Newsletter #1401

Reaction tonight to the Arsenal game and match reports thanks to Phil and Colin. We have opinion on the transfer dealings, player abilities and the derby.

MATCH REPORT ‘LIVE’ I: MCFC 1 AFC 3

Sven Goran Eriksson’s aim is to develop a City team that plays football as stylishly and successfully as Arsenal do. A lofty ambition but a worthy ambition nevertheless, given the beautiful football that Arsene Wenger’s men play. This game emphasised how far Sven’s men have to travel to reach those standards as Arsenal outclassed us, and won without being at their very best. That said, City did not play badly, and there were encouraging signs in this performance. With more confidence in their own ability and more conviction, City’s players may have fashioned a draw on this occasion.

Micah Richards returned at centre back alongside Richard Dunne, with Vedran Corulka reverting to right back. Dietmar Hamann returned to partner Gelson Fernandes in central midfield, and Elano started just off the lone striker, Danny Sturridge who had earned this chance on the back of his first 2 senior goals in 2 games.

Arsenal started off playing their silky-smooth football, yet it was City who should have scored first. Elano showed great vision to play a lobbed pass to Ireland who inexplicably hesitated and the ball ran through to Lehmann, in for the injured Almunia. It was a costly opportunity to miss because the visitors were soon in front. Petrov carelessly gave the ball away in the City half with a half-hearted touch, and quintessentially clever Arsenal interplay saw Sagna capitalise with a searching cross, which resulted in Adebayor sweeping in for Arsenal’s opener. The marking in the City box left a lot to be desired as you cannot allow any striker, let alone the best in the Premiership, so much room.

City tried to hit back and Elano had a shot saved by Lehmann. Petrov ran at the Arsenal defence but ran down a blind alley and Sagna, who had stuck to him like glue all the way, mopped up.

It wasn’t long before Arsenal’s confident, fluid football added to their lead. A cross from the left hand side by Clichy was flicked back by Adebayor at the far post and Eduardo was given room by the City defence to control the ball and score with a skilful overhead kick. We feared the worst at this moment, but City rallied with Fernandes in particular catching the eye in midfield. Sven’s best signing thus far, the classy Vedran Corluka, showed good persistence to pressure the classy Clichy into a rare mistake. The young Croatian dispossessed the Arsenal left back and drove into the box, steadying himself to cross accurately to the advancing Fernandes, who drove home a goal that his energetic, common-sense football deserved.

The game opened up and the pacy Sagna crossed from the right and Hart made a smart save to his left from an Adebayor header. There was surprise, surprise some inconsistent refereeing. Some would call it biased, given the number of times the top teams get the rub of the green with decisions. Fabregas kicked the ball away after a free-kick had been awarded but he was not booked, yet later on the referee Marriner had no hesitation in booking Petrov for the same offence. To make this worse, City were breaking away after a foul on a City player and Marriner refused to play advantage.

Chances came at both ends as City were more competitive than before. Gallas headed wide for Arsenal, Elano shot over after being fed by Gelson Fernandes and Petrov, then the Bulgarian winger was wide after being played through by the impressive Fernandes. Even though we trailed, City went into the break on top.

City’s dominance did not last after the break but that was down to the players’ lack of confidence in their ability than anything else as Arsenal looked vulnerable in defence, with Kolo Toure on African Nations Cup duty. The visitors uncharacteristically gave the ball away, but City could not capitalise.

One good ball through saw Vassell, on as sub for Sturridge, flagged marginally offside and Petrov was booked for kicking the ball away. The referee then failed to book Flamini when he failed to retreat for a free kick. Richards made a good tackle to thwart the dangerous Adebayor. He and Dunne were far tighter on the Arsenal strikers in the second half and timed their challenges well. In a City attack, Vassell advanced onto a long through ball which Lehmann spooned to Elano who lobbed over the bar.

The difference between the two sides was the movement and passing. At times City moved well and passed it well, but at others we were like statues. It didn’t help that Petrov did not reach even the minimum levels of effort required of a professional footballer, and this is not something that is uncommon to him when the going gets tough. He is an exciting talent who has won matches this season against lesser opposition with his pace and skill, and he has been a reasonably successful signing thus far, but too often he is a disinterested spectator who is happy to yell at his team mates while they do his dirty work. Someone needs to have a word with him about his attitude to the game and to his team mates.

As City pushed forward to try to grab a late equaliser we were vulnerable to Arsenal’s swift counter attacks and so it proved as Adebayor got up from being fouled on the halfway line by Elano to sweep home late on. Much credit too is due to Adebayor, not only because he is a brilliant player, but also because he played the game in a great spirit and with a smile on his face. He was fouled a couple of times in this game but he was noticeably happy to shake hands humbly on both occasions. His acknowledgement of Elano’s humble and respectful apology at the end was a nice moment, which showed that sportsmanship does exist in a game where it is often absent. At half time, City introduced a young African footballer who is joining the club and indeed, like the Gunners, City are looking to develop young talent from around the world. If any youngster watched how Adebayor and Elano in particular behaved and played on this day then they won’t go far wrong. Here’s to Sven, Tord et al finding another Adebayor to go with our Elano. Maybe then we’ll be closer to emulating this terrific Arsenal side.

Ratings:
Hart: Confident handling throughout and made one excellent save from the brilliant Adebayor. Had no chance with the goals. 7
Corluka: City’s man-of-the-match. A class act in defence and attack, including showing good persistence, balance and vision to create Gelson’s goal. 8
Richards and Dunne: Both gave too much room to Arsenal’s lethal attack for the visitors’ first two goals, but both rose to the occasion thereafter. 6
Ball: Had his work cut out, he was often faced with two attackers, but coped well enough considering Petrov’s lack of support. 6
Ireland: Absolutely awful in the first half, but improved in the 2nd, he never hid and could not be faulted for a lack of effort. 5
Gelson Fernandes: His most impressive game to date at City. Great energy, competitive throughout and good, simple distribution of the ball. Richly deserved his goal. 8
Hamann: His ageing limbs need a rest. Some good tackles and interceptions in the first half but looks tired and this showed as his normal passing accuracy suffered in the second before he was subbed. 6
Petrov: Lazy, half-hearted and disinterested for most of the game, yet he had the temerity to berate his team mates, and tell Ball to make a tackle that he should have made. 4
Elano: More like what we come to expect: great vision and skill. 7
Sturridge: With experience will come greater poise on the ball. Found this game difficult but will learn from the experience. 5
Subs:
Vassell: Made good runs. 6
Mpenza: Little time to make an impact. n/a.
Geovanni: His skill and tenacity should earn him a starting berth. 6

MATCH REPORT ‘LIVE’ II: MCFC 1 AFC 3

After last season’s rare three points against the Gunners as well as a fine performance at the Emirates in August, normal service was resumed on Saturday. We certainly have a better team than last season but Arsenal’s has improved out of sight from the side that couldn’t find the CoMS net last season. Daniel Sturridge started for the Blues, with Elano restored to the starting line-up. New signing Caicedo was still in Switzerland and no one was quite sure whether Benjani was ours or not.

This was always going to be one of the toughest tests of the unbeaten home league record and so it proved. City were slow out of the blocks and barely got a touch in the first few minutes. It took five minutes for them to put any sort of move together but what a beauty it was. Elano brilliantly played Ireland through the middle, with the Arsenal defence mere onlookers. He was clear through on goal, with only Lehmann to beat but frustratingly failed to get a touch on the ball as the goal beckoned. A few minutes later, Arsenal showed how it should be done as Petrov gave the ball away carelessly. Ball was left exposed and the ball was played in to Adebayor from the touchline and he made no mistake, despite Joe Hart’s best attempts. It was a desperate blow so early on but City pressed on. Elano got into a good position but his shot was weak. City got a free kick following a foul on Ireland and the ball was swung in dangerously but eluded all the heads going up for it.

A poor Dunne clearance gave Arsenal a chance to break forward but after a few passes a City body managed to get in the way. On 25 minutes, Petrov won the ball and did well to break through a couple of tackles. However, he failed to keep the momentum going and Arsenal managed to clear their lines. Dunne was under it but put in a nothing header and Arsenal had the ball in an advanced position. They put together a wonderful move that ended with the ball being crossed into the City box, where it was met by Adebayor on the right hand side. He headed into the middle where it was picked up by Eduardo. Richards rushed in to cover as the Croatian had his back to goal but he swivelled to evade him easily and hooked the ball in for number two. City had been a poor second to an Arsenal team that were a joy to watch and we began to fear a massacre.

However, City found some urgency and Corluka chased down Clichy, who had a “Gary Neville” moment and failed to clear properly. The Arsenal full back was brushed aside and, instead of panicking, Corluka looked up and found the incoming Fernandes. He made no mistake from a good position and, somewhat improbably, City were back in it. Petrov then lost the ball again and Arsenal had another chance, which Hart saved well. Referee Marriner hadn’t needed to do much up till then but then made two strange decisions. Arsenal were through, with Fabregas on the ball but Marriner had blown for a City free kick. Fabregas kicked the ball towards the goal well after the whistle but there was no yellow card. A second poor decision then followed as City broke from defence but he pulled play back for a foul when we seemed to have a good advantage. Needless to say this did not endear him to the home fans.

It seemed to fire up the players though and they started to play in the way we know they can. Petrov had struggled to get some space against a disciplined Arsenal defence but a superb ball put him away. Yet again he held on too long and the chance was lost. A similar outcome occurred when Corluka and Fernandes combined well on the right but failed to get the ball into the danger area when City had bodies there. It was all City now as they went after an equaliser with the first half ticking away. Ireland did really well to win a ball and Fernandes played a great ball over to Petrov on the left hand side. Unfortunately it went just past him. Petrov had the last City chance of the half with a shot from just outside the box that just sailed past the post. City had come back well after a poor start and you felt that if they’d had five more minutes they might have done something.

The second half started in the same way, but Wenger had changed things and this time it was Arsenal that had more of the chances, while Lehmann was rarely, if ever, troubled. After 55 minutes, Vassell replaced Sturridge. The youngster had battled hard but Arsenal was obviously a completely different kettle of fish after Sheffield United and Derby. It was somewhat surprising that it wasn’t Mpenza who came on, after Vassell’s ultimately fruitless evening at Pride Park. He got little more out of Arsenal than Sturridge had though, but was soon involved in a bizarre incident. Once again it was the offside rule involved as the ball was played forward. Vassell was in an offside position but was clearly retreating and making no attempt to be active. Petrov, on the other hand, was active but seemed to be well onside and was through on goal. The assistant flagged and the referee stopped play for offside to the dismay of the City fans. Petrov was also dismayed and his frustration showed as he kicked the ball towards the Arsenal goal. He was booked this time, in contrast to Fabregas’ escape from a similar punishment in the first half. That certainly didn’t lift the mood and the City crowd sang “You’re not fit to referee” in unison.

Our heads seeemed to drop at this point and even the introduction of Mpenza and Geovanni, for Hamman and Ireland, failed to lift them. To try to confuse Arsenal, Petrov went on the right with Geovanni on the left but Corluka (who’d otherwise had an excellent game) simply wasn’t used to having the flying Bulgarian in front of him and missed a few opportunities to get him away quickly as the game opened up. Arsenal were looking for the killer goal and they finally got it a few minutes from time. In a move not dissimilar to the City goal, Adebayor started a move, slipping through an attempted trip by Elano. Some neat interplay found the ball coming back to Adebayor on the penalty spot. He was unmarked and made no mistake for his second and Arsenal’s third. The home sections emptied rapidly as the visitors celebrated going back to the top of the Premiership. To compound the misery Elano was booked for the trip, meaning he misses the derby. It was compelling evidence of the gulf between Sven’s work-in-progress team and another Wenger perfect end-product. We’d all be delighted if City were anything like that in a couple of seasons.

Performances:
Hart 7. No chance with the goals but did as well as he could.
Corluka 7. Wasn’t over-awed by the opposition and gave them some problems.
Dunne 5. Never really looked the rock he can be and silly header led to their second goal.
Richards 6. No match for the on-fire Adebayor and may make him realise how far he still has to go.
Ball 6. Left exposed more than once by Petrov and you could see his annoyance.
Ireland 5. Couple of neat touches but largely peripheral.
Fernandes 7. Got around well and popped up for the goal.
Elano 6. Had a better game than some of his recent ones but put in shade by his Arsenal opponents.
Hamann 7. More like his old self as well.
Petrov 5. Frustrating afternoon for him and gave the ball away too often.
Sturridge 4. Well out of his depth unfortunately.
Substitutes:
Vassell 4. Another one out of his depth.
Geovanni 5. No great impact.
Mpenza 5. Likewise.

Overall Out-of-the-Seat Factor: 6. Lovely to watch if you were an Arsenal fan or a neutral but that wasn’t why we were there.

MATCH VIEW: MCFC 1 AFC 3

In a game that made the Gooners the first team to beat City at home this season, City just gave the ball away to Arsenal over and over again; at times it was if City were just passing it to an Arsenal player as if he wore a blue shirt.

You just can’t play like that against a team such as the Gooners who will take advantage of everything given their way.

My ratings for players in this game: Hart 6, Corluka 8, Dunne 7, Richards 7, Ball 7, Ireland 4, Hamann 6, Fernades 7, Petrov 5, Elano 6,Sturridge 6, Subs Mpenza not on long enough to mark, Geovanni 6, Vassell 5.

Next game versus the Evil Empire we must play better and improve on our first touch passing.

Come on you Blues!

OPINION: BIG GIRL’S BLOUSE

I’ve tended to ‘keep my powder dry’ of recent times with the good ship City sailing in the right direction under the stewardship of Thaksin and Sven. Like most City fans I am delighted with the progress made in a relatively short space of time and remain optimistic that when Sven goes shopping in the summer transfer window we will go up another level.

It’s wholly unrealistic to expect us to be transformed in the space of half a season into a true top four contender and this is how it is beginning to pan out as we continue our patchy form of 2008. We were outplayed by Arsenal yesterday, albeit the Gunners were aided by yet another twerp of a referee who showed undue bias to the ‘bigger name’ team.

The purpose of my writing is to focus on the lack of application by some City players. A reluctance to work as hard as they possibly can during 90 minutes and one individual who doesn’t meet the bare minimum requirements when it comes to a work ethic and courage.

In general terms, why are City virtually always second to any 50/50 ball in midfield? It’s been this way for as long as I can remember under Keegan, Pearce and now Sven and it’s not bl**dy good enough. Apart from a handful of our team there seems to be a general aversion to heading the ball. Most make half-hearted attempts to make it look as if they’re challenging for the ball but most don’t ever get airborne or prefer leaning into the opponent to try to appear industrious/tenacious… it’s c**p.

Enter stage left the most cowardly footballer I have ever seen in a City shirt. Yes, I love it when he beats a full back with blistering pace and I was among those who welcomed him into City on that glorious summer afternoon at Upton Park last August, but Martin Petrov is yellow through and through. He is a 100% Wendy who plays like a bl**dy fairy when it comes to any physical aspect of the game. He is unbelievably lazy, leaves his left back totally exposed and then has the bl**dy temerity to seemingly berate colleagues on the field of play when the opposition take possession.

In short he has become a luxurious liability and Sven needs to stick a rocket up his arse, instigate a change in his lamentable attitude or sell him in the summer and tell him to Bulgar off!

OPINION: PAY THE PASSENGERS

We can all look forward to a trip to OT next weekend to witness another “Chelsea”. Without a doubt we are now carrying too many passengers and the rot is slowly but surely setting in.

Midfield – non-existent. Players like Elano, Petrov, Hamaan and Ireland are stealing their wages every week. All we keep hearing is how good Elano is then prove it Mr. Elano! World class players play well consistently and don’t disappear when the going gets tough.

Petrov – nil contribution and needs to go and buy a right leg, totally predicable.

Hamaan – was class, but now the legs have gone and he is looking more and more lost with every game.

What’s happened to our scouting system? How can Arsene Wegner keep pulling almost unknown players from nowhere and turning them into world class players? Adebayor tormented Dunne and Richards all day, he is big, strong and aggressive, why can’t we find players like that?

We have been linked with almost every top striker in Europe and South America and we almost end up with Benjani; what the heck is going on?

Spurs against United yesterday was like watching two international teams playing compared to our lot. The movement and skill level from both sides is far superior to us.

Predictions for next weekend? Very, very scary.

Hope I’m wrong.

OPINION: ONE STEP FORWARD

I know very well that our flying start to the season has surprised even ourselves and most others too.

That really good start got City into a flattering position and I’ve seen, from afar, our wheels gradually coming off! We surprisingly won the derby, as far back as August, we improved a bit and became a bit more convincing at home. When we got to Christmas we could complain that we’d been hard done to by the referee and his assistants against Blackburn. The ‘edited’ highlights against Liverpool, that I saw, only revealed a complete and utter battering, and that at fortress CoMS? That we got out of that with a draw was for me a piggin’ miracle.

What have we seen since? We didn’t show up at all at Everton, at West Ham it was even Stevens, considering we were the away team, but they battered us at our home ground, in the replay. If we’d demonstrated our ‘difference in class’ against Sheffield United then we could have come away from there with a comfortable victory and still been in the draw for the next round and afforded them an odd fluke goal into the bargain. Now we are left to seek excuses about balloons.

Derby County, we should have blasted out of their stadium. Why? Because all other visiting teams, since August, had already done the same.

I begin each working day with a visit to the official club website and read that Sven is pleased with the result and improved commitment following our visit to Derby’s impregnable fortress!

Only now, after a home defeat to (arguably the best team in the league) Arsenal, does Sven decide to criticize his players for coming out too slow and having to play catch-up? Let’s have the reality check that’s been outstanding since Christmas.

Let’s be realistic, and laugh off any further mutterings between now and the end of the season about qualifying for a UEFA Cup place and this Inter-City joke, let’s just settle for what our aims were before the onset of the season. Stability, consolidation and I am so relieved that we’ve attained 41 points because I don’t have to bite my nails up to the final day of the season. Our form reeks otherwise of relegation.

I’m depressed! After finally losing our unbeaten home record, our only current prospect is the embarrassing notion of some morons letting all City fans down by blathering away at the wrong moment, next weekend, at the Swamp! We are the mugs. Why oh why does it have to be City there, on their sponsored Martyrdom Day. I sorely wished it’d been Liverpool, or the Arse, or Chelsky, or anybody else in fact.

Now we’re headed for the latest chapter of even more martyrdom, and the eyes of the football world are upon us! It’ll be our fault if there’s a rumpus!

If I was really cynical, and I am, I am certain that the Rags are ecstatic about the way this fixture has turned out. The most recent installment of a continued cynical exploitation of a tragic accident will only add to their sorry legend. This event will only prove to the world how wonderful they are in, and what adversities they continue to overcome and City can only come out as losers on the day!

You or I would let them get on with it, and recognize it for what it all is, and keep our gobs shut. However, you know as well as I, what sort of morons I’m talking about.

Thanks for listening.

OPINION: BENJANI

If the Benjani deal does eventually go through, which by all accounts is the likely outcome, I have to say that I am absolutely delighted at City and our board for not being bullied for once.

It’s clear what went on. They simply planted all the correct seeds with dirty ‘arry and Portsmouth in order for them to facilitate the Defoe move, whilst placating the FA quite cunningly enough to (hopefully) ensure that deal could go after deadline. We clearly didn’t want to pay what Portsmouth valued the player at.

Well good on yer Blues. Refreshing, that. The Anelka deal still angers me given his current transfer costings. And it’s not necessarily that we should have got more for him when he left, but more that we actually gave him a contract so flexible when he signed, that should his brothers decide his time was up he could leave with the minimal fuss, fight or obstruction.

The board have been clever. And much credit must be offered. No longer whipping boys both on the field and off it?

The wily old fox Sven and the team, have seemingly turned a corner. If Benjani does not come due to the knee injury or re-negotiation of the fee, then at least we are not made out to be mugs and we simply help to bankrupt old Redknapp and Portsmouth, which isn’t far away by all accounts.

Just an aside and I am probably contributing myself here, but enough of City’s involvment in their Munich anniversary jousting. Let them get on with it. Way too much has been made of how City fans will react. We all know deep down we’ll behave. But God almighty. It’s their day, not ours. I’ve seen more in the press about how MCFC will react to it than their own bl**dy ‘fans’. Obsessed.

Come on City. We need this one…

OPINION: MUNICH MEMORIAL I

I am very impressed with Phil Lines’ plea for proper behaviour by every single City supporter at the Chamber of Horrors next week.

I would disagree with him on only one point: some of the survivors were genuine heroes on the day (I’m thinking particularly of Harry Gregg) and have since carried their experience with grace and dignity. These men never descended into the exploitative and lucrative mush that has since emanated from the Swamp. We Dubliners lost Liam (Billy) Whelan at Munich, potentially a great international player, and are no less wounded by that loss than the Rags.

So let our devotion to City and the wider scale of the tragedy overcome our loathing for the Rags, let us behave as decent men and women and let us emerge with our reputation as sportsmen enhanced.

On a brighter note, Richard Dunne was deservedly voted International Player of the Year by Irish soccer journalists last night. In his acceptance speech he castigated the Football Association of Ireland for the delay in appointing a new international team manager (3 months, 9 days and counting).

OPINION: MUNICH MEMORIAL II

First time I have written in and I think Phil Lines says it all.

For once keep quiet on Sunday, don’t let a few clowns spoil the name of the club.

OPINION: MUNICH MEMORIAL III

I am writing to you about the forthcoming Manchester derby, and the potential for trouble from mindless thugs. I really feel this game should have been rearranged as soon as the fixture was made, given that it is to take place four days after the 50th anniversary of the Munich air disaster.

As a Man City fan I cannot stand the “Munich” chants that you hear from a minority of so called City fans. Frank Swift who died in the crash aged 44 was one the all time City greats with 376 appearances between 1933 and 1949.

Matt Busby who played for City from 1928 until 1936 with 226 appearances was the manager of the United team at the time of the disaster and he survived.

There is a strong connection with Man City and the horrible crash that claimed a lot of young lives so I hope common sense will prevail and all football fans show respect.

OPINION: B.O.G.O.F.

The recently posted piece about what makes City, City unfortunately was a bit too early.

We know about the balloons costing us a cup place, enough has been said about that but an even better example of what it is that makes City different came on the last day of the transfer window.

The obvious one to talk about is the Ben “will he won’t he” deal. Apparently the Blues “got cold feet” and pulled the plug on the deal at 11.15, but they failed to tell the office junior and the paperwork went through at 11.55. The wrong info’ was passed on to Portsmouth who duly signed Defoe in the last seconds of the transfer window, fully expecting the ensuing BACS transfers to leave them a touch in profit ooops!

Worse than that deal though is the deal for the hugely promising Ishmael Miller. Sven apparently expected him back after summer as he was offered assurances that Ish’ wanted a future at the Blues, and it was his choice as to whether or not any deal would be completed. What was real though was the clause inserted by WBA meaning they could trigger their cast iron option to buy for a meagre £750,000 (rising to £1.5 million possibly), which they duly did.

In other words we were left with egg on our faces and our pants round our ankles having received a real spanking by WBA. I reckon that the deal for Miller will be one of the best ever entered into and we will look back and wonder what if!

Some of our previous transfer nightmares are like raw, open sores. Earl Barrett was sold to pay the ‘leccy bill, Bradbury was bought for whatever reason at a staggering price which made Steve Daley seem like a Tesco’s best buy (get the link there at all?). David White was a lost few mil’ when he went to Leeds. Of course I could go on, but I won’t.

But as I live close to Middlesbrough (Ingleby Barwick) I am surrounded by dejected footie fans and often pause to think about what it must be like to be a barcode, black cat or smoggy.

It’s fun being a Blue really.

OPINION: IRISH EYES ARE SMILING

Good news for two of our players, Richard Dunne and Stephen Ireland, in that they received the senior and young player of the year awards for the Republic of Ireland.

REQUEST: POINTS OF BLUE

The next PoB meeting will be on Tuesday 19 February, 6.30pm at the Stadium.

The delegate meeting with club officials will be in early March.

RESULTS

3 February 2008

Newcastle United      1 - 1  Middlesbrough         51,105
Fulham                2 - 1  Aston Villa           24,760

2 February 2008

Birmingham City       1 - 1  Derby County          25,924
Blackburn Rovers      0 - 0  Everton               27,946
Manchester City       1 - 3  Arsenal               46,426
Portsmouth            1 - 1  Chelsea               20,488
Reading               0 - 2  Bolton Wanderers      21,893
Tottenham Hotspur     1 - 1  Manchester United     36,075
Wigan Athletic        1 - 0  West Ham United       20,525
Liverpool             3 - 0  Sunderland            43,244

League table to 03 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         25 11  2  0 29  8  7  4  1 23 10 18  6  1  52  18  34  60
 2 Manchester Utd  25 12  1  0 31  3  6  3  3 18  9 18  4  3  49  12  37  58
 3 Chelsea         25  8  4  0 23  8  8  2  3 15  9 16  6  3  38  17  21  54
 4 Everton         25  7  2  3 23 11  6  3  4 17 12 13  5  7  40  23  17  44
 5 Liverpool       24  5  6  1 26  9  6  4  2 14  8 11 10  3  40  17  23  43
 6 Aston Villa     25  7  2  4 20 16  4  6  2 24 17 11  8  6  44  33  11  41
 7 Manchester City 25  9  3  1 21 11  2  5  5 11 17 11  8  6  32  28   4  41
 8 Blackburn R.    25  5  4  4 13 13  5  5  2 19 18 10  9  6  32  31   1  39
 9 Portsmouth      25  3  7  2 15 10  7  1  5 20 16 10  8  7  35  26   9  38
10 West Ham United 24  5  4  3 15 12  5  2  5 14 10 10  6  8  29  22   7  36
11 Tottenham H.    25  6  2  4 33 22  1  6  6 12 19  7  8 10  45  41   4  29
12 Newcastle Utd   25  5  5  3 17 18  2  2  8 11 25  7  7 11  28  43 -15  28
13 Middlesbrough   25  3  4  5 13 18  3  4  6  9 20  6  8 11  22  38 -16  26
14 Bolton Wndrs    25  5  4  4 17 11  1  3  8  9 23  6  7 12  26  34  -8  25
15 Wigan Athletic  25  5  2  5 15 14  1  3  9  9 26  6  5 14  24  40 -16  23
16 Sunderland      25  6  3  3 15 13  0  2 11  9 32  6  5 14  24  45 -21  23
17 Reading         25  6  1  6 14 19  0  3  9 16 33  6  4 15  30  52 -22  22
18 Birmingham City 25  3  4  5 13 14  2  2  9 11 23  5  6 14  24  37 -13  21
19 Fulham          25  3  5  5 18 22  0  5  7  7 21  3 10 12  25  43 -18  19
20 Derby County    25  1  3  8  8 21  0  3 10  5 31  1  6 18  13  52 -39   9

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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: