You'll find that those who do most of their supporting away from the pitch (and instead by bigging up their team to fans of other clubs) list how they are perceived by others as a primary worry.

 

You're second in the league, you'll spend a shit load again and your other two rivals for the league are going through transition too. Cheer up.

The fans singing Mancini's name is considered a protest? Unless I see banners and gatherings of large groups, I hardly think that counts, they just wanted to show support for the manager.

 

But if the fans want to protest against the owners, well brilliant, they might pull out and leave you like Malaga.

Lampard: "We showed great determination to win it from the minute we been in it".

Manchester City plan to increase capacity at the Etihad Stadium but must wait for Manuel Pellegrini

 

Extra tier for 6,000 fans will expand stadium to the third biggest in the Premier League

 

 

Ian Herbert

 

Thursday, 16 May 2013

Manchester City will announce plans for a £50m investment to expand their stadium capacity by 6,000, with an option to go even bigger, as they continue negotiations to bring the Chilean Manuel Pellegrini in as successor to Roberto Mancini, The Independent can reveal.

 

Pellegrini's appointment is neither imminent nor a done deal, despite reports from Spain that he is leaving Malaga to join City on a two-year contract. But City are confident the 59-year-old will join them and are also preparing to build on a high volume of sell-outs at the Etihad by adding a third tier to their South Stand, taking the capacity to 54,000 – leapfrogging Newcastle and Sunderland to command the third highest capacity in the Premier League, after Manchester United and Arsenal.

 

Subject to consultation with the local community in east Manchester, a planning application will be submitted in the autumn which may also include proposals to expand the north side of the ground. That could see the stadium capacity reach closer to Arsenal's 60,300.

 

City's feasibility studies for ways of expanding their ground have included an analysis of lifting off the roof and creating an entire new tier to boost capacity to over 70,000, hugely increasing match-day income. But a more organic type of development – increasing the stadium bit by bit – is considered the best way to accommodate new capacity as the club's growth brings in more fans. The stand, scheduled to open in the summer of 2015 and subject to public consultation work which begins next month, will accommodate a substantial number of far lower priced tickets season tickets costing under £300. The reorganisation of the ground will also see away fans moved – something City fans have been asking for over a number of years.

 

The plans, scheduled to be completed in the summer of 2015 and subject to public consultation which begins next month, include lower-priced season tickets costing under £300. Tickets sold on match days will make up the rest of the extra capacity which the club does now need. Some hospitality sales will also be taken up in the new tier, which the club will show has been drawn up in keeping with the rest of the 11-year-old stadium.

 

The Etihad, which was designed by architects Arup for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, has a capacity of 47,805 and the extra tier will take it well above Liverpool and Chelsea, other clubs who desperately need a way of increasing match-day revenues but do not have the room to expand that City enjoy.

 

City require the team to develop even more radically than their stadium as they seek to boost their domestic and global following to a level where they would be capable of filling a 70,000-seat facility like Manchester United. They are some way off that at this stage. Though the dismissal of Mancini on Sunday, announced late on Monday, has been met with fierce criticism, there is a deep conviction at City that changing managers is the right course of action.

 

It remains difficult to find any players to contradict the more readily available impression that Mancini was unpopular. The Independent's attempts to locate one drew another blank. It seems significant that even the club captain, Vincent Kompany, an articulate and prolific user of social media, has offered no comment or good wishes towards Mancini.

 

Malaga's two remaining La Liga fixtures, at home to Deportivo on 26 May and away to Barcelona on 1 June, are limiting City's ability to deliver Pellegrini, with the Spanish club still seeking a Europa League place. The attempt to recruit the Chilean was said last night to remain "absolutely, certainly not, a done deal".

 

A two-year contract would give Pellegrini significantly less security than Mancini's most recent five-year deal, indicating that City want to see how the appointment pans out rather than making an emphatic statement of intent. Because of Malaga's Champions League ban for next season and Rayo Vallecano's failure to secure a Uefa licence, La Liga's ninth-placed club could qualify for the Europa League. Malaga are sixth, seven points clear of ninth-placed Getafe.

Well that's the last time I encourage City chat, look what fucking happens.

 

Daryl who here do you think cares to read that?

its been the only positive story to come out of the ethihad for weeks on end.

 

David Beckham: ex-Man Utd, Real Madrid & AC Milan star to retire

 

David Beckham is to retire from football at the end of this season after an illustrious 20-year career.

 

The former England captain made 115 appearances for his country and 394 for Manchester United, winning six Premier League titles and the Champions League.

 

Beckham, 38, signed a five-month deal at Paris St-Germain in January. "I'm thankful to PSG for giving me the opportunity to continue but I feel now is the right time to finish my career, playing at the highest level," he said.

 

PSG have two more games before the end of the season, at home against Brest on Saturday and away to Lorient on 26 May. Beckham, who donates his salary with the newly crowned French champions to charity, has made 13 appearances since moving to Paris. The Leytonstone-born midfielder has played for United, Real Madrid, Los Angeles Galaxy, AC Milan and PSG, lifting 19 trophies including 10 league titles.

 

He is the only English player to win championships in four countries. "If you had told me as a young boy I would have played for and won trophies with my boyhood club Manchester United, proudly captained and played for my country over 100 times and lined up for some of the biggest clubs in the world, I would have told you it was a fantasy," he said. "I'm fortunate to have realised those dreams. "

 

Beckham joined United as a trainee in 1991, making his first-team debut the following year and signing his first professional contract in 1993. He became one of the world's most high-profile sportsmen during his time at Old Trafford - and a global celebrity following his marriage to Victoria Adams of pop group the Spice Girls in 1999.

 

Then came a move to Real Madrid in 2003 with whom Beckham clinched La Liga in 2007 before switching to the United States with LA Galaxy. He was loaned to AC Milan during the MLS off-season in 2009 and 2010, and his stay in the US ended when he signed for PSG. Beckham made his England debut against Moldova in 1996 and captained the side from 2000 to 2006, making his 115th and final England appearance in a 3-0 win over Belarus in 2009.

 

"To this day, one of my proudest achievements is captaining my country. I knew every time I wore the Three Lions shirt, I was not only following in a long line of great players, I was also representing every fan that cared passionately about their country," he said.

 

"I want people to see me as a hardworking footballer - someone who, when he steps on the pitch, he gives everything he's got. When I look back on my career that is how I look back on it and that is how I hope people have seen me."

 

Beckham was the first English player to score at three consecutive World Cup finals and has the joint-second most goal assists in European Championship finals history. He played a significant role in the successful bid to bring the 2012 Olympic Games to London and in March of this year became the first sportsman from outside of China to be invited to become the ambassador for the sport in the country.

 

"Nothing will ever completely replace playing the game I love," added Beckham. "However, I feel like I'm starting a new adventure and I'm genuinely excited about what lies ahead. I'm fortunate to have been given many opportunities throughout my career and now I feel it's my time to give back."

 

UK Prime Minister David Cameron said: "David Beckham has been an outstanding footballer throughout his career. "Not only that - he has been a brilliant ambassador for this country, not least if we remember all the work he did in helping us win London 2012."

 

England manager Roy Hodgson added: "He's had a glittering career, iconic status, and I wish him well in the future."

 

Beckham concluded his statement by thanking his family. "I wouldn't have achieved what I have done today without my family. I'm grateful for my parents' sacrifice, which made me realise my dreams," he said.

"I owe everything to Victoria and the kids, who have given me the inspiration and support to play at the highest level for such a long period."

 

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/22558393

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApYJ2vQmdag]David Beckham Exclusive Sky Sports Interview With Gary Neville After Announcing Retirement - YouTube[/ame]

I only saw him play one match in the league (In which Joey Barton played much better) and also that CL match he started where he tried to do his best to be anonymous as possible, but the CL match stands out, no point in sticking around if you can't get stuck in to matches.

SoccerBible‏@SoccerBible2h

Stoke take banter to next level. Whelan puts pig head in Jones locker, Jones puts brick through his car window #lads

 

Sky Sports News‏@SkySportsNewsnow

Stoke launch internal investigation into training ground incident. More coming up soon on #ssn

 

 

Stewart‏@StumpmeisterUKnow

Stoke training ground Incident apparently happened after 2 players actually tried to string a few passes together Pullis was furious :lol:

Last day matches worth watching in addition to the Spurs/Arsenal matches:

 

Freiburg - Schalke: Winner gets the champions league qualifying slot

 

Dortmund - Hoffenheim: 3 different German clubs are fighting to survive, but Hoffenheim needs a win. Have to wonder what kind of squad BD puts out a week before the CL final.

 

AC Milan - Siena: A win would secure CL qualifying.

We like a play-off or two as well, especially if it goes to pens

 

Bradford City v Northampton Town

Wembley (Sat)

winners reach League 1

 

Brentford v Yeovil Town

Wembley (Sun)

winners reach the Championship

 

CAIO .....

Just saw a headline that Chelsea and Man U were in a bidding war for Christiano Ronaldo. Then I saw the source was the daily mail. Is this total bullshit?

He wants to be back in the UK, so it's less of a travel for when he appears on ITV's hit show "Splash" ;)

 

Or just wants more money

 

CAIO .....

 

Love the inclusion of the community shield in the middle :rolleyes:

 

It will be like including a trophy from a pre-season friendly tournament, which the community shield is.

Just saw a headline that Chelsea and Man U were in a bidding war for Christiano Ronaldo. Then I saw the source was the daily mail. Is this total bullshit?

 

Total BS. The Guardian and The Daily Telegraph are your best bets.

Its going to be a quiet last day, the only thing not settled is 3/4/5 place.

 

Completely different to last year.

Brentford 1-2 Yeovil

Yeovil are promoted to the Championship for the first time in their history

That final minute Brentford penalty miss against Doncaster on the final day must really sting now!

no season would be complete without a booking for Bale for diving (bit harsh this time)

HT Tottenham 0-0 Sunderland; Newcastle 0-0 Arsenal

 

North London not reet bovvered about CL football then

GOAL: Newcastle 0-1 Arsenal (Koscielny, 52)

GOAL: Tottenham 1-0 Sunderland (Bale, 89)

LATEST: West Brom 5-5 Man Utd :o