Newsletter #1404

Coffee table edition tonight, which looks back at the derby game with news, views and opinion on the match. We’ve also got some non-Blues’ views, which make a refreshing read.

No action for the Blues this weekend so enjoy the rest, and relive last Sunday’s game.

NEWS SUMMARY

“We Were Impeccable” News

Manchester United 1, Manchester City 2! Who’s ready to relive the fantastic events Sunday February 10, 2008, one more time? I know I am! City completed a league double over the Traffordonians with a 2-1 win. The last time City achieved such a feat was back in 1970 and the last time they won at Old Trafford was four years later. Darius Vassell put City ahead in the 24th minute and Benjani Mwaruwari, on his début following that strange transfer move from Portsmouth, headed the second. United replied with an injury-time goal from Michael Carrick but City held on. For Sven, it was three wins out of three against Alex Ferguson. He has added this priceless double to a European Super Cup triumph over United in 1999 when he was at Lazio. Didn’t it make you proud to see how City fans behaved before the game, during the much-anticipated (and much feared) minute’s silence to commemorate the Munich disaster anniversary? Sir Alex Ferguson and Sven-Goran Eriksson each laid a wreath either side of the centre circle before an impeccably observed minute’s silence. The disruption to the silence feared beforehand did not materialise and, instead, the clubs paid their respects as the city came together to produce a touching tribute before the game got underway. Sven later said: “There was a little bit of concern for everybody belonging to the club and maybe the fans as well. But they were not just good, they were perfect. I think everyone belonging to City, the fans, players and directors, should be very proud of what they did here today. I am very honoured. I have never been in a ceremony like that. It was very nice with the flowers (wreaths), players and then absolute silence. It was beautiful.” And next day, United’s club secretary Ken Ramsden had this to say: “Manchester came together and that for us was wonderful. When the City fans left the stadium last night they left singing `we are impeccable’ and I couldn’t agree more, they were impeccable. Well there was some trepidation obviously, because the families of the victims were here. It only takes one or two people out of 76,000 (to make a noise) so it could have easily gone wrong, but I think the fact that it didn’t is a great tribute to both clubs and particularly Manchester City. I can’t think there is another city in the land that could have done as well as Manchester did yesterday.”

City of Dreams: And so to the aftermatch reaction to the game. Sven was cock-a-hoop of course. “I thought our team did a great job because lately we haven’t played as well as the beginning of the season,” stated the Swede. “This was a very good answer that we are a good team. All the players did an extremely good job.” Eriksson was particularly pleased with Benjani, who was “Absolutely brilliant. He scored a goal, kept the ball and when United had the ball he worked and worked. He’s strong and quick and I’m very happy to have got him.” And we all have a nice little double against the Reds to enjoy. “Six points against Manchester United in one season is very good. Everyone belonging to City, the fans, players and directors, should be very proud of what they did here today. I think we deserved to win. We created more chances so we’re very happy. It was a great result. I’m really proud of all the players and happy for the fans. It was a very important game for us and even more important for United if they want to win the race with Arsenal. We had the right spirit and the right attitude. It was a great job. I am extremely pleased and proud of our team. When you go to Old Trafford and win you deserve it. Everyone was really up to it and collectively we were fantastic.” Sven revealed the struggles City skipper Richard Dunne had had to even make the game. He gave an inspirational performance at the heart of City’s defence, yet was by right not really supposed to be playing. “Richard Dunne had tonsilitis, so his performance was impeccable, just like the fans,” said SGE. “As the captain he was excellent. He did not train on Saturday or come to the hotel the evening before the game. He just arrived at 10am on Sunday. The doctors took care of him, in effect he came straight from his bed to Old Trafford to play, amazing.” Dunne brushed aside the praise, claiming: “I hadn’t been too well but I had every intention of playing in this one. The game and performance were brilliant. We’ve been disappointed with our last few performances and this time we got stuck into them. We knew if we didn’t put in a performance we would be in trouble. We got the goals at the right time and in the second half we worked really hard.” Returning to his Benjani theme, Eriksson said: “Benjani can take us into Europe. He has the technique, the pace and can keep the ball up in attack. He also scores goals. He will be very important for us as we aim for Europe. It was the right time for him to show it. He is the perfect player for the system we play, and he will help us reach Europe. Let’s hope he stays fit and can play in all the games, he has great attitude and is great value for money.”

Mr. Motivator: Sky TV gave its man of the match award to Didi Hamann, and the veteran midfielder was full of praise for his team’s performance. “We worked very hard and gave them no space”, he said. “We knew before the game that if you give a side like United room they will punish you, but we covered each other so well, and even when one of theirs got past us another player was there to cover and win the ball back. We restricted them to one goal and just a handful of chances, and that shows how well we defended.” The German also paid tribute to Benjani: “He did ever so well, he was always an outlet and showed himself down the channels. And of course he also got a great goal.” Darius Vassell, scorer of City’s first goal, said: “My goal was probably one of the most important I have scored. It will certainly go into the memory bank for me to smile about when I am retired. The manager told us how long it was since the last City win at Old Trafford and that was all he had to say to inspire us.” Of his skipper, he added: “You can’t knock him for anything. He’s a great leader and a great captain. To go out there and play with him in the team is a great boost to any of the players. All credit to him, he did well at Old Trafford and was a rock at the back, as usual. He’s Mr Reliable, I know that, but it takes some doing.” A similar tribute to Sven’s powers of motivation came from Sun Jihai, a late substitute on the day. “It was a brilliant feeling. Before the game, the Manager told us that it was 34 years since City had won at Old Trafford and that we could make history. He said that we could be heroes and people would remember us in 34 years if we won. Seeing the fans when I went out to warm-up brought his words back to me, and I thought to myself ‘Jihai, you can be a hero here’. To win like we did was a fantastic feeling.” The Blues’ 2-0 lead at half time was the stuff of dreams, but Jihai says the whole squad knew that the job was far from completed. “I came out to keep warmed up at half time,” he continues, “but I know that there was a great atmosphere in the dressing room. Everyone wanted to carry on the good performance from the first half into the second, but we all knew the game was not over and that we had to kill them off if we could. The atmosphere in the dressing room afterwards was amazing, everyone was singing. It’s one of the best moments of my City career without a doubt.”

Querulous Queiroz: Sir Redface did not conduct any media interviews after the game. The boss headed straight to the airport after the final whistle to catch a plane to South Africa, where he will be promoting the club’s pre-season tour. Glad to see you getting your priorities straight, Alex. Instead, it was left to hapless Assistant Manager Carlos Queiroz to face the media. “Fair play to City,” he said, “They outclassed us, and we were beaten by a better side.” Of course he didn’t say that! Instead, it was all the fault of those nasty extra training sessions the new England national coach was throwing at his boys. He told Sky Sports: “Seven players of our team played 90 minutes on Wednesday and we were always going to lose a bit of our shape and our sharpness and that is what happened at the beginning. We did not start the game with the right tempo. It was one of those games the lads really wanted to do their best to win but we did not have any inspiration early in the game. We were perhaps too anxious, and that combined with a Manchester City side who showed good movement and were strong on the counter-attack. It was really unusual to see a couple of our players playing so slow, without tempo and making mistakes,” added Queiroz. “That’s never happened before and if it is a coincidence we will let other people decide. The reality is that the players have been affected. Not only the English players but others like Ronaldo and Vidic were not so sharp.” He continued: “We didn’t play in the right way. Manchester City were really difficult to play against because they were very organised and compact waiting for the counter-attack, which they did very well. Individual mistakes, collective mistakes and the way City played was, in my opinion, the explanation why we did not take three points. We lost a lot of duels and that was something strange for us.”

Top Secret: If Sven was in any doubt about the importance of the derby games to City fans when he took the job, he sound found out. “When I first came to City, a fan came to me and said: ‘Don’t worry about Europe, don’t worry about where you are in the league, just beat Manchester United – twice!'”, he revealed. “So that’s done at least. Now we are happy and that’s very, very good. I don’t know if we deserved to win the first one, we were a little bit lucky, but on Sunday we absolutely deserved it.” When asked what the trick was to beating United, he replied: “There’s no trick – it’s just to work hard. You know when you meet teams like this you have to have legs and track them down and not let them play football. If you let Fabregas from last week and Ronaldo have the football they are too good. You have to be aggressive and keep the team very compact. I think that is the secret, but that is a secret, okay?” You’re secret’s safe with us, Mr.E!

General News

He Hasn’t Stopped Smiling Yet: On Monday night, City’s Reserves played at St. James’ Park no less, and drew 1-1 with Newcastle United. There were welcome returns for Michael Johnson and Valeri Bojinov, with the latter scoring City’s equaliser. John played for the first 45 minutes, while Bojinov came on with 63 minutes on the clock. Andy Carroll had given the home side the lead, but Boj got the job done with 11 minutes to go when he volleyed Emile Mpenza’s low ball in from 12 yards. Sven was in attendance and gave his views on the fitness of the City goalscorer. “Bojinov is not ready for the first team yet, but it was good for him to get back,” said Sven. “He played 30 minutes and scored a nice goal and in that time you could see that he understands the game technically. He sees things early and links up well. He will be like a new signing. I don’t think he will be ready for our next game but I know it was a huge relief for him to be back. He has not stopped smiling since.”
Team: Isaksson, Obeng (sub McDonald 18), Garrido, Breen, Sun, Johnson (sub Daly 45), Logan, Geovanni, Mpenza, Caicedo (sub Bojinov 63), Moore. Subs not used: Nimely-Tchuimeni, Martin.

He’s Caught in a Trap: The Republic of Ireland have got themselves a new coach, and like England they decided to do an Italian job. Giovanni Trapattoni, of Juventus and Italy fame is the new boss, and he will immediately seek talks with Stephen Ireland. Top of Trapattoni’s list of priorities is to persuade Ireland to resume playing for his country. After his well-reported Granny-related issues last September, Stephen’s refused to go near the national squad. “Giovanni will tell him how he once marked Pele out of a game,” an Italian source told The Times. “He’ll show him old pictures and tell him about all the great players he’s worked with.”

Take a Break: Following the hurly burly and excitement of the win at OT, Sven said he was looking forward to the forthcoming break. City aren’t involved in Europe or the FA Cup and as such have a break until February 25 when they take on Everton in the Premiership at the COMS. “I think it’s a good opportunity and we will give the players some days off,” he said. “I think when we come back to prepare for the Everton game we will be mentally fresh enough to turn on the turbo and try to do as good as possible for the rest of the season.”

A Minor Setback… It wasn’t completely unfettered joy in our clashes with the Old Enemy this week. In the Manchester Senior Cup last Thursday, the Reds actually managed to beat a City side (albeit a highly inexperienced one, mind). Two goals in the first ten minutes by Chris Eagles gave the Dark Side their victory at Northwich’s Victoria ground. Still, we’ll let them have that one, eh, readers? Team: Martin, Logan, Williamson (Obeng 49), Breen, MacDonald, Clayton, Etuhu (Weiss h-t), Grimes, Nimely-Thcuimeni, Marshall (Kay 80), Moore. Unused subs: Mentel, Mouritsen.

The 39 Steps – Too Far… Please forgive the editorialising, but the Premier League unveiled one of their scarier ideas last week. In two years’ time, Premier clubs would play one extra league game in cities scattered around the world, bringing mountains of extra cash into the top clubs’ coffers (naturally). Sven was asked for his views on the suggestion, and he gave it a less than ringing endorsement. “If you are manager of the national team you are not happy about your players playing even one more game and at the same time you are talking about a winter break. It is all about position,” he said. “At the same time it would be interesting to go and play somewhere different. It is important that every fan will still have their 38 games. If they had taken away from the 38 that would have been wrong but this is extra. I suppose it’s the same date for all Premier League clubs so once again you are sitting in the same boat. You hope not to go too far for your trip once you are in that boat. I don’t know if it will happen but if it does happen it will be good for fans in other countries. But in the other way I guess managers will want to play less football, not more, it is a controversial one.”

Transfer News and Gossip

The Hunt for Huntelaar: Ajax striker Klaas-Jan Huntelaar was first linked with City last summer, and now the Blues have been confirmed as an interested party by the player’s agent during an interview with Il Romanista, the newspaper dedicated to AS Roma, another club who would like to buy Huntelaar. “If he comes to Italy, he will only come to Roma,” said Vincenzo Morabito.” How much will he cost? It will take around £15 million. The main worry for Roma comes from England. For example, Manchester City were chasing Huntelaar in January, but Ajax chose to keep hold of him until June. Dutch players often prefer to go to England because of the language, but Italy has an important tradition and I wouldn’t rule anything out at the moment.”

Emile Talks Turkey: It sounds like Emile Mpenza’s days as a City player may be numbered, if this week’s reports are anything to go by. The 29-year-old Belgian striker was reportedly on the brink of a move to Trabzonspor, but the player’s agent has confirmed that the deal is off. He will stay with City until the end of the season though. Trabzonspor headed a list of interested clubs and would have been able to complete a transfer because the window is open for another week in Turkey. However, the move broke down because the club could not provide the financial guarantees to the player. Mpenza’s agent Richard Tarhout said: “Emile has had second thoughts. He does not want to leave City and he is not frightened of the competition for places.”

Super Mario Sought: City, Arsenal and Chelsea are all said to be interested in Dinamo Zagreb striker Mario Mandzukic. The three English clubs have all asked Dinamo to keep them informed of the 21 year-old’s situation leading up to the summer market. It emerged this week that Lens have made a formal approach to Dinamo about opening talks over a fee for Mandzukic.

Ex-Blues’ News

Bell Tolls Note of Pride: Following our derby triumph on Sunday (I’m still not bored of writing that), King Colin Bell gave his thoughts on the minute’s silence at OT, his views on Sven’s City team, and reminisced about Denis Law’s back-heeled winner back in 1974. Bell was proud of his team’s supporters during the silence, which he found to be deeply moving. “I’d got the family around me and we just stood in silence ourselves at home. You could hear a pin drop and my eyes filled up with pride at the way City supporters honoured the dead. I was close to tears. It was such a significant time for all true supporters. I’m not a believer at all in this clapping lark and I did appeal in the Manchester Evening News for supporters to behave themselves. Although I wasn’t 100 per cent sure they would, I was confident that Manchester would commemorate the occasion.” He was asked how he rated the current City team. “There is certainly a good chance to qualify for Europe,” he said. “You always need to get out of the blocks from day one, which City did because there is always a stutter. If you can beat United at Old Trafford you are capable of beating anyone and I hope Sunday’s result kick starts our season again. In Richard Dunne and Micah Richards we have two great centre halves. Elano has been a little off the boil after injury but Petrov is a good old fashioned winger, a breath of fresh air. All we’ve been lacking is an out and out goal scorer and Benjani could just be the person to get us the goals that will get us into Europe. He’s certainly made a good start to his City career.” So what was it like to be involved in City’s last triumph at the Swamp, some 38 years ago? “I was one of the first to go over and congratulate Denis,” said Bell. “But I have never seen anyone so disappointed after scoring. I put my arm around his shoulders and patted his cheek and tried to cheer him up, but he looked like he had scored an own goal. It was in my mind to tell him that he’d scored for the right team but I didn’t. He was so down in the dumps he ended up being replaced and not much was said in the dressing room.”

Squad News

One Down, One to Go: There was mighty good news for the future of the club this week, as Micah Richards signed a new long-term contract with the club. The deal will run for five and a half years, and according to most reports will mean that the player will earn nearer to £50,000 per week than the £75,000 which Micah’s people were holding out for. Allegedly. Anyway, Micah says he’s chuffed. “I’ve always wanted to be at this club and signing this five-and-a-half-year contract shows that,” Micah said. “It puts all the speculation to bed. I can concentrate on the rest of the season now. The manager has been great. We’re going to fight for Europe, which is a massive achievement. I try to put in 100% every match and hopefully I can keep playing that way and playing for my country as well.” SGE said: “This is fantastic news. It shows we are building for the future by securing one of our most talented players on a longest-term contract.” Meanwhile, Chief Executive Alistair Mackintosh, declared: “It’s absolutely tremendous news for the Football Club as we announce that Micah Richards has signed a new five and a half year deal. It’s the longest deal, certainly in my memory, of the Club’s history. The Manager’s delighted, Dr Thaksin’s delighted and I’m personally delighted. We’ve worked well with Micah and his father in putting together an appropriate deal. It’s always been my goal to sign our young players up on long term contracts to provide a solid foundation, going forward, as we continue to invest in the team.” Which means of course that Sven now has 50% of his centre back duo is signed up. There was the odd mischievous online news story suggesting that Richard Dunne might take advantage of a new European directive this summer and leave City for a mere £1.5 million, with KK at Newcastle particularly interested in landing his former player. Sven insisted that Dunnie is but a pen stroke away from signing a new deal. The Boss said this week that a new contract “is still in the pipeline and I am sure he will sign a new contract,” according to the MEN.

Didi Did Deal: From a 19-year-old starlet to a 34-year-old veteran. In the wake of his sterling efforts on Sunday came news that Didi Hamann has had his contract extended by a year, thus making him a City player until the end of the 2008/2009 campaign. “If I am correctly informed then, after a certain number of games, Didi automatically gets one more year and I think he is well above that number,” confirmed SGE this week. His first season under Stuart Pearce was interrupted by injury but he has prospered since Sven took over as City manager in July 2007. The German international has started 23 of the Blues’ 26 Premier League games this term.

Nery Nearly Ready: He may look like a shrunken version of Claudio Reyna (he’s certainly got the same injury record), but striker Nery Castillo handed Sven a boost by returning to training this week. The Mexico international joined City in the January transfer window on loan from Shakhtar Donetsk but in his third appearance, in the Cup replay against West Ham, he fell awkwardly and fractured a bone in his shoulder. The 23-year-old is now closing in on a first-team comeback after returning to training. “The medical people say Nery is now allowed to do everything with the senior squad including physical contact and tackling, so that is good,” Eriksson said on the club website. “It has not been easy for him having to work with the fitness coaches all the time.”

Good Evans: Two City strikers had a great weekend playing on loan in the Championship. Paul Dickov struck twice for loan club Blackpool in their victory over Hull City, while Ched Evans was also on the mark for Norwich in their victory over Cardiff. Dickov seized on an error by ‘keeper Bo Myhill to score the first and then lobbed Myhill for the second after a clever piece of ball juggling. Blackpool manager Simon Grayson said of Dickov: “He showed great anticipation for the first and then a piece of skill that was straight out of the Premier League.” Grayson also hinted at a permanent deal for the forward. He said: “We’ll see how it goes until the end of the season but we know he will then be a free agent.” Meanwhile, Evans also struck twice as Glenn Roeder’s in-form side made it 12 games unbeaten. After Gavin Rae had cancelled out a 15th- minute opener by Evans, a draw seemed inevitable but the teenager then struck his late goal from 30 yards. Roeder said: “Ched’s been outstanding since the day he arrived.”

He’s in the Money: Benjani has given a revealing newspaper interview which proves how much of a shock his sudden move to City was. He seems to have been initially against joining the Blues, but now the deal is done he is fully committed to his new team. “It was never my choice to leave Pompey because of the special relationship that I had with the supporters, with my team-mates and with the coach,” he told Zimbabwean newspaper The Herald. “I was very happy at Pompey and I think this season I showed that I had settled down well and I was beginning to produce the goals for the club. There are some things in football that are more important than money and one of those things is a special relationship a player can enjoy with the supporters and the coach. I had all that at Portsmouth and I was really enjoying myself playing football in a very good environment and knowing that everyone was happy with what I was doing for the club. I was shocked when I was told on Tuesday that I was going to be sold to Manchester City before the transfer window closed,” he said. “I asked for the reason why I was being sold and they told me that it was a good business deal since Manchester City were paying a lot of money – especially considering my age – and they could also get younger players in return. It was tough to leave Portsmouth and I was late leaving my home for Manchester because I kept asking myself all day whether this was all true,” he added. “I kept telling myself that it was all a bad dream and I would wake up the following day and still be a Pompey player. But this was not a dream.” The size of City’s offer to him seems to have cushioned the blow of leaving. “I arrived there late because of one or two reasons and when I looked at the contract they were offering me, I could not believe it and I just signed there and then. It’s the best deal, in terms of remuneration, in my entire career and I was just happy with the respect I received from Manchester City so I signed in a few minutes. It’s not easy for a 29-year-old African player to get such a deal in Europe.” Benjani was also impressed with City’s efforts to ensure they signed him. He said: “The manager Sven-Goran Eriksson made the long journey to London on transfer deadline day to get my work permit and you have to respect that. It’s not every day that you get a manager of Eriksson’s calibre travelling such long distances to ensure that a player’s work permit is in order. Even when things did not appear to be going on well, Eriksson was still confident that everything would be fine. He asked me three times whether I had made up my mind to join City and he said he would give me all the support I need. It’s a fresh challenge and maybe it was also the time for me to face such a fresh challenge.”

OPINION: WELL DONE BLUES

A few comments received from (non City) supporters that we think are worth sharing:

It’s not often these days that I feel compelled to write, especially about another club other than my own City, Bradford, but as a life long football fan of 38 years I feel I must congratulate all Manchester City fans who were at Old Trafford yesterday.

Man Utd are despised throughout the country for many reasons, for being successful yes but I think it’s more a case of what that success is based on. We all know. Points gained at the crucial 6th minute of Fergie injury time that have won titles, revenue from many so called ‘supporters’ from all over the UK and around the world, a treble gained through the greed of the Champions’ League (Man Utd weren’t our Champions for that competition, Arsenal were), the points gained through constant poor decisions at Old Trafford (how many penalties?) and the constant media attention (we haven’t heard much about Arsenal this year, all we’ve heard is Ronaldo, Rooney blah blah blah… you’d think they were 15 points clear not, hopefully by the end of tonight 5 points behind Arsenal). We could go on and on and on…

If it makes the blood of an ordinary football fan boil then I can’t begin to imagine what it does to the Blue half or should I say the only club in Manchester? I tuned in to the derby yesterday and witnessed an impeccably observed minute’s silence. To be truthful I wasn’t expecting it and I apologise for that here and now. The fans that were there put behind them years of bitterness, for some hatred, and they are a credit to your club and to football itself. I was overjoyed at the result for “Anybody But Uniteds” everywhere but more so for those fans who were there. It’s not often you’ll hear a Yorkshireman paying compliments, especially about a club on the other side of t’hill! But, respect is due, it was well earned yesterday and I wish you every success for the future.

I’m a 45 year old Birmingham City fan who watched today’s Manchester derby game. All the fans at the game were simply fantastic. Your fans have my total respect for the way they behaved at this game throughout, when the football world was watching, not least the one minute silence. You’re all a credit to the game and always have been and I really wish you every success. And the guys on the pitch didn’t do too bad either! Good Luck and really well done again.

I felt I had to contact someone at Manchester City after watching yesterday’s derby game from here in Kentucky. The team were excellent and well worth their victory. The fans were unbelievable. 3,000 outsinging 70,000 says it all. Their behaviour was more than excellent. All credit to the Blue half of Manchester. I am originally from N. Ireland and a Man Utd fan for the past 35 years. Yesterday I was simply delighted for you all. Congratulations and best wishes for a successful campaign this year and many more to come.

I just wanted to say that I am so proud of all Manchester football supporters today. It was an important day today and the respect, honour and genuine humanity that everybody in the ground showed today displayed the highest standards of human love, respect and honour. Even I, as a Spurs fan, was moved to tears and I am so delighted that you all moved me and showed me how wonderful it is to be counted among the brotherhood of football supporters. Thank you so much for being such an example to everyone in the game.

Just watched the game on Sky. Your fans were amazing during the silence, a credit to the club.

OPINION: DERBY DAY I

I have never contributed before but felt I wanted to congratulate all the Blues that were at the game on Sunday, I was lucky enough to have a ticket but unlucky in that it was in the middle of the North Stand amongst all the Rags. Nevertheless the silence during that one minute was fantastic and all the Blues who were at the game should be proud wherever they were sat, I am convinced that it was this that put us on the front foot, certainly all the fans around us were stunned that we kept quiet.

Roll on Europe.

OPINION: DERBY DAY II

I was there. No, not this week, back in 1974 when Denis Law scored that goal. We were all singing MU Division 2, as United dropped down into the second tier.

Oh, just before I go any further, the year after, whilst United were in Division 2 and we were still in the First Division, we lost at Old Trafford 1-0 in the League Cup. That makes them ‘Giant Killers’. Hahahaha.

Anyway, back to this week. Congratulations to every City fan that was there. You are all saints. You did the club (City) proud.

Scenario 1: A few idiots spoil the minute’s silence and we go on to win the game. Result: Mass condemnation from all and sundry and the name of Manchester City is tarnished forever.

Scenario 2: The silence is respected and we go on to win the game. Well it’s all history now and the ‘Hacks’ at the daily news are kicking themselves as they were hoping for something carve to pieces and they didn’t get it. We really did spoil their precious occasion and we did it in such a way that not one line of criticism has come our way. What a day.

Now to the performances on the field. I have written recently at my despair at the ability and willingness to work from quite a number of players. Well I can’t criticise any single player this week as to a man, the work ethic was 100% and every player showed what ability they have got. Why oh why can we not do this every week? It wasn’t actually the best of performances in terms of entertainment, but it was a joy to see everyone working hard for each other.

I wonder if it was fate that Elano was banned because I really don’t think that he would put the effort in that the players did on Sunday.

Benjani, what can you say? Holds the ball up, appears all over the place (United’s defenders didn’t know where he was going to pop up next), lays it off and then takes a position to offer a return option, and can play as well. Money well spent. He looks the ‘Dogs’.

As for the other new face, Caceido (have I spelt that right?). Jesus, how big is he? He didn’t get many touches but, considering when he was asked to come on in such a high profile game, he didn’t look out of his depth and once or twice that he ran at United’s defender, you could see some brown stuff trickling down their legs. Put it this way, I wouldn’t like him running at me down a back alley.

In the words of Blakey in ‘On the buses’, you’ve made my day you have.

Loving it. Thank you City.

OPINION: DERBY DAY III

Isn’t it just awful watching games that you know will become folklore on TV? The very pit of your stomach wrenching you apart with the momentous events that you are witnessing, but the wretchedness of not actually being there! We’ve all been there I know.

Now plenty of words have been given to the simply awe-inspiring beauty of the Blue masses in the derby and it is rare one feels as genuinely moved as we all felt on Sunday. Truly proud. However, there was an incident that in the tabloid press and the commentators on the day seemed to miss totally.

It revolved around our second (winning!) goal by Benjani. We had 3 successive corners in the build up to it. Each one Petrov faced a torrent of appalling abuse and gestures from a group of (words fail me) United supporters (please note no inverted commas there) In fairness to Sky, unlike the BBC, they showed it ‘full-frontal’ live on their cameras and it was abuse that was so utterly out of context with the dignity of the day as to be revolting – the ultimate difference between true Blue and Red.

Gloriously, Petrov’s vicious in-swinging cross was flicked on Benjani for a goal that looked better the slower the replay got of it. Then Benjani, who had clearly spotted this grim ‘band of brothers’ ran over to them… and just pointed at them all, individually and collectively. How utterly humiliated they must have felt. I truly hope they remember their behaviour and the way the simplicity of football and a young Zimbabwean, who must know about inhumanity, had the presence of mind to point out the very worst, when we had all witnessed the very best.

Well done Blues, well done Benji and welcome.

OPINION: DERBY DAY IV

Well what a great night it was for all City fans down here in Australia. It was early morning and in my little corner shop I wore the blue shirt with pride. A scouser came in for his morning rag (Everton); he watched the game and gave me a cheeky smile while I was serving.

Great to be a Blue down under!

OPINION: DERBY DAY V

Can’t get enough, just love it!

I really envy our City brothers and sisters who entered the poisoned arena at the weekend, whom at the time must have felt that they were as lambs being led to the slaughter. Now we know they came away as roaring lions. They were the helpless prey who turned and destroyed their tormentors, and how? You who were there must still be up there in the seventh sky-blue heaven.

The Manchester based fans also, God it must feel great! You weren’t welcome at the Swamp, only limited space, begrudgingly available, for rival visitors. I know of thousands of souls who dearly wished, like me, that they’d been there!

Only space for glory hunting, red-clad, prawn sandwich eating bigots! I estimate that there must have been sixty-odd thousand of that sort who now dearly wished they hadn’t taken the tickets of genuine Mancunian football lovers. Instead of prawns they ended up with indigestion from the humble pie!

Although there isn’t much chance of it, I am after all preaching to the converted, City fans worldwide, the achievement of City and their fans must not be under-estimated. It wasn’t ripples that emanated from Manchester on Sunday, they were full-blown waves and the repercussions were felt everywhere.

It’s really got sod-all to do with any of you out there but I would love to share what I already know will remain a legendary weekend. Anybody remotely aware of Dutch culture recognizes the importance of birthdays in their calendars. My prospects prior to last weekend were birthday celebrations for family and friends on consecutive days, Friday, Saturday and Sunday and the possibility to drink myself into oblivion and drown my sorrows by the time Sunday afternoon came along, and until after the game! Let me share with you my weekend.

Friday evening, my older son’s birthday. He went to bed far too late for his own good considering we had to be at the gates of our local football club at 07.30 on Saturday morning to travel to his away game. We made it, and his junior league team went on to win 3-7 on their opening game of their 10-game competition.

We got back to the club, only to hear that my younger son’s team had triumphed 10-0 in their opening game. I had the feeling that, whatever comes of the rest of the weekend my sons had done me proud. Never had we started with 100%.

My Saturday afternoon continued in light-hearted mood. During the course of the evening and the next birthday party, the local populace gained a lift when it was announced that Feyenoord (I married into a Feyenoord family) had climbed out of their latest dip to gather all the points at De Graafschap and their main rival (whatever happens in Holland), Ajax had lost to Roda.

Sunday afternoon, although all these, I suppose minor victories, had given my weekend a sheen, I began to feel increasingly agitated, nervous and full of trepidation as the derby approached. I’d observed all my rituals up till then, avoiding black cats, only drinking coffee out of my favourite ‘football day only’ City mug etc. I dreaded the day. I went through the motions but without the belief that it’d do any good, ye of little faith!

All had gone well up to that moment, but I expected my whole weekend to come crashing down around my ears. Some foul-mouthed jerk(s) wearing City colours was going to spark a riot, the media were going to have a field day. My first taste of victory occurred before a ball was kicked, the City following behaved with ultimate respect, and in retrospect this managed to unease our graceless hosts.

What then the Portuguese schwalbe specialist and his fellow overblown prima donna’s? They were going to walk all over us. It was horrible! I was glued to the gogglebox, that the 2-0 was only a cruel joke and that the score would be turned on its head and the media would be able to add to their creepy, crawly, out of all proportion kow-towing to everything Swamp.

I stuck it out in agonizing anticipation that it was after all their day and City were there to make up the numbers, and after City’s recent run it was unthinkable that City could take all the points on their day? What if Howard, the ref, was wearing a Ferguson watch, given to him before the game by bacon chops? Seconds to go and 2-1 and the ref was working with a Taggart clock?

The final whistle went and it was bedlam. My sons were all over me and the in- laws phoned up to announce they were coming round and did it really matter if champagne was not really cold? The final birthday trilogy passed in a blur and I’m sure that my demeanor only added to the atmosphere in a positive way. All the cloggies who know what City mean to me offered their congratulations and really sensed I was floating.

Since Sunday I’ve had all the pats on the back and all and sundry have shown their appreciation of the pictures on the Dutch sports programmes. I’ve lost count of the number of people who’ve remarked that the crowd was remarkably well behaved and respectful during the minute’s silence.

Sunday was a day of legends, milk it mercilessly all you of City faith, you deserve it! Always proud to be Blue, but these are the days when it’s a damn sight easier!

Greetings from ‘t other side o’ puddle.

OPINION: DERBY DAY VI

The moral high ground! So the Rags dispensed with the sponsor’s logo for the one match. Did they really?

The players may have but it was obvious that AIG would not miss out on such a photo opportunity and thus each Rag walked out holding the hand of a young person shamelessly draped in the usual sponsor-adorned kit.

And our beloved Blues? A mascot accompanying the mighty Richard Dunne wearing a replica goalkeeper’s shirt without any sign of a sponsor’s logo. Well done Manchester City, shame on the corporate greed of the Rags.

We are impeccable!

OPINION: DERBY DAY VII

I’m only 13 but no City match has ever felt so good! I’ve seen City get promoted (with Weaver being chased around the ground) but nothing compares to City’s derby victory. Every year of my 13 years I’ve had some idiot U****d giving me stick and now it’s my turn.

No matter how hard van der Sar tried he wasn’t going to stop Vassell. He just didn’t give up. Goal hungry wasn’t the word for it… more like goal starved! 1-0. Even the ‘great’ Ronaldo couldn’t break through our back four. Then later Petrov hammered in a shot/cross that was spectacularly poached by Benjani. His shoulder, his head whatever it was, it was a goal. 2-0.

At the end of the match I immediately gave them 3 years’ worth of stick in one phone call. Surprisingly they will not talk to me but I digress. A completely deserved victory, 13th time unlucky for the Rags!

OPINION: DERBY DAY VIII

I missed watching the game because of my father in law’s birthday. So it was listening to the first half on the radio as we drove down the Ayrshire coast to Girvan and then wondering whether we’d held on over his birthday meal.

On returning home I phoned my dad, now 95 and a lifetime City supporter, to see how he’d enjoyed watching the game and amongst other things was touched to hear him say “You know David, there were times when I could hardly bear to watch, you know what City are like.” Even at 95 beating United still matters!

OPINION: THE SQUAD

Just looking at the squad now that Boj and Johno are coming back, it seems that practically all places have good cover. Therefore any additions made in the summer will need to be top class.

Place   First           Options:
GK      Hart            Isaksson        Schmeichel
LB      Ball            Garrido
LCB     Dunne           Richards
RCB     Corluka         Richards        Onuoha
RB      Richards        Onuoha          Corluka
LM      Petrov          Castillo        Vassell
LCM     Elano           Fernandes       Ireland
CM      Johnson         Fernandes       Castillo
RCM     Fernandes       Johnson         Hamann
RM      Ireland         Caseido         Vassell
CF      Benjani         Bojinov         Sturridge

It seems that only a couple of areas should be considered.

Left back; It is obvious that Ball is exposed when we lose possession. He has coped admirably with no help from Petrov. I like Ball but if he got injured then Garrido’s wandering makes me nervous. I hear that Wayne Bridge has said “start me in Carling Cup Final, or I’m off”. That’s that one sorted until someone younger comes along.

Right Midfield: We should not keep putting spare strikers on the wing. Blackburn’s season is fizzling out so David Bentley might be enticed. These two would not be cheap (guess Bridge £5 million, Bentley £10 million) but would give the squad a balanced look.

Just look at the top teams (we’re close but not there yet!). They only buy one or two a season to add squad quality. I believe we are fortunate enough to adopt the same attitude.

Let’s be honest. This is smiley season. Who would’ve thought we’d even be thinking of players of this calibre; adding to a squad that is the best for decades. Fresh from, not just beating the Rags, but genuinely out-playing them!

Looking forward to Groclin away. Let’s see them try that again!

OPINION: STAT ATTACK

The following table can be interpreted in two ways. Ecstatically in that since returning to the Premier League City’s record against United reads W 5 D 3 L 4. But frustratingly because if we played against everyone else with the same conviction we’d probably have won a few trophies during that time.

Anyway for the record here are the number of league victories for each of the current Premier League clubs against United from 2002-03 onwards.

Arsenal                 2
Aston Villa             0
Birmingham City         0
Blackburn Rovers        4
Bolton Wanderers        2
Chelsea                 4
Derby County            0
Everton                 1
Fulham                  1
Liverpool               1
Manchester City         5
Middlesbrough           3
Newcastle United        0
Portsmouth              3
Reading                 0
Sunderland              0
Tottenham Hotspur       0
West Ham United         3
Wigan Athletic          0

OPINION: CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

Thrilled about the derby. For goodness sake, sign Dunnie to the biggest contract, pay him anything, give him gold plated boots, but for goodness sake sign him.

Staying Blue, it’s great isn’t it?

OPINION: JOHNSON

I have to agree with Jeremy Poynton. Our worsening form started when Michael Johnson was injured and hit rock bottom when Micah Richards was out too. Now Micah is back we have got a bit better. You can’t equate derby matches with ordinary fixtures, though Benjani does look good, we may get some idea after the Everton match, which if we are going to get fourth place, we need to win.

If we/they sell Johnson I’ll be gutted, Crouch is nowhere near as good as him and we aren’t that flush with midfielders who can score goals regularly.

REQUEST: DERBY DVD

Would be grateful for a DVD copy of the derby on MOTD2 if anybody managed to record it?

REQUEST: NO TO GAM£ 39

Following on from the message in the last edition, I can inform you that the Football Supporters’ Federation have planned five evening meetings across the country next week for fans to discuss the issue of playing Premier League games overseas.

The meetings are in Wigan and London (18th February), Gateshead (19th February), Sheffield (21st February) and Birmingham (22nd February). A full list of venues and times can be viewed on http://www.fsf.org.uk/game39/no-to-game-39-meetings.html

Even if you cannot make a meeting, if you agree that games should not be played overseas, then please sign the online petition and make your voice heard.

REQUEST: BLUE QUERIES

Let me first say I have been a Blue for 42 years now. I am embarrassed to say that there are a couple of traditional Blue habits that I do not know the story behind. It’s time to bite my lip and ask the faithful.

• Where does the expression “We’re not really here” originate? Why?
• Who started “Blue Moon”?
• Which is the best book for an uneducated fan (i.e. me) to learn these andeverything else about the Club?

REQUEST: MANCHESTER – A FOOTBALL HISTORY

By Gary James ISBN: 978-0-9558127-0-5
Subscriber period extended to 29th February 2008

I know there’s been a lot of interest from City fans (most of the subscribers so far are Blues), so I thought I’d best let everyone know that the deadline to subscribe to my latest book “Manchester A Football History” has now been extended until 29th February 2008.

Inevitably, Sunday’s Manchester derby will be considered in the book, alongside other significant cross-club stories.

The normal retail price will be £21.95, and I am aware that Waterstones are already advertising it at a slightly lower price. However to date Waterstones’ distributors have not agreed to take the book and therefore it’s possible Waterstones may not be stocking it (the same is true of all other book chains and Amazon). So the only way of guaranteeing a copy is by ordering direct from the publishers.

The book can be pre-ordered for the discounted price of £20 (including UK p&p). For that subscribers will receive a personally signed copy of the book, despatched in May before the book appears in the shops, and will also have the opportunity to have their name, the name of their favourite Manchester region side and the name of their favourite player included in the special subscribers’ list.

The book reveals many new and interesting stories and also tries to spell out many significant events that have shaped the region’s football development.

Manchester – A Football History focuses on the League/former League sides of Bury, City, United, Oldham, Rochdale, Stockport and Stalybridge Celtic.

Manchester – A Football History will contain over 200,000 words on more than 500 pages (size 248x174mm) with photographs throughout.

All subscriber editions must be ordered before 29 February 2008. To order please send a cheque for £20 made payable to James Ward and post, together with the information detailed below to the publishers: James Ward, PO Box 822, Halifax, West Yorkshire, HX1 9FX

Please include with every order: Your £20 (£30 non-UK) cheque made payable to James Ward; your full name and delivery address; the name to be included in the subscribers’ list (if different); the name of your favourite football team (for example Manchester City) and your favourite all-time player (for example Billy Meredith).

RESULTS

11 February 2008

Arsenal               2 - 0  Blackburn Rovers      60,049

10 February 2008

Manchester United     1 - 2  Manchester City       75,970
Chelsea               0 - 0  Liverpool             41,788

League table to 13 February 2008 inclusive

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F   A   GD  Pts
 1 Arsenal         26 12  2  0 31  8  7  4  1 23 10 19  6  1  54  18  36  63
 2 Manchester Utd  26 12  1  1 32  5  6  3  3 18  9 18  4  4  50  14  36  58
 3 Chelsea         26  8  5  0 23  8  8  2  3 15  9 16  7  3  38  17  21  55
 4 Everton         26  8  2  3 24 11  6  3  4 17 12 14  5  7  41  23  18  47
 5 Liverpool       25  5  6  1 26  9  6  5  2 14  8 11 11  3  40  17  23  44
 6 Aston Villa     26  8  2  4 24 17  4  6  2 24 17 12  8  6  48  34  14  44
 7 Manchester City 26  9  3  1 21 11  3  5  5 13 18 12  8  6  34  29   5  44
 8 Portsmouth      26  3  7  2 15 10  8  1  5 21 16 11  8  7  36  26  10  41
 9 Blackburn R.    26  5  4  4 13 13  5  5  3 19 20 10  9  7  32  33  -1  39
10 West Ham United 25  5  5  3 16 13  5  2  5 14 10 10  7  8  30  23   7  37
11 Tottenham H.    26  6  2  4 33 22  2  6  6 15 19  8  8 10  48  41   7  32
12 Middlesbrough   26  4  4  5 14 18  3  4  6  9 20  7  8 11  23  38 -15  29
13 Newcastle Utd   26  5  5  3 17 18  2  2  9 12 29  7  7 12  29  47 -18  28
14 Sunderland      26  7  3  3 17 13  0  2 11  9 32  7  5 14  26  45 -19  26
15 Bolton Wndrs    26  5  4  5 17 12  1  3  8  9 23  6  7 13  26  35  -9  25
16 Wigan Athletic  26  5  2  5 15 14  1  3 10  9 28  6  5 15  24  42 -18  23
17 Birmingham City 26  3  4  5 13 14  2  3  9 12 24  5  7 14  25  38 -13  22
18 Reading         26  6  1  6 14 19  0  3 10 16 34  6  4 16  30  53 -23  22
19 Fulham          26  3  5  5 18 22  0  5  8  7 22  3 10 13  25  44 -19  19
20 Derby County    26  1  3  9  8 24  0  3 10  5 31  1  6 19  13  55 -42   9

MCIVTA FAQ [v0708.01]

[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.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 Points of Blue (formerly the Fans’ Committee)?

The committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. Points of Blue appears on the club website as a minor entry under “Fans Zone”.

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

The Radio Manchester (née GMR) pre and post match phone-in is available on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/manchester/sport/manchester_city/index.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://msn.foxsports.com/foxsoccer, 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] 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/.

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: