Newsletter #1581

News tonight on the recent games, fourth spot and the Carling Cup draw. We have opinion on the season and progress thus far, team and management and generally reasons to be cheerful.

NEWS SUMMARY

General News

Arsenal Part II: When City were drawn at home to play Arsenal in the Carling Cup Quarter final last weekend, fans of both sides will have been salivating at the prospect of a repeat of September’s league tie. The 4-2 scoreline, the on-field battles and the off field atmosphere, playing Arsenal had never been better. Now, with the Gunners set to return to CoMS on December 2nd, both sets of supporters will be hoping for a repeat. Admittedly, the on-field antics of Emmanuel Adebayor may have been controversial but the incident completely overshadowed what John Motson described as “the best second half I’ve ever seen in football”. With Arsene Wenger’s policy of giving his youngsters the chance to shine in the domestic trophy, it’s yet to be seen whether or not Dutch striker Robin van Persie will be allowed to settle on old score against former team mate Adebayor.

City skipper and ex-Arsenal centre back Kolo Toure has admitted that he’s looking forward to the game just as much as the fans will be: “I’m excited about it, but we have to admit that when we played against Arsenal earlier in the season, we played well but it was a game that could have finished 4-4! Yes, we scored some goals but we let them have so many chances. We were lucky that we took our chances and they did not. I think we need to analyse that game, we may have won it but we could have been better. We could have controlled it a lot more and defended better. That’s what we are going to have to do again because it’s going to be a really tough game. It doesn’t matter which team they will play, but it will be hard because of the style they always play with and their team spirit whichever players they pick. There are not too many injuries at Arsenal at the moment either, they have togetherness and that can make a difference. But our team spirit is very good, and if we can get it right against them we’ll show what problems we can cause other teams. We have great individuals, but we need to keep working for each other. We need to see strikers defending, and defenders getting goals, things like that can make a big difference. Mentally that win is a big thing for us, but we will still need to be careful. We know we can beat them, but we know they are still capable of fantastic football. We’ll have to be focussed, because it won’t be easy, but we just have to win and we have a winning spirit here. With that we could make a big difference. It’s a cup tie, it’s all about just one game and we’ll give everything.”

In Their Defence: City’s defensive troubles seem to have come out of nowhere having started the season with an amazing five clean sheets in five matches but nine games down the line, the Blues have only shut the opposition out on one more occasion. Prior to this weekend’s game against Birmingham, City had gone eight games without a clean sheet and yet the club’s attacking prowess has meant that the Citizens have only suffered one defeat all season. It’s fair to say that the Blues’ back line has been unsettled of late with Kolo Toure injured, Vincent Kompany only recently returned from a long term toe injury and Joleon Lescott’s form criticised, but City chief Mark Hughes has warned his defenders that they will have to improve if they intend to break into the top four: “We have had our lapses at times and it is a collective thing. We do not just highlight the players at the back. We have to defend as a team. We have to get better at recognising when situations are developing and then nipping them in the bud. We are a new side in terms of games played and personnel and it takes time but in terms of clean sheets this season we have had our share are not doing any worse than most sides in the Premier League. Everyone in the back four is relatively new to the club and at the moment we are not doing what we are there to do, keep clean sheets, and we must start doing our jobs.”

Four-midable: Four draws from four games is not good enough if City plan to break into this season’s top four- that’s the view of City skipper Kolo Toure who claimed this week that the mentality of the club has to change in order to bring about success. Speaking about recent results, Toure praised his side for picking up points where they would not have done last season but acknowledged that given the club’s facelift over the past twelve months, the Blues should be winning more games. The former Arsenal man has tasted Premier League success and believes that only a winning mentality separates Hughes’ men from Champions’ League qualification this season. A trip to Anfield awaits City after the international break before Chelsea come to Eastlands and the Ivorian will be hoping that his side can repeat the excellent form they showed against Arsenal and Manchester United in order to establish themselves as a genuine threat to the ‘big four’: “We need to impose ourselves, we have the players that can really play football. There are some gifted players in this dressing room, we can enjoy our football by passing it and controlling games. That’s what we need to achieve now, the team needs time but as time goes by we need to improve. City is not the team it was before, a lot of things have changed and our mentality has to change as well. We can’t be happy with a draw or drawing four games in a row. Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool would never be happy with that, which is why they have been at the top, so neither can we. The last four games have been drawn, but with our expectations we know we can do better. We were beating Fulham 2-0 at home, but they came back and that’s not good enough. When you are 2-0 up, you can’t let teams come back, that was a big mistake by us. Against Birmingham, we did not play in our style, we played the way they wanted us to play and that made it difficult for us. It was the same against Wigan, we did not really play our game.”

Breaking the Duck: With the international break fast approaching, City right back Pablo Zabaleta has admitted that he and his colleagues are desperate to stop a run of four games without a win before the players leave Manchester and join their respective nations. Draws against Wigan, Aston Villa, Fulham and Birmingham have taken the sting out of City’s early season charge but the club still sits high in the table in fourth place. Though the Argentinean admits that there is no panic around the team that has only lost one game all season, Zab’ believes it would lift the mood should the Blues beat Burnley at the weekend. Zab’ also expressed his delight with his return to first team action having sat out on the sidelines during the early season: “The next game is now very important. It is a good opportunity because we are playing at home and we need three Premier League points to stay up there. After the draws, we really need to win now, especially as we are going into the international break. It is a long time until the next game against Liverpool, and we want to be fourth during that time. It’s important to us that we are in a Champions’ League position going into the break. Birmingham were stronger than I expected. We tried to play our football and had some chances, but they were at home and made it difficult for us. Shay was fantastic for us again. He is the goalkeeper you want to be facing a penalty. He has so much Premier League experience and he makes it look simple. Even though we had a clean sheet, we were really disappointed because we lost a big chance to win after our run of draws. The beginning of the season was so different for me. I was on the bench for four or five games. But everyone wants to play in the first XI and we have a good squad with many quality players. We all have to fight for our place, but I am enjoying it. I’m trying to play my best football and I have no problem playing right back or midfield. The manager can play me where he likes.”

Squad News

Bulgarian Express Up and Running: Bulgarian winger Martin Petrov may have struggled to break into City’s first XI this season but now he’s there, he’s there to stay. After a string of excellent performances throughout October, Petrov has pipped the underrated Nigel de Jong to the Etihad Airways Player of the Month Award. Despite rumours earlier in the season that the former Atletico Madrid player was planning a move away from CoMS due to the lack of first team opportunities, goals against Wigan and Fulham won the 30-year-old 39% of the fan vote, beating de Jong by only 8%. The Reserve and Academy Player of the Month awards went to Donal McDermott and Omar Elabdellaoui respectively.

The Pre-Window Transfer: Michael Johnson finally returned to the first team last month after a prolonged absence kept him out for the majority of last season and manager Mark Hughes believes the 21-year-old will be as good as any signing he could have made. Johnson, who has been recalled to Stuart Pearce’s England under 21 side this week, scored his first goal in more than a year during last week’s 5-1 thrashing of Scunthorpe and Hughes has been majorly impressed with what he’s seen of the Academy graduate: “It is difficult for young players when they are out for a sustained period. His injury was a real frustration for everybody. Michael is now pain free, back out on the training field and has that base of fitness that he needs to perform at the top level again. He is one of those players who invariably appear as though he has all the time in the world, which is just because of the ability he has to make space for himself. The timing and appreciation of his passing is excellent as well. He is one of the outstanding young players in the country in my opinion.”

Johnno has declared how glad he is to be back on the pitch after so long out but has warned that he will not reach his very best for a while yet: “I hope people don’t expect too much too soon. I have a year of not playing and I am just glad to get out on a pitch. There have been loads of changes while I have been out. Watching things evolve has been inspiring. I want to be part of a team that is competing for the title and with that comes the challenge of just winning a place in the side.”

Heel Be Back Soon: City’s injury list is slowly shortening week by week but one obvious remaining absentee is Captain Kolo. Having missed City’s last few outings with a heel injury, the skipper has told fans to expect him back for the visit of Burnley this weekend: “The injury is getting better, I feel that I will be fit enough for the game on Saturday. I’m always disappointed when I’m injured and I can’t help out my team mates, but we have a strong squad here. As long as we have everybody together, it does not matter who plays but when you have everyone available, it makes a massive difference. There a few important players out injured at the moment, but if we can everybody back we’ll be even stronger. You need that if you want to at the top of this league, because there are some really tough teams out there.”

Given Our Recent Form: City stopper Shay Given proved once again this weekend just how valuable he is to Mark Hughes’ ambitious side. An excellent performance, capped by a penalty save, £5 million was a bargain. When asked about his hopes for this season, the former Newcastle ‘keeper asserted that, if his team mates consider performing to the same standard as they’ve started the season, the Blues could be flying high come May: “We have lost only once in ten games in the league, are up to fourth and are in the last eight of the Carling Cup so it has been a decent first three months of the season. We don’t have a bad defensive record either. There are only two teams I think who have conceded fewer goals and we have four clean sheets from ten matches in the Premier League. The more of those we have the better the chance we have recording victories because we have some great players in midfield and attack who can score goals. It just didn’t click, for whatever reason, at Birmingham where we didn’t create too many chances. We have not too badly at the back, maybe not as badly as some people are hinting, but we know that there is room for improvement. We are working hard on the training ground to make sure that happens.”

Secret of My Success: Togolese striker Emanuel Adebayor set the Blues alight with his early season performances and is hopeful of a return to goal scoring form when the Blues face Burnley on Saturday. Adebayor hasn’t scored since his suspension for violent conduct but the former Arsenal forward hopes to set that straight and has revealed that yoga is helping both he and some of his fellow team mates turn out excellent performances week by week: “I don’t do it every day, that would be impossible, but twice a week with pleasure. You don’t need it every day. I’m not too advanced but I’m getting there. I’m working on it! I started when I was at Arsenal. It’s something that helps you in recovery, it’s one of the best things you can do. I really love doing yoga when I have the chance. There’s plenty of reaching and stretching so it benefits your back and thighs. You have to keep on going. I know a lot of players are doing yoga now. Kolo started at Arsenal with me, Shay Given does it. You have to do anything you can that will help you stay away from injury. It is also a mind thing – you need to be fit and alert so you’ll score goals.”

Broken Dreams: 19-year-old David Ball has suffered a broken metatarsal, which is set to keep him out for 4-6 weeks. The reserve team striker had found himself in the senior squad of late and had hoped to be on the plane to Abu Dhabi when City travel to their owner’s homeland this month but all that has been put on the back burner and Ball admits that injury couldn’t have come at a worse time: “I am absolutely crestfallen, the injury could not have come at a worse time. I would like to think that I am a quick healer and I am getting the best possible care so I will be back as soon as possible. The medical staff reckons a month minimum. When I first picked up the injury I was really, really down because the timing of it is so bad. I have just been in a couple of first team squads and been training regularly with them and now I will have to wait to impress again. Then there is the trip to Abu Dhabi and the prestigious friendly that I will miss. It couldn’t really have happened at a worse time but injury is part and parcel of being a professional footballer. The great thing is that I can work on other aspects of my game for a while including my strength.”

Reserve team manager Glyn Hodges sympathised with one of the club’s brightest prospects but explained that there is an opportunity to be grabbed whilst out injured: “It is a blow for David because he has been doing ever so well with plenty of league teams looking at him. But there is a silver cloud in every situation and for him it means getting in the gym and working on his strength.”

Transfer Speculation: Mark Hughes has reportedly joined the race for Everton midfielder Jack Rodwell. The 18-year-old, who is currently a first team fixture in Everton’s senior squad and also with England’s Under 21s, is highly rated by many of the sport’s top figures and with United also interested, rivalry could be fierce as the clubs do battle for the £6 million rated teenager. The Blues will not however, move for Rodwell in the January but will wait until the summer transfer window before making a bid.

Atletico Mineiro striker Diego Tardelli is another of the club’s top targets with the Brazilian being seen as the perfect replacement for Robinho should he choose to move to Barcelona. The 24-year-old made his international début in August and was a shock omission from Brazil’s most recent squad to play England having been a regular fixture ever since the summer. The Brazilian League’s top scorer is said to be hopeful of catching the eye of City manager Mark Hughes despite his international absence and has stated his intentions to play in next summer’s World Cup Finals: “I am happy to stay behind with Atletico and I’m sure that if I work, I can get in the (Brazil) squad again. I want to go to the finals, but we knew that players based in Brazil would not be called up for these friendlies.”

Post-Match Reaction: A fourth consecutive draw for the Blues saw City rise to fourth in the table. Only days after the Birmingham City takeover was complete, their new owners watched as ‘the Brum’ outplayed Hughes’ men but only came away with a point from a lacklustre 0-0 draw. Despite a first clean sheet in nine game, City weren’t able to break the deadlock and were lucky to gain anything from the match as Shay Given kept James McFadden out from 12 yards out after Nigel de Jong handled in the box. The late dismissal of Barry Ferguson gave the travelling support something to cheer but Hughes is aware that his side will have to up their game in order to remain in the Champions’ League qualification places: “Before the season started we would have taken fourth place and one defeat at the start of November but we are a little frustrated with the number of draws that we have had. But that is how the Premier League is shaping up with lots of teams dropping points. What we have to do is make sure that when we don’t play that well, as we didn’t today, we still pick up points. If that continues then we will be fine but what we have to do is improve on what we have produced at Birmingham. We were disappointed because we know that we can do much better. Possibly this was an opportunity missed but no team is going to allow us to dictate to them and that was the case here. We have done well in the other drawn games. This was probably the one where we didn’t hit the heights. But we have still got something out of it. We failed to get any momentum in our play and it was all a little bitty. The game as a whole suffered as a consequence. We were missing key personnel and making changes that doesn’t help but that is not an excuse. We are pleased we are picking up points but today I wasn’t happy with the attacking threat. We are better than we produced. Liverpool, Spurs and Villa have all dropped points recently and that is the way things are shaping up. We have had four draws, three of them have been away from home and at places where other top sides have struggled to win and where, in fairness, City have found it difficult in the past. Shay was terrific today. He has to be the most consistent goalkeeper in the Premier League. Despite the criticism of our defence from some quarters we have a decent goals against record and it was great for Shay to keep a clean sheet today. He deserved it.”

Man of the match Shay Given was unsure as to whether the away draw was one point won or two points dropped but was very pleased to have played his part: “It is always nice to save a penalty. It is about the closest a goalkeeper gets to scoring a goal, I suppose. There is always a bit of luck involved when you stop one but the important thing is that we kept a clean sheet and took a point from a game in which we did not play at our best. Sometimes you can study penalty takers and it can throw you off. It is best to rely on instinct, try and make a decision from the run up, and stick to it. Luckily for me it worked today but it is a lottery. Nigel de Jong was certainly a relieved man. I don’t know what was happening with his handball but I don’t think the referee had any choice but to award a penalty. We came to win and we are disappointed that we didn’t but you have to give Birmingham some credit. They won last week and were determined to make it hard for us. It was tough game. Having said that we have to do better and we were not pleased by our performance. We have drawn four on the trot now but three of those were away from home and if you can win home games and pick up draws away then you generally have a decent season. Over the course of the game and considering the chances created it may not be a bad point. I will tell you in May whether the points we have been getting away from home are some gained or some dropped.”

OPINION: PROGRESSIVE SEASON

Having invested 2 hours in watching the game on the box on Sunday I was interested to read the comments in the last MCIVTA. For me the game demonstrated we are not yet a Top 4 side, just look at how Arsenal, Chelsea and Man United kill off opposition (see goal difference for an example). We are competing with Liverpool, Spurs and Villa you feel for 4th place and in the QF of the Carling Cup; let’s not be all negative.

Yes we should have had a couple of wins out of those 4 draws but last year we would have had a couple of losses instead (e.g. Fulham at home). We have moved forward, we are a different team with Adebayor up front, and Santa Cruz looks like a player coming back from a long lay off.

City remain an enigma team but then it took Chelsea a couple of seasons with the money to get the blend right (OK and a managerial change before anyone points that out). Hughes knows what’s expected of him, and given the pressure I think we are doing OK.

Where is all this dressing room strife that was predicted by the press? That seems to be under control, indeed only positive stories coming out of the club.

I would have taken 4th place and 1 narrow defeat after 10 games if you had offered it at the start of the season. You can always do better, and that is what we need to do in the next 10 games. B+ Mr Hughes for now.

OPINION: REALITY BITES

There appears to be a lot of doom and gloom on the horizon at MCIVTA. I suppose 10 games played and 4th in the Premier League borders on a relegation dogfight. Has Mark Hughes lost the plot; he will not know his best side if he doesn’t put alternative team selections out to see how they perform together.

It was obvious that Santa Cruz was short of full fitness and had the turning circle of an oil tanker at St Andrews. Barry and Tevez who have both set high standards so far were not at their best, which did not help the attacking cohesion of the team.

The City management team have bought well, the quality of the squad is the best I have seen in the 33 years I have followed City. Enjoy the ride boys and girls and let’s see where the Blues end up at the end of the season.

OPINION: THE SEASON, WHAT CAN WE DRAW FROM IT?

Four draws in a row: frustrating isn’t it? As Kolo Toure pointed out this week, we shouldn’t be happy with them.

There is, though, more than one way of looking at this sequence of results. Our draw at Birmingham, where we deserved no more than a point (and that was due largely to the brilliance of Shay Given) took us up to fourth place as Liverpool and Tottenham faltered. Hardly a reason, though, for some of the hysteria and ‘Hughes out’ comments that I have heard and read. We certainly weren’t (cliché alert) ‘firing on all cylinders at St Andrews’, as Brum knocked us off our stride from the very first kick and we failed to impose ourselves on them but it’s a fixture that we lost when we last played them two seasons ago. Indeed it’s the sort of fixture that we would have lost season, so it is an improvement. We’re showing more heart, and desire not to get beaten than in previous years.

Interestingly, fellow Blue, Andrew Shaw, this week posted a wonderful message on the MEN website, telling us of November 1974 (think flares, tank tops, The Sweet) when an injury hit City team comprised of MacRae, Hammond, Donachie, Doyle, Barrett, Oakes, Summerbee, Bell, Marsh, Henson, and Tueart went to play a struggling Birmingham at St Andrews, and got hammered 4-0. Strangely enough, that defeat also left City in fourth place in the old First Division.

Looking at the those 4 draws one by one, Villa away was a good point against a side who will compete at very least for the top six again this year. We deserved no more than a point at Wigan, who previously had given Chelsea a good beating but lost abjectly to the AIGs (Arrogant, Irritating Gits). Wigan had decided to turn up against us, so that was not such a bad result. No disrespect to Fulham, who are a decent side who finished 7th last season but we should have won that game as we were 2-0 up. We have to defend better and learn to (another cliché) close out games. Credit where credit is due though to Roy Hodgson (is he the next England manager?) and his team. Given apart, no one really played to their full potential at Birmingham but we still got a point. All of these draws, including Fulham at home, are fixtures that we would probably have lost last season. So surely the draws, even if they are quite not what we want, represent improvement? Put another way, it’s four more points than we would have had not so long ago. Hughes is making progress with us.

Sam Duxbury told us in MCIVTA 1580 that ‘Hughes has lost it’ and ‘always said he never had it as soon as he goes we will then see an improvement’. He added ‘We will not be in the top 4 or the top 6’.

What has Hughes ‘lost’, exactly? What is that based on? Oh come on, Sam, don’t be coy, give us your reasons why you think that!

That facts tell us that the only thing Mark Hughes has lost is a Manchester derby in very dubious circumstances. Indeed, fourth place with a game in hand after ten games suggests that Mark Hughes is very much improving the team.

That doesn’t mean that everything he does is right and that everything is rosy in the garden. No manager goes through a career without making mistakes. I do think that Gareth Barry should be getting forward more from central midfield, and that we do not need to play two central midfield players so deep as de Jong and he are playing. De Jong is a very good, international class midfield destroyer in the mould of Makalele, and Barry is a very good box-to-box international class midfield player. We need to see more of that energy and drive, so that we can impose ourselves on teams more. Hughes needs to unleash that.

Our attacking players also can do better all round. SWP works very hard indeed up and down the right flank but he must improve his final ball. Our shooting was rather wayward too against Brum, and our movement must improve so that we don’t have situations where our target man is isolated like Roque Santa Cruz was at St Andrews.

Clearly our defending needs to improve markedly, having gone 8 games without a clean sheet. Whilst there is no evidence just yet to suggest that he is an improvement on Dunney, I’m not inclined to heap criticism on Joleon Lescott. Let’s not forget that these are still players that are getting used to each other, and Kolo Toure’s season has been disrupted by a nasty bang on the heel.

Mark Hughes went for John Terry in the summer, and we need someone who will head the ball out like he does, especially at set pieces, rather like Dunney used to do for us. Kolo Toure’s main strength is in his tight marking and his pace, rather than his aerial ability, so if Lescott is to remain as a first choice centre half alongside Toure, he must become the main man who attacks the ball.

I can see Nedum Onuoha, when fit, becoming the main powerhouse at centre back, as he is good in the air, quick and a clean tackler who reads the game well. That chance may come when Toure is away at the African Nations Cup early next year. Currently there is also the option of playing Lescott at left back, where he played often for Everton. Wayne Bridge, whilst good going forward, hasn’t always convinced as a defender, so even more competition for his spot is welcome. Zabaleta should be the first choice right back. He has good positional sense, and is also very good going forward: a tenacious, accomplished right back who knows his job well. Micah still has a lot to learn and has a chance now to see how it should be done.

So to next Saturday and we really do need to get back on track with a good win over Burnley. The Clarets play good football but we have to overpower them with our own skill and strength. With Toure and Adebayor likely to be back in our side, we should do better.

OPINION: ON TRACK

Despite the last four games in the league ending in draws, with three of them away and just one at home, City are still fourth from the top of the league with a game in hand. Villa, Wigan, and Birmingham are all teams that have improved, with Fulham also a team to be reckoned with.

Three of the games we came close to winning but the Birmingham game was a lucky draw, due to Shay Given keeping a clean sheet.

So instead of seeing how the oppositions are playing, some people can only see the City team. Some criticism is very valid but never gives credit to the opposition for the way they play against City.

I don’t understand how someone can from the start of the season, and continues, to want Mark Hughes out, stating the next manager will still have money to buy new players? Does someone not understand all the money in the World will just not buy the top players who are already playing for the top clubs in the World?

City with Mark Hughes as the manager or even any other manager, must walk before they can run.

Up to now, even though many of us feel that we should have won some of the drawn games, City are in a good position in the league, and are in the quarter final of the League Cup; how can we complain about that?

As I said at the very start of the season: give Mark Hughes and his players a chance this season, and then, and only then decide on a true evaluation of the manager and team.

Be critics without calling for the manager’s head; he does not deserve it. To criticize the games and subs, that is totally different but wait until the end of the season to judge the manager and team – don’t rock the boat!

I would like to see City playing 4-3-3 but until the defence gets sorted out, I feel that it will be a 4-4-2 in most games. Yes, City are not perfect but have come a long way in one year, and yes more improvements to be made come January.

Come on you Blues!

OPINION: CITY DITTY

I’ve an urge and a compulsion to correspond with McVitee
Mainly due to fans who are getting slightly sh*tty
So here’s my brief foray in the costume of a ditty
Why I love the Blues and why Sparkie shouldn’t quit(ty)… cringe!

It seems a loud minority have formed a sad committee
They think MH and the boys are trying way too itty-bitty
But I see we are in fourth and to me that’s very pretty
And we’ll soon be third because it’s five-nil for Hull City

I understand it’s not good to be quiet as a kitty
But whinging when we’re doing well really is a pity
Our boys just need some time to get into the nitty-gritty
So let’s be more like patient and a little less like skitty

So thank you for your time and I hope you found this witty
So sing ‘Blue Moon’ because the future’s n****y bright at City

RESULTS

4 November 2009

West Ham United       2 - 1  Aston Villa           30,024

League table to 04 November 2009 inclusive

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F   A   GD Pts
 1 Chelsea         11  5  0  0 15  1  4  0  2 13  7  9  0  2  28   8  20  27
 2 Manchester Utd  11  5  1  0 13  7  3  0  2 10  4  8  1  2  23  11  12  25
 3 Arsenal         10  5  0  0 20  4  2  1  2 12  9  7  1  2  32  13  19  22
 4 Manchester City 10  3  1  0 10  5  2  3  1  8  6  5  4  1  18  11   7  19
 5 Tottenham H.    11  3  0  2 10  6  3  1  2 11 11  6  1  4  21  17   4  19
 6 Liverpool       11  4  0  1 17  4  2  0  4  8 12  6  0  5  25  16   9  18
 7 Aston Villa     11  3  1  1  7  4  2  2  2  8  7  5  3  3  15  11   4  18
 8 Sunderland      11  4  1  1 15  9  1  1  3  5  8  5  2  4  20  17   3  17
 9 Stoke City      11  3  1  2  8  7  1  3  1  3  6  4  4  3  11  13  -2  16
10 Burnley         11  5  0  1 10  5  0  0  5  2 17  5  0  6  12  22 -10  15
11 Fulham          10  3  0  2  7  5  1  2  2  6  8  4  2  4  13  13   0  14
12 Wigan Athletic  11  2  1  2  5  8  2  0  4  7 13  4  1  6  12  21  -9  13
13 Everton         10  2  3  1  9 10  1  0  3  4  6  3  3  4  13  16  -3  12
14 Birmingham City 11  2  2  2  4  4  1  0  4  4  8  3  2  6   8  12  -4  11
15 Bolton Wndrs    10  1  2  3  8 13  2  0  2  6  6  3  2  5  14  19  -5  11
16 West Ham United 11  1  2  2  9 10  1  2  3  6  8  2  4  5  15  18  -3  10
17 Wolves          11  1  2  2  4  6  1  2  3  7 12  2  4  5  11  18  -7  10
18 Blackburn R.    10  3  1  1  8  6  0  0  5  3 18  3  1  6  11  24 -13  10
19 Hull City       11  2  1  2  4  7  0  1  5  4 17  2  2  7   8  24 -16   8
20 Portsmouth      11  1  0  5  7  8  1  1  3  2  7  2  1  8   9  15  -6   7

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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?

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official Supporters Club” (http://www.mcfcosc.com/); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.mancitycsa.com/) and “The International Supporters’ Club”.

[6] Where can I find out about Points of Blue (formerly the Fans’ Committee)?

The committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. Points of Blue appears on the club website as a minor entry under “Fans Zone”.

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

The Radio Manchester (née GMR) pre and post match phone-in is available on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/sport/manchester_city/index.shtml.

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found at http://mcfc.videoloungetv.com/do/preLogin?clubSiteCode=MCFC&CMP=AFC-003.

[8] 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://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer, http://www.soccertv.com/, and http://www.livesoccertv.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: