thepiedpiper,

we bought Hargreaves from you in first place - we also signed Owen with him being aware of the fact that he would be unable to get a game ahead of Yaya, De Jong and Barry.

Bridge doesn't train with the first-team nor associate with them. He's also leaving in January, so I wouldn't refer to him as a reserve player. Plus, we haven't fielded neither of them.

Whereas, United on several occasions have fielded Evans, Gibson and Hernandez.

I'm not boasting about our position.

But it says something about our club and manager they we're still in contention, despite Citys infinite wealth.

If we were playing golf, it'd be like you starting with an 18 shot handicap

gav, we fielded those players because of our injuries.

if City had that many injuries you might have to start fielding Bridge as well

Not Hargreaves though, he'd be amongst the injuries. He's got the best job in the countrty, millionaire pay for no work<2cent>

It doesn't say anything considering you've been a dominant force in domestic and European football for 20 years, and we, by your own fans admissions are still a 'small club with a small mentality'.

Why on earth so many of you seem to find it 'amazing' that you are still up at the top end of the League is bizzare if you ask me.

thepiedpiper,

that's completely a different topic. We was talking about Gibson, Evans, Hernandez, Bridge and Hargreaves; and all of a sudden you've started talking about golf.

It feels great proving others wrong.

Of course United never broke any transfer fee records. Didn't they buy Rooney from Everton for about tuppence and a penny ha'penny to Leeds for Ferdinand?

You've been a dominant force in domestic and European football for 20 years, and we, by your own fans admissions are still a 'small club with a small mentality'.

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All correct. And any small club can rise to the top if they spend half a billion £. That's what City are.

You seem to be refusing to believe your investor has made any difference, and you would have become league leaders without him. Nonsense.

that's completely a different topic. We was talking about Gibson, Evans, Hernandez, Bridge and Hargreaves; and all of a sudden you've started talking about golf.

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it was an analogy. Your wealth gives you a unique advantage over everyone else.

If you want me to stick to football terms, I'd say it's the equivalent of you starting with a 40 point lead. Since that's about how far you used to finish below us, assuming you were in the same division.

I'm not refusing to believe our investor has made any difference at all. How on earth have you concluded that from anything I have said? Is Christmas Day turkey and Boxing Day LSD in the piedpiper household?

Put it this way, you're either a team in decline with a poor squad, and we're the new Barcelona - in which case you may find it suprising to be level on points at the top of the Premier League.

Or, you're the fantastic Manchester United, never toppled from your high perch, with such fantastic "legendary home support", and we're still "Icle City from accross the way, forever in your shadow" - in which case, why you are all so suprised to be merely level on points completely baffles me.

So to be honest, all I can tell from this thread is that there's a lot of hatred towards Mike Jones, you're all very confused, and you probably spent the majority of your teens dressing up in your mums gladrags when noone was in.

thepiedpiper - have you never understood the difference between professional and amateur football?

We won the league last season with Hernandez, Gibson and Evans

Gratebean, you structure your answer like you have a point but when I read the content nonof it makes any sense

I really can't see anything other than a United league win now to make it 20. Hard to see City bettering their first half of the season but easy to see United bettering theirs as they get into the stride.
I am out for a few beers now in Stockport of all places, I look forward to winding up a few nervous blues.

I always find it important to tailor your response to the target audince - in this case, the piedpiper and his bizarre golf analogies.

Touché. Although I don't see the logic in some of your assumptions

Basically 99.9% of United fans I have ever met in my life usually say something along the lines of "we're the best, and you're icle City", hence me questioning why they are so suprised to be on level points with us.

we are surprised because any other season when petrol dollars didn't rule football we would be ten points clear.
I for one will be glad when the fad is over and we can get back to the best clubs winning not the richest.

United the equivalent of Oliver Twist throughout the 90s then..

I would be surprised if United outspent any team by 50% in any season ever. City have spent more in the last 4 seasons than anyone has spent in the entire premier league era added together.
oldham athletic would be where city are with that money. thank god it won't be a long term thing.
and i am 100% convinced United will win the league this season, poor City all that money but still very much Manchester's second team.

Go on then, list all the other clubs who could afford to splash 30m on Rio Ferdinand in 2002 then.

Well if you're sure we're only here for the short term and that United will win the Prem this season, can I also have this weeks lottery numbers please?

Interesting response.

i always think if United are equal with or above everyone then we will win the league and i think there is only one season in the last 20 when that hasnt happened.

Go on then, list all the other clubs who could afford to splash 30m on Rio Ferdinand in 2002 then.

Well if you're sure we're only here for the short term and that United will win the Prem this season, can I also have this weeks lottery numbers please?

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you do realise united won numerous titles, were in numerous CL's and won a CL previously dont you? or were you one of those supporters who started watching football in 2009 when City became rich and a top 5 club

City didn't become a top five club in 2009

Your fella didn't mention where any money had come from, just made a point which implied United have no financial advantage over most other domestic clubs. I asked him to name other clubs that could have afforded 30m on Rio in 2002. There was no response.

hmm, other than arsenal and liverpool..... not sure to be honest didnt follow other clubs that closely