CITY fans today turned out in force to urge owner Thaksin Shinawatra not to dispense with the services of manager Sven-Goran Eriksson.
Estimates of the crowd ranged between 1,000 and 5,000 (about 2,000 was probably closer to the figure) but either way it was a big enough attendance to make clear that a substantial number of Blues fans are still angry about the possible departure of the man who has guided the team into ninth place and almost certainly a spot in next season’s Uefa Cup.
The rally, which organisers stressed was not anti-Shinawatra or anti-City but a celebration of Eriksson’s work this season, passed off with good humour as the procession snaked its way along Joe Mercer way and then around the entire Eastlands ground.
There was a pause at the Garden of Remembrance before the Official Supporters’ Club general secretary Kevin Parker presented an 18,000 strong petition at the main reception.
Fans chanted Eriksson’s name and went through a repertoire of pro-City songs before departing around half an hour later.
“We were delighted with the turn out, thrilled,” said Parker. “This was not a negative rally but one intended to show the depth of support that there is for Sven and the job he has done.
“Hopefully the rally and the petition will make the owner think again about any possible decision to sack Sven in the summer and make him realise the want Sven to be allowed instead to carry on his good work.
“I would like to thank all those fans who interrupted their weekend to come along.”
The rally was organised and backed by the OSC, the Centenary Supporters Association, fanzine King of the Kippax and on-line supporters groups.
Tweet
Showing comments 1 to 25 and replies | View All
LEE BRADBURY CITY RUINED MY LIFE (10/05/2008 at 19:42)
SVEN MUST BE ALLOWED TO CARRY OUT THE WORK FOR HE HAS BEEN CHOSEN BY HIS DISCIPLES MANY THOUSANDS(ABOUT 200) WALKED UNTIL THEIR FEET COULD WALK NO MORE,HE MUST BE ALLOWED TO ACCOMPLISH HIS MISSION YES SIREEE……,HE WILL DELIVER US IN TO TRIUMPHS WE CAN ONLY BUT DREAM OFF. ALL YOU DOUBTERS WILL BE DENIED ENTRY IN TO THE KINGDOM OF SVEN, YOU SHALL NOT TASTE THE FRUITS OF SUCCESS, AND YOU WILL BE CAST IN TO THE WILDERNESS WITH THE MARK OF THE BEAST.
I REPENT ………..I REPENT…………..I REPENT……….. FORGIVE ME SVEN FOR I HAVE DOUBTED YOU I KNOW NOT WHAT I DO………….
nick lawless,caterham,surrey,(Blackley born and bred), caterham (10/05/2008 at 19:44)
BlueSte (10/05/2008 at 20:09)
I sometimes feel we followers of MCFC love a bit of a soap opera, and to all those 2000 or so there today, what a waste of your time you had. What did you want to achieve? What was your point? What were you basing your march on?!?????!!!
The MEN has stirred up a right hornets nest with its amateur journalism, and then leapt forward as the clubs saviour. Nothing has changed as far as Frank is concerned from day 1. He wants to find out what needs to improve in this review. thats all he has said. If anything, it seems Sven is seeing this as an escape route having been found out. If he REALLY CARED about our club, he would be in there, fighting his corner, and really ramming home how good a job he has done, and ramming home why HE should be staying, and convincing Frank he is the man for the job. Not depending on you lot. With yer MEN back pages. Deary, deary me! WAKE UP!!!!
I dont know whats worse, the amateur journalism, or the gullible few who attended today's *protest* march.
I am starting to feel that MCFC and fans that fall into this *typical City* ideology dont actually deserve ANY success. I wish they would F- off to Old Trafford or somewhere else. These people truly cannot have been to the lower reaches of the football league watching this club, they cannot remember even the 1980's when our club was TRULY shambolically run, when football was at its least competitive, and least glamourous.
I think whats actually happening here, is now becoming clear. I think it will become clearer in the next week or month or so, and I think a lot of people will end up looking very stupid.
At the end of the day, I support MCFC, I am tired of this sheee-ite. I support and love City, wherever they are, whoever is in charge, whatever league they are in, and whatever happens, happens. I think a lot of clowns out there need to get a grip. You certainly dont belong at MCFC.
john lennon, telford (10/05/2008 at 20:26)
Ste (10/05/2008 at 20:38)
Frank is a money man pure and simple and we are the commodity he is trading with!
Rammyblue (10/05/2008 at 21:12)
keysey@cleethorpes, cleethorpes (10/05/2008 at 21:16)
Lavinda Past, Sunny Norfolk (10/05/2008 at 21:29)
2000 sad lives on public display - Grow up.
stuart malcolm (10/05/2008 at 23:20)
Suspect that when it comes to Football and things English the man from Thailand will get a massive and speedy reality check!
All the money in the world in Thailand may buy you power and position.
Won't cut no ice in the PL with MCFC push for Champions League participation!
frank clarke's guitar tutor (11/05/2008 at 00:03)
Austin Powers (11/05/2008 at 00:23)
But
Dr Thaskin is a politican mindfull of public opinion, he has had to be.
My hope is that a compromise can be reached and Sven to stay.
The utd result apart our performance has been poor in the last 6 months but switching riders will only put us back to where we were last August.
No sense in changing but I cannot read Thaskins mind however money talks and to protect his investment he has to do what he thinks best.
Next week should be fun !
Strongbow Kid (11/05/2008 at 00:45)
Organisational change is always difficult and invariably handled badly. Get used to it - Dr T owns us and will do whatever he wants with us.
You had your chance to put checks in place with this by organising earlier and gaining a sizeable chunk of shares.
"First they came for the Communists, but I was not a Communist - so I said nothing. Then they came for the Social Democrats, but I was not a Social Democrat - so I did nothing. Then they came for the trade unionists, but I was not a trade unionist. And then they came for the Jews, but I was not a Jew - so I did little. Then when they came for me, there was no one left who could stand up for me."
ExpatBlue, Mandurah, WA (11/05/2008 at 02:13)
CTID
Gary Bee (11/05/2008 at 06:42)
Far East Blue, Thailand (11/05/2008 at 07:27)
As de facto owner of the club and spending Millions of Pounds, can anyone stomach the following:
1) 0-6 loss to Chelsea
2) FA cup exit at (who?) Sheffield Utd
3) 1-1 @ derby, 0-0 @ Wigan, 0-0 @ Bolton, 0-2 @ Reading when other teams were "trampling" them?
If these are the sort of results we want next season, then let's keep Sven. Otherwise bring on "the special one" and be up there with the "top 4".
What sort of achievement is 8th place this season? Is it value for money? Certainly not for someone who pays 40pounds for a ticket and especially not for someone who has spent more than 40Million pounds on the team!
As for the players, all this mutiny stuff is rubbish when they have THEMSELVES to blame. If only they were a bit more consistent, would the manager need the sack?
So what if the captain has won the player of the year for 4 consecutive years? Have anyone really gave it any thought that it he could have been the best only among the worst?
For once let's forget "In Sven we trust" & let's give "In Frankie we trust" a chance.
CTID
Olky (11/05/2008 at 08:58)
First half,2mins,
Ronaldo dives PENALTY,Ronaldo takes,misses to the right,0-0.....48th minute of first half,PENALTY!!!Tevez dives,Ronaldo misses to the left.Second half no goals until 98th minute,Giggs falls over on the edge of the box,Ronaldo with the free kick..Goal!!!...no its disallowed,Ronaldo's legs were too far apart before he took the kick.Full time whistle.0-0.Chelsea win 3-0.End of.....
Bluereed (11/05/2008 at 10:19)
LEE BRADBURY CITY RUINED MY LIFE (11/05/2008 at 11:26)
Why not have a candle lit vigil outside the Radisson one night and play a few ABBA hits maybe songs like, Gimme Gimme Gimme ?,….. Money Money Money, ?, ….I Have A Dream ?,……….Under Attack ?.................. Take A Chance On Me ?...maybe end with…. Waterloo?….. or…..SOS ?.
It is only a thought?
Edski Vega, Nottingham (11/05/2008 at 12:37)
one word of warning though...... if we finish 12th next season, don't turn around calling for Sven's head.
Newcastle will have £100m to spend
Tottenham will be in top 6 next year
Aston Villas young squad is getting better and Martin O'neill is finally getting the team playing his way plus he will have £60m to spend!
Portsmouth's Redknapp will pick up some more diamonds on free transfers over the summer
Blackburn will be top 7 next year
Everton will be top 6 next year
If we have any chance of finsihing top 6 next season Sven really needs to rip the squad to pieces, release VASSELL as a priority!! (Dwayne Chambers would be more useful).
Also if we don't get a return on Samaras and Bianchi and Corradi etc then there will be some serious questions asked of Sven.... I can see Bianchi being let go for a paltry £1m!
Nobody is bigger than the club.... remember this is Thaksin's club now! We are just it's customers...
OrigamiNinja, Inverness (11/05/2008 at 12:39)
If Sven stays I would put money on the same fans in support of him now will be calling for his head by Xmas after our current form is continued into the new season!
tedk, droylsden (11/05/2008 at 13:15)
what job has Sven actually done? a defeat against Boro which seems likely will see an improvement of 13 pts on last season but how much did Thaksin give Sven to spend hmmm was it £40M? also amongst other numerous games what about the shambolic manner we lost to Sheff United in the FA Cup? dont forget his bizzare tactics either ie taking Ireland off after the lad scored one of the goals of the season? furthermore why did he play Elano at ful back when he had young lads in the reserves biting at the bit? there are numerous other negative points as far as Sven is concerned,sadly it looks like our standards have dropped!
Hayman of Rugby, Long Lawford (11/05/2008 at 13:42)
Paul C Ardwick born (11/05/2008 at 14:43)
My feelings exactly. Yeh it was big joke to go the likes of Notts Co, Chesterfield, Shrewsbury etc etc and have more support than the home team. But the joke wore thin and was only made palatable by a miracle at Wembley.
I dont want any more of that crap. I can go and watch Stockport, Rochdale or whoever if I want basement football. I was born within a mile or so of MCFC and cannot get it out my blood. Its a harder addiction to kick than crack cocaine. I am sick of the underachievement of this club and want something for all the years of misery. We have come to think that a few highs and then lots of lows is payback. Well its not. This season was the same old underachievement. I want it to change and it wont without Frank or another billionaire. Fact. Thats football in the 21st Century guys and I want some of that success for my team. If Frank wants rid of Sven so be it. Its not because he thinks Sven will set the world on fire next season its because he (and many of us City fans) think that it just will be the same or worse.
I understand stability and continuity but thats only realistic if you think you can build on it. Clubs like Spuds, Villa, Blackburn, Pompey and even Sunderland will be stronger next year so a top half place with this team would be a big ask.
History tells us that City would be 10 games into next season and sack Sven. So the OWNER decides, no its not been good enough for the last 5 months and can see no immediate signs of improvement. He wonders why Sven persists with players he was trying to sell for peanuts and then sends an £8M rated forward on loan but buys a 30 year old who didn't want to join us anyway. Bizarre. I am not even going to ask why he plays Sun, one of the worst players I have seen at City, but fails to try youth when it really doesn't matter anymore.
Come on you know it. There are loads more of these strange decisions. Sven been a very successful club manager in the past but it was just not working after the first few months.
OB1, Transmancunia (11/05/2008 at 15:08)
Karlb, STOCKPORT (11/05/2008 at 16:29)