I'm saying that for "normal" clubs - that is, outside of Man Utd (who are ran awfully but also still dine out off legacy), Chelsea and City (for obvious financial irregularites) - it isn't how things work.
- A club that qualifies for the EL is not somehow in a better position, financially. Lots of clubs have qualified for the EL and then struggle in the league, because an increase in squad size, depth, and quality is required
- Clubs that finish mid-to-lower table but get EL don't suddenly attract top players
- Winning an FA Cup every now-and-again is not proven to make any enhancement to the fortunes of a club. Spurs last won it in 91 and slid backwards. They won it twice in the early 80s and still didn't get anywhere near a league title push.
- Leicester won it a few seasons back and it did nothing for them. Wigan won it and it did nothing for them.
Winning a domestic trophy is only of the value of bragging rights, or for entry to Europe for teams that can't get that via the league. It doesn't attract top players suddenly, because it isn't anywhere near the level of attraction that the CL is. Woolwich won the FA Cup in Arteta's first season but were still finishing outside of the European spots, and struggled to attract top players and pay them competitively. It is only their league finishes and CL qualification that started to change that.
Bringing up Man United is a strawman, because they aren't competing with Liverpool, City, or Woolwich for players - they are attracting mercenaries who wouldn't get into the CL sides.
Again, to reiterate: people have no place criticising the club's ambition if they are happy to win a domestic cup and finish mid-to-lower table. It is not a formula for getting top-level players or competing for top-level trophies. Not even the EL really does that - how many times have Sevilla won the EL in the last 10-15 years and yet have struggled to improve in the league and the level of players they attract