Are the FA trying to stop us getting 4th?

[Didsbury Dave]

I was with you on that post until you mentioned GMR. They are the mosr pro-City media outlet of all.

It's newsworthy if City under perform, that;s all it is.

The radio phone-in does my head-in. So called City pundits caving in to all manner of idiotic views criticising the players / manager of the day

I like GMR. Idiotic callers, no doubt, but the pundits are fine with me.

Gleghorn called it just about right for me on the way home from Wednesday's game.

 

[bluebean]

This may be way over the top, but it seems to me the FA are trying to stop us getting 4th, just what I think. Just look at it this way, we ft adebayor suspended twice for two very soft incidents, horrific refereeing at our games, most notably recently Sunderland and everton, Mancini has been charged, clubs have upped prices on tickets for our fans, there hve been outrageous articles in the papers, extra time in the derby and all and everything just seems to be going against us. There may even be other evidence of this aswell. now this could just be me over reacting, but it seems we really haven't had the rub of the green at all. What do you all think? It's definitely something to think about, with the supposed corrupt nature of football around the world


It sort of reminds me of Scotland in qualifying for euro 2008, where a stone wall decision went against us and for Italy, it was though by us that UEFA have to have the likes f italy and France have to be in the finals , that was us scots conspiracy theory anyway.

Certainly something that is worrying me

The answer to your question is NO.The only thing that will stop us getting 4th is not getting enough points and thinking garbage like this is plain crazy paranoia.

this

if we preform on the pitch! no! can stop us! we have too play our two biggest threats for 4th in my opinion, therefore it is firmly in out own hands!!

 

[Grand Master Ram Rod]

The radio phone-in does my head-in. So called City pundits caving in to all manner of idiotic views criticising the players / manager of the day

I like GMR. Idiotic callers, no doubt, but the pundits are fine with me.

Gleghorn called it just about right for me on the way home from Wednesday's game.

I often find myself agreeing with Gleghorn and think he's one of the better pundits, however on Weds he contradicted himself. He said he was happy with the line up Mancini chose, happy with Ireland starting etc.. and then about 10 mins later when someone said we lacked height up top, he said he agreed and couldn't understand why Roque didn't start.

 

[Lucky Toma]

I certainly dont think there is a complicit agenda from the FA to symie our chance of getting fourth. Thats a conspiracy theory too far for me.

However there is definitely something in the whole media being against us at present. Anti-City stories are very prevalent recently and particularly just before matches.
For us to fail and not get 4th is more of a story for them right now than if we succeed. Or at least there is much more scope for shit-stirring and further shit-stirring in the future.
However, should we manage to get 4th then suddenly all that will change. Suddenly our (hopeful) progress into becoming one of Europes major clubs will provide them with lots of opportunities for headlines and so most papers then will become noticably pro-City. Thats my thinking anyway.

Its yet another reason why securing the 4th spot is crucial this May. Because no matter how much we dismiss them as chip wrapping newspapers can cause a lot of damage if they set out to.

 

[Anonymous]

In all fairness to the op, with the ref's performance vs Liverpool and subsequently Everton, it's quite understandable why he should feel like that.

I came away, incensed and wondering the same thing. On balance though and having looked again with a cooler head the following day, I'm of the view we've just had a shit ref for a couple of games rather than a full blown conspiracy.

That said, all those dismissing it out of hand as being impossible: Juventus, AC Milan, Fiorentina, Lazio and Reggina. Now that must have taken some organising, proving such things are definitely NOT impossible.

Plausible reasons for them not wanting us crashing the monopoly can be found by answering the following questions:

Which 4 English teams have bigger followings world wide, shifting more shirts, more tv subscriptions and all the other add ons than the other 16 clubs? Which 4 English teams, not just representing their own brands, would be viewed worldwide as representing the English Premier League brand?

Remember that money talks, bullshit walks.

Like I say though (and without any sarcasm) I'm of the opinion we've been unlucky with refs for some time and nothing more.

 

[CarlioMonumento]

All this conspiracy talk is nonsense. No doubt the FA are inconsistent, incompetent and favour the top 4, but if we don't get a Champion's League place it is down to our own inadequacies. We're wallowing in our own self pity portraying ourselves as perennial victims.

Surely if they favour the top four...then that means they are against us?...Confused.

 

[Helmet Cole]

If you look at all the facts then it does seem that we have more than our fair share of unfair shit to deal with, but in fairness if you listen to talkshite or visit any other club forums it seems every club can argue just as convincingly that there is a conspiracy against them - except the rags and scousers of course 'cos they have the title/CL spots sorted for them!

 

[NPBlue]

This may be way over the top, but it seems to me the FA are trying to stop us getting 4th, just what I think. Just look at it this way, we ft adebayor suspended twice for two very soft incidents, horrific refereeing at our games, most notably recently Sunderland and everton, Mancini has been charged, clubs have upped prices on tickets for our fans, there hve been outrageous articles in the papers, extra time in the derby and all and everything just seems to be going against us. There may even be other evidence of this aswell. now this could just be me over reacting, but it seems we really haven't had the rub of the green at all. What do you all think? It's definitely something to think about, with the supposed corrupt nature of football around the world


It sort of reminds me of Scotland in qualifying for euro 2008, where a stone wall decision went against us and for Italy, it was though by us that UEFA have to have the likes f italy and France have to be in the finals , that was us scots conspiracy theory anyway.

Certainly something that is worrying me

I don't buy the theory. I think you may, as you say, be over reacting.

Is the pressure getting to you? Saying GMR is biased against City is not exactly a balanced view!

As for the rub of the green, well, Adam Johnsons goal at Sunderland probably had the Sunderland fans thinking the same thing, and I'm sure the Chelsea fans are convinced the FA don't want them to win the league either after we were allowed to put 4 goals past them at Stamford Bridge!

Life at the top is tough, things don't always go your way, but we are still up there with everything to play for. I'd rather have our current position than the usual escape from relegation.

I'm enjoying this season, as it happens, and I don't think the FA give FA about who finishes where in the league.

 

[Ric]

All this conspiracy talk is nonsense. No doubt the FA are inconsistent, incompetent and favour the top 4, but if we don't get a Champion's League place it is down to our own inadequacies. We're wallowing in our own self pity portraying ourselves as perennial victims.

Surely if they favour the top four...then that means they are against us?...Confused.

Only to the extent that the 16 other clubs, including us, perhaps don't get the same treatment - doesn't make it a conspiracy against us specifically though.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

Good to see an outbreak of common sense on this thread. I might post late at night more often.

 

[Pam]

Well in my opinion there have been a little too many of these incidents this season

I agree. Not a FA conspiracy, but the treatment of players like Adebayor and Vieira when compared to Gerrard is indefensible. But I believe this is favouritism rather than a conspiracy.

The media are forever running the club down. Whether it's SSN's coverage of the Moyes / Mancini spat, or the Guardian's obsession with Garry Cook they are always painting the club in the worst possible light.

I've listened to some commentaries on Radio 5 of City matches and just had to turn them off because of the bias against us. But GMR is just as bad.

It can be used in our favour.

And fucking Alan Green is the AntiChrist.

 

[MCC]

I agree. Not a FA conspiracy, but the treatment of players like Adebayor and Vieira when compared to Gerrard is indefensible. But I believe this is favouritism rather than a conspiracy.

The media are forever running the club down. Whether it's SSN's coverage of the Moyes / Mancini spat, or the Guardian's obsession with Garry Cook they are always painting the club in the worst possible light.

I've listened to some commentaries on Radio 5 of City matches and just had to turn them off because of the bias against us. But GMR is just as bad.

It can be used in our favour.

And fucking Alan Green is the AntiChrist.

Alan Green is a bitter little dwarf. Horrible piece of business. Get used to it Alan!

 

[Helmet Cole]

Good news for you conspiracy theorists. SSN's ad for April footy headlines 3 of the "big four" and us - 4th in the bag then!

 

[Falastur]

How about the whole work-visa thing for that guy from Italy.....

Not the FA. That was the Home Office.

 

[Packrat]

Have to say that certain refs, especially the bloke we had against Liverpool and Everton, are starting to make me think there could be an agenda to prevent us from getting fourth. I even pointed this out at half time on my pint of cleaning fluid cider. Maybe we should have a thread listing all the dodgy decisions between now and the end of the season. Fourth is still in our hands, fingers crossed, either way we will be in Europe through our postion, which means we are heading in the right direction.
IF Liverpool somehow manage to get fourth then there should be some interesting posts on here.

 

[piffy on a rock bun]

I think its a lot to do with the amount of rags in football & the media,
I can clearly remember in the 70s at maine road there would be amazing noise at some of the games but when you sat & watched it on match of the day compared to other games the crowd would be whisper quiet?
if a city player scored a memorable goal you would see it a couple of times & that was it yet a similar goal for utd & they would go on about it for weeks if not months,
How many good crowd shots of city fans going mental do we see when we score? the camera man always seems to find a spotty youth picking his nose, someone staring at there feet & an old bloke carefully putting his flask down to do a bit of polite clapping!
The rags for years always seem to get that bit of "luck" to help them on there way yet the only couple of times I can remember us having some in important games is the 5-1 in 89 & the play off final (and it makes all the difference),
I think in general the media used to think we were quite harmless & a bit of fun but we knew our place, but now we have a lot of money & are a serious threat they are worried we might change?

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

This may be way over the top, but it seems to me the FA are trying to stop us getting 4th, just what I think. Just look at it this way, we ft adebayor suspended twice for two very soft incidents, horrific refereeing at our games, most notably recently Sunderland and everton, Mancini has been charged, clubs have upped prices on tickets for our fans, there hve been outrageous articles in the papers, extra time in the derby and all and everything just seems to be going against us. There may even be other evidence of this aswell. now this could just be me over reacting, but it seems we really haven't had the rub of the green at all. What do you all think? It's definitely something to think about, with the supposed corrupt nature of football around the world


It sort of reminds me of Scotland in qualifying for euro 2008, where a stone wall decision went against us and for Italy, it was though by us that UEFA have to have the likes f italy and France have to be in the finals , that was us scots conspiracy theory anyway.

Certainly something that is worrying me

Think the Irish might have a similar theory.

If you reflect in the cold light of day, their decisions re retrospective discipline would lead any normal person to conclude that they would wish for the OldTopFour to be maintained. They occasionally allow a usurper in, note the BlueDippers a few seasons ago, but those are the crumbs to carry the rest of the football world into the next example of EPL and FA largesse. It might be us. Who knows? Now if Garry Cook were to get a hat, and regularly and subserviently doff it in the direction of D. Gill, the world could be our oyster, or the Europa Cup at least!

 

[Lomas has a lob on]

I personally dont think the FA are trying to stop us doing anything, same as I think there isn't a press and media vendetta against us, as many on here seem to think there is. Every club, feels the FA are against them at some time during a season, even United felt agrieved when Rio gets a retrospective ban for his fore arm smash against Hull, which was deserved, but then they see Gerrard do virtually the same act and receive nothing, im affraid the FA are just a clueless, out dated organisation, that imo needs ripping up and starting again, with "football" men, not the clueless "suits" making and implementing the rules and procedures the game adears too. On the media we get far more coverage simply because of whats hsppened to us, with the takeover etc, everything regarding City has now become microscopic, I love it, knowing any paper I pick up will have a piece on City some where, yes it's probably bollocks, and sometimes negative, but i'd rather read about City than any other club. My only beef with the media is how United seem void of any critiscm what so ever, we get battered from time to time, but so do Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea, along with any other club in the Prem apart from them, there is definately favourtism towards United, but there isn't a vendetta against us.

 

[bluemoon32]

No, the only reason for us not getting 4th would be if we're not good enough.
If we don't get 4th then it's our own fault

 

[dw7]

This may be way over the top, but it seems to me the FA are trying to stop us getting 4th, just what I think. Just look at it this way, we ft adebayor suspended twice for two very soft incidents, horrific refereeing at our games, most notably recently Sunderland and everton, Mancini has been charged, clubs have upped prices on tickets for our fans, there hve been outrageous articles in the papers, extra time in the derby and all and everything just seems to be going against us. There may even be other evidence of this aswell. now this could just be me over reacting, but it seems we really haven't had the rub of the green at all. What do you all think? It's definitely something to think about, with the supposed corrupt nature of football around the world


It sort of reminds me of Scotland in qualifying for euro 2008, where a stone wall decision went against us and for Italy, it was though by us that UEFA have to have the likes f italy and France have to be in the finals , that was us scots conspiracy theory anyway.

Certainly something that is worrying me

no