After the hype........

[CodeRed]

Now the hype has died down - I did go last night and will go to the 2nd leg - It has to be said that the high profile cup games Coventry x 2, 'boro x 2, and Rovers x2 have definately distracted us from the main event.

The earlier JPT matches were no problem - the Brighton game was a low key event played almost like a training game - but our eye has been taken off the ball. Media hype both local and national plus the extra focus on trying to get through these tyes has disrupted our form. Yes we have rotated a few players due to injuries and being cup-tied but this has added to the lack of consistency we have shown lately culminating in a tired, leggy performance, and - frankly - a lack of ideas and nous shown by GJ with the selection, tactics. and substitutions.

Top Premier teams like Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal etc, are set up with large squads and players mentally strong enough to keep focused on several competitions and - indeed - expect and are used to competing on several fronts every season, yet even these sides put out a reserve team in the Carling cup and early FA Cup games.

For a League 2 side - it's suicide for us to expect to compete for promotion/JPT "day out" at the Millenium/ Giant killing FA Cup run with the squad we have.

Every year we are distracted by the "mickey mouse" cup - we've been to 4 finals and we only keep going so often because all the other teams actually get out of this division once in a while...........is anyone (except Steve Landsdown) actually looking forward to painting their faces, donning their jesters hat, and winning or losing in another thrilling final against....oh yes...Donny isn't it...and then having the "chance" to defend the JPT the following year.

Russell Osman said on Soccer Night a few weeks ago - before the Cov games - that GJ would be secretly wishing that City would soon be out of ALL cup competitions (despite his public stated desire to win every match - well what else could he say).....as GJ would ONLY be judged - ultimately - on the League position.

I reckon - for once - Osman had it about right!

Maybe that's why Gary ****** up the formation last night !!!!

CodeRed