for donkeys years. Our first chance of a Wembley Cup Final since 1981. An opportuity to finally remove that sign at OT (even though it will just be replaced with one that says 41 years to indicate when we last won the league).

I just hope he takes it serioiusly and doesn't use the semis as a chance to evaluate certain fringe players, systems etc.

More to the point ...... I hope he makes sure that our players do.

[Socrates]

I just hope Mancini cares about this competition as much as we do!

Our first major semi final for donkeys years. Our first chance of a Wembley Cup Final since 1981. An opportuity to finally remove that sign at OT (even though it will just be replaced with one that says 41 years to indicate when we last won the league).

I just hope he takes it serioiusly and doesn't use the semis as a chance to evaluate certain fringe players, systems etc.

More to the point ...... I hope he makes sure that our players do.

Winner of 4 cups in Italy, why wouldn't he? And it's a derby. Having played in Rome derbies and managed in Milan derbies I reckon he'll have a clue. And I think Kidd will understand the importance too?

[lythamblue]

I just hope Mancini cares about this competition as much as we do!

Our first major semi final for donkeys years. Our first chance of a Wembley Cup Final since 1981. An opportuity to finally remove that sign at OT (even though it will just be replaced with one that says 41 years to indicate when we last won the league).

I just hope he takes it serioiusly and doesn't use the semis as a chance to evaluate certain fringe players, systems etc.

More to the point ...... I hope he makes sure that our players do.

Winner of 4 cups in Italy, why wouldn't he? And it's a derby. Having played in Rome derbies and managed in Milan derbies I reckon he'll have a clue. And I think Kidd will understand the importance too?

Because Cups mean sod all in Italy and are mainly an opportunity to try out the fringe players and rotate the squad. That's why they are becoming devalued in England since the foreign managers started to use them the same way.

Apart from that ..... what personal credit would he derive from winning it? The media would jump on to it straight away and claim that it was a trophy won through the legacy of MH.

I hope you are right Soc .... but just some nagging thoughts.

[King Kev]

I have said for years that I would love to see Dunne lift a trophy at Wembley.

I hope this isn't the year that happens!

[Socrates]

I just hope Mancini cares about this competition as much as we do!

Our first major semi final for donkeys years. Our first chance of a Wembley Cup Final since 1981. An opportuity to finally remove that sign at OT (even though it will just be replaced with one that says 41 years to indicate when we last won the league).

I just hope he takes it serioiusly and doesn't use the semis as a chance to evaluate certain fringe players, systems etc.

More to the point ...... I hope he makes sure that our players do.

Winner of 4 cups in Italy, why wouldn't he? And it's a derby. Having played in Rome derbies and managed in Milan derbies I reckon he'll have a clue. And I think Kidd will understand the importance too?

Because Cups mean sod all in Italy and are mainly an opportunity to try out the fringe players and rotate the squad. That's why they are becoming devalued in England since the foreign managers started to use them the same way.

Apart from that ..... what personal credit would he derive from winning it? The media would jump on to it straight away and claim that it was a trophy won through the legacy of MH.

I hope you are right Soc .... but just some nagging thoughts.

WINNER of 4 cups in Italy. Which part of WINNER did you miss? Seems to indicate him took them pretty seriously, especially with his wins with Sampdoria and Lazio...

[lythamblue]

I just hope Mancini cares about this competition as much as we do!

Our first major semi final for donkeys years. Our first chance of a Wembley Cup Final since 1981. An opportuity to finally remove that sign at OT (even though it will just be replaced with one that says 41 years to indicate when we last won the league).

I just hope he takes it serioiusly and doesn't use the semis as a chance to evaluate certain fringe players, systems etc.

More to the point ...... I hope he makes sure that our players do.

Winner of 4 cups in Italy, why wouldn't he? And it's a derby. Having played in Rome derbies and managed in Milan derbies I reckon he'll have a clue. And I think Kidd will understand the importance too?

Because Cups mean sod all in Italy and are mainly an opportunity to try out the fringe players and rotate the squad. That's why they are becoming devalued in England since the foreign managers started to use them the same way.

Apart from that ..... what personal credit would he derive from winning it? The media would jump on to it straight away and claim that it was a trophy won through the legacy of MH.

I hope you are right Soc .... but just some nagging thoughts.

WINNER of 4 cups in Italy. Which part of WINNER did you miss? Seems to indicate him took them pretty seriously, especially with his wins with Sampdoria and Lazio...

I'm not saying he won't ..... I'm just hoping and praying he does.

Unfortunately, recent events have left me doubting what is and isn't important to the owners and management of our great club.

Hopefully, the fact that they seem more interested in short term high visability than long term pragmatism, would indeed indicate that putting a trophy on the sideboard is a good current PR move.

[craigmcfc]

He isn't daft and he'll see the unease that a lot of City fans are feeling over the change in management. What better way to win any doubters over than to win the clubs first silverware in 34 years? Forget whether that be through a lot of Hughes' hard work, Mancini would be the manager bringing home the trophy

Our first team will be out in both legs I am certain

[Socrates]

Winner of 4 cups in Italy, why wouldn't he? And it's a derby. Having played in Rome derbies and managed in Milan derbies I reckon he'll have a clue. And I think Kidd will understand the importance too?

Because Cups mean sod all in Italy and are mainly an opportunity to try out the fringe players and rotate the squad. That's why they are becoming devalued in England since the foreign managers started to use them the same way.

Apart from that ..... what personal credit would he derive from winning it? The media would jump on to it straight away and claim that it was a trophy won through the legacy of MH.

I hope you are right Soc .... but just some nagging thoughts.

WINNER of 4 cups in Italy. Which part of WINNER did you miss? Seems to indicate him took them pretty seriously, especially with his wins with Sampdoria and Lazio...

I'm not saying he won't ..... I'm just hoping and praying he does.

Unfortunately, recent events have left me doubting what is and isn't important to the owners and management of our great club.

Hopefully, the fact that they seem more interested in short term high visability than long term pragmatism, would indeed indicate that putting a trophy on the sideboard is a good current PR move.

how is keeping an unproven manager who is clearly struggling long term pragmatism?

[Kiss_The_Goat]

I just hope Mancini cares about this competition as much as we do!

Our first major semi final for donkeys years. Our first chance of a Wembley Cup Final since 1981. An opportuity to finally remove that sign at OT (even though it will just be replaced with one that says 41 years to indicate when we last won the league).

I just hope he takes it serioiusly and doesn't use the semis as a chance to evaluate certain fringe players, systems etc.

More to the point ...... I hope he makes sure that our players do.

I'm sure he will. He's going to want to hit the ground running and the Carling Cup offers him the opportunity to become an instant hero. Win the club its first silverware in #% years and get one over on his new managerial rival. There's no way he's going to be playing a weakened team. Bring it on!!!

[lythamblue]

Winner of 4 cups in Italy, why wouldn't he? And it's a derby. Having played in Rome derbies and managed in Milan derbies I reckon he'll have a clue. And I think Kidd will understand the importance too?

Because Cups mean sod all in Italy and are mainly an opportunity to try out the fringe players and rotate the squad. That's why they are becoming devalued in England since the foreign managers started to use them the same way.

Apart from that ..... what personal credit would he derive from winning it? The media would jump on to it straight away and claim that it was a trophy won through the legacy of MH.

I hope you are right Soc .... but just some nagging thoughts.

WINNER of 4 cups in Italy. Which part of WINNER did you miss? Seems to indicate him took them pretty seriously, especially with his wins with Sampdoria and Lazio...

I'm not saying he won't ..... I'm just hoping and praying he does.

Unfortunately, recent events have left me doubting what is and isn't important to the owners and management of our great club.

Hopefully, the fact that they seem more interested in short term high visability than long term pragmatism, would indeed indicate that putting a trophy on the sideboard is a good current PR move.

how is keeping an unproven manager who is clearly struggling long term pragmatism?

"Clearly struggling" is something which is highly debateable and not the point of this thread ..... especially when the thread is connected to our previous manager getting us to our first semi final for 28 years and his replacement has been out of work for 18 months.

Anyway, most on here seem to think he will use it as a springboard and that will do for me. I hope they are right.