There's a game tonight. And "everyone" it seems is getting into a right tizzy about the fixture. Except me. I honestly couldn't give the proverbial rodent's rump.
Of course I'd like City to win some silverware and yes it has been far too long since City did. But when's the last time you saw United, Arsenal, Chelsea or Liverpool get excited about being in the semi finals of the Liquid Cup? Precisely... never. There's a phrase that gets used a lot, especially by commentators in US sports. "Act like you've been there." The Premier League's big clubs do; so do their players.
It was here that I thought Mark Hughes had a specific plan. Buying players that knew how to win and to challenge for silverware. Yet to see the majority of fans this semi final against United is akin to the second coming. It's the fourth tier of competition for successful English clubs after the league, Europe and the FA Cup.
The challenge for a Champions League place is so much more important for the long term health of the club.
I'm not knocking the opportunity to win silverware and will celebrate as much as anyone when the club makes the long awaited break through. However the build up to this semi final is getting silly and there is a real chance of the season going pear shaped if the tie, over two legs, turns out badly.
It's fun to tweak United. The Tevez banner was very well done but as a club City are too wrapped up in United and one upping the Salford neighbours. Liverpool do not live and die by the result against Everton. Chelsea... I'm not sure who Chelsea consider a true derby these days and United quite happily lost to Sven and walked away with the title. Only Arsenal have Tottenham as a truly fierce rival and even then that result is so much more important to Spurs than it is Wenger's team.
Rivalries are important, but it is rare that it is a battle of equals. City need to get past United from a psychological standpoint. The club is the under dog, wanting so badly to show how good it is in beating the more successful club. Old Purple Nose talked earlier in the season about City being a small club with a small mentality. This is exactly what he meant.
Time to move on, to bigger and better things. It will good to beat United. It should not be what defines whether the team is successful or not.
Comments
Posted by Noah Wexler on 01/19/2010
Agreed. But I still want a good showing.
Wallace Reply As do I.
Posted by Stan on 01/19/2010
I notice Ferguson put out a pretty strong team after all. So much for letting the youngsters have a go....
Posted by Martin Nazimek on 01/20/2010
Wallace,
What did you think of the 433 formation during the match? I feel like we had 3 enforcers and no creativity in midfield. I thought we got VERY lucky to win. I thought that was a good formation for an away match not a home match. if you play a 433 at home at least play a creative midfielder (Ireland, since he is the only one we have). What do you think? Glad we won though. Fun match.
CTID
Wallace Reply I agree that City were lucky to win the match. The team needs to buy even though it is difficult in the January transfer window.
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Wallace Poulter is an award winning video game producer, designer, industry consultant and writer. He has been a football fanatic since the day he moved in next door to Brian Clough. "Cloughie" being the acknowledged genius that he was promptly moved out and went to manage Derby. A serviceable senior school left-back in his youth, Poulter played one season of Sunday league football as a striker proving conclusively that he was a serviceable senior school left-back! Today Poulter remains involved with football as a licensed referee and most recently as a consultant on a Football MMO.
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