Newsletter #962

An excellent performance on Saturday in which we lost by a single goal to the millionaires’ set at Chelsea. Unlucky given the performance that we could not glean a point, but I’ll take a 1-0 anyday over the two performances last season.

We have match views tonight, John’s preview of Tuesday night’s QPR cup game, some useful information on Poland thanks to Roly and Steve, opinion, the usual requests and an updated FAQ.

MATCH VIEW: CHELSEA 1 MCFC 0

Chelski Chelski

£42 and if Fowler’s header had gone in it would (almost) have been worth it. For a change, we started brightly and looked the bigger threat. Defensively, however, we are still very naïve. Watch the goal again and you can clearly see Sun Jihai come past SWP to confront, presumably their left back. SWP drops back a little but not only does he not have anyone to mark, he does not switch and go and play right back for Sun. Inevitably the ball works its way to that area, Sommeil has to come out of the middle to cover and doesn’t get a tackle in, and Seaman and Distin make a hash of the clearance. Seaman, shouldn’t have been exposed but having chosen to make the save got a weak hand on it. It comes back to him not calling and Distin also being quiet and not taking the initiative and putting his foot through the ball.

My biggest problem with Seaman is that throughout the rest of the team, all we hear about is healthy competition for places and “squad rotation”. Not so for England’s former number one. When the only threat to Seaman is a semi-fit Weaves and Ellegaard, then no wonder the only air of assurance he has is that he’ll get picked every week. When the transfer window opens what about signing Jones in goal from Southampton on loan? He can’t seem to get a game there and is better than what we’ve got.

On a more positive note, Robbie deserved the praise Kev ladled out in the Sunday papers. Claudio Reyna also impressed both against Bolton and Chelsea.

Despite the enforced Keegan rotations, and in hope of sparking fierce debate, I would argue everyone knows our best side give or take a couple of players. I would suggest:

David Seaman (in the absence of an old sock or an ironing board!).
Sun Jihai – will run all day for you, supports and crosses well. Balance is an issue in their penalty area (Sun 1 Pen. nuff said)!
Sylvain Distin – 80% of the player of last year but will improve.
David Sommeil – As above but if we hold our shape, they look good together.
Michael Tarnat – Not been exposed for pace yet, dead ball specialist and good distribution and crossing.
Steve McManaman – Pleasantly surprised he’s not been a “billy-big-biscuits-thanks-for-the-cash-I-don’t-care” type. We look half the team when he doesn’t play.
Claudio Reyna (Antoine Sibierski) (Paul Bosvelt) – Reyna – Does nothing too elaborate and when unsure he gives it to a footballer. Sibierski flashes of brilliance mixed with fallow periods of pub football. Bosvelt see Sibierski.
Shaun Wright-Phillips – Has found his goalscoring boots, enthusiastic, plays for the shirt, never say die, scary pace, good crossing. Needs to cut out the hatchet man image he is creating for himself (sic)!
Joey Barton – Gets stuck in, loses out often in 50-50s but keeps his studs and elbows to himself this season and just needs to be a bit bigger. The less he gets suspended, the bigger his influence over 38 games. Proof that if you are good enough you are old enough.
Nicolas Anelka – Different class. The only player who would walk into any of the top three sides. I worry about us if he gets a long term injury. Get Dickov or Huckerby back to cover (what am I saying!).
Robbie Fowler (Paulo Wanchope) – I am from the pro-Robbie camp, and think he deserves Keegan’s persistance. Flashes at both Bolton and Chelsea of what we think we bought. Wanchope – According to the song, There’s only one Paulo. Thank god for small mercies! His early season “form” has deserted him and now he seems to confuse us more than them. File under enigmatic.

So here we are 10 games in, 15 points and 7th. Higher than last year’s finish, with a better squad and talent to come back and playing better football more regularly.

Do me.

OPINION: CHELSEA PERFORMANCE

We did not deserve a draw, we deserved the win! City pushed Chelski all the way, and looked more like a billionaires side than Chelski. It’s disappointing to come away from Stamford Bridge with nothing after such an outstanding display of football.

Growler Fowler played very well and was unlucky not to score; his header was saved by a fingertip save by Cudicini, which bounced off the upright. As for Chelski’s goal I don’t think Hasselbaink knew he had scored; it bounced in off his knee, he will not have a goal as lucky as this one the rest of the season.

City’s passing was great one touch football, and opened Chelski’s defence time after time, only not to get that elusive goal.

Keep playing like this, we will win a lot more games, luck can not always be against City. I feel proud of this performance from City, and proud to be a City fan.

I don’t think Wanchope should be given a new contract and also feel that Macken should be let go. Wanchope has fluffed so many chances in front of goal, and Macken has done nothing for City. Growler Fowler will come through, but we need someone else who can score goals!

We need cover for Anelkastar and Fowler, and Wanchope and Macken are not the players to do it with. City need to be bring in a new class striker to be in the top six.

Against Chelski City played some brilliant football but failed to score!

Come on you Blues!

MATCH PREVIEW: QPR vs. MCFC

Our league record away to QPR is pretty dismal, having won just three times in 20 attempts. However, cup competitions are a different story as we have a 100% record at Loftus Road.

City away to QPR 1950-1999

Premier League:         W 1 D 2 L 1; F  4 A  4
Division One:           W 0 D 2 L 1; F  3 A  5
Old Division One:       W 1 D 4 L 7; F  6 A 17
Old Division Two:       W 1 D 0 L 0: F  2 A  1
League Total:           W 3 D 8 L 9; F 15 A 27
FA Cup:                 W 1 D 0 L 0; F  2 A  1
League Cup:             W 2 D 0 L 0; F  7 A  4
Grand Total:            W 6 D 8 L 9; F 24 A 32

First Meeting:          2/9/1950        QPR 1 City 2    21,593
Latest Meeting:         6/11/1999       QPR 1 City 1    19,002
Last Win:               25/10/1994      QPR 3 City 4    11,701
Last Draw:              6/11/1999       QPR 1 City 1    19,002
Last Defeat:            26/10/1997      QPR 2 City 0    14,451
Last Clean Sheet:       19/10/1985      QPR 0 City 0    13,471
Last Failure To Score:  26/10/1997      QPR 2 City 0    14,451

Biggest Victory:        Twice           QPR 1 City 3
Heaviest Defeat:        7/3/1992        QPR 4 City 0    10,779
Most Goals In A Game:   25/10/1994      QPR 3 City 4    11,701
Fewest Goals In A Game: Twice           QPR 0 City 0
Highest Scoring Draw:   12/10/1996      QPR 2 City 2    16,265

Highest Attendance:       27/3/1976     QPR 1 City 0    29,883
Lowest League Attendance: 11/4/1990     QPR 1 City 3    8,437

OPINION: POLISH OPPOSITION INFORMATION I

Having lived in Poland for two of the last five years, it is frustrating to see the Blues playing there as I’m settled in London… Anyway, a few notes on our UEFA Cup opposition.

Grodzisk is a smallish town in western Poland. Groclin, I think, is an area of the town. Wielkopolska is the province, I don’t know what the relevance of Dyskobolia is. The nearest large city / airport / international travel connection is Poznan, where the club’s official trip (which looks to be excellent value) is going via.

The team last their lost match, away to local rivals Amica Wronki 1-0, leaving them 5th in the Polish first division (a few places above Gornik Zabrze…). The squad is mostly Polish with two Czechs and two Croatians. The scorer against Hertha was Grasiak, who scores about a goal every other game: he is partnered up front by Tomasz Moskala. They’re a young side, with only two players over 30 in the squad.

You pronounce Grodzisk “grodge – eesk”, Groclin “grots – leen”.

Having seem a bit of 1st division football during my time there, I would say that we really should win it. Polish teams do neat passing, neat passing and neat passing, with much less blood and thunder in the tackle and much less emphasis on speed and athleticism than we see in the Premiership. They’ll probably get a fair bit of possession both home and away and I’d be happy to see City really harry them in midfield and stretch them around at the back – I think it may take a while and a bit of patience to get a long stretch of possession, but when we do we should be able to make chances. Then again, my football skills are nil and I really don’t know what I’m talking about.

My prediction – a nervy 1-0 at COMS (with a late goal from Anelka) and 2-0 in Poland when we should have a bit more space to attack in.

Their pitch is 105m x 68m, a fraction smaller than the COMS 107 x 71.

Anyway – Come on you Blues.

OPINION: POLISH OPPOSITION INFORMATION II

Well, at least one City fan has booked hotel rooms in the wrong town. It’s in Grodzisk Wielkopolski but he’d been planning to go to Gorzow Wielkopolski (Much nearer the German frontier)! Grodzisk is 50 km south west of Poznan.

Best way to get there is with an organised trip (about £200), or on scheduled flights to Poznan (say £700). Otherwise it’s Ryanair to Berlin and a 6 hour train journey, or hire a car if you can find a company that will let you take the car to Poland, where newish cars are often last seen heading for Belarus.

http://www.powiat-grodzisk.wlkp.pl/eng/english.php

OPINION: THE UNDESIRABLES

Does anyone know where these people are coming from? The worrying aspect is that they must be season ticket holders as they were the only people who had access to Chelsea tickets.

When Damien Duff warmed up along the touchline a group of about 15 men stood up and started screaming ‘No Surrender to the IRA’. These over-weight, balding, bed-wetting, ugly white men in 1980s casual gear are an embarrassment to MCFC. I remember at Charlton a couple of seasons ago at the railway station them singing songs about ‘Bobby Sands’.

Why are these anal retentives attaching themselves to City? What are the club going to do about it?

And finally, for how long, and for how many seasons will City sing ‘You’re just a town full of Ms’? Does it make us look good in the eyes of others? At first the home fans probably can’t tell what were singing and then when they do they probably feel sorry for us. I’ve been watching City since 1978 and people who sing ‘Terry Cooke he’s not an M anymore’, etc. are betraying themselves and the club. Imagine explaining it to a child. ‘Well there was a plane crash 45 years ago when loads of young, talented, local, working-class, men died and we think it’s funny.’

You don’t have to prove how deep your loyalty runs by pretending to ‘hate’ another club, I’ve heard all the arguments about how United traded on the air disaster to further their own worldwide brand and they don’t wash. You don’t get mass racist chanting anymore, City fans don’t sing songs about Spurs going to Belsen much anymore, so behaviour can change. It’s up to the club to show the will. When Millwall hounded our team, we were outraged. We should be looking to feel the same outrage at home too.

[Perennial debate I am afraid Andrew, and one which nobody seems to have the guts to tackle head on – Ed]

OPINION: HOME SWEET HOME

I’ve been a bit surprised by how easily the transition from Maine Road to The City Of Manchester Stadium appears to have gone at an emotional level, for all those contributors to this newsletter, at least. I’ve heard lots of complaints about the bars etc. but little about the ambience around the ground, problems with the ticket store, but not with the view of the pitch, etc.

For me, for the last 30 odd years, going to see City has entailed a long walk through terraced streets and alleyways, avoiding horse s**t and last night’s fish and chips, queuing at the terraces to get in, and queuing again for a programme. Now, it’s scarily professional. I park, at a designated spot, flash my card, at some kind of computerised eye (that knows I’m legit!) and find my seat (always dry) in a bowl which seems at the same time huge and small.

I watched the Bolton game from the equivalent of the Gene Kelly and felt as if I was almost on the pitch. I know there have been problems, but this stadium really is something special. It’s hard to believe that in 2083 when we relocate again (to the moon?) we will consider this place dated.

I was at the York game five years ago (honest, I live there) when we lost 2-1 and went 12th in the 2nd Division (and Leeds think they have problems) and now I am looking forward to the prospect of even contemplating Champions’ League football.

What it all means for me is the joy of the view of Manchester when you walk round and round those spiral concourses into the ground, and you realise that we are still playing at home.

OPINION: BLUE MOON

For all Blue romantics – this came to me as I was coming to terms with our proud defeat at Stamford Bridge and is in fact the second verse to Moon River adapted.

MAN CITY off to see the world
there’s such a lot of world to see
We’re after the same rainbow’s end
waiting round the bend
my EUROPEAN friend
MAN CITY and me.

Something to sing accompanied by mass scarf waving at Southampton since they’re going nowhere and we are – at least for the time being.

OPINION: SMOKE GETS IN YOUR EYES

Do any fans know if there are any plans to vent the East Stand lower tier concourse to get rid of the smoke that accumulates, particularly at half time and to a lesser extent during the build up to kick off time?

This is very pronounced at the K turnstiles section although I am lead to believe it is a problem in other areas.

It is reminiscent of entering a 1970’s smoke filled vault in the pubs after 10pm when the build up was very noticeable but we didn’t complain then because this was ‘normal’ and there was very little known about passive smoking etc.

This is not meant as a whinge against smokers – there are other vehicles for this sort of debate – and I do not want to deprive any fan of his right to smoke in the ground but could the club address this problem and fit extractors or something so that non-smokers can enjoy refreshments inside the ground in a more pleasant atmosphere?

OPINION: OUR TURN TO MANAGE

I got an e-mail today from Justfootball – about a new City footy manager game for the PC. Anyone else see it? The game looks pretty good from the screenshots (apart from the Fowler one!) and is quite cheap. Use http://www.justfootball.net/manchestercity to see the screenshots. I already have CM4 but I think I’m going to get this as CM4 is too involved for my liking (beer-ruined brain). I’ll post my thoughts on it on here for the benefit of anyone else who might be interested.

King Kev’s Barmy Army!

BOOK REVIEW: FAREWELL TO MAINE ROAD

It seems to have gone comparatively unnoticed so far, but all those subscribers who have received their copies of Gary James’ latest City epic ‘Farewell to Maine Road’ probably haven’t mentioned it in MCIVTA yet as they are doubtless too busy gorging on the many delights contained within the book.

Following on in the winning formula of ‘Manchester The Greatest City‘, Gary has rolled his sleeves up once more and has come up with yet another triumph, which to coin the usual advertising parlance, ‘is a must for all City fans’. Beautifully written, with the knowledge and passion you would expect from one of our own, the book provides us with the definitive literate and graphic illustration of Maine Road’s long and varied history. The book contains a rich tapestry of unpublished photographs, one of which, a unique shot of the famous ‘Ballet on Ice’, is worth the £25.00 cost alone.

The 320 page book will appeal to Blues of all ages and I can’t recommend it highly enough. It is difficult to imagine how much work and dedication it takes to produce a book of this quality, but the marriage of Gary James and Polar Publishing is truly one made in Sky Blue Heaven. Never mind in years to come, the book has already prompted tears of nostalgia in my eyes, but don’t take my word for it, sign up a copy and see for yourself, you’ll not be disappointed.

OPINION: TICKETING, AND SOLIDARITY FOR ANDREW

Andrew Goodman, you are not going mad. The City ticket office is singularly the worst run office I have had the displeasure to deal with.

Sort it City, it’s a joke.

REQUEST: LEICESTER TICKETS

Two adults and a junior wanted for Leicester. Exiled brother-in-law and family coming down from Edinburgh.

REQUEST: GROCLIN AWAY

I have already booked travel and accomodation and now just need a ticket. Can anyone please, please, please help me.

REQUEST: MILTON KEYNES OSC – OCTOBER MEETING

The next meeting of Milton Keynes OSC will be on October 30th starting at 8pm. The venue as usual will be Great Brickhill Cricket Club and the special guest this month will be David Oldfield. If you’re in the Milton Keynes area on the 30th then please come along – let me know if you need directions to the venue etc.

REQUEST: WINCHESTER/SOUTHAMPTON BLUES

I’m living in Winchester and wondering if any fans from the area either drive up to games in Manchester and would be willing to have a passenger (obviously will pay for petrol etc.) or know of any supporters’ coaches that go from around the area?

Having made my first visit to the new stadium for the Bolton game, I am looking to go up on a more regular basis, but avoiding the 13 hour round trip it took me on the train for that game!

RESULTS

26 October 2003

Charlton Athletic     1 - 1  Arsenal               26,660
Tottenham Hotspur     0 - 0  Middlesbrough         32,643

25 October 2003

Bolton Wanderers      0 - 1  Birmingham City       25,023
Liverpool             3 - 1  Leeds United          43,599
Aston Villa           0 - 0  Everton               36,146
Chelsea               1 - 0  Manchester City       41,040
Manchester United     1 - 3  Fulham                67,727
Newcastle United      3 - 0  Portsmouth            52,161
Southampton           2 - 0  Blackburn Rovers      31,620
Wolverhampton Wndrs   4 - 3  Leicester City        28,578

League table to 26 October 2003 inclusive

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F   A   GD Pts
 1 Arsenal         10  4  1  0 10  5  3  2  0  9  3  7  3  0  19   8  11  24
 2 Chelsea         10  4  1  0 10  5  3  1  1 10  4  7  2  1  20   9  11  23
 3 Manchester Utd  10  3  1  1  9  3  4  0  1  9  3  7  1  2  18   6  12  22
 4 Birmingham City 10  2  3  0  5  2  3  1  1  4  3  5  4  1   9   5   4  19
 5 Fulham          10  2  2  1  9  7  3  1  1 11  6  5  3  2  20  13   7  18
 6 Southampton     10  3  1  1  5  1  1  3  1  5  4  4  4  2  10   5   5  16
 7 Manchester City 10  2  2  1 12  6  2  1  2  8  6  4  3  3  20  12   8  15
 8 Newcastle Utd   10  2  1  2  5  3  2  2  1 10  9  4  3  3  15  12   3  15
 9 Charlton Ath.   10  1  2  2  6 10  3  1  1  8  3  4  3  3  14  13   1  15
10 Liverpool       10  2  1  2  7  6  2  1  2  8  5  4  2  4  15  11   4  14
11 Portsmouth      10  3  0  2  9  5  0  3  2  2  7  3  3  4  11  12  -1  12
12 Tottenham H.    10  2  1  2  6  7  1  2  2  4  6  3  3  4  10  13  -3  12
13 Everton         10  2  2  1  9  6  0  2  3  3  8  2  4  4  12  14  -2  10
14 Aston Villa     10  2  3  0  6  3  0  1  4  2  9  2  4  4   8  12  -4  10
15 Wolves          10  2  1  2  5 12  0  2  3  2  9  2  3  5   7  21 -14   9
16 Blackburn R.    10  1  0  4  8 10  1  2  2  7  9  2  2  6  15  19  -4   8
17 Middlesbrough   10  1  0  4  4 10  1  2  2  3  5  2  2  6   7  15  -8   8
18 Bolton Wndrs    10  1  3  1  5  4  0  2  3  3 15  1  5  4   8  19 -11   8
19 Leeds United    10  1  2  2  4  6  1  0  4  5 15  2  2  6   9  21 -12   8
20 Leicester City  10  1  2  2  8  8  0  0  5  6 13  1  2  7  14  21  -7   5

MCIVTA FAQ [v0304.06]

[0] MCIVTA Addresses

 Articles (Heidi Pickup)          : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

 News/rumour (Don Barrie)         : news@mcivta.city-fan.org

 Subscriptions (Madeleine Hawkins): subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org

 Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org

 FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[1] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

Deadlines for issues are nominally 6pm, Monday and Thursday evenings.

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

http://www.uit.no/mancity/ 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.

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

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

[4] What supporters’ clubs are there?

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official Supporters Club” (http://www.mancity.net/osc/); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.reddishblues.com/CSAWebsite/CSA.htm) and “The International Supporters’ Club” (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/article.asp?article=111845&Title=International+Supporters+Club&lid=Membership).

[5] Where can I find out about the fans’ committee?

The Fans’ Committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. It has its own website, http://www.mcfc-fans.com/ containing info about forthcoming meetings as well as minutes from previous gatherings.

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

The GMR pre and post match phone-in is available on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/gmr/sport_intro.shtml.

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found at http://www.mcfctv.com/, whilst an alternate live commentary service, hosted by Yahoo, is located at http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/foot/englandprem/cal/index.html.

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

http://www.satfootball.com/pl.html provides a listing of Premiership games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. Useful sites for North American viewers are http://canadatvsoccer.tripod.com/Fixtures.htm, http://www.foxsportsworld.com/named/FSW/Index/Soccer, and http://www.soccertv.com/.

http://www.foxsportsworld.com/content/view?contentId=1288602 also provides a guide to pubs in the USA showing football.

[8] What’s the music the teams run out to?

It’s actually a mix of two tracks. It starts with “O Verona” (from the motion picture “William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet”) and leads in to “Barber’s Adagio for Strings (Ferry Corsten remix)” by William Orbit. The first part is available on the movie soundtrack (volume 2) and the second is included on a variety of CDs such as Kiss House Nation 2000, Galaxy Hit Mix, Cream Live, Ibiza Chill and Dance Nation 4.

[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.uit.no/mancity/players/

[11] Can I buy shares in the club?

Yes you can: Shares in Manchester City PLC are traded on OFEX. The latest prices can be on found the OFEX web site http://www.ofex.com/ (registration required) or in the business section of the Manchester Evening News.

[12] 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/ or http://www.citystat.net/.

[13] Acknowledgements

Thanks go to Damian Quinn, Stephen Webb, Roger Haigh, Martin Price, and Adrian Howarth for the Satellite TV info.

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: