Ian Cheeseman: Forever Blue

That’s the second of the four International breaks, which happen during the club season, over. As a fan of Manchester City, I find them frustrating.

I’m not sure why the various qualifying games and friendlies can’t happen in one block at the beginning or end of the season, but I don’t suppose it will change any time soon.

Everyone wants their piece of the pie these days and modern football becomes more and more about money. This time next year the Champions League will be squeezing in two more pre-Christmas fixtures in the group stage and during the summer of 2025 there’ll be a World Cup size club World Club Cup in the USA. More fixtures mean more income, more global TV coverage.

Should we feel sympathy for the players who never get a break? I recorded my latest Forever Blue audio podcast at Bury branch of Manchester City Supporters Club and when I asked that question there seemed little concern for player welfare. We all know that, at the top level, they earn an obscene amount of money, so “let them play twice a week to earn it” seemed to be the consensus.

The people I feel sorry for are the match going football fans who make it their life to attend their club’s games. Their commitment is stretched further and further each year and of course their costs constantly increase. I don’t think the International football associations, FIFA, UEFA, the clubs or fans who generally consume football via TV, are bothered.

TV football has become the soundtrack to our lives, if you have any interest in the sport. It doesn’t matter what day it is, or even what time it is, there’s always a game to be on in the background of your meal or at the pub. You might not always give it all of your attention, but it’s there and you can keep up with the score and chat about it.

More and more “football fans” don’t even support their local clubs any more. If your favourite player wears the white of Real Madrid or the blue of PSG, then you can watch their games and you become a fan. Geography makes no difference.

The World constantly changes and I guess everyone has to change with it. I started following City long before all the TV options of today were available. If I wanted to watch the Blues I had to be there in the stadium. I started travelling home and away when I was a teenager. Tickets for away games were readily available, even for the biggest games, if you were prepared to queue at 5am outside Maine Road on a Sunday morning.

These days, attending big Premier League matches has become aspirational. Some people go to games purely to tick it off on their bucket list. Whether it’s International Football or club football, that way of thinking is what those that run football want. Those who attend games from time to time are prepared to pay more and will spend more on souvenirs, food and drink.

When I walk around the Etihad Stadium these days, I can see that the biggest selling mementos are half and half scarves. I see hundreds of them. They’re not something you can wear over and over again, they’re just for that game, to show you were there. I even see people buying them after the game!

I know that regular match going fans hate half and half scarves. The Manchester Derby is just over a week away and if I post a picture up of someone wearing a half and half scarf outside Old Trafford, on social media, I’ll get more reaction that anything else I do that day. That’s the ever changing World we live in.

Personally, I have a busy week ahead, after the International break. I won’t be watching any of these games on TV, I’ll watch City v Brighton on Saturday in the stadium, travel to Switzerland to see City take on Young Boys on Wednesday and then I’ll be off to Old Trafford the following Sunday. I’m glad I’m not part of the younger generation. I wouldn’t swop places with them for anything, but maybe that’s what my Grandad would have said years ago. Maybe I’m just getting old! It’s always Great to be a Blue though!