The on topic thread 3.0

[AnEmptyChair]

Surprised there's not as much outrage to clubs ripping off their own fans as there's is to club spending money.

Except there absolutely is. It's ****ing obscene, especially when you consider how much the working class's disposable income has been affected by the pandemic.

Spurs fans on social media were in unanimous uproar last year or after the restart (I can't remember when it was) when the club supported charges of something like 15 pounds per game to access a stream. It was an utter disgrace.

But with City, it's more what that money they spend represents. Sportswashing is a very real problem. And yeah, I meant what I said about the fact that their fans should be ashamed. Anything less is a tacit endorsement of the regime. It's an acceptance of success at any cost.

Sure, it might be all holier than thou, but if Spurs were taken over by an organisation that systematically abuses human rights on the same scale as City's owners then I would absolutely be pulling up stumps for as long as they were there. I follow a lot of rusted on Spurs fans from the UK who have expressed those exact sentiments as well.

And seriously, what is the alternative? '“As a growing number of Manchester City fans will be aware, the success of the club has involved a close relationship with a country that relies on exploited migrant labour and locks up peaceful critics and human rights defenders.”'

In fact, they should be enraged that their football club has been coopted by tyrants as a soft power apparatus. I can't believe that's an unpopular position.

Amnesty criticises Manchester City over ‘sportswashing’ | Human rights | The Guardian

 

[moomba]

You could say that Man U were irrelevant before the Premier League era. The last time they won the league was 1967. City won it in 1968.

After that United fans had to watch Liverpool win it 11 times, Leeds 3 times, Arsenal 3 times, Everton 2 times.

The whole idea that you have to win to be "relevant" is such an arrogant one.
Football clubs are such a big part of people's lives, and hugely relevant whether they are winning stuff or not.

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Good data Bojan

I reckon to win his first title Fergie got lucky with the homegrown talent of Giggs, Scholes, Beckham and Neville. Then he made some astute signings like Keane, Cantona, Bruce, Pallister, Schmeichel, Irwin, Ince. All these guys had the skills but most importantly the winning mentality.

Later he improved the squad with some top dollar signings like Ferdinand, Carrick, Cole, Yorke, Ronaldo, Van Nistelrooy, Berg, Barthez, Stam, de Gea, Verón
Berbatov, Rooney, Mata. So in each season Man U might not have been in the highest spenders but on a consistent basis they were able to compete in the transfer market with any other Premier League club.

Just a small point on 2004. I reckon Wayne Rooney's total fee would have been greater than Drogba's.

Our first title came a few years before the class of 92 were part of the first team squad. Giggsy got decent game time but the rest were only 17 and played in the youth team. The class of 92 won the fa youth cup that year but only made the first team as a group in 1995. Our first two titles were with the old guard per se and Giggs. The Cantona signing was obviously instrumental in this.

It was the sale of key players like Ince, Kanchelskis, Sharpe and Hughes which gave the kids their chance. Net Spend nonces would have loved it.

You are right that Fergie bought players with a winners mentality rather than players that just want to win things. Cantona and Keane the standouts. Both players set an example on the training pitch to the class of 92 lads who then had that mentality for their whole careers. Some top quality signings that you have mentioned although not all worked out at United.

We have always been able to compete in the transfer market through club generated income but have never had a bottomless pit of money like some clubs do now. We just picked off players to add to a core we already had. Our problem since Fergie left is we have had to replace the core of our team and have got it wrong more than right until recently and have been very poorly run. Only now are we in a position where we can pick off a few players that we need. i.e. we are buying a striker and a DM next summer and that will likely be it. We are set at the back and in the front half of the pitch and youth is starting to come through again.

We were beaten to many targets by City and Chelsea once they came into money, particularly Chelsea as whilst we could compete (and overpay) for one player to secure their signature, we couldn't on all and lost out on quite a few (Essien and Robben being two that immediately spring to mind), especially once the Glazers came in and stopped Fergie spending once funding costs became to great. We replaced Ronaldo with Obertan and Michael Owen because the Glazers wouldn't pay the money for Benzema. Then again we only got Ronaldo because we couldn't afford Ronaldinho so swings and roundabouts I guess haha

 

[Bojan KantKick]

You could say that Man U were irrelevant before the Premier League era. The last time they won the league was 1967. City won it in 1968.

After that United fans had to watch Liverpool win it 11 times, Leeds 3 times, Arsenal 3 times, Everton 2 times.

We won 4 Fa Cups (when it actually meant something) and 3 European trophies during that period. We were the 2nd biggest club in the country.

 

[Bradesmaen]

You could say that Man U were irrelevant before the Premier League era. The last time they won the league was 1967. City won it in 1968.

After that United fans had to watch Liverpool win it 11 times, Leeds 3 times, Arsenal 3 times, Everton 2 times.

We won it 3 times thanks.

 

[Bradesmaen]

We won 4 Fa Cups (when it actually meant something) and 3 European trophies during that period. We were the 2nd biggest club in the country.

Sounds like current day Arsenal with the European Trophies. Where's your league title?

 

[Bojan KantKick]

Sounds like current day Arsenal with the European Trophies. Where's your league title?

We did win the European Cup haha

 

[chef]

Wasn't like we were spending like City are these days and besides back then quote me if I'm wrong but you were only allowed 3 or 4 international players in your team.

We just had one of the greatest managers of all time that could get the best out of any player on the pitch from ronaldo to park ji-sung.

Nah you weren't at City levels, but its hard to tell with inflation. But you were the biggest and richest club. Plus you had Fergie the GOAT, we all(me and my mates) hated United back then because you were the big dog.

 

[RPCB]

 

[RossFC]

The tissue that Messi cried into when he left Barca will be auctioned off for 1mil.

 

[Memphis]

3 International players was in Champions league and only for a few years.

Ah that was the only part I couldn't remember if it was for both PL and CL or just one thanks for the clear up.

 

[Memphis]

Nah you weren't at City levels, but its hard to tell with inflation. But you were the biggest and richest club. Plus you had Fergie the GOAT, we all(me and my mates) hated United back then because you were the big dog.

I miss the GOAT. One poster said we were just at the right place at the right time when the money came into play in the modern era.

Really shows how great he was, he leaves the club and it turns upside in one season and only now has there been progress made.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

I miss the GOAT. One poster said we were just at the right place at the right time when the money came into play in the modern era.

Really shows how great he was, he leaves the club and it turns upside in one season and only now has there been progress made.

Mate we won a title with Cleverly in midfield , no one else could do that.

 

[Frank Bunn]

I miss the GOAT. One poster said we were just at the right place at the right time when the money came into play in the modern era.

Really shows how great he was, he leaves the club and it turns upside in one season and only now has there been progress made.

This guy?

 

[Memphis]

Mate we won a title with Cleverly in midfield , no one else could do that.

And Anderson lmao.

 

[UnitedWarrior93]

And Anderson lmao.

“And he shits on Fabregas”

 

[Latro]

I know Arsenal and Leeds have a link to social. Not sure who else is.

 

[Cruyff14]

I know Arsenal and Leeds have a link to social. Not sure who else is.

Inter too I think.

 

[Bradesmaen]

Inter too I think.

Says inter in the description of the article above

 

[TheGreatBarryB]

Gees that’s a lot of games for a teenager…

 

[Thistle]

Gees that’s a lot of games for a teenager…

View attachment 1210027

 

[RossFC]

 

[Bostonian]

We weren't and we didn't. We were hated because we had the best team, because of the youth system, and manager. We were respected though.

You were hated back then because you had so many plastic wanky fans.

 

[Bostonian]

Except there absolutely is. It's ******* obscene, especially when you consider how much the working class's disposable income has been affected by the pandemic.

Not every clubs fanbase is working class.

It would be interesting to see a break down of what clubs really still have a majority "working class" fanbase.

I'd consider ours on the whole middle class.

 

[Latro]