Again, I think this is a gross misunderstanding of the situation. It's my contention that as part of City's recruitment policies, they generally promise a starting goalie somewhere else, the backup role at City with the perk of getting to play in the 2 smaller cups, and also be an insurance policy if our Starter gets injured.
This is great long-term thinking and an opportunity to guarantee great backups for our Starting keeper ( who almost always will be someone who is hard to beat out by an outsider). 2nd, promising the smaller cups also serves a second purpose of keeping the backup goalie sharp and ready to step in if the starter gets injured. 3rd. It hlgives the starter an opportunity to rest during the season and not have to play every game.
There is nothing about this policy, that does not in the long run, put City First. It is only when you view it from a narrow 90 minute lense ( which a lot of our fans and good for nothing media types who just want to stare shit) that one can end up concluding differently than Pellars did.
Unstated but implied in Pellars comments are the following: ' because it is what's best for our club'.
That is, it is better for our club to stand on principle and lose, than it would be to win but lose our character. If Hart had been brought in and won, how does the club then attract the next young up and coming superstar goalie, when he knows the minute a trophy is in view, we'll dump him for Joe in net.
Why would a young stud want that? He'd rather go get weekly game time at a midtable club instead. And that's why sticking with this principle counts for more than just the win. It sends a message. Here at City we will win, we will win a lot, and we will win on principle. Come join the party, you won't be disappointed.
That's why it would have been better for Pellars to lose the Cup, than renege on a club position. It is in the clubs interest as much as Pellars to stand on principle. Even if this wasn't apparent to fans, the look on Willy's face and the passion he exuded throughout the game should have made that clear.