Topic: General Manchester City thread

[CraigDS]

The Qataris made the same mistake buying PSG. Both investment decisions were utterly bewildering. On the Abu Dhabi side, it was undoubtedly driven by ego thinking they can create a behemoth to rival Manchester United. One of the main reasons they bought that club was because it had Manchester in the name.

I'm genuinely shocked they didn't buy us - I mean I'm really happy they didn't - but if they had they could have invested heavily in a stadium with no issues with FFP and with our normal income they could have supplemented within FFP and built something much larger than City are now after over £2.5bn in funding.

[Alan_X]

And have Man City explained which fans were being ‘battered’ in their song if it wasn’t Sean Cox. We’re they just generic Liverpool fans? Is it ok to batter any other Liverpool fan apart from Sean Cox? 

Just asking.
 

[GinKop]

I think the truth is UEFA do not want a lengthy legal challenge against the rules, so they may well opt for a settlement. They likely don’t have the resources to match City if it comes to that.

That said, I don’t see the FFP rules as illegal as the City camp seems to claim - and the reality is UEFA have to enforce on this occasion. If they fail to enforce now it’s like saying big clubs can do whatever they want, and that would make the regime just as worthless.

That's the thing, if UEFA don't enforce the fair and just punishment, they may as well cease FFP all together. These clubs (City and PSG) will have made a mockery of it. 

[Euskadi]

The Qataris made the same mistake buying PSG. Both investment decisions were utterly bewildering. On the Abu Dhabi side, it was undoubtedly driven by ego thinking they can create a behemoth to rival Manchester United. One of the main reasons they bought that club was because it had Manchester in the name.

On the flip side though a smaller club would be a more malleable target to use a platform with the motive of showcasing what they want. If one considers some of the wanky shit City has done including electronic banners/flags ffs, a club like ours would have never accepted it. There needs to be enough desperation and not much of a club identity which is why I believe that City, PSG and Chelsea are actually perfect clubs for such owners. Just my opinion.

[Lush is the best medicine...]

The Qataris made the same mistake buying PSG. Both investment decisions were utterly bewildering. On the Abu Dhabi side, it was undoubtedly driven by ego thinking they can create a behemoth to rival Manchester United. One of the main reasons they bought that club was because it had Manchester in the name.

nah PSG was one where everyone knew if you get that right you will have a massive club there

[CraigDS]

And have Man City explained which fans were being ‘battered’ in their song if it wasn’t Sean Cox. We’re they just generic Liverpool fans? Is it ok to batter any other Liverpool fan apart from Sean Cox? 

Just asking.

Lucky for them all this about UEFA has come out and brushed their reaction to the song under the carpet.

[Statto Red]

For any City lurker who wants a small measure of how meaningful your club and its success is to us, this thread was started in 2011, and has 714 pages.

The Utd thread was started in 2017 and has 726 pages, even though they're shite.

The old Everton thread, started in 2014, reached 1995 ( ) pages, and they're even worse.

Meanwhile the Bluemoon Liverpool thread, started in June 2018, has 2069 pages, second only to Utd on 2072. They've just won the league, yet half their threads on there are talking about Liverpool. Your fans shouting 'Scouse c*nts' upon winning the league, your players singing songs about Liverpool upon winning the league. Obsessed. 

What's even greater is the media have already forgotton about City winning the league (I mean it's not much of a story is it?). The Champions League final on the other hand, whoever wins it, will undoubtedly be getting more coverage. That must sting. Your financial irregularities are all over the media though. Unlucky.

Plus the other United threads we had as well, including LGV & Moyes, Moyes thread gave us hilarity all that season he was there manager.

[thaddeus]

Our media are so inept that they would never have investigated Man City's finances.  They didn't question how a relatively small club could have a net spend of £400m across three seasons whilst also shelling out £250m/year on salaries.  They print fictitious attendances week after week with never a questioning comment.

I had Radio5 on in the build-up to the Man City vs. Leicester City game and one of the guests observed, about five minutes before kick-off, that the stadium looked to have lots of unused seats for a game of such magnitude.  Sure enough Darth Mills dived straight in being a prickly twat and saying the stadium always fills up late.  IT WAS FIVE MINUTES BEFORE KICK-OFF!  Sure enough the footage of the game later on showed no end of empty seats.

Unfortunately for Man City they've tweaked the noses of the like of Bayern and Real, and sure enough their mouth-piece press have gone looking for, and seemingly quite easily found, some dirt.  The motives were wrong but the outcome is right - probably the best any of us can hope for.

[CraigDS]

nah PSG was one where everyone knew if you get that right you will have a massive club there

They won't though.

The French league is piss poor, and without having at least one decent rival you'll always be having to pay over the top to attract players.

[kennedy81]

Speaking of the Trumpish nature of all this, this is a great piece by Seb Stafford-Bloor.

https://www.football365.com/news/pitchforks-and-paranoia-footballs-hologram-sociopath-problem

...


Twenty-four hours after celebrating their club’s second Premier League title in succession, a small band of militant City supporters mobilised on social media, denouncing the report as fiction, questioning the journalist’s motives and scrambling to find a way of discrediting him. Truthfully, there’s probably never been a point in football’s modern history when that wouldn’t have happened. Twitter didn’t create angry reactions or tribalism, it just gave them a platform, so while the type of allegation made against clubs has changed, the supporter instinct to circle the wagons hasn’t.

Where it does differ, however, and where the modern, obfuscating trend is most visible, is in the nature of that effort. Once, all a journalist had to fear in the comments section was angry disagreement and a few accusations about his or her private life. Now, even mild criticism is met with the determined insistence of institutional bias and (or) an allegation of a hardened agenda.

The City story got stranger. Within a few hours of publication, Twitter sleuths had uncovered an old Telegraph story, reporting that The New York Times had once owned a stake in Liverpool. The same stake was sold seven years ago, but it was still a smoking gun – and it remained so, even after that information was made clear and proven irrelevant.

That’s the Trumpish element: the habit of being selective in what you believe and disregarding anything which complicates a desirable conclusion.

...

[demain]

nah PSG was one where everyone knew if you get that right you will have a massive club there

Nope. They are subject to bigger structural disadvantages than City simply because of the second-rate league they play in. That's one of the main reasons they are looking to get out. That project is a bust.

Ultimately they purchased that club because Sarkozy and Platini had a cushy rendez-vous with the Emir and implored him to buy PSG and snap up the rights to French football as there was no real competition for Bein in France.

[Yiannis]

All their fans do re. creating a rivalry with us, is Chelsea textbook behaviour circa 2005 and afterwards.

[Nick110581]

Fuck me. What a joke.

[S]

Apologies if already posted

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/15/manchester-city-defence-battered-song-misguided-liverpool

[thaddeus]

Apologies if already posted

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/15/manchester-city-defence-battered-song-misguided-liverpool

I'm still waiting for Raheem Sterling - the voice of his generation, no less, according to the BBC - to speak out about this.

[Johnnyboy1973]

And have Man City explained which fans were being ‘battered’ in their song if it wasn’t Sean Cox. We’re they just generic Liverpool fans? Is it ok to batter any other Liverpool fan apart from Sean Cox? 

Just asking.
 

By a process of elimination it is the ones in Kiev (the ones in the restaurant that were plastered all over the front pages) and it's ok because some of our fans attacked their bus and/or pushed a bloke in a fountain nearly 12 months later.

Oh yeah and if you moan, you're a victim.

Just the normal discourse of Liverpool these days or rather its return but that would suggest it went away.

[davidlpool1982]

One of the things that confuses me slightly is that it's UEFA's competition. I mean yeah, there's rules in place and they have to be followed by both parties and we can't have event organisers strong arming the competitors just because they run the event, but at the end of the day surely it's UEFA's reading of their own rules that takes precedent? City have no god given right to be in the competition unless they follow rules set forth by UEFA, they are invited to take part if they achieve certain objectives and UEFA have the right to withdraw that invitation if they think that someone is taking the piss. It's like being invited to a house party but then being asked to leave cause you did a shit in the chrysanthemum bed and you cause a fuss and cry conspiracy.

It's not even like the Premier League where City are shareholders of 1/20th of the league for this season. Then I can understand why it might be a bit more difficult for the League to do anything without an absolute slam dunk case

[Rush 82]

It's funny but reality is the FA are an absolute detriment to the game and are supposed to be doing the opposite. I take it the FA has no involvement in Birmingham getting docked 9 points for financial cheating? My word, just typing that, Birmingham were docked 9 points yet these fuckers are getting away scot free when they don't even compare. They are definitely filling too many pockets for this to be sanctioned.

Need a top to bottom clear out of the FA in my opinion.
 

[clinical]

If they get banned from champions league it will be 20/21 I imagine.

[kennedy81]

If they get banned from champions league it will be 20/21 I imagine.

Yeah, and I suspect that would mean Pep would be off after next season.

[davidlpool1982]

Yeah, and I suspect that would mean Pep would be off after next season.

Without another European Cup because we are getting number 7 next year obviously 

[thaddeus]

If they get banned from champions league it will be 20/21 I imagine.

In which case there would be a lot of pressure on Pep (mostly from himself, granted) to win the CL next season!

They couldn't manage it this season with a potential route of:
Shakhtar / Lyon (3rd in Ligue 1) / Hoffenheim (8th in Bundesliga)
Schalke (15th in Bundesliga)
Spurs (who they did the double over in the league)
Ajax
Us (who they drew with and beat in the league)

They didn't play any of the top 15 clubs based on co-efficient in Europe.  The highest ranked side they did face was Shakhtar!  They could have won the whole thing without playing a single side ranked in the top 10!

In comparison we've got to the final by overcoming the sides ranked 2nd (Barca), 3rd (Bayern), 8th (PSG) and 10th (Porto).

If they couldn't win the CL with a draw that they'd have struggled to make easier if they'd pulled the balls out the bag themselves then I can't see that changing next season.  Pep seems to have a mental block now when it comes to the CL.

[Crosby Nick]

It’s a good point. We need every Premier League side to play the Champions League theme music before their games against City next season, see if it puts them off.

[CraigDS]

I really hope in their first few PL and CL games they get some VAR decisions which don't go their way - the amount of fewm and shouts of conspiracy will be glorious.

[davidlpool1982]

One thing VAR will do (depending on how much it's used in a game etc) is help break up their rhythm. They squeeze teams high up the pitch and try to suffocate teams and once they get into a rhythm they are hard to stop. VAR m ight make games a little more stop start which will effect all teams but City may be the one that takes longer to get used too.

[markedasred]

If it is entirely about sportswashing their image, and their image is then being tarnished, then ultimately that only leads to one thing. They get out of the club that is no longer serving its purpose.

Maybe they will become the new Venky's, not bothering to sell Blackburn once the project went wrong, for whatever reason, but looking suspiciously like they do not want to look like they need to sell?

[Sharado]

Yeah, and I suspect that would mean Pep would be off after next season.

I think that's pretty likely anyway, but the good news is he'd probably throw everything at that elusive CL.

And the better news is he'll fail. Again.

[Kekule]

If they finally get given a tough(ish) group in the Champions League next season, say Atletico/Real Madrid from pot 2, an Italian side in pot 3, and one of the tougher pot 4 teams, the whining will be off the charts. 

They’ll probably even release an official statement crying about a conspiracy against them. Again.

[Medellin]

The possibilities are endless..i do hope Uefa have sufficient evidence & right now i do hope the evidence gathered is bad, bad enough for City to be punished severely..so severely that no other club would ever consider shit like this again.
Stripped of any honours won during period of deceit,5 year CL ban & demoted to tier 3 would be a start.
How cool would that be.

[OsirisMVZ]

Man City’s stance, basically saying it’s a conspiracy and questioning the integrity of the lead investigator is madness.

"Listen up, your Honour. You are a twat, I fuck your wife on sundays, and your mother on saturdays. Now let's begin today's court proceedings."

[Original]

The state of the city fans all over twitter claiming that their billionaire owners will just appoint the worlds best paid lawyers and sue anyone and everyone who will stand in the way of their world domination.  I  bet you these lot didn't think they'd turn into this in the lofty days of Nicky Weaver and Paul Dickov.

The residents of Beswick and Gorton must be beaming with pride.

[CraigDS]

The state of the city fans all over twitter claiming that their billionaire owners will just appoint the worlds best paid lawyers and sue anyone and everyone who will stand in the way of their world domination.  I  bet you these lot didn't think they'd turn into this in the lofty days of Nicky Weaver and Paul Dickov.

Haha, like 90% of their current fans even have a clue who they are 

[Raid]

The state of the city fans all over twitter claiming that their billionaire owners will just appoint the worlds best paid lawyers and sue anyone and everyone who will stand in the way of their world domination.  I  bet you these lot didn't think they'd turn into this in the lofty days of Nicky Weaver and Paul Dickov.

The residents of Beswick and Gorton must be beaming with pride.

Becoming more insufferable than the entitled Chelsea mob

[Peabee]

I used to see a girl who lived on Platt lane, and Maine Rd, the ground, was visible from her bedroom window. Man City were really part of the community back then. Academy training also over the road on Platt Lane. I used to quite like them because I spent a bit of time in that area and match days were good craic, but they’ve morphed into a horrible club. Owned by a man who has plundered (pillaged more like) his country’s people and their resources to game national football leagues and continental competitions, now being supported by a new breed of glory hunters and Trumpian trolls. I feel like I know more about their club and its history than their current “fans”.

[Samio]

The state of the city fans all over twitter claiming that their billionaire owners will just appoint the worlds best paid lawyers and sue anyone and everyone who will stand in the way of their world domination.  I  bet you these lot didn't think they'd turn into this in the lofty days of Nicky Weaver and Paul Dickov.

The residents of Beswick and Gorton must be beaming with pride.

They will threaten this, too. Wouldn't surprise me if they already have.

They did do in 2014. Threatened to bury UEFA in paperwork.

[FiSh77]

Haha, like 90% of their current fans even have a clue who they are 

Depends what you count as current fans, don't think they've attracted much in the way of new match going support and I've not seen an influx of people in city shirts coming out of the woodwork round where I live, used to see kids in Chelsea shirts 10-15 years ago and Manchester is a hell of a lot closer than London yet seems to be fuck all in the way of city geg ins, they truly are "not really here"

[afc tukrish]

Haha, like 90% of their current fans even have a clue who they are 

Serious question: did Dickov and Windass ever play in the same side?

[Timbo's Goals]

Speaking of the Trumpish nature of all this, this is a great piece by Seb Stafford-Bloor.

https://www.football365.com/news/pitchforks-and-paranoia-footballs-hologram-sociopath-problem

Good find K.

Found the following extract particularly revealing. I've edited it from the original Trump ploy/tactic to suit the City situation but it's so revealing that City's representatives are doing exactly what it says on the Trump tin in rejecting allegations against them which any decent, sport loving, reasonably intelligent and right minded person knows to be absolutely true.

"First, they’ll deny that any offence was ever committed. Second, when confronted by evidence proving otherwise, they’ll denigrate whoever is making the allegation or mounting the criticism. And third, most troublingly, their supporters will take the lead of their club, chorusing the denials and/or instigating fake news accusations in an attempt to drown the allegations and any rebuttal of City's denials with conspiratorial rhetoric."

Well, sorry City, but this time the guns are loaded against you simply because sport ain't politics and your competitors aren't easily manipulated by lies in the same way alienated electorates can be. I'm firmly convinced we are witnessing the thin end of the wedge regarding your heinous regime. It will clearly take more time to come but I really do think justice is about to be dispensed. Your days are well and truly numbered you absolute cheating abominable c*nts.

[Mr Mingebag Squid]

I haven't really read all thats come out from these UEFA reports - so in summary - what, if anything, is happening?

[Jshooters]

just.....wow.

from the letters page on F365:

really want to comment on the disgust surrounding the City players/staff members singing a song that includes a line about Liverpool fans being attacked in Kiev but I am struggling to find a way without people thinking I am trying to belittle the incident.  As a City fan I can see how people will just see my comments as blinkered and I really truly do not want to absolve the group of players/staff who sang the song from blame.  Likewise I do not want to gloss over an incident in Kiev that led to fans being attacked, that was a terrible incident that I would wish on no-one, and this really is not a “they started it” email or “now we are evens’ email so I hope I manage to do this in a way it is intended and provoke reasonable response and not more anger.  Anyway, here goes my thoughts on why it happened and why I feel these players/staff have a dislike for Liverpool fans and a reason to mock/have banter with them.  They are singing a song about a group of people who attacked them on the bus in April 2018.

To hopefully put some context to my point, on 8 January 2010 Togo team bus including City forward Adebayor was attacked, where gunman rained bullets onto the team bus, with 3 people being killed with more injured.  Adebayor upon his return to City spoke about the incident and the fear he felt during the attack and there are a number of backroom staff still at City who helped Adebayor after this incident.  On 11 April 2017, the Borussia Dortmund team bus was attacked by roadside bombs and defender (ex Barca) Marc Bartra was injured.  Batra is well known to City ex Barca contingent as well as playing alongside David Silva for Spain.  So my point is when the City bus was rained down with missiles from the Liverpool fans and the City players were being told to lie down on the floor by their security to avoid injury, they had no idea what missiles were hitting the bus.  Yes it was bottles but they would not have known that.  All would have been in fear of their lives, some would be thinking of what happened to their friend Barta and some (admittedly less) would have remember what Adebayor went through.  This would have had a major effect on the City players and Liverpool fans knew that by unsettling the players on their route in it would help their team that night and that, along with some excellent football, won the tie for Liverpool.  Was there any regret from Liverpool fans on the incident or were they just absolutely ‘buzzing’ that they had helped their team hammer City that night?

So a year later, the City players/staff have beaten the team who their ‘attackers’ support.. There has been no punishment for those attackers from what happened from the people who are suppose to protect them (Police through to the Football Governing body) so there is a feeling that they got away with attacking them.  So at the point where the players/staff are ‘buzzing’ with joy over winning the league, beating a team who had been bloomin’ brilliant and they were clearly more than a few beers in, were they thinking?…’you attacked us, you made us fear for our lives and we beat you….we have some payback….we beat you even though your team had their best season ever……so f##k you!”

As I said I really hope this is taken in the context its meant for and to show that it feels to me a reaction, a reaction that is regrettable, that was just human.  I was attacked once and when I saw the attacker in court I felt nothing but disgust and anger towards him and  honestly even now I would love to have some sort of power over them.  That was/is my human reaction, so can we just accept that footballers are human too.
Gavin, MCFC