Can't see that ever happening Carlos. If Hitler bought a club, as long as he had a few millions to pump into the club the majority of fans wouldn't be botheredQuote:
Originally Posted by Carlos the Jackal
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Can't see that ever happening Carlos. If Hitler bought a club, as long as he had a few millions to pump into the club the majority of fans wouldn't be botheredQuote:
Originally Posted by Carlos the Jackal
Tick tock ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
Not having a horse in either race, I rather enjoyed that. Hats off Danbert for a sporting response.
Mourhino is the arch p*ss taker ain't he?? Gotta luv him. What a scamp.
What do you think he was writing in his little book? Certainly messed with Pellegrinis head!
Laudrup sacked by Swansea
Really!? Richard? Thats a weird one! Though Leeds are still a lot weirder!? Flowers apparently filed for winding up order due to unpaid debts!? I'm sure it'll all come out in the wash........
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Originally Posted by Richard Head
Astonishing.... as unlike Moyes he'd won something :confused:
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Originally Posted by TheHeathens
http://i59.tinypic.com/2chubde.jpg
Trying to force a takeover by issuing a winding up petition.... Hunter and gamekeeper springs to mind... And how much will this charade cost the British taxpayer in legal costs?Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
http://lakesidemotel.com/wordpress/w...tTheBigOne.jpgQuote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
Seems like the Welsh clubs are getting altitude sickness. Did not see laudrups dismissal coming.
http://www.manchestereveningnews.co....y-fill-6674975
Manchester City cannot ignore the fact that their defeat to Chelsea was played out in front of some empty seats and must be careful over expansion plans as a result.
It might be hard to see the positives from City's 1-0 Premier League defeat to Chelsea, though there is one rather contrived upside.
Had the Blues extended a remarkable run at the Etihad Stadium by underlining their title credentials with a thumping win over Jose Mourinho's men then their detractors would have looked for other weaknesses to probe.
And on Monday evening there was one shortcoming off the pitch which was made patently obvious by the glare of the world's television cameras.
Namely that the stadium was not full.
To be clear, this is no attempt to dredge up the tired "Emptihad" routine, or an opportunity to question whether supporters have in fact turned up dressed as seats.
But this is the elephant in the room that City fans must confront without a nudge from their neighbours if Sheikh Mansour's plans to build the biggest club in the world are to bear fruit.
If the stadium is not full during a high-profile clash against the club's most credible title rivals then questions quite simply have to be asked.
There were swathes of empty seats visible on television, and it's not hard to believe that some out of the gaze of the viewer might also have been.
It makes talk of increasing the capacity to 60,000+ look like utter folly.
What message would a half-vacant stadium send to potential City fans around the world? And how can an atmosphere be fostered if there are gaps between the fans attempting to generate it?
City are one of the few clubs who are making steps to increase attendance through affordable ticket schemes such as offering three Champions League group games for a rather reasonable £99 this season.
Yet their work is not complete if the visit of Chelsea cannot attract a 47,805 capacity crowd.
And ensuring that fans turn out in numbers for games such as the FA Cup replay against Blackburn - where official attendance figures were given as a rather ambitious and convenient 35,000 - is another matter entirely.
Of course, the Blues' attendances have been impressive for much of this season, with a Premier League average of 47,107 putting them fourth in the league behind only Newcastle, Arsenal and United.
The clash with the Londoners brought the attendance figure up to 47,364, which indicates that things are certainly going in the right direction at the very least.
It is also worth noting that United do not always fill their sizeable stadium for low-key cup games (though they won't have to worry about that for the rest of the season).
However, expanding the Etihad must be done in line with bumper attendances so that the atmosphere is not killed in one fell swoop.
If that is done by making tickets available for younger fans then we all win - but following other clubs in using massaged figures will not fool anyone when the gaps are so easily spotted.
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Originally Posted by TheHeathens
The Chelsea game was sold out.
Those empty seats were presumably season ticket holders who couldn't make the game (probably kids given that it was an evening midweek game).
Looks like it could be time to get the buckets out again boysQuote:
Originally Posted by Carlos the Jackal
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Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
Rubbish answer....
At United it would be full... people make the effort... for a midweek big game like this or CL later stage game you would not see many if any empty seats...
It's just for many of your new fans its a long way from Surrey for an evening game....
But yes all clubs do report attendances as tickets sold, not turnstile counts..
So not a rubbish answer then.:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
It is.. thousands don't turn up to big games.. 'because the kids need to be in bed'.. not many under 10's go to football, even then they'll be home little after 10-10:30...
Look at Man U for a CL game, Madrid last year? Thousands of empty seats?
60,000 seats... 47,000 attended... as it tickets sold.. so assuming not everyone turned up it was 3/4's full... a team a the top of the table, in great form... scoring loads of goals.. and still can't hit 50,000.. small team... :-)
It was a football match Iain, not a pop concert!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
“The City of Manchester Stadium also known as the Etihad Stadium for sponsorship reasons, has a seating capacity of 47,805. Outside the football season the stadium hosts occasional concerts, and is one of the UK's largest music venues, having a maximum capacity of 60,000 for performances.”
Ahh OK.. I thought they'd have spent millions building the Etihad so it was comparable to Old Trafford.. not Hillsborough...Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
Very very short sighted view and little faith in their ability to attract more fans...
Still thousands didn't show.. if you see empty seats its a lot..
This was for the 2011 season.. so they do have a history of struggling to fill it.. Strange for the supposedly dominantly supported club in a conurbation of 2.5 million + people...
Manchester City – EuropeAhead of the first Europa League game, City were offering tickets to all three group stage games for a total of £50, working out at £17 a game. On the day of the Juventus game, they were selling tickets for £10 (£5 for under-16s). On the day of the Salzburg game, they were selling tickets for £5 (£1 for under-16s). On the day of the Aris Salonika, they were selling tickets for £17 (£5 for kids).
vs Salzburg – 10,274 empty seats. 21% empty.
vs Aris – 11,078 empty seats. 23% empty.
vs Juventus – 12,614 empty seats. 26% empty.
vs Timisoara – 24,282 empty seats. 51% empty.
Average: 30.3% empty
Manchester City – FA Cup
Tickets for the 3rd round game vs Leicester and 4th round game vs Notts County cost £15 for adults and £5 for U-16.
vs Leicester – 20,071 empty seats. 42% empty.
vs Notts County – 20,550 empty seats. 43% empty.
Average: 42.5% empty
Manchester City – Premiership
vs Arsenal – 433 empty seats. 0.9% empty.
vs Blackpool – 530 empty seats. 1% empty.
vs United – 616 empty seats. 1% empty.
vs Chelsea – 623 empty seats. 1% empty.
vs Liverpool – 739 empty seats. 2% empty.
vs Bolton – 966 empty seats. 2% empty.
vs West Brom – 980 empty seats. 2% empty.
vs Villa – 1,110 empty seats. 2% empty.
vs Wolves – 1,154 empty seats. 2% empty.
vs Newcastle – 1,759 empty seats. 4% empty.
vs Everton – 2,798 empty seats. 6% empty.
vs Birmingham – 3,505 empty seats. 7% empty.
vs Blackburn – 3,580 empty seats. 7% empty.
Average: 3% empty
Total average: 12.8% empty
Is that the same as, "Sorry, I got it wrong"?!:rolleyes:Quote:
Originally Posted by IainR
Almost... :-)Quote:
Originally Posted by Swoop
I was surprised.. it looks bigger... must be full of the typical City hot air....
Anyway, back on to "proper" football, and yet another example of the farce that is Financial Fair Play is provided by the recently published 2013 Brentford Football Club accounts. For the last 3 years, Brentford have been making losses in the £millions but, remarkably, when you read the Chairman's Report, it's all part of the business plan and is expected to continue!! Accumulated losses now stand at £22million, but their benefactor keeps sinking in millions to prop up the whole scenario. The auditors include an "Emphasis of Matter" paragraph in their opinion because of concerns about the "going concern" basis. And yet they're signing players left, right and centre, paying higher wages than other clubs in the same leage, and all on crowds of 6,000 per week. Football is, I'm afraid, ruined unless the Football League and other authorities find some courage from somewhere and start insisting on costs being limited to a percentage of INCOME!
Vidic to leave United at the end of the season
another rat...:pQuote:
Originally Posted by Richard Head
The good news is that they still have Chris Smalling to rely on:D
No, Vidic's best days are certainly behind him, great attitude, but he's lost a yard since his knee injury. It was why him and Rio stopped working as a partnership.. Vidic was never quick, but quick enough and once that yard has gone they drop deeper, too deep.Quote:
Originally Posted by Richard Head
Cellino in, del Peiro to follow!!? Not convinced by either but hey! ho! Lets see what the rest of the season brings!
Give the bloke a chance now.Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
The last lot appeared to have kept the club in debt or very close too.
I'm not keen on keeping them on as directors. New broom
I would like the manager to stay and be given support this time.
Indeed! 'm sort of with you all. or some of the way! However I have had a drink or two...Newcastle Brown since you ask!?....you dd ask didn't you!? :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Bottle of Dog...:)Quote:
Originally Posted by that_fjell_guy
That used to be my tipple of choice during the champions league days...
Well played Liverpool. Arsenal you were poor!!! 4-0 and lucky to be just 4 (should be nearer 7!!)
Thoroughly depressed and still got the second half to come :(
Sounds like a sloppy opening 20 minutes biara!!? At least we're winning at the moment after an even first 30-40 minutes then going in one down! Fingers crossed!
My sentiments too. If the Cellino takeover doesn't go through, the club will be in severe financial straits. How GFH has managed this is anybody's guess because unlike last time there has been no heavy transfer investment, quite the contrary.Quote:
Originally Posted by Stagger
Moyes has to go now. This guy will NEVER win anything. £65,000,000 on shit and they can't beat a team at home a team struggling in league one hammered away.
Aye, your right Jacko.Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlos the Jackal
To struggle against the bottom of the league at home is poor in any division.
That would mean Fergie admitting he was wrong, anyone ever remember that happening before:confused:Quote:
Originally Posted by Carlos the Jackal
Always a first time for everything RichardQuote:
Originally Posted by Richard Head
http://i59.tinypic.com/11htlj7.jpg
I thought some of those Fulham lads looked as knackered as me after the Trog yesterday.
I think David Moyes may regret his celebration after the second United goal it made him look a very desperate man. Someone should have tapped him on the shoulder and reminded him he was playing Fulham :rolleyes:
Fergie's face at the end was priceless, he knows now that they made a monumental balls up in appointing Moyes but because of his 'your job now is to stand by the new manager' rant they ate stuck with the useless ****. The facts are that Moyes took over the Champions, spent 60 million and they are 7th. I hope IainR's rose tinted glasses are still workingQuote:
Originally Posted by Danbert Nocurry
ianr is a young lad who hasn't known any thing other than success. God bless him but moyes will never win owtQuote:
Originally Posted by Richard Head