Newsletter #1728

Whilst Heidi is busy with the necessary evil that is work, she has daringly left MCIVTA in my hands for one edition.

Paul reminded me that I last guest edited MCIVTA back in 2002 (MCIVTA 860 and MCIVTA 861) for those interested in history, although the keener eyed will spot that I used James rather than Jim, but I feel a ramble coming on… anyway back in 2002 KK was in charge and by MCIVTA 861 we were celebrating two wins on the trot and 14th in the league! How times have changed.

This pre-FA Cup Final edition (how excited am I typing that?) has Phil’s excellent match report (I nearly forgot we’re in the Champions’ League as well; despite my misgivings about Champions’ League being for Champions, but that’s another story…) and his pre-Wembley taster, plenty of opinions, complaints, a Why Blue?, Maine Road FC looking for sponsorship and requests for lifts, pubs and everything else for the big game on Saturday.

Thanks to everyone who continues to contribute to MCIVTA, I may be shamed into contributing more myself.

MATCH REPORT 1: MCFC 1 THFC 0

Manchester City secured 4th place and Champions’ League football with this crucial 1-0 win over Tottenham. For the 2nd successive year, Peter Crouch scored the decisive goal in this fixture, but fortunately for us (including his City-supporting mum!), he netted an own goal for City.

Micah Richards came back in at right back after his lay-off with a hamstring injury, with Pablo Zabaleta moving across to left back. Dzeko continued up front and Carlos Tévez was pronounced fit enough to return to the City bench, just in time for Wembley. Despite noises from Tottenham telling us that Modric and Crouch were doubts, it was no surprise when both made their starting line up. Many hacks fall for the Redknapp line. More fool them.

Tottenham dominated possession in this game without creating many chances. Even without the injured Bale, they are an intelligent team laced with intricate skills, but they found City’s rearguard a very tough obstacle to breach. City were indeed well set up to deal with Spurs’ intricate passing game. In fact the visitors often found themselves passing in front of our superbly organised team that was ready, willing and able to get behind the ball and hunt in packs to get it back. It was a game that was made for de Jong, who was the epitome of controlled aggression with his superb ball-winning skills.

For all Tottenham’s possession (it was 67% around the midpoint of the first half), it was City who fashioned the best chance of the first half. Lescott’s clever lofted pass was flicked to Silva who played the Bosnian in, but from close range his shot was well saved by Cudicini in the Tottenham goal. It really should have been 1-0 to City, and we could have paid for this when Tottenham had a good chance of their own to take the lead: Modric, who had been given far too much space in a rare lapse in our defence, was just wide from the edge of the box with his rasping low shot, with Hart well beaten. City should have had a penalty when Milner was shoved over by Dawson as he chased a long pass in a breakaway, but it was to be only a temporary reprieve for the visitors.

Mancini made a tactical change, switching Johnson to the left flank, and moving Milner from the centre to the right. This stretched the visitors with a more expansive game and it was this change that was the catalyst for City taking the lead. Johnson and Milner worked a short corner, and the latter’s hard, low cross forced Crouch to put past his own ‘keeper with Lescott closing in behind. Tottenham’s chronic defensive weakness had been exploited.

We tried hard to add to this lead but it was Tottenham’s turn to defend. City had to work hard to thwart Tottenham who continued to dominate possession with Modric prompting and probing and van der Vaart darting hither and thither. Tottenham are normally a good footballing side who play a fair game, but they have their dark side: Crouch’s theatrical diving was not conning referee Mike Dean, and he was very lucky to stay on the pitch when he elbowed Pablo Zabaleta in the face when they challenged for a high ball.

There was a heart-stopping moment early in the second half when Hart was forced into a brilliant reaction save low to his left from Pienaar’s goal-bound header after Lennon’s cross from the right.

It was a game of attrition, of digging in for victory. One can never be certain (this is City after all), but when you see how hard even an artist like Silva works (a team player to the last), a midfield inspired by the brilliant de Jong and a solid defence led by the colossal Kompany, it is possible to have more than a modicum of confidence in this City side. It is a great credit to City’s obdurate defending that Tottenham never got as close as Pienaar’s header.

The trouble was that for all City’s excellent defending, the ball kept going back to the visitors as we either gifted it back to them or, more notably, Dzeko was not able to hold it up for any length of time. He was neither quick enough or sure enough in his touch, so the pressure built.

We could have done with Tévez to hold the ball harry and chase for longer than the ten minutes that we got, but one suspects that Mancini was protecting his best striker, even if a clearly irritated Tévez didn’t always see it that way.

For all Tottenham’s dominance of possession, it was City who had the better chances in the second half: Vieira’s goal-bound chipped shot was cleared off the line by Gallas and Tévez went close but his shot in the box was well saved by the diving Cudicini.

Whilst City still have work to do in the League as 3rd place is still very possible, City can look back on this League campaign with great satisfaction. This was no mean feat. Tottenham are a very good side who have graced the Champions’ League this season with notable victories over Milan and Internazionale amongst several others. However, the league table does not lie, and City have been the better side all season: scored more goals than Tottenham, conceded less and taken more points. We’ve also been more consistent than fast finishing Liverpool who will surely be a threat next season. City have been in the top four nearly all season and the odd blip aside (everybody has them), have delivered results under pressure. When there have been setbacks, under the fiercest, biased and peevish criticism from outside the club, the City management and players have shown great character and bounced back. City many not have quite as much flair as Tottenham or Arsenal but we are far better than those sides are without the ball. There has been superb organisation which Mancini and his staff can take great credit for. Whatever the merits or otherwise of zonal marking, City are a largely solid defensive unit. Some very good football has been played too by City and our football has been laced with some lovely artistry, much of it inspired by the magical left foot of David Silva. Indeed it has been a superb team effort.

So to the FA Cup Final. We will have to be at our very best to beat a tough Stoke side who play more football than they are given credit for. They will present a very different challenge to Tottenham, but hopefully we can get our players’ aching limbs ready for action again and hopefully an FA Cup win that will do us all proud.

Att: 47,029

Ratings:
Hart: His brilliant save after the break kept City in front. Used the ball well: 8
Richards: An awesome return. Great positional play in defence with crucial covering and clearances, he was also a thrusting attacker. His best performance in a sky blue shirt: 9
Kompany: So many headed clearances, blocks and tackles in a top notch performance: 9
Lescott: Another absolute rock at the back. Lovely pass initiated City’s first real chance: 8
Zabaleta: Was doing very well in quelling the threat of Lennon and augmenting our attack before Crouch’s elbow ended his evening: 8
Johnson: Except for playing Milner in for the cross which created City’s goal, he made little impact. He needs to work on his defensive side as Tottenham’s full back was allowed to run unchallenged on a couple of occasions: 6
de Jong: The best in the world at his trade, he did what he does best: he won many tackles and passed it to a City player time after time: 9
Yaya Touré: An integral part of a the midfield machine that snuffed out Spurs: 8
Milner: A highly intelligent industrious performance that started off in central midfield and saw him move out to the right flank in a tactical switch. His searching low cross forced Crouch to score the winner: 9
Silva: City’s chief conductor created chances and was as prodigious in anyone in his work rate as a defender too: 9 (Man of the Match)
Dzeko: Should have scored in the first half. Rather static in his movement and could have done more to close Tottenham’s defenders down. Often the ball didn’t stick when played up to him: 5
Subs:
Kolarov: Unconvincing again: 6
Vieira: Brought experience, calmness and nous at the right time, and was unlucky not to score: 8
Tévez: Closed down the Tottenham defenders for the last ten minutes. We could have done with this earlier for our nerves’ sake: 7

Best Oppo: Modric: The conductor of the Tottenham orchestra: 7
Refwatch: Mike Dean: Strong and assertive. Got most decisions right but should have awarded City a penalty: 7

MATCH REPORT 2: MCFC 1 THFC 0

A game which saw City claim the coveted fourth spot and, who knows, an outside chance of grabbing 3rd from Arsenal (how costly the capitulation against Everton?), which could be important given some of the teams who potentially lie in wait in the Champions’ League qualifiers.

City started brightly and seemed to settle quicker than Spurs. Mancini brought back Richards to right back and moved Zabaleta to left back. Two of the things that have stood out for me this season are Richards’ return to the kind of form that saw him originally get into the England set-up, a return to which must surely be imminent, and the form, commitment and passion all season of Zabaleta. He would be one of the first names down on my team list.

Zabaleta, playing on his ‘wrong’ side made some good early steals from Aaron Lennon but as the game wore on did get quite a torrid time from the Spurs winger. Having said that it was down the left that Spurs were looking more dangerous with the impressive Rose making a lot of overlapping runs and crosses, which the City central defensive partnership of Kompany and Lescott were dealing with fairly comfortably.

City had a great chance to score in the 11th minute when a neat interchange between the mightily impressive Silva and the not so mightily impressive Dzeko saw the Bosnian send his shot straight at Cudicini when a shot either side of him would have surely been a goal.

As the first half wore on Spurs started to enjoy more and more possession but never seriously looked like penetrating City’s two banks of four apart from a piercing move that saw Modric send his side-footed shot just wide of Hart’s left hand post. Immediately after this let-off City forced a corner and Spurs were caught napping from the quickly taken short corner that saw Milner play a quick one-two to ghost behind the Spurs defence and fire a low cross across the face of goal, which Crouch could only turn past his own ‘keeper Cudicini. The irony was not lost, particularly when Crouch was stood in almost the exact position he was in when he scored last year to send Spurs into the Champions’ League at City’s expense. To be fair to Crouch if he hadn’t touched it the ball would have almost certainly ended up at the feet of Lescott who was steaming in on goal behind him.

City then endured a further period of sustained Spurs pressure but got to half-time with their lead intact.

The second half started as the first finished. Spurs completely dominated and City, for long spells of sustained pressure could not, quite literally, get out of their own half. To their credit City continued to defend well and for all their domination Spurs were not causing too many problems in the City defence. That is until Pienaar rose to meet a cross about 10 yards out and sent a great downward header low down to Hart’s left. The City ‘keeper made a wonderful one-handed save with a strong left hand, which pushed the ball away from goal and out towards the touchline.

Following this an aerial duel between Crouch and Zabaleta (a mismatch if there ever was) saw Crouch’s flailing elbow catch Zaba flush on the nose, drawing blood and leaving a nasty looking gash on. Unable to stem the flow of blood, Zaba was withdrawn and replaced by Kolarov. Unable to stem the flow of Spurs, Johnson was withdrawn and replaced by Vieira. The impact was almost immediate and City started to retain the ball better, and the unusually anonymous Yaya Touré suddenly found his legs, and a bit of space, to make a couple of trademark foraging forward runs.

The biggest and, for me, most marked improvement was soon to be made. With Tévez chomping at the bit on the sideline, and following a bit of verbals between him and Mancini, he was introduced, substituting the tireless Silva (if I could be greedy and have everything I’d like to see him add a few more goals to his game).

Tévez’s introduction showed how good he is, and how poor Dzeko is, as a target man, able to control and hold the ball. I am reminded by Dzeko of an old phrase I heard years ago: “He traps a ball further than I can kick one”; indeed his second touch is often a tackle. Suddenly with Tévez there the ball was sticking and pressure was relieved. In fact City could have finished the game with a further two goals. After good build up play, Tévez rolled the ball into the path of Vieira who chipped the ball over the advancing Cudicini only to see Gallas appear from nowhere to make a great goal line clearing header. Tévez wasn’t finished yet and in the final seconds of 6 minutes of stoppage time he created a chance for himself with one of his typical mazy, make a bit of space, runs which brought a great save from Cudicini. Referee Mike Dean immediately then finally blew for the end of the game to send the players and fans into celebratory mode.

Now it’s feet back on the ground and no slip ups against a powerful and in the form of their lives Stoke side on Saturday.

Come on City, end the 35 years of hurt. I was there in ’76 and two grown up children later I’m ready for another trophy.

MATCH VIEW: SPUDS ROASTED OR JUST PAR BOILED… [headline of the day for me, Ed]

Well, well, well, there is a delicious irony in Crouch’s goal that was not lost on anyone on Tuesday, least of all Sky.

When things go well, we go into overdrive on superlatives and gushing prose emanates from MCIVTA contributors, King of the Kippax and the MEN notice boards and we need to be reminded that “self praise is no recommendation”.

On the other hand we lose two on the spin and things don’t go so well, we go into a self flagellation mode that would make the Marquis de Sade blush with embarrassment as we self-torture ourselves, get the gallows humour into overdrive and calls to sack the manager, drop Barry etc.

Were we the better team on Tuesday? Did we deserve to win? Were Spurs all over us and we fluked it?

Hart saved the day (2 points), Modric should have done better, Gallas was lucky to head over the line, Cudicini saved from Tévez at the death, it’s all should’ve, would’ve, could’ve. The cold, hard facts are we took 4 points off Spurs this season and qualified for the Champions’ League. Last year they took 6 points off us and they qualified. The statistics (and table) don’t lie.

Let the pundits fill their column inches and radio airtime with vacuous empty opinions. We’ve reached the minimum target demanded on Bobby Manc with 2 games to go and a FAC final to add the icing on the cake.

IMO it is better to listen to 3rd party opinions that are unbiased and offer a level headed perspective on Tuesday’s victory. The most poignant comment as far as I am concerned came from Alan Smith the Sky TV Summariser who said when we were 1-0 up with 4 of the 5 minutes of added time elapsed:

“I’ve been in this situation that Man City players find themselves in many many times, a very important ‘must win’ game just before a cup final, I know what is going through their minds, got to avoid a mistake, avoid injury and mustn’t get a strained muscle, also got to impress the boss for the next game, also have to defend a slender lead, it’s very tough and City have done well to come through this game with all 3 points and defended well when needed to…”

No superlatives, no criticism just an even handed pat on the back… Get in!

MATCH PREVIEW: MCFC vs. SCFC, FA CUP FINAL

So here we are at last. Our first FA Cup Final for 30 years. 1980/81 was my first year following City. It was an exciting season as Johnny Bond dragged us from the bottom of the table to mid-table security and we enjoyed two great cup runs as City made the semi-final of the League Cup and the Centenary Cup Final against Tottenham. We should have won that first Final and were on course to do it courtesy of Tommy Hutchinson’s header. Some Tottenham players were dead on their feet or going down with cramp. We were 11 minutes from glory, then Tottenham got the free kick that so cruelly deflected off Tommy Hutch’s shoulder, wrong-footing the brilliant Joe Corrigan, who was to go on to be man of the match over both finals.

The replay was actually a more even affair with Tottenham taking an early lead and Steve Mackenzie scoring a terrific volley that was fit to win any game. We even lead in the 2nd half after Kevin Reeves converted a penalty. But to be perfectly fair the better side in the 2nd game won with Crooks getting their equaliser and that goal from Ricky Villa sealing it for the Cockneys. Every time I see the footage of that goal I wonder why didn’t we just put the sulking Argentine (he’d stroppily skulked off to the dressing room in the 1st game) in the stand with a proper tackle!? The City defenders were, in truth so tired from their exertions in two epic games.

I felt so down in the evening after that game. Initial numbness had been replaced by the pain of being so close yet so far and the prize not being ours but Tottenham’s. Sure, there are far more serious things in life than losing a Cup Final, but seeing our brave, honest lads eventually lose when they should have won that first game was painful.

I never thought that it would take 30 years for us to return to Wembley. The feeling at the time was that we’d be back again in 1982, but it wasn’t to be because Coventry, inspired by Peter Bodak (who was to have an unsuccessful short spell with us) hammered us at home when we were expected to win.

We’ve never been closer to winning anything since that ’81 Final. Forget banners about ’35 years’ at a certain other club. That doesn’t bother me. The fact that we haven’t won anything for 35 years does bother me. Granted we’ve had some great days out following this dear club of ours, but a club like our should win trophies. That is not an arrogant assertion, but given the club’s size and its fantastic support, we should at least won something now and again.

Of course expectations are higher now, and we are looking to join Europe’s elite. City have achieved the goal of reaching the Champions’ League qualifier at the very least. This, in truth, is more important to the club’s future in this modern era, but to win the FA Cup would be very special indeed. In recent years we’ve enjoyed Kevin Keegan’s fabulously entertaining side winning a glorious 2nd Division title to propel us back into the Premier League, and we now are lucky to watch the like of Kompany, de Jong, Silva and Tévez amongst others but many of us have never seen City win a major trophy.

Roberto Mancini is doing an excellent job here; now can he win us that ever-so-elusive trophy? Stoke will be tough and resolute opposition and are not being taken lightly by anybody. Whether or not their left winger Etherington makes it, they can play football, especially in the wide areas. Kenwynne Jones and John Walters will work our centre backs, and they along with Huth (if he makes it) and others will provide an aerial threat that we have to be more than equal to. They will look for free kicks in wide areas and hopefully we will not fall for this and only make tackles when we’re sure we can get the ball but that should apply anyway. When they do get chances to have free kicks, corners or Delap throw-ins we just have to be tough, organised and resolute. Whilst respecting the opposition we shouldn’t get overly concerned about them and earn the right to play our game.

Micah Richards has done more than enough in his his awesome comeback against Tottenham to justify inclusion for the Wembley final. Surely Zabaleta is a better bet at left back than Kolarov? Zaba is right footed but he is more mobile and better in defence and attack than the Serbian. He has looked at home down the left and offers us a better chance of snuffing out the dangerous Pennant down that flank.

Carlos Tévez may be short of fitness but surely he is a better option than either Balotelli or Dzeko? Balotelli did well at Wembley and his manager believes he is a big game player but his temperament is still suspect. One can imagine Stoke’s defenders winding him up. Dzeko is still not up with the pace of English football. These lads may well prove me wrong and I’d be happy if they did as long as we win, but for me it has to be Tévez starting.

I’d like to see a team of:

Hart;
Richards; Kompany; Lescott; Zabaleta;
de Jong
Yaya; Barry
A Johnson; Silva
Tévez

This may seem tough on Milner who did very well against Tottenham, but I suspect Mancini will take Barry over him for his height and experience. Barry also gives us left-sided balance, and can fill in at left back.

With a midfield of de Jong, Yaya and Barry we have the physicality to cope with Stoke. We may even outnumber them there, especially if they play two strikers. If we can get Silva on the ball to prompt and Yaya making powerful runs at Stoke’s defence, not to mention Johnson’s trickery, we will have a potent mix and differing threats.

Best of luck to whoever plays for us.

Come on City.

OPINION: MANCINI’S OUR MANAGER

I have read Glyn Albuquerque’s reports of all the games that he has seen, and his reports have been very good but after all that has he not seen what position that City are in the League with Roberto Mancini; tonight we have qualified for the Champions’ League for the first time ever, and still on Saturday to win the FA Cup, our first silverware since 1976.

This is why I am always against changing managers so soon after their appointment; it has been City’s downfall over the years. Sure, some never deserved to be manager, but others did, whilst our neighbours stayed with one manager.

Now let us stay with Roberto Mancini and stop running down our manager just because he never won every game; does any other manager win every game? No.

If every game was played the same way by Mancini, every other club would know how to play against us.

Let us all get behind our manager, our players, and win the FA Cup!

And Glyn you are still a very good City supporter, don’t stop reporting!

Come on you Blues!

Long may Mancini be City’s Manager!

OPINION: COMPLAINT

I am not one for running down this great club of ours, but I have to write about my recent experience buying the City cup final shirt. My kids brought it for me on 30/04 on the understanding that it would be dispatched on 05/05. As of today 10/05 I have still not received it; it is showing as being picked in the warehouse – God knows how long or high the warehouse is if it’s taking 5 days. I contacted the shop asking where my shirt and why they have not contacted me if there was a problem (the money has already been taken). I got the following reply: Dear Paul Edwards, Thank you for your email. I apologise if you have not been kept informed about your order. It is currently being picked in our warehouse and will be dispatched shortly.

Has anyone experienced this problem? This clearly unacceptable.

OPINION: HALF A COMPLAINT

This is not a complaint, but it does come close. I have been a season ticket holder for over 30 years and only had enough points to qualify for the last round of ticket distribution. Needless to say I was disappointed on the day like many others and did not get one as they sold out early. Up before 4 a.m. (I am 5 hours behind you in the Caribbean) and working two mobile phones while my brother-in law was on a land line was a pretty well sustained effort I thought.

As an expatriate I only retain a season ticket for that one big day when we might get a shot at a bit of glory. I am beginning to wonder why I bothered!

Anyway I will be flying back for a quick visit and thanks to the unfair ticket distribution I will be sitting all prim and proper in some corporate entertainment box bound by dress rules. However, when we win off will come the M&S shirt to reveal my City top, out will come the flag and they can do what they like with me then!

C’mon the Bloooooooooooooooooos!

REQUEST: SPONSORSHIP

Due to an unfortunate change in circumstances, the firm that was going to sponsor Maine Road F.C.’s new away strip for the next two seasons has had to pull out, just as we were about to order it. In keeping with City tradition the strip is to be red and black stripes (obviously, our home kit is sky blue!). If anyone out there would like to come to our aid, the full kit comes out at £450 when all lettered up. If any supporters’ branch has surplus funds and would like to see their name on the shirt or you have or know a company that would like to be associated with the team that started life in 1955 as ‘City Supporters Rusholme’ then please get in touch.

WHY BLUE?

Just thought it was time to finally contribute to MCIVTA and share my hopes with you.

Background: a 50 year old fan who has carried the burden of being a City fan since watching them at Wembley as a 9 year old in 1969. Living in the Midlands then, I spent my formative years on a train platform waiting for some god-awful rickety carriage to take me to wherever that Saturday’s game happened to be, home or away.

Bad weather, poor results, jeering, misery at Cambridge, Charlton or Notts County, back of beyond places, we all did it and that apprenticeship hardened us all for what City would do to us over the years. 1981 Wembley was a blip in the depression but it seems like only yesterday. Marriage, children and mortgages, where have the years gone?

Now exiled in North Wales, when diagnosed with the Big C in 2001 only three things mattered: to see my children grow up, see England win something and for City to end the heartache and take their place at the top of world football. The children have grown up and are the apple of my eye, England to win something (well that was far fetched), City to sparkle, surely now is the time? Unlike some, I don’t care what it is, yes the Champions’ League awaits and maybe soon even the Premier League, but I want the FA Cup, back to 1969, the glory, the May Day passion we all felt when Cup Final Day came and we sat by the telly all day watching events unfold from dawn to dusk.

Despite the bad years I am still here (CTID); no chance of a ticket to Wembley these days but I will be there in spirit, a lump in my throat at Abide with Me, cheering the names that have the honour to wear the shirt, kicking every ball, remembering the history.

To those of you there live, raise a glass for the rest of us, shout a little louder, clap a little harder and when that moment comes and we lift the trophy high, remember where we have come from…

With Luck and Love

REQUEST: LIFT TO WEMBLEY REQUIRED

We’ve got the extra ticket required! Thank God!

If anyone is in a minibus/coach/car and can accommodate myself and Ben, then we’re willing to pay.

Up the Blues!

REQUEST: AMSTERDAM BLUES

As a City fan living near Amsterdam I was wondering if there was a pub where I can watch the final along with other Blues?

If City play like tonight or in the second half at Everton we are going to need mutual support.

REQUEST: MIAMI BLUES

I am in Miami on FA Cup final day; I am staying in South Beach – any recommendations where to watch the game?

REQUEST: LONDON PUBS

Does anyone know where Blues will be meeting up near Wembley or in London before going to Wembley? Would love to start soaking up the atmosphere. [See below Mark, Ed]

OFFER: FREE PARKING

My name is Edward Kelly, I am the secretary of Wealdstone C.I.U. Social Club. We are situated 4 miles from Wembley stadium, we have car parking for over 400 cars and coaches, which is free. So I was wondering if you have any supporters travelling to Wembley for Saturday’s game or the Champions’ League Final [any Barça fans reading 😉 Ed] and are looking for somewhere to stop over for a few drinks beforehand. If this is something that might appeal to you please get in contact with me with a return e-mail.

[The Club is open at 10am on Saturday, but please contact Eddie as he’ll need your names to cover his license and save time signing you in individually. Thanks Ed]

ADVICE: FOR TICKET-LESS CITY FANS IN LONDON

Most pubs close to Wembley are not showing the game. London Blues will be at The City Pride in Farringdon, in central London. I have arranged with the owner that it’s a Blue venue and have organised DJ/karaoke post match. All are welcome if you haven’t a ticket. Contact me if need further info/ directions.

RESULTS AND TABLE

10 May 2011

Manchester City       1 - 0  Tottenham Hotspur     47,029

9 May 2011

Fulham                2 - 5  Liverpool             25,693

League table to 11 May 2011 inclusive

                            HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                   P   W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F   A   GD Pts
 1 Manchester Utd  36 17  1  0 45 10  5  9  4 28 24 22 10  4  73  34  39  76
 2 Chelsea         36 14  2  2 37 11  7  5  6 30 19 21  7  8  67  30  37  70
 3 Arsenal         36 11  4  3 32 13  8  6  4 37 26 19 10  7  69  39  30  67
 4 Manchester City 36 12  4  2 31 12  7  4  7 24 21 19  8  9  55  33  22  65
 5 Liverpool       36 12  4  2 37 12  5  3 10 22 29 17  7 12  59  41  18  58
 6 Tottenham H.    36  8  9  1 28 18  6  5  7 23 27 14 14  8  51  45   6  56
 7 Everton         36  8  7  3 30 23  4  8  6 20 21 12 15  9  50  44   6  51
 8 Stoke City      36 10  4  4 31 17  3  3 12 15 27 13  7 16  46  44   2  46
 9 Bolton Wndrs    36 10  5  3 34 22  2  5 11 15 28 12 10 14  49  50  -1  46
10 Fulham          36  8  6  4 28 21  2  9  7 17 20 10 15 11  45  41   4  45
11 Newcastle Utd   36  6  7  5 38 24  5  4  9 13 28 11 11 14  51  52  -1  44
12 Sunderland      36  7  5  6 24 24  4  6  8 17 29 11 11 14  41  53 -12  44
13 West Brom A.    36  7  6  5 29 30  4  4 10 23 38 11 10 15  52  68 -16  43
14 Aston Villa     36  7  7  4 25 19  3  5 10 20 39 10 12 14  45  58 -13  42
15 Blackburn R.    36  7  6  5 21 15  3  3 12 21 41 10  9 17  42  56 -14  39
16 Birmingham City 36  6  8  4 19 20  2  7  9 17 34  8 15 13  36  54 -18  39
17 Wolves          36  8  4  6 28 27  2  3 13 13 35 10  7 19  41  62 -21  37
18 Blackpool       36  4  5  9 26 34  5  4  9 23 37  9  9 18  49  71 -22  36
19 Wigan Athletic  36  4  8  6 19 32  3  7  8 17 27  7 15 14  36  59 -23  36
20 West Ham United 36  5  5  8 24 28  2  7  9 17 36  7 12 17  41  64 -23  33

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

[3] MCIVTA Back Issues and Manchester City Supporters’ home page

http://www.mcivta.com/ 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. You can also follow on www.twitter.com/mcivta to get the latest updates.

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

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/ and the official club Twitter page at www.twitter.com/mcfc. The club also has a facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/mcfcofficial

[5] What supporters’ clubs are there?

The Official Supporters’ Club and the Centenary Supporters’ Association have merged to become the Manchester City Supporters’ Club (http://www.mcfcsupportersclub.com/). The club also recognise the Manchester City Disabled Supporters’ Association (http://www.mcdsa.co.uk/).

[6] Where can I find out about Points of Blue?

The committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. Points of Blue appears on the club website under the “Fans” heading (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/Fans).

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

Live match commentary can be found on the club website. The Radio Manchester pre- and post-match phone-in is available on the web at http://news.bbc.co.uk/local/manchester/hi/tv_and_radio/.

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

http://www.satfootball.com/pl.html provides a listing of Premier League games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. Useful sites for North American viewers are http://msn.foxsports.com/, 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.mcivta.com/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.

James Walsh, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: