Newsletter #924

The main news this weekend is the Queen’s Birthday Honours list awarding one of Manchester’s finest – Shaun Goater MBE. Shaun collects his gong for his hard work and services to sport and young people. Congratulations Shaun from all us Blues.

We’ve also opinion on the move, fair treatment of opposing fans, some potential targets and an update on the UEFA contenders. Thanks to Joel, Mark and Martin for finding out these weird and wonderful details, which are proving quite elusive.

The eagerly awaited Premier fixtures are published on Thursday, followed by the UEFA draw on Friday.

This one goes out to 3,261.

OPINION: GOATER’S GONG I

Shaun Goater has been awarded an MBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for “Services to Sport and Young People”.

Excellent news and well deserved – I am disappointed the citation didn’t also mention his three-goal contribution to last season’s derbies.

The news is embargoed until midnight Friday – but who cares. Well done Shaun.

OPINION: GOATER’S GONG II

QUEEN OUTS HERSELF AS MAN CITY FAN

The fine detail of Shaun Goater’s honour has been clarified by Buckingham Palace; it was given for that goal he scored in the Derby at O.T. and the letters after his name stand for Magnificent Bullet ‘Eader.

Good on ya Ma’am.

OPINION: GOATER’S GONG III

What’s going on at the “Evil Empire”? First there was Alex Ferguson going for the “Golden Boot” award in the dressing room. And now Beckham is after the “Golden Balls” award.

Congratulations to the true “Golden Boy” award to our Goat, he deserves it for all the work he does with the kids back in Bermuda, yes the Goat did it the old fashioned way: he earned it.

Mr Shaun Goater MBE, has a nice ring to it.

OPINION: PLAYING FAIR

The spell is broken, we have turned the corner and our luck has changed for good? New stadium, set of international footballers, financially sound, great manager. Now that we have been nominated and accepted as England’s Fair Play representative in the EUFA Cup, perhaps we can use this to extend our reputation beyond England and in turn help to make us the major force in European Football in Manchester.

We can all visualise past experiences at Maine Road, of bottles and bricks flying, police on horses charging into crowds, violent confrontations, in the alleys, and pubs. But we have turned the corner, haven’t we? We are welcoming all Premiership fans and hopefully many other cup opponents to our fantastic new stadium, not to mention new pubs, and what impression should we give them, as fans? Who do we really dislike in the football world, apart from the one obvious outfit? Remember the wonderful atmosphere in Manchester for the European Cup Final? Two sets of rival fans from closely connected cities had a great time, cities as close but as big in rivalry as Manchester and Liverpool.

Surely we in Manchester can lead in creating such an atmosphere at our new stadium that all other fans will take back to their clubs and try to foster? So what can we do to promote it, without losing the edge that football needs to make it exciting? Normally we shuffle past the North Stand visitors’ entrances with a glower, and comment on any impertinence when a shirt is spotted, braving the Blue throng. Yet when we go away from home, we look to have a good laugh and banter with their fans, and to their credit we are often made very welcome.

We have a reputation of being different already, so let’s promote it. Offer the hand of friendship, literally, shake hands with their fans when you spot them, say hello, ask how their journey was. Nothing new in this, is there? It is the easiest thing in the world, and we do it all the time in our working and holiday environments. It is a social etiquette that crosses all national and religious divides, so why not football ones? I would love it, to see the back of our new South Stand full of a great mixture of fans, with no fences or ridiculous temporary barriers and diversions, come to appreciate each other’s teams. Let’s take it in the stadium, welcome their star players, appreciate their quality, as we do with Zola, etc., laugh at their songs, clap their humour, but still keep the cutting edge to push our team on. I will be in the South Stand, singing we are the North Stand, but we all have a duty to be vocal, and remember all the old players’ comments about the encouragement from the masses on the touchline on the Kippax.

Let’s get behind them from all sides, but justify our reputation for Fair Play.

OPINION: MOVING ON

New Stadium: I know other people have raised doubts but I do believe I’m the only person I know who really would prefer it if we’re weren’t moving. It’s hard for me to put my finger on why that is but I basically feel it comes down to a loss of identity.

I’m so p’d off with everyone telling me a certain new feature of the stadium. I’m sorry but I don’t go to watch City or any football match for that matter due to the quality of the catering services or that you use a swipe card not a ticket to get through the turnstile. I go to watch City due to the fact I’ve been taken since I was six and go to other games due to a genuine enjoyment and love of the game.

Another thing that bothers me is who are these extra 10-12,000 people who are going to have season tickets? Now I appreciate that I’ve been in a privileged position whereby I’ve always been able to have a season ticket (since the old Kippax). I also appreciate that season tickets have been unattainable for the past 3-4 seasons but I can’t really believe that all these people would’ve been inclined to buy one had it not been for the move to the new stadium or an upturn in the team’s fortunes. Now I’m probably offending a few people here but if those are the reasons these people are buying the season tickets then I’d rather them not have them. Don’t get me wrong here, I don’t want to exclude anyone from City, I just feel people should want to make an effort to come because they love the club not because of a hint at success or glamour. Though I heard plenty of this at Maine Road I worry if it will just mean more people who were getting worked up because “we should’ve finished higher” “disgrace to get beat at home by West Ham… etc.” the memory of being at York for that 2-1 defeat makes me immune from such feelings.

My final point that grinds on me is the: “I’m not sorry to leave Maine Road” brigade. I read on here after the Southampton game someone wrote “I didn’t see anyone upset in my block…” or something. Well they obviously don’t sit near me because I was distraught. The place that has become most important to me and witnessed such a range of emotions in the last 17 years was just going to be taken away. I understand the “you can take the memories with you” but the games that I look back on that I’ve enjoyed the most in that time for me represent Manchester City F.C. and I just worry that it won’t be the same in new surroundings.

I can already foresee people reading this murmuring “what, so you want them to be s**t forever…” etc. but that would be rubbish. I want to see us win things but more importantly I want it to be us, I worry that at Eastlands it won’t feel like it.

A couple of short things:

27: I think it’s brilliant and wish it had stayed on the official website as it only allows me to increase the moral superiority I feel when having the ‘bitter’, ‘little siddy’ etc. thrown at me. It does make you ponder the extent of the furore that would be generated if for example mcfc.co.uk had encouraged us to make Maine Road a tribute to Real Madrid for our following home game after they’d knocked them out.

Foe: absolutely essential that he’s signed for me. I always thought the criticism he got was bit unfair even before he started scoring and I just think that continuity is essential in a team progressing.

OPINION: MIDFIELD TARGET?

I watched Ireland comprehensively beat Georgia on Wednesday night and I’ve got to say Colin Healy is a super player. I’ve seen him play for Ireland 5 or so times now and every time he has played with his heart on his sleeve. The man also has a considerable bit of skill and vision as well and he would be a great acquisition especially as he’s on a free.

I have been extolling his virtues for quite some time and I realise that there may be a problem with him as he wasn’t getting his game for Celtic even when their midfield was looking a bit ropey, but if it’s not his football, then I’m sure KK could man manage him perfectly.