The English Football Thread

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by right-track

Blue half? Don't make me LOL.

I've probably met around 50 or so people from Manchester in my life that were also into football, around 50% of those were City supporters and another Mancunian once told me, that a true person from Manchester actually supports City and not Utd.

Now I know none of the above is exactly gospel and is just based on personal experience, but it wouldn't surprise me if City's fanbase rapidly started to expand as Chelsea's did several seasons ago, success normally sprouts out new fans by the thousand.

[jackhammer]

I told everyone at work yesterday that McCleish would be sacked today as Villa manager and guess what? Thank **** for that although I don't think we will ever get back to a top 6 finish in the next few years.

Extraordinary last day of the season and hat's off to Wigan, Norwich and Swansea for playing some decent football and outplaying many teams that should know better.

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by jackhammer

I told everyone at work yesterday that McCleish would be sacked today as Villa manager and guess what? Thank **** for that although I don't think we will ever get back to a top 6 finish in the next few years.

Extraordinary last day of the season and hat's off to Wigan, Norwich and Swansea for playing some decent football and outplaying many teams that should know better.

Just saw that he's going to be sacked, no surprise really, as had the season been another game longer Villa may have gone instead of poor old Bolton. Villa's recent record was dire and were relegation material.

[right-track]

Originally Posted by Unknown Soldier

I've probably met around 50 or so people from Manchester in my life that were also into football, around 50% of those were City supporters and another Mancunian once told me, that a true person from Manchester actually supports City and not Utd.

Now I know none of the above is exactly gospel and is just based on personal experience, but it wouldn't surprise me if City's fanbase rapidly started to expand as Chelsea's did several seasons ago, success normally sprouts out new fans by the thousand.

The "Manchester is Blue" claim from City fans is a sad myth.
A myth I think I've discussed elsewhere in this thread.
The City fans delusions are based on the fact/excuse that their stadium lies within the inner city boundaries. Formerly Moss Side and more recently at the "council house" known as the Etihad (Arabic for United btw). Whereas United's stadium is in the Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester. And the assumption that United gained national popularity after the Munich Air Crash in 1958 as a desperate claim to back up the bull****.
The truth is United have averaged a higher attendance than City in every season since the 2nd World War! Even when Old Trafford was out of use due to bomb damage during the blitz, United matches attracted more fans than City did...in their own stadium.

Simple common sense would tell anyone with a brain cell (an uncommon trait among Liam Gallagheresque City supporters) that 75,000 is a higher number than 45,000, unless you believe the unlikely stat (as is claimed) that more than the difference travel up from London, or cross the Irish sea on a weekly basis.
And if you take into consideration the long and glorious history of Manchester United and compare it to that of City's pathetic existence (20,000 regular fans before the money came in)...I'd say you'd have your answer.
Unless you believe that a club of United's magnitude have failed to attract local supporters in a fiercely proud and football loving city and instead have turned to "blue half" for a life of self inflicted misery for the last 44 years?

What do you think?

[right-track]

Incidentally City's victory parade was attended by 100,000 City fans earlier tonight.
Pitiful when you compare that figure to the 500,000 United fans that lined the streets in the treble winning year of 99.

[right-track]

[Bulldog]

I honestly thought we were gone when Swansea beat us 2-0 at home. Absolutely incredible turnaround from that moment onwards...I still can't really believe what's happened, even after all this time since the win at Anfield.

My personal player of the season award's gotta go to either Ali Al-Habsi for some truly amazing saves throughout the season (the one from Yossi Benayoun at the Emirates springs to mind in particular), or Gary Caldwell for how he led the side from the back for the last 10-odd games.

Roll on next season

As for the title race, I've seen some pretty incredible ones since I've been watching Premier League football. The 5-way race of 2001-2, the top spot's constantly changing hands in 2009-10 and nail-biting 2007-8 campaign spring to mind. This one trumped them all though - amazing stuff.

[right-track]

^Treble post lol

[right-track]

Originally Posted by right-track

Compare and contrast;

[Unknown Soldier]

Originally Posted by right-track

The "Manchester is Blue" claim from City fans is a sad myth.
A myth I think I've discussed elsewhere in this thread.
The City fans delusions are based on the fact/excuse that their stadium lies within the inner city boundaries. Formerly Moss Side and more recently at the "council house" known as the Etihad (Arabic for United btw). Whereas United's stadium is in the Borough of Trafford, Greater Manchester. And the assumption that United gained national popularity after the Munich Air Crash in 1958 as a desperate claim to back up the bull****.
The truth is United have averaged a higher attendance than City in every season since the 2nd World War! Even when Old Trafford was out of use due to bomb damage during the blitz, United matches attracted more fans than City did...in their own stadium.

Simple common sense would tell anyone with a brain cell (an uncommon trait among Liam Gallagheresque City supporters) that 75,000 is a higher number than 45,000, unless you believe the unlikely stat (as is claimed) that more than the difference travel up from London, or cross the Irish sea on a weekly basis.
And if you take into consideration the long and glorious history of Manchester United and compare it to that of City's pathetic existence (20,000 regular fans before the money came in)...I'd say you'd have your answer.
Unless you believe that a club of United's magnitude have failed to attract local supporters in a fiercely proud and football loving city and instead have turned to "blue half" for a life of self inflicted misery for the last 44 years?

What do you think?

That's some good insight, I didn't know the exact locations of both stadiums and see where the City assumption now comes from in regards to their stadium and city boundaries. I always thought the City fan's may have had some justification for their argument though, considering that a massive % of Utd supporters are based around the country and can draw on these supporters for away games, whereas the City support is just a local support.

The split you've shown, is probably on a par with the Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid split in Madrid which definitely favours Real Madrid but an Atletico Madrid supporter would have you believe that there is a red and white half of the city and Atletico's stadium is also right in the city centre.