I think that's just tribalism. Football fans have absolutely no problem to make any excuse they want or defend any behaviour when one of 'their' players is involved. The thing is City's brand simply didn't grow enough recently (and I think were there also higher expectations for NYCFC) for a combination of reasons and one of them is there are four bigger clubs in England, then another 8-10 big clubs in Spain+Italy+Germany+France so you're competing with so many other brands. I think second stadium expansion was planned for 2018 or 2019 but that didnt happen so clearly there were some targets and I understand why Pep's unhappy. When he joined City he compared them with Villarreal and now they're maybe somewhere between Atleti and Sevilla, I think.Yeah it's weird. On their forum you have some of them saying they got their tickets for £12.50-17.50 then others bemoaning being priced out of watching football even though I constantly hear their games being advertised on radio and usually with hefty discounts.
Other common excuses for last night include:
- ticketing system
- covid
- apathy for CL
- traffic/transport
- time the game was on
- the opposition ("Etihad would have been full if it was against PSG and Messi")
I think FA should implement a rule of some kind that allows lower league clubs, especially below the Championship, to get a bigger piece of the pie when they're drawn away against big PL clubs in the early cup rounds.
The strange thing with Man City is that in the mid 90s, they'd be right near the top of average attendances. Yet these days are seen as some sort of meme for having no fans.I think that's just tribalism. Football fans have absolutely no problem to make any excuse they want or defend any behaviour when one of 'their' players is involved. The thing is City's brand simply didn't grow enough recently (and I think were there also higher expectations for NYCFC) for a combination of reasons and one of them is there are four bigger clubs in England, then another 8-10 big clubs in Spain+Italy+Germany+France so you're competing with so many other brands. I think second stadium expansion was planned for 2018 or 2019 but that didnt happen so clearly there were some targets and I understand why Pep's unhappy. When he joined City he compared them with Villarreal and now they're maybe somewhere between Atleti and Sevilla, I think.
Having it as a rule would great, and I think most PL clubs would agree to it, especially the established ones.I think some clubs give all the gate to the smaller club. But that's probably more when it's a non league club.
Wycombe are ok at the mo as we've just come off a championship season, but only a few years back a gate from one of these sort of games would have been a life saver.
And yet their official average season attendances (pre Covid) are regularly logged as comfortably over 50k (think max attendance is 55k?)The strange thing with Man City is that in the mid 90s, they'd be right near the top of average attendances. Yet these days are seen as some sort of meme for having no fans.
Theme song of the club"Wish you were here"
I was at the etihad when we beat them 3-2. I was in the City end and I swear there was this bloke right next to me who got a wee tripod out and stuck his phone on it to record the game. You could tell he was getting agitated when people were blocking his view. It was truly bizarre.Andy Mitten interviewed a few of their supporters who have followed them home and away for 20+ years. Each one said they miss the Maine Road days and the old division one and wish they could go back.
Said now the atmosphere is much worse, the new supporters from nowhere just sit on their phones during the matches and they don’t feel valued by the club any longer
Hopefully not only when he's past it though!I reckon Pep will one day be United manager. That'll be so funny if it happens.
I think all clubs do attendances on tickets sold instead of those who physically turn up on the day, so on that logic, actual numbers on the ground can only ever be inflated from reality.And yet their official average season attendances (pre Covid) are regularly logged as comfortably over 50k (think max attendance is 55k?)
You want some?As a wise man once said "you've got no fans!"
Because their fan base is made up of old sad sacks who sit with their arms folded, waiting for Sterling to misplace a pass, so that they can hurl abuse at him.Must have looked across the road to Old Trafford last Saturday and wondered why he couldn't have that in his own stadium
Young Boys fans were 1000x louder than their fans.
Don’t know If it’s been said but they were even advertising for £12.50 with a promo code. It encourages more neutrals to go but it’s what makes the atmosphere still drab because they don’t have actual fans there.At work we play a local radio station and without a doubt they advertise every City game with reduced priced tickets, it’s crazy how they can’t or don’t sell out games. They we’re advertising the Leipzig game at £20 for adults ffs.
Don't be so ridiculous mate....absolute garbage....you can't seriously think it's 30,000?They are a Championship-sized club with a Championship-sized fanbase. In fact, you could argue had Sunderland, Derby. Nottingham Forest, Birmingham etc...been given their level of investment, they would be getting 60,000+ every single week.
And...this goes back to my point. Call me jealous if you like, I'm well past that. I'm a 32yo man who has been fortunate enough to see my club win everything there is to win, over and over again, very often live in the stadium. However, what City are doing to football is not good for the game.
City winning trophies makes 30,000 fellas from Stockport very happy, but disengages millions of fans from the traditional and historic 'big' clubs.
Yeah that I doubt very much, these numbers sound like a Russian election night numbers.Meanwhile, Manchester United have averaged 99% or more capacity at Old Trafford for every home game in the Premier League the last 21 years
Yeah, they count 'tickets sold' don't they, so I have definitely been to games like, for example, Stoke on a rainy Wednesday night, whereby you have maybe 2,000 empty seats dotted about. They will have been bought and paid for, but people possibly haven't travelled due to late kick-offs and having to get away from work etc...Yeah that I doubt very much, these numbers sound like a Russian election night numbers.
They are directly from the Investor Relations information published by Manchester United.Yeah that I doubt very much, these numbers sound like a Russian election night numbers.
I reckon when it comes out that City are paying him a salary in the UK but also a "consultancy fee" in Abu Dhabi, you'll be shocked at the actual number he is earning every week, wouldn't be surprised if it is more than Messi's earnings.They still won titles even with the likes of Pellegrini and Mancini.
Unless they get a Moyes type in, they'll still be competing until the owners disappear.