The Man City Fan’s “Dilemma”
City Welcomes Tevez to Manchester
As you may or may not know, I am a massive Manchester City fan. City, as they are affectionately known, has recently become the richest soccer team in the world. Apparently Dubai sheik money is recession-proof. And this summer, City has spent like it, signing Carlos Tevez away from hated rivals Manchester United, and several other high-priced players to the tune of 94 million pounds spent.
Now, some City fans are getting angsty with their club’s new, big-budget ways. After the jump, I will explain to you why their durm und strang is misplaced.
The general refrain from these long-time fans is something along the lines of “I signed up to support the anti-Manchester United, a small team with diehard fans who fought the good fight against the crosstown juggernaut.” While fans may believe that, its a misreading of the club’s recent history. City had struggled tremendously in the late 1990’s and early part of this decade (even being relegated twice), but not for want of money. Instead, the club was monumentally mismanaged by their previous owners. City were “lovable losers” not because they operated on a shoe-string budget, but because they simply didn’t have the management necessary to win.
Admittedly, the purchase of the club by the Abu Dhabi United Group is a massive departure from the history of the club. But fans bemoaning the international ownership should instead be applauding it, considering who it was bought from. From 2006 to 2008, the club was owned by deposed and exiled Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Thaksin spent lavishly, but used the club as a pawn in his political machinations. This behavior was much more objectionable than the spending spree that the club is currently on.
This about sums up Thaksin, the two-timing bastard
Finally, those fans who say that Manchester City has turned into the next Chelsea, fielding an international line-up of “name” players would be wise to remember that City still has a preponderance of homegrown talent, especially when compared to the other “Big Four” teams. Players like Micah Richards, Stephen Ireland, Joe Hart, and Daniel Sturridge (who recently transferred to Chelsa) all began their professional careers with City. And the City Academy (youth team) pipeline remains strong. While the club may be owned by Arab sheiks, it will still continue to field homegrown talent for the forseeable future.
Reports of the death of Manchester City’s unique character have been vastly exaggerated. As evidenced by the Carlos Tevez poster, the club is still embracing its outsider Mancunian image. And as evidenced by Sir Alex Ferguson’s childish reaction to that poster (he called City a “small, arrogant club), City has a long way to go before being respected in the upper echelon of the Premiership. City fans should be focusing on results on the field, not worrying about the supposed existential taint on the club.
