Newsletter #790
A 4-0 win on Wednesday night sees us consolidate our 2nd spot behind Wolves. Although several missed chances could have seen us inch ever nearer to the magical century, we bagged the 3 points easily.
Tonight sees a match report, Don’s news, plenty of opinion, a Why Blue and a few requests.
Coventry visit on Sunday – so be prepared if you are in the Main Stand!
Next game: Coventry City, home, 1pm Sunday 3 March 2002 (TV game)NEWS SUMMARY
General News
Here we go again: There’s been yet another alteration to the kick-off time for a City match. Due to the demands of the ITV Sport Channel, City’s trip to Gillingham on Saturday 13 April will kick off at 1.00pm. City fans must hope that such an early start might be rewarded with a promotion party. Meanwhile the NFFSC and FSA is demanding emergency talks with TV companies over their unsociable timings of the kick-offs of some televised games. A spokesman said “It has been a mounting trend but a lot of supporters are very concerned at the extent it has developed this season.”
Playground time: A rather childish dispute has broken out between our esteemed Manager and Walsall FC. KK was complaining over the weekend that the home club had not provided the City players with complimentary tickets for family and friends. Walsall’s Commercial Director Roy Whalley “We respect other clubs’ policies and expect them to do the same to ours. We don’t whinge or ask for complimentary tickets when we travel away. Maybe the fact that City hadn’t picked up the victory they were expecting had something to do with it.”
New kit & sponsorship deal: The Sunday tabloids reported that City are in negotiations with Adidas over a possible new kit deal in the summer. Said to be worth £1 million to City, Adidas would replace Le Coq Sportif, whose two year contract runs out shortly with the club. City are also said to be talking to a number of potential new shirt sponsors, as current backers Eidos are unlikely to continue their relationship next season.
Transfer News and Gossip
Goodbye to the class of ’99: So, farewell then Dicky, star of Wembley 1999 and Blackburn 2000. Paul Dickov has completed his transfer to Leicester City for a nominal fee. Dicky will be forever immortalised for the two goals he scored in those two promotion finales. Ah, the tingles in the spine just remembering those days. My last sighting of Dicky in first team action came in last month’s 10 man victory over Millwall. Dicky came on with two minutes to go to a tremendous ovation, his one contribution was to set off after a hopeless cause, trip up and fall over. Great stuff. His new manager Dave Bassett is sure Dicky has what it takes to save Filbert Fox and Co., saying “Paul is an experienced player with an eye for goal and will certainly be an asset to us in our current position.” Dickov made a 21-minute appearance for the Foxes on Saturday as a substitute, didn’t score and couldn’t prevent a 0-3 defeat. City fans paid tribute to Dickov, who lead the teams out onto the pitch before Wednesday’s game with Sheffield Wednesday, when he was presented with a framed City shirt. KK paid his own tribute to the ex-Arsenal man, saying “Paul has been a wonderful servant to Manchester City. I am delighted for him that he is moving to a Premiership club. He has been a credit to the club and we intend to introduce him to the crowd before the Sheffield Wednesday game so that the fans have the opportunity to thank him personally. We will miss him around the club and we all wish him all the best for the future.”
Sun deal almost complete: Things have gathered apace this week for Sun Jihai’s projected move to Maine Road. The application for a work permit has been granted in super quick time, taking less than a week rather than the months predicted last week. Reports from Sun’s Chinese club Dalian Shide confirmed that the defender will shortly arrive in this country to “formally join the team”, confirming that “The transfer has been completed,” with a fee of £2 million having been agreed for the left back. All that remains is for Sun to arrive and join the Blues. No date for his arrival has been set. Sun is quoted as saying, “I want to show the world what Chinese football is all about. I also hope to bring pride to the country by showing what Chinese players are made of and give a good account of myself and the nation. Manchester City have a very good coach in Keegan and they are a very good side. They are a united unit and have a very good spirit within the camp. As a football club, I feel that they are a very matured side.”
Royle recommends Tihinen: Joe Royle has been doing a spot of scouting abroad, and has been impressed by Finnish central defender Hannu Tihinen. JR has been quoted as saying “Hannu Tihinen is very good defensively and I have actually recommended him to a Division One club.” Tihinen played for half a season on loan at West Ham United, and City’s search for quality defenders has lead to speculation that the Blues may have been the club Joe was alluding to. This seems a little unlikely bearing in mind the fact that JR and City are in dispute, but if we do make a move, you know where you read it first (thanks to Tomi Metsäniemi for this story).
Goodbye to the class of ’99 (II):
The clear out at Maine Road continues apace, with news that Kevin Keegan
will be offloading a trio of the Wembley team. KK commented “It looks very
much at the moment with Richard Edghill, Andy Morrison and Terry Cooke, that
we will not be offering them anything and they know that. At some stage I
am still going to bring more players in here and the squad is a fair size at
the moment.” This has lead to immediate speculation that Richard Edghill
will soon be joining up with a former City manager. Peter Reid is a known
admirer of Edgy, and Sunderland are thought to be on the look out for a
right back. Knowing Reidy’s eye for a cheap transfer, he is expected to
sign Edgy for free once his contract runs out with City this summer.
You pays yer money…
Kevin’s clearing out of the reserve forwards is beginning to make sense, if
a report in the M.E.N. is to be believed. It is alleged that Boss Kev is
preparing to sign a top-of-the-range striker before transfer deadline day,
spending up to £10 million on the target. Who is this mystery target? Well,
the M.E.N is a little vague. The contenders are Robbie Keane or Alan Smith
at Leeds, Kevin Phillips of Sunderland, Paolo di Canio of West Ham (Yikes!
An ex-Red target!) or father to be Dwight Yorke (Double Yikes! A Rag!).
Brighton’s Bobby Zamora also gets a mention, but as he is a bit of a raw
talent he must be considered an outside bet. Just in case Manchester’s
newspaper hasn’t covered every option, it also suggests that KK might look
abroad for talent.
Swedish ace possible target:
Here’s another name to add to the list of potential targets for Boss Kev,
namely Swedish striker Marcus Allbäck. Allbäck plays for Heerenveen in the
Dutch league, and is expected to cost around £2.5 million. The striker has
scored seven goals in thirteen games for Sweden, where he plays alongside
Henrik Larsson of Celtic.
Riise to the occasion:
City’s target Bjorn Helge Riise has clearly fallen out with his club
Aalesund, who recently rejected a £750,000 bid from Boss Kev for the player.
Riise, brother of Liverpool’s John Arne Riise, has contacted the Norwegian
Players’ Union to enlist their help in securing a move to the Blues. He is
invoking new rules which allow a player to terminate his contract if he has
not played a first team game for a team. If allowed to tear up his
contract, Riise presumably becomes a free agent. Aalesund have announced
that they will dispute this move by Riise. “We have received a letter
calling for the termination of Bjorn Helge’s contract, but we do not accept
that,” said a club spokesman. “The player broke his leg last March and was
out injured for almost five months, so there is no relevance to their
claims. You cannot terminate a contract for a player who has not played
because of injury.” It will be interesting to see how this spat develops
and whether City reap the benefit by signing the player.
Kanoute claim:
The Sunday press report that West Ham United are ready to sell Freddy
Kanoute, rated at £10 million, in the summer. The press speculation has
Aston Villa, Fulham and City as the main contenders for his signature.
Ex-Blues’ News
Donachie’s back:
The other old boy to make a return on Wednesday evening was the former
player and coach Willie Donachie, who left City earlier this season to work
as Terry Yorath’s number two at Hillsborough. KK paid the following tribute
before the game: “Willie did tremendous work for this club over a number of
years, a lot of those as a player, so the fans will give him the reception
he deserves. He was well thought of round here, and nothing has changed.
Willie left here on very, very good terms,” Keegan said. “I was
disappointed when he went but I understood his reasons and he went on
excellent terms. He knows how much people at Manchester City think of him
because he has been here as a player and part of the management team for a
long while.”
Fitz who?
Did anyone notice that one of our lesser lights from the Peter Reid era was
in opposition to the Blues last Saturday against Walsall? And I quote “In
fact Walsall threatened first when Fitzroy Simpson, a former City player,
let fly from 30 yards and the ball rebounded off ‘keeper Nicky Weaver before
being smashed out of play.”
Kinky strikes:
Derby’s County’s 3-0 demolition of Leicester City at Filbert Street was
begun by none other than the Georgian twinkletoes himself, Gio Kinkladze.
Looking a bit porky to my eyes, Kinky made only his fourth start of the
season for the Rams. Gio scored a scrappy deflected goal – not that it
bothered Derby any, I suspect, as they desperately try to haul themselves
away from the releagtion zone of the Premiership.
Dickson’s favour:
To all those City fans who booed Dickson Etuhu on his return to Maine Road
last month: I hope you all said a silent thanks on Tuesday evening, as
Etuhu scored the only goal of the game between Preston North End and West
Bromwich Albion, which ensured Albion did not overtake us in the League.
Reactions and Comments:
Missed chance at Walsall:
KK was left to rue a succession of missed chances after the goalless draw at
Walsall’s Bescott Stadium. Keegan said: “I am not involved in many goalless
games, and how this one finished goalless mystifies me. We had three or
four great chances, but they had chances as well. We had one cleared off the
line in the last minute. This might a very big point at the end of the
season. I think credit should go to Walsall. In the last ten to fifteen
minutes it was to and fro. I thought it was a good game,” he remarked.
“The frustration was probably summed up by Kevin Horlock’s chance in the
closing minute. I don’t know what happened, whether it hit the post or hit
the ‘keeper’s legs or what, but it did not go in. The result is not a fatal
blow. But I think it is going to be difficult for us to win the
Championship. Looking at Wolves’ fixtures I think they must be favourites to
win the title, but we have to be in the Premiership next season.”
Push for promotion:
Derek Fazackerley has been looking forward to the rest of this season. “Our
target remains to get to promotion and hopefully win the championship,” said
Faz. “If the players perform as well as they have done over the last 15
games then they’ll be good enough. It’s a big push now until the end of the
season. There are probably four teams jostling for the two automatic
promotion places, and we’ve played most of them, so can’t do too much to
affect them. We’ve now got to pick up the points against the teams that are
around the lower half of the league. We have it in our own hands, and now
we’ve got to make sure that nobody takes it from us. In truth, with the
depth of squad that we’ve got and the quality of players we’ve got, we can
only lose it ourselves. I don’t think there’s anybody really capable in the
division of taking it away from us, but we know we’ve got to perform every
week.” Kevin Horlock meanwhile is equally resolute about the final run-in
of games. “There are enough players here who have experienced the pressures
of promotion for us not to fall into any traps,” he said. “All the lads who
have come in are used to performing under pressure and at a high level, so
we know what to expect and we will be ready for it. There will be no
complacency and no one here is taking anything for granted, and that
includes titles and promotion.”
Mr Miserable:
Perhaps KK is still suffering the after effects of another battle with the
inebriates in the squad, but his quotes to the press following the
demolition of Sheffield Wednesday were a touch downbeat. “It was a good
result,” said KK. “There was a lot of endeavour, we have played better but
I doubt if we have created as many chances. We found ourselves two goals up
more through individual skill rather than anything we did collectively. But
at the end of the day it was 4-0 at home without too many players hitting
top form. I don’t think we really played great but I’ll settle for 4-0. It
wasn’t vintage stuff from us. We created a lot of chances, probably more
than we’ve created in any other game this year but we found ourselves 2-0 up
without really playing well. But the one thing that is good is the
endeavour and the attitude. Credit to the lads, they kept going. The result
was more important than the performance. To win 4-0 at any time is a good
result.” Keegan was of course cautious over the promotion prospects of the
Blues. “There are a lot of games left yet. I think it’s too early for
myself to talk about the championship, or Dave Jones, but we’re certainly
both capable of winning it. We’ve got good enough teams to win it and the
only time it will be decided is April 21. I’d like to win it but it’s more
important to be in the Premiership.” He finished with a flourish, saying
“You won’t see me doing any laps of honour if we go up because Manchester
City should be in the Premiership.” Shaun Wright-Phillips was stretchered
off with a gash on his leg in first half injury time, which makes him very
doubtful for Sunday’s game with Coventry.
Squad News
Booze Brothers’ Tour:
Further stories of the drink culture have appeared this week. The latest
allegations concern Richard Dunne, Nicky Weaver and Jeff Whitley, who have
supposedly been involved in a scuffle with nightclub bouncers in Liverpool.
The alleged incident took place some three days before the Walsall game. KK
was reportedly furious with the trio, and had wanted to drop Weaver and
Dunne from the next match (Whitley has not yet made it back into first team
contention after his broken ankle). Keegan is supposed to have put the
matter to a players’ meeting, where senior players prevailed on the boss to
let the drunken duo play. Keegan has fined the trio a fortnight’s wages.
It remains to be seen how long Kevin will put up with these alleged antics.
Indeed KK has made it clear that this is the last chance for the troublesome
threesome. “I have fined them the maximum that was possible; if I could
have fined them more I would have done. It is disappointing,” added the
boss, who must be feeling more like a headmaster than a football manager,
“They are young boys and it seems that with young boys you don’t have to
tell them once or twice, but three or four times. If the PFA allowed me to
fine them more I would, because it’s not the first time. But whether I
should penalise the club for this I don’t know because two out of the three
are in the team.”
Luci’s back:
Lucien Mettomo is back from his African Cup of Nations duty, and wants to
get back in the Blues’ team as soon as possible. “The team has been doing
really well, I was delighted to keep hearing the results while I was away,”
said Mettomo. “My fitness is not in question. I trained every day with the
Cameroon team. I did not play in every game but I kept my body and my mind
sharp so that I would be ready if and when needed. I knew that I had to come
back here ready to play and that is what I have done.” Mettomo relishes the
prospect of the promotion run-in: “We must go into every game fully
committed,” he said. “No one is going to make promotion easy for us. We
must have the aim of winning every one of our games – then we will be in the
Premiership next season. Only when we have won enough points to make
promotion certain will I look towards the World Cup.”
Carlo keeps hoping:
Carlo Nash must be wondering what he has to do to get a recall to the first
team, especially after the latest revelations concerning Nicky Weaver’s
socialising. Nash commented, “It’s frustrating because I want to be playing
and I feel that I did pretty well before I was left out of the side.
Obviously, Nicky has come in and I just have to keep working hard in
training to try to get another chance. I want to play every game, but even
more so when it gets to this stage. Only the gaffer knows if I will get
back in, but I can only keep my head down and hope a chance comes.” Carlo
also praised Peter Bonetti’s coaching: “I’ve come on leaps and bounds since
I left Stockport. The amount I’ve improved is phenomenal, and that’s down
to the coaching staff and the players we have here. When you’re playing
against quality players in training you improve all the time.”
Negouai’s ambition:
Christian Negouai has revealed his ambition to represent Belgium. The twenty
seven year old was born in Martinique and holds a French passport, but now
wants to play for the country that gave him a start in professional
football. “Belgium is the country who have given me a second chance,”
Christian Negouai explained. “If I get a first team place in The
Premiership, I will get my chance with the Belgian national team.”
Christian will have to improve his contribution to City for this to happen,
amounting as it does to one punched in goal, one sending off and a couple of
ineffective substitute appearances as a striker.
Wiekens plays his part:
Ged Wiekens has played his part in this campaign, starting in over 20 games
for the Blues. The big Dutchman remains realistic about his rôle in the
squad, as he is likely to have to surrender his place in the team when
others are fit. “I have thought about knocking on the manager’s door, but
this is such a great club, and it is going somewhere now,” said Wiekens,
“As long as you are a part of the team you can accept that you are not
always playing. If you are not training with the first team then it is a
different situation, but I haven’t gone that far. Hopefully I can play a
few more games and do well. It is a squad game. If you look at the
suspensions we have had, you need maybe 20 good players. If everybody is
fit sometimes you can be left out, and that is difficult to accept, but if
you have a good team you have a good chance to get up, and that is what we
all want.”
MATCH REPORT: MCFC 4 SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY 0
The story of Robert The Bruce and The Goat may not have been as embossed in
mythology as that with his arachnid friend but it would have had a certain
significance at Maine Road during this game. Shaun had struggled throughout
the match, as he had in the couple previous. Nothing was going right as
poor control and bad luck meant that he had missed a number of gilt-edged
chances. But when in the dying minutes when presented with the ball in the
right hand corner of the area, he buried it in the far corner with a lovely
finish across the ‘keeper. By far the most difficult of the lot, this was
an advertisement for the old adage that if you work hard enough you will
eventually get your reward.
Goater’s goal was the 4th and final goal in a comfortable City romp in which
they never got out of 3rd gear. This not due to a lack of effort, but
simply they did not have to – and with a spell of 3 games in 6 days starting
on Sunday that is quite right.
City had lined up, as expected, unchanged from Walsall, Wanchope’s injury
making selection straightforward for Kevin Keegan. Weaver and Dunne kept
their places despite their indiscretion, and Weaver in particular was left
in no doubt what the crowd though of his antics as his announcement pre-game
was interspersed with boos.
Sheffield Wednesday’s fans were magnificent throughout, the band providing
the good atmosphere at away games that it seems to stifle at Hillsborough.
Tango Man again made his appearance, though looking as though he regretted
taking his shirt off all those years ago as a sunny day in Manchester turned
into a cold, rainy night. Rather him than me, that’s for sure.
City started brightly, Stuart Pearce looking particularly determined, and
they carved out an opportunity for Berkovic after just 2 minutes. Good work
from Jensen and Goater let to his snapshot just flashing wide.
However, in the 8th minute it was Wednesday who carved out the first real
opportunity when a long ball allowed David Johnson to use his pace to get
behind the defence. Weaver was out of his goal quickly to close down the
chance and make a good save, although it was of the type you’d expect him to
make.
A minute later, good pressure by the City forward line led to a poor
clearance that was picked up by Kevin Horlock some 30 yards out. He cut
inside and let fly a dipping, serving shot that left Kevin Pressman flailing.
Pressman had no chance – it was a goal from the moment it left his boot.
Another couple of minutes and Darren Huckerby had had 2 more opportunities,
hitting the post with the first and forcing a good save for a corner next. On both
occasions his twisting, turning and deception opened up the defence. It was
remarked that he doesn’t so much drop his hip as remove it!
The game entered a state of flux with City still dominating but City sitting
on their lead for a while. This period was ended by Kuqi’s 25th minute
header that was straight at Weaver when perhaps he should have done better.
This wake up call was followed by Huckerby, picking up the ball on the
right, cutting inside and placing the ball into the net from 20 yards. It
as something of a surprise after his head-down-run-at-em approach, but the
Wednesday defence invited it, backing off to deal with his pace.
A couple of injury scares led up to half time, Berkovic crashing into the
hoarding (after cutting back for Goater to miss an easy chance) causing
concern but he recovered quickly. Not so lucky was Shaun Wright Phillips
who received a nasty gash when challenged whilst shooting for goal, having
been passed to by Berkovic who really should have shot. It looked a lot
more serious as he was stretchered off in agony and replaced by Edghill. Reg
was on for all of 20 seconds before the half time whistle went. City were
dominant but, you felt, needed another goal to seal the game.
They almost got that 3rd in the opening minute of the 2nd half when Tiatto &
Jensen linked up well for the Australian to power into the penalty area to
unleash a rocket shot that hit the post and bounced to safety – the velocity
of the shot taking it away from danger. Tiatto has yet to score his goal
this season, so let’s hope when it comes, it’s a vital one.
A ball cut behind the attack then gave a few heart flutters at the back but
on the whole the defence was solid, despite the graft of the excellent Kuqi.
Steve Howey was cutting out crosses for fun and Pearce’s timing in the
tackle is still first class and his was a man of the match performance.
Goater again missed a couple of chances, heading into Pressman’s arms when
it seemed easier to score. But 20 minutes into the half he was shown what
he’s been lacking as Berkovic picked up the ball from the left and
nonchalantly placed the ball into the net from twenty yards. It was a
magnificent finish and he deserved his ovation when immediately substituted
to prepare for Sunday. Kevin Keegan late admitted that he had played with a
slight strain, but had insisted on doing so.
City even had time to miss a penalty. Huckerby had been brought down in the
scramble following another Goater miss, and was not letting anybody else have
the goal that should have followed. However, Pressman saved well, diving to
his right.
Goater missed the worst of the lot after Huckerby had robbed the ‘keeper and
squared for the Bermudian 6 yards out and with just the last defender to beat.
Somehow, he contrived to blast it against the Wednesday player. But
redemption was to follow for Shaun. His shirt-off celebration confirmed
that the elation was more than tinged with relief felt both on and off the
pitch.
OPINION: INT’L RULES?
I would never wish to be accused of ‘counting my chickens’ but my son has
just drawn to my attention the matter of the ‘three non-EU player’ rule
that applies in the Premiership. Berkovic, Negouai, Tiatto, Bernarbia,
Wanchope, Goater, Mettomo and now Sun Jihai? I understand Eyal has
recently been given UK Citizenship but can anyone throw light on this
matter and explain how KK will find a way round the issue – if indeed it is
an issue e.g. as Bermuda and Australia are in the Commonwealth does that
make Goater and Tiatto automatically acceptable?
OPINION: COSMOPOLITAN BLUES
The signing of our new Chinese defender takes the total of Nationalities in
the first team squad to 16, giving us the opportunity to select a side
containing 1 representative from each Nation. Assuming that we are safely
promoted by the time the last game arrives (touches wood, rubs rabbit’s foot
etc.), how about this for a multinational team selection:
Weaver, Mettomo, Dunne, Sun Jihai, Tiatto, Bernarbia, Negouai, Berkovic,
Horlock, Goater and Wanchope.
Subs: Stuhr-Ellegaard, Wiekens, Killin, Ritchie, Haaland.
Bryan Clarke (b-clarke@supanet.com)OPINION: NEW PLAYERS
In reply to Frank Heukel’s piece in the last newsletter I find as a Dutch
Blue living in Amsterdam I have to agree with all he said. The quality of
players in the Dutch league is high and the foreign players use it as a
stepping stone to the more lucrative European competitions. So an excellent
striker at Heerenveen, Marcus Allback is available for only £2 million
and they expect him to leave soon. They even bought his replacement.
As ‘keepers go, the PSV keeper Waterrous would be an inspired buy, not only
as a ‘keeper but he has leadership qualities as well. Not having seen much of
City this season I do not know where we need strengthening but these two
Frank mentioned would be an instant hit. Perhaps we could raid the Ajax
reserve team as well, all under 21 and through to the semi-final of the cup.
Playing against Frank’s team Utrecht.
OPINION: NO MORE HEROES ANY MORE?
I have stayed closely in touch with City, on my sabbatical in Zambia. Big
thanks to McVittee. I have managed to collect 11 matches for my token sheet
this season, over Christmas and a quick visit home last month. There is
however, one big thing I seem to have missed.
With the plaudits for Paul Dickov flying in, and a great angle on ‘Why
Blue?’ from Mirel in Romania, I wanted to ask what happened to Andy? I am
sure someone will be able to put me right.
The reason I ask is that I think this man deserves the credit for bringing
us out of our depth. The contrast in the two Lincoln games: one where our
players are allegedly intimidated into submission through dressing room
shenanigans before the game even starts; the other where Andy is taking the
door off theirs and has to be restrained on the return – typifies the
battle I think that was needed at the time – whether true or not, I like to
imagine it was.
Andy Morrison turned our team around, gave us some bottle and some bite.
Often compared with a rugby player rather than footy, he needed to convince
me he was fit to wear the shirt. Appearances are deceptive and within three
games I was wholeheartedly convinced. Whilst he may not have been in favour
and surplus to requirements with Joe at the end, I seem to have missed his
departure. I would reserve all plaudits for him for getting the whole team
out of Division 2. Dickov provided a cherry for the efforts, as often strikers
are able to do.
I do not want to detract from people’s opinion of Paul Dickov, and can see
the appeal of his endeavour, but to me his inability to get power into a
shot even from eight yards coupled with his moaning and whinging did not
typify a real City player. I wish him all the best at Leicester, as he took
City to heart. For me, however, it grates to see Dickov being placed on this
pedestal, whilst our true battler has disappeared.
I know this is wide open to criticism, bring it on…!
Whatever you do, stay Blue!
Dave Clinton (dclinton@zamnet.zm)OPINION: DICKOV
Well as a Blue who has been down under for the last 20 years (I hate to use the
phrase “down under” when I mention City) or so, I could not agree more with
many other Blues who have written in to say this has to be the best team for
the last twenty years, well try 24, as in my opinion, not since Tony Book
was in charge. So here we go again and sell another player, and who not only
just leaves out of the tradesman’s door quietly, but gets a send off
reception before a home game, and why not? Is this the sign of better
things to come at MR? We all agree, without that goal, we would now be
just “another club”.
In all my years of following City, has this ever happened to any other
player who we have sold? I don’t think so, could I be wrong?
OPINION: YES SIR, THAT’S PAUL DICKOV!
Inspired by Hsien Min Toh’s ode to Dickov, I have been moved to pen a
tribute to a player I held in great affection. Derided by some as a
headless chicken, I thought Paul Dickov embodied the fighting spirit needed
to get us out of the depths to which we’d sunk. I firmly believe there is a
case for classing the goal he scored at Wembley as one of the most, if not
the most important in the history of the club. On top of that he comes
across as a really nice person. I’m not sure the move to Leicester was a
wise one, but I certainly wish him every success in the rest of his playing
career. With luck he shouldn’t come back to haunt us, as so many of our ex-players have done!
Older fans amongst you may be able to sing the following lines to the tune
of “Yes, sir! That’s my baby!”
But please don’t feel you have to.
Who’s that charging to and fro
Like a human dynamo?
(Quite abrasive, though he’s five foot five)
Never lets opponents rest,
Plays the game with verve and zest,
He’s the one that kept our hopes alive.
Yes sir, that’s Paul Dickov,
Straight from every kick-off
Covers every blade of grass.
Ball’s last acquisition,
Taunts the opposition –
Will he shoot or will he pass?
We all know
What we owe
To our pint-sized Wembley hero.
I’ve no doubt he’ll pester
More defenders down at Leicester.
All the best, Paul. Cheerio!
David Buxton (dbb@forres26.freeserve.co.uk)OPINION: NEW STADIUM
The City of Manchester Stadium will soon be in use for the first time.
The Commonwealth Games will be on from July 25th to Aug 4th. Tickets for
the opening day are on sale from £25 to £195 each. For more
information you can get it all at the Commonweath Games website.
I bet a few City fans will go just to see the new stadium. The future for
City gets more exciting every day.
Come on you Blues – promotion.
Ernie Barrow (Britcityblue@aol.com)OPINION: OPTIMISM
Apologies to Simon Hope if he feels I misrepresented his words, when he
‘allowed himself to think’ Keegan ‘might’ be our Clough, Ferguson or
whoever. I do feel that all this ‘dare to think’ talk should wait until
after the season, which was the original point I was making. I also think
that it was no coincidence that Simon’s contribution came around the time of
the Newcastle game when there was this mad climate of ‘we’re already there.’
I just got extremely alarmed when I saw those names.
OPINION: JAMES H RETURNS
I’m sure most Blues would like to know that James H Reeve is back doing the
afternoon show on Talksport 252 (the old Atlantic 252 frequency on long
wave). As a bonus, another Blue, Jamie Broadbent (ex-Jamie the Student)
does the morning show. It’s about time that Mr Reeve’s dulcet tones were let
loose on an unsuspecting public, and I’m sure he’ll do well.
URGENT REQUEST: KIT FOR MCVITEE
Has anybody got a spare standard SVGA PC monitor knocking around as the one
used to prepare and send out McV is on its last legs. Please contact Paul
Howarth at paul@city-fan.org or myself if you can help!
REQUEST: STOCKPORT TICKETS 19/03/02
Can anyone help? I am trying to get hold of one ticket for the away
Stockport fixture on Tuesday 19th. If anyone has a spare they are willing to
sell please let me know.
WHY BLUE?
I have been a City fan since before I was born; genetically I came from a
family which can trace its relationship with Man City to my grandad, God
bless him, who was killed in the first world war though I never obviously
got to speak to him. My dad used to to relate stories he was told by his mum
that grandad supported City when he was a lad and they were known as Ardwick
FC in the late 1890’s. So with that background I reckon I can call myself
Blue through and through.
Though I have been living in Perth, Australia for the past twenty odd years
I have never lost the deep, engraved love of being a City fan with all the
trials and tribulations we have all been through for my lifetime. My son
Mark’s pedigree as a Blue has some interesting little quirks in it in that
his grandad on his mum’s side was the chief groundsman at Bury FC and
whose claim to fame was that he actually laid the original turf to form the
playing surface at Gigg Lane in 1921-22 season; his picture hangs upon the
study wall.
I was lucky also to be born in the same street in Prestwich that produced
such great City fans as Bob Price (Dutch branch) and Don Price (Prestwich
and Whitefield branch). We used to dazzle the local kids who were mostly
United fans with our football skills and imitation of City players in St
Mary’s Park. I remember Bob as a budding Bert Trautmann and me as Glyn Pardoe
with Don being Don wanting be like the whole team at once!
Glyn Pardoe in those days was the youngest player to play in a football
league fixture. I wanted to be so like him as the first game my dad ever
took me to see was at Maine Road on 11 April 1962; the date is burnt into my
brain. It was Glyn’s début match and I can still remember my dad making me
clean my shoes on the back door step and checking them to make sure they were
clean before he would take me to the match with his mates. He bought me my
first City scarf at that game, which I still have today. My God, it’s forty
years old! Maybe that’s why I am writing this dribble as my fiftieth
birthday is coming up soon and I am feeling all nostalgic (thought I would
share that with everyone on the net).
The real reason I am writing is that I met my darling wife at a Liverpool vs.
City game at Anfield in February 1972; City got beat three something and KK
actually scored against us! Bob and I were going and we met in the Wilton
for a pint or two and he said he knew a couple of birds who wanted to go to
the match with us; so that was it, stuffed from that day onwards. Trouble
is me and the missus were reminiscing a few weeks ago and neither of us can
remember the exact day of the match being the day we met.
So if there is anybody out there on the WWW that has the date of Liverpool
vs. City at Anfield in February 1972, would they please email me and I
would be eternally grateful or if anybody also wants to write and swop
stories anyway I will be really happy to reply.
Stay cool, stay Blue, ’til we die!
John Ellis, Hillarys, Western Australia (jeme@smartchat.net.au)RESULTS
Recent results from 24 February 2002 to 27 February 2002 inclusive.
27 February 2002
Manchester City 4 - 0 Sheffield Wednesday 33,682
26 February 2002
Barnsley 1 - 4 Crystal Palace 11,207 Bradford City 2 - 1 Nottingham Forest 13,505 Grimsby Town 3 - 1 Stockport County 6,836 Portsmouth 1 - 0 Coventry City 12,336 Preston North End 1 - 0 West Bromwich Albion 14,487 Rotherham United 3 - 2 Gillingham 6,005 Wolverhampton Wndrs 3 - 0 Walsall 27,043 Burnley 0 - 1 Birmingham City 13,504 Watford 2 - 1 Norwich City 12,622
League table to 27 February 2002 inclusive.
HOME AWAY OVERALL
P W D L F A W D L F A W D L F A GD Pts
1 Wolves 36 11 3 4 30 15 11 4 3 34 16 22 7 7 64 31 33 73
2 Manchester City 34 14 3 1 47 15 7 2 7 31 27 21 5 8 78 42 36 68
3 West Brom A. 36 12 2 4 25 7 7 4 7 18 18 19 6 11 43 25 18 63
4 Millwall 35 11 3 4 33 18 6 6 5 22 18 17 9 9 55 36 19 60
5 Burnley 35 8 5 4 30 23 9 4 5 27 25 17 9 9 57 48 9 60
6 Coventry City 36 10 3 5 29 15 8 2 8 23 20 18 5 13 52 35 17 59
7 Crystal Palace 36 11 1 6 38 20 7 2 9 25 30 18 3 15 63 50 13 57
8 Birmingham City 34 11 2 4 31 14 5 6 6 19 24 16 8 10 50 38 12 56
9 Norwich City 35 12 4 1 29 12 5 1 12 19 32 17 5 13 48 44 4 56
10 Preston N.E. 35 8 6 3 32 17 6 5 7 21 30 14 11 10 53 47 6 53
11 Watford 36 9 4 5 33 23 4 5 9 19 21 13 9 14 52 44 8 48
12 Wimbledon 34 6 8 3 23 17 6 4 7 26 26 12 12 10 49 43 6 48
13 Gillingham 35 8 5 5 30 21 5 3 9 21 32 13 8 14 51 53 -2 47
14 Sheff. United 35 5 8 4 25 23 6 5 7 13 18 11 13 11 38 41 -3 46
15 Nottm Forest 36 7 8 3 20 13 3 7 8 18 21 10 15 11 38 34 4 45
16 Bradford City 34 9 1 7 38 30 4 5 8 22 31 13 6 15 60 61 -1 45
17 Portsmouth 35 8 3 6 30 26 4 5 9 21 34 12 8 15 51 60 -9 44
18 Rotherham Utd. 36 7 9 2 27 23 3 4 11 18 31 10 13 13 45 54 -9 43
19 Barnsley 36 7 7 4 31 28 1 6 11 18 41 8 13 15 49 69 -20 37
20 Sheff. Wed. 36 5 5 8 23 30 4 5 9 16 30 9 10 17 39 60 -21 37
21 Crewe Alex. 32 6 5 6 15 26 3 3 9 17 28 9 8 15 32 54 -22 35
22 Grimsby Town 36 6 5 7 18 21 2 6 10 12 34 8 11 17 30 55 -25 35
23 Walsall 36 7 4 7 22 23 1 4 13 15 37 8 8 20 37 60 -23 32
24 Stockport C. 35 1 1 15 11 37 1 7 10 22 46 2 8 25 33 83 -50 14
With thanks to Football 365
MCIVTA FAQ [v1.7]
[0] MCIVTA Addresses
Articles (Heidi Pickup) : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org News/rumour (Don Barrie) : djb1305@yahoo.co.uk Subscriptions (Geoff Donkin) : subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org Technical problems (Paul) : paul@city-fan.org
Comments concerning this FAQ should be sent to David Warburton
using the address: mcivtafaq@warburton.org
[1] MCIVTA Deadlines
Deadlines for issues are nominally 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] Club Web Site
The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/
[4] Supporters’ Clubs
Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official
Supporters Club” (http://www.mancity.net/osc/index.html); the
“Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.callnetuk.com/home/sef/)
and “The International Supporters’ Club”
(http://www.mcfc.co.uk/extra/fanzone/isc.asp)
[5] 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] City of Manchester Stadium Progress/Web Cam
The latest information regarding the progress of our new home can be
found at http://www.commonwealthgames.com/
[7] Match Day Broadcasts
Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews
can be found here: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/comment.asp.
An alternate live commentary service, hosted by Yahoo, is located at:
http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/foot/audio/live/schedule/index.html.
GMR Saturday Sport is also available live online between 1-3pm, and 4.45-6pm
at http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/sport/index.shtml
[8] City on TV
City’s games when broadcast on TV are generally carried by ITV Digital;
http://www.itv-digital.co.uk/company/home/publocator/locator.html
provides a list of pubs that will be showing the games.
Granada television also has the rights to show a small number of games
from the North West region. As Sky now carry ITV regional services these
matches can be watched outside the intended region by “adding” channels
to your Sky Digital receiver. Under “services/system setup” enter the
following details: Frequency 10.891 – H – 22.0 – 5/6. Select “find channels”
and you will be given a list of the available ITV regions. From here select
the regions you want to add. In order to view the channels you have added,
you have to make your selection via “services/system setup/other channels”.
[9] Goals on the Net
http://www.citygoals.com/ has available for download,
usually within 24-48 hours of a game being played, all the goals from City’s matches.
[10] 01/02 Season Match Day Theme Tune
The music the teams run out to at Maine Road this season is
“Nightmare”, by Brainbug, and is available on the Positiva label.
[11] Acknowledgements
Thanks go to John Arnold for providing the information regarding match day
music and to Ian Bell for pointing out the alternate live match commentary
service.
DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribers
and there is no intention to represent these opinions as being those
of Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies and
universities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not in
any way whatsoever connected to the club or any other related
organisation and is simply a group of supporters using this medium
as a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.
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About The Author
editor
The Editorial team of mcivta.com consist of several people. Typically news and information that is provided by a third part will be distributed by the "Editor". Phil Alcock is the current Editor in Chief of the MCIVTA newsletter.