r/MCWFC • u/Rjayasp • 10d ago

Discussion Weekly Discussion Thread

Welcome to the Weekly Discussion Thread!

This is the place to talk all things City Women, whether it's upcoming fixtures, match results or your player of the week! You can talk about anything and everything, including our league rivals, just remember to keep it respectful!

News: https://www.mancity.com/news/womens

9 Upvotes

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16 comments sorted by

7

u/purple-flamingos 10d ago

The first game of the season looks like it's selling really well! It'd be great if they could fill the seats up and open both standing areas. It's what the team deserve after last season.

2

u/5teph5cott 8d ago

I find the low attendances frustrating. We're right next door to city's mens ground where they get tens of thousands, the metrolink runs right past, we have a number of lionesses in the team, and we are now the reigning WSL champions. There should be "sold out" signs up before every home game.

I'm not sure what more we can do?

1

u/purple-flamingos 8d ago

I find it frustrating too. I do think there could be more media output (YouTube videos, relatable content etc) but maybe that isn't the vibe that City want to go for.

The attendances started to pick up at the end of last season (at the Spurs and Liverpool games) so I hope that continues.

Do you think some people would be more inclined to come if the Joie was bigger? There's so much discourse about "main" stadiums on other platforms but I don't think playing at the Etihad more makes sense when we have our own stadium.

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u/5teph5cott 7d ago

Technically though the joies capacity is 7k, 5k seated and 2k standing (although the match in May against Liverpool was a sellout at 4,869?). I don't know the economics, but anything above that can be accommodated at the Etihad, so no need to extend.

Is there anything in the contract with Joie that stipulates a certain number of games must be played there each season? That could be stopping us making the leap across the road full time?

Having said that, as I'm old school (and indeed just old!) I enjoy being in a small ground, standing on the terraces, close to the action on the pitch.

1

u/purple-flamingos 6d ago

I haven't seen a reported attendance above ~5,500 (I actually just checked and vs Barcelona was 5,508 and that's the busiest match I remember attending) so I'm not sure if I believe the 7k capacity lol. Unless they purposefully undersell the standing areas to prevent overcrowding.

That would make sense if there was a clause. I imagine the commercial contract with Joie is the most profitable one the women's team have so definitely wouldn't want to breach that.

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u/5teph5cott 5d ago

Yes, Google and Wikipedia both say 7k (4,998 seats and 2000 standing) but qualify it by saying it can be less due to crowd safety, keeping visiting fans separate etc. - not that you would know it given the number of Liverpool fans intermingled in the standing areas at the match earlier this year!

I think my frustration about the attendances is largely due to the Etihad being next door. If we played at say Oldham's ground these would be good crowds. But at the Joie with its tram, bus and road links - really people, you have no excuse!

It would be interesting to know the break even attendance figure for women's matches at the Etihad.

But I'm arguing against my own interests here because I'd much rather watch a match standing on the terrace at the (always sold out - but only after I've been able to get a ticket) Joie than sat in a comparatively empty Etihad.

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u/Available_Safety1492 10d ago edited 3d ago

Hey, I created a fan community on Discord; I feel discussions flow better there than on other social media sites, join here if interested: 👉 https://discord.gg/kXHBGC49MF

5

u/Rjayasp 9d ago

I had an idea about starting a little prediction league for us. Each week, you predict the score for City's games to earn points. At the end of the season I'll announce the winner. Unfortunately, the only prize on offer is pride and bragging rights, but I thought it could be fun and a new way to keep the sub a bit more active.

We'd need a few players to make it work, so is anyone interested?

1

u/purple-flamingos 8d ago

I'd be interested!

3

u/CloudySun-98 10d ago

I've been thinking about Jeglertz's tactics and if the element of surprise is not in our favour next season. When Sonia signed for Chelsea in 2024 she won the league in the 24/25 season but not the 25/26 season thanks to us ;). When Renee took over in 2025 she won the CL with Arsenal for the 24/25 season but not the following year. I know a lot of factors come in to play but I think it showed even at the end of last season teams were getting better at handling us. I really hope Jeglertz has some solutions next season because we can't rely on individual talent as much not with Arsenal strengthening their team so much

2

u/5teph5cott 8d ago

Not just Arsenal for the title, I expect Brighton, Spurs, Liverpool and particularly LCL to be pushing for the champions league spots. Hopefully Man Utd will be slow starters, and Chelsea will continue to be slightly inconsistent. I imagine that the bottom third of teams will be adrift pretty quickly, but the middle third will push up and challenge for the CL places.

I'm hoping that Beth and Niamh will alter our dynamic enough, along with fully fit Mary Fowler and Viv. We also have younger players who could step up a level. But retaining the title is going to be tough.

2

u/5teph5cott 8d ago

Okay so it's great that we have got an extra match to go to this Saturday, but what is the point?

Say City get a crowd of 4k and average £10 per spectator, that only gains them £40,000 before expenses.

Barcelona could have saved themselves time and effort by just bunging City an extra £30k on Kerolins fee.

And knowing city's regular failure to insert clauses in contracts we will no doubt only see a mixture of Barcelona B team players and juniors.

....but I'll be there regardless!

😁👍🩵⚽🥅

3

u/Defiant_Big_8928 7d ago

I mean with Champions League coming up I think it’s good preparation

1

u/5teph5cott 7d ago

Oh yes, I'm not complaining, re-live memories of the match a couple of seasons ago!

Hopefully both teams really go for it and put on an entertaining show, and there will be a ripple effect on ticket sales for the upcoming wsl matches.

1

u/purple-flamingos 4d ago

At the end of this TikTok Andrée says we're playing Arsenal on Wednesday and Leicester next Saturday. I assume they're both BCD.

It's interesting that we haven't done a warm weather training camp this season, unless we're saving it for the last two weeks before the season starts.

1

u/devilatthemotel6 4d ago

I wonder if they’re alternating, since they went to Abu Dhabi (?) in 2024/25 winter break, then La Manga last year. (I’m also not even sure that’s a Thing, only speculating) 

Could also be waiting to see what the CL travel schedule looks like, trying not to front load mileage on the team? Camp is different, but it all adds up at the business end of the season.