"Disappointing" attendances

[Colin Bells Boots]

Certainly not bashing Pep, but wondering exactly what the PR team do regarding the interviews ?

Knowing which shitty media people are going to be present and preparing for the snide questions and comments should surely be a massive part of their remit ??

Whilst knowing nothing of the workings, it appears that Pep is hung out to dry by the cnuts with little or no support from those who should be doiong their best to make sure that he isn't laid wide open to those looking to inflict the most damage on the club.

And looking at some of the comments on this thread there are a number of supporters who have taken offence with Pep , which I find very weird. Surely they can see the traps which are being laid for him too ?

 

[jrb]

In Catalonia and Bavaria Pep was the darling of the press. Bar not winning the CL for Bayern he could do nothing wrong at either club. He got an easy ride from the the press in each region as they are very pro Barcelona and Bayern.

Since he became City Manager he has had nothing but a difficult time with the football media and press in this country.

Time and again it has been one negative interview, story, etc, after another, mixed in with positive ones. He has been led into answering awkward questions about our owners, the club, FFP, the players, the fans, etc. There have been numerous occasions where he has looked drained, pissed off, and absolutely fed up with the constant negative line of questioning he is getting from the football media in this country.

 

[Man_City_Loyal]

In Catalonia and Bavaria Pep was the darling of the press. Bar not winning the CL for Bayern he could do nothing wrong at either club. He got an easy ride from the the press in each region as they are very pro Barcelona and Bayern.

Since he became City Manager he has had nothing but a difficult time with the football media and press in this country.

Time and again it has been one negative interview, story, etc, after another, mixed in with positive ones. He has been led into answering awkward questions about our owners, the club, FFP, the players, the fans, etc. There have been numerous occasions where he has looked drained, pissed off, and absolutely fed up with the constant negative line of questioning he is getting from the football media in this country.

you know why he is?

Because he isnt the manager of one of the media love in clubs

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

In Catalonia and Bavaria Pep was the darling of the press. Bar not winning the CL for Bayern he could do nothing wrong at either club. He got an easy ride from the the press in each region are they are very pro Barcelona and Bayern.

Since he became City Manager he has had nothing but a difficult time with the football media and press in this country.

Time and again it has been one negative interview, story, etc, after another, mixed in with positive ones. He has been led into answering awkward questions about our owners, the club, FFP, the players, the fans, etc. There have been numerous occasions where he has looked drained, pissed off, and absolutely fed up with the constant negative line of questioning he is getting from the football media in this country.

I can totally understand that jrb - he should be lauded for what he has achieved and quality of football played, but the cnuts who want the rags and dippers to be on everybody's lips are the real jackals .

If we as supporters are fucking sick of it, and I certainly am, imagine facing those twats every couple of days knowing that they are out to twist every word and try and crucify every wrong comment.

The man is a fighting a losing battle with the shit he has to put up with.

As I have said elsewhere what do our fucking PR team do to assist him ?

 

[NeilYoungIsBack]

Apologies if these points have already been made, but I haven't read the whole thread.

1) When the last set of ticket price rises were announced in the summer a lot of people on here said that they were going to bail out of the Cup Schemes as a consequence. (Others said this was a step they had taken already in previous seasons).
2) This does seem to be the case as a lot of season ticket regulars seem to be missing from the rows around me.
3) The only LC game we've had at home this season attracted just 37,000.

There aren't yet enough occasional fans to make up for the 1,000s of season ticket holders who for whatever reason are not attending the Cup games. While CL group game attendances are holding up well, probably because they attract international visitors, the same just isn't happening for the domestic cups. Port Vale was an exception because the visiting team brought an incredible number of fans.

The Club must be concerned because someone on the Etihad thread recently reported that expansion plans are on hold because of weak attendances at midweek and cup games.

 

[jrb]

you know why he is?

Because he isnt the manager of one of the media love in clubs

Or European Royalty. ;-)

Regardless if Pep wants guidance or not, he needs help and advice from our Media and PR Department. He needs to be made aware of all the possible awkward questions that could be asked and how to fend them off.

It’s been posted a million times before, c***s like Simon Stone, etc, should been banned from Pep’s pre-match interviews. And Soriano, Vicky Kloss, etc, should call a meeting with the BBC Director of Sport at (Rag and Scouse infested) Mediacity to get to the bottom of why BBC Sport continually gives City a hard time.

 

[Colin Bells Boots]

Or European Royalty. ;-)

Regardless if Pep wants guidance or not, he needs help and advice from our Media and PR Department. He needs to be made aware of all the possible awkward questions that could be asked and how to fend them off.

It’s been posted a million times before, c***s like Simon Stone, etc, should been banned from Pep’s pre-match interviews. And Soriano, Vicky Kloss, etc, should call a meeting with the BBC Director of Sport at (Rag and Scouse infested) Mediacity to get to the bottom of why BBC Sport continually gives City a hard time.

Sadly if Roan is the Director of Sport at the BBC, we will get no sympathy there as I beleve we banned him .

We could explain that cnuts like Stone will be joining him very soon though .

 

[fulabeer]

The thing nobody seems to realise is rising ticket prices is only part of the problem.
Rising prices starts making people question the whole cost of going to the match.
This then leads to the biggest problem........falling out of the habit of going.

I gave my season ticket up a few years ago. The main reason was that my match day mate was emigrating to the states.
I was also getting a lot of tickets through my work. So it made sense to give up the season ticket. I was still attending nearly every game, but for a lot less money.
Then for work reasons i started missing the odd game. That meant i started to get used to watching on the TV.
In the end i couldn't be arsed going, and it just wasn't the same without my mate.

Then my youngest started showing an interest. So i started going with him. Since we don't have season tickets, it can get quite expensive.
So we pick and choose games. I hate the family section as i cannot stand to be behind the goal. So any decent seats would be very expensive if i did want a season ticket back.
The ticket prices for Fulham were fantastic. So that wasn't the problem. Getting people to add going to the match again as part of their normal routine is.

 

[waspish]

In Catalonia and Bavaria Pep was the darling of the press. Bar not winning the CL for Bayern he could do nothing wrong at either club. He got an easy ride from the the press in each region as they are very pro Barcelona and Bayern.

Since he became City Manager he has had nothing but a difficult time with the football media and press in this country.

Time and again it has been one negative interview, story, etc, after another, mixed in with positive ones. He has been led into answering awkward questions about our owners, the club, FFP, the players, the fans, etc. There have been numerous occasions where he has looked drained, pissed off, and absolutely fed up with the constant negative line of questioning he is getting from the football media in this country.

When he leaves let’s hope he calls them all out the fcuks

 

[BobbyBoy]

Both of them are right, but both are different.

Pep wants to win the League Cup and the FA Cup. He wants to win every cup. Look at the teams he plays. Klopp (and no doubt FSG) aren’t interested in the League Cup and FA Cup. They just want to win the PL and the CL continually. That’s where the prestige and money is. Oh, and that shite FIFA 4 team World Club play off final.

While I agree with you I don't think you can say there is a right or wrong answer. Until someone wins the treble and the CL then that remains the case. I'm sure both clubs would say the league is number 1 and again I'm sure both would swap the league cup and FA Cup for the CL trophy.

The above is getting away from my point, both managers and a few others too in fairness have called out the ridiculous amount of games over this period and other clubs just slag them off instead joining the fight. Last season Klopp had a meltdown over the Christmas fixtures and Pep came out in support, this year it was the reverse. I could be wrong but i dont recall.anyother manager backing Peps comments over Christmas. Next season it will be someone else and nothing will change.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

Yes Pep has got this badly wrong.

I suspect this is because he is simply asked the question a lot when in Spain he wasn’t.

The thing is it will be the PR Department’s job to inform Pep of the reasons so he can answer effectively. I don’t think they are. Perhaps they’re scared of Pep seeing it as a criticism.

I don’t blame fans for being upset with Peps comments but it’s not his fault.

City need to read this thread and understand.

@Prestwich_Blue one for City Matters?

We've been discussing it in our WhatsApp group and will probably be talking about it at a reps meeting tonight. It will be on the agenda in some form at the next full meeting.

 

[sir baconface]

A reasoned argument as to why a 50 year old that has spent his career in football understands a football rivalry?

My point was Manchester derbies, which you keep dodging.

Do you think we’ve put our best foot forward and gone for the kill in this season’s two?

 

[Dodge]

Dear Pep,

Whilst I appreciate your concern regarding the welfare of highly paid professional footballers due to the ridiculous amount of fixtures any successful club has to fulfil. I would respectfully ask you to show some empathy for the match going supporter during this time, and the negative impact the schedule has on family life and finances.

Since I was last paid by my employer I have had to shell out for the following costs, to indulge my passion for the great club I have followed for in excess of 40 years:

2 x tickets plus travel for Wolves away on 27/12
Travel up from Leicester for the Sheff Utd home game on 29/12, plus a hotel due to the ridiculous 6pm KO
Travel up from Leicester for the Everton home game on New Years Day, plus a hotel due to the ridiculous 5:30pm KO
2 x tickets plus travel up from Leicester for the Port Vale Cup game on 04/01
2 x tickets plus travel up from Leicester for the Rags away EFL cup game 07/01
2 x tickets plus travel for Villa away on 12/01
Travel up from Leicester for the Palace home game on 18/01
2 x tickets plus travel for Sheff Utd away on 21/01
2 x tickets plus travel for the rags home game on 29/01 (can't afford a hotel - sorry)
2 x tickets for Spuds away on 02/02 paid for

In addition to the above, I've had direct debits for 2 x SC payments gone out of my bank. I've also forked out £90.00 for 2 x tickets for the Madrid home game and the thick end of £500.00 for flights and accommodation for the Madrid away game.

So, a total of around £1,500.00 to follow my club, without a drink or pie included, just after Christmas, with a 5 week period between pay days.

I had to swerve the Fulham game, sorry about that.

So shove you're comments re: our support where the sun don't shine Mr Guardiola and maybe think twice before making such comments again and pissing off the very people who made this club what it is. A multi-millionaire who manages a team of multi-millionaires, calling out a working class fan base, leaves a very bitter taste in this particular mouth.

Thanks for listening.

 

[jrb]

I can totally understand that jrb - he should be lauded for what he has achieved and quality of football played, but the cnuts who want the rags and dippers to be on everybody's lips are the real jackals .

If we as supporters are fucking sick of it, and I certainly am, imagine facing those twats every couple of days knowing that they are out to twist every word and try and crucify every wrong comment.

The man is a fighting a losing battle with the shit he has to put up with.

As I have said elsewhere what do our fucking PR team do to assist him ?

It’s fair to say everyone at the club knows what’s going on. Not only with the FFP agenda, but with the Media agenda against us. The Rags, the Scousers, and the other (PL) cartel clubs are behind this. They have powerful friends and allies within many sports media organisations who are more than happy to do the dirty work for them.

Ever since BBC Sport/Football crawled back to United after upsetting Ferguson, and the move to Mediacity, across from OT, BBC Sport has become part of the United PR machine on the QT. You can now add the Scousers to that PR machine.

There is a lot that does go on behind the scenes. We have our own media allies. We do fight back on the QT. We’re not stupid or afraid to hit back when we have to. But when we’re fighting a war of attrition from all angles, and from numerous media organisations, it’s difficult for the club.

But, somebody has to have a chat with Pep and remind him that a wrong sentence, albeit unintentional, or with a positive meaning, can be instantly twisted and be made to look like a dig at our support by the football media. Pep should stick to talking about the team and the players and forget about the fans and our support. Asking us to turn up, to support the team more, not to leave early, etc, will ultimately fall on deaf ears.

 

[Breadsnapper]

Have to say Pep's comments have pissed me off and it's not the first time his comment in this matter have pissed me off. This month like many I have been to 7 games and will be there on Wednesday and Sunday. I'm lucky in that I can just afford to go to all the matches I want but what Pep has to realise is that before making these comments think about the people that have to choose games carefully because of finances or other commitments. Not everyone can spend all their disposable income on City. And to be fair City V Fulham was never gonna be a meat see game.

 

[sir baconface]

Certainly not bashing Pep, but wondering exactly what the PR team do regarding the interviews ?

Knowing which shitty media people are going to be present and preparing for the snide questions and comments should surely be a massive part of their remit ??

Whilst knowing nothing of the workings, it appears that Pep is hung out to dry by the cnuts with little or no support from those who should be doiong their best to make sure that he isn't laid wide open to those looking to inflict the most damage on the club.

And looking at some of the comments on this thread there are a number of supporters who have taken offence with Pep , which I find very weird. Surely they can see the traps which are being laid for him too ?

He’s not stupid but he is a bit superior. He’s had plenty of idolatry over the years.

Maybe he does receive PR advice and chooses not to heed it. Or maybe not. Who knows?

 

[OB1]

2 weeks today I believe but that's another factor, with people knowing that the money for a very high-priced game is coming out soon.

It was always believed that football was largely 'price inelastic', with the cost having very little impact, if any, on demand. That's now proven not to be the case, as clubs like ours and United have increasingly milked their fans financially and pushed them to the limit of what they can afford. When you also take into account the fact there's a largely finite number of fans, particularly at City where success has only been relatively recent. In the old days, we might have been looking at 21 homes games a season, in a good year. Now it's usually nearer 30, a 35-40% increase. And that's against a background of austerity and stagnation in real wages over the last 10 years.

Pep should visit some of our OSC branches in the more deprived or working class areas to get some first-hand insight into the people he's criticising. And, at the same time, we should be getting ruthless with the BBC and telling them they're all persona non grata until they get the message that we aren't going to be the butt of their snidey jibes any longer.

Was he criticising the fans?

There's a whole heap of difference between being disappointed the ground was not full, wanting a full house for a semi-final against United and being critical of the fans

And none of that means that our multi-millionaire manager is oblivious to the number of games or the strain on people's pockets.

My first thought when I got into the ground yesterday was how bare the stands looked. As a supporter, I was disappointed in that but I'm not critical of anyone for not going and as someone who has a 360 mile round trip to the Etihad and won't be there on Wednesday (albeit despite being in all the cup schemes, which means I have given my ticket away so I will have paid for there to be a bum on my seat), I fully understand why people don't make it to every home game.

 

[Scottyboi]

Millionaire living in his own bubble, I am shocked!

 

[Fordyboy46]

Dear Pep,

Whilst I appreciate your concern regarding the welfare of highly paid professional footballers due to the ridiculous amount of fixtures any successful club has to fulfil. I would respectfully ask you to show some empathy for the match going supporter during this time, and the negative impact the schedule has on family life and finances.

Since I was last paid by my employer I have had to shell out for the following costs, to indulge my passion for the great club I have followed for in excess of 40 years:

2 x tickets plus travel for Wolves away on 27/12
Travel up from Leicester for the Sheff Utd home game on 29/12, plus a hotel due to the ridiculous 6pm KO
Travel up from Leicester for the Everton home game on New Years Day, plus a hotel due to the ridiculous 5:30pm KO
2 x tickets plus travel up from Leicester for the Port Vale Cup game on 04/01
2 x tickets plus travel up from Leicester for the Rags away EFL cup game 07/01
2 x tickets plus travel for Villa away on 12/01
Travel up from Leicester for the Palace home game on 18/01
2 x tickets plus travel for Sheff Utd away on 21/01
2 x tickets plus travel for the rags home game on 29/01 (can't afford a hotel - sorry)
2 x tickets for Spuds away on 02/02 paid for

In addition to the above, I've had direct debits for 2 x SC payments gone out of my bank. I've also forked out £90.00 for 2 x tickets for the Madrid home game and the thick end of £500.00 for flights and accommodation for the Madrid away game.

So, a total of around £1,500.00 to follow my club, without a drink or pie included, just after Christmas, with a 5 week period between pay days.

I had to swerve the Fulham game, sorry about that.

So shove you're comments re: our support where the sun don't shine Mr Guardiola and maybe think twice before making such comments again and pissing off the very people who made this club what it is. A multi-millionaire who manages a team of multi-millionaires, calling out a working class fan base, leaves a very bitter taste in this particular mouth.

Thanks for listening.

Spot on fella, great post.

 

[TFC]

One fine day, PL clubs will take a leaf out of the book of the Bundesliga. Problem is, by the time they do that, attendances will continue to dwindle due to the fact that it simply costs more than it ever has to follow your club.