So you would rather concentrate on a trophy we have lifted several times over the last decade rather concentrate on the league and CL? The league is always the priority and we can't take the risk of complacency. We also need to put the CL in the trophy room.I couldn't careless what fans in Asia want. Club only wants to win the CL to sell shirts. CL was created to appease the cartel.
Agree.Agreed. It’s an insult to the truly great managers to pretend Klopp is one of them. He’s a fine manager and is in the same bracket as Ancelotti or Conte or Van Gaal and managers of that ilk but he isn’t a colossus of the game like Pep is or Mourinho was in his pomp or Ferguson was
This post says it all. Shit day out. Our support was very poor. Worst I’ve seen it at Wembley. No excuses whatsoever. Those gobshites are a disgrace to our club. We are getting it in the press and our club were quick to apologise so fair play to them. Pity they couldn’t generate an atmosphere instead of disrespecting a minutes silence.What an absolutely shit day that was!
Liverpool took it more seriously than we did. We treated it like a friendly and got what we deserved.
The fans… We didn’t bother selling out, even in the blocks that were available to us, there were empties everywhere. Before everyone comes up with their excuses, I know loads of people who just couldn’t be arsed so the excuses won’t wash with me! People within my group couldn’t fill a minibus (when we’re normally turning people away), a local pub that usually runs a coach couldn’t fill a coach, people who sit around me in the ground who pulled their faces about going when I asked them last Sunday, spoke to others in the free coach on the way down yesterday who said the coach they normally go on wasn’t run because there was no interest.
Liverpool fans filled their end and some in our end.
And why the fuck are our fans so averse to getting to our seats early? Fans still filtering in in their hundreds minutes after kick off, while their end was full minutes before.
Not one ounce of atmosphere came from us. Oh apart from the shameful cunts who booed and shouted comments during the Hillsborough moment of silence. Never felt more embarrassed to be a Blue at that moment. Anyone who has a problem with Liverpool and Heysel, bring that up with LFC and the governing bodies and the media in an email or something, don’t go and fucking boo during a moment of respect for people who died you fucking disrespectful thick cunts! We deserve every bit of criticism coming our way for that.
We weren’t arsed in the stands during the game at all. Liverpool fans were well up for it. That was the best atmosphere from them that I’ve heard from any game we’ve been to Wembley (including any of ours). Their whole end stood up, even in the top tier, they were starting songs off in all areas, we just had a load of people who looked like they didn’t want to be there all sat down contributing fuck all. Fucking embarrassing from our fans! We acted like we had absolutely no ounce of belief that a treble was on the cards for us whatsoever.
The amount of our fans who left early was shit n’all. What’s the point in going all that way if you’re not going to stay to the end? As bad as we were, we very nearly took it to extra time… have some fans never learnt anything from being a City fan and the amount of come backs and late goals we’ve scored?
The team… We started like we couldn’t be arsed. Slow ponderous boring as fuck football by a team who - seemingly just like the fanbase - had absolutely no ounce of belief that a treble was on the cards for us whatsoever. Against a team who were well up for it, who responded to their fans, who looked like they believed that an historic quadruple is on the cards for them.
Okay we grew into the game a bit but let’s be honest they took their foot off the gas at 0-3 and had the rest of their season in mind, and they still looked as likely to make it 1-4 or 2-4 at any point we could have made it 2-3 or 3-3.
Why is it, that players who look good when others are around them, shrink like dying flowers anytime de Bruyne Gundogan Dias etc. aren’t on the pitch? I have never seen Sterling step up in the usual leaders’ absence and drive this team on to anything, it’s about time Foden started doing it as he’s experienced enough now, what a game for Grealish to show us that he’s worth picking for the run-in… they, along with others, were all fucking shit!
Is Pep allergic to making subs? Mahrez was his master stroke was it? He’s been stinking the place out over the last few weeks with meek as fuck performances. Get fucking Delap on, try it, it might have worked.
That was one of my least favourite days ever being a blue! Our fans were shit and some were a disgrace to the club. Our players were woeful for the most part. Manager had a poor day. Fucking wank day out, now I’ve fucked off home.
It was a tired and leggy performance and a selection missing six or seven starters against a well rested full strength Dipper team , that is a fact and not an excuse. If we were going to lose one of the four big games we chose the right one , we have possibly ten games to go and we have to win at least nine of them or i think we will end up empty handed this season
That's a big ask but this manager and squad of players have done it before , worryingly some players are looking jaded and treading water our squad depth isnt all that it seems , and when players like Steffen, Zinchenko , Jesus come in there is a definite drop in quality , they arent poor players just not elite level.
The whole football world is banking on us to stop the Dippers , because i dont see Real Madrid or Chelsea/Palace being good enough.
I think Pep tries to get us to a semi final in case we get knocked out of Europe so it still gives us something to play for, hence why he goes quite strong in the early rounds. Once we get to the semi of the CL, the priority changes and the FA cup becomes priority number 3. Against Liverpool, playing a less then full strength side is always going to be risky and so it proved. I think he is prepared to accept that and pretty much gave up the game at 3-0 with only one forced sub. The players actually did well second half although I’m not sure whether Liverpool had mentally won the game at HT and switched off a bit. Shame Jesus didn’t miss yet another gift of a chance as that may have seen more changes. Frustrating.So you would rather concentrate on a trophy we have lifted several times over the last decade rather concentrate on the league and CL? The league is always the priority and we can't take the risk of complacency. We also need to put the CL in the trophy room.
I don't agree with playing a weakened team in a semi final of the FA cup. But I'd rather lose this than the league or going up against Real with injuries.
Look Ivwoyld have liked to have seen a massive vocal support at the game yesterday but its not the end of the world if we had a few gaps. Expecting lads who have not attended a match in years to suddenly get it together to buy tickets and arrange transport down to London is unrealistic.Eleven years ago the talk amongst our fanbase was that, for a national stadium, Wembley is too small and having the semi against United and the final against Stoke with only having 34,000 and 29,000 tickets for each game respectively was a joke.
The season after we had what must have been a record for number of tickets sold at the new Wembley for one club as we had about 3/5 of the ground against Wigan (if not 3/4).
We have 44,000 season ticket holders and tens of thousands more who used to have one. Someone on here (might have been Prestwich Blue) confirmed we’ve seen over 20,000 season ticket holders give their season ticket up since the takeover, meaning in the last few decades we’ve had upwards of 65,000 season ticket holders. Plus all the other tens of thousands who’ve never had a season ticket.
The City support base is huge and I’m not having it that it’s so little we can’t fill half of Wembley. We have the fanbase in Manchester alone to fill a 65,000 Etihad every week and to fill Wembley every trip but we just don’t do it and for me it’s purely down to apathy (there are other excuses, but it’s mainly that). I know loads of Blues who don’t go to games, loads, well over two dozen. Some haven’t been to a game for years. I’m sure there are loads of match going fans who also know a lot of local blues who never go. These are the lads who should be taking up the slack when the regulars can’t afford or can’t be arsed to go, but for some reason with our support, our non-regulars/non-attenders don’t take up that slack, whereas they do at the other clubs.
It’s alright saying that it’s Cockneys taking up the slack at Liverpool and United, but they do actually have strict sales categories for both clubs.
I know what you mean. Delap scores more goals than games played - 24 in 20.Wish Pep had put the full EDS team out today . We've just had 3 games where the opposition , Athletico twice and the dippers in between , were permitted to kick shit out of our 1st team . 3 games where a minimum of 5 red cards should have been given . The FA cup wasn't worth any more injuries seeing as referee's have given the green light for no holes barred on our players . So lets get the main trophies won with hopefully our top squad playing and have the last laugh .
At the time at Barça, their team was in a bit of a state and known worldwide for being out partying all the time. He inherited a team that had eight players whose wives left them the season before. He came in and got rid of their best player, Ronaldinho. That ridiculous core you talk about; the core was actually Ronaldinho Deco and Eto’o before Pep went to Barça. Messi and Iniesta were just young players in 2008. Messi was only 21 when Pep arrived and only scored 16 goals in the final season under Rijkaard, yet scored 38 goals in his first season with Pep. Iniesta had actually been dropped from the side a lot in Rijkard’s last season at Barça, he actually played 13 fewer games than two season’s earlier.Pep has always had the rolls royce on call. Whether is was inheriting that ridiculous core of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta at Barcelona, to the unprecedented power of the single club league in Germany, to his ability at Man City to activate any release clause he wants. Pep has never never known struggle. That's the biggest criticism of Pep, and its valid.
Granted Pep knows how to get a team playing elite level football. But if you gave Pep and Klopp 100m to build up a squad over three years. After those three years, I think I know which team would be at a higher level
I like your posts mate and you sorted me a ticket once so I say this with all due respect ….. I think you’re being unnecessarily harsh on our support there. Pre game we made more noise than they did but fans react to events on the pitch and from the get go we were uncertain and on the back foot and quite quickly two (very poor) goals down which obviously dampens spirits. 2nd half when the comeback was on we made more noise than them.Like I said before, those people who behaved badly have to look at themselves and it was a minority. The minutes reflection / silence was observed where I was although I didn’t know what it was for at the time. I hear City made an apology for our fans behaviour. FWIW I don’t want any Bolton fan or a Communications Director, who threw Mancini under the bus, apologising for me.
The lack of vocal support for the team was disappointing. I was up but there were guys next to me who only watched 25 minutes of each half. In fairness, I think a lot of Blues didn’t really want to be there yesterday and turned up out of loyalty for our Club. I wouldn’t have missed the game but it became a bit of a chore if I’m being frank. I spent many hours getting enough peole to fill a coach. Then dishing out tickets to Branch members and hanging about to ensure they got in the ground before I went in. All the members were spot on to be fair.
In the last dozen years, I’ve been to Wembley approximately 25 times (including 5 RL Challenge Cup Finals). I think it would have been a much better atmosphere if the game had been held at Villa Park but I know thwas never going to happen.
There is a reason why the media have launched a tirade of negativity against our Club in the last two weeks. If we weren’t winners they wouldn’t bother but some of this shite appears to have worn down some of our support.
Credit to the overwhelming majority of Blues who made the trip to Wembley to support the lads.
The way the first half went certainly didn’t help. 30 odd thousand Blues made the effort to travel to Wembley to support the lads. This is good support considering the avalanche of media negativity.I like your posts mate and you sorted me a ticket once so I say this with all due respect ….. I think you’re being unnecessarily harsh on our support there. Pre game we made more noise than they did but fans react to events on the pitch and from the get go we were uncertain and on the back foot and quite quickly two (very poor) goals down which obviously dampens spirits. 2nd half when the comeback was on we made more noise than them.
This 96 tribute stuff has gone on way too long. You can’t expect blues to endlessly respect a fanbase who show our club and football generally such utter disrespect. What goes around comes around. Any fans booing or failing to observe yet another fucking staged tribute is understandable. How many times do the scousers need to pay their respects and to try to force other fans to pay theirs , what is it 4 times in the last month - decades after the tragedy happened ffs. Enough is enough.
The rags do Munich the right way, once a year, dignified and classy and blues impeccably respect their right to do this and behave appropriately
Pep has always had the rolls royce on call. Whether is was inheriting that ridiculous core of Messi, Xavi, Iniesta at Barcelona, to the unprecedented power of the single club league in Germany, to his ability at Man City to activate any release clause he wants. Pep has never never known struggle. That's the biggest criticism of Pep, and its valid.
Granted Pep knows how to get a team playing elite level football. But if you gave Pep and Klopp 100m to build up a squad over three years. After those three years, I think I know which team would be at a higher level
Obviously the way the first half went didn’t help the singing. But I wish that people get to their seats 10 mins before kick off and sing before. It all happened in concourse.Wasn’t that one of the singing sections too? How did they go on? It was around there wasn’t it?
It’s easy to get behind the team when you are two nil up against your biggest rivals, who you also haven’t beaten for nearly three yearsYour son is absolutely right. And as much as I dislike their fans, unfortunately and it pains me to say it, in terms of atmosphere for their team, they were excellent! It’s something we can never do to that extent!
It seems the better and more successful we get our fanbase gets smaller and quieter… bizarre! I was in 110 yesterday and lots of empty seats dotted around us. I tried to get songs going but some people look at you as if you are at the ballet and should be quiet!
on to Wednesday now! Massive game! I will still be singing loud.
If an opponent, Championship or Prem has the Jesus and Raheem chances, I would expect them to score or for the GK to make miracle saves. I say that because as someone playing for Sunday teams in the early 70s, there were lads in our team and league who were truly magnificent, fast, skilful and could repeatedly find the top corner with total mastery of the ball. Some of these lads were on the books of Rochdale, Bury, Stockport and Barnsley but were ultimately rejected as not being good enough !! We used to play a team from Hulme called Senrab - used to score ten against us and most of the league. Their striker was a kid called Roger Palmer - 'the' Roger Palmer. Incredible player. Two or three others from that team became pro players. What I'm saying is that to be the worst semi pro player in this country, you have to be absolutely outstanding. In that context, I can't get my head round our inability to properly strike the ball at goal with some venom at times.I think Pep tries to get us to a semi final in case we get knocked out of Europe so it still gives us something to play for, hence why he goes quite strong in the early rounds. Once we get to the semi of the CL, the priority changes and the FA cup becomes priority number 3. Against Liverpool, playing a less then full strength side is always going to be risky and so it proved. I think he is prepared to accept that and pretty much gave up the game at 3-0 with only one forced sub. The players actually did well second half although I’m not sure whether Liverpool had mentally won the game at HT and switched off a bit. Shame Jesus didn’t miss yet another gift of a chance as that may have seen more changes. Frustrating.
total bollocksMy wife said to me this morning, we have become exactly what we hated… self entitled! When things don’t go or way a lot of fans hate it and piss and moan. Success has been our fanbases failure! We’re expected to win and when we don’t we can’t take it. Bloke next to us left with his 2 kids just before half time and didn’t return!
So poor yesterday. I’m over the result, I’m still struggling with our fan base!
Nice take down.At the time at Barça, their team was in a bit of a state and known worldwide for being out partying all the time. He inherited a team that had eight players whose wives left them the season before. He came in and got rid of their best player, Ronaldinho. That ridiculous core you talk about; the core was actually Ronaldinho Deco and Eto’o before Pep went to Barça. Messi and Iniesta were just young players in 2008. Messi was only 21 when Pep arrived and only scored 16 goals in the final season under Rijkaard, yet scored 38 goals in his first season with Pep. Iniesta had actually been dropped from the side a lot in Rijkard’s last season at Barça, he actually played 13 fewer games than two season’s earlier.
Under Pep they went on to be the greatest football team of all time, they weren’t anywhere near that before Pep went there.
At Bayern, this unprecedented power of the single club league in Germany, had actually only won the league 3 times in 7 years before Pep went there. It was Pep who made Bayern the unmatched club they became.
At City he hasn’t bought a single player who you’d consider a superstar. He’s built a team of very good players and made them the most consistent team in the country, winning double the amount of trophies as the next best. He won the league title, getting a record 100 points, with Fabian Delph at left back; he won the league title last season (and is front running again this season) with no striker and no left back on the books.
It’s impossible to know who would build a better squad with £100m, just fanciful fictional thinking to even guess.
I found it fucking ironic that some of our fans couldn’t manage to keep their gobs shut for one fucking minute to respect 100 dead people (however long ago it was, and irrespective of the team they supported) yet couldn’t be arsed to make noise for the team during the match.My wife said to me this morning, we have become exactly what we hated… self entitled! When things don’t go or way a lot of fans hate it and piss and moan. Success has been our fanbases failure! We’re expected to win and when we don’t we can’t take it. Bloke next to us left with his 2 kids just before half time and didn’t return!
So poor yesterday. I’m over the result, I’m still struggling with our fan base!