so this agenda thing.

[Sigh]

No these fans have developed recently and have bought into the narrative propagated by the media around the history of Liverpool, hillsborough tragedy, and the mythical Kop and YNWA.

But we have our own illustrious history, are arguably the most successful prem team of the last 3 years.

Liverpool's narrative is something that John W Henry will come to have viewed as serendipitous, being aware, as I'm certain he is, of the currency in human tragedy, if it can be marketed effectively. It is, I suspect, one of the reasons that the doublethink in relation to Heysel that subsists in people associated with that club, prevails. It is why it is played down by the club in such stark contrast to their advancement of the cause around Hillsborough. Does that mean I am critical of them for that in relation to Hillsborough? In broad terms, absolutely not, not least because it is something the club has consistently done since before FSG took over, but anyone who thinks that John W Henry hasn't considered, appreciated and acted upon the commercial benefits of being associated with such a tragedy, with all its attendant ingredients of innocent death and state culpability, do not understand what it takes in someone to become a billionaire.

As you say, City have their own narrative and one which should be exploited more vigourously by the club imo. A club that was virtually broken a decade and a half ago, a fallen giant, now sits at the top table of the global world game. If it hadn't been for the steadfast efforts of its supporters around the end of the last century, it wouldn't and couldn't have appeared on Sheikh Mansour's radar in the first place. The club's revival, and the part its supporters played in that, is a story which also has considerable marketing appeal and one reason why the club's ticketing pricing needs to the attended to with greater care than has been displayed of late. I believe City, more than any other club, would suffer an identity crisis, if sufficient numbers of its long-term support were priced-out from watching their team with any regularity.

The club needs to be more bold in promoting its history globally. It is a narrative which is as interesting, with as many incredible twists and calamities, as any other. It really is, in footballing terms, an incredible story.

Totally agree with you here GDM. We do need to market the past 15 years or so more to show our incredible rise.

I swear I read that as "show our incredible arse."

 

[everythingchangesbutblue]

I think that there are valid points from both sides on recent posts but am happy that our owners have probably understood that we are not going to be everybody's flavour of the month in the short term or have decided to be more proactive in changing this perception (probably both).
ADUG's decision to buy into football clubs in USA, Japan and Australia is evidence that they want to grow it globally rather than rely solely on the model others use of a UK based club that their base of foreign supporters must be grown from.

Like most things applicable to MCFC we have a lot of catching up to do after the many years of mismanagement of our image by previous owners.

Our owners are doing things differently and frankly UEFA and FIFA never mind the 12 or (is it 14) elite clubs are realising that change is happening so are uncertain whether to embrace it or ignore it.

Again just an opinion.

Do you not think this strategy of setting up/buying up clubs is in part the relative failure (I say relative as there is no doubt we are a much bigger brand than we were 5 years ago) of MCFC to take off globally as a brand In it's' own right and that is in part due to the lack of promotion we get by the mainstream media, despite our success?

No, we will take off as a "global brand" when we compete in the final stages of the Champions league. Our failure to make finals and semi's is whats holding us back, win the champions league and nothing will stop us. Sooneer or later we will destroy a Real Madrid, BM, barca and then the foreign hordes will take notice, think it will be this year too.

 

[George Hannah]

I think that there are valid points from both sides on recent posts but am happy that our owners have probably understood that we are not going to be everybody's flavour of the month in the short term or have decided to be more proactive in changing this perception (probably both).
ADUG's decision to buy into football clubs in USA, Japan and Australia is evidence that they want to grow it globally rather than rely solely on the model others use of a UK based club that their base of foreign supporters must be grown from.

Like most things applicable to MCFC we have a lot of catching up to do after the many years of mismanagement of our image by previous owners.

Our owners are doing things differently and frankly UEFA and FIFA never mind the 12 or (is it 14) elite clubs are realising that change is happening so are uncertain whether to embrace it or ignore it.

Again just an opinion.

Do you not think this strategy of setting up/buying up clubs is in part the relative failure (I say relative as there is no doubt we are a much bigger brand than we were 5 years ago) of MCFC to take off globally as a brand In it's' own right and that is in part due to the lack of promotion we get by the mainstream media, despite our success?

No, we will take off as a "global brand" when we compete in the final stages of the Champions league. Our failure to make finals and semi's is whats holding us back, win the champions league and nothing will stop us. Sooneer or later we will destroy a Real Madrid, BM, barca and then the foreign hordes will take notice, think it will be this year too.

of course our win at the Allianz last season was airbrushed away by our media friends

 

[everythingchangesbutblue]

Do you not think this strategy of setting up/buying up clubs is in part the relative failure (I say relative as there is no doubt we are a much bigger brand than we were 5 years ago) of MCFC to take off globally as a brand In it's' own right and that is in part due to the lack of promotion we get by the mainstream media, despite our success?

No, we will take off as a "global brand" when we compete in the final stages of the Champions league. Our failure to make finals and semi's is whats holding us back, win the champions league and nothing will stop us. Sooneer or later we will destroy a Real Madrid, BM, barca and then the foreign hordes will take notice, think it will be this year too.

of course our win at the Allianz last season was airbrushed away by our media friends

of course, it was even used as a negative on pellegrini because of Aguero's substitution, but an emphatic late stages win over a "big" team is what we need.

 

[Blue Mooner]

No, we will take off as a "global brand" when we compete in the final stages of the Champions league. Our failure to make finals and semi's is whats holding us back, win the champions league and nothing will stop us. Sooneer or later we will destroy a Real Madrid, BM, barca and then the foreign hordes will take notice, think it will be this year too.

of course our win at the Allianz last season was airbrushed away by our media friends

of course, it was even used as a negative on pellegrini because of Aguero's substitution, but an emphatic late stages win over a "big" team is what we need.

Don't disagree necessarily but when the likes of Real can spend 70-100 million every season and still fall in line with the agenda led FFP regulations how are we expected to compete on a European level ? The agenda extremists like myself also believe that we will continue to be given hard draws that make this achievement ever harder. Why create the city football group if you could achieve the same through one club - that being MCFC ?

Take a look at our premier league start as further evidence of the agenda from footballs governing bodies hard at work. Has anyone else fallen 'unlucky' enough to draw three of the top four in the first five games, contrasting with the rags ridiculously gentle 8 games ?

 

[everythingchangesbutblue]

of course our win at the Allianz last season was airbrushed away by our media friends

of course, it was even used as a negative on pellegrini because of Aguero's substitution, but an emphatic late stages win over a "big" team is what we need.

Don't disagree necessarily but when the likes of Real can spend 70-100 million every season and still fall in line with the agenda led FFP regulations how are we expected to compete on a European level ? The agenda extremists like myself also believe that we will continue to be given hard draws that make this achievement ever harder. Why create the city football group if you could achieve the same through one club - that being MCFC ?

Take a look at our premier league start as further evidence of the agenda from footballs governing bodies hard at work. Has anyone else fallen 'unlucky' enough to draw three of the top four in the first five games, contrasting with the rags ridiculously gentle 8 games ?

First things first, i'm a full blown card carrying agendarist, fuckers hate us and want us to fail but that being true or not RM can spend that amount because the current rules allow it, its not fair but it is the way things are and always harms them anyway, we build a team the right way these days and that will benifit us in the long run. I agree in the 1st few seasons we we're given hard draws to try and stop us but now its not in the "big" clubs interest to do that as we are more than capable of beating anyone. Starting last year and going forward are draws will be inline with what anyone would expect. Off the top of my head i can't remember a top 4 with such a hard start(maybe Villa last year had a v bad one tho) but if we do well in those games that disadvantage will very quickly become a positive. At the end of the day, fuck em all, theey can't and won't stop us.

 

[mac]

of course our win at the Allianz last season was airbrushed away by our media friends

of course, it was even used as a negative on pellegrini because of Aguero's substitution, but an emphatic late stages win over a "big" team is what we need.

Don't disagree necessarily but when the likes of Real can spend 70-100 million every season and still fall in line with the agenda led FFP regulations how are we expected to compete on a European level ? The agenda extremists like myself also believe that we will continue to be given hard draws that make this achievement ever harder. Why create the city football group if you could achieve the same through one club - that being MCFC ?

Take a look at our premier league start as further evidence of the agenda from footballs governing bodies hard at work. Has anyone else fallen 'unlucky' enough to draw three of the top four in the first five games, contrasting with the rags ridiculously gentle 8 games ?

I would rather have our start tbh.no one will want to face us either.its over 38 games that count.we could have 13/15 points or we could start like last season and be chasing the pack.the team will know they have to be 100% from the off and pellers will not let them drop there guard.i cannot wait for the season to start.

 

[BlueHalli]

of course, it was even used as a negative on pellegrini because of Aguero's substitution, but an emphatic late stages win over a "big" team is what we need.

Don't disagree necessarily but when the likes of Real can spend 70-100 million every season and still fall in line with the agenda led FFP regulations how are we expected to compete on a European level ? The agenda extremists like myself also believe that we will continue to be given hard draws that make this achievement ever harder. Why create the city football group if you could achieve the same through one club - that being MCFC ?

Take a look at our premier league start as further evidence of the agenda from footballs governing bodies hard at work. Has anyone else fallen 'unlucky' enough to draw three of the top four in the first five games, contrasting with the rags ridiculously gentle 8 games ?

I would rather have our start tbh.no one will want to face us either.its over 38 games that count.we could have 13/15 points or we could start like last season and be chasing the pack.the team will know they have to be 100% from the off and pellers will not let them drop there guard.i cannot wait for the season to start.

Its based on givin the rags a nice steady start to the season so they can get some points under their belts and take the presure off . Our start has been set out in an attempt to create an opposite effect.

 

[Second Skin]

Jus read this article on the Granuiad website, you would never know that the Premier League Champions were there and setting up their ow club in the US of A:

http://www.theguardian.com/football...ed-states-manchester-united-liverpool-arsenal

Premier League pilgrims preaching to the converted in United States

Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal have been in the United States this summer and demand among the public is high, providing an alternative to traditional American sports
Carlos Sepulveda is a 28-year-old LA Galaxy fan who has just watched his team suffer a 7-0 hiding by Manchester United at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.

He paid $115 (£67) to be one of an 86,432 crowd who were eager to watch what was, essentially, a meaningless friendly, though with tickets reaching a scarcely believable $433.59 – the cheapest was $35 – Sepulveda believes seeing Wayne Rooney and company compensated.

“It was a little pricey,” he says. “Normally I would pay 40, 50 bucks but because it is Manchester United that attracted me a little, yeah. I just came to see the Galaxy, I’m a Galaxy fan.”

United’s summer tour of the US is taking in at least four matches in four states. It is occurring in the middle of the Major League Soccer season. Yet stateside there is an intense interest in the attractions of the Premier League. Liverpool and Manchester City are in the same International Champions Cup competition as United, while Arsenal were in New York last week for a one-off match with the Red Bulls when, again, ticket prices touched $500.

The Premier League, as the most commercially successful football competition in the world, is in a powerful position to exploit the US market but in its pursuit of the dollar there is serious competition from Spain, with La Liga also in America this summer. On Sunday the champions, Atlético Madrid, defeated the San Jose Earthquakes, 4-3 on penalties, in the latest match of the self-styled LFP World Challenge, which is a joint strategy between La Liga and the Spanish Institute for Foreign Trade that “aims to help promote Spain overseas”.

Javier Tebas, La Liga’s president, told the Guardian: “Every year one or two teams will come to the US. We are already looking ahead to next year and planning to expand – our goal is to bring two clubs and play six games. The World Cup showed what passion there is for football in the US and we are over here at a great time.”

At the last census 53 million Americans were Hispanic, a constituency who often favour “soccer” over the NFL, NBA, Major League Baseball and hockey, with fans such as Sepulveda those the Premier League – and La Liga – hope to attract.

“I just came back from the World Cup and I’ve always preferred soccer,” he says. “I’m Mexican, my dad was a soccer player, my grandfather. It’s just in my family.”

Last Saturday United played at the mile-high altitude of Denver, where Roma were defeated 3-2 before 54,117 fans in their first ICC group match, before Louis van Gaal’s team flew to Washington where three days later they beat Internazionale, 5-3 on penalties, at FedEx Field in front of a 61,238 crowd.

The meeting between United and Real Madrid and the former Old Trafford favourite Cristiano Ronaldo, in Michigan on Saturday, was a 110,000 sellout in just two hours. Liverpool’s 1-0 defeat by Roma at Fenway Park, the home of the Boston Red Sox, the famous baseball franchise owned by the Anfield club’s proprietor, Fenway Sports Group, was also sold out.

NBC, which is about to cover its second Premier League season, broadcast the meeting in New England. Arlo White, the network’s lead commentator, who worked at the BBC for 10 years, says: “Liverpool want to tap the American market and obviously they’re owned by FSG so there’s a lot of synergy there.”

White, who formerly commentated for the MLS’s Seattle Sounders, believes a cosmopolitan blend are watching Premier League teams in the States. “There’s a real mixture. They may be expatriates or fans who are Bostonians who follow the teams in bars or on TV early on a Saturday or Sunday morning. A lot of fans will have travelled over to follow the tour – it’s pretty high profile for LFC. And I think it’s general sports fans from the area, maybe one or two who have got into soccer as a result of the US doing very well in the World Cup. So there’s a real mixture.

“Certainly in training there was a large, vociferous crowd who were lapping up everything that Liverpool did, demanding all the autographs they could get – the enthusiasm was incredible. And the game was completely [packed] – a crowd of between 30,000 and 35,000.”

Outside Denver’s Sports Authority Field, David Webb is wearing a United T-shirt, having just seen the victory over Roma. He says: “My wife and I were journeying back to Montreal and she caught wind that United were playing here so we thought we’d definitely want to come and see them. The cost – $61.50 – is, comparatively speaking, for what you get, good value.”

Webb says watching United in America features little tribalism. “You see shirts from teams all over the globe in the crowd,” he says. “I’m not sure how that would go over in the UK but there’s a festive part here that I suspect doesn’t exist in the UK. Purely on an economic basis, soccer is becoming more and more popular because it’s inexpensive, relative to, say, hockey or American Football.”

As MLS’s continual growth since the inaugural season in 1996 attracts an increasing number of leading players, including David Beckham, Thierry Henry and Frank Lampard, could the invasion of Premier League clubs – and those from other European leagues – threaten the MLS?

Anthony Ikpa, a 27-year-old from Kansas, believes the opposite is true. “It’s more a showcase because people want to watch Ronaldo and Gareth Bale,” he says. “And being able to watch those guys next to MLS players, I think there’s more of an attendance for a local rivalry.

“I know the games I’ve gone to have been Inter v somebody else or Chelsea v somebody else. I’m not interested in the MLS games but the people who do attend MLS will be there.

“On top of that there will be people like me who don’t want to waste their money going to the MLS who will only go to see the Premier League and other clubs.”

White believes the trend will continue. “It’s the standard of facilities, the ease of travel – there are great distances but it’s easy to travel round the States, particularly if you’re chartering planes – the quality of the hotels; everything is laid on. It isn’t that far away from the UK compared to Australia.

“And the bottom line is clubs are chasing the dollar to be the most popular team in the US. Like the NFL fans in the UK, there’s a lot of very dedicated fans here, who go out of their way – they might go to bars or pubs or sit on their sofas watching the action. It’s hard to convey to people in England just how into it they are.

“They are Liverpool fans absolutely to the bone, or they bleed Man United, Arsenal – and their passion and knowledge of the team and clubs rivals fans that live in Salford or Islington or Kirkby.”

 

[mad4city]

It would be quite simple for ADUG to get Sky & BT "on message". All they'd have to do is have Etihad, Absaar etc sponsor programming and, in turn, pressure the stations for a "fair deal" for their flagship Premier Lg team. (Yes, I know these aren't necessarially under the auspices of ADUG but you get my drift). A body could be forgiven for suspecting that UEFA/ Gazprom/ Chelsea have shown the way in this regard.
For whatever reasons, our owners have chosen not to go this route. They're clever men and, as frustrating as it may be, we'll just have to learn to live with it. They haven't let us down yet, after all.