TV cameras rarely have a problem spotting Noel Gallagher in the Manchester City crowd, but this time he made it simple.
The Oasis singer-songwriter is very happy to see Josko Gvardiol give the Premier League champions a 3-0 lead at Craven Cottage on Saturday, securing three points that propelled City to the top of the table and closer to a fourth successive title.
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And yet, he did not celebrate Gvardiol’s second game, opting not to accompany the thousands of City fans around him with their backs to the pitch, tying their arms and jumping up and down.
In short, he refused to do “the Poznan. “
– Daniel Taylor (@DTathletic) May 11, 2024
City’s adoption of this birthday party dates back to a Europa League evening in October 2010, an organisational encounter with Polish side Lech Poznan, hence the name.
While Emmanuel Adebayor scored a hat-trick that would lead Roberto Mancini’s side to a comfortable 3-1 victory, Poznan’s 6,000 visiting fans continued to turn their backs on the pitch, their arms tied and jumping up and down.
But first he was met with the typical reaction from English football fans: “What was that?The absurdity and irreverence of the birthday party struck a chord with City fans.
For the rest of the season, City’s goals were celebrated in the same way, with the slogan “Let’s all go to Poznan!”added by measure.
Unsurprisingly, Manchester United have had to go through several ‘Poznans’ over the years, with one of the oldest and most memorable examples taking place in the 2011 FA Cup semi-final at Wembley between the two clubs.
Poznand’s arrival from City as United’s line-up was read out on Wembley’s sound system, then returned after Yaya Toure’s goal and one last time at the final whistle, a day that, in hindsight, marked the start of Manchester’s football upturn. .
However, the Poznan that arguably stayed at United for the longest time was not even interpreted through City supporters.
On the final day of the 2011-12 season, City needed to build on Manchester United’s result on the final day of the season to win the title, but found themselves 2-2 down with seconds remaining. In Underland, United had just secured a 1-0 win and were anxiously waiting on the edge of the pitch when it emerged that Sergio Aguero’s latest goal had denied them the title.
Their anguish was compounded by the sight of thousands of Sunderland fans making their own Poznan at the Stadium of Light.
The next day, at United’s end-of-season awards dinner, furious United manager Sir Alex Ferguson told the Sunderland fans who had celebrated City’s triumph: “We won’t do that, I assure you. “
By then, Poznan was already part of football’s wider consciousness and later that year, the BBC Sports Personality of the Year award crowd at London’s ExCel Arena welcomed Aguero and City captain Vincent Kompany with a Poznan on their arrival on stage.
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However, the birthday part is disappearing among City supporters. In the latter part of the Manuel Pellegrini era, with little less to celebrate than in recent years, he seemed to have largely fulfilled his time at the Etihad.
Still, he has enjoyed a resurgence under Guardiola, no doubt helping City become the most sensible thing in English and European football under his leadership.
While it’s not a very consistent spectacle, it now erupts when City take a hearty lead over the opposition, and especially if that merit is due to a team regarded as bitter opponents, or in a very important match (as was the case today).
At some home games, a blue sea of bouncing skies sweeps across the Etihad, and it’s not unusual to see even shoppers from City’s hospitality suite, the Tunnel Club, joining them from their seats directly in front of the press box.
Alfie Haaland was one of the memorable faces he signed up for in the celebrations of last season’s 6-3 win over United. His son, Erling, also loves Poznan and worried himself despite a groin injury as he watched the 4-1 win over Liverpool from the stands.
But unfortunately the love for Poznan runs through all families. Ask the Christmas brother.
After City ended a 35-year wait for titles by winning the FA Cup in 2011, a 360-degree panoramic photograph of Wembley was released, allowing City fans to stand in the crowd and tag their friends on social media.
And if you look closely, in the executive seats is Liam Gallagher, who is making a Poznan for two with his young son Lennon.
“I’ve been doing this all day, dude,” he said afterward. “I haven’t done it in six months and when I drink, I feel like it comes out. I love it (Poznan), man. I would propose it to someone.
That’s far from the only thing the Gallaghers haven’t agreed on over the years. But ask most City enthusiasts their opinion on Poznan and find out that they are on Liam’s side in this case.
(Top photo: Jacques Feeney/Offside Getty Images; TNT Sports)