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Blues and Bayern 'Going For It'

Roberto Mancini and Jupp Heynckes have both told us that their teams will be looking to win the final Champions League clash of the Group Stages tonight at the Etihad Stadium.

City needs a win with the hope that an understrength sounding Villarreal team pull a rabbit out of the hat at El Madrigal.

Bayern in typical 'Germans and English' style are treating the face-off as a prestigious battle between the elite clubs in their respective divisions.

With 2400 Bayern fans expected in East Level 3 the atmosphere promises to be amongst the best experienced at the Etihad, with Mancini urging the faithful to 'Make Some Noise Manchester' as basketball stalwart Mike Shaft used to say.

With Micah Richards now also staring at the ceiling from the treatment table, City's back line will take on an unfamiliar look with the possibility of Kolo playing at right back, or the possibility of 3 centre backs with wide cover from Johnson and Barry.

It's an interesting selection headache for Mancini ahead of one of the biggest matches ever staged by Manchester City.

Recognised as a 'must-win-with-benefits', meek surrender is not considered an option as City looks to put their miserable night in Bavaria behind then and demonstrate to the football world that they are capapble of claiming one of football's biggest scalps.

With the likes of Rummenigge having riled Roberto with his typical comments this weeks, Mancini is looking, I hear for another type of confrontation. What is it with K-HR? And what has what is going on at City got to do with him anyway? Does he not think that City understands the Financial Fair Play Rules and understand the need to work towards it? Does he not understand that Platini's support for them will wane once he reads the PSG balance sheet?

Whatever has distrurbed him, I'm sure he'll be more disturbed at ten o'clock tonight if the Club that he clearly fears most in the world has taken three points of Bayern.

Meanwhile AC Milan who yesterday were playing their ususal games tell us they have agreed personal terms with Tevez and have contacted City for a loan-with-intent-subject-to-conditions deal. Why does this simply sound like input from the Iranian Car Dealer?It is clearly an intention to smoke screen Tevez antics and limit the losses he will need to make good when a full transfer takes place. I can't see City wearing it. A loan has the implication that Tevez can be sent back and that is not an option that is wanted at the Etihad.

So, if you are going - a big shout for City tonight. If not, don't shout at the telly - it can't hear you.

Read all about it in tomorrow's Ped Report.

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Writer: Tranmere Loyal

Date:Wednesday December 7 2011

Time: 8:00AM

Your Comments

Good luck tonight fellas, I think you'll win &, like you, I'm also hoping for Villareal to beat Napoli.

Keep the faith.

Spuds-U-Like

Forgot. Hope you also stuff Rumminigge's nose in it tonight as well, the jumped up arrogant $h1te, or at least I hope he chokes on his pre match canape!

Spuds-U-Like

Thanks SUL, I have already pre conditioned myself for disappointment, it kind of comes naturally having spent the last few decades watching City. I am confident we can beat Bayern, and am hoping beyond hope that DeLaurentis' suggestions that there may be something awry will spur the Villareal players on to ram his words down his throat. The image of Die Kaiser choking on his canapé is a pleasing one, here's hoping.

Bluedub

Bluedub, if there's 1 group of fans who can relate to you City fans for the decades of hopes dashed & false dawns, it us!

Spuds-U-Like

The times they are a changing SUL! Cheers mate.

fifthcolumnblue

They certainly are 5cb, they certainly are. Although you lot are more likely to maintain it than us, its about F'King time we had something good to cheer about! :-)

Spuds-U-Like

As long as Spurs don't beat us, I'll be happy to see them finish Top 4 next season. Imagine a Top 4 with both City and Spurs. UEFA would s**t themselves...

PhillyBlueMoon

You can say that again PBM! AND We'll all laugh our c0cks off!

Spuds-U-Like

Time to put rivalries aside and best of luck for this game. Think you should make it.

Sajit

Uh Oh, Inler scores..

JT_daniel

hshahahhahahahaha

123spurs

If its any consolation, you get another chance to trash United :)

Sajit

i just had a mcdonalds, "im lovin it"

123spurs

123spurs, by the look of it, you're not even going to be in Europah! So yea.... And if City and Utd are there, you might as well just lose and get out now itself.

Sajit

no1 wants eurpoe league just watch ur team put out weaker team as we did ;)

123spurs

Good performance tonight, two quality goals and some beautiful football on show. Proud of the lads tonight and looking forward to having another crack at this comp next year.

Bluedub

We did all we could in the group of death - 10 points and a positive goal difference usually sees you through (as it did in 6 or 7 other groups). Not bothered about the Europa League TBH, but might change my opinion if we get into the semis. Cheers to Sajit and all the other well-wishers, up yours to 123 and the other muppets, and we'll be back. As Sajit says, at least now we can deny the rags in 3 competitions this season! talk about softening the blow...

fifthcolumnblue

cant take the banter i see

123spurs

s hity

123spurs

we topped out group of death with less money an money grabbers as you have , oh well you cant beat team spirit

123spurs

123 is that as high as you can count?

Bluedub

Your group of death????!!!!

Bluedub

i ment our cl group.... and whats a bluedub ? explain to me

123spurs

Pity you couldn't last the pace in the Europa eh, 123? Don't mind banter, can't stand trolls. Go and infest the Arsenal boards, there's a good misfit.

fifthcolumnblue

I know what you meant. That's why I put the exclamation marks there.

Bluedub

well putting out our reserves im not suprised

123spurs

i can count to a billion that figure is known in s hity

123spurs

Anyone got any flea powder? You're making me itch 123. (AKA making my skin crawl)

fifthcolumnblue

P.S. 123 - if you're going to insult us, at least spell it correctly - it's S-h-i-t-T-y. Epic fail dude.

fifthcolumnblue

im just kidding, fair play to you guys, the league is all yours, good luck

123spurs

Good grief. Our haul of 10 points and a +3 goal difference would have been enough to qualify from 5 of the 8 groups!!

Johnny Baguette

at least we know you will be in there next season, just sta away form our players just nick rvp

123spurs

Oh well, maybe Mansour can just Channel 5 and UEFA and make them play the Euro League on Wednesdays. Channel 5, lalala, Channel 5, lalala!

Gooner_Vin

Oh well, maybe Mansour can just buy Channel 5 and UEFA and make them play the Euro League on Wednesdays. Channel 5, lalala, Channel 5, lalala!

Gooner_Vin

Arsenal. Our bitterest feeder club.

Johnny Baguette

PMSL JB!

fifthcolumnblue

Vin, Thurs night football won't be a problem for us, our second string that put you out of the League Cup last week is almost strong enough to win the Europa League, so no worries there. City will be back in the CL next season with a fair chance of challenging for it whereas Arsenal if they make it are just there to make up the numbers.

Bluedub

Bitter? You should see me laughing my tits off!

Gooner_Vin

Reuters: Man Utd and Man City have announced the launch of a new fragrance for Christmas: Channel No. 5

Gooner_Vin

the sad gunners must be very low on ammo as there defense shows the cracks

123spurs

arsene "we dont need to strengthin" wegner has RSPCA on speed dial on how to hold on to a lead is hes first Q

123spurs

All I can say to gooner_vin is to make sure you wrap van persil in cotton wool, because if he gets knacked you suddenly don't even look top 6...

fifthcolumnblue

well vin im sure the city fans will gladly give you the code for it on sky when ull be playing next season

123spurs

if city buy him the sticker label will be on him "handle with care" "expensive goods" "fragile"

123spurs

hey 123 - you forgot "dry clean only" and "no means no".

fifthcolumnblue

lol

123spurs

This thread amuses me greatly.

BlueBanes

Hahahaha my laff is laffing his ass out lol.

Trublues

Unlucky chaps, on the bright side there'll probably be a cracking Steven Seagal film on straight after your next Euro fixtures.

nikolaijns

niko thats all ahead of you in 2012

123spurs

I love that it went from Spurs fans bashing City fans to just City and Spurs fans bashing Arsenal.

PhillyBlueMoon

Forget buying Channel 5, I demand our beloved Sheikh buy Napoli and close down the club with immediate effect. In all seriousness, proud of the boys tonight, we really did dominate the 3rd best side in Europe and have overcome our Champions League learning curve. Next year's adventure will be much longer. Some good teams in the Europa League like Atletico and Porto, could be some tasty matches coming up! Unlike some, City fans will by large not look down too much on the Europa League, we are fully aware of where we have come from and you can also boost your UEFA coefficient with a good Europa League run as Porto did last season.

StuMCFC

Great game by city, but you didnt qualify, one of those days now assnail are next in line for europa (next season) hmmm.

Trublues

Without question, Stu. Least any of us forget, 13 years ago on this day we were coming off a 1-1 draw away at Luton Town and were preparing for a match against Bristol Rovers at Maine Road...

PhillyBlueMoon

Unlucky guys, you definately had the group of death. Our group last season was a shedload easier than yours, even with Inter in it, mind you, they were coached by Benitez! LOL.

Looks like the Europa is yours for the taking & you should win it, there's very little in your way, including Manure, as Spurs are as good as out of it! ;-)

Best of, boys except when you come up against us of course!

Spuds-U-Like

Guys - can't see the link where I can buy your new Channel No 5 fragrance on this site - let me know where it is. Cheers.

Gooner_Vin

Take the mick while you can GV - you'll be extrememly fortunate to qualify for the Europa League next season, let alone the Champions League. One bad tackle on Van Pu_ssy...

fifthcolumnblue

I'd much rather be playing on Channel 5 and be 5 points clear at the top of the PL than be in position 5 in the league with no hope of winning anything

Bluedub

So would we Bluedub mate!

Sheer jealousy, Les Goons are running scared, bet they don't get into the CL quarters like they didn't last year! :-)

Spuds-U-Like

Guys, I had no problem with City before, but since you've won the lottery the display of arrogance by your fans is astounding and you've even surpassed Chelsea as being more hated. I am so happy that a club like Napoli, built on spending a minuscule compared to yours, was rewarded by going through on the basis of astute signings, tactics and sheer workrate. Likewise, take the mick all you like against Arsenal and our current predicament, but I'd rather that than have bought success. Yours is nothing but financial doping and it don't matter if you win the next 3 titles and Champions League, no one else will really value it.

Gooner_Vin

Blah, blah, blah, financial doping, blah. To be honest with you Vin I couldn't give a ***** who values it if we do win trophies, the City fans will value and that's all that matters to me.

Bluedub

Sorry to butt in, but Gooner_Vin, you've got a F'King cheek calling City fans arrogant mate. Talk about pot/kettle!

Spuds-U-Like

I was thinking the same thing myself SUL, he's on here taking the ***** about Europa League football as though it's beneath him, it smacks of arrogance.

Bluedub

Never mind Bd, he's a hypocrite, just about EVERY fan would want a Mansour to throw millions at their club, I don't care who they are. To say you City fans are arrogant, well he's talking out his Arseanal!

What goes around, comes around, so when they end up in the Europa, we'll go on VA & give it back in bucketloads. Glass house/stones, mate.

Spuds-U-Like

SUL you may just have broken the record of the most time spent keeping a tongue in a rival club's rectum. City was unlucky to exit the competition but with the level of resources and planning at its disposal and the trust placed in the manager, the club management would have expected better of the manager.

Deltaforce

Making assumptions again Delta, I hope you don't do that in your finance job in the city, it could land you in hot water. Here's SheikhMansour's view "What's your view on Manchester City progress in the Champions League? SM: A new experience that the team deserves because we didn't reach there by chance, but with hard work from the the managers, management, the players and the fans. But, we must not forget that our main objective is to win the English Premier League and if we achieve that, then it will have an impact on the team and the club as a whole and validity of a certificate that we can win any other achievement. "

Bluedub

Ahhhh Bluedud and Spud, what a duo. I can see why you bond given that Man*****ty are the Spuds of the North. Today is Thursday, chaps. A very special day of the week for you. Knobbers.

Gooner_Vin

First of all Vin you give a bit of stick, then when you get some back you can't take it. Now you're resorting to name calling? Pathetic!

Bluedub

It was all sunshine and roses until someone stepped in a ruined your party, right Vin? It's funny that Arsenal outspent a lot of clubs in the 90s in order to win the Premier League, and yet you conveniently forget that. Your only chance for the Champions League next season is Chelsea collapsing, as there are 7 teams going after four spots, and right now you're on the outside looking in.

PhillyBlueMoon

Better to have my tongue IN a rectum, than to BE one.

As for the Gooner, he can't grasp the simple concept of proper football fans having respect for each other. At least 123spurs admitted to just winding up the City fans & was gracious in the end, can't see this guy doing that. All his last post has done is to show that he's lost any argument he thought he had. LOL!

Spuds-U-Like

it's funny, but we finished in the Champions League places ahead of Spurs last season, yet they seem to be the ones coming onto our boards and being gracious. The goons of north london on the other hand clearly have a case of laissez majeste when it comes to City and continually bitch and moan about us. Funny!

fifthcolumnblue

5cb, its an overblown sense of entitlement that clouds their judgement. They can't see that all dynasties eventually fade & new ones rise to take their place. Arseanal & Manure are fading, City & Spurs are rising. They can't stand the thought that their time is coming to an end, so kick out in mindless abuse which just magnifies their impotence.

As for us being gracious to you, well, lets face it, we're hardly rivals - yet!

Spuds-U-Like

Ah, the fictional arrogance of our fans. Our fans are exactly the same as they've always been, people paint us as arrogant now because our team wins and threatens their own team, not because of any altered behaviour from us. Arrogance is coming here with awful gloating jokes.

StuMCFC

Boys, don't forget to Sky+ Thursday nights.

Gooner_Vin

I'm sure you won't forget next season either, GV.

Spuds-U-Like

The gooners have to make it first before they can play on Thursday nights, SUL. They're going to have a tough time cracking the Top 4 this season.

PhillyBlueMoon

Sorry to tell you gooner_vin, but your pathetic attempts at winding us up are doomed, and just make you look a bit silly. Pity there's no safety net of the Europa league for l'arse to fall into when they get knocked out of the Champs League (rpobably not in the next round to be fair, although without van persie you'd probably get knocked out by Apoel!).

fifthcolumnblue

True, PBM, very true. :-)

Spuds-U-Like

I think the main reason you are entertaining gooners here chaps is that for the last couple of seasons there has been a concerted gameplan by citeh to destabilise what it has viewed as the rival it can easiest dislodge in order to buy it's champions league place. It has sought to destabilise by offering vast sums to turn the heads of some of our weaker minded players in the hope that Arsenal will fall apart without them, seemingly however we seem to have strengthened as a team in the absence of a rampant egoist troublemaker like 24 million pound man Adebayor or fairweather hiders like 24 million pound sex op Nasri. Undoubtably Wenger didn't want to lose Nasri in the same summer that he would lose cesc, but the feeling of the squad is it appears that he/she is no real loss. It goes without saying that everyone outside of Kent is overjoyed that Utd are out but your clubs' exit (without wanting to besmirch you lads) is undoubtably a moral victory for football over finance.

nikolaijns

A moral victory? LMFAO! You don't half talk out of your overly-opinionated backside Nikolaijns.

fifthcolumnblue

Sorry, forgot to add the word "pompous" before backside. I'm sure you'll forgive me.

fifthcolumnblue

Destabilising clubs by loaning them their best striker while we pay half his wages, a player that we bought from you because he wanted out and we needed a striker of his ilk at the time. Destabilising another one of our rivals by buying out one of our players contracts so that they could snap him up on a free. I'm sorry Niko but your theory doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Bluedub

If we're going to talk about destabilising other clubs, how about going in and tapping-up Everton's best player with only minutes of the transfer window to go? Left them lots of time to find a replacement, didn't you.

fifthcolumnblue

What you do with sp*rs is irrelevant, you loaned them adebayor because like Arsenal you couldn't wait to see the back of the muppet, he's a prat and one which drags the whole squad down, much like Tevez another player with enough baggage he could start his own luggage shop. You had no idea at the start of the season that sp*rs would actually pull their fingers out of their collective and pose a threat to anything. I know you boys find it hard to view things objectively from the eye of the storm but it is a small moral victory for football over finance and if it wasn't your club at the heart of things I have no doubt you'd agree with me. We'd have had no need for Arteta and to go in with a last minute bid had we not had the heart of our midfield ripped out this summer and it was the knock on effect of the petrodollar, Nasri and his agent.

nikolaijns

Niko, that's pure speculation on Nasri. For all we know Nasri wanted out of Arsenal and asked his agent to sound out potential suitors, City get wind and buy him, nothing to do with destabilising Arsenal. Also if you listen to Mancini he acknowledges Spurs as one of our rivals and yet we are prepared to accept strengthening them to ease our wage bill.

Bluedub

Perhaps you shouldn't have allowed Nasri's contract to wind down eh? For what it's worth, our Stretford neighbours were also very interested in him. And I'm sure the Everton fans really blame City for the loss of Arteta - talk about specious!

fifthcolumnblue

The fact that over the last few seasons you have purchased 4 players at a combined cost of roughly £70 million is testament to my statement that you want what Arsenal have and that by targetting specifically Arsenals' squad you will achieve at the least the league position Arsenal has maintained seasons' past and at their expense no less. It's general ruthless business practice so I'm not sure why you bother to get yer fuffles in a ker? Establish your business competition and target their place in the market and often their employees.

nikolaijns

Why didn't Arsene say no? The simple fact is that he managed to hang on to fabregas despite 4 seasons of intense pressure by barcelona - yet all of a sudden City come along and prove irresistable? For what it's worth, noone at Arsenal was at all sad to see Badebayor go, and you all laughed at us for paying so much money for him. Most of your fans acknowledged that Kolo was a spent force and that after his years of sterling service, he was free to go. Clichy you all branded as over-rated (He's been putting in some mighty fine performances for us BTW - change is as good as a rest, eh?), and I reiterate the point that if you had not allowed Nasri's contract to run down you would not have lost him to "Moneybags" City. The thing I find most laughable about your arguments though, is your admission that we contributed to Arsenal's coffers to the tune of £70m - HTF is that destabilising you? It is not our fault that your parsimonious manager and money-grabbing board have refused to invest in replacements, or do you blame us for that too?

fifthcolumnblue

P.S. We don't want what Arsenal have - we want trophies.

fifthcolumnblue

Easiest way to keep a team together is to not sell, niko. Are you that thick to realize that your board members care only about the money and not the results on the pitch? And what about all the youngsters that Wenger has stolen from countries where they weren't allowed to sign for their senior team? Is that considered a "good business practice"?

PhillyBlueMoon

fcb I didn't say that your destabilising has been successful but four players for 70 million in 3 years is a strategy, a gameplan to target Arsenal as the weakest link in the top 4 and the club you see you could most likely replace. The fact that your club has earmarked Arsenal players that are unlikely to cause any major destabilisation doesn't undermine my view it merely suggests Garry Cook levels of financial incompetence at the reins. I reiterate to you Arsenal tried to renegotiate Nasris' contract his greed and ego forbade it, his agent buggered up a move to utd so he was left with citeh. If you think giving money equates with not destabilising then you have already been in your sheikh induced bubble for too long and you're skewed. In your world 30 million for Mario Gotze is a snip and we're mad for not doing it. If you're stupid and insane enough to pay 24 million for Adebayor or Nasri then we aren't going to turn that down, but to argue that you're somehow doing us a favour is pretty laughable. You'd all kill your grandmothers for our history of trophy haul so one FA cup in 30 years doesn't make your club some all conquering billy huge balls so get down off your stallion prancealot that kinda tabloid talk is beneath you.

nikolaijns

@philly we are not in the position to turn down 48 million for two players 99.9% of all the worlds clubs aren't, if our board members only care about profit then why don't they take dividends from the club? Don't confuse long term concerns with the clubs well being and security and reluctance to lash funds up against the wall in a short term dash for glory with parsimony or no desire to see on field success. We'll still be up there challenging in 20, 40 years time and we'll have built our European superpower on the fiscal foolishness of the more money than sense brigade. 23 million for Anelka? thanks we'll build a brand new training centre and buy Thierry Henry, that's how we roll, that is considered good business practice! If countries have employment laws that doesn't protect their own businesses then I guess Arsenal will continue to use that loophole and given Barcas' own despicable mouthing off from all and sundry I'm personally glad that we poached another 3 players off them this year using this method. i just love to see those gobby tapping up phuckers wound up! :)

nikolaijns

No, actually, you'll be lucky to finish Top 4 this season, and then your run of "European Superpower" will disappear and no one will want to play for you anymore. Just ask Liverpool fans what happens when you finish 5th. And it's great to see that you're fine with "loopholes" that help your team but not a man coming in and investing £1b into a club and the surrounding area. Good to see you like winning over helping people.

PhillyBlueMoon

Niko, if there was any grounds to your argument surely the purchase of Nasri and Clichy this summer is irrelevant, as we have already surpassed in terms of league position before we bought them. Should we not have targeted Spurs players last summer to destabilise them? Once again mate I'm sorry but your theory is just that, a theory, and it doesn't stand up to scrutiny.

Bluedub

3 of the players we purchased from you were SURPLUSS TO REQUIREMENTS, ie no longer wanted. So if Liverpool or Un***d had bought them would you decry them for attempting to destabilise Arsenal? We bought those players you didn't want because they were better players than the ones we had, and they were available for sale. Nasri is the only one you didn't want to lose, and the rags were just as interested in him as we were. I believe Wenger decided that City were less of a threat to your ambitions than Un***d, so sold him to us. When it comes to your continued entry into the champions league, then i would argue that someone like Gotze is actually a snip - if you invest £30m and make £90 it becomes a good investment. If you try to bring through some callow youth out of a misguided belief that you are somehow "morally right" and fail to qualify for the CL, then that is a poor investment. You are the 5th largest club by revenue in world football, yet you have one of the worst commercial deals in the business. I get the general impression that your shareholders are simply interested in the status quo, ie taking their profits home, and will carry on hiding their heads in the sand unless the gravy train gets derailed by someone like City. Your trophy haul in the past has been predicated on attracting large crowds, and thus having more money to spend than anyone else. David Dein saw to it that your dominance would continue by screwing the smaller clubs to enable the creation of the Premier League - your dominance was further enhanced by the creation of the Champions League, thereby ensuring that a small elite of clubs would dominate football forever more. Until liddle old ciddy, beloved club of everyone for their plucky northern sense of humour in the face of overwhelming disappointment threw a wee spanner in the works. So feel free to admit your naked jealousy and hatred of my club for upsetting your applecart, but kindly stop accusing me of being a "billy big balls" or assuming that I'm being arrogant for attempting to point out the ridiculous nature of your accusations. That kind of tabloid talk is clearly not beneath you.

fifthcolumnblue

Clichy was our 1st choice left back leaving us only an injury prone untested youngster, Adebayor was a 1st team striker, kolo a 1st choice defender and na$ri a 1st choice midfielder. I think Adebayor out of those 4 was the only one by virtue of his utter muffness deemed surplus to requirements. @ fcb yes you are being arrogant, talking trophies when all you have 'won' is one solitary FA cup in 30 years having spent a billion to get it. That's arrogance when you use your current status as royal oil barons' plaything to belittle the history of a club with 13 league trophies. It just is and it is beneath you as I know you're better than that, it's the resort of a scoundrel whose argument has run dry. @ dub why would you rest on your laurels? you seek to keep kicking the competition you don't take your foot off their neck just because you have the upper hand. You may disagree but I believe it does stand up and I don't see you lending adebayor to sp*rs or anything else put forward here as an adequate or relevant argument to my case. @philly helping people lol what a joker! mansour is only helping himself stop lying to yourself son, rejuvenating an area so his royal eyes don't have to witness the hideous wasteland more like. When are the palm trees, beaches and casinos rocking up?

nikolaijns

Oops apologies for the double post.

nikolaijns

So why just Arsenal Niko? Why not Liverpool or Spurs?

Bluedub

You sound like a right London****, niko. God bless anyone who has to deal with you on a daily basis.

PhillyBlueMoon

In other news, scientists have identified a major new cause of global warming - they're calling it Nikolaijns. The trouble is Niko, you are so convinced of your own intellectual superiority over us poor northerners that live in such a hideous wasteland that nothing we say will ever be anything otherr than an arrogant fabrication to you. I find each and every one of your arguments to be true based on one thing and one thing only - your own opinion on matters. Feel free to indulge in your own solipsistic fantasies with regard to the football team that I've loved for decades, but I'm afraid that I consider everything you say to be just so much hot air. Gotta love a trier though, and you are most certainly trying! And for your next treick you'll deride Nigel DeJong as a total thug whilst lauding your vbery own Frimpong for a two footed lunge...

fifthcolumnblue

As for the arrogance claim, would you not say that City are currently better placed to win trophies than Arsenal? I would based on what I have seen in the last couple of years. No disrespect intended mate but history counts for feck all on the pitch.

Bluedub

Don't get me wrong I'm not saying manchester is a wasteland but you'd be hard pressed to describe the surrounding area of your ground as much else. It's a shame that personal insults have been resorted to (except for dub who has been the model of civilised restraint as ever!) as I've said nowt in that dept. Further to your argument of how can we be destabilising clubs when we have loaned adebayor to potential rivals sp*rs? well what about this then, adebayor will face Arsenal, Liverpool, utd and any other top club club apart from yourselves, it's very clever but you have increased the likelihood of having pts taken off your rivals by providing a club like sp*rs with a striker that they wouldn't ordinarily have the funds for. Do you not think this was the motive for the loan? @ dub of course citeh are better placed to win trophies than Arsenal I've not argued otherwise! You've just spent a squillion sponds on players alone not even garry cook could fail to make you a competitive club. @fcb c'mon mate ditch the 'oh woe is me northerner with chip' schtick, we get enuff of that with the scousers! I've come here with opinions and views that I deem worthy of discussion. I've attempted to put across views from a supporter of a club that you've had recent business dealings with and to up the ante some other than just laughing because you have dropped into the Europah. Obviously it's not been appreciated so I'll do one. Laters!

nikolaijns

So, now we're cheating the system, Niko? Is that it? Should we just sit him on the bench then and not get anything in return for him? I think you're suggesting we just take our "place" back in the middle of the table so that you can take back what you've "earned" through keeping the smaller clubs small. Cheers.

PhillyBlueMoon

Funny, but I considered "so get down off your stallion prancealot that kinda tabloid talk is beneath you." to be a bit of an insult, and so I suspect would the majority of people. As it happens I'm not a northerner, hell mat, I'm not even British by birth, I happen to be one of those dirty immigrants that's stealing all the jobs (actually I employ several British people, but that kind of negates my argument LOL) And you are correct in one thing - we weren't trying to be chummy with Spurs byu loaning them ther gob*****e egotist that is Badebayor, far from it. So I guess there are certain things we can agree on, however infrequent they may be.

fifthcolumnblue

Niko, I believe you are doing Garry Cook a disservice, yes he was prone to the odd gaffe but the work he has done for City in terms of building the commercial side of the club is nothing short of phenomenal imo. The reason I brought up the point about trophies is that you are suggesting that Fifth was being arrogant when he made comments about Arsenal's lack of trophies, I don't see what Fifth said as being arrogant, I see it as being realistic.

Bluedub

Arsenal could do with someone like Gary Cook TBH - out of all the top clubs in Europe, their commercial growth was the only one that grew by a big fat 0%. If you're struggling for money, don't point the finger at us for "distorting the market", or destabilising Arsenal, point it at your own board for being decidedly behind the times. If the Glazers can flog a dead horse to the tune of almost 30% growth, then surely it's incredibly incompetent of your club to not even register a single percentage point increase? I seem to recall your manager discussing the recent sponsorship deal we landed with Etihad and suggesting ironically that "perhaps Arsenal had signed a bad deal with Emirates" Ironically, compared to other clubs (especially Bayern), you signed a ludicrously bad deal. Charity begins at home dude!

fifthcolumnblue

Unlike a good deal of other supporters I don't see it as a sign of weakness to admit to the shortcomings of the club you support. There are gooners who refuse to admit Wengers' faults and the fault of Arsenal for the start we have made to this season even though I believe it was avoidable. I have no problem admitting the Em*rates deal wasn't great by the standards of modern football sponsorship but it was on offer and did help when we needed finance for the stadium. @ fcb I don't care where you're from - well maybe not that but I don't judge people on where they're from. My old man was from the lake district so I'm from stock more northern than you lot :] . On the commercial marketing side we've installed a team of yanks headed by a bloke called Tom Fox so we're doubtless looking to make up the ground on the likes of utd who we were in the words of Gazidis 'light years behind' @ philly it's ok you can let down the old automatic defence system and admit when a supporter of another club is making observations as opposed to accusations. Thats the downside of a siege mentality which you've obviously locked yourselves into the last couple of years - you can't take on board constructive criticism/debate. Where have I suggested anyone take any place in any table? Nowhere. It's not cheating the system loaning adebayor to sp*rs but it's a very clever way of working the system, one that will arm a club that is never going to be a threat of winning the league but can with an extra body from your stockpile take points off your nearest rivals. Again it's as much a loophole as us taking youth from Barcas academy or you signing your own sponsorship deal with the airline of the country you basically own in order to justify the whole expenditure/income laws about to come into play.

nikolaijns

Spurs aren't a threat to win the league? I don't know about that, mate. They've got a pretty good squad and have a few points on you plus a game in hand. Don't count them out yet.

PhillyBlueMoon

getting back to the point about Adebayor - both our sets of fans know what a total **** the man is, that's not up for debate. Unfortunately for us, we saw the opportunity to purchase a pretty decent striker (and nobody can deny he has got talent) at a time when our "project" was barely off the ground. Definitely an upgrade on what came before, and for better or worse we were desparate to make an impact in as little time as possible. Once we'd realised our mistake, and our no-nonsense manager decided the unhinged fruitcake was not his glass of vino we were unfortunately hoist by our own petard - nobody would either pay the silly money we as a club wanted, neither would they pay the rather silly wages we ended up paying Badbuyor. I won't argue that some of the decisions taken by the club in the early days of our new ownership were made in haste and were a calculated risk. Some of them paid off, others didn't. But Spurs were the only club the stroppy get would accept once he realised Real weren't interested. PSG and Malaga both offered us reasonable ammounts of cash to take the idiot off our hands and we accepted both offers - unfortunately adebayor didn't, leaving us with no option other than to loan him to the Spuds. It was not a calculated move on our part, far from it - we were merely desparate to see the back of him and Spurs were the only suckers willing to take him. Now Adebayor has been the model pro on loan,. and he's done rather well for the Spuds - but to say we loaned him to them as some kind of dastardly plan worthy of Blofeld is simply not true. Nor is it true that we set out to destabilise the gooners, I think perhaps M Wenger doesn't have quite as much freedom to pick and choose who he wants to stay at the club when big offers come in. It's simply a matter of you having players that made us better, and there obviously being some reasonably decent lines of communication behind the scenes.

fifthcolumnblue

Bluedub dont worry your mediocre mind about the assumptions I make at my workplace, just worry about living your life. My statements are my own opinion and while I often laugh at your opinions - at the sheer ill informed, emotional drivel that often pass as your thoughts, one doesnt begrudge you having an opinion.

Deltaforce

Nice of you to not begrudge others their own opinion Delta. Very democratic of you, well done.

fifthcolumnblue

WRT to my above comment on Adebayor, we accepted offers for him from PSG and Zenit St Petersburg, not Malaga. My bad. No doubt Delta will now accuse me of lying because I couldn't recall the exact chain of events?

fifthcolumnblue

I don't begrudge you having an opinion either Delta, so I can't understand why you're getting so precious about. You made assumptions as regards to what SM would think on failure to progress in CL, I showed his answer on that subject in a recent interview, an answer which shows how ill informed your drivel is. I only brought up your job Delta because you were happy to do it previously in an attempt to belittle my opinions, if you're going to be such an obnoxious patronising arrogant**** then I will take the ***** out of you for it. Ok love? x

Bluedub

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