CITY VIEWS | This is (Y)our City
Melbourne City launched their 2015/16 membership campaign full of hope, but as only City administration can do, shot the launch down in flames with the announcement of a friendly between ‘sister club’ Manchester City on the Gold Coast.
Due to contract restraints a game between the two clubs couldn’t be held in Victoria, and personally I understand this, but why the administration made such a big deal of the announcement is beyond me. The announcement was a slap in the face to the many loyal fans who have stuck with the club even after six seasons of horrendous decisions. The club defended their position on the game saying the circumstances were unfortunate but out of their control.
Like many Melbourne City supporters I don’t support Manchester City and have very little interest in their club. The takeover of Melbourne Heart has changed little on who I support in the English Premier League and I may glance at their results on the weekend but we are as far apart from the club geographically as we are in stature.
Speaking of geographical distance it’s 1715 kilometres between CBUS Super Stadium on the Gold Coast and the home of Melbourne City, AAMI Park. On paper the decision to play a game between the two clubs makes sense and to base it on the Gold Coast where a training camp for Manchester City is sensible but the timing of the announcement shows little regard for members and potential members of the club.
Finally I thought the club was getting on track when they decided to cut Mate Dugandzic, Iain Ramsay and Andrew Redmayne from the squad. All three players offered little last season and were taking up precious cap space and crucial squad positions. Our signings we have made have been well received with Ivan Franjic and Corey Gameiro joining the club on multi-year deals, this started to fill me with hope for the 2015/16 season. I still think this upcoming season will be our best in club history.
I am thoroughly embarrassed when I hear Khaldoon Al Mubarak speak of how he considers the first season of City’s ownership of the club a success. In reality we finished ahead of the salary cheating Perth Glory, a disjointed Brisbane Roar team, a meekly spending Central Coast, a Newcastle Jets team in free fall and a transitional Wanderers team. We won a final in Wellington and were only 90 minutes away from a Grand Final position but were outclassed by a superior Victory team. We only finished so highly because of a quirky A-League finals system. Season 2014/15 falsifies the troubles Melbourne City has and if the administration of the club doesn’t do something to rectify this we will continually be playing to empty stadiums.
I’m disappointed about not being able to see Melbourne City take on Manchester City at AAMI Park, not for the game itself but for what it could do for the club overall. I understand the contracts in place prohibit the game taking place in Victoria but how the situation is handled disappoints me the most.
Once again City look amateur at best when running a football club, you only have to look across town to see how Melbourne Victory is run and understand why they have the best support in the country.
When Melbourne City take on Manchester City on the Gold Coast just remember two years earlier in Australia, Melbourne Victory played against Liverpool in front of 95,446 fans. This is the gulf between the two fans and City is kidding themselves if they truly believe they can bridge that cap with the current administration in place.
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