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Managers who field a weakened team are a disgrace

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But managers are not fans too – they don’t see it like fans do, they see it in terms of keeping their job, financial obligations, etc etc.  I can see in extreme situations that it could be an understandable action to take. If you are down to the bare bones and in a desperate fight for survival, then fair enough. The Carling Cup especially gets a battering from managers, and I am sure many of them would be glad to see the back of it.  For the likes of United and Arsenal especially, playing weakened teams in the Carling Cup is more understandable. They can still progress to the latter rounds at least, and as I have found as a City fan this season, a European campaign is a huge drain on resources. No team can battle on four different fronts and not suffer. However wealthy you are, you still have the same number of players as every other team.

The FA Cup means more though. And it still matters, despite all the negative press about it not being that important anymore. And Cup glory could also bring other benefits – it boosts confidence in the squad, it boosts morale, and of course it boosts the fans. Extra games do not necessarily have to be seen as bad news.

Manchester City have an opportunity to appear at Wembley in April (and possibly May). It may be solely because the FA has got a £900m stadium to pay for, but it’s still a chance to see my team at Wembley. Roberto Mancini has already ruined one opportunity to play there this season by playing a weakened team at West Brom, with inevitable consequences. If he had done it in the FA Cup too because of a chase for 4th place in the league, I would have lost all respect for him. Because, when the last time you won a trophy you were in nappies, Harold Wilson was the Prime Minister, and the Cold War had another 15 years to run, then a trophy is kind of important. Bolton last won the Cup in 1958. Aston Villa have a solitary League Cup win in 1996 to celebrate over the past couple of decades. Shouldn’t Houllier have taken Coyle’s lead and tried to win something?

You could argue that it’s a pointless task trying to win a trophy, as it’s usually the big boys that win it in the end anyway, however hard you try. And while that is generally true, there are of course exceptions to the rule that show what rewards can be achieved. The aforementioned Birmingham win for example, Portsmouth’s FA Cup campaign and lower league Millwall reaching the final, and getting into Europe.

These events are all now an integral part of the clubs’ histories. Imagine how poorer life would be if all clubs outside the top six or seven had the defeatist attitude of Allardyce or Houllier, and how much more magic would have been erased from the cups.

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  • Neil mckevitt says:

    Being a Birmingham City fan, i’d like to say what a fantastic article. I don’t normally agree with anyone from Manchester about anything on principle. However, if we hadn’t had the experience of the final (one that we were obviously given no chance in), then I would have missed out on one of the greatest days of my life. One that can never be taken away from me. IronIcky, we will have to field a weakened team against Bolton In the FA cup this weekend, though due. To injuries that seem to have escalated after the final. If we cannot be there, I hope Bolton, or even Man City can win it.

    Keep Right On

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