Newsletter #1153

International weekend meant a break for City, so we’re still sitting comfortably 2nd in the table. Tonight we have opinion on Croft, Fowler, SWP and the usual requests.

We also have an updated FAQ, thanks to Dave, to include the new MCFC.TV details.

For those in Manchester with withdrawal symptoms, City reserves are at home to Birmingham (MinCOMS) Tuesday night at 7pm.

OPINION: LEE CROFT

After reading the reserve team match report from the Wigan match and reading with Croft, Wright-Phillips and Ireland all turning out their now customary impressive performances, MOTM Croft, it still surprises me why Lee has not even been in the reckoning for the last 3 games.

We are sorely lacking a strong/fast man on the wing to put in the crosses for the strikers. He was put on too late again in the West Brom game and had set off on one of his runs just before the whistle blew for that foul! Since then he’s not even been on the bench.

He’s a derby starter for me.

OPINION: FOWLER INTERVIEW

This appeared in the Observer over the weekend, well worth a read, on Robbie Fowler.

http://observer.guardian.co.uk/osm/story/0,6903,1560059,00.html

OPINION: SWP HERO OR ZERO?

Following my comments on the SWP transfer at the start of the summer, I received some criticism for my viewpoint – fair enough. Last week on the Century FM ‘Legends’ phone-in, I served to ignite yet another heated debate on this topic – which missed the point entirely! Accordingly, I want to raise a few points on the SWP saga, especially as I was denied the chance to make them properly on the phone-in.

The questions I raised on the Legends were this:

1. Why did City sell SWP? What is it (a) for the money? (b) because SWP wasonly interested in grabbing the silverware?
2. Have City now sold ‘our’ George Best?

On the first matter, you may recall I was unhappy at the way the SWP transfer was ‘presented’ to us by the MCFC. By this I meant I was confused by the circumstances: SWP’s apparent happiness to stay at City, followed by his 24 hour u-turn, followed by the club’s comments that they were ‘absolutely gutted’ to lose SWP. To me something wasn’t quite right. If City needed the money to pay for the debts built up by Keegan’s recklessness, then fair enough, this explains why we snapped Chelsea’s hands off within the space of 48 hours. However, it also implies that SWP’s so-called ‘desire’ to win trophies with Chelsea is a bit of a made-up-after-the-event non-issue (like Michael Owen’s ‘desire’ to play for a big club such as Newcastle). If on the other hand, we didn’t actually need the money, and SWP has done an ‘Anelka’ on us, then why did we accept so quickly, a paltry (my opinion) figure, and not play the game like Lyon did with Essien, and get every penny we could? Worst case scenario? We don’t sell him.

To me, you can’t have it both ways, as I think City have tried to play it. Take for example, the Distin saga this last week. City have been resolute that Distin is “not going anywhere”, “someone we need to build the side around” etc. And yet none of these statements were made in the weeks prior to SWP’s departure: just stoney silence on the subject. Okay so why does this matter, and why can’t I just get over it? Well the problem I have now, is when I see SWP playing for Chelsea I honestly don’t know what to think. Bitter? Definitely, as usual. Those MCVITA correspondents who have referenced the feeling of seeing your ex-girlfriend parading in that ‘flash bloke’s’ new car have got it spot on, that’s how I feel: seeing the Spurs vs. Chelsea highlights this weekend did not help me any.

I am certain of few things, but one is that no-one can actually put a true value on SWP at this moment. This is where my ‘George Best’ comment came from: if United had sold George Best at the start of the 1967 season (to whoever was the richest or most powerful club in England or Europe) then would anyone have been certain that Best would be the ‘one’ player that everyone now says was truly world class? A Man United legend? Who can say? The United fans probably wouldn’t, because that all came shortly after. Well for me, it’s ditto with SWP and here’s why. Just a fortnight ago, England got mauled in Denmark, and by not playing, SWP’s value actually went up compared to say Joe Cole, who played and whose value went down! If England (and sadly I really mean Sven) don’t recognise that we now need SWP as one of the first names on the teamsheet, and not the last, then it’s going to be same old, same old for our World Cup hopes next year. On top of this, I can remember at the start of the summer, a Liverpool fan on the Legends phone-in saying that “SWP can’t be worth more than £11 million” (and I think Wenger intimated pretty much the same thing). And I was thinking, “you have absolutely no idea as to how good a player he is, none at all really”. To me, it’s like London house prices; until you actually try to buy one, then you have no idea as to what the true price is going to be (and it’s steep!). Similarly, when I heard Lampard talking about SWP’s cameo performance against Spurs on Saturday, it was clear too, that he was now awake to the true potential of SWP, and Chelsea are now realising what a great player they have, and at good value for money too. And yet he was once ours, and I think that given the great things that Stuart Pearce has already done with our squad, retaining SWP would have kept the jigsaw complete. For sure, MCFC could easily have done (do?) as well as Everton did last season, because we have a great (albeit thin) squad, and Cole and Vassell were acquired pretty much for peanuts, not anything like the £21 million we got for SWP.

Bottom line: if we didn’t need the money, then we should have been clear that SWP was staying with us this season (just like with Distin). And if we did need the money, then I’m sorry but £21 million is not enough for ‘our’ George Best. Maybe we’ll find that out next summer in the World Cup (if Sven wakes up in time that is).

I’d be grateful for other MCIVTA correspondents to tell me what I should be thinking when I see SWP in a Chelsea shirt at COMS in December: Hero or Zero? Even now, I’m not sure. But deep down, you’ve got to love him.

OPINION: ATMOSPHERE

I have never ever said a word about the atmosphere at the City of Manchester Stadium. In any action sport around the world, fans love to get excited, they jump up out of their seats and shout for their team.

From what I have read, that excitement at Eastlands is subdued by the stewards acting like police officers, making people sit down and forbidding them from being excited and cheering on the Blues!

My plea on behalf of all MCFC fans to John Wardle is to let the supporters express themselves, let them get up out of their seats as long as they don’t do anything stupid.

I watch other games on TV, an example how the Welsh fans (all of them) were on their feet for the last plays of the game versus England to try to urge their players on in the Millennium Stadium.

We see Stuart Pearce with his commitment and passion on the touchline.

So Mr. Wardle, let the City supporters express themselves to urge City on to many victories at the City of Manchester Stadium.

They say the fans can be the twelfth man; I say that’s true, plus the passion instilled into the players by Stuart Pearce. Stuart Pearce has asked the supporters to help his players. Mr. Wardle please allow this to happen, it’s contagious.

I understand that MCFC wants the stadium to be for a family to have a day out. The NFL in America has that concept of a family’s day out, but does not have a rule “you must remain seated”; the only place I want to hear “please remain seated” is on a plane flying over to see City.

The atmosphere will be at the home games just like Stuart Pearce asks.

[All very well Ernie, but it isn’t as simple as that, safety and ground regulations, and persistent standing blocking the views of those less able (or tall enough) to stand have caused numerous problems – Ed]

OPINION: AERIAL STADIUM VIEWS

Click on the club to go to their website, or click on the red word ‘map’ to see a map view, then click on aerial to view same view in a photograph; for clubs in a congested area, click on the magnifying glass.

http://footballclubs.dyndns.org/footballclubs/

REQUEST: CITY WALLPAPER

Follow the link, http://www.imagestation.com/album/?id=2125125117, for an amateur effort at a background for your desktop with this season’s fixture list on. It’s strictly non-commercial and will remain active so long as it’s used solely for Blues who want access to a current fixture list. I will try and keep the two options current as fixtures change (but no promises). The Sony Imagestation site is not the most intuitive, so try the following to access either of the two wallpapers:

1. Click on ‘view album’
2. Type “mcvittee” in album password
3. Click on ‘index’
4. Tick the two slides, then ‘slideshow’ to choose which you prefer.
5. To copy an image, tick the respective box then ‘view image info’ and‘view original image’ from there. It is possible to save either image to yourhome PC.
6. To set as “wallpaper” for your PC, right click anywhere on your currentbackground, select properties with a left click. Then left click on thedisplay tab in the properties box, browse to wherever you have saved theimage, click ‘apply’ and ‘OK’ to exit.

Whatever you do, stay Blue!

REQUEST: BATH BLUES VIEWING

Does anybody know of a pub in Bath area that will be showing the derby live next Saturday?

If so, please e-mail me.

REQUEST: CHICAGO BLUES VIEWING

Calling all Chicago-based Blues. I’m looking for a good place to watch the derby with some Blue friends. I’ve been going to Fado on Grand/Clark street, but it’s full of Reds (Utd & Liverpool). If we can get a group to go, that would be fun (good vibes too as that’s where I watched City beat Brum).

I’ve also seen City fans at an Everton/Celtic bar off Grace on the North Side (name escapes me at the moment). Anyway, send me a note if you’re interested in viewing en masse. I know there are loads of pubs in Chicago showing the match.

RESULTS

League table to 04 September 2005 inclusive

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

MCIVTA FAQ [v0506.02]

[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.mcfcosc.com/); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.reddishblues.com/CSAWebsite/CSA.htm) and “The International Supporters’ Club”.

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

The Fans’ Committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. The Fans’ Committee has been relaunched as “Points of Blue”. It has appeared on the club website as a minor entry under “Fans Zone”.

[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://mcfc.videoloungetv.com/do/preLogin?clubSiteCode=MCFC&CMP=AFC-003.

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

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

[9] Do we have a Usenet newsgroup?

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

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

There are a number available and direct links can be found at http://www.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: