oneofthe8015
Member
- Joined
- 22 Dec 2008
- Messages
- 10
My Son had motored up from the east - midlands, no doubt sharing the route with the impressive Forest support. He's been keeping the faith for over twenty seven years, ever since he often witnessed the indifference of the mid -eighties at first hand from a perch in the Kippax Street stand with his Sister and I..He is a rarity at matches now, but retains a keen interest...for him and everyone else every new season brings its hopes, though this one more than any other has offered the committed a new tomorrow , to eclipse those lows of yesteryear....
..All the expectancy , the crescendo of optimism , the tidal wave of re-garnered enthusiasm dashed in the space of forty five minutes yesterday. I was there only in spirit , and did not witness those shattered dreams; the ensuing disgust; but I still feel it. Feel it on behalf of those die-hard souls who pick up the gauntlet of hope every year and sally forth only to be wrecked upon the rocks of disappointment.
Much is spoken in modern football about 'supporters high expectations' . At 'New' Maine Road as I call this shining, symmetrical new home - largely devoid of much atmosphere - the expectations are far from high. City fans have been so used to being let down , so well versed with the roller coaster - which must surely offer the most modest of highs, that expectations revolve around effort , and pride.
Pride in the sky blue shirt, which to many of the younger supporters ( under 40 ) might appear to carry a curse.
Humiliated yesterday: the players wearing those shirts were humbled at home by a team far, far below them in terms of league position. Far poorer in terms of monetary rewards, and technically poorer too...although watching the goals go in on the t.v. that was hard to believe.
Nottingham Forest F. C. , as a club are arguably a bigger name than Manchester City despite the current contrasts in their league fortune. They stand proudly in the pantheon of British football and some of those same 'under - 40' fans might remember they took the European Cup home to 'the City Ground ' twice in the early nineteen righties under the masterful tutelage of the late Brian Clough.
True enough, the more circumspect blue would have looked upon yesterdays game as a potential banana skin...after all their have been so many in the past from Shrewsbury to Halifax and several places in-between. The difference now though is the money. Before the game City paraded a twelve million pound full-back who is being paid more per week than their average season ticket holder earns in twelve months! Appearing also in those famous old shirts (with a meaningless new badge) there were Brazillians and Argentinians amongst the European mercenaries, and a few home grown faces...even one or two graduates from the youth team. The common bond ? They all earn a fortune. There seems to be little hunger , and precious little appetite for a scrap. Forest fought like terriers yesterday. They'd installed a new manager the day before , who assumes control now on a tidal wave of hope. His team battled as though there livelihoods depended upon it...tenacious to the end, even looking for more goals when they were comfortably ahead.
In comparison City, guided by Mark Hughes - an ex-United leg-end - whose skin tone is growing as ashen as his thick grey hair , seemed too willing to surrender their advantage...even if it was only a notional one backed up by the Murdoch money and the recent infusion of riches from a bunch of Arabs.
So, Forest return triumphant to their City Ground...whilst 'our' City have ran aground once more. Buffetted by their own shortcomings, and their loyal , long suffering fans contemplate a new nadir...and another meaningless season...unless of course they now become embroiled in a relegation dog fight.
How many will retain their interest? Probably the vast majority...for whilst their expectations are low...
their investment is sky high...they, like me are 'City 'til they die'.
Emotional detachment though, is optional and from where I'm sitting it's to be advised. City should carry a Government health warning...and in my 49 years of interest yesterday was the worst day in their history, I'm glad 'old' Maine Road was spared the debacle
oneofthe8015
(v.Swindon 1965)
..All the expectancy , the crescendo of optimism , the tidal wave of re-garnered enthusiasm dashed in the space of forty five minutes yesterday. I was there only in spirit , and did not witness those shattered dreams; the ensuing disgust; but I still feel it. Feel it on behalf of those die-hard souls who pick up the gauntlet of hope every year and sally forth only to be wrecked upon the rocks of disappointment.
Much is spoken in modern football about 'supporters high expectations' . At 'New' Maine Road as I call this shining, symmetrical new home - largely devoid of much atmosphere - the expectations are far from high. City fans have been so used to being let down , so well versed with the roller coaster - which must surely offer the most modest of highs, that expectations revolve around effort , and pride.
Pride in the sky blue shirt, which to many of the younger supporters ( under 40 ) might appear to carry a curse.
Humiliated yesterday: the players wearing those shirts were humbled at home by a team far, far below them in terms of league position. Far poorer in terms of monetary rewards, and technically poorer too...although watching the goals go in on the t.v. that was hard to believe.
Nottingham Forest F. C. , as a club are arguably a bigger name than Manchester City despite the current contrasts in their league fortune. They stand proudly in the pantheon of British football and some of those same 'under - 40' fans might remember they took the European Cup home to 'the City Ground ' twice in the early nineteen righties under the masterful tutelage of the late Brian Clough.
True enough, the more circumspect blue would have looked upon yesterdays game as a potential banana skin...after all their have been so many in the past from Shrewsbury to Halifax and several places in-between. The difference now though is the money. Before the game City paraded a twelve million pound full-back who is being paid more per week than their average season ticket holder earns in twelve months! Appearing also in those famous old shirts (with a meaningless new badge) there were Brazillians and Argentinians amongst the European mercenaries, and a few home grown faces...even one or two graduates from the youth team. The common bond ? They all earn a fortune. There seems to be little hunger , and precious little appetite for a scrap. Forest fought like terriers yesterday. They'd installed a new manager the day before , who assumes control now on a tidal wave of hope. His team battled as though there livelihoods depended upon it...tenacious to the end, even looking for more goals when they were comfortably ahead.
In comparison City, guided by Mark Hughes - an ex-United leg-end - whose skin tone is growing as ashen as his thick grey hair , seemed too willing to surrender their advantage...even if it was only a notional one backed up by the Murdoch money and the recent infusion of riches from a bunch of Arabs.
So, Forest return triumphant to their City Ground...whilst 'our' City have ran aground once more. Buffetted by their own shortcomings, and their loyal , long suffering fans contemplate a new nadir...and another meaningless season...unless of course they now become embroiled in a relegation dog fight.
How many will retain their interest? Probably the vast majority...for whilst their expectations are low...
their investment is sky high...they, like me are 'City 'til they die'.
Emotional detachment though, is optional and from where I'm sitting it's to be advised. City should carry a Government health warning...and in my 49 years of interest yesterday was the worst day in their history, I'm glad 'old' Maine Road was spared the debacle
oneofthe8015
(v.Swindon 1965)