Re: Good piece in the MEN
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City critics should sing a different tune
Opposition chants questioning the loyalty of Manchester City fans are just nonsense, argues Mike Keegan.
It's inevitable, I suppose. Human nature dictates that in a row you always go for someone’s weak point. But what do you do when, say, you’re a fan of a team playing City and you cannot find one?
You can’t start chanting about how useless they are, the keeper’s not dodgy (anymore) and the manager’s not getting sacked in the morning.
So what do you do?
It would appear that you come up with some nonsense that ignores the facts.
I’ve heard it from supporters of several clubs, including Newcastle United and most recently Blackburn Rovers.
“Where were you when you were ****?” they accuse.
It is not a new chant and in many cases it is justified. Nobody (outside a commercial department) likes a glory hunter. But it is not justified when aimed at supporters of City – especially from those two.
I am presuming that the accepted definition of when the Blues were **** is pretty much pre-Abu Dhabi.
So let’s look at the attendance figures, as they can be the only barometer.
Sheikh Mansour arrived in 2008 at a time when City were averaging 42,126.
This season that average stands at 47,803. That is a whopping rise of less than 6,000.
If we go back further, to when they were REALLY **** in the third tier, the Maine Road average was 28,261. It’s a difference, yes, but it hardly represents a mass exodus – especially when you look elsewhere.
So what of the Geordies?
It is the old cliche, isn’t it? Football mad up there. Go through Newcastle city centre and you’ll think you’ve gone back in time because everything is in black and white. Everybody marches to the beat of the Toon.
Not in 1990-91 they didn’t. Then in the old Division Two, the Magpies ‘boasted’ an average of 16,834. Bit of a difference from this season’s 50,360.
Interestingly that 1990-91 campaign was the one which saw Jack Walker complete his takeover of Blackburn Rovers. The average that year at Ewood Park? 8,126. Eight thousand, one hundred and twenty six.
Not to worry, five years later (Premier League title and broken transfer records under their belts) it had risen to 27,552. Now my maths ain’t great, but to me that’s more than three times as many thanks to an owner whose spending propelled the club to new heights.
Rovers are now back where they were when Uncle Jack came along with his millions.
The attendance for their last home match? 13,594. Less than half that Premier League high.
So hurl your insults at City, it is football after all. Tell them they are ruining football (they’re not), or that they’re a **** club with money (as opposed to your **** club without money).
But before you question the loyalty of their fans you might want to take a look at your own side first.
