Dear fans who think we're only winning because we're spending,

by SufferingBruin on Aug 24, 2011 4:22 PM BST

LIsten up.

Owning a sports team has never, ever been entirely about profit. Economists will tell you that there are two things involved with a purchase--economic benefit ($) and psychic benefit. When you buy an expensive painting, you are not doing so necessarily because of the economic benefit; you are doing so for the psychic benefit. It's what collectors do. Owning a sports team is not all that different from collecting great works of art--sometimes you say damn the expense, I want a trophy. It's why perfectly good businessmen will make horrific decisions in sport; they want a toy, they can buy the toy and the toy (*ahem* Adebayor *ahem*) turns out to be not so great. (h/t for all of this to Malcolm Gladwell's ESPN column).

The owners of Man City are essentially saying, "damn the profits, let's win." As a fan, I'm fine with that. Other fans are screaming that we're cheating somehow, that if we win it won't be as "pure" as other teams who have won in the past. To that I say, Man City is doing to the Premier League what the big 4 have been doing for years now. For a long time, people have wondered what would happen if Man U was challenged by another team that could match the red menace's resources. We're about to find out. That our resources are coming from sheikh's who love a good toy over profit, who want the psychic benefit over the economic benefit, is not something to be criticized. The same fans who criticize City for spending oodles of money on players are spending oodles of money on red jerseys, tickets, concessions, etc. and I'm not sure these fans are getting an economic benefit for their actions. Well, of course they aren't. They are getting a psychic benefit.

In short, that any fan can look at City and say, "Not fair! You spending too much!" is just the height of hypocrisy and ignorance. This is the Premiership. Spending money has always made the difference and always will. And if our spending for a psychic benefit is a source of your current psychic pain, all the better.

Sincerely,

Man City Fans (EPL Champions, 2012)

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nice

Ilya Kovalchuk is good at hockey

by 3 already on Aug 24, 2011 8:31 PM BST via mobile reply actions

Let’s not count a title before it’s won – the Red Devils are still the side to beat and have looked a very formidable team so far.

The point about the structural advantages enjoyed by United is spot on, though.

I’d be totally down for an NHL-style salary cap in the European Football, wherein salaries and transfers can only comprise so much of the total revenue of the league, apportioned equally between each team, with a floor to ensure that the weaker teams had a minimum of quality. Fans of the teams with the baked-in advantages choke on their bile when I suggest it as an alternative to City spending so much.

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12

by Knee high to a duck on Aug 24, 2011 8:59 PM BST reply actions

Are we not champs yet?

Yeah, that was a jab on my part. Just trying to rile up the other side. Not that they need help…

by SufferingBruin on Aug 24, 2011 11:23 PM BST up reply actions

Complaints about us spending money is just sour grapes, that’s all. And the ones that are doing it are usually fans of the traditional top 4, and specifically Arsenal and Liverpool supporters. City are like the new money billionaires that are busting their way into a gated community. Sure the residents of that community are going to be pissed, but all they can really do is stand by and watch because they’ve now because City can buy and sell their asses.

I’m sure every other also ran club in the Premiership wishes that the Sheik had plucked them from obscurity instead of City. I can’t claim to be a long suffering fan(been a fan since the 90’s), but it definitely feels good that the shoe is on the other foot now. It used to be you’d watch United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Liverpool spend, spend, spend and we, among the rest of the league could just stand by and pick at the scraps as they razed all the lower tier clubs. Now we’re the ones doing the razing, and not just the lower tier, but of the traditional top 4, along with top Euro clubs as well.

modsuperstar dot ca | SlideawayMedia

by modsuperstar on Aug 25, 2011 9:12 PM BST reply actions 1 recs

Depends the way you look at it

We, United, have had massive profits for years, much of which has been based on our own success, which have then made us a massive brand all over the world, thus generating money to which we can plough into our squad.

City were nothing before you got brought. You would still be labouring in mid table.

So, while every club spends, you spend the most, and thats soley because you were deemed a suitable “toy”. And thats why you are currantly sitting 2nd and look our main threat (A massive threat, let me add).

I don’t like it. But lets be honest its happened. Theres nothing anyone can do bout it. And you eventually have now put together a squad where you can challenge for all titles, including the CL. So good luck to you (not too much though, the noise you make is a little annoying)

by Sweet science on Aug 31, 2011 1:40 PM BST reply actions

We, United, have had massive profits for years, much of which has been based on our own success, which have then made us a massive brand all over the world, thus generating money to which we can plough into our squad.

You, United, had incredibly fortunate timing about when your squad was at the top of the table, full stop. Move your ascendancy back five years and none of this happens. After that, the revenue from the new TV deal with Sky and the CL kept you ahead of your opponents in spending power – no surprise that Utd’s won a lot of silverware when they can outspend everyone else. The massive brand is a function of the winning, and it’s self-sustaining; winning begets money begets winning. I don’t see how your fortuitous timing is less of a random fluctuation than a billionaire Sheikh (or a Russian oligarch) buying the team.

"Essentially, all models are wrong, but some are useful" George E.P. Box

I have $50 to Olie's autism charity or So Kids Can and a beer on the under for 50/57/107 as AO's final stat line for 2011-'12

by Knee high to a duck on Aug 31, 2011 10:21 PM BST up reply actions

we still had to spend money wisely, and also had to nurture our talent

City can just chuck money and take needless gambles. Balotteli springs to mind. Boeteng? brought and sold for half of that value.

If City win the title it will soley be because of the money you spent, especially big money transfers. United have a set regime in place, youth in the squad (Welbeck, Cleverly, Giggs (wink))

Anyway, if you move “that” squad of players back 5 years, they would still be winning the league when the sky TV deal came in, most likely. We didn’t spend a dime in transfer fee’s for the likes of Becks, Giggs, Scholes, Butt, the Neviles. Your very fortunate that you got chosen as the plaything of a billionnare. Again, im trying not to hate here

by Sweet science on Aug 31, 2011 11:11 PM BST up reply actions

I appreciate the thoughtful response

Really, I do.

I’m new to the team and the sport. I don’t know how many players in blue are homegrown but I suspect it’s not that many. I can see how that would be frustrating because you are literally correct—we would not be where we are without dollars. And yes, we can take gambles that other teams can’t make (Tevez on the bench making mucho dolares and we could care less).

But.

We’re not spending carelessly, are we? Aguero was very much the right hire as was Nasri. Notice how both players are not named Modric? See, it’s one thing to have money. It’s another to spend it wisely. Yes, Man C has a boatload of cash but I have to say Mancini has been exceedingly wise in how he’s spent his money.

My main argument hasn’t changed: Sheikh Mansour is a football fan and he’s spending money for the psychic benefit of winning games. I really don’t see the difference between spending money on soccer players and spending millions on a Van Gogh.

Additionally, five things I know from watching three weeks of football (my first three):

1. Wayne Rooney is still the best player in this league and if you don’t like Rooney, you don’t like football.

2. Man City is the most fun team to watch with Man U a close second. I believe at this point Man U is a more complete team but that’s very close and doesn’t mean I think Man U is better.

3. The American sports equivalent of EPL is Major League Baseball where only a few teams can be counted on to win every single season.

4. If the EPL wants to be like the NFL, where a new team is in the Super Bowl virtually ever year, they have to institute a hard cap and revenue sharing. You and I both know that ain’t gonna happen anytime soon. Therefore…

5. If you’re not Man U, Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool, you better win the lottery. Which we did.

The Big 4 is now the Big 5 and frankly, only two of the five look like potential champions and they both live very, very close to each other. We’ll be there as long as Sheikh Mansour gets a psychic benefit from winning games. When that goes away, so will we. But until then, may the best team win.

by SufferingBruin on Sep 1, 2011 2:12 AM BST up reply actions

2. Man City is the most fun team to watch

good job you wern’t ariund last season then ;) Boring struggles to sum your play up

It’s another to spend it wisely. Yes, Man C has a boatload of cash but I have to say Mancini has been exceedingly wise in how he’s spent his money.

Balotelli, Adeybayor, Boeteng. Going back before Mancini – Robinho. Thats a shitload of wasted transfer fee’s, let alone wages. I agree with your last part however, Mancini has spent well during this transfer window.

I part I really disagree with from the article is the title. I was just browsing through your site and that really caught my eye.

by Sweet science on Sep 1, 2011 2:23 PM BST up reply actions

one other thing

Today we announced operating profits in excess of 100M. City’s losses would probably be in excess of 100M.

You could argue that we in 300M(ish) debt. But were just about to gain 600M on the Signapore stockmarket. Now im no financial guru, but maybe, just maybe, the Glazers deserve a little credit. I don’t like how they brought the club through loans, but they know how to recoup their own money and keep our club successful in the meantime

by Sweet science on Sep 1, 2011 2:27 PM BST up reply actions

I hear you

I read where City was told by their owners to not spend anything during the transfer window. They could exchange salaries (send one player, get another) or they could get a loan or go very, very minimal (Hargreaves). Meaning, I think, we’re tapped out.

Good posts, Sweet Science. Good luck this year.

by SufferingBruin on Sep 1, 2011 11:30 PM BST up reply actions

I think the PL might be decided

in our two games. You look shit hot in the first three games

by Sweet science on Sep 2, 2011 1:13 AM BST up reply actions

Funny you should say that

I Tivo’d the Man U and Man C games and gave them all a second go the last few days. I can do this because I’m a teacher on summer vacation and I don’t start school until next week… where such time I won’t be watching much soccer (sob).

I maintain what I said earlier; Man U is just playing lights out soccer right now with seemingly every player on the same page. Now, our guys? We’re on fire offensively; midfield to striker connection is just insanely good and the team seems to know only one direction—forward. I truly believe that Man C feels like they can score at any time.

But.

This allows for counter-attack. Did you notice how Man U’s guys just never, ever let up? They never stopped playing. Well, occasionally, we do. Bolton scored twice and Tottenham would have made their game against us much more intriguing if they convert their earlier chances. Our defense tends to relax a little and it’s not just the back line. The midfielders are pushing forward (usually with success) but when it goes the other way, occasionally, we let up a little in effort. Well, Man U has not let up for a second this season. The accelerator was on the floor from minute one.

Man U has better athletes, in my opinion. They have a more balanced team. If you rated all the players on both teams, Wayne Rooney would still be number one (my opinion) but I think Man C would have more players in the top ten.

There doesn’t seem to be a dime’s worth of difference between the two squads but as of today, my nickel goes to Man U.

It’s gonna be fun… :)

by SufferingBruin on Sep 2, 2011 6:38 AM BST up reply actions