Citizens (cont)

[wearethesouthstand]

blue alliance is kind of seeking a mandate from a wider body of fans etc, gaining acceptance and trust, asking others what they want, becoming an official branch, applying for tickets in exactly the same way as everyone else has done for years

citizens is a new group.

i can see where some of citizens are coming from. if you are 16/17 and always gone to football in sanitised stadiums, all seater grouds etc and never experienced the standing kippax or even the old north stand at maine rd and then see what happens in italy with clubs like ac milan i can imagine you'd think that is the way forward

but here in england we're a densely populated small country, we've always had lots of travelling away fans, our games have gone live round the world, the atmosphere of english football, the passion well known for decades. we've always had identities with our local teams, even in 84-85 city in d2 played sheff wed, leeds, newcastle with 8-10,000 travelling fans

in places like italy you often don't get fans travelling in big numbers unless its juve milan inter etc so these ultras groups pop up to create an identity because their own atmosphere were so poor

people rave about germany. yes, but they have safestanding, beer in the ground, cheap tickets for fans. it can be no co-incidence that the best atmosphere at our ground in the last decade was hamburg when all the old skool blues turned out cos it was cheap tickets.

we put it to the club last year that champions league prices would affect their plans for the one end v. villarreal - the response "we don't want to devalue the champions league product"

it is possible for atmospheres to be great and we don't all need to all wear the same t-shirt or go along with what 1 person says. that's plastic and manufactured in my view, just my opinion

 

[Kenney_The_Blue]

Are you not involved in the citizens Kenny.

Yeah mate I'm all for it, couldn't make it last night though due to work, would love to have one big group TBA+Citizens.

But I really like the European style the citizens have and I'm definitely going to join them with a group of mates on the next outing.

 

[roaminblue]

Going to add my tuppence for what its worth, but no criticism intended.

I think its great to want to.get the atmosphere going, and I applaud either group that tries. I'll also mention that oim fairly unbiased as I no longer live in Manchester so it won't affect me.

But this whole ultras thing I think may struggle to get off the ground in England, for a number of reasons. O for one, look at the countries that do it "well" Poland, Greece, etc. All countries with large economic and political strife. It seems to me that ultra groups are formed by people who crave an identity in either a political or an ideological sense. Most have a political view point and the members genuinely believe in something, often vocally and some times aggressively. They are also people who live in a society where they can gravitate towards each other in the ground, standing exists. The problem with trying this at the etihad would mean relocating season ticket holders. Not easy. In this country football is a spectacle these days, not a way of life.

I'm all for the atmosphere but doesn't the whole ultras thing seem a bit hollow if its just for atmospheres sake. Plus from the clubs point of view they will be loathe to allow this type of group, because it does have negative connotations, it is intimidating, it looks alien and smoke bombs etc don't send out a great message. Look at the changes to eastlands and the family stands, they are creating a family atmosphere and will continue to do so. City will change and change I fear.

That said, go for it, you're having fun and the blue alliance can be a model to show what is possible. They have fun and at away games make a great noise, as an outsider they do seem somewhat "exclusive" at times but I'm sure they don't intend for that to be the case. Sbit as I said go for it.

Excuse me if irony make sense I was very thirsty tonight so had a lot of beers!!

 

[jrb]

The club still has a much greater role to play.

The club listens. It even lends a helping hand. But it won't....(fill in as appropriate)

The management at City is multilayered. It is very structured. Everything has to be so.

Even if you deal with one or more people through the correct channels at City, any decision/decisions still have to go up the chain of command. That's the way the club is structured internally.(in my opinion)

At times I felt optimistic. Other times I felt frustrated.

I'm not criticizing the club. It's just what I think I noticed during that period of time when I was afforded the internal workings of the club.

PS. The finger buffet was amazing. TBF so were the City officials at the meetings.

 

[Rascal]

see the problem with that is...your trying to make a fkn wall of city noise ala celtic?


now morrisey singing some girls are bigger than others has fuck all to do with us...the reason celtic have atmosphere is because of religion v rangers ...now im english but irish catholic family...so what will i do ?


man city are a manchester club...utd get a lot of support from irish catholics ..so do liverpool ...you except half the irish couldnt give a fuck about football really and if someone tells them(mainly george best) they are catholic the fkn thick bastards will be proud and wear shirts without thinking or trying to educate themselves.Ireland thinks its clever representing the catholics (yes im catholic) but little fkn tinkers running around dublin age 2 with rag shirts on makes fuck all sense ..its nonsense , same as scottish (catholics) see the theme ...and teams will be passoinate when they see it as a badge of religion or politics....me im man city , and i happen to be catholic, now i am passionate about my team , if you times my team by my religion i will get more passionate x2

-- Fri Nov 09, 2012 10:38 pm --

i actually thought wether to post this ...cos it doesnt read to clever (im drunk)..but i thought if some one tries to argue about the point i know who they will be


I have to say i have a big irish family ..dublin (southern ireland)but i get annoyed yes ..I will try to keep it under manners

My old City supporting grandparents thoughts Catholics were wierdos and would not allow them in there family home. I was told if ever i married a Catholic nobody would turn up.

City were a protestant/jewish club back in there day, rags were Catholic as they were created by Irish catholic railway workers. I believe the rags first non catholic manager was fat ron.

Thankfully we have moved on from those days in England and all are welcome as blues :)

 

[davymcfc]

Good video. Keep up the good work guys.

 

[cleavers]

The club still has a much greater role to play.

The club listens. It even lends a helping hand. But it won't....(fill in as appropriate)

The management at City is multilayered. It is very structured. Everything has to be so.

Even if you deal with one or more people through the correct channels at City, any decision/decisions still have to go up the chain of command. That's the way the club is structured internally.(in my opinion)

At times I felt optimistic. Other times I felt frustrated.

I'm not criticizing the club. It's just what I think I noticed during that period of time when I was afforded the internal workings of the club.

PS. The finger buffet was amazing. TBF so were the City officials at the meetings.

You should continue the dialog with them if possible. Its also in the clubs interests to improve things atmosphere wise, even if some of them don't see it. One of the reasons that SM gave for coming to City was the passion of the fans, at least that was claimed at the time. Lets continue to try new things, and be ourselves, but lets get the club on the fans side. In recent months I'm not sure the clubreally are, they seem more focussed on FFPR, but without the fanbase this will fail. On the same level the passion of the fans at home games has dipped alarmingly, especially since May, at a time when we should still be celebrating.

 

[Stretford Born Blue]

I have been following City since the age of 10, I'm now nearly 50 years old and have held a season ticket for 36 years.
I've probably seen City at live games, both home and away more than 1200 times, in addition I have worked on matches at Owed Trafford more than 400 times over a twenty year period.
During the last 40 years I have visited some of the most atmospheric grounds in the country, grounds where the noise poured from the terraces onto the pitch and created incredible reverberating atmospheres which made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Maine Road was one of those grounds, as was Owed Trafford, where often the noise created was incredible and could carry the team over the line.
The old North Stand and Platt lane stands (before it was rebuilt), even though they were all seater, still created a great amount of noise, the Kippax, when all standing was just fabulous to hear in good voice.
It wasn't every match, but when it got going, my god did it.
Then the Kippax was rebuilt, that cut the stands vocal cords to a great extent, why I don't know, I think the last time I heard it in good voice was when Gary Neville fed the goat..!
Now, is it all seater stadiums that kills atmosphere?
Is it the type of fan that is now attracted to footall?
Is it the out of towners who travel from all over the country (don't get upset, you are all welcome, I did it for 2 years whilst working elsewhere)?
Is it the 'Tourists' as we call them?
Is it the stewarding who can pay too much attention to the fans behaviour, they are eveywhere and in numbers?
Is it because we sit next to and can' move away from granny or kids who we are affraid of upsetting by letting rip?
Is it the tactical game or the way it is now played?
Is it the press and TV coverage?
Is it the Cost?
Is it just too much of an event now, all the build up, all the reporting, are we fed up before we set foot in the ground?

We could blame a lot of things, but one thing must remain constant in my view and it is this......Average joe wants to go to the game, have a drink, shout for his team and go home happy, he wants to see the players sweat blood, get muddy, stop diving, have a ding dong with the opposition and ref without TV's putting them on trial, he wants to be with his mates, not watching over his shoulder for a steward to tell him to sit down or stop getting too excited.

I'm affraid a lot of that has gone from the matchday experience now, I feel sorry for fans who never experienced the Kippax, the smells and sights, being able to jump and shout and run off from the cop who was after giving you a ticking off, screaming for joy and ending up 50 feet from where you were before they scored.

Bring back standing, safe obviously as we can't ignore lessons learned from tragedy, but bring it back quick because the part fans play in the game is fast disapearing, and players want to play in front of that which the fans give to the game.... that is atmosphere and support for them.

That is all....

 

[1_barry_conlon]

Fucking Capo....have i stumbled across a Martin Scorsese screenplay here?

 

[Blue Tooth]

I have been following City since the age of 10, I'm now nearly 50 years old and have held a season ticket for 36 years.
I've probably seen City at live games, both home and away more than 1200 times, in addition I have worked on matches at Owed Trafford more than 400 times over a twenty year period.
During the last 40 years I have visited some of the most atmospheric grounds in the country, grounds where the noise poured from the terraces onto the pitch and created incredible reverberating atmospheres which made the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.
Maine Road was one of those grounds, as was Owed Trafford, where often the noise created was incredible and could carry the team over the line.
The old North Stand and Platt lane stands (before it was rebuilt), even though they were all seater, still created a great amount of noise, the Kippax, when all standing was just fabulous to hear in good voice.
It wasn't every match, but when it got going, my god did it.
Then the Kippax was rebuilt, that cut the stands vocal cords to a great extent, why I don't know, I think the last time I heard it in good voice was when Gary Neville fed the goat..!
Now, is it all seater stadiums that kills atmosphere?
Is it the type of fan that is now attracted to footall?
Is it the out of towners who travel from all over the country (don't get upset, you are all welcome, I did it for 2 years whilst working elsewhere)?
Is it the 'Tourists' as we call them?
Is it the stewarding who can pay too much attention to the fans behaviour, they are eveywhere and in numbers?
Is it because we sit next to and can' move away from granny or kids who we are affraid of upsetting by letting rip?
Is it the tactical game or the way it is now played?
Is it the press and TV coverage?
Is it the Cost?
Is it just too much of an event now, all the build up, all the reporting, are we fed up before we set foot in the ground?

We could blame a lot of things, but one thing must remain constant in my view and it is this......Average joe wants to go to the game, have a drink, shout for his team and go home happy, he wants to see the players sweat blood, get muddy, stop diving, have a ding dong with the opposition and ref without TV's putting them on trial, he wants to be with his mates, not watching over his shoulder for a steward to tell him to sit down or stop getting too excited.

I'm affraid a lot of that has gone from the matchday experience now, I feel sorry for fans who never experienced the Kippax, the smells and sights, being able to jump and shout and run off from the cop who was after giving you a ticking off, screaming for joy and ending up 50 feet from where you were before they scored.

Bring back standing, safe obviously as we can't ignore lessons learned from tragedy, but bring it back quick because the part fans play in the game is fast disapearing, and players want to play in front of that which the fans give to the game.... that is atmosphere and support for them.

That is all....

Jumpers for goalposts..... ;)