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Disappointing from the club

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/peopl ... 83190.html

I believe all ex players were offered a couple of tickets, maybe not with an embossed invitation, but just another case of a journalist making the most of a difficult situation to show us in a poor light, much the same as the hotel fiasco currently grabbing their attention

shortagain wrote:I believe all ex players were offered a couple of tickets, maybe not with an embossed invitation, but just another case of a journalist making the most of a difficult situation to show us in a poor light, much the same as the hotel fiasco currently grabbing their attention

Normally I'd agree but these are direct quotes..

He's been invited, he's not coming.

I remember last time he was over he said it would probably be his last as he didn't travel well.

Bert didn't say he hadnt been invited, just that he hadnt been invited 'formaly'. The journalist even mentions someone speaking to him telling him the club wanted him there, so he hasn't been snubbed.

Typical negative journalism. I wonder if Bert knew this was the slant the reporter would put on it? I doubt it very much and I reckon he will be disappointed.

I am absolutely 100% certain that Bert has not been snubbed, nor is this an issue whatsoever.

I was present last season for a special lunch that was attended by only 7 of us (that included Bert & Garry Cook) when it was made quite clear to Bert that the Club would always support him/do anything to help him etc. And he reciprocated his support for Garry Cook and the owners etc. He also said that it would probably be his last trip to England.

As with anyone interviewed by the media, it's possible journalists swing the story a particular way to get an headline etc. When asked have you been formally invited then the answer seems to be that Johnny Williamson 'phoned him to ask if he wanted to attend. That would have preceded the formal ticket despatch. So, this is definitely not a snub.

Had City sent tickets out to Bert (and all previous FAC heroes) without knowing if they wanted to attend then who knows how this could have gone. Could you imagine the fuss a journalist could have made if somehow Bert didn't attend despite receiving tickets? "Bert snubs City" - it's all about the journalist's emphasis not City's or Bert's aims.

Incidentally, back in 1967-8 there was a major issue when Bert told journalists that he had paid to watch Joe Mercer's City. At the time the journalist claimed more or less the same stuff about how City's hierarchy had ignored their past. It was true that Bert had paid, but no one knew that until after the event - complimentary tickets were guaranteed but Bert, being the gent he was, didn't ask and City not realising he wanted to attend didn't send him one either. Once they both knew how the other felt it was all sorted out - the journalist still got his story that City had 'snubbed' Bert .... and that was over 40 years ago!

Ignore sensational stories like this, it's not worth worrying about. City and Bert have a closer relationship now than at any other time since he left the Club.

EDIT: worth remembering that the guy who called him - Johnny Williamson - is one of the few remaining team mates of Bert who is still alive and relatively fit, so you could argue that City (and their former players association) went out of their way to make sure it was more of a personal call than a cold despatch of tickets.

gary james wrote:I am absolutely 100% certain that Bert has not been snubbed, nor is this an issue whatsoever.

I was present last season for a special lunch that was attended by only 7 of us (that included Bert & Garry Cook) when it was made quite clear to Bert that the Club would always support him/do anything to help him etc. And he reciprocated his support for Garry Cook and the owners etc. He also said that it would probably be his last trip to England.

As with anyone interviewed by the media, it's possible journalists swing the story a particular way to get an headline etc. When asked have you been formally invited then the answer seems to be that Johnny Williamson 'phoned him to ask if he wanted to attend. That would have preceded the formal ticket despatch. So, this is definitely not a snub.

Had City sent tickets out to Bert (and all previous FAC heroes) without knowing if they wanted to attend then who knows how this could have gone. Could you imagine the fuss a journalist could have made if somehow Bert didn't attend despite receiving tickets? "Bert snubs City" - it's all about the journalist's emphasis not City's or Bert's aims.

Incidentally, back in 1967-8 there was a major issue when Bert told journalists that he had paid to watch Joe Mercer's City. At the time the journalist claimed more or less the same stuff about how City's hierarchy had ignored their past. It was true that Bert had paid, but no one knew that until after the event - complimentary tickets were guaranteed but Bert, being the gent he was, didn't ask and City not realising he wanted to attend didn't send him one either. Once they both knew how the other felt it was all sorted out - the journalist still got his story that City had 'snubbed' Bert .... and that was over 40 years ago!

Ignore sensational stories like this, it's not worth worrying about. City and Bert have a closer relationship now than at any other time since he left the Club.

EDIT: worth remembering that the guy who called him - Johnny Williamson - is one of the few remaining team mates of Bert who is still alive and relatively fit, so you could argue that City (and their former players association) went out of their way to make sure it was more of a personal call than a cold despatch of tickets.

Nice one for clearing that up Gary..was just concerned about the soundbites from Bert..but perhaps it was taken out of context

...well I have not read the article but I think I know the actual position on this as I am good friends with a family member who called Bert's close family over the last few days to enquire what the reality was...

It seems that Bert was a bit put out that he was not 'formally' invited to the semi and he has been a bit frosty / disappointed since. So he has not made any contact and had expected to be approached to be a special guest by the club - personally I would agree with him

So it seems something has fallen down a crack leaving a journo with an opportunity to present the club in a bad light...

Truth of it seems to be:

a) of course CITY would have provided him with tickets - treated him as a special guest had they known he would have wished it (this part my assumption of course)

and

b) Bert is having a bit of a (understandable) sulk - taking a ....they can talk to me before I talk to them... attitude

So more cock-up than conspiracy I would feel - but the club should do better - we do not have that many 'heros'

When I've seen the great man on TV he always struck me as a guy who can easily be prone to 'sulk'.

..........was not meaning any disrespect - just helping to inform - the word 'sulk' was that used by one of his closest family members (not my view) - what I posted was just pure fact - not opinion - and I am sure the word used was just a family member comment not a criticism (we all say things like that in casual comment - nothing bad intended) - don't shoot the messenger

If that article was balanced the journalist should have called to club to clarify the situation - if he was even half human he might have mediated on Bert's behalf. It seems pretty clear what he was actually after.

this having come out this morning, I'm sure the club will have been in contact with Bert. Nothing here that a telephone call, private jet and conversation with Bernstein couldn't resolve. Therefore, if Bert's not there, he either doesn't want to be or is unable to be for health reasons. It'll be a shame for him to miss it, but unfortunately, it's what happens when there's 30 years between finals

I don't care what he did for City, someone who leaves their girlfriend to bring up his daughter by herself because he 'panicked and left' gets no respect from me.