Do We Bin The Cups?

[Ted Hughes]

Have we finally admitted that these outlandish claims about having a better squad then United, Chelsea and Arsenal were a tad unrealistic?

Tbh I wouldn't want many of their sqaud players either but we're the ones who have been supposedly strengthening whilst they stood still.

Somehow we now find ourselves in a position where Robinho would get a regular game half a season after we dumped him. Same with Bellamy. Even Elano would get games. How the fuck we've managed that beats me.

[brite blu sky]

Well there is no problem in defence with 8 good enough to rotate.
Kolarov can play wide left.
Balotellli is due back.
SWP will have to step up to cover for AJ.

So the only real lack is Silva's role. So apart from playing Milner, there will have to be a bit of prioritisation. Dzeko can play deeper as well as Tevez.

In ref to the OP.. hmm i think it is just a bit early to say. See what happens in the Derby first. If we get beat then things wont change that much, but if we win, then there is a need to have a serious think. For me, if we win it makes a shot at the title not unreasonable, then i would take more of a gamble in both the cups.. and look to not start Silva and whoever else needed a bit of a breather and have them on the bench instead.
One of the key games for making life a bit easier is Aris away, get enough of a result there and it makes that run of games quite a bit more doable.
In short if we get back in the title race then i would make sure our strongest 11 were playing the league games and do whatever rotation had to be done in the cups.
Is that ditching the cups?

[brite blu sky]

Have we finally admitted that these outlandish claims about having a better squad then United, Chelsea and Arsenal were a tad unrealistic?

Tbh I wouldn't want many of their sqaud players either but we're the ones who have been supposedly strengthening whilst they stood still.

Somehow we now find ourselves in a position where Robinho would get a regular game half a season after we dumped him. Same with Bellamy. Even Elano would get games. How the fuck we've managed that beats me.

Thats one of the effects of changing manager.. sweating its way out. No real surprise there i'm afraid.

[john@staustell]

Bin the cups??? are you mad. 90mins work every 3 days ... poor lambs

THIS

Besides we've already binned one cup, and this is why we have a squad isn't it, and a very expensive one at that, in case someone's feeling a bit knackered!?

[Tokyo Blue]

It is simple. All Mancini needs to do is pick the best available team for the next game. And that is it.

[Ted Hughes]

Have we finally admitted that these outlandish claims about having a better squad then United, Chelsea and Arsenal were a tad unrealistic?

Tbh I wouldn't want many of their sqaud players either but we're the ones who have been supposedly strengthening whilst they stood still.

Somehow we now find ourselves in a position where Robinho would get a regular game half a season after we dumped him. Same with Bellamy. Even Elano would get games. How the fuck we've managed that beats me.

Thats one of the effects of changing manager.. sweating its way out. No real surprise there i'm afraid.

It sure as hell surprises me. I was baffled at the start of the season when we got rid of Bellamy & Robinho but only replaced them with a 19 year old kid plus Jo, then I was praying we could get to the January window & rectify it but we just swapped Ade for Dzeko instead; one a proven PL striker, the other promising but unproven. It all suggests we're aiming for one competition only, with anything else a happy bonus.

[CitizenYank]

We WIN the cups!!! I can't believe we are talking about this.

[Beefymcfc]

Have we finally admitted that these outlandish claims about having a better squad then United, Chelsea and Arsenal were a tad unrealistic?

Tbh I wouldn't want many of their sqaud players either but we're the ones who have been supposedly strengthening whilst they stood still.

Somehow we now find ourselves in a position where Robinho would get a regular game half a season after we dumped him. Same with Bellamy. Even Elano would get games. How the fuck we've managed that beats me.

Thats one of the effects of changing manager.. sweating its way out. No real surprise there i'm afraid.

It sure as hell surprises me. I was baffled at the start of the season when we got rid of Bellamy & Robinho but only replaced them with a 19 year old kid plus Jo, then I was praying we could get to the January window & rectify it but we just swapped Ade for Dzeko instead; one a proven PL striker, the other promising but unproven. It all suggests we're aiming for one competition only, with anything else a happy bonus.

Nail on the head there Ted. Everybody must remember those heady days when we all thought we had a squad that could challenge for all comps? Now,not quite the case, is it.

[Beefymcfc]

In short if we get back in the title race then i would make sure our strongest 11 were playing the league games and do whatever rotation had to be done in the cups.

Is that ditching the cups?

In my opinion, yes, and that's what I was asking.

[CitizenYank]

I would rather win the title, but not at the price of our first silverware since the year I was born.

[Tokyo Blue]

I would rather win the title, but not at the price of our first silverware since the year I was born.

This post reminds me of an M.C. Escher painting.

[john68]

Whatever our ambitions for city are as fans, we have to understand that our owners and the powers that administer the club have their ambitions and targets aleady set. The Fair Play Rules and our development as a global brand have already defined that we MUST at (almost) any cost, finish 4th or above and qualify for the CL. Whether we like it or not.
We don't know what the future few weeks hold for us and in what circumstances we may find ourselves. It may be that we can move successfully forward in all competitions or it may be that we suddenly find ourselves with injuries/suspensions and under pressure in the League. If that happens, I would not like it but would accept that CL qualification can't be gambled away.

The real pressure to win a trophy is being exerted by the media and the rags with their banner. Even at mu age, I would not wish the long term progression of the club to be jeopardised just to pick up a pot this season.

I do agree with most of what is being said about us causing this problem to ourselves in some ways and I think we should maybe have held on to some of those players who we've let go, in order to enable challenges on all fronts.

[Original Dub]

I would rather win the title, but not at the price of our first silverware since the year I was born.

Oh dear god.

[Wonderwall]

I would rather win the title, but not at the price of our first silverware since the year I was born.

Oh dear god.

Classic all the same though ;-)

[Beefymcfc]

I would rather win the title, but not at the price of our first silverware since the year I was born.

Ha ha ha, CY, you've just been Tango'd.

Pure Gold ;-)

[Beefymcfc]

Whatever our ambitions for city are as fans, we have to understand that our owners and the powers that administer the club have their ambitions and targets aleady set. The Fair Play Rules and our development as a global brand have already defined that we MUST at (almost) any cost, finish 4th or above and qualify for the CL. Whether we like it or not.
We don't know what the future few weeks hold for us and in what circumstances we may find ourselves. It may be that we can move successfully forward in all competitions or it may be that we suddenly find ourselves with injuries/suspensions and under pressure in the League. If that happens, I would not like it but would accept that CL qualification can't be gambled away.

The real pressure to win a trophy is being exerted by the media and the rags with their banner. Even at mu age, I would not wish the long term progression of the club to be jeopardised just to pick up a pot this season.

I do agree with most of what is being said about us causing this problem to ourselves in some ways and I think we should maybe have held on to some of those players who we've let go, in order to enable challenges on all fronts.

Oh, that's it, you just go and do your own thing and kill the thread. How can anyone argue with that!

I'm not borrowing you my tree now!

[citytilliporkpie]

This doesn't look like a problem to me if Mancini decides on his stronger team and weaker team and plays them accordingly

Vs scum
Hart
Zabba toure kompany kolarov
NDJ yaya Barry
Silva Tevez Milner

This team would then have an 8 day break between the rags and notts county and a further 7 days untill fulham which isn't exactly a struggle.

Then for Aris games we can play a weakened team of
Given
Richards (if fit) Boyata Lescott Boateng
SWP Vieira Ibrahim Jo
Dzeko Guidetti

Should be more than enough to beat them if not they should be shot as look how much that team cost us Dzeko £20 odd million Lescott £20 odd mill. Jo £18mill boating however much. We have the strongest team in the league let's get Rhine the lads! And we could bring Bellamy back :)

[LookMumImOnMCF.net]

Perhaps we should just fuck every game off. It's only football really.

[john@staustell]

This doesn't look like a problem to me if Mancini decides on his stronger team and weaker team and plays them accordingly

Vs scum
Hart
Zabba toure kompany kolarov
NDJ yaya Barry
Silva Tevez Milner

This team would then have an 8 day break between the rags and notts county and a further 7 days untill fulham which isn't exactly a struggle.

Then for Aris games we can play a weakened team of
Given
Richards (if fit) Boyata Lescott Boateng
SWP Vieira Ibrahim Jo
Dzeko Guidetti

Should be more than enough to beat them if not they should be shot as look how much that team cost us Dzeko £20 odd million Lescott £20 odd mill. Jo £18mill boating however much. We have the strongest team in the league let's get Rhine the lads! And we could bring Bellamy back :)

I heartily disagree that a full reserve side is 'enough' to beat anyone, if we harbour any hopes of winning a trophy. Resting people who have a bit of a knock, or even resting the likes of Silva and Tevez ahead of a big game I can go along with. But the rest of them can get out and earn their money.

We've struggled enough in cups as it is.

[john68]

My Dear Beefers,
I assume that you are conversant with the most versatile word in the English language...FUCKED!!!
It is a medical term...Should you feel ill, the Doctor will inform you that you are FUCKED. You, yourself may have already informed your medico that you are FUCKED.
It is an automotive term...When your car breaks down, the mechanic will examine it and duly inform you which particular bit of your car is FUCKED.
It is an ecological term...We are informed by environmentalists that the ozone layer is FUCKED.
...and so to this thread...I apologise profusely for my erudite, well structured post on the matter in hand that rendered your thread FUCKED.
...and sadly...your tree...which, as Douglas has informed us, has fallen over. It is now not a tree. It is a late tree,, an ex tree. Your tree has sadly passed from this domain...In short,(and it gives me no pleasure whatsoever)...to inform you that I never wished to to borrow your tree...quite simply because your tree is now FUCKED!!!
Lots of Love
John
XXX