Rags Writing City Reports For MEN

[Soulboy]

When I read the articles in the MuEN I too thought there would be a Rag nuance to it all... and I think that is the case!

The crap about Benitez "frightened" of City... that's a real Rag Issue thing... being sarcastic and trying to take the piss out of City being "massive".

And then the Crouch story... it's as if Tevez and Et'o aren't worth mentioning, so he concentrates on someone who must be about our 6th. choice!

Brennan even dismisses the Tevez link, even though that is clearly the biggest story concerning City right now.

So, even though he's being subtle, Brennan cannot help but write like a fuckin' Rag!

...thus writes the classic paranoid insecure Blue.

There are "Reds Under The Bed", I tell you...

Thus writes the submissive, scraps from the rich man's table, knows his place in the footballing world Blue.

"They are a Manchester team, so we should be proud of them..." I tell you...

Stuart, unwittingly you are confirming all Soulboy's entrenched fears.

soulby: "i knew it, they've taken over the world"

"Stuart" is it? How informal, and so soon as well!

Another week and it might even be "Stu"!!!

FFS.

He's only a reporter on the local rag (see what I did there?), not exactly worth crawling up his arse for, eh?

 

[Prestwich_Blue]

I'm Stuart Brennan (puts on tin helmet).

I don't make a habit of perusing fan forums - as a journo they could send you insane - but a City mate flagged up this debate, and I thought I'd dip in.

Yes, I am the new City man at the Evening News, and yes I do have a Red background.
One poster touched on the truth of it, that Chris Bailey is leaving to work for City, and as redundancies have been made, his successor had to be chosen from within.
The editor and sports editor deemed I was the best choice in terms of experience and ability and I aim to prove them right.
I understand that some people won't be happy with that decision, but there's not a lot I can do about that.
What I WILL try to do is provide a first-class service to City fans, and try to make sure the MEN is seen as an independent source of news about the club which strives for accuracy (won't always happen, but that is unavoidable in today's media climate, unfortunately).
I was born into a Red family and was a home and away United supporter in the 80s, before my job meant I stopped going for a long time. I became number two on Utd after joining the MEN in 1998, but have grown increasingly disillusioned with the club, both as a fan and a journalist.
I have been shunned by United for my coverage of the Glazer takeover and formation of FC United.
And, though I have always enjoyed banter with City mates, and occasionally in the MEN, I have never had a problem with City. In fact, there have always been aspects of City I respected - even as a kid I remember wondering why my City mates who were Junior Blues got a Christmas party at which they met their heroes, when United did nothing like it.
Over the years, I have met plenty of City people, from Joe Royle to Mark Hughes to Jim Cassell and have tremendous respect for them. Being a football journalist alters your perspective on football as a whole, as well as your traditional allegiance and rivalry.

I am enjoying covering the club after years of suffering the Pravda attitude at Old Trafford, and finding everyone friendly and helpful. It is an exciting time to be covering City, and I am excited to do the job, and will do it as well as I possibly can.

I probably shouldn't have posted this, but what the hell - I had to come clean at some time!

RAG!!! (just our traditional greeting to new posters).

It will be interesting to see how you get on with Chris in his new role as he also suffered the Pravda treatment from City when Paul Tyrrell was the PR chief. I hope he makes your life easier than Tyrrell made his. There does seem to be a more relaxed attitude to the press from the new regime and hopefully you will get some good stories. Welcome aboard.

 

[Didsbury Dave]

My God man, you don't have to fawn all over them just because they're Rags!

I know we're only Liddle Cideh, but show some backbone man, and have some pride in OUR club! They're our rivals... not our fucking kindred spirits!

But nice of you to tell him how to do his job. A bit of a professional media man on the quiet are you...? Or is it just limited to the messageboards?

And the award for missing the point spectacularly goes to the man with the shifty eyes, checking uder his bed every 20 seconds.

They're journalists. They do a job. Sometimes well, sometimes badly.

But the fact a journalist - who is doing his job - writes something positive about the other club his readership supports doesn't make him a "Rag" or a fucking "Bumlicker" as my young pal says, it means he's doing his job. And wants to have a meal for his family on the table at nights, not his P45.

Comprendez?

 

[Didsbury Dave]

[
He's only a reporter on the local rag (see what I did there?), not exactly worth crawling up his arse for, eh?

Aha, you're a kiddie too.

got it.

 

[Danish Blue]

At the risk of being a tad controversial, doesnt it actually make sense to have the person covering each team be a fan of some other team. I realise putting a United fan on the City games may be the extreme and go against the grain a bit but I would rather read something objective than a self serving love in.
The newspaper I read doesnt reflect my political beliefs particularly, but knowing the angle they are coming from it sometimes makes me question things I have taken for granted in the past.

 

[flb]

[agreed,why dont you stick your tongue down the back of his trousers

You are obviously a little kiddie and can have nothing meaningful to say in this debate, little boy

Its all opinions David all opinions,10 out of ten for him coming on here,theres many an occasion where the MUEN have belittled MCFC no more than chief sports editor Mr Spencer.So to ridicule posters who are wary of certain people's allegiances is way off the mark.I have myself posted on both sides of MUEN forum and for no reason had posts pulled on the red side for no reason whatsoever than to voice an opinion.

dont get on your high horse with your pathetic "little boy" jibes David, time will tell is Mr Brennan can cut the mustard.

 

[Balti]

I'm Stuart Brennan (puts on tin helmet).

I don't make a habit of perusing fan forums - as a journo they could send you insane - but a City mate flagged up this debate, and I thought I'd dip in.

Yes, I am the new City man at the Evening News, and yes I do have a Red background.
One poster touched on the truth of it, that Chris Bailey is leaving to work for City, and as redundancies have been made, his successor had to be chosen from within.
The editor and sports editor deemed I was the best choice in terms of experience and ability and I aim to prove them right.
I understand that some people won't be happy with that decision, but there's not a lot I can do about that.
What I WILL try to do is provide a first-class service to City fans, and try to make sure the MEN is seen as an independent source of news about the club which strives for accuracy (won't always happen, but that is unavoidable in today's media climate, unfortunately).
I was born into a Red family and was a home and away United supporter in the 80s, before my job meant I stopped going for a long time. I became number two on Utd after joining the MEN in 1998, but have grown increasingly disillusioned with the club, both as a fan and a journalist.
I have been shunned by United for my coverage of the Glazer takeover and formation of FC United.
And, though I have always enjoyed banter with City mates, and occasionally in the MEN, I have never had a problem with City. In fact, there have always been aspects of City I respected - even as a kid I remember wondering why my City mates who were Junior Blues got a Christmas party at which they met their heroes, when United did nothing like it.
Over the years, I have met plenty of City people, from Joe Royle to Mark Hughes to Jim Cassell and have tremendous respect for them. Being a football journalist alters your perspective on football as a whole, as well as your traditional allegiance and rivalry.

I am enjoying covering the club after years of suffering the Pravda attitude at Old Trafford, and finding everyone friendly and helpful. It is an exciting time to be covering City, and I am excited to do the job, and will do it as well as I possibly can.

I probably shouldn't have posted this, but what the hell - I had to come clean at some time!

You forgot to put ''Moneybags'' in front of ''City'' there....

 

[Soulboy]

They're journalists. They do a job. Sometimes well, sometimes badly.

And that's the point of this forum.

If you think a journo writes something negative about my team, then I'll comment upon that. Is that alright with you?

Or is it only okay if it meets with your approval?

Like I said earlier, I never buy that rag and never will, because whether you like it or not, their agenda has been to belittle City for many years and the examples are too numerous to list.

Strangely enough, even City supporting journalists (such as David Conn) have criticised City on a regular basis... and you know what? I come on here and comment upon them as well.

That's what the forum is for! Doh!

Oh, and before you get all superior about the "Media" and how us less intelligent supporters don't understand it... trust me sunshine, I could write a book on the subject (a bit of a private joke there!)...

 

[stuart brennan]

Now everybody knows your a rag everytime you write
a an article about city they'll be Reading between the
lines and I'm sorry I'll be one of them and I understand
now why a lot of posts about the rags don't get through
on the forum there's no city fans left at evening news

I can assure you that there are no hidden agendas with me. As I said, I have never had any problems with City, and since becoming a journo have developed plenty of respect for people in and around the club.
As for the forum, I don't moderate it, but the lad who does moderate it four or five days a week is very much a Blue, and a match-goer at that.
I suspect the messages which don't get through are due to bad language (you're not even allowed to say arse in the MEN!), potential for libel or something similar.
I can assure you there is no anti-Blue conspiracy, and the sports desk is still a fairly even split Utd-City wise.

 

[Alex B]

Good luck and congrats on getting the job.