No More Champions League For Me

[Alex - City Matters]

Lost all respect for Barca/ sorry for my over-reaction!
Postby burning blue soul » Fri Apr 29, 2011 1:58 pm

i dont like barcelona (the football team btw!), i have felt this way for a few years now, they seem to be able to play a style of play that gets opposing players sent off, and the refs appear to be letting it happen.

they have some good players, very good players, but it strikes me that the beautiful game that twatini is always going on about (you know, the non contact, lets all waltz around looking pretty and not too many of those nasty type tackles football!!!) is the one they are promoting through Barca. i feel a conspiracy coming on!!

i am so tired of watching that squad roll and fly about when challenged, with the referee having his yellow card on an elastic band. they play to their strengths, which is brilliant football and if that isnt/is working they will still fake an injury. its winning in the dirtiest sense of the word.

opposing players are now hesitant about tackling the Barca players, that has surely got to be, not just bad for the game, but the actual death of the game!

look now at the amount of diving and play acting that goes on in european football, it is a fucking circus, and this is a natural reaction of champions league teams to watching Barca win the cup using this method.

it took you lot a while, but at least the penny is dropping now!!! :)

And yet when a dirty English team do it to our flair players we all howl in outrage - Nasri anyone?

Football has been having to deal with the cloggers since Pele was booted out of the 1970 world cup, it's a natural progression to want the flair players protected for the fans' benefit too.

I hate the theatrics as much as anyone, but we can do without the leg breakers in the future, and it's a fine line for the refs sometimes.

Difference being the tackle on Nasri was cynical whereas most of the tackles on Barça players were honest attempts for the balls, which most time succeeded. There is a big difference between cynical and an actual tackle.

 

[Blue2112]

I was never interested in it before we got involved and usually only watched the Rags to see if they got beat and I've viewed the Champions League from the first game we played as nothing more than a bonus, it's a game I can go to and enjoy and not get too nervous about. Yes I still get involved but once the games over I'm calm about the result either way win, draw or a loss. I can see it's importance to the club and it's something we need to be involved in but again for me I'd take the title, the FA cup and then the league cup in that order first. I'm absolutely buzzing for the league cup final as my dad never took me in 74 and 76 but instead went with a van full of mates and cans of party 7's and promised to take me to the next one, which he did in 81 so the league cup is a little bit of closure for me regarding City.

However you've got to hand it to Blatter, Platini and co. in that they have marketed the Champions League perfectly. Everyone I met yesterday and today was talking about our game and none of them were even going. I hate the whole ethos of it and all it encompasses with it's prolonged needless draws in front of all the clubs representatives out on a jolly, just fucking put 32 teams in a hat and pull them out, how difficult can you make it. And yet it seems to me that anyone who is a non-going football fan is glued to the TV and engrossed in it all and loves to discuss all the permutation'st. UEFA have certainly got themselves a captive audience and today I had at least 5 people I see on a regular basis who have no idea I'm a City fan yet asked did I watch the game last night and were completely surprised when I said 'yes I was there'....None of these people have ever asked did you see the Norwich game at weekend.

Looking at it all it just seems one big wank fest for Blatter to rub shoulders with the best in football and make millions and yet dish up the same format year in year out and the same goes for the Ballon D'or. It's been played to perfection with the big companies all wanting their brand on show and sadly has devalued domestic competition in the process. As always there is fuck all we can do but roll with it and support your club but it will never be the be and end all for me. Stoke on Saturday is bigger for me stripped of all the razzamatazz and glamour and I just hope the boys in blue are up for it every bit as much and it doesn't turn into a Barca/Champions League hangover.

 

[ballinio]

I was never interested in it before we got involved and usually only watched the Rags to see if they got beat and I've viewed the Champions League from the first game we played as nothing more than a bonus, it's a game I can go to and enjoy and not get too nervous about. Yes I still get involved but once the games over I'm calm about the result either way win, draw or a loss. I can see it's importance to the club and it's something we need to be involved in but again for me I'd take the title, the FA cup and then the league cup in that order first. I'm absolutely buzzing for the league cup final as my dad never took me in 74 and 76 but instead went with a van full of mates and cans of party 7's and promised to take me to the next one, which he did in 81 so the league cup is a little bit of closure for me regarding City.

However you've got to hand it to Blatter, Platini and co. in that they have marketed the Champions League perfectly. Everyone I met yesterday and today was talking about our game and none of them were even going. I hate the whole ethos of it and all it encompasses with it's prolonged needless draws in front of all the clubs representatives out on a jolly, just fucking put 32 teams in a hat and pull them out, how difficult can you make it. And yet it seems to me that anyone who is a non-going football fan is glued to the TV and engrossed in it all and loves to discuss all the permutation'st. UEFA have certainly got themselves a captive audience and today I had at least 5 people I see on a regular basis who have no idea I'm a City fan yet asked did I watch the game last night and were completely surprised when I said 'yes I was there'....None of these people have ever asked did you see the Norwich game at weekend.

Looking at it all it just seems one big wank fest for Blatter to rub shoulders with the best in football and make millions and yet dish up the same format year in year out and the same goes for the Ballon D'or. It's been played to perfection with the big companies all wanting their brand on show and sadly has devalued domestic competition in the process. As always there is fuck all we can do but roll with it and support your club but it will never be the be and end all for me. Stoke on Saturday is bigger for me stripped of all the razzamatazz and glamour and I just hope the boys in blue are up for it every bit as much and it doesn't turn into a Barca/Champions League hangover.

The Champions League is a bent, fraud of a competition perfectly marketed for people with a passing interest in `soccer`, give me the domestic trophies all day long.

 

[Dextersmate]

Do tourists wear special shirts or something to identify themselves as tourists? I tend to be watching the football rather than the crowd so didnt realise.

Half n half scarves, one blokelooked like David Bailey, filming the match on ipad,then on his camera.

 

[CITY FOR LIFE]

I afraid it's domestic football only for me from now on. I've been increasingly disillusioned with the so called Champions League for some time and my decision is not just a reaction to last night. I will save my money for our Wembley trips from now on.
reasons :-
1. Bent referees
2. Blatantly rigged draws designed to ensure half a dozen big clubs progress

3. Rip off ticket prices
4. FFPR designed to protect half a dozen big clubs
5. No alcohol in grounds.
6. UEFA effectively condoning racist chanting
7. UEFA insisting no domestic games are played on CL nights
8. Season ticket holders being forced out of their seats for press seats and bigger advertising boards
9. Meaningless group games with nothing at stake
10. Obvious bias by high ranking UEFA officials (eg Platini) towards certain clubs and against English clubs in particular City
11. Heavy handed and often thug like policing abroad
12. The Etihad filled with tourists on Champions League nights

I will have all your tickets then thanks, everyone has an opinion and you are no different but most of the points on your list are incorrect at best.

Which are incorrect?....they all look sound to me

Have to admit it is overrated and is it worth upto a couple of thousand to attend 6 home and away games?

Again last night the ground was packed with supporters who didn't even know there way around, 2 stopped me on Mercer Way asking how you got to the other side of the ground as it was their first visit!! How are these fans getting tickets.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

seems from this opinion is divided roughly 50:50?

50% sensible and 50% fools, then.

No offence mate but your opinion is so small-minded it wouldn't be out of place in the brain of an ant.

 

[thurlestone]

Alib is spot on.I agree with every point.Its not just us(City).United used to have diabolical ref decisions as well until Fergie found out how to fix it all.Chelsea had an obviously bent ref a couple of years ago too.--last night again I was moved into some corner of the ground so that some tourists can sit in my seat.I wont be signing up for champions league next year and if someone else wants my seat--fine--enjoy it.

 

[PistonBlue]

I afraid it's domestic football only for me from now on. I've been increasingly disillusioned with the so called Champions League for some time and my decision is not just a reaction to last night. I will save my money for our Wembley trips from now on.
reasons :-
1. Bent referees
2. Blatantly rigged draws designed to ensure half a dozen big clubs progress

3. Rip off ticket prices
4. FFPR designed to protect half a dozen big clubs
5. No alcohol in grounds.
6. UEFA effectively condoning racist chanting
7. UEFA insisting no domestic games are played on CL nights
8. Season ticket holders being forced out of their seats for press seats and bigger advertising boards
9. Meaningless group games with nothing at stake
10. Obvious bias by high ranking UEFA officials (eg Platini) towards certain clubs and against English clubs in particular City
11. Heavy handed and often thug like policing abroad
12. The Etihad filled with tourists on Champions League nights

GO and watch FC United then. You can have a cheap pie and jump up and down with your arm in the air chanting "'Who are ya?" as much as you want.

Last night was one of the great nights in The Etihad Stadium's short history. The eyes of the world upon us, a great tactical battle between two teams containing some of the best footballers in the world, a tense, big match atmosphere, no trouble and excitement from start to finish.

I really enjoyed it, even though things didn't go our way. It showed how good we have got, and the fact that we are very much in the hunt for three other trophies was a big silver lining to the cloud.

I've paid my dues stood on windy terracing watching Lee Crooks in a meaningless game. I've sat in a half empty Etihad watching us labour to create a chance against Bolton. Fuck that. I want more of last night.

Spot on. I've done my time watching us toil for fuck all.

Every other supporter of other clubs (barring the obvious) would love to be in our shoes.

Enjoy it. These are the good times, and things are going to get better.

Pre 2008 I had a rag mate, season ticket holder who stopped going to CL. I found it hard to believe he could do this. CL was something we could only dream about, so for him to choose to stay at home baffled me.
After a couple of years in it however I can see exactly why he made that decision, for pretty much the same reasons as the OP lists.
I've also done my time at the likes of Wycombe away on a cold, wet night. I got goosebumps that first time I heard the CL music at our ground.
I don't know, I just don't think the CL is everything it's cracked up to be.
I enjoyed the game, I thought it was fascinating and a privilege to see Messi and his pals in the flesh.

 

[Belfast_city]

Can see where you are coming on a lot of points but the club do need to be in to attract big names and the financial benefits that come with it but with all your valid points made(from the first post) it's gonna make it all the more sweeter when we eventually win the tournament ,maybe not this season but it will happen CTID!!!!

 

[Plays By Sense Of Smell]

The usual tourists were out in force on champs night along with welcome visitors from far flung lands including some Japanese and Korean supporters interspersed with a large contingent of Norwegian Blues.
Plenty of Norwegian Blues there last night .
The J.C.L'S were there with the newly arrived happy snappers not to be confused with the happy clappers !

Could have been worse.
You could have been sat near Mr Cynical in block 219
Cynical tw*t this and Cu*Nt cynical f*cker of a ref the other.
You yellow clothed moth eaten cynical sly f*ck of a dog you you you you !
Messi you cheating cynical C*NT
Alves n Macherano you cynical lowlifes : )

Absolutely priceless , I do love going to to the football .
Just saying like , Call me cynical if you like ,

Totally agree with the OP

Now the novelty value has worn off we're left with what it basically is - a corporate love in

I sat in my usual seat in 204 last night and was surrounded by cunts taking fucking selfies all night.

It encompasses all that's bad about modern day football

For some reason your post reminds me of the late 80s era...running verbal battle every week in the North stand block M between some woman who couldn't stop slagging him and some bloke who met every one of her moans with a belligerent 'Go on Stewie' 'that's it Stewie, good lad' in response.

I just wanted to tell her to stop coming if he was annoying her that much.