Newsletter #1872

It took me a few days before I could stomach pulling this edition of MCIVTA together. What a sickener. Not just the result but the events following the United winner (I can hardly type that).

Without wishing to sound sanctimonious, I hope they throw the book as the idiots involved. The damage incidents like that can do to our reputation cannot be quantified – not to mention the rest of us having to now put up with pompous and not just gloating Reds. How the heck can we give them moral high-ground?!

It’s over now at least and lots of comment on the game and the team in today’s issue. Enjoy it if you can!

MATCHVIEW: MANCHESTER CITY 2 MAN UTD 3

Sickeningly City lost the 164th Manchester derby in stoppage time at the Etihad Stadium but it was a completely avoidable defeat.

Roberto Mancini made a big error of judgement in selecting the unreliable Mario Balotelli up front instead of Carlos Tévez, and as a result we were disjointed, too slow and allowed United far too much time on the ball in the first half. Most City fans know that Agüero and Tévez are our best front two, but for some reason they have only started five games together this season. We needed to start at a high tempo, pressing our opponents and putting their dodgy defence under pressure, but instead we were pedestrian in our movement and general play. We were far better and played exhilarating football once Tévez was finally on the pitch after the break, setting the tempo.

Mario Balotelli does not work hard enough, is far too static in his movement, and he does not press defenders; as a result, United’s defenders had time on the ball. One couldn’t help but wonder what we might have achieved if Roberto Mancini had fielded our strongest team. A lot of nonsense is spoken about players being “tired” and there is far too much rotation in selection here. We should always field our best available team and only change it when players go out of form, and that best team includes Agüero and Tévez up front. Why tie one arm behind our backs by not picking our best team? This may seem harsh, but the reality is Roberto’s team selections this season could earn him the sack at the end of this season, if not before, which would be a sad day for the fans and the club, even if he is not popular with everyone in the dressing room.

Nevertheless, despite being a long way below par in the first half City were dominating the early stages: De Gea had to push out Balotelli’s low free kick and then from Silva’s excellent threaded ball and Clichy’s pull back, Balotelli should have done much better than to sky the ball over. Then we were hit by two sucker punches, which made our task ever harder.

Zabaleta was beaten to a header in United’s half and Kompany was caught out of position by van Persie’s deft chested pass and the right side of our defence was wide open. Rooney capitalised and scuffed a shot inside Joe Hart’s right hand post. Sitting in the Colin Bell Stand, it was easy to think that the ball was going wide because Joe Hart didn’t move a muscle. A mis-hit shot it may have been and Joe’s view was obscured by blocking defenders but the shot had no venom and the City ‘keeper should have made some sort if attempt to stop it.

We were two behind when Rafael and Valencia combined to produce a cross that eluded the well positioned but wrong footed Nastasic and Rooney was too quick for sub Kolo Touré (on for the injured Kompany) and steered it past Hart.

In between these two moments Agüero went on an amazing run right through the heart of United’s defence, beating five men in the process, but his shot failed to test the impressive De Gea.

At 0-2 an intelligent Silva pass found Balotelli and he played the ball to Barry who dragged his shot wide. Without playing well, on chances alone, City should have been level at half time.

It was a bit of a surprise that Roberto Mancini had not brought Carlos Tévez on straight after the break but it wasn’t long before Roberto Mancini finally lost patience with the lackadaisical Balotelli after a careless back heel. Players go straight down the tunnel justifiably for treatment but there was no justification for Mario not watching his team mates trying to salvage this game. Not that he was the prime candidate to be substituted, because Samir Nasri had one of those all too frequent afternoons when he allows the game to pass him by.

If he had sat on the bench he would have witnessed an exhilarating City comeback that almost won the game. Carlos Tévez changed the game with his drive and determination. Roberto Mancini cannot take credit for this substitution because Tévez should have been out there from the start. It was a case of a mistake being rectified. Indeed, the increasing feeling is that Roberto is having to fix selection and tactical errors of his own making.

Tévez was like a man possessed, chasing lost causes, pressing his opponents, passing incisively and shooting accurately. Again this rubbed off on his team mates and City were a different side. Our passing and movement were razor-sharp, quick and United were in retreat.

We even had a slice of luck when Young was wrongly ruled offside when netting after van Persie’s shot hit the post. City immediately took advantage of this fortune (it was a rare decision in our favour) to get back into the game on the hour. Tévez played in Agüero down the inside right channel and forced a sharp save by De Gea from the return pass. Silva’s shot from the rebound was saved again before Tévez’s shot from that rebound was blocked. The ball broke back to Tévez who coolly played the ball back to Yaya who coolly swept home.

Van Persie headed Cleverley’s cross well wide, but otherwise it was all City as our quick passing game wreaked havoc. City were pummelling United’s increasingly desperate defence. Nasri slid a superb pass from which Silva shot and De Gea saved with his body – the ball just hitting him. Then City scored a deserved equaliser with four minutes of normal time remaining. Tévez’s left wing corner was cleared to Zabaleta who drilled home a low unstoppable shot to send the Etihad absolutely ecstatic. It was one of those moments of extreme joy that are almost indescribable as adrenalin races round you.

City pressed hard for the winner and forced a couple of saves that would be expected of a ‘keeper before that late, cruel moment in stoppage time. Clichy and Hart got in a muddle and instead of playing the ball back to the ‘keeper the City left back turned and was robbed. Welbeck played on Rafael whose heel was subtly clipped by Tévez. From the free kick Tévez broke from the wall to pick up a man and the ball sickeningly took a deflection off Nasri that carried the ball away from Hart’s right hand. Nasri was very cowardly in half turning away and almost hiding behind his teammate in the wall and Hart’s positioning has to be questioned because the wall was covering the left hand post and he should have been able to reach the ball as it went to his right. If Tévez had not moved off the wall, though, he may have prevented the goal.

Indecision and poor defending at a crucial moment in stoppage time ultimately decided this game but with our strongest team out there we should have been out of sight. When we press teams and play our football we are almost unplayable. The question has to be asked: why don’t we press often enough and play at a quick tempo often enough when we have the players to do it? The best sides in Europe like Barcelona and Dortmund play a pressing game. Roberto Mancini would do well to reflect on this and ensure that we have the best side selected for every game.

This was a bruising encounter with some quintessentially sneaky and some brutal challenges from United. Vincent Kompany seemed to pick up a groin injury and hopefully he will not be out long. David Silva was clutching his back and hamstring at one point late on and Yaya Touré picked up a knock on the knee from more United thuggery. Hopefully these three will be fit for Newcastle on Saturday lunchtime, and James Milner back to show Samir Nasri what commitment is.

It was a dark day for our club on and off the pitch. As for the football, Balotelli and Nasri have got to look at themselves, long and hard, and ask themselves, “am I trying my very best?”

Team:
Hart: City’s most consistent player this season had a very poor game and was partly at fault for United’s 1st and 3rd goals. His kicking was awful too, with too many sliced clearances. Joe can be forgiven for an off day, because unlike Nasri he puts his body on the line every game to stop goals: 4
Zabaleta: Took his goal superbly well. Whilst he was out of position for United’s first goal, he kept Young quiet of much of the afternoon with another authoritative performance: 7
Kompany: Caught up field and was playing catch up as United scored their goal. Hopefully his groin injury will not keep him out for long because we need his leadership: 6
Nastasic: Solid enough and looked the part for 99% of this game but should have been better balanced to cut out Rafael’s cross: 6
Clichy: Too easily beaten out wide for United’s 2nd goal but he lacked support in that moment. Played one lovely pass forward to create a chance when we were in the ascendancy. His and Hart’s indecision at the end led to the fateful free kick: 5
Barry: Got over some off key moments with his customary drive and commitment: 6
Yaya: Good finish and he says his knee injury should be ok after a couple of days. Let’s hope so: 7
Silva: City’s chief creator shone as our best player in the first half and continued to find openings throughout. It’s a shame that he didn’t have Tévez to work with for the whole game: 7 (Man of the match)
Nasri: When you are in the wall you have to be brave and use your body to stop a goal but he failed miserably with his cowardly, half-hearted dangling leg, which cost us dearly. Somehow he managed to get himself booked. Didn’t contribute anywhere near enough over the whole game either and was lucky not to be replaced: 3
Agüero: Stood up in the face of adversity, took some hefty blows from some thuggish challenges but showed immense character to keep going. Deserved a goal: 7
Balotelli: Not as bad as some say and teed up Barry for a chance but was far too static. He is nowhere near as good as Tévez, though, and brings far less to the table so should not be starting: 6

Goals:
0-1 Rooney 16
0-2 Rooney 29
1-2 Yaya 60
2-2 Zabaleta 86
2-3 Nasri (og) 93

Att: 47,166

Subs:
Kolo Touré (for Kompany 21): Doesn’t relish a header but was steady enough on the ground: 6
Tévez (for Balotelli 52): Changed the game. If only he’d been on from the start. However, his foul at the end and moving off the wall contributed to us losing this match: 7
Dzeko: If he’s have been watching Mario Balotelli would have seen how jump for a ball: n/a

Refwatch: Martin Atkinson: A disgraceful partial refereeing show that was best illustrated by him stopping a City breakaway with Yaya hurdling thuggish United challenges, and yet allowing a United move to play on when a foul was committed on them. Ferguson would have been proud of him: 0

Best Oppo: De Gea: Some important saves kept our score down: 7
Biggest cheat: Rooney

Footnotes:

Best Team:
I have never played football professionally but I’ve watched City and indeed football for long enough to know a little about this game, so for what it’s worth the team that should have taken the field yesterday should have been: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Nasri, Barry, Yaya, Silva, Tévez, Agüero.

Our best team when everyone is fit is: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany, Nastasic, Clichy, Milner, Barry, Yaya, Silva, Tévez, Agüero.

ARTICLE: SOME THINGS I NOTICED IN THE DERBY

First of all let me say this in a sporting way, congratulations to United on this win, but stats will show that City are a far better team.

The City team played well but the determination and effort got that much more serious when Carlos Tévez came on for Balotelli. It is easy in hindsight that Tévez should have started.

As for Balotelli, I have made my feelings known in McV before, so I will say no more on this subject, taxi to go across to the continent!

Nasri had a good game until that final free kick by RVP,;why on earth did he go and hide behind Dzeko when he was supposed to be part of a wall that was set up? To make matters worse he lazily put out his leg to create the deflection that was United’s winner!

The look on Zabaleta’s face whilst by a goal post said it all: so much hard work by team mates for it all to end like this.

Mancini’s team played well, but now he has to realize that Balotelli is letting him down, and if not careful will cost him his own job as manager for sticking by him so much. I guess Mancini knows that Balotelli has potential, but sadly of late has not shown it in a City shirt.

The referee Atkinson was letting United carry on playing when it was to their advantage and not stopping the game for a free kick, but City did not have that privilege, a good example being in the second half when Yaya went beating several players down the left side touch line and the game was stopped by Atkinson with Yaya clear and heading for goal; the ref stopped play to book Rooney!

Manchester City for many years have had supporters and fans who are considered some of the best in football, they have always been there to cheer on the team. However, at the end of this game one so called City fan let the rest of us down by throwing a coin at Rio of United; some City fan remarked well a United fan hit Bellamy with coin, but this was not a reason for this.

I hope that the club find out which clown did this and ban him, bearing in mind that police might want to take much more action. There is no room in sport for this kind of thing!

A great comeback by City made by the substitution of Tévez coming on.

Only 16 games played, 22 more games to be played, it’s a marathon not a sprint!

City players I am proud of your efforts, come on you Blues!

In Mancini I trust!

ARTICLE: MARIO

I have been a City fan for 43 years and have always stuck by any player wearing the blue shirt although not all of them have deserved it. Then, there is Mario!

I cannot believe that Mancini still picks him.

As far as I am concerned he shows a total lack of respect/ effort while all around him work their socks off and give their all. Zab, for example. We need to offload him ASAP and field an eleven who want to play for us. I know one day he will realise the alleged potential he has but it won’t be for us alas.

ARTICLE: PRIORITIES? TACTICS? MASCOTS?

Could somebody explain why City sent a full strength team to Dortmund in the hope of qualifying for a competition that hardly anybody wants to be in anyway? For the first time in my life I was not at all unhappy when City lost in Germany (and I’m sure I am not alone in this special case). The last thing City needed was to send a strong team to the game against Dortmund, who themselves sent out some talented kids. Good luck to them in the Champions’ League BTW, credit where it is due!

All this nonsense took place just a few days before easily the most important game of the season, which we then narrowly lost. A fresher team would have won the game, I am sure. Besides that, where was the one guy City needed who had more than anyone else to prove in this fixture? It took 51 minutes to bring Carlos Tévez into play and then the difference was amazing. But why did it take so long? Assuming Tévez was fit, he should have been on from the start (and if unfit, he shouldn’t even have been on the bench, IMHO).

Why did the little kid who held Mario’s hand on his walk onto the pitch before the game have to be taken off on Sunday? He could surely have done no worse than Signore Balotelli himself. A dreadful performance from a youngster (Balotelli that is, not the mascot) whose undoubted potential and talent is sadly outweighed by his many other limitations. I know that one of the symptoms of the old City was changing managers every five minutes… and that the other lot were close to firing the then not-so-old Bacon-face quite soon after he started (and we all know the rest)… but… I really am beginning to wonder where Mancini is at.

Of course in Mancini’s defence, Kompany having to leave the field early was a sad blow. Let us hope he is back soon. Yet. If Mancini’s tactics fool me, that’s fine (though hardly difficult). If they confuse the opposition, even better, that’s the whole idea. However, I am coming to the conclusion that he is fooling his own players with his ever-changing plans, and that really is going too far. I do hope I am proved wrong and very soon.

ARTICLE: SEASON SO FAR

I am writing this on Sunday morning before our big, big match against the other half from Manchester… fingers crossed we get victory! (ED – oh dear!)

Phil Banerjee, in his last posting, alluded to a lot of what I am going to comment on and I agree with his comments. As a City fan, let’s look at where we were last season, especially our victory on the last day of the season… hallelujah and joy, like we have never known.

Therefore, between May and the start of the new season, the City management should have been laying down the blueprints for the future, in as much as assessing where we are, then what we require to take us to the next level, and what our expectations are after that.

We had a big squad, but there were obvious areas that neededstrengthening – obvious to all City fans. We also needed to cull thesquad, moving on players that were just not good enough (on high salariestoo) and, importantly, replacing them with “better” players. Sure, a lotof our players were playing in the European Championships, and these guyswere going to need a rest before the season started, but a lot of them were“nailed down important” players to our team.

Well the shipping out of the non-essential players never really got going, and as a result this delayed the incoming recruits to such an extent that we made 5 last minute purchases that confounded nearly everyone. All, bar Nastasic, can be considered as “are they really going to take us to the next level” or are they better than what we have, or had?

Let’s assume one of us was asked to suggest to the City management which players we would put down on a list that would improve our squad: here are a few I would have considered immediately: Dembele, Fellaini, Cazorla. who did we get? Rodwell, Garcia, Sinclair! Logically, if we wanted Fellaini or Dembele, we could have got them, maybe for a few million more than Rodwell and Garcia (2 average players, purchased at grossly inflated transfer fees). Then why did we get rid of de Jong and replace him with such an inferior player? Someone who cannot pass, cannot tackle and is so slow (mind you, his girlfriend is very hot!)… it’s absolutely mind boggling. Did they really scout these players properly? We also knew that with Silva in the starting eleven, we had someone to orchestrate our attacks; without him, we did not look quite as good… therefore, what should we have got another similar player to him – maybe Cazorla (Silva recommended him to go to Arsenal!), giving us 2 options (look what Chelsea did in the transfer market). No… we blundered here once again!

Our miserable European campaign did not help by being in the group of death, but let’s briefly analyse that. First away game at Real Madrid, 2-1 up and what did we do? Sit back and invite pressure, never once pressing the ball. When I suggested our lack of pressing in a post-match comment, I was criticized for not knowing how to play big teams – especially away… Hello! You don’t know what you are talking about!

As Phil Banerjee so eloquently put it: “Roberto has made mistakes and his over use of rotation and his experimentation with 3-5-2 has backfired in Europe.”

Defensively we don’t seem to have learned from our last campaign in Europe. Our best players should play as often as possible, whatever the competition, League Cup excepted. If they are under-performing due to fatigue or loss of form, then we should make changes, rather than tie one arm behind our backs by not fielding our best side.

Our best front two is Agüero and Tévez and they should play together as often as possible. Which bring us to our tactics. We must impose ourselves more as a team by using a pressing game when we don’t have the ball, then playing our football when we have it. Dortmund were masters of this in our group and Barcelona have used this tactics to their continued success over recent years. They deny their opponents space and as a result are better defensively and enjoy more possession. The pressing is the unglamorous side game of the game but Dortmund and Barcelona show the beauty of their football when they have earned their right to possession. Pep Guardiola gave his Barça team six seconds to win the ball back, and look what success that brought!

City play beautiful football when we have the ball, but we don’t press often enough, even though we do have the players to do it. Look at how Dortmund and Real pressed us, from minute one!

To this I would add, in my opinion, we play at too slow a tempo, and pass for the sake of passing, with a lack of genuine width. This allows the opposition to filter men back and defend with 11. Look at West Ham and Everton. We really need another “creative” midfielder who can play those defence splitting passes, or create something from nothing. Yaya has been very disappointing this season, and there have been times he has looked so slow and laboured, and when do we really see his lung busting runs? Very rare indeed – he looks like a player who “raises his game in the big matches”. Milner has been used too sparingly; he gives everything, whenever he is on the pitch – shame he is injured – and so does Barry.

My other annoyance is with City’s set plays. Our corners lately seem to be an absolute waste of time. More often than not, our delivery is p**s poor, then with all the free kicks, it’s generally one great goal or more often than not, mis-directed! As for Balotelli, anyone who has read my reports knows how I feel – an absolute waste of money. What talent does he really have? Would you rather have him or Michu? Please get rid of in January.

Going back to Phil’s comments regarding the manager, Mancini has not really taken City to the next level this season (if anything, slightly backwards), and if I were to suggest a possible successor to Roberto (I am not saying get rid), then I hope the man we bring in is Pep Guardiola, whose record with Barcelona speaks for itself. We already have Soriano and Begiristain, which would sit comfortably with Pep, and perhaps we can scout and purchase some quality Spanish players… and then realistically look at European honours.

So there you have it, my forthright views (some may have been expressed before).

ARTICLE: THE THUGS

There can be no excuse whatsoever for the tiny minority of thugs from both sets of fans who threw coins and other objects at each other, and in some cases, players. No matter what provocation came from Rooney and Young in particular there is never any justification for throwing things. The perpetrators, if caught, can have no complaint of they are banned for life and prosecuted. It won’t have crossed their tiny little minds that someone could get seriously hurt. It is strange though very predictable how the media talk about what happened on Sunday at length and barely mentioned the time when Javier Garrido and Craig Bellamy were pelted by objects when taking corners at Old Trafford in Manchester derbies. There is, as ever, one rule for United and one rule for everyone else.

Our club was right to apologise to Ferdinand who was stuck by a coin, no matter how unpalatable it is to have to apologise to United.

As for racism, a single City fan was arrested for shouting “Black Tw**” at Evra. He too can have no complaints about being banned and prosecuted. The way that this was reported suggested the problem was bigger than it actually was. There was no mass racist chanting, just one person making a racist remark, but one person too many.

Our club is not alone in having undesirables, but the coin throwers, the pitch invader and the racist have brought shame on our club, and that hurts.

ARTICLE: SO CLOSE

Nearly a win but not quite what happened; it was close after 15 minutes – with Balotelli starting I thought here we go, all the possession and territory in the game but no goals and with United sitting back and seemingly not keen to do anything about City’s greater possession I thought a goal less draw but then the sixteenth minute arrived and a mis-hit kick and a goal down my thoughts changed.

It was not going to be City’s day, but it was a close thing, nearly a draw and City just need to find some way of creating chances throughout a game, not wait until the 59 minute or so… gerr! Now there’s a thought: a new team to support (GERS) as they did win on Saturday! However, not after 58 years or so of consciously supporting City; Come on City!

ARTICLE: DERBY DAY

Mario has had enough chances and today was the end of the line. This potential Mancini sees has never materialised and I for one do not think he has made the grade at this level. Like Robinho before him, he needs to go to a different league where he can find the right level. We cannot afford such a luxury if we are going to build on our success. This clown is going to cost Mancini his job, because Mancini is too stubborn to back down. He does not even offer the option of an impact substitute. He plays for infringements and free kicks rather than playing real football and showing us his talent. I am bored with him, his attitude and his apathy.

What might have been… Adam Johnson would have brought more options to the table today and Nigel de Jong would have supported the defence and snuffed out any threat from Rooney. I sincerely hope De Rossi comes in during the January transfer window. He is the steel in midfield we need to support defence and offer a link with attack. Milner was looking that type of player before being injured recently.

Selling Nigel de Jong was the biggest mistake Mancini made, he was the best destructive/defensive midfielder in the business. Mancini probably found him a threat as a strong personality in the changing room. The next few games will be crucial, starting with Newcastle.

ARTICLE: DESPITE IT ALL… CHEERS

I’ve not got much to say on this ooooh sooo depressing evening, but here we go in three quick instalments:

1. They’ve been spending to get it more than anyone else over the yearsbut today just crystallised it for me. If anyone can show me the ManUreyouth policy that brought through RVP, or else the secret free-transfer,then I’ll let them accuse us of “buying it”.
2. Christmas is cancelled around here!
3. The only thing to make me smile today was watching Atletico Madridtonight. Falcao is worth whatever it takes to land him. And if we doget him (hopefully at the expense of the gifted but disinterested Mario,not the whole-hearted Edin) then we’re still in the race.

ARTICLE: NIGEL DE JONG

I am very sorry to hear that Nigel de Jong has ruptured his Achilles tendon whilst playing for AC Milan and will be out for the rest of the season. We were only talking how we could have done with him on Sunday. Selling him was an obvious mistake, and Manchester City are weaker without the best defensive midfield player in the world. I recall Dennis Tueart picking up a similar injury just before Christmas in 1981 (versus Sunderland) and I am told that it is a very painful injury. I am sure I am not alone in wishing Nigel a speedy and full recovery from what is a serious injury.

RESPONSE: LIKE IT OR NOT?

Whatever the result of Sunday’s game, Roberto has my full support. Sam Duxbury does not. Winning the FA Cup was good enough for me, winning the League put Roberto on the highest possible level. He is a City legend. That he tries new tactics is to his credit. Long may he reign! Just wait till next season in Europe…

In Roberto I trust.

ARTICLE: ON-LINE VIEWING

I think I am not alone in being one of many MCIVTA subscribers who was also signed up to liveonlinefooty.com to watch pretty much every City match live and online when not attending the game itself. The site recently changed its name and web address, which was fine for a while as nothing changed, but a couple of weeks ago they ran into technical issues and it now appears to have been taken off the air altogether.

Does anyone out there know of any other safe and most importantly stable sites that stream the City games uninterrupted, without buffering and at a low cost (if any at all)? This website has been a life saver over the years for many of us spread out and about.

DEEP ROOTED FA CORRUPTION

It takes a lot for a mild mannered professional like Gareth Barry to get annoyed enough to get himself an FA “Misconduct” charge, for something that he is supposed to have said to an official at the end of the derby match where the officiating was very biased towards Man Utd, though the FA are mysteriously not saying what was said.

How is it that Wayne Rooney can spend the whole match abusing and swearing at referees and linesmen, putting in X-rated tackles and not receive a misconduct charge or a red card? Rooney does this week in, week out, season after season, and gets away with it, time after time. The FA even appealed on his behalf to have his ban reduced for Euro 2012 after he was found guilty of violent conduct. It all goes to show how institutionally corrupt the Football Association is.

AND FINALLY… NEWSFLASH

Could it be true that Manchester Police are questioning a man after discovering that the coin that struck Rio Ferdinand was in fact an American coin? Tom Cruise has been seen entering a Greater Manchester Police Station with his lawyer…

Hey, none of us condone the throwing of coins at any player, but if it had to be someone who copped one could it have been anyone better than that oxygen thief! And given Adebayor got 5 games for inciting Arsenal fans (and dodged multiple coins that day from memory), how many United players will be banned for same at the Etihad I wonder?

RESULTS AND TABLE

10 December 2012

Fulham                2 - 1  Newcastle United      25,270

9 December 2012

Manchester City       2 - 3  Manchester United      47166
Everton               2 - 1  Tottenham Hotspur     35,494
West Ham United       2 - 3  Liverpool             35,005

8 December 2012

Arsenal               2 - 0  West Bromwich Albion  60,083
Aston Villa           0 - 0  Stoke City            30,110
Southampton           1 - 0  Reading               29,331
Sunderland            1 - 3  Chelsea               39,273
Swansea City          3 - 4  Norwich City          20,294
Wigan Athletic        2 - 2  Queens Park Rangers   17,163

League table as at 14 December 2012

                    P  GD Pts
 1 Manchester Utd  16  17  39
 2 Manchester City 16  16  33
 3 Chelsea         16  11  29
 4 Everton         16   7  26
-----------------------------
 5 Tottenham H.    16   4  26
-----------------------------
 6 West Brom A.    16   3  26
 7 Arsenal         16  10  24
 8 Swansea City    16   5  23
 9 Stoke City      16   2  23
10 Liverpool       16   2  22
11 West Ham Utd    16   1  22
12 Norwich City    16  -7  22
13 Fulham          16   0  20
14 Newcastle Utd   16  -5  17
15 Sunderland      16  -4  16
16 Southampton     16 -10  15
17 Aston Villa     16 -11  15
-----------------------------
18 Wigan Athletic  16 -13  15
19 Reading         16 -12   9
20 QPR             16 -16   7

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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://www.bbc.co.uk/news/england/manchester/.

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

http://www.satfootball.com/ provides a listing of Premier League games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. A useful site for North American viewers is http://msn.foxsports.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://searchnetworking.techtarget.com/definition/Usenet

[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] Do any squad members have their own Twitter accounts?

A list of genuine player accounts is maintained at http://twitter.com/#!/MCFC/players

[12] Where can I find match statistics?

Statistics for the current season are available from the club site, but for a more in-depth historical 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.

Philip Alcock, editor@mcivta.city-fan.org

Editor: