I think the biggest problem we have is that people really do believe that prior to the takeover we were always in the lower leagues and skint. I bet 99% of other fans have never even googled our history too see what we've won and how long we've been formed and how long we have actually spent in the top division. Even before the takeover our turnover was in the top 20 in Europe and we've almost always had a decent loyal following. As a teenager growing up in the late 80s/90s I was frequently told city were a big club and a sleeping giant.
It's a bit like Newcastle now, big following and big potential and who are pretty well liked by neutral fans, but when they start winning trophies they'll get the same shit us and Chelsea have got, purely because none of us have won trophies the "right way" apparently