Who would be a Manchester City supporter?
June 13, 2007 by admin
Filed under Uncategorized
Supporting Manchester City must be painful enough, not only do they have to put up with their neighbour’s success, but they have had little to cheer about in recent years, apart from a new stadium and the joys of promotion (although to do so they need to be relegated first), however recent events must have even the most die-hard blue shaking their heads in disbelief.
After a dismal season which saw them score only 10 home league goals, the club decides to sack their manager Stuart Pearce, quickly followed out the door by their assistant manager and reserve team coach. They did this despite issuing a statement mid-season regarding a possible take-over, something that has gained momentum during the close season, and in sacking the management team thay have ensured that during the key summer transfer market the club will be managerless and unsettled until ownership was resolved.
Not only did they not have a replacement manager lined up, it appears they didn’t even know who the owners were going to be next season either. Despite the interest shown by former player Ray Ranson, the club appears to have pinned its hopes on a substantial offer from the former Prime Minister of Thailand. While I’m sure there is no doubt that Thaksin Shinawatra is a life long City fan (cough), there is a substantial doubt about the origins of his fortune, so much doubt in fact that Liverpool Football Club spurned his advances and the current Thai Government have had his assets frozen.
Mr Shinawatra still hasn’t conceded defeat however and assures the City Board that this is a minor delay and that they money will be there soon. In the meantime because of all this uncertainty City have lost their (alleged) key management target, Claudio Ranieri who has decided to take up the Juventus post. Whatever the merits or otherwise of Ranieri (although I beleive he would have been a great choice for City), at the very least he would have provided a steadying hand at the club, and would ensure that the club could move forward and maybe start buying players instead of seeing their most prized assets continue to leave.
You could say that at least with Joey gone (or going) the rest of the team would feel more relaxed, but the loss of Joey and Sylvain, two of its more influential players at a time when the club is unlikely to be able to replace them will have be unsettling the remaining players, and their agents are no doubt touting them around as we speak.
After the dire performances of the previous season I’m sure some fans would be pleased to see the back of certain players, but not before their replacement had arrived. And that’s the other problem of not having a manager. Not only does a manager help to settle the current playing staff, he can also bring in new additions, but who wants to come to a squad when they don’t know who the new manager will be?
The Board should make a decision; either they are going to sell the club, in which case they should invite all-comers to inspect their books, or they should continue under the current ownership. Its clear that even if the Ex-Prime Minister of Thailand can raise the money, there is uncertainty about how long he’d be able to hold onto it (or the club), so they should just cross him off the list and move on, maybe Ray Ranson is still interested?
Until they get this sorted the club will sink deeper and deeper into a mire that could see them relegated (again) next season. The City fans are probably used to the club being in this state, they have seen the club go through many crises over the years both on and off the pitch. But you’d think that after all the club has been through that the current leadership would have made sure that the club was safe and secure during their tenure.
Here’s hoping that the next owner of the club will finally be the one who can turn the blue moon …into gold.
Great piece, spot on. However… City til I die!
I would, and will till I die. You will find PLENTY like me too!
We are proud of OUR club. CTID
I would be a man city fan, yes its painful at times and its always a rollercoaster ride, but thats part of being a loyal fan – sticking with your team no matter what happens. We are a passionate bunch of supporters who have seen the club go through a lot of bad times, but were still here. Thats what support is all about, unfortunately there are a lot of glory hunters about these days.
A good read, but you don’t know what is going on with the takeover discussions.
How do you know there’s only one party?
Pearce was always going to get sacked in the Summer
You’re right it’s not been a good 12 months to be a City fan.
But we always come out fighting. It’s back to the Div 2 days again. And I really enjoyed them.
’twas ever thus. Luckily for the club, City are blessed with the most loyal fans around and were it not for them, the club would be languishing in the lower leagues like Leeds and Forest at the moment. We deserve better, that’s for sure, but whatever happens during the summer, the fans will be back at Eastlands supporting their team come the new season. You’re quite right, it’s not easy being a City fan but that’s what sets us apart from the others.
spot on with the article. it makes shiver just reading it!! o well life goes on wether theres a takeover or not!
city till i cry!!
City supports are never, and never will be chinse glory hunters. this is why i’ll be a blue in this life and the other. CTID
I’ve supported City for over 20 years now, but I’ve had enough of the incompetence that runs throughout the club. We have a great stadium but we can’t fill it due to the rubbish football being played and except for the Utd game the atmosphere is just dead. I wil not be renewing my season ticket!
when i cut myself blue blood come’s out
this is like every day.month.year
they should wear a goverment health warning
on the kit
but we love it
I would! I’d rather support our shambles of a club than Stretford United PLC tm. It’s never easy but always a laugh.
CTID!!!
I was getting depressed until I read the comments on this article… They reminded me why I’m proud to be a City Fan! Nice one boys… I’ve had an uneasy feeling about this take-over from the start… Call me what you will, but if it comes to it I’d rather be in the championship than be where we are now ‘owned’ by a foreign politician with a dubious human-rights record… and wants to ‘buy’ the club… Why? I also think that ( he has usually given his all on the pitch) Joey Barton must’ve played his last game for us and I’m not too upset, just like Ben Thatcher! Maybe I’m getting old and misty-eyed but I want to feel proud of my club not just the achievements of the current ‘team’… although don’t get me wrong, winning more than we lose and actually seeing some silverware would be very nice too!
Bring it on!
CTID
It all sounds worse than it actually is, things will start to look up soon. We are in a bit of a rut but at least we haven’t got the likes of Ged Brannan or Bob Taylor playing for us! As long as a manager is installed by the end of the month things will change as he will have £30 million to spend. We need to fook this Thai muppets off and see who else is interested, if there is 30 big ones to spend we shouldn’t rush the takeover.