The "Brand" is growing ;)

[gordondaviesmoustache]

We are not Stockport County but we are Manchester City Football Club and the vast majority of our fanbase has been through the bad times which subsequently has moulded us into what we are.

I despise all these people that have no connection with our club and have just jumped on to a very large bandwagon, would these cretins be wearing the latest city shirt if we were mid table ? would they fuck, remember we have risen very fast in the last few years but we can easily return to mid table mediocrity, will these fuckers be buying shirts then ?.

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Sniff, sniff. Nauseating.

He's not a rag as I know him personally very well.

That explains a great deal.

 

[mcfcliam]

Welcome Blue :)

What if there was a rag with the same story?

Would you be slating him?

Why are you so hostile towards non Mancunian blues?

I'm not. I never said anything to him. I'm saying why are people being so hypocritical in slating United's global support but welcoming ours?

I couldn't give a flying fuck in the grand scheme of things but just wondering as it's all very odd.<br /><br />-- Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:29 pm --<br /><br />

^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^ ^

Sniff, sniff. Nauseating.

He's not a rag as I know him personally very well.

That explains a great deal.

What's your problem?

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

What if there was a rag with the same story?

Would you be slating him?

Why are you so hostile towards non Mancunian blues?

I'm not. I never said anything to him. I'm saying why are people being so hypocritical in slating United's global support but welcoming ours?

I couldn't give a flying fuck in the grand scheme of things but just wondering as it's all very odd.

-- Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:29 pm --

He's not a rag as I know him personally very well.

That explains a great deal.

What's your problem?

No problem. It explains your defence of him that's all. Nowt wrong with that, sticking up for someone you know. I'd do the same for a mate.

 

[mcfcliam]

Why are you so hostile towards non Mancunian blues?

I'm not. I never said anything to him. I'm saying why are people being so hypocritical in slating United's global support but welcoming ours?

I couldn't give a flying fuck in the grand scheme of things but just wondering as it's all very odd.

-- Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:29 pm --

That explains a great deal.

What's your problem?

No problem. It explains your defence of him that's all. Nowt wrong with that, sticking up for someone you know. I'd do the same for a mate.

I wasn't being hostile mate, my post wasn't even directed at said fan. I was merely just wondering why people are being so hypocritical that's all.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

I'm not. I never said anything to him. I'm saying why are people being so hypocritical in slating United's global support but welcoming ours?

I couldn't give a flying fuck in the grand scheme of things but just wondering as it's all very odd.

-- Sat Aug 18, 2012 2:29 pm --



What's your problem?

No problem. It explains your defence of him that's all. Nowt wrong with that, sticking up for someone you know. I'd do the same for a mate.

I wasn't being hostile mate, my post wasn't even directed at said fan. I was merely just wondering why people are being so hypocritical that's all.

No worries Liam.

As I've said I think there has to be a bit of give and take from us more established fans if this club is going to continue moving forward.

 

[The Ox]

What if there was a rag with the same story?

Would you be slating him?

Why are you so hostile towards non Mancunian blues?

I'm not. I never said anything to him. I'm saying why are people being so hypocritical in slating United's global support but welcoming ours?

I couldn't give a flying fuck in the grand scheme of things but just wondering as it's all very odd.

I'm not being hypocritical as I don't slate the Rags global support. I was welcoming a Blue from another part of the world to make him/her feel part of something special. The fact is I embrace the fact and also feel proud that our Club is reaching out across the waters and is becoming popular.

 

[Big Blue Swede]

Im one of those scandinavians. While i spent a lifetime supporting and defending the blues, i just recently found my way to this forum. Let me tell you this, supporting the most wounderful club known to man is not easy in Scandinavia. Almost everyone around here supports Arsenal, Liverpool or the club i won't mention by name. With all the money the great sheik Mansour brought to the club it's not really any easier since now you are always called a plastic fan if you support City. The most common thing you hear is something like "so before 2009 you supported Chelsea, now you support City and tomorrow you will support PSG". People over here often don't realize that City existed before shiek Mansour and had supporters before that aswell. Not that there are alot of us, Im still the only one in my hometown that i know of and yes i make my allegiance perfectly known as i parade proudly in my cityshirts.

I have no connection to Manchester or UK. I don't even remember when or why i fell inlove with Manchester City FC. A dream is to one day actually see a game at the Etihad stadium and drink beer with fellow blues. Might sound a little stupid to you guys who has season cards or the possibily to visit the stadium when you want, but over here we dream about just going to that one game. On a side note one of my shirts says Silva 21 aswell. Thats my favourite shirt, bought it shortly after the Silva transfer was announced at mcfc.co.uk :)

Anyhow greetings from Sweden. I was a blue long before Mansour and I will be a blue untill i die.... hopefully under a lovely blue moon.

Depends which town you are from mate.. ;)

 

[TBooksbluearmy]

Look fellow blues doses it really matter where we get the fans from, beit from all over the UK or from Europe, just as long as they stay loyal I am certainly not bothered where they come from. Yes it will be hard for them to followus evry wek up and down the country, but hey, who knows maybe when we are drawn against a team from their country nmaybe they will be able to get tickets and come and support us.

So please felow blues don't knock those fans who live far off and cannot make it to the games as long as they are buying the shirt or other souvenirs it is bring money into the club.

 

[sir baconface]

Im one of those scandinavians. While i spent a lifetime supporting and defending the blues, i just recently found my way to this forum. Let me tell you this, supporting the most wounderful club known to man is not easy in Scandinavia. Almost everyone around here supports Arsenal, Liverpool or the club i won't mention by name. With all the money the great sheik Mansour brought to the club it's not really any easier since now you are always called a plastic fan if you support City. The most common thing you hear is something like "so before 2009 you supported Chelsea, now you support City and tomorrow you will support PSG". People over here often don't realize that City existed before shiek Mansour and had supporters before that aswell. Not that there are alot of us, Im still the only one in my hometown that i know of and yes i make my allegiance perfectly known as i parade proudly in my cityshirts.

I have no connection to Manchester or UK. I don't even remember when or why i fell inlove with Manchester City FC. A dream is to one day actually see a game at the Etihad stadium and drink beer with fellow blues. Might sound a little stupid to you guys who has season cards or the possibily to visit the stadium when you want, but over here we dream about just going to that one game. On a side note one of my shirts says Silva 21 aswell. Thats my favourite shirt, bought it shortly after the Silva transfer was announced at mcfc.co.uk :)

Anyhow greetings from Sweden. I was a blue long before Mansour and I will be a blue untill i die.... hopefully under a lovely blue moon.

Welcome, xbuddyx. You don't need to know why you became a Blue. Just support them with pride and give those Swedish rags a hard time. You really should move heaven and earth to come over for a match one day. :)

 

[Stretford Born Blue]

I welcome new fans, in addition I know many who have supported City over the years and often went to Maine Road but have yet to step foot in our current ground, are they new fans of bandwaggon jumpers...???

I've had a few bandwaggon jumper comments in the street etc from other fans recently.
Now, I look young for my age, I am in fact 50 early next year.
My normal response is to calmly ask how old they are (which is normaly between 18 and 35), I then tell them my age and let them know I've had a season ticket for 38 years.
It's usual for them to then harp on about buying the league to which I tell them you can't do that as it's not corrupt....!
Then they fuck off becuase they can't think of anything else to say.
I travel down to Surrey and Eastbourne/Bexhill often to see relatives and friends. I have seen many City tops and caps etc over the years, some old, some new, in fact I've tried to book myself on supporters club coaches down there to return home for a match and have never been able to get on one with the number of blues travellling from down there to games.
9 years ago several of us left Dorking after a wedding early to see the last game at Maine Road. Saw nothing but blues heading up to Manchester, that was 9 years ago with a 35000 seater stadium.
I think a lot of the apparent 'new fans' are in fact fans of a number of years who have taken to proudly wearing and showing the colours as they become more successful and the kit becomes more readily available due to the club anhancing it's sales strategy and global growth.
Expect more folks, we have a huge fan base, 10 years ago I was at a supporters club meeting in Northenden when Dennis Tueart told the meeting 35% of our fan base lives in the South East of the country (taken from season ticket and ticket sales). But keep that quiet, how is our fan base spread now accross the country....??
We are obviously getting more and more popular and attracting new fans all the time, but all are not brand new, just fans who have woken up and are proud to show off the colours, fly the flag and bollox to what anybody else thinks...........

 

[Anonymous]

Expect more folks, we have a huge fan base, 10 years ago I was at a supporters club meeting in Northenden when Dennis Tueart told the meeting 35% of our fan base lives in the South East of the country (taken from season ticket and ticket sales). But keep that quiet, how is our fan base spread now accross the country....??
..

Well i suppose we must live somewhere seein' as the Sun has got the rags thinkin' none of us live in Manchester !

 

[gymshoe]

In the pre-internet/satellite era, the premier league (or any other Euro-league) was not available on TV here in the States. A person could read no European papers except the Economist and Times at the library for all practical purposes. Five years ago, most of us had never heard of Sentana Sports. I was at President Obama's announcement that he was running for Office in 2008, and stood next to the Sky reporters. Virtually no one had even heard of Sky.

Now, I have Fox Soccer, Fox Soccer Plus, GolTV, streaming internet feeds (thank you Shadygiz), the UEFA channels, and youtube. I can read the MuEN and Guardian online everyday. I listen to BBC on our National Public Radio, and my satellite radio gives me Talkshite. How could I have a chance at being a supporter of any European team or sport if everything mentioned in this paragraph did not exist?

My American football team (Denver Broncos) were the laughing stock of football for years. Then we found glory with John Elway in the late 80's & 90's. Then we sucked again. Now we have hope again. My point is none of my fellow fans jumped ship. Why would we start now, even through relegation?

I now have scores of friends in Manchester. I'm waiting for CL fixtures to plan my autumn trip over, and I will be back in the Spring, too. Lets say City get relegated 10 years from now. I see no circumstance I do not maintain my friendships and travel schedule. And while I am sure I am not unique, most foreign City supporters will never step foot in Manchester--or will come over on a one off. I can't see us being too much of a threat for seats. I went to the Birmingham City Cup tie last year, and the stadium was only 3/4 full. I was also blessed with seeing the rags the year before, and though it was a 0-0 match, I would not have traded the experience for anything! And yes, I teared up with you when I heard Balotelli--AGUEROOOOOO. And I will tear up with you again during good and bad times.

Besides, as I have said before, I do not believe HH Mansour bought the team as a benevolent sugar daddy--people like me are a part of his plan. When I come over, I spend my savings on all things City, as well as all things Mancunian. Why would you not want me (or us, if you will) as a part of your community?

 

[jma]

So why do people take the piss out of United's plastics but revel in ours by saying some shite like 'City chooses you'.

Bollocks.

I think that you have to accept the world as it is not how you'd want it to be.

The success we are having (which presumably you enjoy) would not exist if the club was only going to be supported by people who can talk about the bad old days like it's a badge of honour.

We have to draw new supporters in if this club is to dominate united, which is something I know you crave.

You can't have one without the other. Deal with it.

Is there not an option of recognising that such 'fan' acquisition is what the club have to aim for, whilst still thinking that people deciding to support a club to which they have no association is a bit, well, sad?

Personally, I know the club have to do it and I would never do or say anything to make such a person feel uncomfortable at a game.

However, that does not stop me from wondering why on Earth you (well, not, you, but you know what I mean), as an adult, with a fully functioning adult brain, with all the capacity for logic, self evaluation and reason it contains, would want to claim to be a huge fan of something that is hundreds/thousands of miles away from you and has no sort of association to you.

Why would an adult continue that sort of charade, couching it, as they always do, in the romantic, exaggerated language of 'passion'? Well, I know why they would and it is linked to the reason why clubs like Rochdale don't attract their fair share of people with no connection to Rochdale or RAFC who 'feel' the same way about them. But people rarely like to admit this.

The point is, on here it seems that you are allowed to be one of two things. A neandertal, bordering on racist who is stuck in some sort of time warp and is so unaware of business and global economics that you personally would rather risk City's future to satisfy you ignorant opinions.

Or, the second option, is that you spout cliched nonsense about "City chooses you", £the righteous path", "A blue is a blue", etc and react with complete and utter, child likes glee to any story of someone in another country wearing a City top and claiming to be a 'huge' City fan. (Whilst simultaneously taking the piss out of United 'fans' who do the same - yes, some will say "I never did that". The majority of people cannot say they never have though).

I would like a third option. One that I class myself as. I couldn't give a fuck about what people choose, it has no effect on my life. But I do not see football as some bizarre issue where I judge adult's actions through the prism of a child in a way that I don't so with anything else. Therefore,if an adult tells me how they are such a massive fan of a successful football team that they have no reasonable attachment to, other than having seen them on TV one day and then deciding to watch them more (or any other of the usual 'reasons' - saw a Cup final they were in when I was 8, someone bought me a top, Great Granddad once flew over the ground), then I will always be left scratching my head and wonder why a fully grown, fully functioning adult would want to carry out such a charade and talk in such stupid language (which, let's face it, most of us do when talking about 'loving' our team, etc) about an attachment that, deep down, they know is manufactured and based upon an attraction to glamour. Even if that glamour is just something like supporting Swansea from Norway, as saying you support a Premiership team is more glamourous than saying you 'only' supporting a Norwegian team.

I distinguish too between someone who just likes to watch certain football/teams. We all like watching the likes of Italian football in the past and Spanish football now. But to take that leap and then talk of yourself in the same terms as people who have a genuine attachment to said team/place is bizarre to me and not the actions of a rational adult.

Does it bother me? No. Do I do anything about it? No. Do I want anything doing about it? No.

But anyone over 10 who bangs on about their huge feelings and support for a sports club from a random place, whilst simultaneously shunning the equivalent clubs from their area or that they have some sort of (possibly family) link with? Don't ask me to judge that through a different prism to how I would judge any adult talking and boasting (cos that is what most football fans do) something else just as removed? In 99% of cases it is self aggrandising and a 'choice' based on perceived glamour and saying you want to be part of it.

It's mental, in my view.

 

[lita69]

Our new fans are not glory hunters but rather those who appreciate great football. I always try to talk to City fans I meet throughout the country and every single one of them seems to have the 'vibe' that we all know and love about our match going fans. Easy going, down to earth and most importantly knowledgeable about football I find in every one I chat to. Compare that to the dwindling number of rags I have the misfortune to communicate with all over the place. No class, no style, can't appreciate other teams and about as much knowledge on football as my inflatable banana lol.

We're the new bread and like it or not those plastic rags are going to be seeing a lot more of us over the coming years!

 

[Falastur]

But anyone over 10 who bangs on about their huge feelings and support for a sports club from a random place, whilst simultaneously shunning the equivalent clubs from their area or that they have some sort of (possibly family) link with? Don't ask me to judge that through a different prism to how I would judge any adult talking and boasting (cos that is what most football fans do) something else just as removed? In 99% of cases it is self aggrandising and a 'choice' based on perceived glamour and saying you want to be part of it.

It's mental, in my view.

Was going to write a longer post but decided not to.

Sufficed to say though, one point I wanted to make - I've had a number of conversations with men and women (largely women but yes, some men) who find no interest in football and indeed often no interest in sport full-stop. The thing they often say is "I just don't see where the interest is in a game about putting a ball in a net. Yawn." To them, to get so worked up about something which is, ultimately, so incredibly meaningless is, yes, "mental".

For your situation of you, the Manc fan, seeing a non-Manc-fan's support for City as mental, I raise you a non-sports-fan seeing that your interest in football in the first place is mental.

I'm sure it doesn't take too much to see the parallels between the situations? Any argument you raise in your defence of liking football I'm sure I could reword into an argument in favour of supporting a team from another country, and because they are the same argument, surely that makes them equally valid?


I'll reiterate - I share your distaste for bandwagon fans who are only here to affiliate themselves with a successful team. But if a fan actually manages to make an emotional connection which is permanent, and will not desert the sinking ship - which surely will happen in future, even if it be after my still-young lifetime - then I see no reason not to welcome them in.

 

[jma]

But anyone over 10 who bangs on about their huge feelings and support for a sports club from a random place, whilst simultaneously shunning the equivalent clubs from their area or that they have some sort of (possibly family) link with? Don't ask me to judge that through a different prism to how I would judge any adult talking and boasting (cos that is what most football fans do) something else just as removed? In 99% of cases it is self aggrandising and a 'choice' based on perceived glamour and saying you want to be part of it.

It's mental, in my view.

Was going to write a longer post but decided not to.

Sufficed to say though, one point I wanted to make - I've had a number of conversations with men and women (largely women but yes, some men) who find no interest in football and indeed often no interest in sport full-stop. The thing they often say is "I just don't see where the interest is in a game about putting a ball in a net. Yawn." To them, to get so worked up about something which is, ultimately, so incredibly meaningless is, yes, "mental".

For your situation of you, the Manc fan, seeing a non-Manc-fan's support for City as mental, I raise you a non-sports-fan seeing that your interest in football in the first place is mental.

I'm sure it doesn't take too much to see the parallels between the situations? Any argument you raise in your defence of liking football I'm sure I could reword into an argument in favour of supporting a team from another country, and because they are the same argument, surely that makes them equally valid?


I'll reiterate - I share your distaste for bandwagon fans who are only here to affiliate themselves with a successful team. But if a fan actually manages to make an emotional connection which is permanent, and will not desert the sinking ship - which surely will happen in future, even if it be after my still-young lifetime - then I see no reason not to welcome them in.

I don't buy that comparison. Liking football is just the same as liking rugby, knitting, reading or getting on swings. Different people like different things. It is purely a matter of taste and interests.

Supporting a club, in any sport though, is not a case of 'liking' something though. I like apples. I don't go and watch apples and get emotionally involved and pray that the apple crop this year reaches record highs. I don't have 'banter' with fans of oranges.

I enjoy football (obviously). I don't hope that football really sticks it to cricket this year. I don't laugh at people who like athletics because my favourite sport has done something better than theirs.

Liking something, anything is not the same as claiming to be a fan/supporter of a competitive entity. When people talk about 'their' club, they mean that this is the club that they really want to have success, mostly at the expense of others. It is a self aggrandising exercise. We all feel a little bit better if out team is doing well. Winning some sort of competition. Whether that is a single game or a trophy for a league.

We attach ourselves to the achievement (or not) of that club. So for any adult to go 'seeking out' another, random option when they have options at hand that they have a connection to can only, in 99% of cases, be put down to wanting to seek out a 'better' option.

I know Liverpool fans with no connection to Liverpool who are 45 years old and claim to be genuine fans because they have not gone supporting someone else over the last 20 years when Liverpool have not been winning the league. That they are huge, massive, genuine fans because they have not changed to United in that time. But the fact remains that they are only Liverpool fans because when they were a kid they were one of the best teams. No other reason. I don't know how someone reaches adulthood and doesn't think "FFS, come on, this is ridiculous. It was a stupid and immature thing for a kid to do - latching onto this random team due to success - let's be an adult and stop the charade."

Everyone who supports a team wants it to win. The question is though, why support a team? The only rational reason for doing so and wanting them to win is that there is some sort of preexisting attachment. Otherwise, saying that you have chosen to desperately want a totally random, already fairly successful team to win (cos they are always already relatively successful) is just bizarre. Claiming that you are so emotionally involved in it is ridiculous. It is just, in the case of football, a group of 11 men, running around a pitch that could be in Manchester or Hong Kong, wearing blue or pink, called City or The Cowboys. They could be called or be from anywhere. What and where they represent is not of any relevance to you if you are one of the people making this choice. Just that your choice hopefully wins and you can say your choice wins. But it could have been one of any of the successful teams.

Fundamentally, supporting a team is a form of boasting. Every fan, even those of Stalybridge Celtic, wants to be able to boast that their team has won - even if that boasting is only done to themselves and is just winning a single game. It's a competitive process. Because it is a team that 'competes' every week. Fans want their team to win that competition. Why on Earth, whether you love football or not, would you pretend or convince yourself that you are so wrapped up in the results and competition of a totally random club, from a totally random place?

When it boils down to it, the only reason is that you have decided that 'supporting' this unrelated team makes you feel better than supporting a team you have a link with (whether that is Arsenal, Leyton Orient, HJK Helsinki or FC Sydney.

Liking something, (e.g. liking football) is totally different to the language, competition and boasting involved in supporting a club.

I like watching Barcelona play football. Really like it. Am I a Barcelona fan? No, that would be ridiculous, they have nothing to do with me. I have options near me that are related to me. Pretending that I have to have a Spanish team to support if I am going to watch Spanish football is, in my view, mental and very childish. What would I be trying to get out of doing that, other than getting to say "Yeah, MY team won something", all the while knowing that MY Spanish team were actually nothing of the sort and is just a random group of blokes in another country that I have no real attachment to.

 

[S04]

Football is about love, and love is blind..It cares not if its the local beauty or a temptress from across the seas you met on a holiday

Once upon a time people lived in communities where you knew your neighbour, you knew your team. It was something you walked a small distance to watch..Because travelling to watch a team was unheard of
Now we must ask ourselves what relevance that have in todays more or less global world where games are just a click away, where a large chunk of our support see Manchester as the place grandad came from or just the home of their team.

None whatsoever I suspect but it´s part of the history of football, the tribalism is just going global. Expanding out of the local community to reach the world..It´s inevitable just like the rise of multinational businesses who once just was a local workshop perhaps.

 

[Neville Kneville]

Some years ago I tuned into the Superbowl & saw Marcus Allen running riot for the LA Raiders.

I can apreciate from that, how a fan from another country could see something & feel attracted to a particular team.

I would have become an LA Raiders fan if not for the fact that I realised American football is a commercially oriented, long winded, bag of shite.

 

[gordondaviesmoustache]

Football is about love, and love is blind..It cares not if its the local beauty or a temptress from across the seas you met on a holiday

Once upon a time people lived in communities where you knew your neighbour, you knew your team. It was something you walked a small distance to watch..Because travelling to watch a team was unheard of
Now we must ask ourselves what relevance that have in todays more or less global world where games are just a click away, where a large chunk of our support see Manchester as the place grandad came from or just the home of their team.

None whatsoever I suspect but it´s part of the history of football, the tribalism is just going global. Expanding out of the local community to reach the world..It´s inevitable just like the rise of multinational businesses who once just was a local workshop perhaps.

Good post. Let's not be Luddites about this. The world is changing. City, as a club, need to adapt or die.

 

[jma]

Football is about love, and love is blind..It cares not if its the local beauty or a temptress from across the seas you met on a holiday

Once upon a time people lived in communities where you knew your neighbour, you knew your team. It was something you walked a small distance to watch..Because travelling to watch a team was unheard of
Now we must ask ourselves what relevance that have in todays more or less global world where games are just a click away, where a large chunk of our support see Manchester as the place grandad came from or just the home of their team.

None whatsoever I suspect but it´s part of the history of football, the tribalism is just going global. Expanding out of the local community to reach the world..It´s inevitable just like the rise of multinational businesses who once just was a local workshop perhaps.

Good post. Let's not be Luddites about this. The world is changing. City, as a club, need to adapt or die.

I don't think anyone would argue that it is not in the club's interest to convince such shallow people that they are, as the marketing says, "part of it". That much is quite obvious, even to, as you label people, 'luddites'.

But if you think that it is a good comparison to say that claiming to be emotionally involved with a random football club from a random far away place is akin to a relationship with another human being - as he does in the first line - then I suspect that your sense of perspective is completely out of line.

It is another totally misplaced and irrelevant cliche, alone the lines of the above "every City fan I meet is well rounded and brilliant, every rag I meet is a plastic gloryhunter" or "you don't choose City, City chooses you" that people use to convince themselves that choosing to claim you are a fan a a random glamorous club can be rationalised.

Supporting a club is nothing like falling in love with a real person, a real human being. But people desperate to convince themselves will come out with any random comparison.

PS: can you explain to me, in this world where geography apparently means nothing and technology and the internet justifies gloryhunting, why the same people do not support 'the other side' in The Ryder Cup? Or do not all support Argentina or Spain in international football. After all, surely all the same bullshit arguments can apply. They "fell in love which Spain's football", they once visited the USA so support them over Europe, where they live, in the golf, etc, etc.

Of course, people will claim, without any intellectual back up, that club sports are different. But why? The only reason why is that there are a lot of other people who gloryhunt and back each other up with legions of ill thought out justifications, so it becomes more socially acceptable.

Where as if they did the same thing with international sport they would be looked at by most people as some sort of crank, pathetically trying to latch on to something that they are not "part of".