Newsletter #1047

Defeat at Birmingham on Tuesday night sees us with 1 point from 3 games, and more questions than answers about City’s performance and progress, with a bizarre statement straight out of the Taggart Book of Managerial Excuses from KK.

Tonight’s news contains reaction to this week’s performances, continued transfer speculation, a departure as after 4 attempts Wanchope is on his way to Malaga, the arrival of a new ‘keeper and our cup tie against Barnsley. We have match views on both first team and reserves, opinion on KK and the usual requests.

NEWS SUMMARY

General News

Man Management – What’s That? Michael Owen used the pages of his autobiography to launch an attack on KK this week. The Real Madrid new boy admitted he never felt comfortable under Keegan’s management with England, as he believed he did not have his full confidence. Owen admitted the problems between the pair began prior to Euro 2000 and carried on during the finals feeling Keegan and his coaching staff did not rate him. “Kevin tried to make training fun but I didn’t enjoy it while he was in charge. I assume the manager had conveyed to his staff what he thought of me and plainly it wasn’t complimentary. I felt I was being singled out, not just by the manager but by the whole coaching team. Derek Fazackerley was pulling me up a lot in training. If I did one tiny thing wrong, there would be a rush of critical comment. I thought: ‘The whole staff have got it in for me here’. Looking back on the Keegan era, one main feature stands out for me; it made me question my football ability for the first time in my life. It was a dark phase in my career and, yes it scarred me.”

Meeting the Tykes in the Cup: City have drawn League One side Barnsley in the second round of the Carling Cup. The tie will be played on either the 21st or 22nd of September, exact date to decided in the next few days. The last time City faced this opposition was back in the days when supporting City was exhilarating, namely the 2001-02 season. City handed out a 5-1 spanking to the Tykes, thanks to a Darren Huckerby hat-trick and a brace from Jon Macken. That game saw City secure the First Division title. Ah, happy days…

Transfer News and Gossip

No Prince Albert Ring for Nico: It sounds like Monaco will not be giving Nicolas Anelka a ring, and we have an eminent source for this – Prince Albert of Monaco, no less. Last week it seemed that Monaco were trying to secure either Nico or Barcelona’s Argentinian star Javier Saviola, but the son of Prince Ranier and the late Princess Grace told L’Equipe that “We’ll get neither one nor the other. Didier Deschamps wanted Anelka more than Saviola but the deal won’t go through. As far as Saviola is concerned the price tag has been raised drastically.” Deschamps admitted that a lack of finances may scupper their hopes. “Days go by and perhaps we don’t have the means,” he said. “However, I repeat it, we didn’t arm ourselves enough for the season. We still need a forward to score goals.” KK was none too impressed with Monaco’s offer of a loan for the Frenchman. “The only thing I can say is that Monaco have never spoken to me,” he said. “They asked for Nicolas on loan about a week to 10 days ago, no loan fee, nothing. They think that’s an offer of interest to Manchester City. It’s just a joke offer and it was treated that way.” Keegan added: “I thought he had a great game last week and if the fans ever needed convincing that he was committed to the cause, they only have to take a look at that game.”

Italian Job or Lyon Around? Some sections of the media decided that KK’s rebuff to Monaco meant that hard cash would be needed to prise City’s star striker away. The speculation bus next took us to Italy, where Internazionale of Milan were said to be keeping tabs on the situation and could make their own offer. Juventus were the next candidates. The Daily Mirror claimed that the Serie A giants would wait to see whether they will be playing in the Champions’ League this year before mounting an £8 million move for the French striker. Then it was back to France, as Lyon could target Anelka after Brazilian forward Giovane Elber was ruled out for at least three months. Elber was stretchered off the pitch during the French champions’ 1-1 draw with Metz on Sunday. But Lyon were then told that Elber could return sooner than expected after surgery on his broken leg.

Enchanted Chopper: Surprise of the week came on Tuesday morning, when Paulo Wanchope revealed he was about to move to Spanish club Malaga. “It would enchant me to go to play with Malaga,” he told his website. “I would agree to join this club as it is a competitive team that plays in one of the best leagues in the world. It is the fourth time that Malaga have tried to contract me and that situation fills me with pride. For me, I would like to go to play with Malaga but the leaders of both clubs would have to reach an agreement. My contract ends in the month of June next year, but I could sign a pre-contract with another club in December, 2004.” City withdrew him from the squad for the game against Birmingham. Club spokesman Paul Tyrell confirmed: “We are in discussions with Malaga about the possible transfer of Paulo Wanchope. The player is aware of Malaga’s interest in him.” Malaga coach Gregorio Manzano was soon waxing lyrical about his potential new player. “I can say that he is one of the players that we want in that position. He is a ‘number nine’ – a player at home in the penalty area and a reference that central defenders fix their attention on,” he said. After the Birmingham game, KK confirmed that: “We’ve accepted a bid from Malaga in the region of £500,000, which is acceptable for a player in the last year of his contract. Paulo’s gone over to Spain to discuss personal terms and undertake a medical. It’s a good move for him and a good deal for the club.” Next day KK explained how the deal had come about. “Paulo came in at the end of last season and said that he wanted to go to Spain,” Keegan told the M.E.N. “He asked me if I would be offering him a new contract at the end of the season and I said that I wouldn’t, that I had discussed it with the board and they weren’t prepared to offer him one. He said that if we got the right offer, he would like to go to Spain and we got that on Monday from Malaga,” Keegan said. “I reluctantly let him go because of the timing of it. With a week left to get someone in, it is not ideal, but I think it’s the right decision for the club and player. I will still be looking for new players and we will continue to do that right up until the deadline a week today.” (Thanks John Doyle) I’m also grateful to ACB for pointing out that a potential replacement for Paulo could be Mido of Marseille. City were linked with the Moroccan last month, but the press seem sure that he is the man to fill Wanchope’s boots.

Double Dutch ‘Keepers: Just in case you think that the COMS is just one big door marked ‘exit’ – City have been linked with not one but two Dutch goalkeepers this week. KK was anxious to replace Belgian international Geert de Vlieger, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in his third game of the season following his move from Dutch club Willem II. Sarah Humphries provided us with a clue as to who would win the race to be David James’ deputy. Friday’s edition of the Dutch newspaper Algemeen Dagblad contained a report of the possible move of the PSV goalkeeper Ronald Waterreus to City. His agent was anxiously waiting to hear from KK. The article suggested that Waterreus would earn a six month deal at the Blues, after which he would probably head for the MLS in America. Henk Timmer emailed to reveal the other Dutch ‘keeper to interest Da Blues. He wrote: “Before City were going for Waterreus, the club had approached Real Sociedad for goalie Sander Westerveld (29, formerly with Liverpool) but the player rejected this move.” Bearing in mind some of the calamities performed by Westerveld in his time on Merseyside, City fans may be relieved to know that today Waterreus did sign the aforementioned six month deal with City.

Money Moan: KK has admitted that he has no money to spend to bring in new players. “I will be looking for new players but it is very difficult when you have no money,” said Keegan. “It is easy when you are at Chelsea and places like that and you can go to clubs and say ‘we like this player, what do you want?’. It is a different market we are looking in and we will continue to do that right up until the deadline.”

Ex-Blues’ News

White Rose Flitty? According to one report Blackburn’s Gary Flitcroft is a target for Leeds boss Kevin Blackwell as he looks to strengthen his midfield. The 31-year-old former City player is struggling to hold down a regular first team spot at Ewood Park and was a summer target for big spending Wigan Athletic. Leeds would not be able to afford a transfer fee for Flitcroft but would look for a season-long loan deal and pay the majority of the player’s wages.

Reactions and Comments

Sidddown! It’s not been a good week for the first team, as the Blues sank to two defeats in four days. On Saturday, second-half goals from Milan Baros and Steven Gerrard cancelled out Nicolas Anelka’s opener as Liverpool beat City 2-1. Anfield old-boy Nicolas Anelka had given Kevin Keegan’s side a shock half-time lead but it was one-way traffic after the break, and after Gerrard had set up Milan Baros for the equaliser, the Reds’ skipper scored to give Rafael Benitez the best possible result on his Anfield bow. KK decided that it was all the fault of the referee and of Liverpool’s new manager for not sitting down. He said: “I am not going to comment on the referee because there is no point. But when a referee calls his linesmen to the left-hand side of the tunnel and asks for the police to come around him at the end of the game it suggests he may feel he is going to be questioned by players and management. That says it all. Our lads feel that Baros came back from an offside position to be involved in the build-up to the goal and the referee didn’t give it. Then the linesman, who wasn’t up with play, decides that what Dunne did was a sending-off offence. That’s why my lads were upset. Mr Benitez is going to have to learn to sit down here. It is a very small coaching area at Anfield and he was standing up all the game. Give him a few weeks to learn English properly but he is going to have to be told. He was standing in the technical area and I couldn’t see.” Keegan added: “It is a tough place to come anyway and you need a few decisions to go your way. I will have to look at the video of the incidents because I couldn’t see around Mr Benitez.” The allegedly opaque manager of Liverpool said of the game: “It is very good to win at home because the supporters will be happy. The team played well and we can score a lot of goals performing like this. We started the second half well, and if we win like we did today and keep showing the Liverpool spirit, it will be very good for confidence. I told the players we could do it in the second half, we created more opportunities and what was important for the confidence for the future the team showed great character.” Asked about KK’s complaints, Benitez smiled and replied: “I promise I will sit down more if we are winning.”

Boy We’ve Got the Birmingham Blues: And so to Birmingham on Tuesday night. Emile Heskey’s first goal for his new club on eight minutes was enough to see City slump to a second consecutive defeat. Early days of course, but City finished the night in twenty first place in the Premiership. “We’ve created enough chances not only to get something out of the game, but to win,” mused our optimistic manager. “Robbie Fowler could have scored with a great chance. In the second, we had a lot of possession but could not finish. I think more than anything we just need a win to get our confidence going. I would like to think most managers would get a fair little run. I hope I’m no different. We’re possibly one match away from a win. If you know you are playing well over a season they say it evens itself out. We had lots of possession and built up a head of steam in the second half. But we missed the chances in the first half through Nicolas Anelka and Robbie Fowler. We certainly don’t lack for spirit and we went looking for the equaliser. I don’t think that Birmingham deserved to win. They only had one shot on target after they scored. But they defend well and scrapped and battled. I feel we had the best of the game but they got the goal. If you give Heskey that kind of space then he will finish it.” Birmingham manager and ex-Red Steve Bruce seemed happy enough with the result and his goalscorer’s performance. “We were disrupted by the loss of big Emile. He has his critics and some people said I was taking a big risk in bringing him in,” he told BBC Sport. “But he is a physical threat. We probably deserved the win overall.” Bruce added: “Sometimes you have to dig in, but I don’t recall Maik Taylor have to make a save. We deserved that little bit of luck.”

Squad News

If Zidane Can… KK insists that Sylvain Distin will make a superb captain of the team. “We had a long chat about it and Sylvain wanted to remain as captain, which is the most important thing,” the manager explained. “I didn’t want to change the captaincy and I think he’ll get more help this year from the likes of Danny Mills. I think he will also benefit from the fact that he had a tough first year as skipper. There is no doubt about that because the club had a tough year. He’s worked hard and I think he’ll make a terrific captain. You don’t just become a great captain overnight. You learn to be good at the job, especially at Sylvain’s age. He is only 25.” Distin says he has felt the benefit of his chat with the Boss Man. “I am positive,” said Distin. “I know what I did well and what I did wrong last season. When you are captain for the first time as I was last season, you look around at the captains of other teams. That’s what I did and I realised that everyone leads their team differently. I watched Zinedine Zidane captain France at Euro 2004 and he captained the side in his own way. Everyone has a different personality and tries to lead in their own way. I had a chat with the gaffer about the captaincy and I explained that I felt I had a difficult time as a player last season. But I don’t think it was just because of the armband. I did not want to hide behind excuses.”

Dunnie’s Fears for Sweep: Richard Dunne fears Shaun Wright-Phillips has become a marked man overnight because of his goalscoring exploits for England. Wright-Phillips has been heavily marked in City’s away games but Richard Dunne spoke up for his team-mate. He said: “It is going to be hard for Shaun. Last season he was a bit of an unknown but this time around he is already an England international and he is our main danger man. Clubs will look to close him down. We have got to work out a way to get him more involved when they do that. One-on-one he can beat anyone but when teams double up on him it is going to be hard for him.”

MATCH VIEW & OPINION: BIRMINGHAM CITY 1 MCFC 0

I think stood still would be an achievement. After last night’s showing we’ve gone backwards. You cannot tell me that Goater, Wiekens and Tiatto could not play better than Fowler, Bosvelt and Thatcher. Without even considering the current options. With the exception of Ben, I have had the benefit of seeing all these home and away for at least 12 months, so I feel qualified to speak, even if I do not diss players whilst the game is on.

A lot of people were concerned last night. The feeling seems to be growing that KK is on borrowed time. Certainly his stubborn streak is reeking havoc. Barton had the best 10 minutes I have seen him play to date. It’s no exaggeration when I say he was outstanding. Everyone was saying at half time that Barton for Bosvelt was immediately required. Ten minutes is not enough for anyone, but rarely can any sub have made such an impact since David Fairclough began supersubbing! How Bosvelt gets in front of Willo Flood, no disrespect, let alone JB, is beyond me. Lee Croft was in the bar in the City end, coke only, at half time last night. It’s good to see him get an early taste of what it’s like to travel 100 miles in the p***ing rain and Birmingham traffic, to watch such tripe. Hopefully he will get a chance to do something about it in the near future. It was a long trip home. I was shocked to hear KK say we played well this morning. Our midfield has the same problem as last season, no strength or ingenuity.

For the record, I am right behind KK. Although, I think he needs to be more honest in playing his best 11 on performance and not reputation, but I do like his approach to the game. I think City is his spiritual home, and I urge the board to back him, and for him to open his eyes on performances like last night!

I am starting to worry about the goings on behind the scene. DvB was the first big indicator of trouble, surely £2.5 million for such proven ability, and commitment enough to try and get fit for the last match was worth coppering up for (see previous rant on selling the family silver for funding options). Now Wanchope for £500,000. What are the board doing, playing their hand to Paulo that he won’t get another contract? Even if we wanted rid, we could have got closer to £2 million comfortably, I am sure. I don’t think we owed PW anything; whilst he is up there as one of our best players when fit, his country have clearly taken precedence whilst we have paid the medical bills. To string him on for the sake of club funds, as we appear to be doing with Joey Barton, would not have been a big crime, particularly as he instigated the discussion. After spending a rake of cash last close season, I find it hard to believe we have absolutely no credit, particularly after keeping our Premiership berth. My only conclusion relates to KK not extending his contract and hence not being given any further funding. This again is not an acceptable position from the hierarchy, and very short sighted. The signs are now showing, and we need to do something about our investment options, or we will become also-rans before the race starts. And whilst I am at it, for goodness sake, buy two decent scoreboards, they must be cheap enough now, it’s embarrassing for such a top ground.

Trying to get back to being positive, we are two or three players short of a team far better than the Birmingham’s, with their asbestos roof and £40 tickets, of this world (NB: They were advertising tickets for their next home match at £28, so reports of parity for home and way fans are blox, I digress). Kieron Dyer, DvB and Wiltord would take us above most of the chasing pack. Do not sell Anelka (or JB or Dunne or any of our top players) to fund it, but make every effort to get rid of the non-performers from last year. I have given the Robster one and a half seasons now, I have accepted he is not the most mobile, but he misses far too many. With chances few and far between, not to get the header last night (his only contribution) on target from 6 yards is plainly unacceptable; there are not many straws left for him to draw. £500,000 is only five weeks’ wages for the two aged pretenders from down the East Lancs. Add this to the cash we are paying Sinclair, Negouai, Bosvelt, Sun as well as the places they are taking up and we might be able to accommodate others. Wheeling and dealing is not KK’s strong point, so the board need to help out. Fowler, Macca, (Evertonians), Bosvelt (to replace Graveson), and Sun (for the sponsors) would be enough to appease Everton fans for a season, so cash ’em in now and do not sell the best of our talent to accommodate these egos. I would not blame Anelka for joining Fabio Capello and Nedved in Turin and the Champions’ League, given the woeful display last night. However, now we have got our place back in the Premiership, it should be us mithering them for Nedved to join Baton and SWP – Cappello would not be a bad option if KK does not renew a year from the end of his agreement either.

Better is required on Saturday. JB a must start, with Macken not far behind him. Further, better is required from the board and quickly, as we are fast changing back into our clown outfits.

Whatever you do, stay Blue!

MATCH REPORT: MCFC RESERVES 1 OLDHAM ATHLETIC RESERVES 0

City’s opening gambit in this year’s Manchester Senior Cup was held under strange circumstances as their new reserve home at the Athletics arena is struggling to cope with our non-British summer. So the game was switched to our Carrington training ground in a behind closed doors event. A Bradley Wright-Phillip’s first half goal was all that separated the two teams at full time and make City’s appearance in the final that much easier now that they have beaten their bogey team straight off.

As early as the third minute City could have taken the lead when a good, long ball down the left from captain Stephen Jordan was not dealt with by Oldham’s Dave Beharall who gifted the ball to Bradley, but his shot hit the outside of the post.

Christian Negouai, who was at the heart of most of City’s attacks, received a good, long through ball from Willo Flood but his delayed shot just skimmed wide. City’s next attack resulted in a reasonable shout for a penalty as a quick free kick from Jordan had left Oldham rather static and when Bradley played a neat ball into the box for Lee Croft to touch on, it appeared as though the ‘keeper brought Lee down, but there was no appeal from the City players.

City had their first choice back five of Kevin Ellegaard, Nedum Onuoha, Paddy McCarthy, Mikkel Bischoff and Stephen Jordan in place to make sure that Oldham never got a sniff of a chance at scoring. At this level as well they really do look a class apart and work tremendously well as a unit.

With City’s great work in defence, it was easy for the midfield to dominate the play and control possession. Willo Flood saw his fine thirty yard drive just fail to dip enough and sailed just over the bar. Bradley knocked a Croft cross backwards into the path of Negouai but he was unfortunate to see his strong effort deflected wide for the first corner of the match. From the resulting corner, Oldham’s ‘keeper Craig Mawson, who incidentally played against us for Morecambe in their victory at Christie Park, had to claw away a McCarthy downward header that was deflected towards the top corner of the goal.

Negouai’s softer touch just let him down when he was played clear of the Oldham defence from a good long ball from Nedum, but Negouai’s lob of the onrushing Mawson went just wide again.

Four minutes before the break City capitalised on their domination of the game. Negouai sent a good ball through to Flood on the right and he beat the defender into the box and pulled his cross behind the Oldham defence; Bradley controlled the ball, swivelled and shot into the top right of the goal.

City took their foot off the pedal in the second half and let Oldham come at them more, but their defence looked so secure that Oldham could have played till next week and still not scored.

Bradley had City’s only real chances after the break but Oldham’s last ditch defending saved their blushes. City now hope that the weather relents as there may be some new arrangements for next week’s fixture against Blackburn at the athletics stadium.

Ellegaard: Didn’t have one save to make all match. 7
Onuoha: Makes it very easy for me to give him a great mark. MoM. 9
Jordan (capt.)(63): Led by example with a faultless 60 minutes. 9
Negouai (63): Totally ran the midfield in the first half, eased back in second. 8
McCarthy: The young Irishman stamps his authority on the game as always. 9
Bischoff: We are starting to enjoy this injury free run from the Dane. 9
Croft: Too often he let himself down by choosing the wrong option. 7
Flood: All action from the young, wily Irishman. 8
B Wright-Phillips: Dropped too deep at times and not totally sharp but good goal. 7
J D’Laryea: Worked well, but needs a little more to show his talents. 7
Collins: Forced to play left midfield while Jamie Tandy recovers from his op. 7

Subs
Ireland (63): Didn’t make a real impact when he came on. 6
Bermingham (63): Put himself about, but didn’t raise City’s game. 6

Not Used: Schmeichel, N D’Laryea, Bennett.

Oldham: Mawson, Lomax, Tierney (capt.), Hall, Beharall (Taylor 46), Appleby (Baguley 36), Jacobs, Cooksey, Vernon, Wilkinson, John Jackson (Winn 57).

Att: 42.

OPINION: LOSING THE PLOT? I

I watched the game against Birmingham in absolute dismay. City were dreadful, they were rarely able to string more than two passes together, the midfield was not functional, our two strikers both had golden opportunities and completely botched both, the defence, while an improvement on last season, seemed to be more interested in taking out the opposition player than getting the ball. City had one shot on target in the whole game. The one player who could have made a difference, SWP, was starved of possession for most of the game.

Just take a look at the two coaches during the game. Steve Bruce spent the whole game on the touchline, shouting instructions, urging his players on, while Keegan just sat in his dog-box looking impassive. No interest, no passion, no pride.

Just look at the situation City are in right now. One point from 3 games and it does not look it will get any better. At least last season we got off to a good start, so when the rot set in it did take a while for City to slide to the bottom of the pack. This year we are starting from the bottom. Judging by the performances in the first three games, City desperately need new blood, players to add some spark to the team. Keegan has spent all the money on players, which quite frankly, nobody else wanted. He refuses to bring in any of the promising younger players in the reserves.

It must be obvious to even the most ardent Keegan supporters that this club is going nowhere under Keegan. When Keegan first took over, and during the first year or two, Keegan had a reputation (more as a player than a manager) that attracted players to the club. The reverse is now the situation. It is very difficult to convince talented players that City is a team that is going somewhere.

As a football coach Keegan is a clown, a complete imbecile. He has no tactical skills, he can’t motivate his team, his recruitment has been 2nd rate, he won’t give the youngsters a chance, he has bankrupted the club. The future looks bleak.

If Keegan has any pride whatsoever, he should walk now. Not wait to be sacked and expect a payout he frankly does not deserve. Do the honourable thing Kev. Admit to yourself, to your employers, to the fans, that you are just not up to it, resign and give someone else the opportunity to salvage the season.

OPINION: LOSING THE PLOT? II

Does KK not fill you with hope? Are you happy with him and think everything will be OK? Then let the world know by voting here http://www.tttd.net/

Result will be posted back here 1 November 2004.

Enjoy.

OPINION: LOSING THE PLOT? III

KK’s comments after the Birmingham match led me to believe that he hadn’t actually been to the same match that I’d listened to on GMR (Anfield with the family had cost us the best part of £150 – yes it was very nice to sit in the sunshine, but that was as good as it got! Our performance was scrappy and left me feeling more desperate than I had during last season and the children’s vocabulary was extended thanks to Graham Poll’s incompetence).

So – does KK have a double who attends matches (and probably training, board meetings etc., but who knows nothing about football) – or can we all have some of what he’s on? His comment that there is little wrong with his City side is bemusing to say the least – Fowler and Anelka each missed absolute sitters… and we are now second from bottom of the table (ref. above – was the side that played not his City side… is someone swapping our entire team for body doubles?).

If he sees nothing wrong then can I have a pair of the same rose-tinted spectacles through which to view the match, in fact can all of us fans have a pair – then perhaps we might feel, like KK, that it is not so much judgement, team selection, etc. that is failing us, but just our luck!

And can I also please ask what exactly the players do in training? Obviously not heading practice (eh Robbie?) or passing and shooting (eh Nico?). I am sorry, but I really fail to see how, if we practice, we do not improve, if the system and the selection are there or thereabouts! I would also like someone to explain to me, what it is that Ben Thatcher has that Michael Tarnat lacked and why KK thought that buying defenders from 2 of the teams that were relegated would help us stay up or even improve.

Ah well – here’s hoping Saturday will see an improvement (that’s a win to you, lads).

OPINION: EARLY DISAPPOINTMENTS

It’s been a disappointing start to the season, with just one point from three games. Fulham we should have beat, Liverpool deserved to have won, a bad performance from City at Anfield.

But our two strikers missed chances to have won the game at Birmingham, Anelka missed a great chance from a Shaun Wright-Phillips cross, and Fowler missed a great opportunity when he had easy chance to score with a header. It was Birmingham who did most of the attacking until the last 30 minutes when City came to life. A game played in the rain, when conditions did not help the football in a scrappy game.

So hard is the press, and some fans on a manager who does not bring success. I have always backed Kevin Keegan and I will continue to do so; confidence can only be helped with support. Some signings have not played to their full potential since joining City.

This is a new season and some still have time to redeem themselves, or go down in history as City’s failures. It will be the players’ choices, to get out there as a team, and play as a team, and maybe go into the Hall of Fame?

There is still a week before the transfer window closes; my wish list would be Andy Reid from Forest but then I guess I’m a dreamer.

Well here’s to our next game, come on you Blues!

OPINION: TALKING THE TALK, BUT CAN WE WALK THE WALK?

If points were awarded for talking a good game then City would win the Premiership hands down.

Before every game the web site quotes one of the players or Kevin Keegan predicting how we are going take the opposition apart. I really wish they would concentrate efforts on actual on-the-pitch performances and let results do the talking. It would save some of the after-match embarrassment.

OPINION: BARTON

Memo to Kevin Keegan:

Since Joey Barton made his début in April 2003, City have taken 37 points from the 31 Premiership games he has started. They’re not the best stats, admittedly, but they’re a damn sight better than the sorry 14 points we’ve taken from 17 games when he hasn’t started. The difference is 0.4 points per game. Over a season, that’s 15 points!

So come on Kev, chop chop. At this rate, you’re going find yourself out of a job.

OPINION: SINCLAIR

Trevor Sinclair isn’t fully fit, he needs according to the quotes on the official site 60 to 70 minutes of regular football to get back up to speed. Which means in reality he needs a couple of games and even then there’s no certainty he would be playing in the first team. So why not use this to a strategic advantage?

Pick one of the Division One (sorry Championship) teams who have good youth academies and with whom it would be advantageous to start building long term relationships – right of first refusal etc. Say a Crewe, Nottingham Forest or similar. Loan Sinclair to them for a month, 4 or 5 games to get him really up to speed. Even as he is building fitness he will be useful to them and we get a player back in better shape.

REQUEST: LONDON BLUES VIEWING

Does anyone know where City supporters gather to watch live Sky matches in London? I know they used to go to Terry Neill’s bar in High Holborn. If we ever get a game on Sky again, it would be nice to watch in the company of fellow Blues.

REQUEST: NOKIA 6610i

Just got a new mobile, Nokia 6610i; can anyone recommend a site where I can download a polyphonic ‘Blue Moon’ and a genuine ‘Club Crest’? Have had a search but just finding poor copies.

REQUEST: TABLES

If anyone is interested in keeping track of results and tables, if you visit http://www.michaelwray.co.nz/ you can download some spreadsheets for all sorts of leagues including the Premiership, the Coca Cola League (or whatever it’s called this week), Scottish Leagues, European Leagues etc. You can enter results manually, or press a button, and it’ll download them for you and calculate the tables. The sheets are for Excel 97 and above. There’s stats pages and all sorts. All free. And you can enter predictions and see how you go on.

Unfortunately, one thing it can’t do is make City win something.

OPINION: KEEPING UP WITH THE STATISTICS

The first few results of this season have pointed out a minor flaw in the league table sorting routine of “The-BIGGER-One” (the Man City & all Premiership team-progress file). This flaw has now been resolved, and a new file has been posted on my website (with the first two weeks’ results inserted). An apology to all file users.

The new-season version of my Excel spreadsheet file; “The-BIGGER-One” is available as a free download at http://www.freewebs.com/vincents-odds-n-sods/thebiggerone.htm

Please visit the website to read the full list of the file’s features; but, basically, all you need to do is type in the scores (or your predictions) and all the statistical tables and graphs are instantly revised. It is ready with the date of every Premiership fixture for the season, plus a few new features since last season. Also available is a completed statistical version for last season.

The website has been checked-out, and has a priority listing with http://www.soccerlinks.co.uk/ (under the miscellaneous:other, listings) If you like the sheets, please tell your mates.

RESULTS

25 August 2004

Arsenal               3 - 0  Blackburn Rovers      37,496
Fulham                0 - 2  Middlesbrough         17,759
Southampton           1 - 2  Bolton Wanderers      30,713
West Bromwich Albion  1 - 1  Tottenham Hotspur     27,191
Charlton Athletic     3 - 0  Aston Villa           26,190
Newcastle United      2 - 2  Norwich City          51,574

24 August 2004

Birmingham City       1 - 0  Manchester City       28,551
Crystal Palace        0 - 2  Chelsea               24,953

League table to 25 August 2004 inclusive

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

MCIVTA FAQ [v0405.01]

[1] MCIVTA Addresses

Articles (Heidi Pickup)          : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org
News/rumour (Don Barrie)         : news@mcivta.city-fan.org
Subscriptions (Madeleine Hawkins): subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org
Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org
FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[2] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

Deadlines for issues are nominally 6pm, Monday and Thursday evenings bu email. Unfortunately we cannot accept email attachments.

[3] 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.

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

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

[5] What supporters’ clubs are there?

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

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

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

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

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

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found at http://www.mcfctv.com/.

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

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

[9] Do we have a Usenet newsgroup?

Yes we do: uk.sport.football.clubs.man-city is our home on usenet. If you are not familiar with usenet, a basic explanation is available here: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci213262,00.html

[10] Do any squad members have their own web pages?

There are a number available and direct links can be found at http://www.uit.no/mancity/players/

[11] Can I buy shares in the club?

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

[12] Where can I find match statistics?

Statistics for the current season are available from the club site, but for a more in-depth analysis try http://www.mcfcstats.com/.

[13] Where can I find a list of City-related websites?

Try Wookie’s Lair: http://www.wookieslair.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links

DISCLAIMER
The views expressed in MCIVTA are entirely those of the subscribersand there is no intention to represent these opinions as being thoseof Manchester City Football Club, nor of any of the companies anduniversities by whom the subscribers are employed. It is not inany way whatsoever connected to the club or any other relatedorganisation and is simply a group of supporters using this mediumas a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.

Heidi Pickup, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: