Man United opens 12-point lead in Premier League

What's 65-53? That's right City, it's 12 points. What a great weekend in the EPL; City suffer an embarrassing defeat and Giggsy scores in a United win. Time for Mancini to start swapping out those blue ribbons on the trophy for red ones... : D

At least it (probably) won't be a ”goal-difference” winner this year.　Last years game against QPR nearly killed the whole City fan population!

@USN What's 65-53? Is that an estimate of the number of times Giggs scored with his brother's missus? 'Giggsy' drags the name of professional footballers through the mud.

Jimizo

Whatever buddy. You can say what you want about the most decorated player in English football history but the sad fact remains that whatever side you support still wishes he'd played for them these past 13 years...

I assure you the footballing world does not think Giggsy drags the name of professional footballers through the mud. It's the mercenaries at City that do that job.

On the pitch Giggs is unparalleled and a legend. Jealous opposition fans just pick on 1 off-the-field incident but the fact remains that if their club had a player of Giggs' quality staying loyal to the club for 21 years and counting, they would not mind how many or which women he bedded.

On topic, what a delightfully efficient and thoroughly professional performance! Jones kept Fellaini in his pocket for most part of the game. It is a delight and privilege to watch Vidic defend when he is fully fit. Hopefully we match Real in the CL and at least come away with a draw from the Bernabeu on Wednesday.

...he'd played for them these past 13 years...

Dammit fat fingers! Obviously meant 23 years, not 13.

It's a crying shame.

City's win last year was one of the great moments in footballing history. A long suffering club with an incredibly loyal and passionate (and local) fan base who have stuck through moments of absolute sporting pain and trauma - right up to the very last minute of the season, finally get what they deserve in the most dramatic fashion possible. It's the stuff of sporting folklore. Especially watching SAF march his none-too-upset players off the pitch at Sunderland. Deliciously ironic moment.

To support Man United is to just support the team most likely to win. It's soulless, supporting bandwagonism and it's most pure. They won't be overly excited when they win. It will be a warm fuzzy feeling at best.

Tamarama

To support Man United is to just support the team most likely to win. It's soulless, supporting bandwagonism and it's most pure.

Oh yeah, you make it sound like City were the poor little guys we should all root for. What utter BS. So winning is bad? Sure, United should be hated because they win, which earns them capital, which enables them to win more? Makes you wonder why City still haven't figured it out and had to rely solely on mercenary talent to eek out a trophy last year. And I simply don't see how you can denounce the dedication or authenticity of non-local fans. It's soulless to support a team that happens to be from somewhere other than your place of birth or residence? Please. No one has the right to say that about supporters of any team in any sport. But to you I'm soulless because I'm not from Manchester (although my family is) and I wasn't 'on board' back in 1878. How about you itemize exactly what's wrong with Manchester United, and I mean other than the fact that they win because they play great football, have an ingenious manager, and have made sound business decisions in the past. Because if you don't it just comes across as nothing but pure spite rooted in envy.

They won't be overly excited when they win. It will be a warm fuzzy feeling at best.

Right. I'll let you know if I get 'overly excited' on 19 May as I watch Vidic lift the trophy.

Whoops! Someone's a bit touchy.

Oh yeah, you make it sound like City were the poor little guys we should all root for.

Just the folk with soul ;)

Makes you wonder why City still haven't figured it out and had to rely solely on mercenary talent to eek out a trophy last year

And there it is! That's beautiful. I guess the Man United players just play for the love of the shirt, do they? Robin Van Persie's decision to go to Man U had nothing to do with the 24 million Pounds they offered him, right? Man United are a very successful club, no question, but they are also filthy, filthy rich. They buy their championships as much as any other club. To think otherwise is delusional.

Tamarama

I guess the Man United players just play for the love of the shirt, do they? Robin Van Persie's decision to go to Man U had nothing to do with the 24 million Pounds they offered him, right?

You do know that Van Persie was offered a much higher salary by City right? Can't imagine why he chose to come to United for a lot less. His favorite color is red? Yeah that must be it.

Man United are a very successful club, no question, but they are also filthy, filthy rich. They buy their championships as much as any other club. To think otherwise is delusional.

A club becomes rich because it wins. Winning comes first, unless of course you're City or Chelsea. If being a rich club is a crime, then explain to me again why you prefer City over United when they spend on average £1.1 million more than United on player salaries? What was that about buying championships? Same goes for Chelski.

You do know that Van Persie was offered a much higher salary by City right?

Weekly salary, yes. There are also suggestions around that the ultimate cost of the RVP transfer, including this like 'loyalty bonus', incentives and results is much, much higher than 24 mill. That might have something to do with it. But there are no doubt other reasons too.

A club becomes rich because it wins.

Winning is a part of it, but you clearly don't know as much about the history of MUFC if you think that is all that contibutes to club wealth.

then explain to me again why you prefer City over United

I have done since the mid 80's.

What was that about buying championships? Same goes for Chelski.

Whilst that team at Old Trafford bristling with top shelf internationals may all admire what manchester United is as a sporting institution, not a single one of them would even consider it if they didn't get paid a fortune. Which they all do. So levelling criticism at Chelsea, or City or Blackburn Rovers as teams why 'buy' championships is not only hypocritical, it's delusional.

So levelling criticism at Chelsea, or City or Blackburn Rovers as teams why 'buy' championships is not only hypocritical, it's delusional.

Then they should be on your shit list above and before United because that's all they do.

Nothing worse than clubs like Man Utd with their plastic fans. Murdoch is at fault for a lot of what is wrong with the premier. Sky even control kick off times and make players celebs. People feel part of something by being a fan of a winning team, it is human nature and will always happen. I support my local team from where i was born through thick or thin.

RvP transferred to United because he wanted to go nowhere else. It's a known fact City offered him higher wages, etc. Mancini clearly said they failed to land RvP because he refused it and wanted to go to United.

If you look at the net spend per PL title won, United have spent approximately 16m pounds per title (net spend - net sales, on transfers only) compared to City's 300m pound per title. This is made all the more astounding by the fact that City were not in the PL for many years since the PL began (they were in the Championship). Also known is the fact that City's wage bill is astounding. Once the FFP rules kick in, it's hard to see how the club can compete. City have spent more in the past 5 seasons than United have since the inception of the PL (I think the difference is slightly less that 200m pounds).

Regarding loyalty, I will not deny that many people start supporting United because they are successful. However, opposition fans do not realize that this is because United have been successful for over 2 decades now. And if only local fans support is true, each PL club would have less that a million supporters. PL is based on it's global appeal as the best league. When people outside traditional footballing nations start watching football, they obviously are more likely to pick the team that has a history and tradition of success. That does not mean they are less loyal or less passionate (with some exceptions, idiots who don't even bother to watch the games). It just means they were not lucky enough to born in Manchester.

United supporters are maligned for this, but why do people not question the new-born legions of Chelsea fans after 2004, Barcelona after 2009, etc? Now we will even see PSG fans appearing. It's a simple fact that successful teams attract fans. The thing with United though is that they have sustained success, something which opposition fans cannot digest. Hence the talk about plastic fans, conspiracy theories,etc. I wish people would see past the bitterness. If it had been City, or indeed any other club instead of United, they would have had all the fans and stuff with that much success. Why be jealous?

Yeah but even the most optimistic United fan will be fearing that the tie against Real Madrid will be over within the first 20 minutes. 12 points clear says more about the competition.

FullM3raL

As a football supporter i am not jealous of glory hunters of big teams i laugh at them for being like a little kid who is a fan of Bieber or Gaga as they are the in thing. The fact that non Manchester locals follow a team because they saw them keep winning on the tv says it all. I would feel like a silly turd being a fan (NOT supporter) of a team without having a reason apart from revelling in their success like a child.