Manchester Evening News

[Bozzie]

If you haven't seen the article in 'black and white' - don't!

It looks, and reads, even worse than it did online. The M.E.N have positioned the original article with Stuart Brennan's response article so that it gives it some form of justification. It now looks as if it is the catalyst for some sort of legitimate discussion into which SB has willingly involved himself. Gone are the pictures of the crowd with the childish red circles so readers are now unable to see how few empty seats were actually on view and will presumably believe that there were masses of empty seats.

If this is the MEN's idea of a balanced and fair response to legitimate criticism from City fans then it is a piss poor effort in my opinion.

 

[Shirley]

I am aiming to quit this thread after this post, as we are acting on concerns - all will become evident in due course.
But one final point, in answer to several posters - City were made aware of this article yesterday, as I called to check if there were any particular concerns about empty seats, or any possible explanations.
I explained what had gone on, and they were unconcerned about the article, and no-one at the club has come back to me, or to the MEN, with any form of complaint.
So talk of us being booted out by City, or punished in some other way are fantasy, I'm afraid.
I do understand the upset from some fans, but think a sense of perspective is needed here.

I am also aiming to quit this thread after this post.........and also the MEN.
Appears all concerned at City also don't give two fcuks about the MEN so carry on alienating a good portion of your readership.

Btw, can you ask David Lynch has he ever paid to watch a premier league football match because in my experience it is usually the glory hunting plastic online armchair fans who spout about empty seats.

 

[manchester blue]

If you haven't seen the article in 'black and white' - don't!

It looks, and reads, even worse than it did online. The M.E.N have positioned the original article with Stuart Brennan's response article so that it gives it some form of justification. It now looks as if it is the catalyst for some sort of legitimate discussion into which SB has willingly involved himself. Gone are the pictures of the crowd with the childish red circles so readers are now unable to see how few empty seats were actually on view and will presumably believe that there were masses of empty seats.

If this is the MEN's idea of a balanced and fair response to legitimate criticism from City fans then it is a piss poor effort in my opinion.

They can't even spell the name of the stadium correctly which proves they have no quality control. What was the MEN apologist saying earlier, that mistakes happen on line because they are rushed. What's the excuse for this then? Absolute trash paper. RIP.

 

[TCIB]

If you haven't seen the article in 'black and white' - don't!

It looks, and reads, even worse than it did online. The M.E.N have positioned the original article with Stuart Brennan's response article so that it gives it some form of justification. It now looks as if it is the catalyst for some sort of legitimate discussion into which SB has willingly involved himself. Gone are the pictures of the crowd with the childish red circles so readers are now unable to see how few empty seats were actually on view and will presumably believe that there were masses of empty seats.

If this is the MEN's idea of a balanced and fair response to legitimate criticism from City fans then it is a piss poor effort in my opinion.

It is some mighty fine circle drawing tbf.

[bigimg]http://i1.minus.com/ibeeZataDcEKnK.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://i5.minus.com/ib0tWNWD3O6UHd.jpg[/bigimg]

 

[Techno]

Nice spelling of "Etihad" as well by the way.

Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable.

You couldn't make it up. Utter bell ends!<br /><br />-- Thu Feb 06, 2014 4:48 pm --<br /><br />

If you haven't seen the article in 'black and white' - don't!

It looks, and reads, even worse than it did online. The M.E.N have positioned the original article with Stuart Brennan's response article so that it gives it some form of justification. It now looks as if it is the catalyst for some sort of legitimate discussion into which SB has willingly involved himself. Gone are the pictures of the crowd with the childish red circles so readers are now unable to see how few empty seats were actually on view and will presumably believe that there were masses of empty seats.

If this is the MEN's idea of a balanced and fair response to legitimate criticism from City fans then it is a piss poor effort in my opinion.

It is some mighty fine circle drawing tbf.

[bigimg]http://i1.minus.com/ibeeZataDcEKnK.jpg[/bigimg]
[bigimg]http://i5.minus.com/ib0tWNWD3O6UHd.jpg[/bigimg]

Yep - and why did they leave the pictures out of the printed version?

 

[BertTrautmann'sParachute]

Maybe they were all stuck on the m62 like me. I managed to arrive just as Chelsea scored. Not the best of nights.god help us if we have 60000 capacity as it can be a right pain in arse getting there now

No need to worry, we won't fill it. On the bright side, the club might hand out red hoops on the way in so that we can place them on our seats should we go to the toilet/for a drink at any point.

 

[TGR]

But one final point, in answer to several posters - City were made aware of this article yesterday, as I called to check if there were any particular concerns about empty seats, or any possible explanations.
I explained what had gone on, and they were unconcerned about the article, and no-one at the club has come back to me, or to the MEN, with any form of complaint.

Well then someone in the press office needs a good kicking for letting this go. Because I would certainly object to a story that has no factual basis and potentially damages the club and its plans to grow.

PB - we are talking about our Press Office here! They are completely useless and have been for years.
They have to shoulder some of the blame for some of the crap we have to put with as they never seem to
refute, challenge or take up anything like this at anytime.
I do hate to say it... but can you imagine the response from the rags Press Office if the story had been aimed at them?

 

[fiddlesticksblue]

Maybe they were all stuck on the m62 like me. I managed to arrive just as Chelsea scored. Not the best of nights.god help us if we have 60000 capacity as it can be a right pain in arse getting there now

No need to worry, we won't fill it. On the bright side, the club might hand out red hoops on the way in so that we can place them on our seats should we go to the toilet/for a drink at any point.

PMSL

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

But one final point, in answer to several posters - City were made aware of this article yesterday, as I called to check if there were any particular concerns about empty seats, or any possible explanations.
I explained what had gone on, and they were unconcerned about the article, and no-one at the club has come back to me, or to the MEN, with any form of complaint.

Well then someone in the press office needs a good kicking for letting this go. Because I would certainly object to a story that has no factual basis and potentially damages the club and its plans to grow.

PB - we are talking about our Press Office here! They are completely useless and have been for years.
They have to shoulder some of the blame for some of the crap we have to put with as they never seem to
refute, challenge or take up anything like this at anytime.
I do hate to say it... but can you imagine the response from the rags Press Office it the story had been aimed at them?

Exactly. I know the Press Office have adopted a 'softly-softly' approach and I can see the benefits of that. It's undoubtedly worked with a lot of influential journalists. But this should have rung alarm bells as it's so far away from the facts.

A few years ago, when I was involved in the Supporters Trust, I was offered the chance to appear on MOTD2. Most people would jump at that but on talking to the producer it was clear there was a potential trap we could fall into which would hurt our cause if we weren't careful. So we made sure we knew what was expected and that this was acceptable to us before we agreed. It went off well and helped us greatly.

A few months later there was the infamous "70% of City fans don't want Sven" headline in The Guardian which wasn't what was said at all but, in one fell swoop, took the rug from under us. With that poorly written and unresearched story (and that's being kind) the MEN could well have pulled the rug from under their own feet.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Maybe they were all stuck on the m62 like me. I managed to arrive just as Chelsea scored. Not the best of nights.god help us if we have 60000 capacity as it can be a right pain in arse getting there now

No need to worry, we won't fill it. On the bright side, the club might hand out red hoops on the way in so that we can place them on our seats should we go to the toilet/for a drink at any point.

The red hoops ably shift the article from comedy to farce. I'm sure Lynch was patting himself on the back when he came up with the idea. They are a stroke of comic genius.