Sunday Matches

[btajim]

I'm presuming next season's participation in the Europa will ensure many our League clashes are played on a Sunday as opposed to a Saturday like they were during our last run? I've not heard anything different.

Personally, I think the Champions League has become too big and less competitive due to seeding which, in turn, has made the UEFA Cup / Europa a less exciting prospect. If we face a home truth then we need to admit that the first strong side we faced in the knock out stages were Hamburg. It was still a great experience, though. First European run for many a year.

How is everyone with Sunday Matches? If we do well in Europe again then I don't think we'll see more than 5 Saturday 3pm Kick Offs all season.

Thoughts?

[colonel_muck]

i love playing on a saturday, but not as much as i love two man city games a week. it's a bit annoying i suppose there's something nice about playing on a saturday but like i said, two games a week kicks ass. loved it when we were in europe last, watch the game on thrursday and have a few extra pints cos i'm only in work for five hours on a friday, so it was a great way to start the weekend! by the way, that hamburg game was a brilliant atmosphere, one of the best since we moved grounds.

[Original Dub]

i love playing on a saturday, but not as much as i love two man city games a week. it's a bit annoying i suppose there's something nice about playing on a saturday but like i said, two games a week kicks ass. loved it when we were in europe last, watch the game on thrursday and have a few extra pints cos i'm only in work for five hours on a friday, so it was a great way to start the weekend! by the way, that hamburg game was a brilliant atmosphere, one of the best since we moved grounds.

Absolutely!

[btajim]

i love playing on a saturday, but not as much as i love two man city games a week. it's a bit annoying i suppose there's something nice about playing on a saturday but like i said, two games a week kicks ass. loved it when we were in europe last, watch the game on thrursday and have a few extra pints cos i'm only in work for five hours on a friday, so it was a great way to start the weekend! by the way, that hamburg game was a brilliant atmosphere, one of the best since we moved grounds.

Absolutely!

Seconded. Imagine it that was someone's first ever Match. What an experience. If they allow a Family of 4 to attend European Matches for £12 next season then we'll be packed to the rafters.

How do other Exiles feel about travelling on a Sunday for League Matches?

[Original Dub]

i love playing on a saturday, but not as much as i love two man city games a week. it's a bit annoying i suppose there's something nice about playing on a saturday but like i said, two games a week kicks ass. loved it when we were in europe last, watch the game on thrursday and have a few extra pints cos i'm only in work for five hours on a friday, so it was a great way to start the weekend! by the way, that hamburg game was a brilliant atmosphere, one of the best since we moved grounds.

Absolutely!

Seconded. Imagine it that was someone's first ever Match. What an experience. If they allow a Family of 4 to attend European Matches for £12 next season then we'll be packed to the rafters.

How do other Exiles feel about travelling on a Sunday for League Matches?

If that was someone's first ever city match they'd have been fooled into thinking its like that most weeks and they couldn't be more wrong.

It wouldn't bother me about the sundays because my work is flexible and flying over on a sunday and back on a monday is always cheaper, as is the hotel!

[btajim]

If that was someone's first ever city match they'd have been fooled into thinking its like that most weeks and they couldn't be more wrong.

I more meant it would be a brilliant experience for a first time... Perhaps a little better than losing 3-0 at Home to Blackburn or being at the 2-1 defeat at West Brom. When people started throwing punches etc.

[colonel_muck]

just looking at all the teams in the hat this year as well as the champs league rejects who come in for the second round. would love us to play liverpool, juventus, galatasary (though wouldn't fancy a trip to istanbul), napoli, borussia dortmund, CSKA Moscow, Porto. They're some decent old teams. I know you don't get many glamour ties in this tournament but i would be excited if we got the chance to play any of these sides. The full list of clubs is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80 ... opa_League

[btajim]

I think i'd prefer us to play smaller sides until facing the Big Guns is absolutely necessary. Mancini has a poor record in Europe.

Fulham most definitely negated their League campaign for Europe last season. Is our Squad vast enough to cope with a dual challenge?

[colonel_muck]

well it should be by now. we're two seasons into the new dawn, so if we're still spreading ourselves thinly (injuries permitting) i would be very concerned. and i think with the way they draw it big teams very rarely play eachother until the quarter finals onwards. what does concern me is mancini's record in europe, which i'd never given any thought to. off to wikipedia for me...

[btajim]

what does concern me is mancini's record in europe, which i'd never given any thought to. off to wikipedia for me...

There's first and second round exits from the Champions League. Do you remember Liverpool putting them out a few seasons back?

I think the reason behind his sacking at Inter was lack of European success - but only a fool would doubt his League success with them.

[colonel_muck]

what does concern me is mancini's record in europe, which i'd never given any thought to. off to wikipedia for me...

There's first and second round exits from the Champions League. Do you remember Liverpool putting them out a few seasons back?

I think the reason behind his sacking at Inter was lack of European success - but only a fool would doubt his League success with them.

yeah it says that on wikipedia, and thats the reason morrati gave. although considering liverpool were actually one of the best teams in europe (if not the league) back then i don't think there's any shame in going out to them. i remember the anfield game inter had a man sent off really early and liverpool still didn't score til about 85 mins, then gerrard made it 2 before the end and the rest is history. hardly a reason to sack a manager. but thats football i suppose. i have no doubt that in terms of europe, he's going to get more time as its obviously an area he needs to learn in, and i think the fans and the club will be more patient as it will be new to most of us as well.

[s1ty m]

miuch prefer the saturday experience. sundays are annoying. but, if it is because we are steaming through europe, so be it. the M6 is more busy on a sunday though. though not as busy as when the shite play at the sty.

[Slim]

just looking at all the teams in the hat this year as well as the champs league rejects who come in for the second round. would love us to play liverpool, juventus, galatasary (though wouldn't fancy a trip to istanbul), napoli, borussia dortmund, CSKA Moscow, Porto. They're some decent old teams. I know you don't get many glamour ties in this tournament but i would be excited if we got the chance to play any of these sides. The full list of clubs is here http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2010%E2%80 ... opa_League

Not on point, but that qualification thing has thrown me.

Portsmouth would have qualified for the Europa had they done their paperwork and had a stack of pennies in the bank as cup final runner's up to a champions league qualifier. However if City had beaten them in the cup final as Europa qualifiers, the place wouldn't go to the runners up, but goes to the next lowest place team in the league.

[btajim]

yeah it says that on wikipedia, and thats the reason morrati gave. although considering liverpool were actually one of the best teams in europe (if not the league) back then i don't think there's any shame in going out to them. i remember the anfield game inter had a man sent off really early and liverpool still didn't score til about 85 mins, then gerrard made it 2 before the end and the rest is history. hardly a reason to sack a manager. but thats football i suppose. i have no doubt that in terms of europe, he's going to get more time as its obviously an area he needs to learn in, and i think the fans and the club will be more patient as it will be new to most of us as well.

But if Inter had ambitions in Europe then they needed to play the best and beat the best. Mancini had at least 3 shots at European Football and his side did very little. Mourinho's side won the Trophy.

OK, he needs to learn - but is it not a more calculated risk to employ someone who has proven success in certain competitions? Mancini has none in the Premiership and none in Europe. Instinct says he'll take us in to the Champions League but he won't be in charge when we're in the Semis / Final.

City aren't patient and haven't been since I became a Blue. Fan expectation has gone through the roof now the money has been spent. It's an odd sensation...