Manchester City 17/18 discussion | "If you're here for the Champions clap your hands" (#6505)
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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.
Hope Spurs do them.
Thats awesome for City.
Good question and one that every football has pondered on occasion I'm sure.
Are the Glazers in it purely for financial gain or do they share a genuine affection for the club? Had that question been asked 10 or so years ago, the answer would have weighed heavily towards the former. I took instant objection to their takeover, brought my very own green and gold scarf and wore to every home game (was a season ticket holder back then), my brother and I attended many meetings held by MUST and brought in to the propaganda being spread. The Glazers are the Devil in the flesh and their purpose in taking over the club is to tear it apart from within. I'm aware how ridiculous that sounds.
But in time they proved us wrong, their intentions made clear by supporting SAF in the transfer market (some may debate this), increased the wage structure throughout the club - from the tea lady through to Wayne Rooney - recruited a solid contingent of backroom staff that formed the base for what is now one of the most appealing sports brands on the planet. Through their leadership the club has attained commercial dominance to the point that only Real Madrid realistically compare. All this goes to show that we, football fans in general, need to be a little more open minded regarding our clubs future. Not so knee-jerk in our assessment of certain situations.
As for Shiek Monsour, who knows? I guess it depends on the stance you're willing to take regards the whole human rights abuse allegations, and whether he is using City to launder his highly tarnished reputation.
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That incredible goal we scored against Arsenal at the Emirates - the one that ended in Sané bundling it in after a 20+ pass move - wouldn't have worked in the same way if Fernandinho had been on the pitch. Gundogan's much better at controlling the ball in tight areas and he was integral in making that move happen. We'll miss Fernandinho's defensive abilities and the knack he has for spotting danger before it happens against Spurs but against Swansea Gundogan should be more than enough.
They bought us as a way to improve their relations with the UK/western world and create more wealth for themselves. They're capitalists, full stop. I had to start making my peace with that fact a long time ago (even if I don't want to make peace with the actions Mansour is linked to in his homeland) and winning more trophies than I ever imagined with Pep Guardiola as our manager does make that process a little easier.
Personally I don't really see how there can be a debate on the greatest PL side ever until someone else wins the treble.
He mentions Chelsea 2004-05 in the article.
It's difficult isn't it. I was keen for Murdoch to buy United 20 years ago because it would have given us more power in the transfer market, at a time when we regularly lost out for the big players. The fact that Murdoch would have had a major advantages in negotiating broadcasting rights, which could have eventually led to United negotiating their own TV deals, didn't really bother me.
The nature of the Abu Dhabi regime makes this a trickier issue. It's hard to ignore the human rights abuses, the lack of democracy and the rampant sexism and homophobia. But if I was a City fan I'd probably be lapping it all up, just as you're doing.
He places the Invincibles above them without a solid argument.
I think the point of the article may be getting away from you slightly. It’s not necessarily meant to grade the teams that have won the title, more to point out that there are teams that have won the title who are more deserving of being known as the “best premier league side ever” over this current City team.
I would put Chelsea 2004-05 above Arsenal though.
That is literally just semantics. Or I've not had enough coffee this morning to tell the difference.
Pep had a master of Klopp towards the end of Klopp's stay at Dortmund.
They key was that Lewandowski was also adept at playing up from in a long ball team. He's a complete striker.
At City, there's no one to play the long ball to.
It's also not a coincidence that Fernandinho has had a disaster in both game at Anfield.
For all his qualities, he's not a press-resistant player like you'd label Busquets, to a large extent, neither is Kevin De Bruyne. It's meant, City's midfield has been annihilated in both games.
To be able to deal with Klopp, he needs someone like Fred and Harry Kane.
They key was that Lewandowski was also adept at playing up from in a long ball team. He's a complete striker.
At City, there's no one to play the long ball to.
It's also not a coincidence that Fernandinho has had a disaster in both game at Anfield.
For all his qualities, he's not a press-resistant player like you'd label Busquets, to a large extent, neither is Kevin De Bruyne. It's meant, City's midfield has been annihilated in both games.
To be able to deal with Klopp, he needs someone like Fred and Harry Kane.
I don't really understand why they league can't be taken as an entity on its own.
We can judge the greatest premier league side in the context of just the league.
The argument changes if we say the greatest English side.
I don't think it is semantics. I don't really know how else to put it. It's not him grading the teams necessarily from best to worst, but more him trying to point to the fact that there are teams that have won it that are more deserving of the title of "beat premier league team ever". Whether it's United - 1999 (or maybe even 2008), Chelsea - 2004-05, or the Invincible Arsenal team. All those are more deserving. Grade them how you like, but they all come above City.
That's my subjective take on it anyway.
Chelsea have only once put up a season even close to this City one (well maybe twice). Imho they have never really had a more dominant season than the one City are having atm. Amazing team but if and it's a big if City retain the title next season with another 90+ points haul, they'll easily have matched the achievments of that Chelsea team.
Isn't that more the 'greatest premier league season' any side has had? Greatest premier league side to me means the greatest team to come from the PL, in which case other competitions are definitely relevant.
You have to look at the league in the context of the whole season. The CL (and the FA Cup to an extent) places huge demands on its participants, so those clubs which go deep inevitably have to rest players and change their tactics for league games, which can mean dropping points. Had Arsenal reached the final of the CL back in their supposed 'invincible' season, who's to say they wouldn't have rested key players in the PL and ended up losing a match?
I get the fact that some teams are good cup sides, the teams which can turn up and turn it on in one-off matches like Forest in the late 80s, for example. But surely the greatest PL side is one which juggles the season's various demands, churns out results despite the demands of other competitions (and the injuries they bring).
Plus, in the case of Arsenal, the term 'invincible' is a misnomer. They actually lost six games that season, including a 3-0 defeat to Inter at home. Invincibility is like pregnancy: you either are, or you aren't.
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This. What I said, but you've said it better.
Couldn’t have put it better. It was such an anti-climax to the Pep v Mou narrative they probably had to toss many metres of pre-written articles.
Man City 1:2 Liverpool (CL QF 2nd leg)
3 losses in a row for the greatest team ever to grace the Premier League, right at the business end of the season.
Can we talk about the biggest collapse in modern times now, or should we wait until Spurs do them at the weekend?
Can we talk about the biggest collapse in modern times now, or should we wait until Spurs do them at the weekend?
3 home losses in a row too. 4 defeats in 6.
Could be 4 next week.
Hopefully, they continue to stumble. Would be great for next season.
Hopefully, they continue to stumble. Would be great for next season.
We can still win the title.
Exposed this week. Given the money they have spent this season you would have to say Pep has not made the best use of it. Only really the keeper and Walker making strong impressions.
It is so fecking frustrating that we dropped those 6 stupid points in December. I wonder how they'd react in the PL if we were right on their tail after these results.
Yeah I almost want City just to wrap it up quickly now. Not sure I could take it if they Devon Loch it and we end up only missing out by a handful of points, given the ridiculous points dropped round December especially.
Just get this anti-climax over with.
Yes I would have loved to see us “only” 7-8 points away from 1st now. It is very likely that City - given the pressure of us being closer to them in the table - would have crumbled.
However as I see it they only need 5p in the last 6 games to win it so no need to get hopes up - but December sure hurts.
A few guys at Bluemoon is getting anxious though.
However as I see it they only need 5p in the last 6 games to win it so no need to get hopes up - but December sure hurts.
A few guys at Bluemoon is getting anxious though.
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They needed to create one of those famous nights at the Etihad not seen since Take That last performed..
There's no way that City will out-Spurs, Spurs.
Should Spurs pull off a win this weekend, things will really begin to get interesting.
You're joking, right? Walker's been terrible recently.
Well Liverpool really seems to be their cryptonite. Also quite interesting seeing the patterns of Bayern under Guardiola repeat itself at City this year. Early complete domination in the league and a severe dip in form at the most vital part of the season.
Your turn Spurs...
Just my thinking. Didn't Bayern fans on here claim they would lose a lot of their intensity at this point?
They're without Fernandinho for Spurs too.
Hopefully Spurs hand them their arses.
Relegation form
Hopefully Spurs hand them their arses.
Relegation form
Was Walker playing tonight? That must have been one of his quietest games yet for city.
I hardly recall his name being mentioned.