Newsletter #587

City’s slump in form continues with defeat at Oakwell on Saturday. JR’s boys will be looking for all the points on Saturday against leaders Charlton. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for them.

I forgot to add a comment last issue (so keen to get the format right), so I’ll make amends by saying ‘Hi’ to all my mates in London. I miss you guys, although I’m glad I don’t have to deal with Terry Neill’s shoulder massages any more :o)

A rather spartan issue, with no match reports and a semi-Why Blue, but plenty of news nonetheless.

NEWS SUMMARY

City Drop to Fourth After Defeat

Manchester City dropped to fourth place in Division One on Saturday after a 2-1 defeat at Barnsley. Shaun Goater’s 86th-minute strike couldn’t rescue a point for the Blues, who had trailed to first-half goals from John Curtis and Craig Hignett. The result means that Saturday’s hosts move up into third place, a point ahead of the Blues. The Tykes are behind Ipswich only on goal difference after the East Anglians’ 2-1 reverse at Wolves. However, City do have a game in hand over the two sides immediately above them. Runaway leaders Charlton surprisingly lost at home to struggling Swindon while Birmingham missed a chance to force their way into the automatic promotion reckoning after losing at Tranmere.

Royle Blasts Match Officials

Joe Royle blasted the match officials after the Blues’ defeat at Oakwell on Saturday. The City manager felt that the Tykes’ crucial second goal was offside. Craig Hignett extended Barnsley’s lead on the stroke of half-time, but Royle fumed, “I don’t want to say more because I will get into trouble but in my mind it’s clear that the goal should not have been allowed.” And the Blues’ boss was also disappointed with his own side, who failed to convert second-half possession into chances. “I don’t think we made much of the possession we had in the second half until the last ten minutes,” he admitted.

Royle Blames Weaver Again

Nicky Weaver was held responsible for two QPR goals in City’s defeat last Wednesday. And Joe Royle again blamed his goalkeeper for the strike which laeft the Blues playing catch-up from the fourth minute at Barnsley on Saturday. The City manager was angry that the Tykes’ second goal was allowed, feeling that Craig Hignett was in an offside position before beating Weaver. But Royle had no sympathy with the England under-21 man over John Curtis’ opener. “Our goalkeeper should have done better at the near post for the first goal,” said the Blues’ boss after the match. Royle also confirmed that when he submits his report on the referee, he’ll give a less-than-flattering evaluation of the performance of Birmingham official Andy Hall.

Bassett: We Deserved to Win

Dave Bassett saw his Barnsley side climb into third place in the Division One table with Saturday’s win over Manchester City. And the Oakwell boss was in no doubt that his side deserved to take all three points from the match. Bassett admitted that Craig Hignett’s 45th-minute goal had given his side crucial extra breathing space – but thought that his players could then have killed the game off. “It was nice to go in at 2-0 because City were always going to give everything,” he reflected, “but we had some good opportunities to make it 3-0 which would have put the game beyond them.” The Tykes have now made up six points on City in the space of a week, taking seven points from their last three games.

City Look to Shore Up Defence

Many reports on City’s defeat at Barnsley have focused on the lack of midfield creativity. But the Blues’ current poor run is arguably down to increased defensive frailty. After the win at Charlton on November 20, Joe Royle’s side were four points clear at the Division One summit – a position which owed less to flair than to a fine defensive record of nine clean sheets in 18 games. But City have managed to shut the opposition out only three times in the seventeen fixtures since then, and have conceded at least one goal in each of the last eight games. The result is that the Blues are no longer grinding out crucial 1-0 wins – the victory at The Valley almost four months ago was the fifth and last such scoreline this term.

Goater Wants to Put Club Before Country

Manchester City striker Shaun Goater wants to play in as many games as possible in the promotion run-in. And the Bermudian front man would even be prepared to miss his country’s World Cup qualifiers to help the Blues. Goater scored a hat-trick in the 5-1 win over British Virgin Islands last week but missed the Blues’ visit to Crystal Palace to play in the game. And he’s hoping that the Selhurst Park clash will be the last for which he’s absent. “I am basically then going to ask that I am not involved in the April matches,” he told the Manchester Evening News. “Having seen the competition, I think the Bermudian lads could make progress without me. I will be talking to Joe Royle and to Bermuda and hoping it can all be sorted out.”

City in Surprise Striker Swoop

Manchester City have signed Bradford striker Lee Mills on loan to the end of the season. The player made his début in Saturday’s trip to Barnsley. The 29-year-old was the Bantams’ top scorer in their promotion season last year but has recently fallen out with manager Paul Jewell. It’s being reported that the ex-Wolves, Derby and Port Vale front man could earn himself a permanent £1 million move to Maine Road if he impresses during his loan. Last Friday’s move comes as something of a surprise, with Bradford chairman Geoffrey Richmond having said earlier in the week that his club had turned down requests from Wolves, Huddersfield and Walsall to borrow the player.

Change of Heart Saw Mills Join City

Bradford City’s official website claims that Lee Mills had initially turned down a loan move to Maine Road. The player had indicated that although he was attracted by the prospect of a transfer to the Blues, he would only be prepared to make the switch on a permanent basis. It’s thought that the 29-year-old would command a fee of around £1 million if City do eventually decide to make the deal permanent. Joe Royle will be hoping the player can repeat his Division One form of last season, when his 25 goals were crucial in earning the Bantams’ promotion.

Mills Looking to Seal Permanent Move

Lee Mills will be at Maine Road until the end of the season. But if the 29-year-old front man has his way, it could be just the start of a much longer Manchester City career. Mills, who made his début in Saturday’s disappointing 2-1 reverse at Barnsley, is hoping to fire the Blues to promotion – just as he did at Valley Parade last term, when his 23 league goals were instrumental in the Bantams’ own ascent into the Premiership. And after a fall-out with Bradford boss Paul Jewell, Mills would be only too happy if he could inspire a similar feat for City and then sign permanently. “I am delighted Manchester City want me on board for their promotion push and it follows that if I do well and they want me then it could become permanent,” he told the Manchester Evening News.

Royle: New Front Pair Will Get Better

City’s new strike pairing of Shaun Goater and Lee Mills failed to shine at Barnsley on Saturday. But Joe Royle feels that the combination will improve as both men regain their sharpness in the weeks to come. Bermudian international Goater was jaded after playing his second game in four days after a gruelling round-trip to represent his country in a World Cup qualifier earlier in the week. And with eight days to rest before the visit of Charlton, the City top-scorer should be raring to go against the Addicks. Mills, meanwhile, has seen no first-team action since an inury lay-off at Bradford and lacked sharpness on his City début. But manager Royle feels that the striker “will be better for working with us over the next few days.”

Calderwood Considering City Offer

Manchester City are attempting to follow the loan signing of Lee Mills with a similar deal for Colin Calderwood. The Aston Villa defender is thinking the move over but looks set to opt for Nottingham Forest instead of the Blues. Calderwood has made 15 Premiership appearances this season for Villa but has not featured at all in the club’s run to the semi-final of the FA Cup. Villa boss John Gregory has indicated that the ex-Spurs player won’t be offered a new deal when his current contract expires in the summer. It’s thought that the Blues’ need for the player is short-term only, while Forest boss David Platt has already spoken openly of his desire to complete a permanent signing when the ex-Spurs man is out of contract at the end of the season.

More Defender Links as City Wait for Calderwood

Manchester City are still trying to persuade Colin Calderwood to join the club on loan for the rest of the season. But Monday’s Manchester Evening News has listed a number of potential alternative targets. It’s thought that Calderwood is hoping for a permanent rather than a loan transfer, and two un-named Midlands clubs are said to be interested in granting his wish. And if the Blues do miss out on the Scot, they may turn their sights to Blackburn’s ex-Everton defender Craig Short. The 31-year-old was signed during the reign of former Rovers boss Brian Kidd but is now out of favour. The paper also reports that the Blues have been monitoring non-Premiership defenders Chinese international Fan Zhiyi of Crystal Palace, Blackpool’s Clarke Carlisle and Luton’s Gary Doherty.

Jobson to Stand Down if Defender Signs?

Manchester City will hear soon if Colin Calderwood will join on loan for the rest of the season. And if the Scot does move to Maine Road, Richard Jobson may be the man whose place is under threat. The 36-year-old has played in 38 successive league and cup games after a 16-month absence through injury. But when the ex-Oldham man returned in August after his long lay-off, boss Joe Royle made clear that he hoped to use Jobson sparingly as a deputy for the first choice pair of Andy Morrison and Gerard Wiekens. Injuries first to the Dutchman and then the City skipper have put paid to this strategy but the arrival of a new central defender, whether or not it’s Calderwood, could see Royle give the former England squad player a break.

Vaughan “Coming Back to City”

Tony Vaughan’s loan spell at Nottingham Forest is coming to an end, and a Press Association report on Sunday is stating that the player will return to Maine Road. It’s claimed that the clubs were unable to agree a fee for the player, who picked up an injury in his final Forest appearance on Saturday. Platt had earlier spoken of his wish to sign the former Ipswich man, and the Forest boss has supposedly said he’ll monitor the situation with an eye on a possible future deal. The player impressed at the City Ground, and Forest conceded just two goals in the 447 minutes he was on the pitch – compared with a total of five conceded in the 93 minutes he wasn’t. However, any thoughts of a recall for Vaughan from Joe Royle will have to be put on hold – the player is likely to be out for three weeks after sustaining a knee injury playing for Forest at Portsmouth at the weekend.

More Changes on the Cards?

Joe Royle has been unable to find a winning blend in recent weeks. And more team changes could be on the cards as the Blues’ manager bids to find a combination to beat table-topping Charlton at the weekend. Royle started with Jamie Pollock and Jeff Whitley in central midfield at Barnsley on Saturday, but made changes at the interval with the Blues two down. And the City boss felt that the arrival of the 34-year-old playmaker in place of Danny Granville inspired an improved second-half showing. The ex-West Ham man could now start against the Addicks in Sunday’s big televised clash as City bid to halt a slide which has seen only three points won in the last five games.

Mixed Fortunes for Loan Men

Terry Cooke scored a vital goal on Saturday in the second game of his loan spell at Wigan. But Craig Russell is returning to Maine Road after completing a month at Oxford. Cooke was on the mark to earn the Latics a point with a late equaliser at Chesterfield. And the winger appears to be living up to his pledge to regain form at the JJB Stadium with a view to fighting for a first-team place when he returns to Maine Road. But forgotten man Russell, who hasn’t featured for the Blues in more than a year, is to return after failing to find the net in six outings for Oxford. Boss Denis Smith needs to sign a goalkeeper on loan as cover for the injured Andre Arendse.

Haaland Keen to Stay at Leeds

Alf-Inge Haaland seemed on the verge of joining Manchester City last month but the move never materialised. And the player has now earned himself a recall at Leeds and is hoping to seal his long-term future with the Elland Road club. Haaland was reportedly outstanding in both legs of the UEFA Cup tie against Roma recently and is set to make his fifth successive appearance for David O’Leary’s side at Bradford this afternoon. And the Norwegian said, “Obviously there were always questions going round in my head like, ‘Will I ever play again?’. But I’m here now and I’ve just got to keep taking my chance.” If he does so, it could scupper any plans Joe Royle may have to resurrect the deal in the summer should City win promotion.

City Eyeing Scottish Youngster

Manchester City are said to be monitoring the progress of St. Johnstone’s Danny Griffin. The 22-year-old defender is out of contract in the summer. According to Soccernet, the player has indicated his desire to move on at the end of the season, when he’ll be available for a tribunal-assessed fee. And the Blues are said to have had scouts at Parkhead on Saturday to watch the player turn out against Celtic. Reports claim that Griffin, who plays either in central defence or at right-back, has also caught the eye of Charlton and Portsmouth.

Royle Looking to Prove Critics Wrong

Manchester City’s recent poor form has caused many critics to question the team’s promotion credentials. But Joe Royle remains defiant and is hoping to silence the doubters. “We’ve been written off now for a number of weeks but we’re not writing ourselves off,” said the City boss, who appears to be taking a leaf out of Alex Ferguson’s book by using such comments as a motivational tool. And Royle knows that if his team can halt their losing run quickly, the automatic promotion prize is still there for the taking. Despite winning only three out of the last 15 points at stake, the Blues still have their fate in their own hands – unlike Ipswich and Barnsley.

City Fan Spreads the Word in Goa

A small enclave of Manchester City fanaticism is springing up in the unlikely setting of Goa. Blues’ fan Graham Shaw is a regular visitor to the Indian resort and has been pursuing an evangelical mission there. The 51-year-old Maine Road season ticket holder has regularly taken City mamorabilia with him on his trips and has now also given 22 old City shirts to local youngsters. The gifts have been received with great enthusiasm, and Shaw told the Manchester Evening News, “They were delighted with the shirts and I reckon that City now have a new supporters’ club.”

Local Paper’s Goater Gaffe

A local north west newspaper has been ridiculed after a surprise feature on Shaun Goater. A photograph of the City striker in a ‘Face in the Crowd’ competition. The free daily News North West recently snapped Goater while he was shopping in Altrincham’s George Street, and the Blues’ top scorer intends to donate his £50 prize to Manchester Chuldren’s Hospital. A club spokesman said, “Shaun finds this very funny. As long as he isn’t anonymous on the pitch, that’s all that counts. They certainly recognise him when he’s out there.”

City Old Boy Charged After Fracas

Former City midfielder Michael Brown has been charged with public order offences after a fracas in Manchester on Saturday. Stockport’s Tony Dinning has been charged with affray over the same incident. The pair were drinking in city centre bar ‘The Living Room’ on Saturday evening. Police were called at 9.20 p.m. and one officer subsequently suffered slight injuries. Brown, who joined Sheffield United from the Blues in January, has been bailed to appear before magistrates on March 16 together with Dinning and a third man who, like the two footballers, is from Cheadle Heath.

City to Probe Police Clash

Manchester City have asked South Yorkshire police for a report into a half-time incident when the Blues visited Barnsley on Saturday. Police are alleged to have charged City fans indiscriminately when called to an incident at a burger bar underneath the stand housing the away support. Online message boards have been filled with claims of excessive police force and the club has confirmed it will look into the matter, with director Chris Bird commenting, “I have already asked the police inspector in charge for a full report of what took place and our safety officer will be contacting his counterpart at Barnsley as part of our investigation.” Meanwhile, 14 fans, including ten from Manchester, were arrested for public order offences at the match – although none of the arrests related to the incident in question.

COMPLAINTS AGAINST POLICE – BARNSLEY MATCH

Any fans with a direct complaint with the police connected to the Barnsley match should write to:

Disciplinary and Complaints Department
South Yorkshire Police
Windsor Road
Heeley
Sheffield
S8 8UB

This address was given to the Fans’ Committee, to pass onto fans. This will ensure all complaints are dealt with directly by the police. Manchester City FC can do nothing apart from forward complaints onto the address above. Manchester City FC are also looking into what happened, but any complaints can only be dealt with by the police, not the club.

MANCITY.NET LAUNCHES WEB-BASED E-MAIL SERVICE

The Manchester City international supporters’ site at http://www.mancity.net/ is introducing a web-based e-mail service. This means that account holders will be able to check their e-mail through a web browser by accessing their account from the http://www.mancity.net/ frontpage. The new arrangement replaces our previous service whereby messages were forwarded to the user’s nominated e-mail account. Existing users should note that their current addresses will be valid, but they, like new users, will not be able to use the service until they have registered and nominated a password. To register, please visit: http://mancity.hosting.coconut.co.uk/register.html or follow the link from the http://www.mancity.net/ frontpage. We hope to go live with the new service by the middle of this week.

CITY PLAYER IN INTERNATIONAL CALL-UP

Chris Killen, the New Zealander in the Man City youth squad has been picked for the New Zealand under-23 Olympic squad to play a friendly in Japan on Wednesday 29th March 2000, kick off at 19.00hrs (local time) at the National Stadium, Tokyo, as a curtain raiser to a full international between Japan and another side (not NZ).

RUN-IN FIXTURES

If you’re interested, as with last season I have put together a simple site with the run-in fixtures for all the teams that matter (and Bolton) arranged team-by-team and day-by-day.

Check it out at: http://www.bluemanc.demon.co.uk/football/fixtures.htm

BLUE MOON FOR NOKIA MOBILE

I remember reading in a previous MCIVTA that somebody wanted the Blue Moon ring tones for a Nokia 3201. My girlfriend has this programmed into her Nokia 3201, so I will gladly send it automatically to whoever asked for it, if they send me their mobile telephone number.

Her phone rang when we were at The Swamp super[?]store with my youngest child on his birthday, who has been coerced away from the Academy by my Rag-supporting ex wife. How I loved hearing the dulcit tones of Blue Moon echoing around the store. And yes, before you ask, we did get out alive… just. Any ideas how to bring my child back to the One True Faith? My girlfriend has even given him her collection of City home programmes from seasons 1981, 82 and 83, along with all her ticket stubs from the same seasons but it has strangely made no impression at all!

OPINION – CLOSET RAGS

The whole anti-rag debate is a great one. In fact, I like it so much, I think I’ll add my humble opinion to the stew.

Let’s look at a couple of things before we start off. We support Manchester City, yes? I should hope so anyroad. Would any of you buy, say… a replica United kit? How about a season ticket to The Theatre of B*****ks? Nah… ermm. Well, what about proper, leather handphone case with the United logo emblazoned for all to see? Any of these things? No, none of us would commit such sins; all would need at least 500 bloody, erm, hail Marys and a couple Lord’s Prayers thrown in to make up for.

We wouldn’t do these things because they are the job of the supporter… the United supporter. As we have established, we support Manchester City (I should hope so). Such things would be sin because we would be supporting another club, and therefore we would be committing the act of ‘Cheating on one’s Football Team’ (phew). And that’s quite a sin (one requiring Bloody Marys and all that stuff…).

However, some of us choose to take this love for one’s club one step further. Once the clubs that one does not support make known to the general population that this is our sponsor (Vodafone for instance), we as supporters should not make this sponsor any money. We wouldn’t because, once again, this would be cheating. It’s all a simple rule of football; written in section 54.439922a of the ‘How to be a supporter’ rule-book.

All sarcasm aside, some of us, as said before, take this step. Only some. I, personally, do. Does this make me a true supporter? No, it doesn’t. It doesn’t make me anything but a silly young lad who fancies his club above another to the point that he refuses to make his club’s arch enemy money. Or anything tied in with that club. Or anything tied in to something that’s tied in with that club. Period. But this is what I do. It doesn’t make me a true supporter, once again.

Tony O’Leary has gotten his fair share of stick for having an opinion that differs, I feel. But how he chooses to support City is no one’s business but his own. It doesn’t make him an untrue Blue if he doesn’t boycott everyone in United’s path. It surely doesn’t make him a f***ing Rag! It makes him a supporter who supports his Club differently from some. I won’t flatter myself by saying: “I, only, know the TRUE way of supporting. I am right, you are wrong… and everything you say can and will be used against you.” That’s silly. And it’s damned insulting to Tony, who loves his club enough to subscribe to a silly old Internet newsletter, read it, enjoy it… and even add to it.

Tony, you do well mate. You support our Manchester City, and don’t let those who support it differently tell you you’re wrong. But extend the same courtesy to others who choose to support it differently from you. We’re all loyal. We support Manchester City for cor’s sake. We love this club, and we should all stick together, not type silly things about who’s the better supporter.

OPINION II

MCIVTA 585 saw Christine brilliantly tell it like it is. And I whole-heartedly agreed with her comments upon the matter of fan support. Just today, I was reading up on news about Man City. I came across some comments made by Nicky Weaver in regards to just that and his mistakes versus QPR.

He said: “I was happy that the fans backed me after the mistakes. It’s not very nice when more than 30,000 people have a go at you. But the fans didn’t and they gave me a great reception when I came out for the second half – and I appreciated that.”

“It’s nice that they tried to lift me. They knew how badly it was hurting me after what had happened and they wanted to help. I can only thank them for that. When you’ve done something like that you know it’s your fault and you apologise and get on with it. Having the fans behind me like that was tremendous.”

As Christine said, we need to get behind our players, and support all of them for the full 90 minutes. We should be supporters of the club. Not sitting on their backs waiting for them to crumble underneath us. The results will speak for themselves, and at least Nicky Weaver was made to feel better… and perhaps the nerves were cut down a bit and even a bigger QPR scoreline was prevented. We do need to get behind our lads and push them forward, not get in the way of them. Let’s live up to the old cliché of “A friend that sticketh closer than a brother” as we have for so long now. Cheers to all…

OPINION III – THE RUN IN

City Fans – Do Not Panic.

As I write The Goat has just pulled one back against Barnsley. Whether or not we get anything today, we will probably struggle next week against Charlton. Then we will win eight games on the trot.

So, if you are going to panic, do it in an orderly fashion 🙂 The bad one is away to Blackburn, but it will not matter by then. P.S. I just moved from Manchester to Luton so there are 3 of us 🙂

OPINION IV

Well, let’s have a quick overview of City so far, we’re in the top 6, still in with a chance of automatic spot, so let’s go back a few months; we are 2-nil down, the board is put up and the time shows 2 minutes, thousands of Blues leave the stadium and we are writing about City vs. Stoke or the trouble at Millwall again.

Instead we’re in the 1st Division, a few games to go and in with a shout of returning to the Premiership, so hands up all those who thought we would do so well. And if we do not go up are there going to be Bernstein/Royle out protests or shouting this team’s s****?

We will be financially secure, some of the young faces from the reserves will get a chance to enter the team and gain experience, rather than thrown into the Premiership to be pilloried for not being good enough by sections of the fans.

New blood will be bought, we will have the money; look at teams like Brum, £2 million in debt, no players allowed to be bought, Palace likely to be gone. To those who think Royle doesn’t want us to go up, well we live in a democracy so you’re allowed your views, daft as they are.

To the Edghill-baiters: were you at the game against QPR or does him being coloured help you vent your spite? Who hears shouts against Granville or Bishop when they mis-time a pass the way Edghill gets the stick? He is wearing our colours, he plays with passion. Unfortunately for some of you he is not white. So to those sad w….. who pick on him for his colour, you know where I sit, I can respond 🙂

OPINION V

Every once in a while you read something that makes you laugh out loud and keeps you chuckling for hours. In a recent MCIVTA Andy Noise’s opinion about not using Sharp products had this side-splitting effect on me. The bit about getting sacked for getting his sums wrong all the time after he wouldn’t have a sharp computer on his desk but instead tried to use a Brother knitting machine did it for me. Well done Andy keep ’em coming.

OPINION VI

Who the hell is Lee Mills? What about Noel Whelan? Signing Mills kind of vetoes that possibility doesn’t it? And if we go up, do we still have first dibs on Kinkladze? He’s putting himself about at last, and with those skills… awesome. We keep picking up no names as strikers. Can’t fathom out why. Come back soon Andy Morrison, we need some metal! First person to sign if we go up and he’s available: Lee Dixon, just to get us firmly entrenched back in the Premiership. Hey and he’s suddenly scoring goals, go figure?

HUMOUR – FOOTY SONGS

David Beckham – Man I Feel Like A Woman (Shania Twain).
Mark Bosnich – Whip It (Devo).
Stan Collymore – Do You Know Where You’re Going To (Diana Ross).
Michael Owen – Teenage Kicks (Undertones).
Gerard Houlier & Emile Heskey – Got My Mind Set On You (George Harrison).
Manchester City F.C. – The Only Way Is Up (Yazz & The Plastic Population).
Manchester City F.C. – Which Way Is Up (Starguard).
David Beckham – Lonely Boy (Andrew Gold).
Terry Cooke & Joe Royle – Communication Breakdown (Led Zeppelin).
Manchester City F.C. – We Gotta Get Out Of This Place (Animals).
David Beckham – Girls Just Wanna Have Fun (Cyndi Lauper).
Robbie Fowler – White Lines (Grandmaster Flash).
All 40 Scottish League Teams – Why Does It Always Rain On Me (Travis).
Roy Keane – Fight For Your Right To Party (Beastie Boys).
Stan Collymore – Smack My Bitch Up (Prodigy).
Terry Cooke – Can I Kick It (A Tribe Called Quest).
David Beckham – I’m Mandy, Fly Me (10cc).
Denis Bergkamp – In The Air Tonight (Phil Collins).
Tony Adams – Tea For Two (Traditional).
Paulo Di Canio & Tommy Burns – I Only Wanna Be With You (Dusty Springfield).
Terry Cooke – Blue Moon (The Marcels).
David Beckham – Leave Me Alone (Michael Jackson).
Mark Kennedy – Thriller (Michael Jackson).
Paul Gascoine – Bad (Michael Jackson).
Georgie Kinkladze – Driving In My Car (Madness).
Alan Ball – Memories (Elaine Page).
Geoff Hurst – Memories Are Made Of This (Dean Martin).
Ulrika Johnsson – Ever Fallen In Love With Someone You Shouldn’t Have (Buzzcocks).
David Beckham – Pretty Vacant (Sex Pistols).
Nicky Weaver – You Need Hands (Max Bygraves).
Graham Taylor & Danny Wilson – All I Need Is A Miracle (Mike & The Mechanics).
Danny Wilson – Help (The Beatles).
Martin O’Neill – I Just Can’t Control Myself (Mindbenders).
Dave Challinor – I Can See For Miles (The Who).
Robbie Fowler – The Drugs Don’t Work (The Verve).
Clive Allen – I Get Around (Beach Boys).
Roy Keane – Wide Eyed & Legless (Andy Fairweather-Lowe).
Paul Merson – The Changing Man (Paul Weller).
Gianlucca Vialli – A Change Would Do You Good (Sheryl Crow).
Bobby Robson – Homelovin’ Man (Andy Williams).
Kevin Keegan – I Believe (The Batchelors).
Leicester City F.C. – Smash It Up (The Damned).
Terry Cooke – Don’t You Want Me (Human League).
Glen Hoddle – Come On Eileen (Dexy’s Midnight Runners).
Gordon Strachan – Rave On (Buddy Holly).
Vinnie Jones – Macho Man (Village People).
Gary & Phil Neville – We Are Family (Sister Sledge).
Manchester City F.C. Wembley Play-Off Team – Heroes (David Bowie).
Stuart Pearce – I Will Survive (Gloria Gaynor).
Martin O’Neill – Shout (Lulu).
David Beckham – Walk On The Wild Side (Lou Reed).
Bobby Robson – So Good To Be Back Home Again (Tourists).
Millwall Supporters – Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting (Elton John).
Manchester City F.C. – Those Were The Days (Mary Hopkin).
Manchester City F.C. – Coming Up (Paul McCartney).
Joe Royle & Terry Cooke – What Have You Done For Me Lately (Janet Jackson).
Ronaldo – The Chipmunk Song (Alvin & The Chipmunks).
Stan Collymore – Destination Anywhere (The Commitments).
Charlie Nicholas – Sharp Dressed Man (ZZ Top).
Jonathan Pearce – Hyperactive (Thomas Dolby).
Shaun Goater – The Ugly Duckling (Traditional).
Graham Taylor – Panic (The Smiths).
Rafael Scheidt – Oh Shit (The Buzzcocks).
Graham Rix – Baby One More Time (Britney Spears).
Graham Rix – Baby Love (The Supremes).
Lee Bowyer & Jonathan Woodgate – Somebody’s Gonna Get Their Head Kicked In Tonight (Rezillos).
Tony Cottee – Been Around The World (East 17).
Manchester City F.C. – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet (Bachman Turner Overdrive).
Bolton Wanderers F.C. – Like A Yo-Yo (Sabrina).
Emile Heskey – Fox On The Run (Sweet).
Millwall Supporters – Borstal Breakout (Sham 69).
George Best – A Glass Of Champagne (Sailor).
Terry Cooke – Alone (Heart).
Ally McCoist – The Joker (Steve Miller Band).
Emile Heskey – Should I Stay Or Should I Go (The Clash).
George Graham – London Calling (The Clash).
The Ticket Touts – Stand & Deliver (Adam & The Ants).
Wolverhampton Wanderers F.C. – When We Were Fab (George Harrison).
Ipswich Town F.C. – I Missed Again (Phil Collins).
Middlesboro F.C. – Up & Down (The Vengaboys).
Graham Rix – West End Girls (Pet Shop Boys).
Stan Collymore – Fire Brigade (The Move).
Craig Brown – Confusion (New Order).
Victoria & David Beckham – Dress You Up (Madonna).
Egil Olsen – If It Wasnae For Yer Wellies (Billy Connolly).
Roy Keane – Psycho Killer (Talking Heads).
Michael Owen – Prince Charming (Adam & The Ants).
Michael Owen – Goody Two Shoes (Adam & The Ants).
Gary Lineker – No More Mister Nice Guy (Alice Cooper).
George Graham – Dirty Cash (Eric B. & Rakim).
Craig Brown – What’s Going On (Marvin Gaye).
David Ginola – Hair (Original Cast).
Charlton Athletic F.C. – Catch Us If You Can (Dave Clark 5).
Crystal Palace F.C. – Money That’s What I Want (Flying Lizards).
Alex Ferguson – Time (David Bowie).
Danny Wilson – Somebody Help Me Out (Beggar & Co.).
Graeme Souness – Money Money Money (Abba).
Nicholas Anelka – Take The Money & Run (Steve Miller Band).
David Icke – Madness (Madness).
Paul Gascoine – Tears Are Not Enough (ABC).

WOULDN’T IT BE STRANGE IF…

• Kevin Keegan was a pessimist.
• Glenn Hoddle thought before he spoke.
• Graham Rix dated adults.
• David Batty was calm.
• Ken Bates shaved.
• Geoff Hurst’s “goal” hadn’t counted.
• Brian Clough was sober.
• Jack Charlton had been England manager.
• Alex Ferguson had been Scotland manager.
• Duncan Ferguson was a dwarf.

REQUEST I

City WIll Splash for Another Scottish Star

According to the headline in the Manchester Evening News on Thursday July 9, 1959. After removing some old lino in the hallway off my house to lay laminate flooring, underneath were some very old newspapers. Under the by-line “Three men to be watched in hush-hush swoop”, an Eric Thornton Scoop, the article went on as follows:

“Manchester City will burst into the big soccer transfer news next month and slip yet another big Scottish star into their team for the opening home League game with Nottingham Forest on Saturday, August 22. They are going to fly a hush-hush deputation North for the first of the Scottish games on August 8 and they’ll be ready to spend a five-figure cheque. At least three players will be watched – all are well-known but announcing their names would spoil negotiations. City vice-Chairman Alan Douglas told me in an exclusive interview today: “We think we should get one of them.” The most fancied of the three caught City’s eye nearly two years ago but several snags stopped a deal going through. One hitch: he was in the Services.

Back to Mr. Douglas: ‘We won’t throw money away, but recognise our weaknesses and hope to remedy them as quickly as possible. At the moment it seems we have to buy. But that’s not going to remain club policy. We have more and more promising youngsters on the staff and very soon will be rebuilding with them.’

So City should have three new men in the opening match – Andy Kerr and Clive Colbridge will also be making their debuts. Colbridge is likely to play at outside-right and I think Kerr will operate in defence – either at full-back or centre-half.

Other new season plans include; strengthening the coaching system; concentrating track work each morning at Maine Road with private practices at Urmston in the afternoons. Nobody will be allowed on the Maine Road pitch during the week, so it gets every change to improve having been re-seeded during the summer. The club will go ahead with its private parking plan for season ticket-holders.

The fact that City’s income topped £100,000 again last season does not automatically mean the club has made a profit. I would not be surprised if they lost on the year for the second time since the war.”

It would be interesting if anyone knows who City’s Scottish targets were that year and whether any of them signed.

REQUEST – EURO 2000

Following the request by David Butler (MCIVTA 583) regarding accommodation during Euro 2000, are there any Belgian or Dutch Blues out there who can help me get a ticket (or 2 or 3 or 4) for the England Rumania game in Charleroi on Tuesday 20th June? We’ve booked a ferry and accommodation but have been let down for match tickets.

Incidentally, if anybody else is going to that game, please contact me and we can arrange to have a beer. We’re staying in Namur, which is about 25 miles East of Charleroi.

REQUEST – ANY BLUES?

I live in the Niagara Region in Ontario, Canada, and am wondering if there are any fellow Blues that live in this area?

WHY BLUE?

A Nearly Why Blue

I know this isn’t the normal ‘Why Blue’ that you feature but I thought you might like to hear about a guy I met before the Crystal Palace game. His name is Pete, sorry but I don’t remember his last name as someone kept buying me beer, anyway Pete comes from Watford. Apparently when he was 9 years old he was at school when his best mate decided he was going to support U****d, so just to be different Pete thought “Ok then, I’ll support City”. The guy is now 30 odd and follows the lads home and away, all because he wanted to be different from the rest of the sheep.

I know Pete travels up to home matches on the train courtesy of Mr Branson so maybe someone else knows a bit more about him and can fill in the rest? I also gather his best mate is no more either, what a top bloke.

RESULTS

Recent results from 28 February 2000 to 12 March 2000 inclusive.

12 March 2000

Blackburn Rovers      0 - 1  Crewe Alexandra

11 March 2000

Barnsley              2 - 1  Manchester City
Bolton Wanderers      3 - 1  Fulham
Charlton Athletic     0 - 1  Swindon Town
Huddersfield Town     1 - 1  Walsall
Norwich City          0 - 1  Crystal Palace
Port Vale             2 - 3  Sheffield United
Portsmouth            2 - 1  Nottingham Forest
Queens Park Rangers   1 - 0  Grimsby Town
Stockport County      0 - 1  West Bromwich Albion
Tranmere Rovers       2 - 1  Birmingham City
Wolverhampton Wndrs   2 - 1  Ipswich Town

8 March 2000

Manchester City       1 - 3  Queens Park Rangers
Nottingham Forest     1 - 1  Norwich City

7 March 2000

Birmingham City       1 - 0  Portsmouth
Crewe Alexandra       2 - 1  Port Vale
Crystal Palace        0 - 0  Bolton Wanderers
Fulham                4 - 1  Stockport County
Grimsby Town          1 - 0  Wolverhampton Wndrs
Ipswich Town          0 - 0  Blackburn Rovers
Sheffield United      3 - 3  Barnsley
Swindon Town          2 - 0  Huddersfield Town
Walsall               2 - 4  Charlton Athletic
West Bromwich Albion  2 - 0  Tranmere Rovers

5 March 2000

Sheffield United      1 - 1  Queens Park Rangers

4 March 2000

Bolton Wanderers      0 - 2  Charlton Athletic
Crewe Alexandra       1 - 0  Norwich City
Crystal Palace        1 - 1  Manchester City
Fulham                3 - 1  Port Vale
Huddersfield Town     2 - 0  Wolverhampton Wndrs
Ipswich Town          0 - 1  Portsmouth
Nottingham Forest     3 - 1  Swindon Town
Tranmere Rovers       2 - 1  Blackburn Rovers
Walsall               1 - 0  Grimsby Town
West Bromwich Albion  0 - 3  Birmingham City

3 March 2000

Stockport County      1 - 3  Barnsley

1 March 2000

Portsmouth            1 - 2  Tranmere Rovers

29 February 2000

Blackburn Rovers      1 - 1  Norwich City

28 February 2000

Queens Park Rangers   0 - 0  Fulham

League table to 10 March 2000 inclusive.

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  GD Pts
 1 Charlton Ath.   34 13  2  2 29 11 11  3  3 36 20 24  5  5 65 31  34  77
 2 Ipswich Town    35 12  3  3 32 15  6  8  3 23 18 18 11  6 55 33  22  65
 3 Manchester City 34 12  1  4 36 15  7  6  4 18 15 19  7  8 54 30  24  64
 4 Barnsley        35 11  3  3 38 18  7  5  6 31 34 18  8  9 69 52  17  62
 5 Birmingham City 35 12  4  2 31 14  5  5  7 23 23 17  9  9 54 37  17  60
 6 Huddersfield T. 35 12  3  2 37 14  4  5  9 15 24 16  8 11 52 38  14  56
 7 Fulham          35 10  5  3 22 10  4  8  5 14 18 14 13  8 36 28   8  55
 8 Wolves          35 10  4  3 32 16  4  6  8 15 23 14 10 11 47 39   8  52
 9 Blackburn R.    35  8  7  2 24 13  4  6  8 17 25 12 13 10 41 38   3  49
10 QPR             35  6 10  1 22 15  5  5  8 23 25 11 15  9 45 40   5  48
11 Bolton Wndrs    34  8  5  4 29 20  4  6  7 15 17 12 11 11 44 37   7  47
12 Grimsby Town    35 10  5  3 25 21  3  2 12 13 32 13  7 15 38 53 -15  46
13 Norwich City    35  9  4  4 22 17  2  8  8 13 21 11 12 12 35 38  -3  45
14 Sheff. United   35  9  5  4 33 19  2  6  9 17 32 11 11 13 50 51  -1  44
15 Stockport C.    35  7  6  4 26 24  4  5  9 13 27 11 11 13 39 51 -12  44
16 Tranmere Rovers 34  8  5  3 27 18  4  2 12 17 33 12  7 15 44 51  -7  43
17 Nottm Forest    35  8  7  3 25 15  2  3 12 14 30 10 10 15 39 45  -6  40
18 Crystal Palace  35  6  9  3 27 18  3  3 11 18 36  9 12 14 45 54  -9  39
19 Crewe Alex.     35  7  5  6 20 19  3  3 11 15 26 10  8 17 35 45 -10  38
20 West Brom A.    35  4  9  5 16 19  3  6  8 13 26  7 15 13 29 45 -16  36
21 Walsall         35  5  5  8 18 24  3  5  9 19 32  8 10 17 37 56 -19  34
22 Portsmouth      35  5  5  7 23 19  3  4 11 14 33  8  9 18 37 52 -15  33
23 Port Vale       33  5  4  7 17 18  1  7  9 18 29  6 11 16 35 47 -12  29
24 Swindon Town    35  3  6  9 17 30  1  5 11  8 29  4 11 20 25 59 -34  23

WWW MANCHESTER CITY SUPPORTERS’ HOME PAGE:
http://www.uit.no/mancity/

MCIVTA ADDRESSES:
Contributions: Sean – blue@huskynet.com
News & Rumours: Peter – brophy_peter@hotmail.com
Subscriptions: Steve – sbolton@buxtonrd.u-net.com
Technical Problems: Paul – paul@city-fan.org

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.

Sean Cable, blue@huskynet.com

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