Newsletter #1706

News from Alex tonight together with a request as he has secured a new position to pursue his journalism interests and will be stepping down as news editor for MCIVTA. He has reaction to the recent derby and cup games, player news and views.

There is also opinion tonight on the City boo boys, this season’s targets, Lee Crooks and the usual requests.

Next up, Hughes’ Fulham are visitors as we return to league action.

NEWS SUMMARY

News Editor Wanted

After nearly three years of writing MCIVTA’s weekly News Summary, I’ve decided the stand down as News Editor. Thanks to MCIVTA, I’ve been able to organise a freelance journalism post with the club’s official website and due to this commitment, as well as university ones, I no longer have the time to keep you subscribers up-to-date with the latest goings-on.

As a result, we are now looking for a new News Editor. Maybe you’re a fan who enjoys keeping on top of all City related news and would like to share it with other fans, maybe you’re a college/university student looking to go into journalism, hoping to bolster their CV. No matter who you are or what your level of experience, if you want to apply, send me an email at <news(at)mcivta.city-fan.org>

General News

Laying Down the Law: City and United legend Denis Law has given the Blues his backing following last week’s derby defeat. Despite being beaten 2-1 by their nearest rivals, Law believes that City are a completely different team to that of ten years ago and will now compete at the top for a long time to come. Law, famous for his own derby antics, accepts that City’s title ambitions have suffered a massive blow by last weekend’s loss at Old Trafford but expects Mancini’s side to compete with United on both domestic and European levels sooner rather than later: “Manchester City are back as a team that people begin to fear and that’s how it should be. You can see City will be a team that gets stronger and stronger as the years go on, and they will definitely become a threat to United. For the first time in many years, City are a team the rest of the Premier League are going to have to watch.”

In Our Defence: Following criticisms of the defensive way in which City are approaching the game, Roberto Mancini has rejected suggestions that the Blues are a typically Italian-run team. Mancini’s side have more clean sheets than any other team in the league this season but have, on occasion, struggled to score enough goals. However, City’s Italian coach has refuted the idea that City are a simple, one dimensional side, and has admitted that he expects to be criticised no matter how his side play: “We are a positive team; we try to play good football; we are trying to change our whole mentality. But maybe City don’t have big support from the newspapers. I think everyone is so afraid because City in the next two years will be one of the top teams in Europe. I told the players (to expect criticism) because it’s easier for other supporters if there are only the usual three or four teams. We are trying to work for clean sheets every game because if you win the title it’s usually if you have the team who concedes the least goals.”

Splash the Cash! Former Chairman and star striker Franny Lee has called on manager Roberto Mancini to spend more money in the club’s bid to become a world super power. Since the takeover of Sheikh Mansour in 2008, it is believed that City have spent up to £400 million but Lee doesn’t believes that this is enough to properly challenge the established order: “I don’t think you can win the Premier League with this team – you need a couple of more knockout drops. Tevez is a wonderful striker but he just hasn’t got that support up front. We just don’t have that real cutting edge that can dominate games. We can pass it intricately but we just don’t have that knockout drop and if Tevez doesn’t do it we are struggling a bit. I think there’s a dearth of very, very high-class players – you are buying a lot of top-class average.”

Squad News

Still in Sight: Despite now sitting eight points behind arch-rivals United in the Premier League, Micah Richards thinks City should be ignored at their rivals’ peril. The England international believes the best is yet to come from City and that to be written off with so much of the season left to go would be a mistake some clubs may regret. Though he admits the task will be the toughest the club has faced for years, Micah remains confident of the Blues chances and feels that, at worst, success in a cup competition would more than make up for failing to bring the title to CoMS: “I wouldn’t like to write us off too soon. Obviously United are favourites but we are still improving and have a good squad with depth to it. We have Nigel (de Jong) and Mario (Balotelli) to come back from injury soon so we are not despondent. Our main aim all season has been to qualify for the Champions’ League and that has not changed. We are still fighting on three fronts and we must make sure we go for everything.”

Wright Back in the Picture: Fan favourite Shaun Wright Phillips is settling back in to his familiar right wing rôle at City and admits that though he remains unsure as to where his long term future lies, he is loving being back in the first team fold at City. SWP was expected to bring a second spell at the club to an end during the January transfer window when both Fulham and Liverpool were linked with the former Chelsea player. Luckily, a transfer never materialised and following Adam Johnson’s recent injury, ‘Shauny’ has been given the chance to show Mancini that is still capable of playing at the top. For the player himself however, the club will always come before his own personal circumstances: “To be quite honest it is not about my future at the minute. I am happy and I am playing at the moment and I am just concentrating on doing well for the last three months for the club. To me that is the main thing. If I can help City win something that is great.” The boss obviously feels SWP will play an important part in the rest of City’s campaign: “I said 20 days ago when we lost Adam Johnson that we could have a problem. But we don’t have him in this moment and it is maybe important that Shaun can play now.”

Comeback Kid: Another player hoping to re-establish himself in City’s starting XI is Michael Johnson. The young midfielder has spent two years on the sidelines following a horrific time with injuries but is now set to make a comeback. ‘Johnno’ has become a regular on the EDS scene and will be hoping to catch the eye of Mancini with so many games coming up in such a short space of time. Brian Kidd has kept a watchful eye over the England U21 international and expects MJ to make a good impression on his return: “Michael has had a tough time but has come on leaps and bounds in the last two weeks. I was at the reserve game against Bury and he was terrific. He is looking really good in training as well. What he is looking for now are the games which will give him a quickness you can’t really get from training.” Following Kidd’s assessment of Johnson’s injury, Mancini revealed that City would also be without Shay Given for a while: “He has a shoulder problem and next week he will go to the doctor in London to see if he needs surgery.”

Central to City’s Plans: One player who certainly is establishing himself in City’s first XI is Spanish midfielder David Silva. The skilful playmaker, who arrived from Valencia during the summer for a reported fee of £25 million, has been in superb form for the Blues and is fast becoming a favourite amongst the City faithful. Despite signing as a winger, Silva has played a more central rôle for Mancini’s side and is clearly enjoying his new rôle: “In the middle, you can play a little bit in all of the positions I have played. That is where I like to play, as a creative midfielder. I feel that’s where I am at my best. You can work at a lot of things – your fitness, your technique on the ball – but things like the ability to see a pass, that is more instinctive. There is no reason why you cannot play beautiful football and be competitive. Football is not just power. It is a bit of everything. You need to combine all the different elements in order to do well.” Silva has also laughed off newspaper speculation that is homesick and planning a return to Spain, claiming he has never felt more at home in Manchester: “I was as surprised as anyone else here to have read those reports. I do the odd interview with Spanish press but I have never come out with these quotes that may or may not have been attributed to me. My initial reaction was surprise, but as I have said before, I am happy to be here and I find myself very much at ease with life here. The thing about a big city like Manchester is that people respect your space. They leave you to get on with your life. In Spain, people can get on your back and maybe live the game more. Here it’s nice to go out and chill in the city.”

Team Player: David Silva may prefer the attacking side of the game but another player currently making waves in the final third of the field is Yaya Touré. The Ivorian signed from Barcelona in the summer as a defensive midfielder but has had to adapt to a more attacking game in order to fit into Roberto Mancini’s plans. Though the £25 million summer signing admits that he is more comfortable playing in front of the defence, he has revealed he is happy to adapt for the team: “I prefer playing as a holding midfielder because it is my natural position, but I play for the team, and wherever the boss asks me to play is where I play. I enjoy playing in front of the defence because it’s where I feel most comfortable and play my best football, but I am happy to change if asked.”

What a Kidd: Mario Balotelli retuned to first-team action in last weekend’s visit of Notts County and yet again there were glimpses of both sides of the volatile Italian striker. Undoubtedly, the former Inter Milan striker is a fantastic footballer and he has the potential to become one of the world’s best players, but it is his temperament that is letting him down. Not for the first time, ‘Super Mario’ caused controversy for both being booked for dissent and throwing a tantrum when he was replaced in the second half. Assistant manager Brian Kidd believes Mario will mature with time and will ultimately prove a fantastic asset to the Blues: “He’s another great talent. We’re blessed with good players and I think we’ve got a really good squad, no doubt about it. Carlos has always stepped up to the plate – and he’s a fantastic player. But if you go through the clubs who have been successful, invariably they’ve had four strikers who will be competing for places.” Mancini explained that Mario’s latest outburst was simply a result of frustration having been injured for so long: “We want to ease Mario back into action. He knew he would not play the full game. Sometimes in training when he misses a chance he holds his knee and then when he scores he doesn’t. His knee is ok. We want him to play for the next two months, which is why we had the plan to ease him back into the game.”

Joe Captures Shay’s Imagination: It was a decision that no City fan would have wanted to make at the start of the season – Hart or Given? Despite hardly ever putting a foot wrong for the Blues, Ireland’s number one has found his first team opportunities limited this season having been dropped to the bench. Though many will have you believe that Given feels hard-done-by and may even resent England’s first choice stopper, Given has dismissed such speculation and backed Hart to succeed at the very top level: “He is a young guy and young in goalkeeping terms as well. You know he doesn’t pick the team; it’s the manager who does. So you would like to think you would help him in any way. He’ll learn. You know, I made mistakes in my career. You learn from making mistakes, and you become a stronger and better goalkeeper. Joe will be the same.”

Bosnian to be Brilliant: He may have only scored one goal in his first seven appearances for City but Bosnian Edin Dzeko has really made an impression during his first month at the club. An old fashioned centre forward, the tall, strong striker so nearly proved the difference in the derby but manager Mancini expects him to get even better. Dzeko’s influence has led to a complete change of system from the boss and he believes the former Wolfsburg striker will only get better with time – though he hopes he’ll improve as quickly as possible: “I expect more for Dzeko – he needs to improve. He is a good player. I think he has the same difficulty as (Fernando) Torres at Chelsea because when you arrive in January you don’t know your team-mates, it is not easy. He can change in every game. It is important that he improves very quickly. We should cross the ball more to him.” Former England manager Steve McClaren sold Dzeko to City only weeks before being sacked by German club Wolfsburg and he too expects the Bosnian to make his mark in English football: “City have got an excellent bargain in Edin. People might say it was £27 million, but look at the facts. Just a couple of weeks later, Andy Carroll went for £35 million. So maybe it wasn’t such bad business after all. He’s very good technically and has very good feet. In some ways he reminds me of a much taller Mark Viduka. Mark was so brilliant in the box and for such a big guy he had amazing technical skills. Edin is very much the same.”

Rumour Mill

Swedish Snub: He ended up moving on loan to AC Milan but Barcelona striker Zlatan Ibrahimovic revealed this week that he had talks with City during the summer. The Swedish striker played for City boss Mancini during their time at Inter Milan and Ibra’ was expected to follow in Mario Balotelli’s footsteps and join his former manager in Manchester. Instead, he moved to Serie A with Italian giants AC Milan and this week he has explained why: “I had a couple of talks with City and they had a fantastic project going on but I’m not one of those players who wants to go there and play for money. For me, it’s important to see what kind of future there is, what kind of possibilities there is. For me, the project of City is not now. I think in a couple of years they will be a top team but Milan now is at the top and for me, I want to be playing at the top when I’m 29 rather than 32.”

Roque Road for Santa: One player set to remain at City is striker Roque Santa Cruz. The Paraguayan is currently back on loan at former club Blackburn Rovers, but Rovers’ manager Steve Kean has revealed that he has no option on either Cruz or other loan signing Jermaine Jones and expects both to return to their respective clubs in the summer: “We tried to fix a price for Roque and the same for Jermaine because we thought they would do well but we couldn’t fix a price. At the end of the season now I think they go back to their clubs and hopefully we have made a good impression and they want to come back to the club in whatever capacity.”

Best of the Rest: Felipe Caicedo has been making waves in La Liga as top scorer for struggling Levante and may fetch up to £1 million for the Blues should the Spanish side stay up. The Columbian, who joined for £6 million during Sven Goran Eriksson’s reign, has been dubbed “City’s forgotten man” and may see a permanent move to Spain as the perfect opportunity to take the next step in his career: “There are possibilities for me to stay and it is a great honour that Levante want to keep me.” Mancini has been linked with a number of midfielders this week including AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo and Tottenham Hotspur’s Rafael van der Vaart but it is Palermo’s Javier Pastore who has really caught the eye of City’s boss. When asked about the Italy-based midfielder, Mancini admitted that is interested in a move for the creative midfielder and also considers a move for Napoli’s Edison Cavani a possibility: “City are interested in good players, and Pastore is good, just like Cavani, and many others.” Palermo President Maurizio Zamperini has other idea though: “Despite some offers he (Pastore) will remain with us for another year. And during this I time I will try and make him stay for longer. Money doesn’t matter so much when you have class like this.”

Post-Match Reaction

Derby Day Disappointment: When David Silva converted Edin Dzeko’s strike with his backside, many City fans believed that would be the stroke of luck that would win City last weekend’s Manchester derby and close the gap at the top of the Premier League. It wasn’t. Having earlier put his side in front with a calm finish, Nani found space on the right to cross for Rooney… the rest, as they say, is history. United ran out 2-1 winners despite City dominating the vast majority of the game and the Blues’ title challenge was put on hold, realistically, for another season. Though he admitted he was disappointed with the end result, Mancini claimed that there were obvious signs of the gap between City and United having closed and backed his side to overtake United in the coming years: “We were beaten by a moment of genius and I think that this was the only way we were going to lose this match. I thought we were in control for large parts of the match and after we levelled, I thought we would go on to win the game or draw at the very least. I think we played very well and I’m very proud of my players, but sometimes football can be cruel and they scored a fantastic goal that we could do nothing about. We lost this game but didn’t deserve to – maybe the next time we play an important game we won’t play as well as we did today, but end up winning.” Stopper Joe Hart could do nothing but watch as Rooney’s strike flew past his head but the ‘keeper expects his side to bounce straight back: “It’s deflated us a bit, but you’ve got to pick yourselves up and move on. You can’t give up. If you’re going to do that then there’s no point in turning up every week. We are here to win games, do well for Manchester City and push the club on. That’s not changed. It’s unfortunate that we lost, but we have to brush ourselves down and carry on. We’ve got the Europa League and the FA Cup as well as the Premier League to focus on. We know what we are about. People have been talking about Manchester United all season, but we came here and played well. It’s just a shame that we couldn’t produce that bit of magic.”

Bumpy Ride: City were held to a goalless draw by Europa League opponents Aris but now need only to win at Eastlands to progress through to the next round of the competition. Despite hardly being well known across Europe, the Greek side are now unbeaten on their home ground in 25 European ties – a home record any club could be proud of. So the task was much more difficult than first expected, but the Blues dominated possession and would have won the game had they been able to put their chances to bed. Instead, City come away with a result that surely gives them the advantage when they face the Greeks in Manchester next week. Mancini believes the hosts’ overly defensive tactics were always going to work against his side and coming out with a goalless draw will suit the Blues back at CoMS: “I think we had control of the game but the pitch was very difficult. If we had scored early on when we had the chances then it might have been a different result. Aris defended with nine or ten players behind the ball and that made it very difficult. We can play with the ball on the floor at home. In Aris that was not possible.” Shaun Wright-Phillips claimed the conditions were against City during the tie in Aris and feels that the Eastlands pitch will do much to aid City’s chances next week: “It was bumpy out there and you had to watch the ball to the last minute and sometimes that made us lose out on a key pass. To come back from a defeat at the weekend and come to a hard place like this and get a draw it is a stepping stone. What we have to do next time is when we get chances take them.” Hart claimed the result was a positive one and paid tribute to his opposite number: “It is not a bad result; we needed to come here and first and foremost not get beat. It was a really tough environment and I thought the lads did well. The only reason it was 0-0 was their ‘keeper made two great saves.”

One for Sorrow, Two for Luck, Five for City: City outclassed League One side Notts County in last weekend’s 5-0 rout in order to progress through to the fifth round of the competition. It could have been so very different if Karl Hawley’s curling shot had crept in rather than bounced out as he hit the woodwork for the visitors after 20 minutes, but in the end, City were simply dominant. Two rare headed goals from Patrick Vieira, and one each for Tevez, Dzeko and Richards settled the tie. Mancini admitted that the scoreline was probably unfair on the visitors but was chuffed that the Blues had progressed to the next round. A home tie with Aston Villa awaits in the fifth round and if Mancini’s side can progress to the final eight of the competition, City will host either Everton or Reading.

Many fans see this as the ‘road to Wembley’ but Mancini has warned fans not to get too far ahead of themselves: “We play every three days so it is not easy to be on top form all the time. We started slowly but in the first half hour Notts County played well. We did very well in the second half and took our chances too. The FA Cup is an important competition and we want to win it. Reaching the final is our aim but we cannot look too far ahead. We have a Europa tie on Thursday and then we must play in the league on Sunday before the cup match against Villa. It is good to be drawn at home but we never seem to beat Everton. In any case we and they have tough matches to get through before then.” Double goal-scorer Patrick Vieira hopes his side will start taking advantage of their height from set pieces: “I think when you see the height of our team, we don’t score enough goals from free-kicks or corners but thank God I scored two goals. We have to give them credit because for the first 15 to 20 minutes they really put us in trouble so we are quite happy to go through to the next round.”

OPINION: BOOS AND BOOSTERS

I just wanted to respond to Peter Llewellyn’s submission in MCIVTA 1705. I agreed with most of the points he made, especially regarding the impatience being shown by some fans. To my mind there’s absolutely no room for booing your own team and unfortunately it appears to be happening more and more. We go on about being the so called best around fans (and don’t get me wrong it probably is a minority although people follow suit very quickly) but there is evidence to the contrary when the booing is echoing around the stadium at half or full time. What must the players think? Sometimes you can be giving your absolute all and it just doesn’t happen for all manner of reasons. I’m sure, at that point, the players don’t think to themselves: “You know what I could do with right now a good booing. Yeah, that’ll get me going.” I just don’t know why people think that players can get any kind of a rapport with a set of fans who are booing you one minute and then cheering you the next when you score. I don’t think I’d want to go over and celebrate with them personally. And we can bang on about it being our right, we pay good money etc. but it still doesn’t detract from the fact that it does absolutely no good IMHO. Does anybody honestly feel it does? Do we think that the manager isn’t aware that we’re playing or have played badly? Do we honestly feel that he needs a gentle reminder? And what must the owners think? We can all see the progress being made, the unbelievable amounts of money being pumped into our club and yet we still boo if we’re struggling to find form or God forbid we have the audacity to get beaten by or draw against so called lesser teams e.g. Everton and Birmingham at home spring to mind. We’re getting there but it does take time. Money doesn’t necessarily equal instant success. I know it can be frustrating at time (God, don’t I know it!) but just have a rant to yourself (or your eight year old daughter sat beside you bless her!) like I do; the booing is embarrassing, we’re better than that.

I also think Peter’s right in pointing out though that there are those of us who haven’t really tasted any kind of success and this could be a reason for being slightly more edgy than those that have. I’m 36 (37 in December) so my fondest and proudest memories are any of the derby wins, promotion from Division 2 via the play-off final and promotion from Division 1 as champions (I don’t even recall the 1981 FA Cup final as I was only six). So not all that great but I’ve never booed, not once. I don’t want to come across as a sanctimonious so and so or holier than thou but I truly believe that it does and will continue to do far more harm than good. Okay, enough about the booing already!

Peter also made the point that a trophy is by no means a foregone conclusion this season and he’s obviously right. We all want that banner taken down (so much!) but I’m convinced that we are finally on course for that to happen. It may not be this year although we’re doing all that we can to keep ourselves in the mix (Europa and FA) but I truly feel, if not this year, it will happen over the next 3 years or so. Going back 3-4 years ago I couldn’t see it happening in my lifetime so there’s already a massive improvement there!

The only point that I don’t agree with Peter on is Champions’ League qualification. I feel we do need to qualify this season, although I’ve got to say it will be extremely difficult (although absolutely doable). Let’s face it the top five will be us, the Rags, Arsenal, Chelsea and Spurs with any of that top five capable of being in the top four this season. It’s as simple as that. I just feel that a number of players have been bought by the club on the premise that (as well as being paid a fortune) they will be playing Champions’ League football sooner rather than later. The main ones I am thinking of there are Tevez (who has already been without CL football for way too long), Silva and Touré. Not to mention the calibre of player that we want to attract in the future. And I also think the owners’ plans definitely includes CL football next year. They seem to be a patient bunch and are putting a lot of sustainable building blocks into place at City but no matter how pragmatic they are, they’ll be expecting to see some kind of return on their investment in the not so distant future and I feel CL football is it. However, no matter what, with managerial stability (I happen to be a Mancini fan anyway, although I appreciate that opinions are very mixed) and the continued backing of the owners I truly believe that success is imminent (even if not this season) and absolutely nailed on.

Let’s just hope that it’s sooner rather than later and more importantly let’s cheer them on their way!

[City have always had their share of boo boys Noel, one of the less favourable traditions club it seems! Ed]

OPINION: LEE CROOKS

My total respect and admiration for Lee Crooks.

A great servant for Manchester City and now a great servant for his country – about to embark on an Afghan tour as a leading aircraftman.

Good luck.

OPINION: BEST GOAL MY EYE

Well said Buzzer (Mike Summerbee) when he told Sky TV to stop showing the Rooney wonder goal (the I wonder how I did it goal?). Sky have been showing the goal over and over again, as if they had run out of ideas what else to show, but as Buzzer put it Sky are very much pro-United.

MCFC have got the best Ambassador for the club, he is a very much a True Blue in everything that he does, and always has been.

I’ve always been a Buzzer fan.

REQUEST: KING OF THE KIPPAX

Really great to see MCIVTA back, and I’m pleased to say so is King Of The Kippax, City fanzine. We hope to pick up number 186 from the printers tomorrow, Friday, and pop it into the outlet at Aleef kiosk on the corner of Market Street and Cross Street, just a few yards away from The City Store.

Front cover hits on the True Grit film out soon, ’cause we reckon we’ll need plenty of that with the upcoming fixtures, giving us games twice a week all being well until the end of the season.

This issue is the best we’ve done (since the last one!) and includes Neil Young tributes, seven ages of a fan, showbiz X1, match previews and reviews, Blue Moon Rising DVD review, City world – all the whacky goings on at our crazy, hazy, mazy, sexy club, Cup or Champs League, or both?, Points of Blue minutes (next meeting imminent), January departures, and much more from the true Blue regulars, plus all the usual cartoons and pics.

It’s £2.50 and will be on sale, wind, rain, sleet, snow or (unusually) shine at the Fulham and future games in our quest for a top four place and the F.A. and Europa Cups. It can also be bought from 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs WN7 2HL, cheque or postal order for £3.40 including P&P. Lots do, so why not you?

REQUEST: BLUES VIEWING IN BREMEN

I’ll be in Bremen for the Villa game on Wed 2nd March. Does anyone out there know if there is a pub close to the Hilton Hotel showing the game?

REQUEST: NEIL YOUNG APPEAL

The Neil Young Appeal organised by the Supporters’ Club closes on the 28th February. Anybody wishing to donate to the Appeal can still use the Paypal facility up until the end of this month. The Paypal button can be accessed by visiting http://www.mcfcsc.com/ Donations by cheque can be posted to me:

Alex Channon
Penalty Spot
11 Thirlmere Avenue
Swinton
Manchester
M27 5XD

All the original black and red scarves for Neil Young have been sold out so no more requests please.

I will advise all of the total raised when all monies have been counted. I’m estimating it’s about £25,000 for now. All money raised is split 50/50 between Neil Young’s family and the Cecilia Unit at Wythenshawe Hospital where Nelly received treatment.

I have to say the response to this Appeal has gone way beyond any expectations I had. I’m biased but have no doubt City fans are the best when it comes to this sort of thing, diamonds every one of you.

RESULTS AND TABLE

23 February 2011

Arsenal              1 - 0  Stoke City           60,041

22 February 2011

Blackpool            3 - 1  Tottenham Hotspur    16,069

League table to 23 February 2011 inclusive

                            HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L   F   A  GD Pts
 1 Manchester Utd  26 13  1  0 39  9  3  8  1 18 16 16  9  1  57  25  32  57
 2 Arsenal         27 10  1  3 30 12  7  4  2 27 15 17  5  5  57  27  30  56
 3 Manchester City 27  8  3  2 21 10  6  4  4 22 14 14  7  6  43  24  19  49
 4 Tottenham H.    27  7  5  1 19 10  6  3  5 19 21 13  8  6  38  31   7  47
 5 Chelsea         26  8  2  2 24  8  5  4  5 22 14 13  6  7  46  22  24  45
 6 Liverpool       27  8  4  2 23 11  3  2  8 12 21 11  6 10  35  32   3  39
 7 Sunderland      27  6  5  3 18 14  3  5  5 15 19  9 10  8  33  33   0  37
 8 Bolton Wndrs    27  7  5  2 25 17  2  4  7 13 20  9  9  9  38  37   1  36
 9 Newcastle Utd   27  4  5  4 30 19  5  3  6 12 19  9  8 10  42  38   4  35
10 Stoke City      27  7  2  4 19 14  3  1 10 12 20 10  3 14  31  34  -3  33
11 Blackburn R.    27  6  4  4 17 11  3  1  9 17 31  9  5 13  34  42  -8  32
12 Blackpool       27  4  3  6 22 24  5  2  7 20 27  9  5 13  42  51  -9  32
13 Fulham          27  5  6  3 17 14  1  7  5 11 14  6 13  8  28  28   0  31
14 Everton         26  4  5  3 19 18  2  7  5 14 18  6 12  8  33  36  -3  30
15 Birmingham City 26  4  7  3 13 15  2  5  5 12 20  6 12  8  25  35 -10  30
16 Aston Villa     27  5  5  3 18 15  2  4  8 13 31  7  9 11  31  46 -15  30
17 West Brom A.    27  5  5  4 22 23  2  2  9 13 29  7  7 13  35  52 -17  28
18 Wigan Athletic  27  3  6  5 16 26  2  6  5 11 19  5 12 10  27  45 -18  27
19 West Ham United 27  3  4  6 14 20  2  6  6 16 28  5 10 12  30  48 -18  25
20 Wolves          27  6  2  5 17 19  1  2 11 10 27  7  4 16  27  46 -19  25

MCIVTA FAQ [v1011.01]

[1] MCIVTA Addresses

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Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org
FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[2] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

Deadlines for issues are nominally 6pm, Monday and Thursday evenings by email. Unfortunately we cannot accept email attachments.

[3] MCIVTA Back Issues and Manchester City Supporters’ home page

http://www.mcivta.com/ is the unofficial Manchester City Supporters’ home page. Created in 1994, it is the longest running of the Manchester City related web sites. Back issues of MCIVTA are also hosted on the site. You can also follow on www.twitter.com/mcivta to get the latest updates.

[4] What is the club’s official web site?

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/ and the official club Twitter page at www.twitter.com/mcfc. The club also has a facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mcfcofficial

[5] What supporters’ clubs are there?

The Official Supporters’ Club and the Centenary Supporters’ Association have merged to become the Manchester City Supporters’ Club (http://www.mcfcsupportersclub.com/). The club also recognise the Manchester City Disabled Supporters’ Association (http://www.mcdsa.co.uk/).

[6] Where can I find out about Points of Blue?

The committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. Points of Blue appears on the club website under the “Fans” heading (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Fans).

[7] What match day broadcasts are available on the web?

Live match commentary can be found on the club website. The Radio Manchester pre- and post-match phone-in is available on the web at http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/tv_and_radio/.

[8] Where can I find out if City are live on satellite TV?

http://www.satfootball.com/pl.html provides a listing of Premier League games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. Useful sites for North American viewers are http://msn.foxsports.com/, http://www.soccertv.com/.

[9] Do we have a Usenet newsgroup?

Yes we do: uk.sport.football.clubs.man-city is our home on usenet. If you are not familiar with usenet, a basic explanation is available here: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci213262,00.html

[10] Do any squad members have their own web pages?

There are a number available and direct links can be found at http://www.mcivta.com/players/

[11] Where can I find match statistics?

Statistics for the current season are available from the club site, but for a more in-depth analysis try http://www.mcfcstats.com/.

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.

Heidi Pickup, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: