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Before I start I just want to say that this thread has been in my head since the last few days of the transfer window and has nothing to do with last nights' result.

Is anyone else fearing the worst with the new financial rules that are being brought in? Almost like the light at the end of a 35 year long tunnel is going to be extinguished just as we are about to reach it.

I'm 39 now and have had to watch Utd spend their way to trophy after trophy, Blackburn joined in on the act for a year, then Abramovich took over Chelsea and they bought player after player and consequently have a pretty full trophy cabinet. I wouldn't confess to knowing the intricacies of the new rules but surely we've now spent big for the last time? Which means that in the future we are only allowed to spend the amount of money that we bring into the club through its day to day running and not be able to rely on the Sheikhs' wealth?

I know there's a 2 or 3 year period of grace when the owners are allowed to put 15 mil euros in, then less after that but how the hell are we going to be able to remain where we are at the moment in the Top 4, let alone progress to the title and beyond? Even if the stadium is expanded, is our income going to be anywhere near "that lot" when they've had years banding themselves around the globe?

The £71 million splash out by Chelsea on the last day of the window certainly got me thinking that surely they've got a plan to comply with the new rules and I'm well aware that the Sheikh isn't daft, nor are the people he'll have working on this as we speak

I guess this thread is more of a "please tell me everything's going to be ok" as I'll happily admit it's beginning to worry me. I hope one of you can give me an answer to the above, even if it is a simple one and makes me look like a plank, but surely I'm not the only City fan currently having these thoughts?

"Everything's going to be ok"

We are City fans...pessimistic is in our blood...brought on by too many false dawns and misguided bouts of optimism

Bloody hell, thanks lads, I'll be sure to screw the cap back on the Paracetamols now

Beeks wrote:We are City fans...pessimistic is in our blood...brought on by too many false dawns and misguided bouts of optimism

This. Spot on.

I'm not worried about that, I'm more worried that, just when we were starting to play expansive football, we may be about to go back to the mind numbing stuff we played earlier in the season because we possibly can't defend properly without playing like that.

No I'm most certainly not feeling pessimistic.

In fact I'm very optimistic for us this year. Still involved in the league, Two cups to play for. We seem to be having a dip in form
at the moment but it will pick up. Derby coming up next week which should give us a true indication of where we stand
in the league with respect to the title.

So far so good. Some very strange decisions going against us, some sloppy play at times , but sometimes quite breathtaking
when we play.

We score some great goals ( both our goals were well crafted yesterday, Kolarovs was a peach). We concede some sloppy goals.

B'hams, Villa goal the other week, the sloppy goals against County, none of which were beautifully crafted by the opposition.

I remain optimistic, that it will turn out good for City. For City this season will finish in May and not in January, like so many times recently. It's going to be a great run in for us and we should relax a little more and enjoy the ride.
I am , every game, even if we don't get the result we want, it's all part of moving city forward.

Last night I even thought Kola would nick that goal at the end. Schade !
So close but would have been justice for some simply shocking refereeing .

Thanks for the replies so far, just to clarify, I'm thoroughly enjoying this season overall, it's more the future and the money situation that concerns me

I think those who are pessimistic now will always be pessimistic no matter what happens. Slight concerns yes but we are in a great posistion.

Hmmmmm I still seem to be struggling to get anyone to answer the main point of my post which is regarding the new financial rules. Or is everyone in the same boat and a little unsure as to how it's all going to develop?

Very pessimistic, but I am a worrier anyway. Still, the trend in our form shows that we are sliding further and further down the table. If we don't start winning a few games preferably back to back soon then I am dreading the last few weeks of the season.

Fuck I am already dreading them now.

I am hoping for a win on Saturday (or is it Sunday?) and I hope that Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs lose or at least do not win their next few games.

craigmcfc wrote:Hmmmmm I still seem to be struggling to get anyone to answer the main point of my post which is regarding the new financial rules. Or is everyone in the same boat and a little unsure as to how it's all going to develop?

What are you pessimistic about with regard to the rules? That we won't meet them or that we won't be able to spend money on new players to improve the team?

the_georgian_genius wrote:

craigmcfc wrote:Hmmmmm I still seem to be struggling to get anyone to answer the main point of my post which is regarding the new financial rules. Or is everyone in the same boat and a little unsure as to how it's all going to develop?

What are you pessimistic about with regard to the rules? That we won't meet them or that we won't be able to spend money on new players to improve the team?

Well there's certainly a doubt that we won't meet them though I trust our owners and board are on top of it. It's more that we are going to be sat on top of all these riches, but unable to use them, and the amount that we are able to use from just the clubs income won't be enough to compete with the established Top 4 or so teams

zuricity wrote:No I'm most certainly not feeling pessimistic.

In fact I'm very optimistic for us this year. Still involved in the league, Two cups to play for. We seem to be having a dip in form
at the moment but it will pick up. Derby coming up next week which should give us a true indication of where we stand
in the league with respect to the title.

So far so good. Some very strange decisions going against us, some sloppy play at times , but sometimes quite breathtaking
when we play.

We score some great goals ( both our goals were well crafted yesterday, Kolarovs was a peach). We concede some sloppy goals.

B'hams, Villa goal the other week, the sloppy goals against County, none of which were beautifully crafted by the opposition.

I remain optimistic, that it will turn out good for City. For City this season will finish in May and not in January, like so many times recently. It's going to be a great run in for us and we should relax a little more and enjoy the ride.
I am , every game, even if we don't get the result we want, it's all part of moving city forward.

Last night I even thought Kola would nick that goal at the end. Schade !
So close but would have been justice for some simply shocking refereeing .

I would like to feel like this but I am struggling. It doesnt help when the optimism is helped by the opposition goals not being well crafted!!!!! Who the hell cares how they are scored? Actually I would prefer them to be well crafted because conceding scrappy goals is more worrying. And since when is a direct free kick a well crafted goal?

And then it's blame the referee time! I think the ref was poor last night be he didn't cost us a win as it was a penalty and that was down to City and nobody else ( player or manager)

So the derby in 2 weeks will give us a good indication of where we are will it? I hope and pray we get some sort of a result and if not please come back on and explain it all in your positive way so I can feel better.

As for the financial rules coming in I am actually very relaxed about them. I have full confidence in our owners and management that all is in hand.

Not worried atall..We have already got the ground roots for a top side and we only need to add 1 or 2 top signings a season from now on i reckon.

craigmcfc wrote:

the_georgian_genius wrote:

craigmcfc wrote:Hmmmmm I still seem to be struggling to get anyone to answer the main point of my post which is regarding the new financial rules. Or is everyone in the same boat and a little unsure as to how it's all going to develop?

What are you pessimistic about with regard to the rules? That we won't meet them or that we won't be able to spend money on new players to improve the team?

Well there's certainly a doubt that we won't meet them though I trust our owners and board are on top of it. It's more that we are going to be sat on top of all these riches, but unable to use them, and the amount that we are able to use from just the clubs income won't be enough to compete with the established Top 4 or so teams

We'll be ok, i don't know how we will be ok but i know that we will.

I share your concern Craig. I said at the start of all this that if a new level playing field was created because of us then that would be great. However the new rules seem more likely to protect the status quo rather than allowing new clubs to compete at the top.
Plus I'd also have liked a couple more seasons of having things our own way, financially at least.
I do think we'll comply easily enough but the advantage we currently hold looks like it will be short lived.
On the other hand money talks in sport and it wouldn't surprise me to see us find some way round it.

We'll be fine. I don't think for a minute that we'll finish outside of the top 4.

3rd would be a top bonus.

Ted Hughes wrote:I'm not worried about that, I'm more worried that, just when we were starting to play expansive football, we may be about to go back to the mind numbing stuff we played earlier in the season because we possibly can't defend properly without playing like that.

I share this worry to some degree.

We opened our game after christmas and after couple of good results, we haven't been able to keep the formation together. I fear that we indeed might revert back a bit.

We need to look into central midfield in summer and try and find a true box-to-box playmaker in my opinion. Someone who can help both attack and defence. Easier said than done though as there are only couple of players like that and I can't see us getting Iniesta, Xavi or Gerrard.

I'll be lividly pessimistic - and probably suicidal - if we don't finish in the top four this season.

Until that is sorted one way or another I'm sitting tight on my opinions in the hope that this year is just one steep muthfucka of a learning curve for one an' all and that the real business starts next season.

Make sense?