Fame Monster
Well-Known Member
Throughout my life, watching City home and away, having a season ticket from the age of 14 (without my Dad), seeing us scrape that fucking barrel with no glory for a criminal amount of time, and often thinking I was City's biggest fan: if we were to sign Yaya Toure, it would be a massive dent in my love for City.
That's because this man has come out publicly criticising our willingness to give him £40K more on a weekly wage of £110K. Maybe previous players have moved for the very same reason - and disguised it better, but to watch a player week-in week-out play for a pay package that some of us can only dream out is a painful experience. It seems almost seems disgusting that a working class man like myself can idolize such figures. Watching the passion in De Jong's face when he goes in for a tackle, or even in the week before we play United saying "we're going to beat these fuckers" is something I cherish, and long may it continue.
The reason I support City - and probably the same for most of you, is that City is a celebration of Mancunian culture. Whether you embrace this culture through a geographical or familial affinity is irrelevant because at the end of the day: we all love City.
There was nothing better for me than going to Maine Road as a young lad with my mates, watching players who loved to play for the shirt with fans that I could relate to, having been brought up in the same environment as most of them. Having a sense of humour in the darkest days was the enduring characteristic of many a City fan, and the reason why I could never join the brigades who cheer behind a motto of "winning is everything".
So the question is: would I give up my season ticket and City for a player (who we all know) doesn't care what colour shirt he plays in?
The answer: probably not.
I would take players of Toure's standard (if it's not over-inflated anyway) than those at the level of recent generations e.g. Bishop, Whitley 1 & 2, Vaughan any day of the week. Spending big money is a necessary means of success, and I have no problem with that (nor paying a 6% increase on my season ticket), but players like Yaya Toure must be avoided for the club's identity - and our very culture - to remain intact.
There can be no doubt that success is something we all want and need, but at what cost does it arrive?
That's because this man has come out publicly criticising our willingness to give him £40K more on a weekly wage of £110K. Maybe previous players have moved for the very same reason - and disguised it better, but to watch a player week-in week-out play for a pay package that some of us can only dream out is a painful experience. It seems almost seems disgusting that a working class man like myself can idolize such figures. Watching the passion in De Jong's face when he goes in for a tackle, or even in the week before we play United saying "we're going to beat these fuckers" is something I cherish, and long may it continue.
The reason I support City - and probably the same for most of you, is that City is a celebration of Mancunian culture. Whether you embrace this culture through a geographical or familial affinity is irrelevant because at the end of the day: we all love City.
There was nothing better for me than going to Maine Road as a young lad with my mates, watching players who loved to play for the shirt with fans that I could relate to, having been brought up in the same environment as most of them. Having a sense of humour in the darkest days was the enduring characteristic of many a City fan, and the reason why I could never join the brigades who cheer behind a motto of "winning is everything".
So the question is: would I give up my season ticket and City for a player (who we all know) doesn't care what colour shirt he plays in?
The answer: probably not.
I would take players of Toure's standard (if it's not over-inflated anyway) than those at the level of recent generations e.g. Bishop, Whitley 1 & 2, Vaughan any day of the week. Spending big money is a necessary means of success, and I have no problem with that (nor paying a 6% increase on my season ticket), but players like Yaya Toure must be avoided for the club's identity - and our very culture - to remain intact.
There can be no doubt that success is something we all want and need, but at what cost does it arrive?