Newsletter #363

The major news this week is that we have signed a third Georgian, or fourth if you count the one on loan! I do have to wonder where he will fit in though, as we seem to have an embarrassment of riches across the centre of defence at the moment, and that’s ignoring the highly rated Morley!

This issue has a belated match report from Paul, news of the new signing, a review of ‘the best City video ever – maybe’!, a call for a MCIVTA FC practice session, much considered opinion and a Why Blue.

MATCH REPORT ‘LIVE’

PORTSMOUTH vs. MANCHESTER CITY, Saturday 10th January 1998

Severe weather last weekend and the prospect of an uncovered stand at Fratton Park looked like reducing City’s away following for this game as around only 1,500 or so tickets were sold before the day of the game. However, it seems a lot of people decided to make the trip on the day, since I would guess that nearly 3,000 Blues were in Portsmouth for the game on a bright and warm afternoon. It was good news for the local publicans too as Blues packed the pubs around the ground. I joined many of the Blue View crew in the Brewer’s Arms, and Frankie Clark’s look-alike army brought smiles to many faces en route to the ground and later, inside it.

The announcement of the teams brought a few surprises, most notably the dropping of Ged Brannan in favour of Jim Whitley. Ian Brightwell continued as captain in the absence of Gerard Wiekens (whose place in the back three went to Kit Symons) and Richard Edghill returned in place of Jeff Whitley. The line-up was thus:

                Wright

   Brightwell   Symons     Shelia

Edghill  Brown  Jim Whitley  Russell

              Kinkladze

        R