They don't produce it regularly tho - they are so inconsistent it's not true. They've played eight games in the CdR this season and have dropped points in the following league game after six of those. Ditto in the EL - played 9 games, dropped 14 points in the following league games. I reckon they'd be pushing on for third if they hadn't been in both comps for so long - good on them for focusing on the silverware rather than the CL money Yep. I'd be very happy if City won the EL, especially if the distraction meant we won the PL
I guess when you have a recruitment policy like Bilbao, the money becomes much less important than trophies - the way football used to be.
When united got knocked out why was I not surprised to see City going quickly behind 2-0? sporting is not as good as Bilbao. No. City won't be upset at being dumped out of the Europa. Just feel sorry for the mugs who paid good money to watch them at the Etihad tonight.
City have a ways to go before they can fil out a season with 90+% consistency. Sure your lot have a few newbies and look at the points you have dropped. You can realy see the holes left by scholes Giggs Keane n co, Spanish teams used ot not be a problem for United, anyone remember Becks wonder goal against deportivo?
A few of you said that, but guess what? They eventually won 3 - 2. That really stinks of trying to lose, doesn't it
The first half was a stinker,the worst I ave seen City play. Shows ho much they wanted it. You can be sure tht a team of City's calibre does not go 2-0 down AT HOME unless they couldn't care less. I think they got told they must show a bit more effort for he fans but Mancini would be happy at the end of the distraction.
Bit of a bollox argument there imo. The Giggs, Keane, Scholes and Beckham generation got dicked twice by Real, once as holders of the comp back in 2000. Ultimately the top Spanish teams have always caused a problem for English clubs in Europe over the last ten years - very few English sides actually have a good record against them. Seems we finally got to grips with the Italian sides that used to cause us so much grief back in the early 90s, only for Spain to go past both of us.
That real side were going to tank anyone. Look at the lineup, in fact I'd say they've never had such a team since regardless of who they have now. Spain had a great league too. Real are an exception, they cherry pick the best players in the world and offer them fortunes of state money. I do see your point, though, I guess I just remember UNited being able to mix it in europe more so then with far better football being offered by the OT outfit
Real Madrid has always made a mockery of financial fair play. No wonder they could get any player in the world. For decades now it was like playing a club financed by the state. They had mountains of debt but when that was frowned upon they got more money by selling their training ground to the city for an amount which was just plain ridiculous. It was something like several hundred millions Euros when on the open market it was worth about a hundredth that amount. UEFA is going to have to keep an eye on the likes of Madrid and Barcelona not just City or Chelsea for making sure that loopholes are not exploited. It is easy for income to be inflated massively by getting a shirt deal worth several hundred millions when the sponsor is linked to the owners.
Praps, although they did get done by Bayern and Juve, so weren't invincible. And you could say that the way that Bilbao side played against us they would probably tank anyone too - they almost did Barca in the league game. This is true, but then money doesn't buy you everything - Real threw all the cash they could at the problem from 2003 to 2009 and got nowhere. And it seems the more Chelsea launch their oil money at big names the worse they get. Your point about us normally being better in Europe is valid, but then the way SAF builds his teams they are always vulnerable for a phase when the young players are being integrated, like now and back between 2004 and 2006. If our youngsters and inexperienced players can come through it this time we'll have a solid experience base for the future.
