A ball hasn't even been kicked in anger yet but already my good friend and fellow wordsmith Colin Shindler is feeling so disillusioned with all things Manchester City, that he is seriously contemplating a trial separation because he says: "The heart has been ripped from the club I have loved for 50 years."
This sounds serious. I know Colin Shindler. I've read his books. I know how he thinks. I know most of his friends. Indeed, I personally used to coach and train most of them in Prestwich and Whitefield in the days when their waistlines and wallets were much, much thinner.
So I need to know just what has brought about this dramatic change in his affections for a club that has provided so much material for him to write about for so many years.
Apparently, the first stirring of his discontent came in 2003 when chairman David Bernstein left the club. Beauty is, indeed, in the eye of the beholder. He was replaced by the thoroughly honourable John Wardle.
No serious cause for complaint there I would have thought but, of course, the next man in, Thaksin Shinawatra, with his influx of ornamental, gold-coloured toads, was a different matter all together.
Our new best friend from Thailand was enough to test the durability of any long-lasting relationship, so I can fully understand Colin not being easily entranced by that embarrassing rally in Albert Square where the success-starved City folk were fed a combination of dim sums and propaganda in equally huge proportions.
In a moment of weakness, many men have been seduced by a little bit of oriental charm but not Mr Shindler, he could see right through the transparency of Thaksin's reign.
He remained faithful right up to the little man's desperate and unseemly departure. So why now? Just when the new owners are settling in and flexing their considerable financial muscles.
Just when that exclusive little collection of clubs permanently lodged at the top of the Premier League are beginning to look nervously over their shoulder.
OK, so we've married into a bit of money. Is that such a bad thing? Is wealth such an ugly word? Not when it's being hurled in the direction of Eastlands, it isn't.
Fortune
Better that than our benefactors from Abu Dhabi looking towards Italy or Spain or, God forbid, L.A. Galaxy to invest their huge fortune.
For those of a certain vintage, it's quite a novelty to kick off a new season with expectations so high but thanks to Sheikh Mansour we will do precisely that.
The ground looks magnificent after a complete summer make-over but at Manchester City some things never change, thank goodness.
Former players pop in and out of the ground on a regular basis and have never been treated better and, of course, everybody's favourite, Rose, who bakes the finest cakes since Mr Kipling, is still a fixture behind the scenes.
So I urge Colin Shindler to think again, this is not the time to file for divorce, it's not as though there is another club nearby, with a little more glamour who could possibly tempt you away.
You can't cite "irretrievable differences' as just cause. Not yet anyway. So, after so long together, surely as your first love City deserve one last chance especially now that it's worth a few bob and is looking in good shape.
So Colin, just get yourself down to the ground, with your little grandson Ollie and we'll say no more about it.
We'll just forget all about your little aberration and simply put it down to a "late life crisis" thingeys.
What do you think? Have your say.
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A good read Fred. Every word a gem and absolutely correct.
Time to read some more of your work methinks, well done sir!.
There is a small minority of City fans that are convinced that its not really City unless we're suffering! Just snap out of it and start believing that goods things can happen to us.....If not go and support Newcastle! I'm sure there legions of unfortunate fans there who would gladly swap financial possitions with us!
Good to hear 'Auntie' Rose is still doing her stuff. Used to see her every week when I worked the turnstiles at Maine Rd. Happy days.
Quite right Fred. Put simply City haven't Sold Out but Bought In.
Sold Out from the rest and Bought In to the challenge.
My love for City 1973 - 2008
The last 36 years has been like having a relationship with a woman who you love and adore. She gives nothing in return. Every time you tell her you love her she slaps you in the face. You do all the giving. You hope that one day she'll love you equally.
She says one thing and does another. You get a hunch that she's using you to get what she wants. But you love her regardless of the hurt she gives you and the paranoia she creates. Even if you walked away from her, you know you'd never love anyone like her. Because she's gorgeous and she's your first love.
Once in a while she tells you she loves you and those words give you hope (5-1 here, 4-1 there). You live in hope that she will fulfil your dreams and give you what you need - to love you in return on a consistent basis. To give back as much as you have given her.
August 2008 - present
The woman you have always loved walks through the door. She tells you she's always loved you and wants to make things work better. She knows you've been doing all of the giving and now wants to give you something back and repay you for the hurt she's caused.
She tells you she's changed. For good.
She puts on her best lingerie (Robinho, Tevez etc.), and beckons you with her finger.
Will she deliver? Write your own ending.
If things start to go wrong, expect "King of the Kippax" and joy-strangler Dave Wallace to be wheeled out in front of the TV camera's.
No time for Colin Schindler.The subject of his infamous book was the opposite for me.
I couldn't stop reminding the 'rags' at the time that not only had we beaten them convincingly on their own turf but as England was part of Europe we were champions of England so they could not be champions of Europe only EC winners.
Obviously he wasn't too bright at the time and his current views seem to show no improvement.
I suppose he would prefer us to be still run by TV repair men,kitchen fitters or scrap metal merchants and continue in our annual battle against relegation/bankrupcy just so we can brag about our roots and being in touch with the man in the street.living in that shack that was Maine Road but hey it had character and History - You either live in the past with memories (usually clouded into thinking they were 'good old days')or look forward to the future because you can't change the past.
Kippax Lover, Failswerf, Manchester
12/08/2009 at 12:18
Gem of a post and so true
Well said Fred,you are one of the few pundits who tell it like it is and may it long continue Fred.
Happy Days.
Kippax Lover - have you been spending time with Kolo Toure? lol
Good man Fred. Perhaps Shindler has been informed no more freebies and pay like the rest of us.
Kippax Lover, I can relate to that! Here, here!
P.S. My ending was a bit to x-rated to put on these pages. oh yes!
Kippax Lover, Failswerf, Manchester 12/08/2009 at 12:18
Top, I can honestly say that's the first post I've read on here which sounds more like a Mills & Boon readers competition!
Kippax Lover, Failswerf, Manchester - Get a life son.
A good article and well written. Topped off nicely by Kippax Lover, Failsworth.
It doesn't matter what people think of our new found wealth/media popularity, when you have supported City for a lengthy amount of time, the only way is surely up. It was always nice being 'that nice club from up north', but it is our turn to enjoy the spoils. Enjoy it we shall, no matter how long it lasts. I find it inconceiveable that any man or organisation would invest money to the extent that our esteemed owner has to simply pull the plug when he's become tired of it. He is in it for the long haul, he knows what is at stake make no mistake about that. He is surrounded by people who's judgement he trusts and has been fully briefed on all things Manchester City, he has got himself a mighty fine Club. CTID
Every silver lining has a cloud,step forward Colin Shindler.Had lunch with him once,and either we were being managed by Frank Clark at the time
or Shindler reminded me of Frank Clark I can't remember which.Anyway,the man could bore for England,just like his books.
Its no surprise that some city fans find it hard to enjoy the changes going on at city. There is a core of supporters that are unable to truly enjoy the posssiblity of city being sucessfull and rejoice in the drama of city's failings. To many fans, Man City represent heartbreak. It gives there dull lives meaning.
Jimmy McGovern in his brilliant 'The Street' drama should portray a city fan that can't get his fix of 'pain' from man city any longer, so opts to become a red.
It would be brilliant. It could portary united as being relegated and bankrupt with 'zombie' like figures coming away from games having watched dire rubbish and getting back on the boat to ireland with old bacon face in sheltered accomodation saying he should never have sold Ronaldo & Tevez.
This is the one period of time when we city fans should be excited about the club and its changing fortunes, even though the club will lose some its identify with working class mancunians.
The worst that could happen is that we could find out that all these players have been bought on the back of loans, the arabs pull out and we end up in dire straits, we go into administration, get relegated and deducted 10 points, so we may as well just enjoy things.
Disgusting, how can you love a club for 50 years and when they look like finally stepping up to the challenge just give up on them, I think he must be an idiot! Sadly there plenty of fans who like the underperforming and success starved City, they are the ones moaning and groaning at the ground instead of singing and getting behind the team, they call players lazy when the have nearly died of hart attacks finding their seats in the 3rd tier, and gave the lack of United's, Chelsea and Liverpool's money as an excuse for the poor show, typical City blah!. That City possibly gives them comfort as their lives likely took a similar path, always with an excuse, somebody to blame.
City haven't sold out that's ridicules, we are the envy of the football world you only have to read the drivel rag fans write on our pages to see this, or gaze at the onslaught of slaver in the daily news papers! The past is exactly that, the past. Who amongst us would swop now what's possible in the future for a few premier titles within the last 10 years?
I for one am glad of the change in attitude and fortune at Eastland's, this season we are shooting for the stars and if we stumble here and there that's football. We as a club and fans are I think in general looking forwards and trying to improve and that's been along time in the coming!
Be proud in battle, proud of who we were and who we want to be, Blue Moon CTID.
How can anyone think or believe that the "heart & soul has been ripped out of the club" is totally beyond me !. The new owners, chairman & staff are trying to put City back where it belongs & i'm not talking about where Francis Lee promised to take the club either !
Stonefish, Collin Bell Stand watching the magic!
12/08/2009 at 13:48
Well said that Man.
A very good article, Fred Eyre. Colin Schindler does need to reconsider. He was out of order in slating City. He is a very talented writer, and obviously a long-suffering Blue, so why think of departing now, Colin?
Our club's heart beats strong and true.
Kippax Lover, Failswerf, Manchester 12/08/2009 at 12:18
I think there should be more emphasis on the 'LOVER' part of your monika from now on. You foxy old stud, you!
Maybe it's because football clubs can barely be recognised for what they were back in the day...
He simply has the same feelings that plenty of united fans felt when the glazers bought/debted in. Maybe he'll start up an fc city - but give him his dues, it's not too outlandish to hate modern football and the soul-less trappings.
i however am a vacuous charlatan and don't give a toss who owns what.
Thankyou for not printing my comment MEN. Freedom of speech and rational debate is dead after all eh. I wasn't trying to start a 'Holy War' - i was just pointing out that there MAYBE ulterior motives for Mr Schindler to not want to fully subscribe to our new found Arab wealth. That s all.
Yet again Fred Eyre writes a brilliant article and he speaks on behalf of most City fans myself in particular. However I can understand Colin Shindler because he definately loves MCFC,he cares and is merely speaking how he feels and I respect his feelings.Fred is 100% correct giving him this advice because like him or loathe him he is sometimes very critical of City during their games and on GMR listeners have moaned about his constructive criticism but by heck he is right to be most times, now he is defending City so Colin has to take it on board because Fred is in a very good position to recognise exactly what is going on behind the scenes and moreso he talks sense....