It's Manchester City again

Well I think one thing is for sure, there will be a different Man city side for the midweek game. They have been on form there is no doubting it, I can see us sneaking the Cup game, but away to them at the moment will be a massive game, will MM do what he did against Man Utd a couple of years ago??

Newsflash Akela, football sold out to foreign investment a long long time ago. Tatung ring any bells?

I thought Tatung made tele's.

Football did sell out a long time ago, but the Man city stadium deal just made a mockery of it all!!

What the deal that no one knows the figures of yet? What about The Reebok? The JJB? The Emirates? Did they make a mockery of it all?

Those deals were already done, when the stadiums were being built!, and a deal worth one or two million for sponsorship of 500 million for the man city game so that the club could balance its books! You probably don't know that the owners of Man city also own the Airline!!

"and a deal worth one or two million for sponsorship of 500 million for the man city game so that the club could balance its books! " I'm sorry mate this does not make sense, can you explain? Btw the owner of Man City is Sheikh Mansour he is related to the ruling family in Abu Dhabi who own the Etihad airline but he himself doesn't own it, I realise there's a conflict of interest there but your claim that "the owners of Man city also own the Airline" is wrong.

Meanwhile, what about our team to face MC in the cup? All of us have remarked on how well the fringe-heavy team did against Milwall, even if some killjoys pointed out that we were playing a poor Championship side. Well, now they have a chance to measure themselves up to the best. Let's play the same team against MC and see how they perform. Of course, it will only be MC's reserve team but it will still be better than the first elevens of most PL sides.

From what i've seen,SB, our reserve team may be better than our first team!

In answer to SS's first comment,about the changes made at OT.In doing that, MM "found" his firt team, if memory serves.There could be a case made for history repeating itself.

Bluebub, he is an executive on the airlines board as are all of the Abu Dhabi royal family. boltons deal was worth 2 million, Wigans much less. Arsenal was 8 million, now sponsoring a staium comes in at 500 million, check the financial report for Man city, it's wrong. If they want to spend money like that then fine, but don't dress it up as something else!!!

A4D I believe that we were very close to the starting 11 that played at Millwall. We shall see who takes to the pitch!!

Can you tell me where you're getting your info from mate? As far as I was aware Mansour has no direct involvement with Etihad, and believe me I've looked. As for £500 million, are you just plucking that figure out of the air? Firstly the financial details of the Etihad deal have yet to be released for public consumption. I have read press reports speculating anything from £300-£400 million over ten years. This sponsorship deal is not just for the stadium name, it incorporates the shirt sponsorship as well as the campus that is being built adjacent to the stadium.

I am a bit of an expert on the middle east due to my job and I know how the royal families work out there, they are all involved in all national ventures! It is something that we can't get ourhead around here, but about 100 members of the royal family have ALL the power and money it trickles down to an elite group. The financial dealings in the arab states make for increadable reading. The money that is thrown at things is unreal. The pot is running out though, as is the oil. Just look at bahrain, which is trying to rebrand itself, as its two oil fields are nearly dry. The emerates will follow shortly. The oil on which their wealth is based is running out. Next Billionaire owners will be from the Falklands....mark my words. Bluedub, all I was saying was That FIFA and UEFA want a financial flat playing feild. the owners of Man city just made a mockery of it. The other thing is out there, they all have several family names! That is how they get around alot of their financial dealing sin europe, I know this because I have to study it!

What, are you a toilet cleaner at one of the ruling family's palaces Supersparkes? For what it's worth, sponsorship in this country lags way behind other countries, and whilst our deal was pretty substantial, let's not forget that our stretford neighbours just got £40m from DHL to sponsor their training kits. The yanks and Germans have been setting the standards on sponsorship for years. Try this article from Martin Samuel regarding Bayern Munich: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2042168/Bayern-Munichs-Manuel-Neuer-shows-little-fair-play-money-talk-MARTIN-SAMUEL.html

Not quite a toilet cleaner, but I have to study the middle east on a daily basis! Your right the yanks and the germans have been sponsoring since the 1920's I agree, My point was that If FIFA and UEAFa want a level playing field they need to do something about it!! Now team for the two Man city games!!

... er ... what about our team to play the oil-rich Abu Dhabi royal family sponsored MC?

I think that he will play a very similar side to the one that played against Millwall. Although I reckon he will go defensive against them away from home. sorry for going off subject there, but it's the man city fans that are completly unaware of who their owners are!

PMSL!

We of course humbly defer to the vastly superior knowledge of supersparkes in this matter...

He is a bit of an expert after all!

I would rather see a club like us with a British Chairman investing in a club for the benefit of the city and the good folks that live there. These rich camel-loving sandshufflers, ruski's and yanks are only interested in instant success, the promise of champions league glory and profit. Come rain or shine I for one am glad I support my local club, a club steeped with history and pride. UTW!!

I love the fact that people who know nothing about something get the hump when they are told something!!! LOL

I also love the facct that they missed the point, I was having a go at FIFA and UEFA who are as potent as a slug!!

I haven't got the hump mate I just find your post funny that's all. Big Tasty - nice bit of casual racism there, you obviously haven't seen the plans for the redevelopment of the land around Eastlands then which commits the owners of City to a ten year project? or the huge amount of community initiatives that they have introduced through the club? or the fact that they are introducing initiatives to preserve the culture and history of the club?

Forgot to say in all seriousness good luck for tonight. I am not having a go at Man city fans or the club, but why dress up an injection of cash as a stadium sponsorship? thats all.

Casual racism no. Stereotyping definately. Bang on all you like about redevelpment, but doesn't change the fact that too many Johnny Foreigners are now running British clubs. Did u see Al Fayed's statue of Jacko? WTF??

Big Tasty agreed, and how long before the franchise wants to move them to their home cities??? This will happen in my life time I truely believe!!