Football FanCast columnist David Mooney has just remembered why he loves Manchester City football club.

You know, now that I've calmed down I've been able to see why I am a City fan. Sunday's result needed me to take a long time out to calm down, especially as I'd labelled Middlesbrough, on that very morning, one of the worst football clubs to have continuously survived in the Premiership. And my lord, they rammed those words back down my throat.

Losing 8-1 on the day your nearest and bitterest rivals win the league is hard to take, especially when you're losing that game to Middlesbrough. But now that I'm not refusing to leave my bedroom and breaking furniture, I can see why I'm actually, strangely, proud to have lost 8-1.

The simple reason is - only Manchester City could do it. Before the game, we were virtually guaranteed a place in the UEFA Cup via the Fair Play League. All that was required was that we didn't argue with the officials, have a man booked or sent off and that the fans didn't put a foot wrong with their behaviour and chants.

In under a quarter of an hour, Richard Dunne has managed to get that red card - albeit harshly, but by the letter of the law, he had to go (NB - I don't think the law is right on this occasion, especially as Dunne didn't intend to make the foul and that he did it with his knee... by running). Later in the game, Sun picks up that yellow card no-one wanted.

Then, at the end of the game, the fans decided that they weren't too happy with the gutless performance put in and they weren't very happy when Sven wasn't allowed to come over and offer his thanks for the season's support, and so they proceeded to have a fracas in the away end. There were reports of thrown seats, too.

This is all in light of the fact that we are currently in the process of sacking the manager. Allegedly.

If there was a soap opera writing centred around a football club and one of the writers had handed this storyline in on a script, he would be laughed out of the office. However, in real life, that soap opera is simply entitled ‘Manchester City FC' and, no matter what silly things we do, we can always find a way to better ourselves a few seasons down the line.

But, of this whole affair, what made me realise why I am in love with the club is that no matter who is in charge, Manchester City never changes. In the summer of 2006, I was concerned that the club had sold its soul by selling up to Thaksin Sinawatra, but I realise now that it hasn't.

Thaksin may not have the support of the fans over the sacking of Sven Goran Eriksson, but he has captured the spirit of being a part of Manchester City. You have to do stupid things and make them seem like a sensible move.

As fans, we've always been able to laugh at ourselves, and, in many ways, I think that's a good thing. It's certainly helped a lot of us with the fans of other clubs - in my case Wolves, Blackburn and, of all teams, Bradford! - who have been Mickey taking all week.

Occasionally (just occasionally, mind you), I miss the days of Division Two. The hardcore fans at away games, where there was just one, open air toilet between 5,000. But then I remember that I've not yet been to Portsmouth and, from what I hear, they offer those facilities as well, so I need to go for the sense of nostalgia. And then I also remember that we're now in better times and challenging for Europe, and it suddenly becomes a no-contest of which I'd choose.

But I'm sure it won't be long before we need one more goal to secure a place in Europe and the order from the manager comes to hold the ball by the corner flag. I wondered if those days were over, but it seems they just keep on coming back.