The Official Manchester City Thread

[Bredbury Blue]

Read that on this day in 1994 the Kippax Stand (standing only) closed for redevelopment as seating only. It reportedly had the biggest standing capacity in club football at its peak with 35,000 though during my youth it was reported at 26,000. It was unusual to have the club's main core fans in a stand running the length of the pitch and not in an end like most clubs.

 

I started, like most kids, by sitting on the touchline wall or on the sides of the two tunnel walls - the latter in my case. Had some exciting times in there during the derby matches - no i didn't participate but was affected by the melee.

 

Like all who stood on the Kippax, I greatly missed it when they opened the 'sophisticated seating redeveloped Kippax. Having 26000 in the Kippax we were affected more than anyone when standing was banned.

 

In the 1930s the capacity of Maine Road was 88,000 but with more seating added over the years we ended up with 35000 when we departed for the Etihad in 2002.

 

Pleased to say I stood or sat in all 4 stands at Maine Road, always the Kippax unless there was some reason that wasn't possible for me. Even took the wife in the redeveloped Kippax and Platt Lane.

 

Interesting to read just this week that ManU have been permitted to have a 1500 safe-standing area commencing next season - which I think is great. Will we slowly see standing coming back?

 

Kippax back in the day

 

 

[mrbojangles]

2 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Interesting to read just this week that ManU have been permitted to have a 1500 safe-standing area commencing next season -

I reckon social distancing is around for a long time yet and so that will be interesting.

 

Also, how will they sort out seating at stadiums if social distancing carries on.? Who will get their season ticket? To keep 2 metres apart, there'll have to be about 2 empty seats either side and at least a row in front and behind each seat. That'll be about 8 empty seats for each occupied seat. I just don't know how clubs (especially smaller ones) are gonna survive this

[mrbojangles]

23 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Putting aside our club allegiances, is there anybody else out there that is disgusted and appalled with this move? I mean, why doesn't EUFA just get it over and done with and pick the 32 clubs it wants in its Champions League?

It's nothing to do with sport and sporting ethics any more. It's all about money and the elite preserving their seats at the top table.

 

If Newcastle's takeover goes through, there'll be a shock for them cos I can't see how they will be able to spend the money they need to, to get them to the top.

[RickG16]

1 hour ago, mrbojangles said:

I reckon social distancing is around for a long time yet and so that will be interesting.

 

Also, how will they sort out seating at stadiums if social distancing carries on.? Who will get their season ticket? To keep 2 metres apart, there'll have to be about 2 empty seats either side and at least a row in front and behind each seat. That'll be about 8 empty seats for each occupied seat. I just don't know how clubs (especially smaller ones) are gonna survive this

I thought 12 - 18 months for a vaccine...

[RickG16]

1 hour ago, mrbojangles said:

It's nothing to do with sport and sporting ethics any more. It's all about money and the elite preserving their seats at the top table.

It's their competition. Up until now I think they have given the league's discretion on how they use their places (below the champions). But if they want to devise a new method, that's up to them.

 

[mrbojangles]

1 hour ago, RickG16 said:

I thought 12 - 18 months for a vaccine...

That may be so. Therefore, it's quite some time and how are they going to social distance crowds in the meantime?

[mrbojangles]

1 hour ago, RickG16 said:

It's their competition. Up until now I think they have given the league's discretion on how they use their places (below the champions). But if they want to devise a new method, that's up to them.

 

Think you're missing the point. Maybe intentionally so.

 

It maybe their competition but they bow to the wishes and demands of the big clubs around Europe. In fact. Some of the big clubs even have members of their Directors sat at the big table in UEFA. Now there's a coincidence eh!!!

[RickG16]

34 minutes ago, mrbojangles said:

That may be so. Therefore, it's quite some time and how are they going to social distance crowds in the meantime?

Sure I appreciate that... I thought you were questioning installing standing areas. Which I expect will be there long after coronavirus has died down.

[Bredbury Blue]

18 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Sure I appreciate that... I thought you were questioning installing standing areas. Which I expect will be there long after coronavirus has died down.

To be installed at Old Trampford next season. 1500 capacity safe standing. Away fans are in the right-hand corner behind the goal, safe standing left Side.

[RickG16]

1 minute ago, Bredbury Blue said:

To be installed at Old Trampford next season. 1500 capacity safe standing. Away fans are in the right-hand corner behind the goal, safe standing left Side.

I'm aware of all that. Why not install them now. Even if they aren't used for 12 months or so not the end of the world. 

[Bredbury Blue]

1 hour ago, RickG16 said:

It's their competition. Up until now I think they have given the league's discretion on how they use their places (below the champions). But if they want to devise a new method, that's up to them.

 

You are so naive at times.

 

So it's UEFAs competition, right, so I just wish they'd be honest about their intentions and pick Arsenal, ManU and Liverpool from England to be in their 32 and tell the rest of us to <deleted> off rather than continually trying to do it sneakily.

[Bredbury Blue]

2 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

I'm aware of all that. Why not install them now. Even if they aren't used for 12 months or so not the end of the world. 

Read the M.E.N. for the story.

[champers]

I believe that seats at Wolves and Spurs are already in place to be turned into safe standing areas, when allowed. It will come as sure as night follows day.

[champers]

Good article on BBC Sport website about City's European Cup Winners Cup win in 1970. The match was played on the same night as the Leeds v Chelsea FA Cup final replay so was not shown live and went under the radar for non-City fans.

[jojothai]

31 minutes ago, champers said:

Good article on BBC Sport website about City's European Cup Winners Cup win in 1970. The match was played on the same night as the Leeds v Chelsea FA Cup final replay so was not shown live and went under the radar for non-City fans.

Thankfully there were still some highlights kept. A piece of history with all the classic players except Mike Sumerbee.

 

[Bredbury Blue]

^became 15th club to win a UEFA competition (Fairs Cup wasn't one)...but that can't be correct as we have no history.

 

 

[RickG16]

8 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

^became 15th club to win a UEFA competition (Fairs Cup wasn't one)...but that can't be correct as we have no history.

 

 

Of course you have some history... so does Slovan Bratislava. 

[Bredbury Blue]

26 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Of course you have some history... so does Slovan Bratislava. 

You can't deny facts Rick, Slovan Bratislava won European trophy before Arsenal, Barcelona, Juventus and Liverpool.

 

You'll be trying next to belittle the history of English champions like Huddersfield, Sheff W and United, and Sunderland because they haven't won it in recent times!

 

[Herewe]

55 minutes ago, RickG16 said:

Of course you have some history... so does Slovan Bratislava. 

And West Ham  

[Bredbury Blue]

3 hours ago, Herewe said:

And West Ham  

Good team back in the 60s and early 70s; Ron Greenwood, FA Cup winners the season before, and a few 66 world cup winners in the team.

[RickG16]

5 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Good team back in the 60s and early 70s; believe they may have had a few world cup winners in the team.

West Ham 'won the World Cup'.

[Kadilo]

4 hours ago, Herewe said:

And West Ham  

 

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Good team back in the 60s and early 70s; Ron Greenwood, FA Cup winners the season before, and a few 66 world cup winners in the team.

Some ignorant <deleted> wits on here. 

[Kadilo]

1 hour ago, RickG16 said:

West Ham 'won the World Cup'.

Good that you recognise the fact. 

[Bredbury Blue]

56 minutes ago, Kadilo said:

 

Some ignorant <deleted> wits on here. 

They're young. They think football started in 1992 with the PL.

[Herewe]

20 hours ago, Bredbury Blue said:

Good team back in the 60s and early 70s; Ron Greenwood, FA Cup winners the season before, and a few 66 world cup winners in the team.

Yes, if you call having an average league position of 13th between 1960 - 1974.

[Bredbury Blue]

3 hours ago, Herewe said:

Yes, if you call having an average league position of 13th between 1960 - 1974.

You're a Spurs aren't you. Having only won one trophy (a LC) in 21 seasons, you more than most surely should appreciate 

that WHU winning the ECWC and FA Cup in consecutive seasons was the sign of a decent side as stated.

 

[champers]

52 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

You're a Spurs aren't you. Having only won one trophy (a LC) in 21 seasons, you more than most surely should appreciate 

that WHU winning the ECWC and FA Cup in consecutive seasons was the sign of a decent side as stated.

 

Moore, Hurst and Peters, not forgetting Harry Redknapp.

[Herewe]

.

1 hour ago, Bredbury Blue said:

You're a Spurs aren't you. Having only won one trophy (a LC) in 21 seasons, you more than most surely should appreciate 

that WHU winning the ECWC and FA Cup in consecutive seasons was the sign of a decent side as stated.

 

But in your previous statement you didn't state the above, you actually stated  " good team back in the 60's and early 70's "   hence my post, Yes, if you call having an average league position of 13th between 1960 - 1974, i agree that they might have had a decent side for 2 consecutive seasons but thats not what you initially said !

[RickG16]

27 minutes ago, Herewe said:

.

But in your previous statement you didn't state the above, you actually stated  " good team back in the 60's and early 70's "   hence my post, Yes, if you call having an average league position of 13th between 1960 - 1974, i agree that they might have had a decent side for 2 consecutive seasons but thats not what you initially said !

Note that BB rarely lets what he previously said get in the way of his posts. 

[Bredbury Blue]

2 hours ago, Herewe said:

.

But in your previous statement you didn't state the above, you actually stated  " good team back in the 60's and early 70's "   hence my post, Yes, if you call having an average league position of 13th between 1960 - 1974, i agree that they might have had a decent side for 2 consecutive seasons but thats not what you initially said !

I have to go off the history books for the 60s and they won trophies (And lost finals). I do recall the early 70s - and was at Maine Road to see Greavesy's debut goal (and was it Ronnie Boyce's brilliant volley off Corrigans clearance) - and although it's a long time ago My recollection is that they were a decent team then. Not sure average position in the league over a 14 year period proves anything.

 

Anyway going back to the origins of this discussion, WHU won a European trophy way before some of the big boys did - indisputable fact.