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Showdown of the century!

Adam Peacock

by Adam Peacock

30 Apr 04:45pm

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Filed under: English Premier League, Manchester, Soccer, Sport

43 comments

It’s an intriguing subject. How your football team fares doesn’t change who you are or what you have. But it overrides whatever else is happening in your life.

This wasn't one of Where's Wally's better hiding spots (FEEL FREE TO ADD YOUR CAPTION BELOW!) Pic: AP.

That type of emotion has fallen on a whole city, Manchester, in anticipation of one massive game of football in the English Premier League.

Manchester City and Manchester United face off at 5am Sydney time tomorrow morning. To the winner, so much more than a regular feel-good moment. So much more than getting one over your nearest rivals. This time, every part of the world will be watching; 650 million people, give or take a few. Sky Sports in the UK are expecting their biggest audience for a premier league fixture.

The equation is simple. This is the third last game of the season for each team. United lead City at the top by 3 points. If City win, they overtake United, thanks to a superior goal difference. If United win, they are six points clear and it’s all just a bit of history repeating.

Manchester United are used to big occasions. The monolith of English football, winner of 19 championships – more than any other – and glorified the world over, a global machine whose success timeline has coincided with the Premier League’s formation (in 1992) and push into uncharted TV territory (Asia).

But this is different. They are used to being challenged. But not by them, not by the neighbours.

Manchester City haven’t just been in the shadow of United, but in a total solar eclipse. Save for a couple of exceptions to the rule, they have struggled. Just over a decade ago, they were in the third tier of English football.

Then, late in the summer of 2008 it changed, overnight, when the football-mad rulers of Abu Dhabi decided they wanted to pump their petro-dollars into a Premier League club, and plumped for City.

Since then City have splashed over half a billion dollars on flash new players and it’s worked. Money does buy success, especially in football (unless you spend it unwisely. See: Palmer, Clive)

I recently quizzed a mate, a City fan: “Yeah, but is it not a little hollow, buying a title?”

The stare back indicated I require a mental health evaluation, pronto. They have been humiliated too many times, derided once too often, especially by United fans, to care about how they got to this point.

The buzz in Manchester right now would be like Melbourne Cup day. AFL Grand Final day. State of Origin nights. Not as separate events – put together.

Because everyone in Manchester has something riding on this. The match doesn’t start until 8pm locally, so radio’s will be tuned for the latest news, while TV sets will be locked on Sky Sports News for regular updates from outside an empty ground by a reporter who has to somehow collaborate hours worth of chatter when nothing is actually happening.

The workplace banter will be sky high, productivity perhaps, not so. Despite United’s worldwide fan base, the Manchester itself is split. Many are Reds, many are Blues. For days, weeks, months to come, mates will be giving each other fearful ear-bashings over the 90 minutes that await. There will be no talkies at tea-times in countless households over the result.

Tickets are impossible to get. Forty seven thousand will get into the ground, perhaps a few more. I’ve heard of one gent from here in Australia who can afford a ticket no problem – would pay 500 quid – but can’t get one.

So, he has a plan. Due to fire regulations, they leave the fire exits open during the game. He’s hoping the stewards on the door are too focused on the game, and he hopes to sneak in.

One round the world ticket on the off-chance of sneaking in. That’s how much it means.

The Fox Sports coverage starts at 4.45am EST on Fox Sports 3 – Robbie Slater and Mark Bosnich join Adam on the panel.

Most commented

43 comments

Show oldest | newest first

    • willie says:

      05:07pm | 30/04/12

      47 thousand, thats a bit small. I thought these clubs were meant to be rich.

      Reply

    • number20herewego says:

      06:49pm | 30/04/12

      Yup, it is because this match is at Man Citeh’s council house. The Theatre of Dreams holds over 75 thousand, and is sold out most matches.

      C’mon United.

    • fml says:

      07:19pm | 30/04/12

      Too bad most of your supporters wont be able to catch the train in time after work from london for the match ...

      There is only one team in manchester.

    • ILR says:

      08:36am | 01/05/12

      Well put fml!

      ABU forever!

    • Kasey says:

      08:45am | 01/05/12

      How many people in the stadium would get your attention little man?

    • Daniel says:

      05:22pm | 30/04/12

      So nervous that I don’t think I’ll even watch it. Might die in the process. Go United!

      Reply

    • fml says:

      05:32pm | 30/04/12

      OMG OMG OMG OMG OMG CTID!!!

      BLUUUUUUUUUEEEE MOOOOOOOON RISING!

      lets all do the poznan, lets all do the poznan, nah nah nah nah, woo, nah nah nah.

      Its going to be a blue monday in madchester!

      Come on city!

      Reply

    • fml says:

      05:48pm | 30/04/12

      I see a blue moon arisin’.
      I think city’s gonna win.
      I see united are a shakin’.
      I think united’s gonna lose.

      Don’t stay up tonight,
      Stay in bed with the wife,
      There’s a blue moon on the rise.

      I hear Fergies a moanin’.
      He knows the end is coming soon.
      I hear Etihad’s over flowin’.
      I see them jumpin’ the poznan

      Don’t make a sound tonight,
      It’s bound to give you strife,
      There’s a blue moon on the rise.
      All right!

      Hope you got your excuses in order.
      Hope you are quite prepared to cry
      Looks like you’re in for a taste of leather.
      While your brown eye is taken for an ride

      Don’t stay up tonight,
      Stay in bed with the wife,
      There’s a blue moon on the rise.

      Reply

    • stephen says:

      06:08pm | 30/04/12

      The showdown of the century should have been an AFL team based in Tasmania against anything from civilization ... instead we get GWS playing shuffleboard with between the legs of their opposition.
      Dreadful to watch.

      Reply

    • BenJay says:

      09:04pm | 30/04/12

      AFL fans, they’re so gorgeously sweet and child like with their devotion.

    • Nathan says:

      04:53am | 01/05/12

      @Stephen
      Because a team in Tassie would expand the game? I think not, they already have the supporters there already

    • RedRush says:

      06:24pm | 30/04/12

      As a Liverpool fan for me it’s Liverpool and whoever is playing the scum - Man U, so for one time only “Go the Citizens”

      Reply

    • Chris peters says:

      06:44pm | 30/04/12

      The only problem with soccer is that such a big game will most likely be decided by a dodgy penalty or red card

      Reply

    • daniel says:

      08:43pm | 30/04/12

      More like match will be decided by Balotelli’s temperament IF Mancini selects him.

    • Les Sealy says:

      07:03am | 01/05/12

      Well your confirmation bias was proved wrong.

    • Kasey says:

      09:00am | 01/05/12

      Les Sealy I wouldn’t worry, those born and raised with their petty hatred of the world game are by generational change a dying breed. football is an accepted part of the Australian sports landscape now and is only getting bigger & better. A few teething issues that always crop up with new leagues(eg: MLS/ J.League) still to sort out, but in the long run the future looks bright for the game in Australia.

    • Spid8r says:

      06:52pm | 30/04/12

      Tickets going for 2500 pounds a few days ago. Old mate will have to take his chances with the fire exit, which are the other side of the turnstiles.  Good luck.

      Reply

    • cheap white trash says:

      07:23pm | 30/04/12

      The monolith of English football, winner of 19 championships – more than any other – and glorified the world over,Really???

      The monolith of English football,Yes and why is that??
      Maybe because it spends the most money,Yes?
      It would have to be the biggest Bore in world sport,
      Man U will more than likely win the Title again this year,next year and into the foreseeable future,Boring Boring Boring…..

      Wake me up when its over.

      Reply

    • Mike says:

      08:54pm | 30/04/12

      Taking a completely unbiased view, if Man Utd do spend the most money, then they are closely followed by Chelsea (also known as the team that plays in England with virtually no one from England playing in it) and Arsenal.

      There used to be a time when money was not an issue and you could (shock) watch Division One (as it used to be before it was called the EPL) on free to air TV.  That ended around 1990.

      Aussies don’t realise just how good they have it here - at least you GET the match and you don’t have teams spending wads of cash to get the best players…at least it is somewhat balanced here.

      In England, if you don’t have cable TV, you have to wait until Saturday night to get MOTD (Match of the Day) or some other program to get highlights (not a full game).  If Aussies are not careful, you will also lose AFL to the cable networks and then you will have NO games on the Free to Air networks - even sellouts - then you really WILL complain !

      P.S. If you want “boring” regarding title wins, you could say the same about Liverpool’s dominance in the 1980s.

    • Aaron says:

      10:23pm | 30/04/12

      Your info is a bit out of date.  United hasn’t spent the most in transfers for a long time.  Chelsea, Man City, Liverpool and Tottenham have all spent more than United over the last 5 years.

    • Mark says:

      12:11am | 01/05/12

      Shows how much u know about EPL - The Yankee Owners of Man UTd are not big spenders and have let the team age. Paul Scholes retired last season and because we did not replace him he came back at age 37.
      Chelsea have spent more than us for about the last 8 years, Man City are the richest club in the world and both Liverpool and Tottenham have outspent us in last few years - but hey dont let your rant get in the way of the truth!
      Most Man U fans concede we are not the team we were but are staying up at top due to winning culture around the club, team work and solid defence - which even now is starting to age and fray.
      As a Man Utd fan I can see an end to the glory era around the corner - but it had to end some time and it will be healthy to see some new winners - oh yeah and we never spent as much as Man City has in past couple of years. Our glory years were based around home grown stars like Giggs, Scholes, Beckham and bargain buy Cantona along with occasional big money buy e.g Van Nistlerooy/Rooney. - City have just bought a whole team of big stars.
      As for AFL being more balanced Mike - I disagree - at the end of the day only around 4 teams can win the premiership in AFL & I reckon there are 4 teams capable of winning Premier League - not much different there and at least in Premier League even the bottom teams beat the big boys now & then e.g Wigan and Wolves & Blackburn have all beaten Man U in last couple of seasons - I cant imagine bottom 3 or 4 in AFL beating Geelong or Collingwood at all.

    • D says:

      12:22am | 01/05/12

      Yawn - it’s well established that United (while worth the most) is not the biggest spender in the Premier League. Chelsea & City both far outstrip them, while Liverpool and Tottenham are right up there with United. 19 titles come from more than just $, they come from Sir Alex Ferguson and what he has created at the club. @Mike - Chelsea have John Terry, Ashley Cole, Gary Cahill & Daniel Sturridge as England internationals - only United & City (and on a good day, Spurs) can really beat that. Just sayin’.

    • True blue says:

      06:15am | 01/05/12

      To Mike 09.54 no one from England in the Chelsea team. never heard of Terry, Lampard, Cole, Cahill.  Wouldnt want the facts to get in the way of a biased comment would we.  Halfwit.

    • Mike says:

      08:36am | 01/05/12

      True Blue, you are the halfwit because you didn’t read the comment - “with virtually no one from England playing in it”, not “no one from England”.

      You should save your ticket money, buy some glasses, change your rude attitude and get some manners.

    • Mike says:

      08:41am | 01/05/12

      True Blue, you are unAustralian.  You played the man, not the ball - and you didn’t read the comment anyway so you were well out of line, so Red Card for you lad smile

    • bella starkey says:

      12:24pm | 01/05/12

      Arsenal makes money by selling players. They are basically the only club that isn’t a big money pit for the owners.

    • Bill says:

      07:37pm | 30/04/12

      What’s the bet that the game ends in a nil-all draw? Soccer’s about as boring as rugby.

      Reply

    • Kasey says:

      12:39pm | 01/05/12

      Since Rugby began its World Cup, there have been more goals scored in the Football World Cup final game than tries in the RWC equivalent. stick that in your pipe hater.

    • Sam says:

      08:45pm | 30/04/12

      How do you confuse a Manchester United fan?  Show them a map of Manchester!

      Reply

    • Mike says:

      06:55pm | 01/05/12

      Yes, because they’d say “eeeeeh, what do I need that for ?  I know me way around Manchester”

    • Man U all the way says:

      08:56pm | 30/04/12

      Glory, Glory Man Utd!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

      Reply

    • Steve says:

      10:22pm | 30/04/12

      Neutral for this match but it should be a cracker…easily the biggest Premier league game in years.  City for me 2-0.  Gunners forever!!!

      Reply

    • Jersey says:

      10:37pm | 30/04/12

      Can’t wait for the whole season to be over, the game is boring and corrupt.  The players are over paid, over aggressive little twits who think they’re entitled to anything and everything and treat anyone outside of their little circle with nothing but disrespect and contempt - and that’s not just at the Premier Level, I’ve seen it at all levels and it’s just ridiculous that these idiots get idolised the world over (eg, Wayne Rooney last year threatening to leave United unless they upped his pay - as if £200,00.00 a week wasn’t enough, no?  It’s funny how the United fans have since forgotten about this).  Here’s an idea - for the UK (where there’s now a double dip recession) and the world over, save your money, take your kids out, invest in your home, do something other than following and perpetuating this ridiculous sport.  Until it’s cleared of corruption, bad behaviour, violence and some sort of salary cap, it will remain a waste of money.  Give me State of Origin at Lang Park anyday.

      Reply

    • ronny jonny says:

      06:13am | 01/05/12

      If all you loons were yanks going on about a NFL match people would say “why don’t you go back there?” So please, why don’t you go back there? Then you can watch your pathetic patty cake game as much as you like and we wouldn’t have to put up with this crap all the time. Being a devoted supporter of a team that lives 6000km away is ridiculous.

      Reply

    • fml says:

      07:59am | 01/05/12

      This is a thread about football, not whingers!

    • fml says:

      07:12am | 01/05/12

      Theres only one man city!!! one man ciiiiiitttty!
      one nil one nil one nil

      Reply

    • blah says:

      08:03am | 01/05/12

      bigger than cup day?
      120,000 on track to see Makybe Diva win her third in a row… unheard of.. unprecedented… rarely to see the likes again in our lifetimes.
      Man who vs man shitty… that’ll happen again next year.
      I still wont care.
      its the whatever of the week… not anything of any century.

      Reply

    • footballgirl says:

      09:21am | 01/05/12

      Again… This is a thread about football, not whingers!
      Another devoted (and disappointed) Man U fan here…
      Good game though, well done City but the reds are still taking it home!

      U N I T E D!

      Reply

    • wingnut says:

      09:48am | 01/05/12

      Watched it this morning, probably didn’t live up to all expectations but a good game none the less and a good result.

      Despite city buying the title, it doesn’t worry me I hate United, and I despise Ferguson.

      Hopefully my black cats can put the final nail in the coffin on the final day Ha’way the lads!

      Reply

    • fml says:

      10:40am | 01/05/12

      I hope they do too!

    • wingnut says:

      10:57am | 01/05/12

      Well I reckon we owe you one, considering to the best of my knowledge we are the only team City haven’t beaten this season! So we’ve done United plenty of favour’s hopefully we chuck one back your way!

    • fml says:

      01:13pm | 01/05/12

      Much appreciated!

 
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