Pep: 'The players deserve a full stadium, we need our fans!'

[Blue Llama]

We are playing better than ever and we have a huge thread on empty seats,pep should do his research before gobbing off about the fans

Nice bit of respect shown to the Manager who has got them playing that way.

 

[Marvin]

I don't think Pep would have said anything had the game been played on tuesday as planned. Yeah we have had a few low attendances in the past but the majority of our games are very healthy indeed.

Last night was under very unusual circumstances.

Some enthusiasm for European competition has faded understandably. Up until last season, the European games were a massive disappointment. And then you have the UEFA foul play to top it off.

However with the goals raining in, the problem will solve itself. When I left my seat last night, I looked at the faces of the people sitting next to me, neither of the usual seasoncard holders, and I know they'll be back. I am not sure it's a particularly good trait that people associate themselves with success. I liked the City fans who stuck with us in huge numbers in the lower leagues, but it is the way of the world. It's also obvious when you look around the stands, that a lot of current City fans date back to the Mercer Allison years, and the initial years under Book when we were in Europe every year (didn't last long mind - nor did we last long in Europe. I remember listening to the radio as City went out in the UEFA Cup Q/F to Borussia Munchengladbach towards end of the 70s).

We are Britain's boom club. We've gone from Div 3, and perennial yo-yo club to one of the top teams in Europe and it will take a few years for the supporter base to catch-up. We've always had a very large loyal following, but to get 55,000 in midweek when all those seasoncard holders pay again is a big ask.

Arsenal include the CL group stage homes in their ticket price. Utd have compulsory schemes. Spurs have the novelty factor of Wembley and the CL. London also. We don't do so bad, and there's no point beating ourselves up about it. The solution is already here....winning football, and we'll have 54,000 on Saturday.

 

[Marvin]

You understand that people who boo the Champs League anthem are City fans don't you? We are there to support the team, but take the opportunity to make our feelings known about the corrupt organisation that governs the competition. You might not give a shit about that, so bully for you, don't boo the anthem. Some of us remember what UEFA tried to do to our club and what they'd do again given the chance, so fuck them and fuck their anthem.

We've spent the last 3 weeks berating the FA for their Aguero ban, and blank cheques for Fellaini/Ibrahimovic. Imagine the reaction of City fans if there was a FA anthem? There'd be uproar.

City fans know he competitions we are in are bent. But are we supposed to like that, or ignore it? No we express our views, and re-double our determination to see City come out on top.

 

[Blue Llama]

You understand that people who boo the Champs League anthem are City fans don't you? We are there to support the team, but take the opportunity to make our feelings known about the corrupt organisation that governs the competition. You might not give a shit about that, so bully for you, don't boo the anthem. Some of us remember what UEFA tried to do to our club and what they'd do again given the chance, so fuck them and fuck their anthem.

So let me get this straight. Us booing is going to result in mega changes at UEFA. Don't think so somehow. So to make a few of our fans feel important and massage their own egos we ignore our manager and basically say F off to him? That sounds really grown up to me, not. More like the behavior of a 5 year old in Tesco.

 

[BurnCK]

You understand that people who boo the Champs League anthem are City fans don't you? We are there to support the team, but take the opportunity to make our feelings known about the corrupt organisation that governs the competition. You might not give a shit about that, so bully for you, don't boo the anthem. Some of us remember what UEFA tried to do to our club and what they'd do again given the chance, so fuck them and fuck their anthem.

Well if gives you a moral victory, knock yourself out...am pretty sure UEFA don't give a shit, however our manager does, but fuck him too right? I guess supporting the team doesn't stretch to supporting the manager.

 

[kaz7]

Nice bit of respect shown to the Manager who has got them playing that way.

I call a spade a spade

 

[balotelli's back pocket]

I am 62 the other guys further down the row from me are similar age and all were there tonight,unlike many on here.
There was no "moaning" just full of support and comments on the game.

Easy target the older support but way out of line if you ask me.
Ive been all over with the club for many many years so think this targeting of "older" supporters is out of order.

At what age do you think we should stop attending the games?

Maybe we should stop now so we can leave it to the non existent hordes of younger fans who wanted to attend tonight,......and they were where?????.

I am regularly talked down to by people that hink they know more

Which is why I said nonn existent hordes.

Do people here really believe that all other clubs do not have fans who "moan"/comment on the game and players less than City fans??
Get real its not just a night out for 20/30 somethins we are all allowed to go and support our team.

Ive sat next to groups of young lads who wouldn't know a good move/pass if it was in front of their fckin eyes yet some on here seem to think they have a right to "moan" rather than an older guy who has a bit of football knowledge.
Pissed me off the tone of some on this thread ,particularly those who sat at home tonight and last night!!

Weell i was here both nights and it pisses me off when older people say sterling and stones are shite for no reason. Go figure

 

[Chris in London]

I think that's more to do with Europe's big clubs holding UEFA over a barrel, threatening to form a super league if UEFA doesn't pander to them, but regardless that's not even the reason we boo them.

And if everyone hates UEFA corruption so much, why even go to a CL game to help fill UEFA pockets? Just shows how fickle fans are. Boo the anthem but can guarantee they'd be celebrating like crazy if they won it.

The reason we boo UEFA is because it is corrupt to the core. Changing the rules about the UEFA co-efficient is just one illustration of this.

The reason we go to the games is to support our team. Like it or loathe it the Champions League is the most prestigious club competition in the world bar none. It is not inconsistent to want our team to win that trophy whilst showing our personal disgust towards the organisers and the way they have treated us and our team.

 

[wolfie1988]

This has been coming for a long time in my opinion from somebody at the club. Nobody within the club, up until now, has been brave enough to approach the situation. I'm not sure which way it will go now but it has got other clubs supporters talking about it. Most of which are conveniently ignoring the comment from Pep about us always filling it for Prem games.

Klopp approached a similarly touchy subject with Liverpool fans leaving early last season. I'm not sure whether this had any effect or not.

I'm lucky that I can afford to attend every home game and a lot of away games, but I'm also wise enough to know that personal circumstances with other fans means that not everybody is in the same boat as me. I won't slate anybody for not going to a game. That's their own choice at the end of the day and I think Pep has been very brave to approach it so early into his tenure here. He is in a position of power at the moment though especially with the way we've started, so maybe he felt it was the right time to pipe up about it. The club can't do anymore than they are doing IMO with ticket prices. Last nights ticket cost less than some League 2 games do nowadays.

I did mention on the Etihad development thread the other day that I think we should hold off on the further expansion but obviously got shot down and called a rag by the usual suspects. That remains my opinion and while I can see it from the other side, I do believe we should let demand really outstrip supply before going ahead with it

 

[hgblue]

Well if gives you a moral victory, knock yourself out...am pretty sure UEFA don't give a shit, however our manager does, but fuck him too right? I guess supporting the team doesn't stretch to supporting the manager.

Most of you were crying like babies when FFP was slowing down our progress and the club was being unfairly sanctioned. Now it doesn't affect us anymore you don't give a shit. Don't lecture me on what's right and wrong because you clearly have no clue.