I read somewhere they have the fastest growing fanbase in China.
Manchester City as a 'world power'
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In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
From 1 to 2 fans, that's 100% growth
Made up by someone in Stockport. Even the president is a United fan!
United were the best club team in England in the 1950s and 60s. Then they were again in the 1990s and 2000s.
In 1971, historical success in the First Division was pretty even. Four clubs had each won the First Division 7 times; United, Liverpool, Arsenal, Everton.
United's successful era really started after WW2, while Arsenal's began in the 1930s.
You list city's standings in the domestic trophy list, but the question was are they a world power. The best clubs in Europe are measured by their successes in UEFA competitions, and that leaves city far behind.
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I know on Weibo City and United are the two most followed clubs by some distance. It's got to be partly down to Sun Jihai, I'm amazed City have only recently made him an ambassador for the club, thought it would have been something they'd have exploited pretty early on.
They are a world power in the same way Saudi Arabia is a world power, their reach is mightier than their depth because they are drowning in the resources that others would love to have. When those resources disappear they will return to being what they always were, the Albania of Lancashire.
Success in the CL is the catalyst for a really significant jump up in football fandom at the moment, and that's obviously where they're falling short. If they manage to crack that while still being successful domestically they have a chance of having a bigger fanbase than Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal at some point in the next decade I reckon. You can argue about the composition of that "fanbase" when so many of them are what we would describe as glory hunters, but that's true of any global fanbase.
Bit harsh on Albania but otherwise a very accurate report.
Yeah, but they'll probably feel like employing another Chinese ambassador very soon after.
Its fleeting and only relevant if you are making money through partnerships.
United were recently dropped for a weekend game in favour of Leicester (okazaki), thats the state of thing over here.
United were recently dropped for a weekend game in favour of Leicester (okazaki), thats the state of thing over here.
In France the quality of their squad is respected but they really lack CL results to be considered a "world power".
Yes, they're both over six foot tall now.
I think for the foresseable future they'll continue to be what they are, a small club (ito support and it's own resources) propped up by massive support. Chelsea was more established when they got the money so there was a fanbase there. City seem to be starting from scratch almost. They'll grow as successful clubs always do. I doubt I'd ever live to see them have a bigger fanbase then Chelsea, Liverpool or Arsenal though. Assuming they don't start paying their fans. Hopefully the owners will pull out eventually and City will start to slide back down the league. Unlike us, they won't have the capacity to come straight back up.
I've only ever run into one here in Canada. He said he is a City fan and right away mentioned how we was a fan before the money came in although I didn't really ask or say anything 
From the PL teams, it is mostly United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal (in that order) based on my personal experience.
From the PL teams, it is mostly United, Liverpool, Chelsea and Arsenal (in that order) based on my personal experience.
I finally saw a city fan here in India. Well, I assumed he was, as he was wearing a city backpack.
Love it
Probably found it by the side of the road.
Over here it's roughly:
1. United
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
5. Spurs/City
Liverpool are definitely losing popularity. I remember before about 2000/2001, it was only United and Liverpool.
1. United
2. Liverpool
3. Arsenal
4. Chelsea
5. Spurs/City
Liverpool are definitely losing popularity. I remember before about 2000/2001, it was only United and Liverpool.
Met one in Trader Joe's in Greenville, SC. He had the shirt on and when I made a remark, he looked puzzled. I asked him how long he'd been a City fan and he said he wasn't and was on his way to the Clemson v Florida State game. Weird.
Probably thought "a nice light blue shirt with stars on, HELL YEH!".
Fantastic atmosphere at the Etihad today...
Great attempt at keeping that flag flying high, today.
In 4 years time, half the crowd will be hired staff moving around to give them a hand with the banners or chants.
Great attempt at keeping that flag flying high, today.
BobbyManc was on here arguing about 4th highest attendance in the league or some nonsense with the massaged numbers that most clubs release. Its a misconception about City's slack attendance record etc.
In 4 years time, half the crowd will be hired staff moving around to give them a hand with the banners or chants.
I don't mind people arguing about the potential of the club etc but when fans and posters act as if they have already arrived and already rival our stature and are on the verge of Barca style domination then days like this just show how far they have to go.
They didn't have enough fans grouped together to raise a fecking flag properly
Christ. City tickets may be worth a bet for any away fans.
They thought they were bigger than Barcelona when they were in Division 2 tbf
Great attempt at keeping that flag flying high, today.
"Yeah but that's a misleading photo because traffic, statistical sell-out, fastest growing in China, midget fans unable to reach etc."
What was it supposed to say anyway?
I'm quite open about our lack of ability to sell out any non top-tier games (though we are never THAt far away), but I can vouch for reasoning today! There was a car crash outside the stadium backlogging all of the traffic until the police unblocked the road - I didn't even get in the ground until 11 mins after KO.
Think City would have to win 7 or 8 of the next 10 Premier League titles and about 4 or 5 of the next 10 Champions Leagues to even come close to being a global force. Winning a Premier League title once every few years won't be good enough and crashing out of the Champions League early hardly helps them.
Yep they need to win consistently and also have an absolute world beater. Good players who are also very popular take a teams brand far. Beckham, Rooney (he used to be good) and Ronaldo have done wonders for United popularity in the last 15-20 years.
The Barca president recently said something like "we were a great team but with Ronaldinho we became a worldwide team"
Stop being an idiot. The Etihad stadium has the third highest capacity in the league, the nearest two teams being Newcastle and Sunderland. You're deluding yourself if you think they sell more tickets than City. Say what you like about empty seats or "massaged numbers" but it's simply a fact and common sense that City do get the third highest average attendance in the league right now. Even under Pearce we had the third highest average attendance one season, and fourth the season after that even when we scored a record league low for home goals.