Is Petrov right?

[leckhamptonblue]

City has a dressing that is at odds and there is no unity. Everyone plays for themselves and not the team. Is this just sour grapes or has he touched on something that will wreck our season?

[Socrates]

Or has he touched on the real reason why Craig Bellamy has been sent to the wild west?

[ross.mcfc]

If he's talking about last seasons squad you would have to say he is correct. The 3 last minute defeats by United, Stoke away in the Cup and the Spurs game at the end of the year showed that was a side with zero team spirit.

[Beeks]

That's why Mancini shipped out the like of him...then Bellers...then Robbie...to avoid dressingroom discontent

I think Ade is the only loose cannon left...unless Super Mario kicks off

[dazby]

You'll remember me retelling Kippax' story about him demanding more game time from Leslie and being told to work harder.

The other story I got permission from Kippax to tell was on the same tour when the team bus stopped at a beautiful lake. All the players got out, stripped and went for a dip. That is, all except two players: Boji and Petrov. There's team spirit for you. He's really in a position to talk about it.

[sweenyuk]

just remind me, last season we had a number of players who celebrated goals as a team and one who would walk off on his own pointing as his name on the back of his shirt.. who was that player..?? just can't remember his name...

[avoidconfusion]

I find it quite ironic that out of all people it is Petrov who comes out with this... like he was the epitome of a Team Player...

[DoomMerchant]

You'll remember me retelling Kippax' story about him demanding more game time from Leslie and being told to work harder.

The other story I got permission from Kippax to tell was on the same tour when the team bus stopped at a beautiful lake. All the players got out, stripped and went for a dip. That is, all except two players: Boji and Petrov. There's team spirit for you. He's really in a position to talk about it.

i find it so rude when another dude won't strip down and skinnydip with me. Totally not team-building or relationship-building.

Also, i like your spirit kid. If i am ever in Oz...you've got a swim partner. Just sayin.

cheers

[Socrates]

It's an HSBC thing, it's rude to ask people to skinnydip in Bulgaria.

[brite blu sky]

sometimes people just reveal their own problems when they talk about others..

just remind me, last season we had a number of players who celebrated goals as a team and one who would walk off on his own pointing as his name on the back of his shirt.. who was that player..?? just can't remember his name...

move along nothing to see here...

[King Kev]

If Petrov is 'right' I'm Mother Teresa!

[brite blu sky]

I think you will find he is referring to Benjani..

[The Man In Blue]

wonder what piccs will make of this.

[Nick]

I find it quite ironic that out of all people it is Petrov who comes out with this... like he was the epitome of a Team Player...

nail on head. Bellamy would score and the cameras would pan on petrov who looked liked he'd just said ''oh for fucks sake''

[Burt]

My answer to the initial post is no, although I am not in a position to be privvy to what has/is going on behind the scenes. It just smacks of toys outta the pram to me, same as the likes of Ireland etc.

My primary concern is our progress and imminent (hopefully) success.

[petrov]

Myself and my good friend Benjani do not lie. We signed for City for our love of the club, not cause we we're below average players who were offered above average wages by Sven. Just look at the workrate we showed at the club. We once nearly played 20 games between us in a season and I even managed to pass in one of them. I'd like to see those greedy players who only signed for the money like Carlos Tevez and Nigel DeJong do that..

Even my protege Stephen Ireland has seen through this greedy club. Enjoy your title cause I'm gonna be at the business end of the premiership helping Bolton get relegated.

[shawzy]

Myself and my good friend Benjani do not lie. We signed for City for our love of the club, not cause we we're below average players who were offered above average wages by Sven. Just look at the workrate we showed at the club. We once nearly played 20 games between us in a season and I even managed to pass in one of them. I'd like to see those greedy players who only signed for the money like Carlos Tevez and Nigel DeJong do that..

Even my protege Stephen Ireland has seen through this greedy club. Enjoy your title cause I'm gonna be at the business end of the premiership helping Bolton get relegated.

Haha.Very good that m8.

As you pointed out, both Petrov and Floella were Sven signings..Surely they must know theres a high risk they will be moved on when Mancini took the reigns...Pair of gimps.

[Blackadder]

In answer to the OP, probably Petrov does have a point. It's a sign of the times though, not a dig at our club in particular.

Back in the day professional footy teams seemed to have much more togetherness about them off the pitch and on the training ground. A few beers after training maybe, an odd night at the dogs, womanising and partying etc etc. That kind of behaviour breeds togetherness and the willingness to fight for each other on the pitch irregardless of what you are earning - and breeds trust. Nowadays I can imagine all the players going their seperate ways straight after training and matches, back to their families or their own circle of friends.

An increase in the fitness requirements and professionalism of players plus the demands of more professional coaches, nutritionists and the rest must have put paid to a lot of team spirit, as must have the influx of foreign players and managers. Long ago a player earned an above average wage and then retired to run a pub (usually badly) before ending up driving cabs. Now, with the right work ethic and talent they can set themselves up for life and beyond. A few sacrifices such as nights out with the lads is what it costs.

To be at a top club now (and earn the huge money) you have to be a perfect dedicated athlete. I don't know many top athletes but the ones I have met have been a bit on the dull side for my liking, understandably more concerned with doing the 'right thing' than in particularly bonding with team-mates or building up relationships with them.

Bolton is my joint-second favourite club (with Blackpool) and with respect thay are not at the same professional athletic level now as City. They probably have more of an inclusive camaraderie than City though. Similar to what Jo said about Everton when he went on loan that first time. You can bet that the rest of the Bolton squad would have been delighted to see Petrov arrive and would have gone out of their way to make him welcome. Same as when Robinho arrived with us I reckon.

Irrespective of the Manager, the right captain at a top club can go some way towards fixing this, we need one who will actively go out to build up team spirit and get the retiring violets (like Petrov) into the swing of things. We need a skipper with a big personality who others look up to and who can get them to build up that elusive team spirit.

Can Carlos do that? I hope so or we will be just a group of very highly paid professional athletes all looking out for number one. If he can't do it on his own then the other big players need to realise that the only chance of real success has to be to work on this in a big way.

[smurfsdabomb]

It's basically what stephen ireland was saying as well, when he wasn't being played he didn't care about city in the slightest and I'd say its shared by most of the players.

In reality none of the people bought are coming to city for the fans, out of a love of manchester or the clubs history or any of that, they're coming for two things. Money and personal glory. It doesn't make things easier when infamously selfish players at other clubs like Bellamy, Ade, Tevez, Mario, Robinho and money grabbers Lescott/Milner are among the personnel.


Answer honestly, if city failed to get a top 4 place this season and a side like Barca were interested, how many of the players would want to stay at eastlands?

[john68]

It's basically what stephen ireland was saying as well, when he wasn't being played he didn't care about city in the slightest and I'd say its shared by most of the players.

In reality none of the people bought are coming to city for the fans, out of a love of manchester or the clubs history or any of that, they're coming for two things. Money and personal glory. It doesn't make things easier when infamously selfish players at other clubs like Bellamy, Ade, Tevez, Mario, Robinho and money grabbers Lescott/Milner are among the personnel.


Answer honestly, if city failed to get a top 4 place this season and a side like Barca were interested, how many of the players would want to stay at eastlands?

Another classic post from Smurfs...Shal we quote it and use different names?
In reality none of the people brought in to the 1968 squad came to City for the fans, out of love of manchester or the club's history. They came for money and personal glory.
Mulhearn came because we were bigger than Stockport. I'm sure Book dreamt of playing at Maine Road whilst he was laying bricks in his late 20s. Helop got 1st team football after languishing in Everton's reserves. Franny lee was on strike at Bolton, having been refused a pay rise. Summerbee openly admits to discussing how much money he was going to demand when he met Joe
Mercer...and for King Colin Bell, it was a great career move for a 19 year old Bury player.
What happened was they became successful and bonded but don't for one minute think they arrived with City in their hearts.

A TV reporter from ABu Dhabi said that City were a group of individuals at the moment, as were Chelsea until they started t win things. It was their success that glued them together. his view was that City would be successful and would become a team at that point.

Another point worth noting is that we are fans who love the club...For players, it is their employment. Some grow to love city and some don't. It was always the case. Don't get too sentimental about the past and create myths that aren't true.