Football.... bloody hell.

[75_Steve]

I believe Alex Ferguson once said.

That's exactly how I feel at the moment.

Can't help but think the contrived fixture list hasn't done United any favours today - a non-event away game was what they needed - not a publicity-fest that has been deliberately engineered for the media by the Premier League.

[Lois22]

I think it was lovely that it was a Manchester derby. All the Man City fans respect the loss of those lives as much as the Rags.
At the end of the day, City played better and good for them.

[trackdemon]

enjoyed that now just need to turn over the scousers to make the afternoon complete!

[75_Steve]

Lois22 said:

I think it was lovely that it was a Manchester derby. All the Man City fans respect the loss of those lives as much as the Rags.
At the end of the day, City played better and good for them.

There were only 2 outcomes from today:

1. United would put in an immense performance and swamp City on the back of the occasion

or

2. United just wouldn't be focused on the game due to all the media pressure surrounding the club this week.

Unfortunately, the latter happened.

Oh well, that's the title effectively going to North London this season, then.

[Lois22]

They're in premiership football, media attention comes as part of the job and they should be able to deal with it and focus on the game. It's a major game for City too.

[75_Steve]

I think you fail to understand the enormity of the occasion for United.

For City, it's just their annual 'Cup Final'....

The whole day was engineered by the FA for financial gain.

[Lois22]

Apart from the fact that man U does not have the same club loyalty that it used to. The players are mainly from abroad and have no real connection to the players 50 years ago. Professionalism should still prevail on the pitch.

[stimmers]

75_Steve said:

I believe Alex Ferguson once said.

That's exactly how I feel at the moment.

Can't help but think the contrived fixture list hasn't done United any favours today - a non-event away game was what they needed - not a publicity-fest that has been deliberately engineered for the media by the Premier League.

Oh for gwads sake, you think the fixture list should be contrived so that Man Utd play an easy game on this day?? What an absolute load of total and utter bollox. If anything it was unfair on ciy on a day that should inspire Utd and their fans more.

Utd lost, deal with and stop the moaning and excuses, its pathetic

[75_Steve]

Erm, it's not moaning.

However, what are the odds that the Manchester Derby would fall on the week of the 50th anniversary of Munich?

PL fixture lists are 'generated' for maximum profit and media exposure. That's what happened today.

[trackdemon]

Boo-hoo, the reds lost. Lets find excuses for it rather than accepting that City took their chances (and undeniably got a little luck) and defended well......

[Wacky Racer]

75_Steve said:

2. United just wouldn't be focused on the game due to all the media pressure surrounding the club this week.

Utter Rubbish!

Why can't you Reds admit you were beaten by the better team on the day, there's always some excuse....the ref, the pitch, the rain...Ferguson is the worst culprit....Shame because he is a fantastic manager otherwise.......

Today's excuse was International duty midweek.....ffs!!

[mgp1969]

i am really pleased (as a city fan) that a few city idiots didn't ruin it and that the minute's silence was observed (as, of course, it should have been) but this is typical of united always trying to squeeze more publicity/fans out of the tragedy

their holier than now attitude when they have built their club, sorry, brand on the back of the tragedy is contemptible

get real, the fixture computer picks games at random - you cannot pick who you want to play because it doesn't suit you

as a comparison, why do we never hear liverpool fans moaning about having to play games (or particular teams) on the anniversary of hillsborough?

grow up

[mgp1969]

and i'll think you'll find that the media enginering has come from old trafford - as usual

good game though!

[75_Steve]

mgp1969 said:

i am really pleased (as a city fan) that a few city idiots didn't ruin it and that the minute's silence was observed (as, of course, it should have been) but this is typical of united always trying to squeeze more publicity/fans out of the tragedy

their holier than now attitude when they have built their club, sorry, brand on the back of the tragedy is contemptible

get real, the fixture computer picks games at random - you cannot pick who you want to play because it doesn't suit you

as a comparison, why do we never hear liverpool fans moaning about having to play games (or particular teams) on the anniversary of hillsborough?

grow up

NIce reply. Usual class from a City fan. Hope you enjoyed your annual cup final, anyway.

The fixtures certainly aren't randomly generated, as can be seen from the timing of many fixtures over the year. I even have my doubts that cup fixtures are truly random.

BTW, Liverpool fans make a huge issue over Hillsborough every year, as does the club.

However, the whole spectacle of the 50th anniversary was badly managed by the club, the FA and the media. All the events and coverage this week definitely took the focus away from the game.

If you thought that was a good game, then I can only assume that City are utterly dire to watch on a weekly basis, as that's one of the worst United games I've seen for a long time.

[75_Steve]

Wacky Racer said:

75_Steve said:

2. United just wouldn't be focused on the game due to all the media pressure surrounding the club this week.

Utter Rubbish!

Why can't you Reds admit you were beaten by the better team on the day, there's always some excuse....the ref, the pitch, the rain...Ferguson is the worst culprit....Shame because he is a fantastic manager otherwise.......

Today's excuse was International duty midweek.....ffs!!

Erm, if you read the quotes, rather than spout the usual ABU drivel, you'll see that Fergie didn't make that quote and that Quieros said it wasn't a valid excuse.

There are no excuses for this result, just some factors contributed to the worst performance of the season.

[stimmers]

Never seen amore perfect example of 'sour grapes' in my life. Even the Aussies are not this bad. Why do Utd supporters think the world of football revolves around them and if the should lose a game its everyone else's fault except their own ???

Have feeling this thread is going to get even more sour, bitter and amusing.

C'mon Utd fans, what else was to blame for today's result? Did Van Der Sar see a flying saucer which caused him to miss Benjani's header ???

Look forward to the rest of this thread !!

[75_Steve]

I can't be bothered discussing football, especially the wider-ranging effects of internationals, FA match scheduling etc, with a bunch of ABUs - who seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to use the same 'excuses' for losing games as United are often accused of, but it's not OK when it comes from United.

[stimmers]

75_Steve said:

I can't be bothered discussing football, especially the wider-ranging effects of internationals, FA match scheduling etc, with a bunch of ABUs - who seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to use the same 'excuses' for losing games as United are often accused of, but it's not OK when it comes from United.

See, i was right. You going to take your ball home now ?

(what the hell is an ABU? Hope its not racist)

[lazy]

Lois22 said:

They're in premiership football, media attention comes as part of the job and they should be able to deal with it and focus on the game.

I don't think it was the attention Lois, more the occassion.

Its alright saying they should be able to deal with it but you can't change nature and emotion, no matter how professional or well paid you are.

City deserved the win more than they did earlier in the season, thats for sure. No qualms from the red camp whatsoever.

[75_Steve]

lazy said:

Lois22 said:

They're in premiership football, media attention comes as part of the job and they should be able to deal with it and focus on the game.

I don't think it was the attention Lois, more the occassion.

Its alright saying they should be able to deal with it but you can't change nature and emotion, no matter how professional or well paid you are.

City deserved the win more than they did earlier in the season, thats for sure. No qualms from the red camp whatsoever.

Exactly what I, and most other United fans have been saying / thinking.

The whole club has been swamped by the media attention and the Glazer marketing machine this week and the players reacted badly to it.

City came to claim their own bit of history and played possibly their best game of the season.