Manchester City Thread [08/09]

[coach]

Joe Hart, future England #1 (very near future at this rate, immense talent). Schmeichel is on the bench I believe, albeit against his wishes since he's very unhappy at City and stated in August that he wanted to leave on a permanent basis. Sven sort of ****ed him over because he made him sign a new 4-year contract at the beginning of last season when he was starting games then right after he signed he got thrown out of the mix and Hart was named the new #1.

Sounds like Kasper Got a raw deal. Shame, He has the potential to be a great keeper.

 

[rhizome17]

It still makes no sense to be reading these stories, involving middle eastern financiers, Robinho, and our team. I am so used to reading these things in regards to other clubs, not ours, whilst we continue a bit of a sideshow.

I am still not convinced that it is entirely the best thing, but hey, lets see where this train goes. I don't think United and Chelsea have to much to worry about at the moment, but I suspect the money handlers at Arsenal and Liverpool might be a bit concerned at what may happen in the next few seasons. If we can usurp on of them from the top four and qualify for the Champs League (not this season but next) and push on from there, it will be a Blue Moon future. The fact we can push in and grab Robinho and destabilise ANY transfer move is a pretty nice place to be.

And Robinho is a better signing for us than Ronaldinho.

Haha. Robinho. City. Ridiculous.

 

[Deni_Rossonero]

I'm glad for City, but i'm sad for football, businessmen will ruin football, it's seems as the days of loyalty and love for the game are slowly ending.
3 years from now, Gerrard, Villa, Messi will play for Portsmouth, Fabregas, Kaka and Rooney for Napoli, Torres, Ronaldinho and Sneijder for HSV as those will be the best clubs in the world.
The downfall of football? Will the greatest game become a chessboard for a couple of rich kids showing of who has more money to spend?
Don't get me wrong i'm actually happy for City, i'm happy they got such a good player, and i'm happy for the fans as they will probably have a really good team 2-3 years down the line, but what will this (not city but the whole trend) do to football, i'm not sure if i'll be able to enjoy football watching Coventry and Getafe play a CL final just because some sheik bought their club, i'm not sure it will have the same weight as a Bayern - Juve final, or Real - Manchester, or Valencia - Marsellie even. Especially if they start prising away players from their clubs with money, with no loyalty there will be no football.

 

[rhizome17]

My biggest concern is that Syaz wan ends up a CIty fan... along with all the other glory hunters who will inevitably turn up.

 

[PaPaGeorGeo]

Wow just wow! All i can say is that now City have to spend some more money in January and play really well this season with Robinho, otherwise he will leave in a year or two. He just wanted to get out of Real, no doubt. Crazy thing is, i actually think that City very well might pull of Chelsea pt. 2 if the owners are willing to spend as much as they say they are. You didn't piss us off, but surely pissed of Chelsea! Can't hate on that.

He wont leave he is apparently the highest paid player in the world now. City timed their Robinho bid perfectly. With him wanting to leave Real Mardrid no matter what, with a couple hours left in the window he would have gone anywhere.

 

[Mus]

I'm glad for City, but i'm sad for football, businessmen will ruin football, it's seems as the days of loyalty and love for the game are slowly ending.
3 years from now, Gerrard, Villa, Messi will play for Portsmouth, Fabregas, Kaka and Rooney for Napoli, Torres, Ronaldinho and Sneijder for HSV as those will be the best clubs in the world.
The downfall of football? Will the greatest game become a chessboard for a couple of rich kids showing of who has more money to spend?
Don't get me wrong i'm actually happy for City, i'm happy they got such a good player, and i'm happy for the fans as they will probably have a really good team 2-3 years down the line, but what will this (not city but the whole trend) do to football, i'm not sure if i'll be able to enjoy football watching Coventry and Getafe play a CL final just because some sheik bought their club, i'm not sure it will have the same weight as a Bayern - Juve final, or Real - Manchester, or Valencia - Marsellie even. Especially if they start prising away players from their clubs with money, with no loyalty there will be no football.

Absolutely 100% agree.

 

[Zakov]

I'm glad for City, but i'm sad for football, businessmen will ruin football, it's seems as the days of loyalty and love for the game are slowly ending.

The thing is football has always been a business, the difference between nowadays and the times before, is that now we have a massive media coverage(tabloids, websites, newspapers) that are giving out these stories to the public.

In the days of yesteryears, we didn't have that sort of knowledge given to us, now that we're aware of it, its considered a big thing.
But your point that loyalty will not exist anymore in the future is not true, you can't say all players are money-hunting bastards.

I remember Ravanelli wanting to play for Derby back in 01-02 even if he was paid almost nothing. Also, look at Maldini, Alex and Totti, I'm sure they've been offered more money but decided to stay with the clubs they started with.
Business has always existed in any sports, with the constant development of technology in regards to entertainment and sports, the popular sports are always going to make more money and gain more coverage. We've always had rich people owning sport teams. Its been like that and I don't think theres a problem with it.

 

[Xifio]

I'm glad for City, but i'm sad for football, businessmen will ruin football, it's seems as the days of loyalty and love for the game are slowly ending. {^1}
3 years from now, Gerrard, Villa, Messi will play for Portsmouth, Fabregas, Kaka and Rooney for Napoli, Torres, Ronaldinho and Sneijder for HSV as those will be the best clubs in the world. {^2}
The downfall of football? Will the greatest game become a chessboard for a couple of rich kids showing of who has more money to spend?
Don't get me wrong i'm actually happy for City, i'm happy they got such a good player, and i'm happy for the fans as they will probably have a really good team 2-3 years down the line, but what will this (not city but the whole trend) do to football, i'm not sure if i'll be able to enjoy football watching Coventry and Getafe play a CL final just because some sheik bought their club {^3}, i'm not sure it will have the same weight as a Bayern - Juve final, or Real - Manchester, or Valencia - Marsellie even. Especially if they start prising away players from their clubs with money, with no loyalty there will be no football. {^1, ^2}

1) Why do footballers play football? To make their life earnings in a short roughly-10-year career? Or just for the love of entertaining people? Capitalism seems to be such a popular concept, and made the US such a "great" nation; but now that the "negative" notions of capitalism become blatant, it's bad when businesses and business people try to maximize their return on investment?

2) a) I understand the use of 'exaggeration for effect' here. But I don't think that scenario is at all likely. If business people with deep pockets are buying smaller clubs and try to get a few big names, then people with deeper pockets could buy the biggest clubs and retain those big names.

b) Many claim that Chelsea bought their success. But they were already competing for the Champions League spots when Roman walked in and bought the club. His money certainly did accelerate their development, but two titles and a very consistent Champions League record didn't magically happen. But a few years before that, Real Madrid "pioneered" the modern-day megabucks spending in the early 00s when they assembled a dream team. And it paid instant dividends, as they won their 3rd Champions League title in 5 years. But then they went overboard with the concept, and it backfired quite badly -- hence we now use "Galáctico" as a negative term.

c) People with all that cash are not idiots. They realize that buying a club can't appear to be a solely business acquisition; sports is an emotion-filled arena, which affects -- and thus can be affected by -- millions of ardent followers of the sport. They won't just splash the cash madly, and then run off if it doesn't work out or gets "boring". Thaksin "ran off" coz of the extremely serious judicial process going on against him. Don't count on too many other owners to behave likewise.

d) Give the players some credit. Yes, it's true that exorbitant sums of money is a huge attraction to many human beings -- and like I mention in 1), footballers' playing careers are a lot shorter than the span of your typical desk job. However, that doesn't mean they will not make decisions for reasons over and above monetary gains. A new and exciting project could be interesting, for sure, tut the appeal of becoming a club legend is enticing too. Very few players have been able to attain that sort of status at two clubs. I doubt club-hoppers could win a place in supporters' hearts. Plus, there's the entire "effects on real life" angle to look at too: I mean, moving to a new house, a new city, a new language, doesn't exactly do one's family any good -- see the various examples in recent times (Sheva, Titi, etc.)


3) a) Why not? Clubs have to build their history some time. Real Madrid had a golden period in the 50s; Ajax and then Bayern in the 70s; Liverpool in the 80s; Milan had a mini one in the early 90s, sort of along with Barcelona; Real Madrid had another mini domination in late 90s and early 00s. Why can't other clubs have their golden periods starting now?

b) Getting to the Champions League final would mean that the club would have finished in top 3 (starting 2009) in the "big" leagues, or been champions in the "second tier" leagues. Then they would have had to negotiate the cream of Europe over several rounds through the course of the season. So, the less-fancied finalist would have to be labelled at minimum a "two-season wonder" -- meaning "fluking it" to the final is unlikely. If anyone back in 2004 mentioned that Zenit would win the UEFA Cup in 2008 in spectacular attacking fashion, and then go on to outclass Man Yoo in the Super Cup, not many people would have even thought of agreeing. But Zenit have created just such an attractive attacking unit by splashing the cash provided to them by sponsors Gazprom. Anyway, the main point is that teams contesting a final are there on merit. And I don't think the final could disappoint in terms of the level or quality of football. I don't see a problem there.

The thing is football has always been a business, the difference between nowadays and the times before, is that now we have a massive media coverage(tabloids, websites, newspapers) that are giving out these stories to the public.

In the days of yesteryears, we didn't have that sort of knowledge given to us, now that we're aware of it, its considered a big thing.
But your point that loyalty will not exist anymore in the future is not true, you can't say all players are money-hunting bastards.

I remember Ravanelli wanting to play for Derby back in 01-02 even if he was paid almost nothing. Also, look at Maldini, Alex and Totti, I'm sure they've been offered more money but decided to stay with the clubs they started with.
Business has always existed in any sports, with the constant development of technology in regards to entertainment and sports, the popular sports are always going to make more money and gain more coverage. We've always had rich people owning sport teams. Its been like that and I don't think theres a problem with it.

gotta agree with most of that ...



on the more general Man City developments:

Congrats to the fans! all the benefits of having a billionaire owner that were promised last year might just become reality from here on in ... for the sake of the monotony of the top 4 being broken, I hope your campaign doesn't fizzle out too early like last season's ...

Arnau mentioned that Robinho is perfect for the fast-paced, by-pass-the-midfield counterattacking style of play in the Prem ... and I have to agree with him ...

you've signed a couple of rebels (Robinhood and Little Komp) who've left their former clubs in less than amicable fashion ... however, their quality cannot be denied ... if the egos and tempers and tantrums can be kept in check, then it looks like the squad could actually have a shot of crashing through that top 4 glass ceiling ... well, a better shot than last year, anyway ... and, it seems, a better shot than Spurs too ...


EDIT: looking forward to seeing who these new gloryhunter fans will be ...

 

[MikeyM]

Congratulations - Manchester City are about to destroy football.

 

[Arnau]

all clubs of the world has rich owner (not that rich like chelsea or man city)

only Barça, madrid, and athletic de bilbao are memebers clubs (something like democracy, the peapol choise his president)

so shut up all mouthes.

 

[rony31]

Congratulations - Manchester City are about to destroy football.

Once again the mancs show their true colours.

Aaron, I'm feeling the same way you are right now. I just read on SkySports that Robinho aims to win the EPL title with City. Took a while for that to settle in my mind because it's just not what I'm used to.

And to be honest, it is kind of a shame that it takes a billionaire to come in and inject money into the club in order for us to be a contender of any sort, but that's just how football is nowadays. Chelsea were a club lingering in the UEFA Cup spots of the table before Abramobitch took over and made them a powerhouse. And as mentioned before I really hope Sulaiman's intentions are there and he's not just there to show off his financial power and play "I'm better than you" with Abramovic.

PS: also read that City were in for Torres, Huntelaar and RvN at the deadline as well I have a feeling that once January comes around, a lot of heads will be turning.

 

[Zakov]

Congratulations - Manchester City are about to destroy football.

Just live with it.

 

[Tosiek]

Yeah, like Hart, Dunne, Richards, Ball, Ireland, Onouha, SWP, Johnson, Sturridge, Evans...

Idiot. But you are a scum fan so to be expected. In fact our first team has more English and Irish players than yours.

Rio, Rooney, Hargreaves and... ? They are definites for the first team. O'Pies, Scholes, Giggs, Carrick, Brown, Neville are all squad players.

So **** off.

No doubt, the team I support has only one foreign player. The more money, the less brain. I'm not any of your relatives.

 

[Deni_Rossonero]

not that rich like chelsea or man city

Berlusconi! The fascist **** has more than 10 billion. I hate him, but he's not bad for Milan.

 

[Paulo Da Silva]

Congratulations - Manchester City are about to destroy football.

you are such a hypocrite. just look at the team you support. Have they not spent millions and over payed for players way before Billionaires took over the game. Dont forget Man Utd payed over 15 million euros for a 17 year old with little over 10 professional games under his belt. So dont go blaming high transfer fees on Chelsea, Man City etc...

Look at your signings over the past years

Nani- 25 million=overpayed
Anderson- 30 million = overpayed - was injured the season prior to being bought
Hargreaves- well over 25 million = overpayed
Berbatov- 37 million = OVERPAYED
Wayne Rooney- over 30 million = OVERPAYED BIG TIME

Oh and isnt your club demanding 100 million euros for a certain player. Talk about over inflating the market with demands.

so shut up about Man City, Chelsea etc....look at your own club. these so called good clubs like Milan, Inter, Manchester UTd, Barcelona, Real Madrid have been luring players from smaller leagues like The Portuguese, French, Brazilian, etc through the promise of monetary gains.

To demi_rossoneri. I respect you got your opinion, but i cannot agree with it. what you are supporting is the good old boys club where only the big clubs get to make it to major finals. THAT IS BULL****!!!! if these teams get bought and teh owner wants to buy players and make them competitive they have the right to do so. All great players in teh world arent on reserve for the good old boys to sign.

Get OVER IT. Man CITY have signed Robinho, great signing. did they overpay. Hell yes, but hey thats life.

 

[Bobby]

If it wasn't for one man, Arsene Wenger, United would have destroyed football years ago.

 

[MikeyM]

If it wasn't for one man, Arsene Wenger, United would have destroyed football years ago.

To start with this siuation is entirely different. Manchester United generated revenue due to their success on the field and business - We did not have some moneybags guy come in and give us millions!

Of course we pay overinflated transfer fees - that's the price of success, and also the price that you must pay to get top players. However United still must budget (and as fans gleefully remind us we are in £800M debt) Am I happy about it? Hell no!

What is happening here is a transfer fund without limits, without the regard to work like a business - City can write off hundreds of millions without regard, and whether you support Manchester United or even Real Nintendo, this has to be viewed as a bad thing.

If City do succeed in "destroying" Man Utd, it will also mean they have destroyed Real Madrid, Barcelona, Liverpool, Inter, Milan - everyone.

They will destroy football if some kind of control isn't in place. That is a fact. City fans are rightly over the moon at this change in fortune - who wouldn't be.

But a bottomless pit of money for a single team is the single biggest threat to our game - FIFA simply can't allow this to happen.

 

[Bobby]

How come Arsenal can pay 250k for a defender better than one United pay 30m for?

United spend that way because they can, not because they have to. Now City are doing the same.

As an Arsenal fan it doesn't bother me because I've become used to other teams doing it.

 

[Payaah]

How come Arsenal can pay 250k for a defender better than one United pay 30m for?

United spend that way because they can, not because they have to. Now City are doing the same.

As an Arsenal fan it doesn't bother me because I've become used to other teams doing it.

To be fair though they really didnt want to spend 30million on Berbatov, hence why it went to the last day. I think they were hoping Spurs will have no choice but sell Berbatov last minute. Anyway...




http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/teams/m/man_city/7595079.stm

"I knew that City are a very big club, there's a great team there and this is an exciting project."

!!!!

Seriously though Madrid cant have been THAT bad to leave for City.

 

[rony31]

We'll see how often you're bolding "big club" when we do the double over the red scum again this season