Do You Want Us To Go Into The Europa League?

[Alioune DVToure]

I'd rather suck off a horse.

You can have both if you want.

[Scoey]

I've heard twice now that we're in pot 3 next year.

How would anybody know that? As far as i'm aware nobody has qualified yet, including us! Can somebody explain how we are in pot 3 next season, please?

Also, I'd be glad not to be in the Europa League, focus on the league and FA cup.

[BlueinBosnia]

Europa helps towards European seeding, therefore it would help us get to pot one faster, however the Premier League and FA cup double is my target.

This is how I feel. If I thought Mancini had the confidence in the team/himself to go for 3 cups, I'd be well up for this. A domestic double would mean a lot more to me as a fan, though.

[Ted Hughes]

No.

We will do the same shit in that competition & end up getting get beaten by no marks rather than a top side.

It would be nice to think that we could just play the squad players etc, but that won't happen. Bob will send out Yaya Toure to play as our only central midfielder in Moscow etc & knack him.

It's better we concentrate on domestic competitions. Better for the team & better for keeping Bob in a job for next season.

[Mase]

This plus if we dont our co efficient will drop us into pot 3 and another lovely group for the CL next season.

Weren't we in pot 2 this year and it didn't make a difference.

[HeyMark]

No i'd rather we focused on the league.

If we do get into it though it should be used as an opportunity for fringe players to get a game ie: sinclair, kolo, guidetti when fit.

[Chinners]

Yes, we need as much european competition experience as possible.

This

[BlueinBosnia]

Interesting to see how, immediately after the game yesterday, there were far more voting 'No' than 'Yes', but now it's more-or-less evened out...

[s1ty m]

It's the Euro Capital One Cup and utterly worthless with the Champions League in its current guise. The old 3 competetions were far better, in my opinion. But going into the EL having utterly failed in the CL makes no sense and should not be allowed either.

Pl and FA Cup double please, that's all!

[Green & Blue]

I would rather we concentrate on the league and fa cup.

If we do scrape into the competition i hope it's treated as an opportunity to blood younger players and give fringe players a chance to get some game time.

[Peter Doherty (AGAIG)]

No, if we look anything like winning it UEFA will send one of their refs to hamstring us. I'm not one to turn down any kind of trophy but I think winning the league this year is paramount and this thing will just get in the way (Thursdays/Sundays). We can always win the double ;)

[ross.mcfc]

When we were a Europa league side under Hughes I suggested the Europa league was a piece of shit that wasnt worth being in. Now we are challenging for the league it is a no brainer to but out a second strenght team in Dortmund.

Even if our second string is better than most sides left in the Europa league, they will be beaten by a club who takes it seriously.

Added costs to fans who want to go to the game and more fixture changes. No thanks. As a club trying to build a global brand, having a stadium half empty at 5pm on a Thursday night is not the image we want to promote.

If we win it, it's a diddy cup and not what we should be aiming for. If we enter it and lose we come in for all sorts of flack.

Simply not worth the agro.

[Chinners]

I don't get how some see it as possibly affecting our Title ambitions (like last season?) but qualification in the CL doesn't somehow. How ever tinpot its appeal its a european trophy that will aid the club in avoiding future 'groups of death'

We have a big enough and quality enough squad to be able to deal with this imo. I agree the old 3 cup format was much better but alas does not make as much money for Ewaffer

[Dameerto]

I like seeing City in Europe (if they turn up).

[Goaters 103]

When we were a Europa league side under Hughes I suggested the Europa league was a piece of shit that wasnt worth being in. Now we are challenging for the league it is a no brainer to but out a second strenght team in Dortmund.

Even if our second string is better than most sides left in the Europa league, they will be beaten by a club who takes it seriously.

Added costs to fans who want to go to the game and more fixture changes. No thanks. As a club trying to build a global brand, having a stadium half empty at 5pm on a Thursday night is not the image we want to promote.

If we win it, it's a diddy cup and not what we should be aiming for. If we enter it and lose we come in for all sorts of flack.

Simply not worth the agro.

This post hits the nail on the head.

5pm/6pm kick-offs in front of about 15k empty seats - no thanks.

[sheblue]

We MUST put a second string team out against Dortmund. If we get a good beating, so what, fuck the Europa league.

[Goaters 103]

We MUST put a second string team out against Dortmund. If we get a good beating, so what, fuck the Europa league.

Suggested team vs Dortmund

Pantilimon

Maicon
Lescott
K Toure
Kolarov

Rodwell
Garcia

Sinclair
Balotelli
Milner

Dzeko

[sheblue]

K toure is not in the squad, but your on the right lines.
Basically play everyone who is not in contention for the derby.

[Mikhail Chigorin]

Excellent question. I honestly can't decide either way and wish there was an option for that.

Maybe 'YES'. I still retain a child-like desire to see City play as often as possible, so the more games the better in that sense. If it begins to affect our league form then we can reassess our selection policy as and when that happens.

By that time though, it might be too late and our League form could have badly dipped, leaving us with too much to do and too much ground to make up (last season's heroics notwithstanding).

I agree that it is difficult to decide either way; it just seems we can't do right, for doing wrong.

[dazby]

Yes, even if we dip out first round. Play the squad players. Give some kids a go. Use it. Abuse it. Learn. Grow. Develop.

Definitely play 3-5-2.