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

[Dribble]

No matter how hilarious you may find it, there is more than a grain of truth about 1. I doubt that anyone actually decides "the anthem will be booed so I'm not going" but the booing is part of the negativity that surrounds the CL. Its certainly not the main reason (not compared to crap performances in the past, ticket prices etc) but it contributes to the feelbad factor.

You forgot to add 'IMO'.........

The booing before the match gets my blood pumping, my heart racing and the chants of City, City immediately afterwards give me goosebumps. Can you give me an instance where our booing has effected our attendance or players performances?

Vinny even said that the squad were fully behind our protests........

"Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says it is "a joke" that Uefa is investigating the club after fans booed the Champions League anthem. There is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem," said Kompany.

"We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse - we have had to put up with it."

City supporters are understood to have regularly booed the Champions League anthem over the past year.

The Belgium defender, 29, added: "Uefa can do what they want to do, but in the end if people feel it's the right thing to do, they have the right to do it.

"How else can they show their frustration and somehow have a voice that matters? The fact that we were given the sanction is actually drawing more attention to what they are trying to do. We support our fans."

And there you have it in black & white from our skipper.......... "We support our fans."

If anyone should know the mood in our dressing room then its Kompany. How would you feel as a player that try as you might on the pitch, there is a governing body doing everything it can to stop you competing on a level playing against any 'Elite' European opponents.

 

[bugsyblue]

You forgot to add 'IMO'.........

The booing before the match gets my blood pumping, my heart racing and the chants of City, City immediately afterwards give me goosebumps. Can you give me an instance where our booing has effected our attendance or players performances?

Vinny even said that the squad were fully behind our protests........

"Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says it is "a joke" that Uefa is investigating the club after fans booed the Champions League anthem. There is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem," said Kompany.

"We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse - we have had to put up with it."

City supporters are understood to have regularly booed the Champions League anthem over the past year.

The Belgium defender, 29, added: "Uefa can do what they want to do, but in the end if people feel it's the right thing to do, they have the right to do it.

"How else can they show their frustration and somehow have a voice that matters? The fact that we were given the sanction is actually drawing more attention to what they are trying to do. We support our fans."

And there you have it in black & white from our skipper.......... "We support our fans."

If anyone should know the mood in our dressing room then its Kompany. How would you feel as a player that try as you might on the pitch, there is a governing body doing everything it can to stop you competing on a level playing against any 'Elite' European opponents.

Well said. This sums it up Perfectly for me. If you want to boo, boo, if you don't, don't. But whatever you do get to the game and get behind the team. Otherwise pep will whip your Ass!

 

[cibaman]

You forgot to add 'IMO'.........

The booing before the match gets my blood pumping, my heart racing and the chants of City, City immediately afterwards give me goosebumps. Can you give me an instance where our booing has effected our attendance or players performances?

Vinny even said that the squad were fully behind our protests........

"Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says it is "a joke" that Uefa is investigating the club after fans booed the Champions League anthem. There is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem," said Kompany.

"We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse - we have had to put up with it."

City supporters are understood to have regularly booed the Champions League anthem over the past year.

The Belgium defender, 29, added: "Uefa can do what they want to do, but in the end if people feel it's the right thing to do, they have the right to do it.

"How else can they show their frustration and somehow have a voice that matters? The fact that we were given the sanction is actually drawing more attention to what they are trying to do. We support our fans."

And there you have it in black & white from our skipper.......... "We support our fans."

If anyone should know the mood in our dressing room then its Kompany. How would you feel as a player that try as you might on the pitch, there is a governing body doing everything it can to stop you competing on a level playing against any 'Elite' European opponents.

I was only discussing the impact on attendances. I didn't (and never have) said it affects performances

 

[jrb]

I for one will keep on booing until I see UEFA creating a level playing field as regards City on and off the pitch.
If people stop booing, I don't have a problem with that. That's their choice.

 

[Dribble]

I was only discussing the impact on attendances. I didn't (and never have) said it affects performances

Ok, can you give me any instances where our booing has impacted on our attendances?

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

You forgot to add 'IMO'.........

The booing before the match gets my blood pumping, my heart racing and the chants of City, City immediately afterwards give me goosebumps. Can you give me an instance where our booing has effected our attendance or players performances?

Vinny even said that the squad were fully behind our protests........

"Manchester City captain Vincent Kompany says it is "a joke" that Uefa is investigating the club after fans booed the Champions League anthem. There is nothing holy about the Champions League anthem," said Kompany.

"We have played many games in Europe where there has been racial abuse - we have had to put up with it."

City supporters are understood to have regularly booed the Champions League anthem over the past year.

The Belgium defender, 29, added: "Uefa can do what they want to do, but in the end if people feel it's the right thing to do, they have the right to do it.

"How else can they show their frustration and somehow have a voice that matters? The fact that we were given the sanction is actually drawing more attention to what they are trying to do. We support our fans."

And there you have it in black & white from our skipper.......... "We support our fans."

If anyone should know the mood in our dressing room then its Kompany. How would you feel as a player that try as you might on the pitch, there is a governing body doing everything it can to stop you competing on a level playing against any 'Elite' European opponents.

Thanks for tracking down these quotes, they were the first thing I thought of when I heard Pep's comments on the matter. Martin Samuel's article made some good points too.

Pep is the man when it comes to on the pitch issues, we may not like all his decisions (the Joe Hart situation etc) but we get behind him. I think he's missed the point on the booing, as Vinny said we have put up with a lot from UEFA over the years and there isn't another way for our fans to make our feelings known. It's unfortunate if Pep doesn't like it, but it pre dates him joining City and he'd be better served to stay out of it rather than telling the fans how to behave.

 

[StevieAsk]

I understand the booing, I've even booed myself. Everyone has heard it, the press and UEFA all picked up on it and it was a good way to show our feelings. However, it's been done now and it is time to move on. I don't see it serving any purpose anymore. For most professional footballers the Champions League is the pinnacle. I've heard many a player say they feel shivers down their spine when the anthem is played. It should be special, we all flapped about not qualifying for it last season. Pep is probably saying what half the players think. Half empty stadiums with fans booing the anthem isn't the reason they've come to City. IMO it's now having a negative effect on the club.
Just my opinion of course but then that is what this forum is for.

 

[squirtyflower]

I understand the booing, I've even booed myself. Everyone has heard it, the press and UEFA all picked up on it and it was a good way to show our feelings. However, it's been done now and it is time to move on. I don't see it serving any purpose anymore. For most professional footballers the Champions League is the pinnacle. I've heard many a player say they feel shivers down their spine when the anthem is played. It should be special, we all flapped about not qualifying for it last season. Pep is probably saying what half the players think. Half empty stadiums with fans booing the anthem isn't the reason they've come to City. IMO it's now having a negative effect on the club.
Just my opinion of course but then that is what this forum is for.

Half empty stadium?

Don't recall gates of 27,000 last season or 23,000 in the previous four years?

 

[StevieAsk]

Half empty stadium?

Don't recall gates of 27,000 last season or 23,000 in the previous four years?

Without being too pedantic, when there are 10,000 empty seats I call that half empty. But, yes, I suppose half empty is now 27,000 empty seats. It doesn't change the point I was making.

 

[squirtyflower]

Without being too pedantic, when there are 10,000 empty seats I call that half empty. But, yes, I suppose half empty is now 27,000 empty seats. It doesn't change the point I was making.

IMO it makes your point less valid when using hyperbole based on a falsehood, but you crack on, you clearly know the relationship between the booing and seasoncard holders not attending until the semi final.
Funnily enough to those same seasoncard holders didn't attend before the booing started, but I'm sure you're right and they were about to press 'buy' on the ticketing section then thought "oh no, I can't be seen be in a negative light with all that booing".
I'm sure that's why Barca have lots of empty seats in group games too, those awful Catalans booing the jingle

 

[Dribble]

Without being too pedantic, when there are 10,000 empty seats I call that half empty. But, yes, I suppose half empty is now 27,000 empty seats. It doesn't change the point I was making.

Yes it does change the point. It's bad enough having the Salford knuckle draggers counting our 'empty' seats for us without our fans joining in! Very few clubs if any sell out in the group stages of the Champions League, but its only the Rags and the Rag media who seek to highlight us as a special case because its about all they have left.

We left ManUre behind season's ago and they just can't handle it. You also claim our booing is having a negative effect on our club.... Care to be more specific?

 

[Phil1]

I'm more in favour of banners being put in prominant positions around the ground where we know the cameras will pick them up and a full stadium singing 'City, City' over the music.
Whatever it is we end up doing it needs to be as one. From reading this thread over the 5/6 days it seems that there are several people who are willing to stop the booing whilst several are adamant they will carry on. My worry would be if that split is similar in the ground then there could be the potential for uneccessary needle between our own support.
One thing I will say is UEFA should continue to be an organisation that we call out. I'm hoping that the new president will prove worthy of respect but as it stands they are still at the forefront of what is wrong with the game, and Pep, who I'm falling more and more in love with on a daily basis should be made aware just how deep our anger at them lies.

 

[StevieAsk]

We should always call UEFA out, that's a given.
With regards to empty seats, I doubt any other English club would shut a tier for a game against Celtic. The apathy towards the competition from a significant number of our supporters is something I've not come across from fans of any other club.
The negative effect I mentioned was partly the press (talksport were having a debate about it being time for us to move on from the booing only last week as it was making us look a little silly now and yes, I know they talk crap on there but people listen to it and take it in) and partly for the players and management. Champions League games should be special occasions but they've rarely felt like that at home.

 

[blueinsa]

Without being too pedantic, when there are 10,000 empty seats I call that half empty. But, yes, I suppose half empty is now 27,000 empty seats. It doesn't change the point I was making.

Its no different to fans of other clubs or journo's spouting half truths and lies about us though is it?

 

[Gray]

I still think the competition was set up to make the rich clubs even richer and nothing has changed my view.

I will not support the CL but will continue to give my best at every Premier League match because that is my preferred competition.

If people wish to Boo let them we still live in a country of free speech.

 

[mcfc1632]

Really find it a bit weird that this thread has become totally dominated by the Booing issue - which is just about personal choice - probably happens that fans can take up positions and start arguing which is increasingly the trend,

FWIW as Pep has asked the booing to stop I will make the choice to do so and, as I do not want to show any respect to the UeFA fuckers, I will sing Bluemoon or another CITY song instead.

I suspect this is what an increasing majority will do and it will take over - win - win for me as we demonstrate a lack of respect for UeFA and make a positive noise for our team.

Then the thread debates people not attending - with lots of posters taking the opportunity to put their 'biggest blue' credentials forward - also not really the point - if people are SC holders and paid - then if they do not attend or get someone to take their place then there must be a pretty good reason as, no matter what they can afford, nobody will want to see a ticket wasted.

For me the issue that should be debated is the very large number of fans that just fuck off early - making the place look half-empty

Yes there will be some genuine reasons - but I suspect only for a small percentage with the rest just showing a lack of respect for the team - FFS can it really cause such inconvenience to wait for the whistle?

 

[Neville Kneville]

I'm more in favour of banners being put in prominant positions around the ground where we know the cameras will pick them up and a full stadium singing 'City, City' over the music.
Whatever it is we end up doing it needs to be as one. From reading this thread over the 5/6 days it seems that there are several people who are willing to stop the booing whilst several are adamant they will carry on. My worry would be if that split is similar in the ground then there could be the potential for uneccessary needle between our own support.
One thing I will say is UEFA should continue to be an organisation that we call out. I'm hoping that the new president will prove worthy of respect but as it stands they are still at the forefront of what is wrong with the game, and Pep, who I'm falling more and more in love with on a daily basis should be made aware just how deep our anger at them lies.

Won't be any needle from my point of view.

If people want to boo, they are quite entitled to.The reasons behind it are fully valid. It won't make the slightest difference though & imo if not for Pep's comments, the booing would be almost nothing by the next match, as so few joined in at the last match. I probably would have stopped anyway when I think about it now, as I was one of about 3 in 500 doing it where I was.

There are some it seems who have taken the 'I'll jolly well boo & nobody can tell me otherwise' line so perhaps they will make more of an effort & it will actually be louder fior a game or two.The booing last week, which I joined in with, was nothing short of pathetic. It just appeared sad & had lost the humour too.

I think it will die a death as City grow in the competition & crowds will increase as the atmosphere becomes more positive & pro City. Pep is right imo, that playing quality football will solve that problem eventually.

The only difference is that we will miss an opportunity to have a huge raucous cheering of City, over their shitty jingle, which could become a tradition & support the team, like Celtic singing pre kickoff, rather than a bit of a sad half arsed effort, which is how it will end up over time.

But grasping oppotunities is not what we do.

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

FWIW as Pep has asked the booing to stop I will make the choice to do so and, as I do not want to show any respect to the UeFA fuckers, I will sing Bluemoon or another CITY song instead.

But has he specifically asked for that? I think he was referring to our negativity around the CL as a whole and the fact the fans are quite half - hearted about it. If we had a full stadium that booed for 30 seconds before the match started then got behind the team for the next 90 minutes, I don't think he'd have any complaint.

I think the club set entirely the wrong tone by closing SS3 for the BMG & Celtic games. They should have kept it open and perhaps done a 'Buy one get another half price' offer, £10 for u-25's or free kids tickets to ensure maximum take up.

Yet again the club is prioritising a few quid over a full ground. It's so fucking stupid and infuriating. Soriano is a complete dickhead.

 

[Phil1]

But has he specifically asked for that? I think he was referring to our negativity around the CL as a whole and the fact the fans are quite half - hearted about it. If we had a full stadium that booed for 30 seconds before the match started then got behind the team for the next 90 minutes, I don't think he'd have any complaint.

I think the club set entirely the wrong tone by closing SS3 for the BMG & Celtic games. They should have kept it open and perhaps done a 'Buy one get another half price' offer, £10 for u-25's or free kids tickets to ensure maximum take up.

Yet again the club is prioritising a few quid over a full ground. It's so fucking stupid and infuriating. Soriano is a complete dickhead.

Is that Celtic game definitely going to have closures then? Wow! That is a fuck up. Surely we could sell that out now if marketed correctly.

 

[mcfc1632]

But has he specifically asked for that? I think he was referring to our negativity around the CL as a whole and the fact the fans are quite half - hearted about it. If we had a full stadium that booed for 30 seconds before the match started then got behind the team for the next 90 minutes, I don't think he'd have any complaint.

I think the club set entirely the wrong tone by closing SS3 for the BMG & Celtic games. They should have kept it open and perhaps done a 'Buy one get another half price' offer, £10 for u-25's or free kids tickets to ensure maximum take up.

Yet again the club is prioritising a few quid over a full ground. It's so fucking stupid and infuriating. Soriano is a complete dickhead.

I accept that he has not specifically asked for the booing to cease - that is actually more the way that I have interpreted it. I agree it is a more general request for positivity. I have decided to stop the booing because I think that has run its course. I think that singing Bluemoon or another CITY song will be a more effective and positive approach - as well as adding to the positivity that Pep is looking for.

As the rest of my post dealt with - I am more concerned about the leaving early issue - this surely can be improved by us fans.