Gareth1979 said:
I dont really understand why you lot dislike us so much. We are (well at least were) similar clubs having to deal with similar problems. No money (were not are) and bigger neighbours
I dont dislike City. I dont much like anyone other than Everton but I have only hatred for Utd and Liverpool and while I (like probably every fan of every other club) am a bit jealous Id sooner you were winning things than Utd.
Also am I right in thinking your problem with Moyes is that he kicked up a big fuss about Lescott and got us more money?? Isnt that his job?? He got his employers another 5-10M?? Thats good work isnt it?
I think in terms of Moyes it was his subsequent attitude which manifested itself particularly in his unbridled joy whenever Everton beat us after the Lescott transfer. He seemed to take far more joy in that than any other victory. It seemed strange behaviour given the fact that up to recently it was widely held that Eveton got the better end of the deal.
In more general terms I would say City fans' dislike of Everton falls into two broad categories:
Firstly I would say that I know a few Evertonians and I would say that your feelings of goodwill towards our club are not mirrored throughout your support. Some are genuinely resentful. I make no particular criticism of that. Many of our supporters would have been the same if the boot was on the other foot. No-one can seriously claim that good fortune in football, especially when it comes to finances, is handed out in an even handed manner and on that basis there are always going it be inevitable resentments. It should comfort these Toffee supporters that it was only going to be City who were going to get the Abu Dhabi investment for a number of reasons - not least the possibility of taking on the biggest global sporting brand in their own territory - but I would suspect that fact would merely stoke the fires of resentment. On the basis of the undercurrent of resentment it is unrealistic to expect this not to be reciprocated to some extent. This is football fans we are talking about here!
Secondly many City fans' experiences of visits to Goodison over the years has been less than pleasant. The trip from Lime Street to the ground has many tales of ambushes and kickings. The FA Cup Quarter Final in 1981 and the League Cup Quarter Final in 1987 are both examples of games where there was a great deal of extra-curricular activity. Again, this is not going to be forgotten easily by those on the receiving end.
I think there has been a thawing from many City fans since you drew 4-4 at Old Trafford. Up to that point there was a perception from many City fans, myself included, that your team didn't put its usual 90 minutes of toil in against united, evidenced by your appalling record (especially at home) and Moyes' pally relationship with Ferguson, in stark contrast with the antipathy that existed with Mancini.
Like you say we have a lot that ties us together and I for one would hope that there is an improvement in relations between our two clubs moving forward. I think it would reflect poorly on City if they started thinking they were too good to have meaningful relationships with clubs they were peers with only a few short years ago.
Good luck for the rest of the season - well most of it :-)
