It’s a scene you’d hardly associate with Manchester City, a club that has danced on the summit of football dominance in recent modern times. Yet, here we are. City fans, in the midst of their most dismal slump in decades, took their misery to a new level—by turning it into comedy gold. At St. Mary’s, the City fans belted out the most unexpected chant: “City’s lost five in a row!”
The message was clear—if you’re going to endure pain, at least make it entertaining. City fans sung this chant to the famous tune of Medley: The Anniversary Waltz (Spanish Promo Version 1) by popular rock band Status Quo. The tune is from their deluxe edition of the album Perfect Remedy. With that being said, let’s dive deep into the context of this recent chant that City fans have opened up to amidst their poor run of form.
The Chant That Shocked Everyone (and Delighted Social Media)
The chant was not a lamentation but a proud proclamation. After all, when your team loses five games on the bounce, including a humiliating 4-0 demolition by Spurs, there’s really no point pretending it’s business as usual. Instead, City fans flipped the script, leaning into self-deprecating humor. Their audacity quickly spread across social media, sparking a wave of admiration and, unsurprisingly, a fair bit of banter.
One fan on X (formerly Twitter) encapsulated the mood perfectly:
“😭😭😂 City fans at Mary’s chanting ‘City’s lost five in a row.’ No one can banter you if you already banter yourself. 😂😂😂”
And isn’t that the truth? By owning the narrative, City fans took the sting out of their rivals’ taunts, making their pain almost endearing.
Finding Laughter in Despair: The Relegation Joke
Another fan added a cheeky twist:
“We just need to scrape an extra 17 points to hit the magic 40 points… believe 🤣🤣🤣.”
For context, 40 points is the mythical threshold clubs aim for to avoid relegation—a plight Manchester City has not sniffed in decades. But this joke wasn’t about reality; it was about highlighting how absurd it is for a club of City’s stature to even entertain such thoughts.
Let’s face it—Pep Guardiola’s squad isn’t in danger of fighting for survival. Still, the mere suggestion gave fans a reason to chuckle amid the chaos.
A Nod to Nostalgia: “This Was Normal in the 90s”
The slump also rekindled memories for long-time City fans. One supporter chimed in:
“This was normal in the 90s.”
Ah, the 1990s—a simpler, albeit darker, time when Manchester City wasn’t the all-conquering giant we know today. The fanbase wasn’t chanting about trebles or record-breaking point tallies. Instead, survival was often the primary aim. And to this remark, another fan wisely replied:
“We’ve been spoilt, to be fair. Loads of the ‘online fans’ won’t get it.”
The 1990s were nothing short of a rollercoaster for Manchester City fans—except this was a ride that mostly plunged downhill. The decade began with City clinging to the Premier League’s mid-table obscurity, but things quickly unraveled. By 1996, relegation struck, and just two years later, City hit rock bottom, dropping to the third tier of English football for the first time in their history. It was a decade defined by dashed hopes, managerial merry-go-rounds, and comical levels of inconsistency, earning the club its infamous nickname, “Typical City.”
For fans, it wasn’t just about losing games—it was the sheer absurdity of how things fell apart. Missed penalties, late collapses, and bizarre off-field decisions turned City into a punchline. They endured freezing trips to places like Gillingham and Wycombe, watching their team struggle against opponents most Premier League fans hadn’t even heard of. Maine Road, once home to roaring atmospheres, often felt like a monument to unfulfilled potential, though the loyal supporters did their best to keep the spirit alive.
The exchange above speaks volumes about the generational divide among City supporters. While newer fans are accustomed to relentless success, the veterans wear their scars proudly, knowing how far the club has come.
Banter as a Survival Mechanism
If there’s one thing football fans universally agree on, it’s the power of banter to ease the sting of failure. One fan recalled a similar experience at Windsor Park during a Northern Ireland match:
“We counted down the timer for us being the team longest between scoring a goal and then doing the bounce to celebrate. Banter is key.”
Indeed, banter isn’t just entertainment; it’s a coping mechanism—a way to bond through adversity and, perhaps, emerge stronger on the other side.
When the Going Gets Tough, the Tough Get Laughing
Manchester City fans’ ability to laugh at their own misfortune is a masterclass in resilience and wit. By sarcastically chanting about their shocking losing streak, they reclaimed the narrative and reminded the world that, at the end of the day, football is about more than just results—it’s about community, shared experiences, and a good dose of humor. Even on yourself, sometimes.
Whether you’re a rival fan savoring the schadenfreude or a neutral admirer of City’s gallows humor, one thing is clear: City fans know how to handle a slump with style. As the old saying goes, “If you don’t laugh, you’ll cry.” For City fans, laughter won the day.
And hey, at least they’re not counting down to 40 points. Yet.