Manchester City fans defiant ahead of Newcastle show down - MCFC

In the first of a two-part series of articles reflecting on the Kaka transfer saga, MCFCfans makes no apologies for broadening and balancing the debate. In part two we find fans desperate to put the papers in the bin and make some noise on Wednesday night.

What has been most disappointing about the recent press speculation and coverage of the Kaka approach, and Manchester City’s ‘project in general, is the narrow range of debate that has tended to dominate. It is currently in vogue to ‘bash the rich kids,’ and there are so many parallels to the narrow coverage of the credit crunch. Find a simple target and blame it for the world’s ills.

The word ‘obscene’ was used generously

In what one BBC Radio 4 presenter called, “the biggest made-up story in history,” the use of the word ‘obscene’ to describe City’s approach tells you all you need to know about the propaganda trap that City walked in to.

Simon Caney, Editor-in-chief of Sport Magazine, rightly pointed out that the generous use of the word ‘obscene’ was missing the point. Sheikh Mansour does his share for good causes, but in any event this was a fair and legal approach in a transfer fee-based market. If Jo and countless other players can transfer for £18m, then Kaka can transfer for £100m.

“We recognise the need to ensure that our sponsorship activity reflects the process of restructuring that the bank has under way,” a Royal Bank of Scotland spokesperson said in reaction to reports (BBC Wed 21 Jan) that RBS had extended its’ title sponsorship of the Six Nations Championship for a further four years to the tune of £20m, a figure denied by RBS. This is the story of arguably one of the biggest contributors to the UK’s credit crunch putting up what is arguably taxpayers’ cash at a time when they are laying off staff. Is this not ‘obscene’? Not if the relative column inches are anything to go by.

The credit crunch – upside down thinking

“It is a bit bizarre that, in these times of credit crunch, we are talking about a club paying £100m for one player,” wrote Gordon Taylor, Chairman of the PFA, in his exclusive column on givemefootball.com. Virtually all of Gordon Taylor’s comments are worth challenging, but this notion that Manchester City are going against the grain during the credit crunch is utterly absurd.

David Conn, writing in The Guardian in May of last year, reliably informed readers that Manchester United’s accounts showed the club’s total creditors at £764m. £666m owed to financial institutions, including £152m to hedge funds. Reports stated RBS joined Deutsche Bank in arranging securitisation for the acquisition finance. Hicks and Gillett at Liverpool are no different with The Financial Times reporting on Friday that their RBS loan extension of £350m lasts only until July. If you’re looking for contributions to the credit crunch then look no further. Was all this debt labelled as ‘obscene’ by Mr.Conn or the wider press?

Manchester City has no such debts and therefore does not contribute to the UK’s possible bankruptcy. Indeed it offsets the UK’s leveraged position. The investment by ADUG constitutes new investment, a fresh injection of cash, and a removal of debt. Does that not sound like good news during a credit crunch?!

The boost to Manchester and the UK of having a new investor with capital to invest will not be quantified until specific development projects are announced. However, the circulation of new money within the game at a time like this could indirectly end up being a lifeline for some clubs. That it may give Manchester City a short-term advantage is open to debate. In fact it may give the club a short-term disadvantage, something that most reporters chose to ignore.

One City fan recently wrote to David Conn at The Guardian to question the, “unanimous opprobrium.” He went on to write to Mr.Conn,” I have always felt that, amongst the ignorant and predictable pap emitted around the world of football, The Guardian is a voice of reason.” Conn had the decency to reply, but the damage to City was done.

MCFCfans

Part two of this article will be published at the same time tomorrow. In the meantime why not add your vote to our Mark Hughes poll, "Should he stay or should he go" on our home page.

Breaking news: The re-arranged Portsmouth away fixture will be played on Saturday 14th February at 3pm. As if travelling all the way down for the cancelled fixture wasn't difficult enough, now you've got to fight the missus to go to the replay!

Breaking news: New signing Nigel de Jong will wear the number 34 shirt, while Craig Bellamy has taken number 39.

Comments

written on 26-Jan-2009
Real Mancs Are Blue [http://uk.youtube.com/user/RealMancsAreBlue] says:
Good article although I feel it is only really the tip of the iceberg with regards the ridiculous bias we have been shown , still . keep up the good work
written on 26-Jan-2009
Jack says:
Totally agree. There are some positive aspects to come out of all the spite and bile hurled our way by semi-literate hacks in the gutter press. They have pulled the fans together like I have never seen before and Mark Hughes demeanour throughout has been dignified and considered. It is not the owners job to cure the economic ills in the world. The money he has invested into City is new money and, as you intimate, can only help football in general. The transfer window signings that MH has made (and might make) have addressed our weak spots and can only make us better for the rest of the season.
written on 26-Jan-2009
Goater Is God says:
Good points well made fella!

The hypocrisy and jealousy coming from all the debt-ridden clubs and mult-millionaire ex-players is ridiculous, and figures being thrown around are purely speculation but unfortuantely believed by the greater gullible.

Anyone close to City can see the massive investment being made into all aspects of the club but it's only our transfers that get a mention. The 'obscene' wages being paid are taxable, and the 'obscene' fees are staying in the English game in the main. The fact the selling clubs are also foreign owned and heavily in debt isn't our problem.

Being rich will never be popular, but the derision aimed at us, based on 'obscene' tabloid coverage is so pathetic it stopped being funny a long time ago!
written on 26-Jan-2009
Dezza says:
Obscene is a word I would use to describe a certain Mr Beckham spending £80,000 on a handbag for his wife...maybe he traded in one of his golden balls...on another note, it really hacks me off when reporters (especially the Daily Mail) write articles and then have a comments bit at the bottom. I have made a number of comments about their negative City slant and they haven't seen light of day. I also replied to Andy Gray's article where he described City taking the game away from genuine supporters. I replied that I thought he was talking tosh and should know better working for Sky, which while they have been great for football coverage and have dragged the terrestial channels up from the Dark Ages, have done more than anyone to alienate the fans from the players. Suprise, surprise...again, it didn't see light of day, though I did copy and paste it onto the MUEN site and it appeared!!
written on 26-Jan-2009
malcylon says:
Thanks to all for your comments.
Jack & Goater- what is really outrageous is that its not just the tabloid press. All of the broadsheets got involved as well. In fact they were almost worse!
Dezz - I've noticed this a lot as well. The Marina Hyde article has well over 300 odd comments from various idiots seeking the moral high ground and yet it is littered with comments that have been removed. There is barely one comment left against her article (from one of our own MCFCfans members in fact).
Can't wait for Wednesday.
written on 27-Jan-2009
JimmyGrimbleallgrownup. says:
As regards the press, my conclusion has always been "don't let the actual facts get in the way of a good story".
Most of what I have recently read about City falls into this category,
Goater, you are right on the money when you remark that the figures being thrown around are purely speculation.
We are currently the club who are generating the most public interest.
When there is an absence of fact the press will take the liberty of filling in the blanks.
Every player we are interested in bringing to the club is quoted in every paper at a different price and with a different proposed wage. This in itself proves the source of such information is at the least dubious.
I think overall that we, as supporters need to embrace the fact that we are now being considered as contenders.
The papers are acknowledging this and the sniping remarks from our competitors suggest they are just starting to see the very real, future threat that we will pose.
Another club in the the mix for Champions league places? Is it any wonder the cracks in Arsene's usually calm facade are starting to show.
Green eyes peer at us from all quarters.
We must bolster ourselves and prepare for greatness.
I have no doubt, under MH, it is coming.
CTID.
written on 27-Jan-2009
Dave0 says:
I totally agree with this article and can't believe how things can be fine if your the right team or person but not another. As another person said nobody bats an eyelid when someone like Mrs beckham buys an £80,000 bag or something but we can't buy a player with our owners own money because there's a credit crunch. Speaking of the Beckhams when the Kaka deal was going on DB was supposed to advised Kaka not to come to City for money reasons. Does anybody really think Beckham went to LA Galaxy to promote football and if so why were the figures so large. I seem to remeber that was a hefty deal money wise but nothing was wrong with that! Can't wait untill all these loan extensions etc. run out and clubs have to start paying back their debts they must be pooing themselves. I'm sure the same people who were bashing City will be doing their best to bully the banks to be more relaxed with the untouchables. How could they possibly be expected to pay back such large debts, theres a credit crunch on don't you know. Maybe those debts should be paid back to replace the money the gov. has used to bail the banks out of the situation they have created themselves by investing in and lending money to organisations that never pay it back. This would allow the government to use it to help keep your average joe who needs an average salary in a job during this peroid rather than people with millions in the bank getting away with their organisations getting away with not paying off debts while average joe loses his home.
written on 27-Jan-2009
malcylon says:
As a mate of mine pointed out yesterday, what about Carrick and Berbatov scoring United's goal against Spurs to take them through the cup....£50m not buying success there then?!
written on 27-Jan-2009
malcylon says:
Final instalment coming up by the way...

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