2011/12 Final games..

[Senior Flange Technician]

Had a Man U "fan" complaining earlier that City bought the title and didn't bring through their own academy players like United do. She didn't like it when I said "you buy all your academy players and move their families from over countries to sign them". Not to mention the millions they spend on players.

 

[Col]

Fergie having a bit of a moan and in no way being undignified about the whole thing.

He should blame Joey Barton for that. Had he not gone crazy and assaulted half the Man City team, the extra time wouldn't have been added and City wouldn't have gone on to win the game!

 

[Ravi]

All this hand-wringing about a billionaire financing a football club, it makes no sense. Football as a sport died 25 years ago. It is a business now. And who was at the forefront of the commercialisation of the sport? Yes, that's right. Manchester United (amongst others, tbf). All that has happened since is the consequence of the commercial success of the business. Is it any surprise then that the football business now attracts billionaires who want to use the business for their own reasons, whatever they may be? Personal for Abramovich, Abu Dhabi PR for ADUG, for example.

Personally, I preferred the days when you supported your local club and pretty much any club could come up and make a charge for the title. But we aren't in that game any more. People really have to stop crying when the business model naturally evolves out of their favour.

I fully expect the model to change again, then City won't be top dogs financially, but I guess it will be a while before that happens.

And don't even start me on FFP, that is just a way to cement a cartel in place. Sensibly, City's owners have done what they have to do to be a part of it. Good luck to these clubs who you all expect to break into the cartel the "ethical" way in the future. I won't be holding my breath.

Great post.

I've said for a while the top league is no longer a true competition as most teams have zero chance of winning it. The only way a team outside the cartel can compete for the title is to do what City have done.

Man Utd pushed for this, voted for this & it's great to see them have their noses rubbed in it and be outclassed by their proper rivals.

 

[Tutts]

Manchester United, the richest team at the time, won the league in 1907 having benefitted by signing 3 of Manchester Citys players after they hit financial problems.

What goes around comes around....