Atmosphere 2024/25

[GaudinoMotors]

What have the club done ??

Our most successful era in our history and fans are alienated, disenfranchised and leaving in droves.

Who is responsible for this ineptitude.

Surely the Sheikh and Khaldoon can't be happy about this following their historical praise of our fan base and its loyalty.

Astonishing ineptitude !!

They allowed it to become like Cbeebies and totally over scripted and cheesey.

 

[citymad]

Really is the same at most PL clubs now though, I echo most of the matchday experience people are saying about Etihad as I do about Olympic Stadium atmosphere, ticket and travel costs far too high, more and more tourists, too many games all over the place, most fans are glued to their phones nowadays or even worse filming the fu*ckin match.

Everton will go the same way when they move stadium.

That’ll be a shame. Whenever I watch Everton fans I get the feeling that it’s one of the few remaining proper family clubs of the working class. I might wrong but that’s what I see and I hope for their sake the club treats them right when they move into the new stadium.

 

[Nevizade]

Sorry for the long post, but this is therapy for me, as I am just recovering from the embarrassment of yesterday, amplified by the three hours on the train back to London chatting with Brighton fans (who were all very friendly) about how terrible our atmosphere was. I’ve been to every one of our games at the AMEX, and it’s hardly a cauldron of fire, but it was hard to defend.

I got my season ticket in 1987 and have been home and away since then, despite being a London-based Blue, including Santander, Poznan, Lokeren and yes, one of the 345,000 at York away. I have spent a small fortune following this club, and my mid-week match-going journey normally means I am home at 4am, spending 5-6 hours going back down the M1 at 30mph, or overnight in a hotel.

I believe I have earnt the right to be a grumpy FOC – and yesterday was possibly a new low for me, even after the disaster of the Istanbul car park, the ESL nonsense and (name your favourite fuck up by the Club).

I am at the front of 326, CBL3, and I had four empty seats on my left, and other than the odd regular season card holder, didn’t know anyone else – and I have sat on the same seat, for almost every City game, since the Etihad opened.

I know that it’s easy to see everything that used to be as some perfect nostalgic past. I know football, like everything, has changed – and not everything in football back in the 70s, 80s and 90s was good; racism, violence, Peter Swales, overcrowding, policing, etc., and yes, not every game at Maine Road was rocking or the Kippax bursting at the seams – however – what there was, was a deep connection between us – the fans – and our Club.

All that mattered to me then was that the 11 lads who went out in Blue shirts put in 100% for 90 mins. I didn’t really care if we ‘never won at home, or never won away’, I just wanted to be with my mates, in a space where, for once a week, I could switch off from everything other than focus on the passion of the moment. And for most of that time (80s/90s) we were utterly shite – but it didn’t matter, because those occasional moments (beating the Rags 5-1, David White scoring 4 at Villa, coming back at Spurs in the cup) – were simply priceless.

And then, thanks to the Sheik everything started to change. At first it was like waking up in the best football dream you could ever have. The club looked to be seriously engaging with us, the fans. Discussions over season ticket prices, huge investment into the local area and campus, we were even part of the decision on the new club logo.

At the same time we were privilege to watch Sergio, Silva, Yaya, Vincent, Pablo, etc etc, and obviously the nirvana of 93:20. But what legacy fans like me didn’t also notice at the time is that this wasn’t just an investment into my beloved club by a benevolent billionaire, but a long term commercial strategic initiative by our owners to diversify from reliance on oil & gas into mass market ‘entertainment’.

City Football Group sends shivers down my spine. We might for now be at the top of their asset list – but, who knows what happens in the next two or three decades.

Whilst I have mostly huge gratitude and praise for Khaldoon for allowing us to experience all that we have in recent years, we all need to wake up and understand that CFG are a hugely ambitious commercial operations with only one single objective: making money.

And we legacy fans stand directly in the way of that. The new stand will be an atmosphere black hole. There will be even more tourists (I welcome anyone to support City, so this is not a judgement, but more a fact) than ever before – as their match day spend is almost double or triple than what we spend. We will support a new ESL and take part in every FIFA or UEFA shite competition they can come up with.

Every abandoned season card, is another win for CFG – so please don’t go. Please fight for our Club.

Yes, there are so many reasons why yesterday was so dire – Pep’s current style of play, a team in transition that’s burnt out and knackered, the traffic, the weather, the price, the 115, and yes, not every PL ground is rocking every game, but please, as long as you can justify the financial cost (which is getting harder and harder) – please don’t surrender your ownership of this Club.

I have spent so much of my life invested in City, that I would rather be the only one singing in 326 than abandon my club to empty seats, tourists and influencers. I promise you it’s worth fighting for – just remember what it’s given you, over generations, and it’s up to us legacy fans, not just to moan on here (but my god, it does feel good!), but to support things like 1894, City Matters boycotts, more season tickets, protecting discounts and tickets for 18-35s, and turning up and making your voice heard – even if no one’s listening.

This post should be pinned

 

[PDBLUEMOON]

Sorry for the long post, but this is therapy for me, as I am just recovering from the embarrassment of yesterday, amplified by the three hours on the train back to London chatting with Brighton fans (who were all very friendly) about how terrible our atmosphere was. I’ve been to every one of our games at the AMEX, and it’s hardly a cauldron of fire, but it was hard to defend.

I got my season ticket in 1987 and have been home and away since then, despite being a London-based Blue, including Santander, Poznan, Lokeren and yes, one of the 345,000 at York away. I have spent a small fortune following this club, and my mid-week match-going journey normally means I am home at 4am, spending 5-6 hours going back down the M1 at 30mph, or overnight in a hotel.

I believe I have earnt the right to be a grumpy FOC – and yesterday was possibly a new low for me, even after the disaster of the Istanbul car park, the ESL nonsense and (name your favourite fuck up by the Club).

I am at the front of 326, CBL3, and I had four empty seats on my left, and other than the odd regular season card holder, didn’t know anyone else – and I have sat on the same seat, for almost every City game, since the Etihad opened.

I know that it’s easy to see everything that used to be as some perfect nostalgic past. I know football, like everything, has changed – and not everything in football back in the 70s, 80s and 90s was good; racism, violence, Peter Swales, overcrowding, policing, etc., and yes, not every game at Maine Road was rocking or the Kippax bursting at the seams – however – what there was, was a deep connection between us – the fans – and our Club.

All that mattered to me then was that the 11 lads who went out in Blue shirts put in 100% for 90 mins. I didn’t really care if we ‘never won at home, or never won away’, I just wanted to be with my mates, in a space where, for once a week, I could switch off from everything other than focus on the passion of the moment. And for most of that time (80s/90s) we were utterly shite – but it didn’t matter, because those occasional moments (beating the Rags 5-1, David White scoring 4 at Villa, coming back at Spurs in the cup) – were simply priceless.

And then, thanks to the Sheik everything started to change. At first it was like waking up in the best football dream you could ever have. The club looked to be seriously engaging with us, the fans. Discussions over season ticket prices, huge investment into the local area and campus, we were even part of the decision on the new club logo.

At the same time we were privilege to watch Sergio, Silva, Yaya, Vincent, Pablo, etc etc, and obviously the nirvana of 93:20. But what legacy fans like me didn’t also notice at the time is that this wasn’t just an investment into my beloved club by a benevolent billionaire, but a long term commercial strategic initiative by our owners to diversify from reliance on oil & gas into mass market ‘entertainment’.

City Football Group sends shivers down my spine. We might for now be at the top of their asset list – but, who knows what happens in the next two or three decades.

Whilst I have mostly huge gratitude and praise for Khaldoon for allowing us to experience all that we have in recent years, we all need to wake up and understand that CFG are a hugely ambitious commercial operations with only one single objective: making money.

And we legacy fans stand directly in the way of that. The new stand will be an atmosphere black hole. There will be even more tourists (I welcome anyone to support City, so this is not a judgement, but more a fact) than ever before – as their match day spend is almost double or triple than what we spend. We will support a new ESL and take part in every FIFA or UEFA shite competition they can come up with.

Every abandoned season card, is another win for CFG – so please don’t go. Please fight for our Club.

Yes, there are so many reasons why yesterday was so dire – Pep’s current style of play, a team in transition that’s burnt out and knackered, the traffic, the weather, the price, the 115, and yes, not every PL ground is rocking every game, but please, as long as you can justify the financial cost (which is getting harder and harder) – please don’t surrender your ownership of this Club.

I have spent so much of my life invested in City, that I would rather be the only one singing in 326 than abandon my club to empty seats, tourists and influencers. I promise you it’s worth fighting for – just remember what it’s given you, over generations, and it’s up to us legacy fans, not just to moan on here (but my god, it does feel good!), but to support things like 1894, City Matters boycotts, more season tickets, protecting discounts and tickets for 18-35s, and turning up and making your voice heard – even if no one’s listening.

Brilliant post! I’m with you mate, not going anywhere.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

OK no worries.

If we start building enthusiasm now, within a few years two signing ends may well be doable. Villa and Arsenal's support was abysmal for donkeys but they've improved in recent years. The rags are usually shite but made a decent effort in midweek.

We need better engagement between the Directors / Club management and fans for starters. Some of our fans have thrown their toys out of the pram after Saturday's end to end match too. growing in up in Stretford, through many tough years on the pitch, I thought Saturday was a cracking game.

As someone who was involved more than most in the engagement between club management and the fans, I can tell you that Soriano has never attended a single City Matters meeting. Omar Berrada was the highest ranking club official, and he attended regularly (but didn't chair meetings) until he changed roles.

Roel De Vries then took over and initially looked like a breath of fresh air. He announced he was setting up an 'Integrated Fan Experience' programme to ensure that departments were working together to provide a better fan experience. We were quite excited about this and naturally offered to get involved but the 'Integrated Fan Experience' has taken place (no idea if it's still going) without any of the fans being involved in any way. Don't think he bothers with CM meetings any more but I've been out of it for 2 years now.

This is the level of engagement we fans have with our club these days. We can't even get a date for a meeting about ticket prices. And when CM do finally get a date, it's 99% certain they'll be presented with a fait accompli.

 

[Nevizade]

it's tip top, so how can we bring more of that home...

Apples and oranges. Lads who go to the away matches get chance to stand together when they don’t at home matches, have a few ales together on the coach or train, probably go without young kids so they can loosen up a bit more, shout and swear. Then the next week at home they’ll drive to the game, watch the 90 mins (possibly) then get straight off after. There are a number of things the club could and should be doing better but you’ll never get that away atmosphere at home games because it’s a different day out.

 

[East Level 2]

Watching the sort of football we are at present will not get too many excited.

Sort it out on the pitch and the fans will respond.

Part of the problem is that we don't play exciting football. We play brilliant, accurate football, but 57 passes backwards or sideways until every player is in the right position for the final shot (which may or may not be on target) will never get fans on their feet. - They'll go ballistic if it ends in the opponent's net (see the 47 passes to Gundo's goal in a 3-1 win about 5 or 6 years ago) but not otherwise.
I'm not advocating route one football, though it does get the fans excited, but something slightly less risk averse must be the way forward.
Watching us willingly refuse to put suspect keepers under pressure is a disgrace. Onana in the last couple of derbies for example.

 

[Gone for a Burton]

SS3 is all city for the Leicester game.
Are you predicting a big upturn in atmosphere for that game?

I'm a fan not Clare Voyant.

4.0 City.

Empty seats at home.......fact !!

 

[goatinho]

Thanks for such a measured post. I agree with most of it, especially the point that we should consider to support the club through thick and thin. Football, like everything else, has become globalised and that includes our club. There are lots of things I don't like about modern football but when I went to my first match in 1968 (glory hunter!) I knew being a City fan was a life sentence with no parole. And I will continue on the roller-coaster as long as I can. I am less pessimistic about the new stand. The Etihad, like Maine Road, has had plenty of days like yesterday but I am sure it will be rocking next year with 62,000 fans if the players turn up and perform the way we know they can.

There is no way going to 62000 fans for every game. Big games possibly. But there's going to be far far lower than that for the average game.

 

[shemnel]

Apples and oranges. Lads who go to the away matches get chance to stand together when they don’t at home matches, have a few ales together on the coach or train, probably go without young kids so they can loosen up a bit more, shout and swear. Then the next week at home they’ll drive to the game, watch the 90 mins (possibly) then get straight off after. There are a number of things the club could and should be doing better but you’ll never get that away atmosphere at home games because it’s a different day out.

Yeah i know, I get it, it's the big day out factor and being outnumbered and so on, away days will always be different (well, for now!), but i guess my point is can we look at the differences in away and home atmosphere and see what we can address and see what is just for away days. Just trying to think about it a bit more, instead of just saying 'move X to there and solved' or 'ban half and halfs'. I doubt this is a one factor solution, to be honest.

 

[El Gringo]

Sorry for the long post, but this is therapy for me, as I am just recovering from the embarrassment of yesterday, amplified by the three hours on the train back to London chatting with Brighton fans (who were all very friendly) about how terrible our atmosphere was. I’ve been to every one of our games at the AMEX, and it’s hardly a cauldron of fire, but it was hard to defend.

I got my season ticket in 1987 and have been home and away since then, despite being a London-based Blue, including Santander, Poznan, Lokeren and yes, one of the 345,000 at York away. I have spent a small fortune following this club, and my mid-week match-going journey normally means I am home at 4am, spending 5-6 hours going back down the M1 at 30mph, or overnight in a hotel.

I believe I have earnt the right to be a grumpy FOC – and yesterday was possibly a new low for me, even after the disaster of the Istanbul car park, the ESL nonsense and (name your favourite fuck up by the Club).

I am at the front of 326, CBL3, and I had four empty seats on my left, and other than the odd regular season card holder, didn’t know anyone else – and I have sat on the same seat, for almost every City game, since the Etihad opened.

I know that it’s easy to see everything that used to be as some perfect nostalgic past. I know football, like everything, has changed – and not everything in football back in the 70s, 80s and 90s was good; racism, violence, Peter Swales, overcrowding, policing, etc., and yes, not every game at Maine Road was rocking or the Kippax bursting at the seams – however – what there was, was a deep connection between us – the fans – and our Club.

All that mattered to me then was that the 11 lads who went out in Blue shirts put in 100% for 90 mins. I didn’t really care if we ‘never won at home, or never won away’, I just wanted to be with my mates, in a space where, for once a week, I could switch off from everything other than focus on the passion of the moment. And for most of that time (80s/90s) we were utterly shite – but it didn’t matter, because those occasional moments (beating the Rags 5-1, David White scoring 4 at Villa, coming back at Spurs in the cup) – were simply priceless.

And then, thanks to the Sheik everything started to change. At first it was like waking up in the best football dream you could ever have. The club looked to be seriously engaging with us, the fans. Discussions over season ticket prices, huge investment into the local area and campus, we were even part of the decision on the new club logo.

At the same time we were privilege to watch Sergio, Silva, Yaya, Vincent, Pablo, etc etc, and obviously the nirvana of 93:20. But what legacy fans like me didn’t also notice at the time is that this wasn’t just an investment into my beloved club by a benevolent billionaire, but a long term commercial strategic initiative by our owners to diversify from reliance on oil & gas into mass market ‘entertainment’.

City Football Group sends shivers down my spine. We might for now be at the top of their asset list – but, who knows what happens in the next two or three decades.

Whilst I have mostly huge gratitude and praise for Khaldoon for allowing us to experience all that we have in recent years, we all need to wake up and understand that CFG are a hugely ambitious commercial operations with only one single objective: making money.

And we legacy fans stand directly in the way of that. The new stand will be an atmosphere black hole. There will be even more tourists (I welcome anyone to support City, so this is not a judgement, but more a fact) than ever before – as their match day spend is almost double or triple than what we spend. We will support a new ESL and take part in every FIFA or UEFA shite competition they can come up with.

Every abandoned season card, is another win for CFG – so please don’t go. Please fight for our Club.

Yes, there are so many reasons why yesterday was so dire – Pep’s current style of play, a team in transition that’s burnt out and knackered, the traffic, the weather, the price, the 115, and yes, not every PL ground is rocking every game, but please, as long as you can justify the financial cost (which is getting harder and harder) – please don’t surrender your ownership of this Club.

I have spent so much of my life invested in City, that I would rather be the only one singing in 326 than abandon my club to empty seats, tourists and influencers. I promise you it’s worth fighting for – just remember what it’s given you, over generations, and it’s up to us legacy fans, not just to moan on here (but my god, it does feel good!), but to support things like 1894, City Matters boycotts, more season tickets, protecting discounts and tickets for 18-35s, and turning up and making your voice heard – even if no one’s

 

[El Gringo]

Sorry for the long post, but this is therapy for me, as I am just recovering from the embarrassment of yesterday, amplified by the three hours on the train back to London chatting with Brighton fans (who were all very friendly) about how terrible our atmosphere was. I’ve been to every one of our games at the AMEX, and it’s hardly a cauldron of fire, but it was hard to defend.

I got my season ticket in 1987 and have been home and away since then, despite being a London-based Blue, including Santander, Poznan, Lokeren and yes, one of the 345,000 at York away. I have spent a small fortune following this club, and my mid-week match-going journey normally means I am home at 4am, spending 5-6 hours going back down the M1 at 30mph, or overnight in a hotel.

I believe I have earnt the right to be a grumpy FOC – and yesterday was possibly a new low for me, even after the disaster of the Istanbul car park, the ESL nonsense and (name your favourite fuck up by the Club).

I am at the front of 326, CBL3, and I had four empty seats on my left, and other than the odd regular season card holder, didn’t know anyone else – and I have sat on the same seat, for almost every City game, since the Etihad opened.

I know that it’s easy to see everything that used to be as some perfect nostalgic past. I know football, like everything, has changed – and not everything in football back in the 70s, 80s and 90s was good; racism, violence, Peter Swales, overcrowding, policing, etc., and yes, not every game at Maine Road was rocking or the Kippax bursting at the seams – however – what there was, was a deep connection between us – the fans – and our Club.

All that mattered to me then was that the 11 lads who went out in Blue shirts put in 100% for 90 mins. I didn’t really care if we ‘never won at home, or never won away’, I just wanted to be with my mates, in a space where, for once a week, I could switch off from everything other than focus on the passion of the moment. And for most of that time (80s/90s) we were utterly shite – but it didn’t matter, because those occasional moments (beating the Rags 5-1, David White scoring 4 at Villa, coming back at Spurs in the cup) – were simply priceless.

And then, thanks to the Sheik everything started to change. At first it was like waking up in the best football dream you could ever have. The club looked to be seriously engaging with us, the fans. Discussions over season ticket prices, huge investment into the local area and campus, we were even part of the decision on the new club logo.

At the same time we were privilege to watch Sergio, Silva, Yaya, Vincent, Pablo, etc etc, and obviously the nirvana of 93:20. But what legacy fans like me didn’t also notice at the time is that this wasn’t just an investment into my beloved club by a benevolent billionaire, but a long term commercial strategic initiative by our owners to diversify from reliance on oil & gas into mass market ‘entertainment’.

City Football Group sends shivers down my spine. We might for now be at the top of their asset list – but, who knows what happens in the next two or three decades.

Whilst I have mostly huge gratitude and praise for Khaldoon for allowing us to experience all that we have in recent years, we all need to wake up and understand that CFG are a hugely ambitious commercial operations with only one single objective: making money.

And we legacy fans stand directly in the way of that. The new stand will be an atmosphere black hole. There will be even more tourists (I welcome anyone to support City, so this is not a judgement, but more a fact) than ever before – as their match day spend is almost double or triple than what we spend. We will support a new ESL and take part in every FIFA or UEFA shite competition they can come up with.

Every abandoned season card, is another win for CFG – so please don’t go. Please fight for our Club.

Yes, there are so many reasons why yesterday was so dire – Pep’s current style of play, a team in transition that’s burnt out and knackered, the traffic, the weather, the price, the 115, and yes, not every PL ground is rocking every game, but please, as long as you can justify the financial cost (which is getting harder and harder) – please don’t surrender your ownership of this Club.

I have spent so much of my life invested in City, that I would rather be the only one singing in 326 than abandon my club to empty seats, tourists and influencers. I promise you it’s worth fighting for – just remember what it’s given you, over generations, and it’s up to us legacy fans, not just to moan on here (but my god, it does feel good!), but to support things like 1894, City Matters boycotts, more season tickets, protecting discounts and tickets for 18-35s, and turning up and making your voice heard – even if no one’s listening.

That post has absolutely nailed it. Touché m8

 

[EastMidlandsBlue]

Of course it matters. It will make the fans look less passionate, lead to further ridicule and worsen the atmosphere for the players if the more vocal/vociferous fans move to the back of the stand. The players want fans to engage with, not score a winner and run off celebrating with a load of fans half-arsed celebrating.

If more vocal fans move to the back then there's more people infront of them to join in with chanting. Chants spread from the back of the stand to the front and never the other way around.

I think the players would rather have an intimidating home end of 10,000 belting out songs rather than 500 people in 115 clapping along to fleetwood mac.

 

[wearethesouthstand]

I’m saying that’s what’s needed. I don’t reckon that will happen.

FWIW, in a different working life I was a sales / business development director. I would have thought City would reignite prestigious brands like the Junior Blues to help to expand our fan base and address top heavy demographics. They are clearly not interested and instead we’ve got cartoons from New York etc.

Junior Blues was an asset. They would just see it as too local now

 

[jrb]

Junior Blues was an asset. They would just see it as too local now

I think they are now called Junior Blues - Great Britain.

 

[Tim of the Oak]

I think they are now called Junior Blues - Great Britain.

I think that might be for Birmingham City mate.

 

[Stephen230]

City could chose to be the unique club of difference, as we have been on many occasions in our long history.

We could & should be the shining example to global football.

The fact that the club has turned its back on its own fans and thus far not engaged in dialogue with elected supporters is a shocking indictment of how detached they've become from the club's core .

Utterly dispiriting !!

These owners had one glorious open net tap in, to show they were different to the rest, when the Super League bollocks was being touted.

One simple statement saying we’re having fuck all to do with it, would have bought them years of goodwill.

But they shit their pants at being left behind and instead the statement was from the Glazers, all over the City website, claiming how great it was.

 

[jrb]

I think that might be for Birmingham City mate.

We get juniors from a Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and across England don’t we?

 

[Tim of the Oak]

We get juniors from a Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, and across England don’t we?

I think they are just deals with schools and sports clubs. Cheap tickets for block bookings.

 

[Citizen of Legoland]

These owners had one glorious open net tap in, to show they were different to the rest, when the Super League bollocks was being touted.

One simple statement saying we’re having fuck all to do with it, would have bought them years of goodwill.

But they shit their pants at being left behind and instead the statement was from the Glazers, all over the City website, claiming how great it was.

I don’t think we really know the dynamics of what happened. At the time it wasn’t long after the UEFA charges and us being cleared so we really didn’t have good connections with teams like Bayern Munich who were vocal in hoping we got banned from the CL. If Bayern joined the Super League and sway PSG, it goes ahead in my opinion and we’re banned by default, only allowed back in IF those clubs allowed us, which they wouldn’t.