I hear what you are saying Tup yet I still reckon City took an enormous step forward in the Champions League this year. Ultimately the only difference between City going through as champions of the group and finishing 3rd was that bloody 1-1 draw with Napoli in our very first Champions League game.Originally Posted by Derby Tup
People on here have said 'City have very experienced players in major competition' and so on, but the fact is that the first Champions League game was a real learning experience for City - as a club and that does weave its way through all areas.
Playing at home the Club had more pressure on them than Napoli. It's not an excuse (we don't need excuses because we're progressing not failing), it's a fact. And like the Community Shield game when we ultimately came unstuck, the Club learned from the experience.
This club, under Mancini, is learning all the time and to have reached the Champions League and to face 3 significant sides (no one should underestimate Villareal's European pedigree in recent years) is achievement.
Of course, as fans, we all wanted to progress, but we are not as upset as some forumites (rags) on here think we should be. That's because we recognise that City are still learning, still developing. Ultimately 1 goal conceded at home to Napoli in our very first Champions League game was the only issue. People can talk about style of play, approach to games, players refusing to get off the bench or whatever, but ultimately it was one goal in our first game. That's all.
I'm with young Fleeter - It's definitely worth pausing for a moment to remember that not to long ago we were in the third tier of English football, yet here we are this year having headed the League table for possibly our longest spell ever (I need to just check the 1967-68 but i'm sure it was a late surge.) We're also through to a major semi-final and we're in the Europa League - the second most significant trophy in Europe. City are making significant progress in all areas and, as fans, i think most of us recognise that.
For me it was interesting to observe how the 2 sets of Manchester fans greeted their champons League exits. As I drove home from the match Radio 5 had predominantly Utd fans calling. 2 asked for Fergie to resign (plus criticised Rooney etc.) and were very downbeat. They had 1 City fan on (as I listened), they tried to get her to say she was disappointed/frustrated at City's defeat and she did the exact opposite. She talked of this being part of our progression and that City are still at the beginning.
She was spot on, but it still surprised Radio 5. They tried to suggest we would see it as a real failure, yet the 2 defeats were different. City were looking for an impossible scenario where-as United were going for what should have been a bread and butter result for a team that had their level of investment, support and so on over the last 30 years.
Worth remembering as a final point - it took Ferguson almost 4 years (with the highest level of investment in a squad that any manager had ever been given) to win a major trophy at Utd and 13 years to win the Champions League. Arsenal & Chelsea despite their investment and domestic record have yet to win the trophy.
Mancini won a major trophy in his first full season at City; took the Blues to 3rd place (equal 2nd on points!) and now has taken us through our first CL campaign with honour and into the latter stages of the Europa League, plus of course the League Cup semi and much to play for.
This is a very positive time for City, we are living the dream and I can't wait for 2012. :wink:
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