MAN CITY AWAY THREAD.. and good pub

[MK Gould]

Personally i wouldn't take an 11 year old to either of the Manchester or Liverpool clubs ground.

In fact i would say you should have a serious think about taking to most away grounds.

I don't agree. Even after the bad(ish) experience I wouldn't rule out going to City again. Some, like Wolves, I would be a little wary about wearing colours but it wouldn't put me off completely. I think it would only be Spurs in the PL that I'd avoid although I'd go for that if we got them in the FAC and had a bigger ticket allocation.

In recent years I've taken my boys to see us play at Man Utd, Liverpool (when we won), Birmingham (the late equaliser), West Brom....and Man City....amongst others. And, without the kids, I've been to Sunderland, Milan, Barcelona. And at no time at any of these games did we attempt to hide our colours and we experienced no hassle whatsoever.

I understand your point about about some people being naive and you are possibly right. Burnley away in the cup when some gooners got ambushed in a car park springs to mind. Of course you have to be a bit street wise and not take anything for granted. Every club has it's arseholes and you just need to try to minimise the risk of putting yourself into a situation unnecessarily. But I still think that you're safe to take an 11 year old to the vast majority of Premier League grounds without fearing for their safety.

[Irish Gooner]

Personally i wouldn't take an 11 year old to either of the Manchester or Liverpool clubs ground.

In fact i would say you should have a serious think about taking to most away grounds.

I don't agree. Even after the bad(ish) experience I wouldn't rule out going to City again. Some, like Wolves, I would be a little wary about wearing colours but it wouldn't put me off completely. I think it would only be Spurs in the PL that I'd avoid although I'd go for that if we got them in the FAC and had a bigger ticket allocation.

In recent years I've taken my boys to see us play at Man Utd, Liverpool (when we won), Birmingham (the late equaliser), West Brom....and Man City....amongst others. And, without the kids, I've been to Sunderland, Milan, Barcelona. And at no time at any of these games did we attempt to hide our colours and we experienced no hassle whatsoever.

I understand your point about about some people being naive and you are possibly right. Burnley away in the cup when some gooners got ambushed in a car park springs to mind. Of course you have to be a bit street wise and not take anything for granted. Every club has it's arseholes and you just need to try to minimise the risk of putting yourself into a situation unnecessarily. But I still think that you're safe to take an 11 year old to the vast majority of Premier League grounds without fearing for their safety.

Bad form what happened from what I've read in this thread. This topic I raised above, the other day. But I will not pretend to tell anyone what to do with their kids. But I mentioned in in regard to going to places like Millwall, Naples. I think the line has to be drawn some where.

Anyway I've always thought it depends, what age, no point bringing a kid under 6/7 to a game IMO, the don't know whats happening. And it depends how much they are into football. Some take it like a duck to water, others aren't interested.

I do agree with augie, there seems to be a rise in disorder in recent years. Heavy policing seems to worsen situations as well. A list of places in the PL I would expect some trouble would be:

- City
- Utd
- chelsea
- ****
- stoke
- everton
- villa
- brum city
- wolves

I'd find it hard to argue with that list, and that's leaving out the likes of west ham, and also the many cup games thoughout the year. That's half the league up there.

Obviously it wouldnt be on a wide scale, but there is always incidents at these places. No City have entered our world and with the whole adebayor thing, that will be a bitter rivalry for years to come IMO. Just looking at bluemoon, they really hate us anyway.

[Dan_85]

I could be way wrong on this but I have felt for some time now that a touch of hooliganism is bubbling just under the surface again and is about to return to football.

It certainly is, just simmering under the surface. Moreso than I feel it has been for many years. Like you say, I don't know why it is either, most likely a combination of the economic climate coupled with the cash flooded, instant success mentality of the league. It seems that fans of clubs such as City expect everything to go right for them due to the amount of money spent & when it doesnt they think they have a right to kick off.

Was talking about this with some Pompey fans on the train to the Shaktar game on Tuesday. They were on their way to Millwall so naturally the topic came up & they seemed to raise similar concerns....

[Connolly55]

Fantastic result yesterday. Firstly, sorry to hear about that Sammy. Was that incident just after i left you? It was kicking off in the car park i was parked in, about 5 or 6 yobs started on 2 teenagers wearing Arsenal shirts. Pure scumbags.

That kind of took the gloss off the game especially when you told me your little one had been hit with a bottle.

Glad we stuffed them. I really feared for the worst when we missed the penalty. I couldnt fault anyone today, if i did have one very minor moan it was Djorou being a bit slow off the mark, but we sorted this out in the second half.

In the end it could have been 4 or 5. Even Bendtner took his goal well.

[MK Gould]

I'd agree that there appears to be an increase in unsavoury incidents - but no surprise that they appear to be largely at clubs where you should always have been a bit wary e.g. Spurs, Chelsea, Man City, Stoke. That said, it's far from a return to the type of trouble experienced 30 years ago.

I walked from New Street to Birmingham City last year and back afterwards - past pubs etc. Had good banter with them but no trouble. Parked at Man United in the official car park, walked to the ground via the Munich memorial and had no trouble. Liverpool - stood eating fish and chips near Stanley Park, walked all around ground then back to the car after the game - a game where we ribbed them mercilessly about channel 5 - and not a hint of trouble. At all of these games we openly wore colours - although were a little more wary at Birmingham.

My advice would be that you just need to be alert and don't take the piss. At some grounds you can happily enjoy a few beers at the away pub then walk to the ground singing your heart out with colours showing. At others you can't. Just give a bit of thought about where you are. Be careful out there....but don't let it put you off going.

[rigsby]

There has certainly been a rise again, but the incidents i've seen have always been with other sets of fans who were up for it as well. I personally haven't seen fans attacking normal fans in colours, even at spurs (though you're taking a risk with a shirt out) Those that do such things are morons.

[DB10GOONER]

Firstly, Sammy - so sorry to hear about your daughter getting hit. Poor kid. Hope she is ok.

Secondly, I think a few people watched that match with the old rosetinted specs on... If Shiteh hadn't gone down to 10 men so early I fear it would have been a very diferent result. We were quite poor for spells of the game. Flappy made two outstanding saves and another couple of decent ones too. Shiteh even with 10 men had their chances.

Denilson WAS poor. Not terrible, but certainly poor. He again gave away posession too easily too often and his passing is still awful - always a yard behind or to the feet of a running team mate rather than a yard or two in front, or a yard or two away from a static team mate. He did put in a couple of good tackles though but overall he is no where near PL level.

Johan was poor too and I wonder what an 11 man Shiteh would have done to us with Tevez freed up to run at Johan...

And AA23 needs the biggest kick up the hole of any player ever. Apart from the neat interchange for Nasri's goal AA23 just didn't really bother his arse for much of the game. Lazy lazy fucker.

Still, a good result and a massive 3 points away. All three goals were good finishes too and fair play to Bendtner, a quality finish after so long out.

[marcengels]

Firstly, Sammy - so sorry to hear about your daughter getting hit. Poor kid. Hope she is ok.

Secondly, I think a few people watched that match with the old rosetinted specs on... If Shiteh hadn't gone down to 10 men so early I fear it would have been a very diferent result. We were quite poor for spells of the game. Flappy made two outstanding saves and another couple of decent ones too. Shiteh even with 10 men had their chances.

Denilson WAS poor. Not terrible, but certainly poor. He again gave away posession too easily too often and his passing is still awful - always a yard behind or to the feet of a running team mate rather than a yard or two in front, or a yard or two away from a static team mate. He did put in a couple of good tackles though but overall he is no where near PL level.

Johan was poor too and I wonder what an 11 man Shiteh would have done to us with Tevez freed up to run at Johan...

And AA23 needs the biggest kick up the hole of any player ever. Apart from the neat interchange for Nasri's goal AA23 just didn't really bother his arse for much of the game. Lazy lazy fucker.

Still, a good result and a massive 3 points away. All three goals were good finishes too and fair play to Bendtner, a quality finish after so long out.

Well said DB10.

I think enjoy the result (some of us might have even got a bit pissed ) but let's not ignore some problems.

For me Denilson is not quite good enough. Having said that, I would pick him ahead of Diaby . Denilson was "tidy" but it seemed every time he tried to create, it didn't work.

As for Djourou, two things. Firstly, he was a bit rubbish as a centre back before his injury, he was a bit rubbish at Birmingham as a centre-back, and even allowing for him to get back in the groove, I am still to be convinced. Secondly, he got easily turned on 2 or 3 occasions which did not involve covering Clichy, and covering Clichy is his job as well.

Having said that, getting some players back is a positive. And perhaps a win against one of our main rivals will have some positive pyschological effect on the team.

[AA23Northbank]

I'd agree that there appears to be an increase in unsavoury incidents - but no surprise that they appear to be largely at clubs where you should always have been a bit wary e.g. Spurs, Chelsea, Man City, Stoke. That said, it's far from a return to the type of trouble experienced 30 years ago.

I walked from New Street to Birmingham City last year and back afterwards - past pubs etc. Had good banter with them but no trouble. Parked at Man United in the official car park, walked to the ground via the Munich memorial and had no trouble. Liverpool - stood eating fish and chips near Stanley Park, walked all around ground then back to the car after the game - a game where we ribbed them mercilessly about channel 5 - and not a hint of trouble. At all of these games we openly wore colours - although were a little more wary at Birmingham.

My advice would be that you just need to be alert and don't take the piss. At some grounds you can happily enjoy a few beers at the away pub then walk to the ground singing your heart out with colours showing. At others you can't. Just give a bit of thought about where you are. Be careful out there....but don't let it put you off going.

Probably the most sensible post on the issue imo. I wore colours yesterday but covered them up when leaving the ground and in the city centre, just got to be sensible. For some games like Blackburn, Fulham and Liverpool there is an away pub where you can show your colours, sing your heart out and walk to the ground without any hassle but some you just have to be a bit careful

[SteveO 35]

First of all a massive thankyou to Roberto Mancini for showing us all the reasons why they will not win the League with him at the helm.....and choosing the game against us as the perfect opportunity to showcase it. His continual lack of understanding for the English game and the relative strengths and weaknesses of the opponents they face is something we should hope continues (before a Mourinho or Hiddink get the chance to rectify the obvious wrongs)

What do Arsenal defend poorly against.....

a) genuine wingers that normally get allowed a free 40 yard run at our full back owing to the wide open 4-3-3, and

b) a powerful target man

So thanks Mancini for leaving their two potential match winners, Adam Johnson and Greedybarndoor on the bench, playing the more diminutive Tevez as a lone striker and employing 3 CDMs in De Jong, YaYa Toure and Barry. A quite fucking unbelievable lack of tactical awareness

On to our display

First half - frustrating at times. Djourou worryingll cumbersome and the passing game all over the place.

Second half - the proper Arsenal in terms of style and possession and thankfully with a lot more cutting edge. We deserve a lot of credit for the 2nd half display and I'm not sure what the GIC said or did during the interval but we showed so much more purpose and belief (christ I almost sounded like him then) after the break.

Nasri put in another fantastic display - hopefully we'll hear no more nonsense about not doing it away from home or against the biggest teams. Not sure where all that bollocks started because to my mind he is one of few that does rise to the occasion. The lazy Russian bucked his ideas up after the break too. Couldn't really moan about anything in the second half which is unusual coming from a miserable bastard like me.

A great day and important result. BTW - well played to the Gooners who travelled up there - we heard you throughout the game and revenge must have tasted sweet.

If I was a Citeh fan I would be raging that we had our very own GIC - in fact JIC (Joker in Charge)

[EC3]

I'd agree that there appears to be an increase in unsavoury incidents - but no surprise that they appear to be largely at clubs where you should always have been a bit wary e.g. Spurs, Chelsea, Man City, Stoke. That said, it's far from a return to the type of trouble experienced 30 years ago.

I walked from New Street to Birmingham City last year and back afterwards - past pubs etc. Had good banter with them but no trouble. Parked at Man United in the official car park, walked to the ground via the Munich memorial and had no trouble. Liverpool - stood eating fish and chips near Stanley Park, walked all around ground then back to the car after the game - a game where we ribbed them mercilessly about channel 5 - and not a hint of trouble. At all of these games we openly wore colours - although were a little more wary at Birmingham.

My advice would be that you just need to be alert and don't take the piss. At some grounds you can happily enjoy a few beers at the away pub then walk to the ground singing your heart out with colours showing. At others you can't. Just give a bit of thought about where you are. Be careful out there....but don't let it put you off going.

Very good post, but there is always that risk when going away, especially to certain grounds.

[1989]

Citeh fans on their forum whingeing about us singing some vile stuff at Greedywhore during the match.....rich coming from the same set of scumbags that continually sing about the Munich disaster. Pot, kettle and black springs to mind.

http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/vi ... 1&t=194586