Varchester City 18/19 discussion

Vadim

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I've genuinely never had any interest in the Champions League. I could count on one hand the number of CL games I watched before City first qualified for the competition. It was totally irrelevant to me as a City fan (first game in 1990) because we never had a hope of qualifying and because of the way it was skewing the league (when CL TV money was more important than it is now in the era of huge PL TV deals) -- the biggest teams qualified for the CL, earnt extra TV money, used the TV money to get stronger, qualified again, earnt extra TV money and round and round.

Now that City have been in it for a few years my position is still the same, and of course we've had our well-publicised issues with UEFA since then as well. I'll watch the games but I'm disconnected. I always want City to win, but a poor CL result is forgotten immediately while a poor PL result ruins my week. The CL semi-final loss was forgotten that night. I still haven't got over the Wigan FA Cup final loss.

The ultimate test to me has always been to be the best team in the country. After that it's the domestic cup competitions. And lastly the CL. Any time I say that to non-City fans they think I'm either mental or must be taking the piss, but it's just how I feel.

I think if the CL was a straight knockout for champions I'd be much more interested. Or even if it was the same groups/knockout structure as now, but totally unseeded and no separating out teams from same country etc in the group stages. That feels to me like a sporting competition. As it is now, it just seems like a structure designed by the elite for the elite to try to guarantee progress and maximise income.
There is nothing, NOTHING like a CL final when your club is involved.

Trust me, you would change your tune on the CL if City got to a final against one of the giants and you win it. There is nothing like it.
 

padr81

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I've genuinely never had any interest in the Champions League. I could count on one hand the number of CL games I watched before City first qualified for the competition. It was totally irrelevant to me as a City fan (first game in 1990) because we never had a hope of qualifying and because of the way it was skewing the league (when CL TV money was more important than it is now in the era of huge PL TV deals) -- the biggest teams qualified for the CL, earnt extra TV money, used the TV money to get stronger, qualified again, earnt extra TV money and round and round.

Now that City have been in it for a few years my position is still the same, and of course we've had our well-publicised issues with UEFA since then as well. I'll watch the games but I'm disconnected. I always want City to win, but a poor CL result is forgotten immediately while a poor PL result ruins my week. The CL semi-final loss was forgotten that night. I still haven't got over the Wigan FA Cup final loss.

The ultimate test to me has always been to be the best team in the country. After that it's the domestic cup competitions. And lastly the CL. Any time I say that to non-City fans they think I'm either mental or must be taking the piss, but it's just how I feel.

I think if the CL was a straight knockout for champions I'd be much more interested. Or even if it was the same groups/knockout structure as now, but totally unseeded and no separating out teams from same country etc in the group stages. That feels to me like a sporting competition. As it is now, it just seems like a structure designed by the elite for the elite to try to guarantee progress and maximise income.
I have huge interest in it tbh, I'd kill to see us win it (maybe not) but its my second priority every season. The FA Cup is nice but its meaningless pretty much these days, 3 in 4 years couldn't keep Wenger in a job and the League Cup is pretty much a trophy that looks nice if its accompanied by another trophy but means little on its own. To me winning the LC on its own is a failure of a season, marginally better than nothing imho.
 

padr81

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There is nothing, NOTHING like a CL final when your club is involved.

Trust me, you would change your tune on the CL if City got to a final against one of the giants and you win it. There is nothing like it.
I think it depends on what you've won. You guys have won so many league titles in the last 25 years, the CL kind of became the holy grail for you. The league was a common occurance. Maybe if we win a few more titles we'll start to feel the same, but we need to establish ourselves as clearly the best side in England with United like dominance (which I don't see us doing) before the league will mean less to us than the CL imho
 

winteriscoming

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Just seen the league cup semi-final draw. Can't help but think City have been fortunate in the last few draws. FA - Rotherham, CL - Schalke, LC - Burton Albion.
So, Spurs v Chelsea in 2 leg semi-final.
Should help United in quest for top 4 position?
 

Adisa

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For all their talents, they are still half the side without KDB, David Silva and Aguero.
 

el3mel

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Losing the league with such a squad is underwhelming and unless he does great in CL he wouldn't have done much more than Pellegrini trophies wise.
 

Schneckerl

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The ultimate test to me has always been to be the best team in the country. After that it's the domestic cup competitions. And lastly the CL. Any time I say that to non-City fans they think I'm either mental or must be taking the piss, but it's just how I feel.
.
You can 'feel' however you want, it's still objectively wrong.
CL has higher quality of teams, more people watching, more money involved, bigger price money for the players, is considered higher prestige by the footballing world...

You can't just 'declare' an obviously inferior competition is more important because it happens to make your club better.
 

Josh 76

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All of a sudden City's next 2 fixtures look interesting before the big one against Liverpool.
Away to Leicester
Away to Southampton
The gap could be 7 or 8 points.
 

breakout67

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All of a sudden City's next 2 fixtures look interesting before the big one against Liverpool.
Away to Leicester
Away to Southampton
The gap could be 7 or 8 points.
They really don't look interesting at all. Liverpool have Arsenal coming up which is far more likely a game where you drop points. I will not be watching any of City's games, but will watch the other one because it has much more chance of an even game.
 

Mick321

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They've bottled it badly since Liverpool went top. Need to wake up. All easy being front runners but they have a challenge now.
 

Judge Red

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At this rate, Leicester and Liverpool will have won the league on their watch. Poor show from the supposed greatest manager and team to ever grace the league.
 

Ban

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Not enough money it seems. Pep needs to stop with his mixing and hope Pool will lose vs Arsenal hopefully.
 

Deleted member 101472

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Remember when people thought they were invincible?
They are close to it with Fernandinho and David Silva in their team. Silva is the best player they’ve ever had and still the best in the squad, when he alone is out that team they are less impressive but with Fernandinho gone too, it’s a huge void and even with their depth they can’t get close to replicating what those two bring to that team.
 

Raw

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They're just not gonna throw everything at it considering they've already won it. Liverpool have that impetus about them where they treat every game like a final.

Hope City sort it out. Unless Spurs suddenly come out of nowhere and take it!
 

Josh 76

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They really don't look interesting at all. Liverpool have Arsenal coming up which is far more likely a game where you drop points. I will not be watching any of City's games, but will watch the other one because it has much more chance of an even game.
Have you not seen the Gunners record at Anfield ?
Leicester have just won at the Bridge and Southampton won two on the bounce since the new manager.
 

Poch

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If spurs win tomorrow we are 1 point behind city and we have to play them again. Spurs are in the title race.
 

FujiVice

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When you want to see them lose its like watching 1970s Brazil. When you want to see them win, its like watching Sunderland.
 

adexkola

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The CL is a glorified FA Cup set to music
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They've been sputtering over the past few weeks. KDB while half fit offered penetration over Palace's top I haven't seen from City this entire season. They desperately need cover for Fernandinho... (GOAL RASHFORD), Gundogan should play there instead of Stones. Tuned in after they went down 3-1 so missed the defensive errors. Luck hasn't gone their way as much this season. (The feck was that Pogba????)

For our sakes I hope Liverpool think they have this in the bag... It's a long season.