Overthehills
Long term sufferer - Ever optimist
Like many on here will have as well. I spent a period of my pre match experience in Central London yesterday, before taking in the atmosphere around Wembley. I've seen a good bit of whinging about the behaviours of our own fans, having witnessed a bit of supidity myself from a minority.. I too have unfortunately had to contribute and have a little whinge.
But the Citeh fans pre match, I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to share a pint with some of the ones I met over in Baker Street.
Whilst The Globe was full of drunken blady-ness, drugs, sex and rock and roll.... The Wetherspoons over the road and just a stones throw away, had somewhat of a more laid back atmosphere. A large percentage of the crowd in Spoons were blades, however a number of City fans were spotted around the place as well.
The pub probably demostrated a side of football that doesn't get the press it deserves. Little clusters of rival fans enjoying a chat, a laugh, a joke and light hearted banter....The blades sang songs and tried to coax songs out of the city lot, it was all in all just a solid footballing atmosphere.
Like i said before however, I had what I can only describe as the pleasure of sharing mid-pint conversation with a mixed age group of City fans. They were actually highly complimentary of us as a team, stating that they see us as more old fashioned and that in the PL, they remembered us giving them some of the toughest games going. They said that we are disciplined and really hard to break down, which our defensive record s shows to be true (whilst perhaps yesterdays scoreline didnt). One of them watched us against Cardiff on TV and said how dangerous we looked attacking, going on to drool about Ndiaye
(I know, i was shocked with all the players at their disposal). He was saying how deceptively strong Ndiaye is for a slight build and how if he carries on he will end up at a top european club. One bloke was also saying how it would be nice to have us back in the Premier League and to have more local away matches, as he gets fed up of all the travelling.
I then accidentally insulted an old gentleman with a poorly thought out, drunken question. I obviously didnt mean to insult and my intent was genuine, but he took nark to it
I just asked if he missed being the Old Man City basically.. a proper old fashioned club, playong football at an old fashioned ground....as opposed to the huge, global team that they are now. I mean it's not half bad being a team of global superstars is it? Plying your trade against Europes best all the time etc etc....But as seasoned fans, I wondered if he had any preference....
This was met with a very annoyed "what are you on about, were still city"... blah de blah. Obviously accidentally touched a nerve on that one.
But as a whole I guess the whole davod v goliath thing made for an interesting pre match atmosphere. It was nice to see that they didnt take us for granted and that they respected us as a club and as fans.
You know what, I genuinely hope they go on and win the treble.
But the Citeh fans pre match, I can honestly say that it was a pleasure to share a pint with some of the ones I met over in Baker Street.
Whilst The Globe was full of drunken blady-ness, drugs, sex and rock and roll.... The Wetherspoons over the road and just a stones throw away, had somewhat of a more laid back atmosphere. A large percentage of the crowd in Spoons were blades, however a number of City fans were spotted around the place as well.
The pub probably demostrated a side of football that doesn't get the press it deserves. Little clusters of rival fans enjoying a chat, a laugh, a joke and light hearted banter....The blades sang songs and tried to coax songs out of the city lot, it was all in all just a solid footballing atmosphere.
Like i said before however, I had what I can only describe as the pleasure of sharing mid-pint conversation with a mixed age group of City fans. They were actually highly complimentary of us as a team, stating that they see us as more old fashioned and that in the PL, they remembered us giving them some of the toughest games going. They said that we are disciplined and really hard to break down, which our defensive record s shows to be true (whilst perhaps yesterdays scoreline didnt). One of them watched us against Cardiff on TV and said how dangerous we looked attacking, going on to drool about Ndiaye
(I know, i was shocked with all the players at their disposal). He was saying how deceptively strong Ndiaye is for a slight build and how if he carries on he will end up at a top european club. One bloke was also saying how it would be nice to have us back in the Premier League and to have more local away matches, as he gets fed up of all the travelling.I then accidentally insulted an old gentleman with a poorly thought out, drunken question. I obviously didnt mean to insult and my intent was genuine, but he took nark to it
I just asked if he missed being the Old Man City basically.. a proper old fashioned club, playong football at an old fashioned ground....as opposed to the huge, global team that they are now. I mean it's not half bad being a team of global superstars is it? Plying your trade against Europes best all the time etc etc....But as seasoned fans, I wondered if he had any preference....
This was met with a very annoyed "what are you on about, were still city"... blah de blah. Obviously accidentally touched a nerve on that one.
But as a whole I guess the whole davod v goliath thing made for an interesting pre match atmosphere. It was nice to see that they didnt take us for granted and that they respected us as a club and as fans.
You know what, I genuinely hope they go on and win the treble.
