Supporters all over the country claim to dislike City, but the reality is that they are envious of the money we've had ploughed in by the Sheik. Those that are 100% truthful will say that they wished it had happened to their own club - which is totally understandable. We, the City fans, make no financial (or otherwise) gain from the club's successes but we do get the bragging rights...and don't I bloody use them! It is also helpful to us that the rags are so universally disliked by true football fans, hence A.B.U. becoming such a common phrase.
Being resented by jealous fans because of our fortune is one thing, but being hated by other supporters for the murder of innocent people, the attack and the subsequent wanton destruction of a football team's coach, and all the other atrocities carried out by those same 'supporters' is something else entirely.
Whatever club you may support, you don't really 'hate' other clubs, in the true sense of the word. You dislike them when you're own team is playing them, absolutely: but for the rest, if they're not challenging for the honours your own club is going for, you are usually quite indifferent to what they do or don't do.
But not so with the dippers: the club itself is universally despised, and also the fans themselves are detested.
The dippers might go on and win the Prem, they might accumulate a lot of trophies between now and whenever the White Cliffs of Dover demand Bingo returns his teeth to them, but outside of that stagnant, puss-filled pit of a stadium they will still be hated by everyone. Now that takes some doing.
We on the other hand are simply envied by everyone, but envied with an air of fans grudgingly acknowledging what a fantastic thing the club is doing on and off the pitch.