(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)
On 1 September 2008, the entire landscape of football changed when the ADUG purchased City from disgraced former Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra. Since that date, Manchester City has been subject to the worst kind of slander that can be imagined.
The press, opposition managers and players have all taken every chance they could to have a dig at City. Frankly, it is all disgusting hypocrisy.
Manchester City FC are a club that at one time, was the toast of English football. With legends like Colin Bell and Mike Summerbee, they went on to win the Football League, the FA Cup and the European Cup Winner's Cup. Then in the 1980's and 90's, the franchise took a downfall after it had been built so beautifully by Joe Mercer.
In 1999, City finally started to make its way back. In 2002, they finally made it to the Premier League for good.
City fans have had to endure heartbreak and despair for decades. We have been the subject of ridicule through our troubled times and were the laughing stock of English Football.
Now, after the buyout of the club and subsequent events since then, people see City as a threat to football. People think that City will never become a power on the pitch.
What these same people fail to realize is that the world's largest clubs became big at sometime and by some way. I ask these questions to fans of large clubs:
United Fans
Remember when you wanted Ferguson sacked after losing 5-1 to city?
What club's ground did you play at when Old Trafford was bombed to the ground by the Germans in World War II?
What happened when Dennis Law scored at Old Trafford in April of 1974?
Remember, United hasn't always been at the top of everything. You've had your share of tough times.
Another thing, how much debt are you in again?
Chelsea Fans
How many top-division titles do you have in your club's history? I'll give you a hint, it's only one more than City.
How did your club really build into a power? Sure, Chelsea was finishing higher than City at this stage, but we all know it was the mad Russian's money that has sustained you.
Liverpool Fans
I know Liverpool has always been a high level club, but how much money has Rafa spent as a manager?
How much did you pay for Torres?
Despite all of this, Rafa feels it's appropriate to dig at the new kids on the street.
Manchester City is a club of high ambition; to state otherwise is an incredibly moronic thing to say. City's goal of the Champions League is one that every club should have the right to strive for. Yet, nobody feels that City should be given that chance.
City's big spending is the only way they will break up the monopoly that the big four have had on English football. Why aren't they allowed to do that?
If Manchester United or Chelsea had been bidding as much as City, would anyone raise a big stink about it?
My guess is probably not. Yet it is City, whose ambition is higher than the sky, which is made into the villain for its desire to be up with the big boys.
That is the great hypocrisy of football. The sense is that only a few clubs are entitled to greatness while the rest have to just see their place in the world and live with it. City is the beacon of hope in breaking up that monopoly.
Mark Hughes has already laid a foundation. A mix of great transfer deals and academy products has already made the club a tough opposition. The additions to the squad that have been made are making them even better.
City has as much of a right as Chelsea, Arsenal, Man United and Liverpool to content for the Premier League and all of the glory that has been given to them.
Essentially, if you want to have a dig at City's spending, look at your own club's actions.
The Future is bright.
The Future is Blue.
And, at this point if you don't like it—TOUGH!
You have to try it out — the best Manchester City articles and videos from around the web delivered straight to you.
42 Comments
Loading more comments...
This comment and all replies have been deleted This comment has been deleted Undo delete