Newsletter #957

City news tonight from Don includes reaction to last weekend’s performance, unfortunately matched by a midweek reserve turnout, news on internationals and the City link to the Rio-gate scandal.

We’ve various opinions on selection and rotation, the usual requests – if anyone can help out, or knows a man who can, next Saturday (18th) in either London, Birmingham or Liverpool for the shirt collections then please email the MVF address at the end of the newsletter.

No action for us this weekend due to international games, as we look ahead to next Wednesday and our trip to Belgium. After the shenanigans involving the so-called England team this week, I for one shall be turning to the rugby instead.

Next game: Sporting Lokeren, away, 8pm Wednesday 15 October 2003 (UEFA)

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NEWS SUMMARY

General News

Top Elk: Nicolas Anelka has been voted the player of the month after a return of seven goals in nine appearances. The panel who voted for the Frenchman stressed that the award did not just reflect the striker’s goal scoring prowess. “Nicolas has worked immensely hard for the side in the start to the season and his all round game has been magnificent,” said panel member Gary Owen. “Goals win matches but his support play and all round attitude have also helped City to their best post war start to a League campaign.”

City Link to Rio Carnival: There’s been one hell of a hoo-ha in this country this week about Rio Ferdinand, a defender of the Traffordonians, who has landed in bother for failing to attend a random drugs test. An unexpected City snippet has emerged. The Independent newspaper, along with several other journals, reported that Christian Negouai was recently fined £2,000 by the Football Association at a secret hearing for missing a recent drugs test. The report stated: “Negouai, 28, a £1.5 million signing from the Belgian club Charleroi, was due to take a pre-arranged drugs test at City’s training ground shortly after the end of last season. At the appointed time he went missing, later explaining that he had had to collect his mother from the airport. That was recorded as a refusal in UK Sport’s record. He said he was delayed in traffic on his return and missed the test. At the FA hearing, where it was decided that the case should be kept secret, his reason for not taking the test was considered and he was handed a £2,000 fine. He was also told he would be subjected to “target testing” – at random and frequent intervals – until the end of this year.” It is thought that Ferdinand’s representatives will claim that their man has been unfairly treated, as Negouai was dealt with in secret, while Ferdinand has suffered the full glare of publicity.

Moss Side, Urban Village: The M.E.N. this week has a report detailing the latest plans for Maine Road. Proposals have been submitted for the building of 400 high quality dwellings on the site of the grand old stadium. The development will take up to five years to complete, and will include family homes, apartments and accommodation for the elderly. It will form what the report claims will be an “urban village”, a “neighbourhood of character”. The report also states that since City left the area, house prices have risen by 25%, owing to the quieter streets, so the Council are sure that a high quality development will appeal to new home owners. Demolition should start within weeks and building work is due to begin next spring once companies have submitted detailed plans.

Blues Lose: The wretched start to the season continues for City’s Reserve team. On Tuesday they lost 2-0 to League leaders Aston Villa, through goals from Stefan Moore and Mika Aaritalo. Joey Barton was the notable first team inclusion in the side as the Liverpudlian made his first start this season at this level. Team: Weaver, Warrender, Jordan, Wiekens, Bischoff (N D’Laryea 28), Negouai, Flood, Barton, B Wright-Phillips, Bermingham (Murphy 79), Tandy. Subs: Ellegaard, Collins, J D’Laryea.

International Blues: Trevor Sinclair has missed out on a place in the England squad for the crucial Euro qualifier against Turkey. The thirty-year-old was dropped to the bench for the first time for a Premiership game since his move to the Blues on Saturday at Wolves. “I have to take it on the chin and just work hard,” said Sinclair. Israel coach Avraham Grant has omitted Eyal Berkovic from the squad to face France in the team’s final EURO 2004 qualifier on 11 October. Eyal has been denied the chance to return to the Parc des Princes, where he scored a dramatic late equaliser when Israel famously defeated France 3-2 in a FIFA World Cup qualifier in 1993 (thanks Vince Docherty for this item). Paul Bosvelt is one player who is required for international duty. The midfielder has been named in Holland coach Dick Advocaat’s eighteen-man squad for their Euro 2004 qualifier against Moldova on Saturday. The Dutchman was a substitute in the twentieth minute in Holland’s defeat at the hands of the Czech Republic last month. Holland have already been guaranteed a play off place for the Euro Finals, leaving the encounter with Moldova meaningless. At under-21 level, City have three players called into the Ireland squad for their Euro qualifier against Switzerland. City youngster Willo Flood has been called up, joining Glenn Whelan and Stephen Elliott. The Irish U21 side meet their Swiss counterparts on Friday evening at Neuchatel. Shaun Wright Phillips is part of the England under-21 squad which is in Turkey, also for a Friday night fixture.

Transfer News and Gossip

Swap Shop for Hucks? Thanks to MCIVTA contributor Terry Baines, a Norfolk based Blue, with the local word on the possible future for Darren Huckerby. Terry writes: “The rumours from these sources are that Norwich and the Blues are going to do an exchange deal with Huckerby for Norwich full back Adam Drury who is reputed to be the best full back outside the Premiership.” This comes in a week when Huckerby was named Division One Player of the Month for September following a number of impressive performances for Norwich during his loan spell. “Darren has proved an inspirational signing for Norwich,” said a spokesman. “His pace makes him a constant threat and he has terrorised Division One defences since his arrival at Carrow Road. He has had a hand in the majority of Norwich’s goals since his arrival, either scoring or creating.”

No Wonder Kev’s Gone to Iceland… The rumours concerning Eidur Gudjohnsen have gained further credence this week. According to the Sunday Mirror, City are closing in on Gudjohnsen, and have also enquired about Dutch defender Mario Melchiot. The paper also claims that KK has finally lost patience with Robbie Fowler. Keegan will not have a clear run at the Icelander, however. Monday press reports in the North East state that Sir Bobby Robson has also made an enquiry for Gudjohnsen, who is seen as a potential successor to Alan Shearer’s number nine shirt.

Ex-Blues’ News

Boro-Bound Bish: Ian Bishop is on his travels again. Having started last season at Rochdale, Bish then linked up with Mike Marsh as his assistant at West Lancashire club Burscough. The pair resigned last week after Burscough were knocked out of the F.A. Cup, but Bish was not idle for long. He has signed for UniBond League Radcliffe Borough. Chairman Bernard Manning Jr. and manager Kevin Glendon, travelled to Bishop’s home in Southport to tie up the deal in time for the 38-year-old midfielder to make his début tonight at (guess where) Burscough. Glendon said: “Signing a player of Ian’s vast experience is a massive boost. Just two-and-a-half years ago he was playing in the Premiership for City, so it’s amazing to think he’ll now be with us.” Bishop certainly made a triumphant return, as his new club beat his old one 6-3. Chairman Manning said: “Ian was magnificent.” (thanks to Ralph in NZ).

Reactions and Comments

A One-Off (We Hope): Not hard to predict was it? With their poorest performance of the season, City gave the Premiership whipping boys Wolverhampton Wanderers their first win of the season, 1-0 at Molineux. Once again KK had apparently tempted the pre-match fates by asking his side to take the three points to push City up to fourth place “where we belong”, according to reports. “We were poor. The players know that, I know that and everyone who was watching knows that,” said the boss. “We must try and believe and hope that the performance was a one off,” mused the manager later. “We did not approach this match in a complacent manner. Because of the way we set the games up we went to Wolves telling the players it was the toughest match of the season. It was an opportunity for Wolves to start to turn their season round and we were seeing it as a chance of a top four place. The prize for us was as great as the prize for them. A lot of things had to happen for this result. They had to battle and scrap, which we knew they would do. Their crowd had to get behind them, which they did. They clapped them off at half time after a very poor first half performance by both teams. We had to under-perform and all those things happened so it was a win for Wolves. It was a poor game of football for the Premiership. I can understand their lack of confidence but I am having a job coming to terms with ours. We went to Wolves having played seven games. We had only lost one, it is baffling but I suppose that’s football.” Did KK find any plusses? “Claudio Reyna’s performance on Saturday was the one major plus point which we can take out of the defeat at Wolves,” he said Kevin Keegan. “Other players did okay but some really under-performed. That is what cost us at Molineux. The level of performance required to win Premiership matches is that one word, consistency. You have to be consistent every week and find a level of performance that is good enough for your ability; too many of our players didn’t find that against Wolves.” KK’s opposite number Dave Jones was understandably cock-a-hoop about the day’s proceedings. He said: “We had the determination to put things right today and it was down to hard graft from the players. It wasn’t so much getting the three points today, it was the manner in which we won the game. Every player who put a shirt on deserves credit because people around here were beginning to get a bit desperate and this takes that away. We could not miss that opportunity today. It was probably a must-win game because it was about confidence. It was a great team effort which has sent all the fans home with a feelgood factor. Now we have to do it again and again until the end of the season. I am going to enjoy my weekend. We played at a great tempo and never let them settle and the three points has got us back among the pack. The way that we secured the win was what really pleased me.”

Could Do Better: KK resisted the temptation to come down hard on his players after the defeat. Instead of making his squad pay for the sloppy showing out on the training pitch, Keegan has given his stars three days off to recharge their batteries. After the game, Trevor Sinclair gave an honest appraisal on the poor show. “The lads were all very miserable about the result and the way we performed,” he admitted. “We were poor as a team and as individuals. We have to look at it is three points wasted. If we had played anything near how we can do we would have won. You have to give some credit to Wolves who have been up against it all season. They showed great determination, probably a bit more than us and we know that is not good enough and we don’t plan to let it happen again. The upsetting thing is that we have passed up a great chance to go back into the top four of the league and maintain a great start to the season. Now that great start is just looking average and that is annoying. We have to get back to basics. It is important now that we get back on track against Bolton in our next league game. There is not a magic wand that anyone can wave, we have to get out on the training ground and work hard.” Dutch international Paul Bosvelt meanwhile believes City have only lost their way temporarily and will still challenge for the top places in the Premiership. “I think we have had a row of disappointing results and we have to work hard to put that right,” he said. “I think we have the quality to get around such problems but we did not show that on Saturday. We know we are a much better side than the one that didn’t perform on Saturday now we have to make sure we prove that in every game.”

Squad News

Midfield Choices Go On and On: The choice for KK in midfield is a large one, but the Boss Man is pleased at the attitude being shown by the men who are not currently in the team. Special word this week for Eyal Berkovic, who, after throwing his toys out of the pram in summer, is now knuckling down to work. “It is well documented where we were after Eyal put in his transfer request and in some ways he is on the fringes of the squad because of his actions,” said Keegan. “At the time, I told the board I would not be put in a position where we would be short because of the actions of one player and that is why I had to then go out and buy Antoine Sibierski. But since then, Eyal’s attitude has been fantastic. He has worked hard on the training ground and has done everything he possibly can to make his way back into contention again. You do not want players like Eyal Berkovic if they are not battling for a first team spot, but bridges are being built between us quickly.” Joey Barton was dropped from the squad to play Spurs recently, but he too has impressed KK. “Joey has taken the news very well,” he said. “I have explained the reasons why but, like Eyal, his training has been excellent. It (being dropped) has got nothing to do with anything he has done. I just wanted to look at other options. He is working hard, he has got a great attitude. Everyone thinks the world of him here. He is not going to be an automatic first team choice, but I could say that about a lot of the other players here, like Shaun Wright-Phillips, Eyal, Trevor Sinclair, Antoine. I could go on.”

Future Captain is Fit for Lokeren: KK has announced that Steve McManaman’s hamstring injury is not as severe as first feared and the former Real Madrid star is set to return for the game against Lokeren next Wednesday. There’s a number of reports suggesting that our erstwhile UEFA opponents are still in dire trouble in the domestic league, here for example is what Teamtalk.com says: “Lokeren have suffered back-to-back 3-1 defeats since against Westerlo and Genk, and remain rooted at the foot of the Belgian League without a win in eight games.” Which is all true, but they were in a similar mess before the first game, and it didn’t exactly look easy for the Blues that night. Maybe Macca’s return to action can kickstart the Blues. It has been interesting listening to a couple of the younger players in the squad talking this week about the influence that McManaman is already having. Joey Barton for instance said: “When I was left out against Spurs, Steve and Robbie (Fowler) were the first ones over to me. They knew exactly how I was feeling. Steve has been everything I expected and more since he arrived. It is not just a Scouse thing, Macca has time for everyone and he doesn’t waste words. There is nothing but sense coming out of him and you would be daft not to listen. Steve talks all the time during games and in training, and is not precious or anything like that. What is really great is that he doesn’t mind someone as young as me telling him where to go on the pitch. I like to organize people even though I am young and Steve gives and takes. He is always willing to accept a less experienced player’s reactions, decisions, and points of view. He will not just stand there and argue with you or tell you what he is thinking, which is a good thing for a young kid because it gives you the confidence that you can talk to people of his stature. Steve is just a great influence around the place. You look at him and you know he has done it with arguably the best team in the world and the best group of individuals. Because he has been there and done it at the highest level you know he is not passing on advice and talking to you just for the sake of something to say. He is doing it to improve you as a player and that can only be of benefit for me and Wrighty (Shaun Wright Phillips) and any other youngsters who are training with the first team. We have to take on board what he says and then take it on to the pitch at the weekend.” SWP agreed wholeheartedly with Barton. “Over the next two years, or however long he is here, Steve is going to be a huge influence on not just me and the younger players, but the senior professionals as well,” ventured Wright-Phillips. “A lot of people thought that having been away for a few years he might not be able to do what he is doing now for us but he has proved any doubters wrong. Everyone at City believes in him, the players and the supporters, and I am sure he will continue to go forward and take everyone else with him. The intensity to do well is there in training as it is on match days. He is always there with a word of advice if you need it. That is just him as a person in general. He is not here to coast or mess about. He still has a great determination and desire to do well in football and that rubs off. I think he should be in the England squad. I think the senior squad could do with someone like him.”

Don Barrie <news(at)mcivta.city-fan.org>

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OPINION: THIS & THAT RETURNS

Rio – what a dope! What a joke this Rio Ferdinand saga is eh? Would he even have got a game against Turkey anyway? Personally I would prefer to play Upson with Campbell who is more in form. City’s centre backs, Sleepy & Sloppy (a.k.a. Sommeil & Distin) can lose their concentration on the pitch but I’m sure they’d remember to show up for a drug check. I suppose we have had the Dave Watson & Christian Newguy cases that have come out this week, which just winds the Reds up further! If Rio F. had been told before training that he had to go back in to sign a £5 million boot endorsement before he left I bet he would have remembered.

Wolves result: Typical City, consistently inconsistent. How many City fans just knew deep down we were going to lose this one? Me for one – it just had to happen – they score their first goal at home all season, we lose our first game away. We always lose before an international break etc. However, I feel KK picked the wrong team/tactics. If he can’t mend fences with Berkovic then in the absence of Macca I would have played a diamond midfield spearheaded by SWP to create the openings for PW & NA, supported by Sinclair/Barton with Bosvelt holding. This would have allowed us to push Sun/Tarnat further up to support their negative 4-5-1 game plan. Our extra class would then have been allowed to show through – as it was we let them drag us down to their level in midfield, and did us with a soft goal.

City 6th – not moaning but could be better! KK is doing a superb job no mistake – he’s taken forward the great work done by Big Joe in dragging us out the mire, and moved us quickly onto the next stage. But it’s all about being ruthless to make the next leap. We have to kill teams off like Fulham away when we take the lead, Spurs should have been a 6-1 or something, and Wolves away are the ones you just must win if you’re being serious. Those dropped 7 points would now put as level with you know who – and that’s the difference I’m getting at.

Stadium name? It’s not up for debate is it? I thought it was officially ‘The City of Manchester Stadium’, or was that just a temporary thing? Forget all this Bluecamp bollix and the rest of it, stick with the catchy 10 syllable name (a record?) and you’ll soon get used to it. The name will probably get shortened by commentators eventually to ‘The City Stadium’ or ‘The Manchester Stadium’, which both sound fine to me.

Why Blue? I remember telling Ashley I would do my ‘Why Blue’ about 4 or 5 years ago. I’m still building up to it – it will happen!

Typical City fan!

CTID, Jon Reese <jonandreareese(at)fsmail.net>

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OPINION: IN THE NICK OF TIME?

I was lucky enough to get a ticket (or was I?) for the game on Saturday through the Wolves ticket store at a disgusting price of £32. But no price is too much to watch my beloved City.

I digress. My real subject: is David Seaman at fault again? He looked really nervous on Saturday. Has Keegan got the bottle to drop him and give Weaver a chance?

Well done to Heidi and the crew for doing a great job keeping us up to date.

Alan Fox <alan(at)foxmcfc.fsnet.co.uk>

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OPINION: ROTATION

Manchester City had to get all the players they have because of the window system; all the clubs have a large number of players, in case of injuries and not being able to sign anyone else until the window opens if players cannot play. So Manchester City have been playing a rotation system, so most players have a turn to play, but is this the way for City to have the best team on the field every game? I don’t think so.

It’s early in the season and I feel Kevin Keegan has been giving all his players a chance trying to keep everyone happy, but there has got to be a point where he says these are my best eleven, and play them for most games, barring injuries. A team playing with each other game in, game out gets to know each other better.

We have a wealth of midfield players, Anelkastar is our lone striker that’s on form, Bambi (Wanchope) has failed to seize his chance to be Anelkastar’s partner up front by missing sitters that should have won us games, Macken has yet to prove himself, and Fowler now deserves the chance to start a full game. Failing Fowler finding form (which we all hope he does) then when the window opens around Christmas, City will be forced to get a new striker to partner Anelkstar.

The defence has got to settle in front of David Seaman; when Sun moves forward as he so often does, midfield players must fall back to cover his position.

As I have said last week we have a very good squad of players considering the club’s budget.

Come on you Blues!

Ernie Barrow <britcityblue(at)aol.com>

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OPINION: NAMING & SHAMING

I’ve been lurking for some time (pressure of work) but am stirred to put fingers to keyboard by the ground name debate.

I must say I can’t understand the hysteria over “The Blue Camp”. For God’s sake, nobody as far as I’m aware has ever suggested that the official name of the ground should be “The Blue Camp”. Surely it’s just a punning nickname and, I think, quite a clever one and kudos to the guy who dreamed it up. Okay it won’t appeal to the wildly homophobic streak inherent in a minority of football supporters but the rest of us should be able to handle it. I quite like it – as a humorous reference, no more.

So when it comes to naming our new soccer cathedral, surely The City of Manchester Stadium (please, not COMSTAD, comrade) is your only man. Dammit – we are the City of Manchester!

Incidentally, you often read, particularly in listings of various kinds, that our nickname is “The Citizens”. In almost 50 years of following MCFC I’ve never heard a fellow fan refer to us as “The Citizens”. We’ve always been “The Blues” or simply “City”.

CTID, Ernie Whalley <bluevalentine(at)dna.ie>

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OPINION: APOLOGIES I

Trust me to have a whinge and get my facts wrong, I haven’t half had my leg pulled, call myself a Blue & other unrepeatable names. I would like to issue an apology for my shortcomings, 20+ chances against the Villa indeed; to make it worse I was at the Spurs game where we shot blanks all day long and also at the Villa game where we made hard work of the first half but made up for it in the second when the Elk registered his first hat trick of the season. On a serious note we have been treated to some wonderful football during King Kev’s reign, long may it continue.

Steve Alcock <salcock(at)picr.man.ac.uk>

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OPINION: APOLOGIES II

It does concern me that I have never once heard K.K. say he got it wrong. It’s always the players that under-perform. Having read the match reports and having listened to the commentary I would say that K.K. should have a little look at himself and ask himself if he might have got it wrong on Saturday. Instead, as Mark Strong, I believe rightly points out, he took the opportunity to deflect from his own performance to have a thinly veiled dig at the fans. I think K.K. has done a terrific job, but come on Kevin, you’re not God. I hope he isn’t looking for an excuse to shift back up to Newcastle.

I took the trouble to text a vote for Natalie P, and also visited the Miss England web-site… purely for research of course. Well our Nat is ahead of Miss Scouseland on the text vote but could do with a little help with the on-line vote. Come on you Blues.

Dave Kilroy <davekil(at)ntlworld.com>

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REQUEST: LOKEREN TICKETS

Ok so I’m clutching at straws now…

MCFC have lowered the “loyalty points” low enough so I can get a ticket, but then again, they have sold out. So, I need a ticket for Lokeren. Can anyone help?

And while I’m here,

Names… our new home is either called Maine Road or (Ashton) New Road. anything else just sounds wrong.

Booing… Freedom of speech and all that… I don’t boo, but can’t criticise those who gave a little half time boo against Lokeren at New Road (see above). Now barracking a player during the game, is in my opinion wrong. Thanks for listening.

Rob Hyslop <Robert.hyslop(at)BAESYSTEMS.com>

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REQUEST: LOKEREN TICKETS AVAILABLE

I have two spare tickets for the Lokeren game – in the City end, face value £30 each. Please email me if you want them. Thanks.

Keith Pryce <keith.pryce(at)talk21.com>

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REQUEST: SOUTHAMPTON TICKETS

Can anybody help? I really need 2 tickets for the City game against Southampton on Nov 1. My future love life depends on it. Can anybody help please?

Simon Airey <siairey(at)hotmail.com>

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REQUEST: CHELSEA TICKETS

Three tickets wanted for the Chelsea game. Please contact me at email below or call 020 7089 1220 or 07712 676943.

Thanks, Andrew Goodman <andrew.goodman(at)fha.org.uk>

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REQUEST: LOKEREN VIEWING

City will again be shown live on BBC3 digital Television against Lokeren in the UEFA Cup. The following link lists all UEFA Cup matches being shown around Europe:

http://www.knplogic.co.uk/sport/UEFA.html

Jack Millington <jackblue(at)blueyonder.co.uk>

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REQUEST: ESSEX & SUFFOLK BLUES

The next meeting of the Essex & Suffolk branch of the MCFC Centenary Supporters’ Association will take place at the usual venue of The Seabright’s Barn, Galleywood Road, Chelmsford, Essex from 8:30pm on Friday the 17th October. All Blues in the area are welcome to join us. For more information contact:

Paul Gallagher – Secretary, Essex & Suffolk branch, MCFC CSA <essexblues(at)ukonline.co.uk>

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REQUEST: MARC VIVIEN FOE MEMORIAL APPEAL

The appeal fund established in memory of Foe is progressing well and we are now able to give an update on how people can contribute:

Financial Donations:

Any branch of HSBC

Account Name/Payable to: Marc Vivien Fo