Would Stoke really let us beat them?

[Robinho's Subbuteo]

Seriously hope the champions league spot is secured by then. This has the potential to be one dirty boring game. Imagine how mentally drained both teams will feel playing each other 4 days after the cup final.
One of the teams will be parading the cup under the noses of the beaten finalists, a bizarre situation. And what a dilemma for Stoke if they lose the cup final and city need a win to secure champions league. A City win that would in fact give them a Europa League place.

Exactly! What an interesting situation. If we haven't secured at least 4th spot by then beating us could cost them A LOT of money. Money that Stoke absolutely need.

 

[BLOOMUEN]

Seriously hope the champions league spot is secured by then. This has the potential to be one dirty boring game. Imagine how mentally drained both teams will feel playing each other 4 days after the cup final.
One of the teams will be parading the cup under the noses of the beaten finalists, a bizarre situation. And what a dilemma for Stoke if they lose the cup final and city need a win to secure champions league. A City win that would in fact give them a Europa League place.

Exactly! What an interesting situation. If we haven't secured at least 4th spot by then beating us could cost them A LOT of money. Money that Stoke absolutely need.

...and under these circumstances, Stoke would have to act in the best interests of their club i.e. secure European football. I don't care what they say publically, it would be madness for them to do the 'decent thing' and try to beat City and in the process jeopardise their Europa Cup ambitions.

On paper, City away for them, isn't a game they'd be expected to win. It wouldn't be difficult to make it appear plausible.

That ridiculous Middlesborough game when we were going for the 'fair play' place was a similar-ish scenario? With the exception of Dunne's rush of blood, nobody was making any tackles that day and appeared to be acting under instruction. Probably not the best example, but the point being that the 'Europa Cup' is a big deal if you haven't played in Europe before / for a long a long time.

 

[manchester blue]

Will they fook.

Pulis wants revenge for 99. He will send them out to kick 7 bells out of us and steal a win.

Woosh

 

[Robinho's Subbuteo]

Will they fook.

Pulis wants revenge for 99. He will send them out to kick 7 bells out of us and steal a win.

If Stoke had nothing to play for I would agree with you but potentially Stoke could have 2 bites at the cherry to get into Europe. If they fail with the FA Cup do you honestly think Pulis would prioritise denying City a place in the Champions League as revenge ahead of securing Stoke a potentially lucrative run in the Europa League?

 

[Bigg Bigg Blue]

If Stoke get into Europe then we had better win the CL next season as all English clubs will be banned the season after when this shower of shit have been rioting all over the place.

 

[theevilweasel]

Break it down.

You win games to hopefully achieve a position in the league to enable you to play European football the following year - thus resulting in millions of pounds.

The roles will actually be reversed when City play Stoke in the league.

If there is more benefit for you to lose a game would you not take it?

 

[dennis tuearts hatrick balls]

If we win the FA Cup, do you think that Stoke would 'throw' the game against us if it meant they got got European football as a result? What an interesting situation.

wouldnt you? if you could get away with it

 

[mcfc1996]

If I had to pick one manager and one team who wouldn't lie down for anything it would be Pullis and Stoke.

 

[BringBackSwales]

It won't matter by then.

Why wouldn't it? You think they'll beat us in the final?

I think he means we will have secured top 4 by then, as do I

 

[Robinho's Subbuteo]

Break it down.

You win games to hopefully achieve a position in the league to enable you to play European football the following year - thus resulting in millions of pounds.

The roles will actually be reversed when City play Stoke in the league.

If there is more benefit for you to lose a game would you not take it?

Exactly my point. If Stoke lose the FA Cup and by beating us in the league we're denied 4th spot, what have Stoke gained? Zilch. What have they lost? Potentially A LOT of money.

At this stage, lose to us in the league in the same scenario and that would probably guarantee us CL, if it's not already by then, and guarantee them Europe. The secret is making it look plausible.

If we win the Cup and have already secured 4th, Pulis can then afford to try and exact his revenge for '99.<br /><br />-- Mon May 02, 2011 11:13 am --<br /><br />

If I had to pick one manager and one team who wouldn't lie down for anything it would be Pullis and Stoke.

So you think if the choice was ...

Beat City, get three points and finish 8th(ish) v lose to City, get into Europe and finish 8th(ish)

... you seriously think they would put pride and a meaningless result (to Stoke) before the guaranteed money for the club and the guaranteed excitement for the players and fans of playing in Europe for the first time in 37 YEARS!?