BlueWolf

My balls are itchy this morning I have feet. I know, I am surprised as you are.

The sheikh didn't have a clue where the feck Manchester was before he bought us. IIRC he tried to buy a Spanish club but found out that the supporter-owned Spanish clubs were nearly impossible to buy. Thaksin (our prior owner) got into legal troubles and City nearly went broke after Thaksin's assets were frozen and he became a fugitive. Sulaiman Al Fahim came to Sheikh Mansour with the idea of buying a bad luck club in some place called Manchester, he got interested and the rest is history . We weren't his first choice, either. I doubt most fans remember this today. Been a bit busy of late so would have replied to this ages ago. Mansour also looked at the Bundesliga but instantly walked away after discovering the 51% rule - he could never have full control of a German club and that was simply a no-no. When he looked at the Premier League, he made an offer to Everton, but the board turned it down unbelievably, and Mike Ashley of Newcastle asked for far too much AND did not take it seriously. It was at that point Thaksin gave his friend, Mansour, a nudge, and so they had a good look at Manchester City. Brand new stadium, major city, plenty of free ground in the area, a sleeping giant, cheap, total control, and helping out a friend, all went in the club's favour. ADUG will always want as much control over their operations as possible, and being able to throw as much money as possible at it, too. They always find the right people to get the job done, and prefer to do things quietly and as efficiently as possible. That´s a slightly different story from what Garry Cook told.. and from what Dr Suleiman Al-Fahim that brokered the takeover told, and from what the supporters trust that had prepared a bid told their members. But maybe you had inside information? Dr Suleiman Al-Fahim was a bandwaggon jumper - essentially a nobody - after getting shunted away from City, he was found hanging around Portsmouth FC (wearing a black cape and holding a sickle) Why do you just make things up?.. He worked for Mansours brother Tahnoun at the time and together with Shearman & Sterling (the lawfirm that handled the due diligence) handled the takeover on behalf of Mansour. Never said he didn't, but he was an embarrassment and he was very quickly removed from the limelight. You both make very valid points. However, shall we start talking about Melbourne again now? So long as it is in relation to this thread. I thought I'd change tack somewhat as the constant bickering was getting a tad silly (many have made mention of this). On top of that additional information needed to be added. However, if one wants to go back to what it has been, be my guest, but I hope you don't.

The sheikh didn't have a clue where the feck Manchester was before he bought us. IIRC he tried to buy a Spanish club but found out that the supporter-owned Spanish clubs were nearly impossible to buy. Thaksin (our prior owner) got into legal troubles and City nearly went broke after Thaksin's assets were frozen and he became a fugitive. Sulaiman Al Fahim came to Sheikh Mansour with the idea of buying a bad luck club in some place called Manchester, he got interested and the rest is history . We weren't his first choice, either. I doubt most fans remember this today. Been a bit busy of late so would have replied to this ages ago. Mansour also looked at the Bundesliga but instantly walked away after discovering the 51% rule - he could never have full control of a German club and that was simply a no-no. When he looked at the Premier League, he made an offer to Everton, but the board turned it down unbelievably, and Mike Ashley of Newcastle asked for far too much AND did not take it seriously. It was at that point Thaksin gave his friend, Mansour, a nudge, and so they had a good look at Manchester City. Brand new stadium, major city, plenty of free ground in the area, a sleeping giant, cheap, total control, and helping out a friend, all went in the club's favour. ADUG will always want as much control over their operations as possible, and being able to throw as much money as possible at it, too. They always find the right people to get the job done, and prefer to do things quietly and as efficiently as possible. That´s a slightly different story from what Garry Cook told.. and from what Dr Suleiman Al-Fahim that brokered the takeover told, and from what the supporters trust that had prepared a bid told their members. But maybe you had inside information? Dr Suleiman Al-Fahim was a bandwaggon jumper - essentially a nobody - after getting shunted away from City, he was found hanging around Portsmouth FC (wearing a black cape and holding a sickle) Why do you just make things up?.. He worked for Mansours brother Tahnoun at the time and together with Shearman & Sterling (the lawfirm that handled the due diligence) handled the takeover on behalf of Mansour. Never said he didn't, but he was an embarrassment and he was very quickly removed from the limelight.

The sheikh didn't have a clue where the feck Manchester was before he bought us. IIRC he tried to buy a Spanish club but found out that the supporter-owned Spanish clubs were nearly impossible to buy. Thaksin (our prior owner) got into legal troubles and City nearly went broke after Thaksin's assets were frozen and he became a fugitive. Sulaiman Al Fahim came to Sheikh Mansour with the idea of buying a bad luck club in some place called Manchester, he got interested and the rest is history . We weren't his first choice, either. I doubt most fans remember this today. Been a bit busy of late so would have replied to this ages ago. Mansour also looked at the Bundesliga but instantly walked away after discovering the 51% rule - he could never have full control of a German club and that was simply a no-no. When he looked at the Premier League, he made an offer to Everton, but the board turned it down unbelievably, and Mike Ashley of Newcastle asked for far too much AND did not take it seriously. It was at that point Thaksin gave his friend, Mansour, a nudge, and so they had a good look at Manchester City. Brand new stadium, major city, plenty of free ground in the area, a sleeping giant, cheap, total control, and helping out a friend, all went in the club's favour. ADUG will always want as much control over their operations as possible, and being able to throw as much money as possible at it, too. They always find the right people to get the job done, and prefer to do things quietly and as efficiently as possible. That´s a slightly different story from what Garry Cook told.. and from what Dr Suleiman Al-Fahim that brokered the takeover told, and from what the supporters trust that had prepared a bid told their members. But maybe you had inside information? Dr Suleiman Al-Fahim was a bandwaggon jumper - essentially a nobody - after getting shunted away from City, he was found hanging around Portsmouth FC (wearing a black cape and holding a sickle)

The sheikh didn't have a clue where the feck Manchester was before he bought us. IIRC he tried to buy a Spanish club but found out that the supporter-owned Spanish clubs were nearly impossible to buy. Thaksin (our prior owner) got into legal troubles and City nearly went broke after Thaksin's assets were frozen and he became a fugitive. Sulaiman Al Fahim came to Sheikh Mansour with the idea of buying a bad luck club in some place called Manchester, he got interested and the rest is history . We weren't his first choice, either. I doubt most fans remember this today. Been a bit busy of late so would have replied to this ages ago. Mansour also looked at the Bundesliga but instantly walked away after discovering the 51% rule - he could never have full control of a German club and that was simply a no-no. When he looked at the Premier League, he made an offer to Everton, but the board turned it down unbelievably, and Mike Ashley of Newcastle asked for far too much AND did not take it seriously. It was at that point Thaksin gave his friend, Mansour, a nudge, and so they had a good look at Manchester City. Brand new stadium, major city, plenty of free ground in the area, a sleeping giant, cheap, total control, and helping out a friend, all went in the club's favour. ADUG will always want as much control over their operations as possible, and being able to throw as much money as possible at it, too. They always find the right people to get the job done, and prefer to do things quietly and as efficiently as possible.

I am a City fan It makes me laugh when people bring that shit up about Cook....but to me it just shows he is a normal guy....he did great for our club and ensured our identity was built on. It is very easy for City fans to say what a great future that Melbourne will have but if the tables were turned all of us would feel differently I guess we will see what happens in the future but CFG certainly don't have the trust of Heart fans We will see. And we will see them win things. (By the way, bringing up "that shit" about Cook isn't funny) It is also bullshit......for the few gaffes he made he moved our club on considerably I don't doubt the New Melbourne team will win trophies.....just a pity it couldn't have been the old team for the fan's sake Perhaps, but that is no longer the case, so it is all moot. Mind you, I look at this as a metamorphism, and not "new".

I am a City fan It makes me laugh when people bring that shit up about Cook....but to me it just shows he is a normal guy....he did great for our club and ensured our identity was built on. It is very easy for City fans to say what a great future that Melbourne will have but if the tables were turned all of us would feel differently I guess we will see what happens in the future but CFG certainly don't have the trust of Heart fans We will see. And we will see them win things. (By the way, bringing up "that shit" about Cook isn't funny)

This would be the Garry that welcomed Uwe Rosler to the Manchester United Hall of Fame? TBH, I am surprised there are not more like yourself, silva10 - by the way an unusual name for a diehard Heart fan - but most seem to have already come to terms with it and realise the potential that Melbourne City will attain.

City. Football. Group. The original City is blue. Who thought that Melbourne Heart would not become Melbourne City, or that the home kit wouldn't be red and white? CFG has been mentioned so often here, yet people often forgot the 'City' bit. This is not me rubbing it in, as I am a newcomer here, but the writing was on the wall the moment Manchester City came waltzing into town. How have CFG let anyone down? It's already been said by stalwart fans, that no promises were made, and that what was best for the club would occur. That said, I do hope that everyone will get behind this new and improved Heart, because it is going to be one hell of a beast.

I presume this forum will keep the same name and colours, yes?

It would appear the general mood is that of "well, it could have been worse, so I guess I can live with it", which is somewhat interesting as I was under the impression there'd be pitchforks and blazing torches coming out. I said earlier in the "Help keep the Red & White" thread that MCFC will change things as they will want unity and conformity across all three clubs: 'City' and 'blue'. Not suggesting for one moment that they have done things the right way, or should have done it at all, but I saw it coming a mile away, as did a few others here. The new badge is okay, but yes, as already mentioned ... those two hearts although I suppose they've included them thinking that "we remember what the club was before we arrived" sort of thing.

Indeed. If Melbourne were going to play in blue, and the badge was blue, it would look great (to City) lined up alongside their own badge and the blue one of NYCFC in promotional material. But it isn't. It's red and white, and as such would stick out like a sore thumb. And as soon as you start talking about red and Manchester (as many will) people instantly think United, and City will not want that, ever. That is basically the short and tall of it. This could get unbelievably messy, not just for the club, but the league itself.

David Villa is reported to be signing for NYCFC on a 3 year deal. That is the kind of player Melbourne should be getting (should they get their collective shit together)

They already play in (a darker) blue.

Well, Khaldoon has now done his end of season message to the fans (which I think had been mentioned as something that would happen before anything does at Melbourne), but now something else has popped up, which I was blissfully unaware of. City have just bought a minority stake in Yokohama F.Marinos in the J-League. Nissan are the majority stakeholders (the stadium is called Nissan Stadium), and Nissan are very excited about the opportunity and "exposing them to a world-class soccer infrastructure and network not seen before in the J-League". Maybe this has contributed to a longer delay for anything happening at Melbourne?