Newsletter #1138

The new season is fast approaching, as City reserves opened their friendly round at Hyde. A far from auspicious start for Steve Wigley as we lost 3-0, had Schmeichel sent off and then saw Richards injured and limp off. Let’s hope that’s not too serious as Richards is definitely one to keep an eye on this season. We have a report tonight from Gavin, which has saved me trying to think of positives from Ewen Fields.

News wise, Don has been waiting patiently and monitoring rumour, counter rumour and failed transfer dealings as the SWP/Chelsea/Arsenal saga continues, Villa are laughably after Distin, and Bischoff’s move to Cardiff falls through. Benarbia has been recommending yet more friends to City as his latest pal arrives on trial; let’s hope this isn’t a repeat of his two previous recommendations of Belmadi and Carr.

We also have opinion on Sommeil, finances and wise buys, the good old days and the City site, plus the usual requests and our Brother Judge is back with his pre-season thoughts.

NEWS SUMMARY

General News

Trotters in Bangkok Anyone? Finally the club have released details of the forthcoming games in Bangkok. City have been drawn to play against Bolton Wanderers in the semi-finals of the competition. The game takes place at the Rajamangala National Stadium on Wednesday 20th July, kicking off at 20.45 local time. Everton play the Thai national side in the other game on the same day at the same stadium, kick-off 17.45. Three days later the winners of the games play off in the final, preceded by the 3rd and 4th play off between the two losing semi-finalists. Further match and travel details can be found on the official website.

You’ve Got to Hand it to That Ref… Steve Wigley’s Reserve regime started in less than fantastic fashion, with a 3-0 defeat at Hyde United. Things were not helped by the sending off of Kasper Schmeichel for handling outside his area after ten minutes – not the friendliest of acts by the ref in the first friendly of the season. Team: Schmeichel, Warrender, Collins, N D’Laryea, Richards, J D’Laryea, Croft, Flood, Miller, Bermingham, Ireland. Subs: Matthewson, Laird, Bennett, Murphy, Etuhu, Johnson, Grimes.

Transfer News and Gossip

Tapping Up, Moi? Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has managed the double feat of publicly alerting SWP to the Gunners’ wish to sign him, while simultaneously whingeing about Chelsea’s financial muscle in the transfer market. Of ickle Shaunie, Wenger said: “I like him but we are in a market where you let Chelsea make decisions and then come in after. There is a price for Chelsea and a price for everybody else and that is why we have to wait until they decide. The transfer market has been much quieter than expected and it looks like it has not really started, with no activity in the lower clubs and very little with the clubs that are supposed to have money. At the moment, it looks like everybody is in the starting blocks and, with the heat of my phone, it looks like it will start soon.” In other SWP news, Liverpool reportedly pulled out of talks with City – The Mirror claimed Liverpool had launched a move when boss Rafa Benitez thought Steven Gerrard was going to Chelsea and calls were made on Tuesday night. However, the hastily arranged attempt to join the bidding had to be called off as Gerrard changed his mind and stayed. For the thirty seventh consecutive week (well, almost!), Chelsea were reported to be only days away from signing Shaun. And SP spoke for City officials and fans alike when he declared: “The speculation has been a little bit tedious. Let’s be honest, all the rumour in the newspapers would turn a lot of people’s heads. But Shaun’s reaction has been fantastic. He is incredible. He is the same player who has come in from the start of pre-season wanting to play for Manchester City. I genuinely believe that he loves the football club and all credit to him. On the odd occasion that we have mentioned it to him he has seemed non-plussed about it. I said to him it can be distracting for him but it has not been a problem. He knows what he has to do, he knows his job and from what I have seen he has not been distracted by the speculation.”

Bischoff Not Off: Last week’s reports of Mikkel Bischoff’s departure to Cardiff City were premature, it seems. On Wednesday the M.E.N. reported that the deal had fallen through. The clubs had agreed a fee, but Bischoff could not agree personal terms with the Welsh club. The Danish defender could now see out the remaining year of his contract at City, and then leave for free next summer.

Sylvain a Villain? Here’s another story that won’t go away: Aston Villa are set to step up their efforts to sign Sylvain Distin. The skipper was the subject of a £5.5 million bid from Villa earlier in the summer but boss David O’Leary will test City’s resolve to hold onto the Frenchman with a £7 million bid. O’Leary missed out on a deal for Craig Bellamy earlier in the week but having already signed Kevin Phillips is set to switch his attentions to strengthening his defensive options.

Option (A) or (B): The next piece of speculation has appeared in a number of newspapers and websites, and suggests that Psycho has two shopping lists for players. One based on monies made available if SWP is sold, the other on a “Shaun stays” scenario. If the move happens, Pearce will set his sights on Southampton’s Peter Crouch or Robbie Keane and Freddie Kanoute from Spurs. The second list includes Everton’s Marcus Bent and Perugia’s Jay Bothroyd. Quite a dilemma isn’t it? It’s clear which list contain the quality, but is it worth losing the star man to subsidise the purchases?

Wherefore Art Thou, Romeo? To which the answer is “Feyenoord actually”. The papers think they know who SP wants as a replacement for a departing SWP. That man is Dutch star Romeo Castelen, according to the Mirror. Pearce apparently plans a £4 million swoop for the 22-year-old Castelen, who shone in the clash between England And Holland in February. City’s main transfer targets will be two strikers, the paper claims, but Pearce will also look to replace Wright-Phillips with the Surinam-born winger. For more detailed background on the player, I’m grateful as ever to Henk Timmer who has written as follows: “Romeo is a Dutch international and also a right winger. Feyenoord want to sell him for the right money … Last season was Romeo’s first with Feyenoord after a free transfer from ADO Den Haag. I think he’s a similar kind of player, fast, can score goals … I think he’s 22.”

How Much Does a Greek Earn? Roma’s Traianos Dellas is interesting City, amongst others. The central defender is available on a free transfer this summer and has long been linked with both Rangers and Celtic. However, City and Tottenham have also shown an interest according to reports in Italy in the Greek international who had a short spell at Sheffield United earlier in his career. His agent Stefano Antonelli said: “There could be a possibility but there are many others. There is a big interest around him and he has to decide. He can either stay in Italy or move abroad.”

Ali B Triallist: City have taken Yasser Hussain on trial, and the young midfielder has been training with the Blues this week. He comes highly recommended, as SP explained: “Yasser Hussein is coming in on Thursday on the recommendation of Ali Benarbia,” explained the City chief. “Ali was a player himself so hopefully he will know what he is like! Yasser is from Qatar where he has been playing his football. He is a wide sided midfielder who can play on either flank. He is a Bosman at present so he fits the criteria.” Hussain has been playing alongside the great Ali B for Al-Rayyan in Qatar.

Pancrate Day Soon? Here’s another candidate for the “Only if Shaun leaves” file. City are said to have targeted Paris Saint Germain striker Fabrice Pancrate – Auxerre are also keen to sign the former Le Mans ace. Pancrate is under contract at Parc des Princes until 2008, but PSG say that he will be allowed to leave for a fee of around two million quid. Auxerre have been slow to make a firm move for 25-year-old, which could allow City into the reckoning.

Ex-Blues’ News

Rejecting the Roubles: I don’t know how much credence to give this tale, as it’s only appeared on one website, but hey, let’s let you the reader decide shall we? According to tribalfootball.com, Steve McManaman has spurned an offer to join UEFA Cup winners CSKA Moscow, no less. The Aussie website reckons that Macca might make it to the new Australian A-League competition, although a move to the USA’s MLS has also been mooted.

Mack Will be Back: Jon Macken is looking to rejuvenate his career at Crystal Palace following a difficult season at City. The 27-year-old, who moved to South East London for an undisclosed fee last month, scored just one goal in 23 Premiership appearances for City last term. “It’s difficult when you don’t play as many games as you’d like.” Macken said on the Palace website. “You start to disbelieve in yourself a bit but I’m looking to push on now and become a better player and score more goals. I’ve come to Palace to learn more from the coaches and other players and with a good pre-season I’ll take it on and hopefully get a few goals and we’ll do well.”

JR Edges His Bets: Derby County decided not to offer Richard Edghill a contract following a trial period training with the Rams. Almost inevitably, it’s been suggested that Edgy could be heading for a reunion with Joe Royle at Ipswich Town. JR soon rebuffed that notion, however. “I know him and I like him. Edgy was captain for me at Manchester City and although he occasionally played on the left for me he is more right-sided. I would like any new defender to be left-sided, so as far as Edgy is concerned, at the moment, it’s no.”

Greenacre’s Fresh Fields: Tranmere have snapped up former City, Stoke and Mansfield striker Chris Greenacre. The player was available on a free transfer and had been linked with Scunthorpe, Blackpool, Southend, Oldham and Doncaster Rovers. Greenacre was released by Stoke after an injury plagued three years at the Britannia Stadium. He started his career at City but managed only 6 first team appearances and one goal in five years at Maine Road. At Mansfield, he scored 58 goals for The Stags in two-and-a-half years at Field Mill, a strike rate of a goal nearly every other game. His final season at the club, 2001/2002, saw him net 28 goals, which attracted the interested of several bigger clubs. With his contract expired, he made the step up to Stoke City in the summer of 2002, signing a three year deal. His career at the Britannia Stadium was blighted by injury, but can now look forward to making his Rovers début against City on Friday.

Paulo Poo Poos Pompey: City’s former “Bambi on Ice”, Paulo Wanchope, has decided to join Qatar side Al-Gharrafa Sports Club from Malaga, despite talking to Portsmouth the weekend. Paulo flew to England last Friday, but wanted the weekend to think over a move back to the Premiership. The offer from Al-Gharrafa then arrived and Wanchope decided that the money on offer from the Qatari club was too good to turn down. “I arrived in Qatar over the weekend and I was convinced that the option of the Al-Gharrafah club was the best one,” Wanchope said. “I am very happy with the decision that I took because I found good conditions, sport and economic, and mainly because I have signed with a great club with a lot of ambition. I fulfilled my dream to play in England and Spain, I spent eight years playing in Europe and learned much,” Wanchope continued. “I am formed as player and I acquired the maturity necessary to develop in competitive leagues of soccer; now I will face another challenge. Arriving in Qatar does not mean that the doors to Europe are going to close. I see the move like a great opportunity that appeared to me and that will help to me to live new cultural and sport experiences.”

Ali’s Friends – Part 2: Ali Benarbia’s pals are certainly in the news this week – fellow Algerian international Djemal Belmadi is training with the Southampton in a bid to earn a move to St Mary’s. In 2003, the 27-year-old made a total of 8 appearances in a laser blue shirt (6 as sub), scoring precisely no goals. He has also played for Marseille and Celta Vigo. Belmadi is on Southampton’s tour of Scotland and both players could feature against Kilmarnock tomorrow night.

Squad News

Young Guns Can Go For It: SP hopes that Micah Richards can follow in the footsteps of fellow Academy graduates like Shaun Wright-Phillips and Nedum Onuoha and become part of the first team squad. Pearce said of the eighteen year old: “He is one that we have got our eye on. I have told him exactly what I have told all the young other players at this club. Play well and we will see you and involve you with the first team at Carrington. Micah is a versatile lad who can play in midfield or at centre half and it is in the latter position that he has impressed in the reserves. His spring to head a ball is fantastic and he looks as though he has a little more time on the ball and that is always a sign of a decent player. I will have a look at him in central midfield at some stage and judge where his future might lie but the great plus is that if you can play him in one or two positions like Shaun and Nedum it is a wonderful thing for a manager and gives options all round. Versatility in this day and age although not absolutely vital is a great thing to have because when a manager is looking at his bench in particular that’s what he is looking for. If a player can cover two or three positions and be top level at them all then it is a wonderful bonus for a manager and offers a great feeling of comfort.” Meanwhile the club has handed Danny Warrender a new two year deal to stay at City. Warrender was an ever-present in the Reserves last season, and won the Reserve Player of the Month award in March.

Summer Holidays End: As revealed in MCV recently, Joey Barton enjoyed a summer break in New Zealand watching the British Lions get tanked by the All Blacks in the Rugby Union tests. The club website was at pains to point out this week that as soon as the fixtures was announced, Joey came straight home for early, extra training at Carrington. “It was great to see all the lads again and get amongst the banter,” said Barton. “There is a great camaraderie among the squad and it all started again on Thursday. I just can’t wait for the season to begin now. I was in New Zealand when the fixtures were announced and all I wanted to do was come home and get started. It’s times like that you realise how much you love your job. The only thing I can compare it to is being in the middle of your summer holidays when you are at school. You think that you want loads of time off but really you want nothing more than to get back and see your mates.” Despite all this impressive pre-pre-season training, Barton revealed that after the first full session of the season with Mr. Pearce, Joey couldn’t move off his couch that night!

Hamstrung – Again: Hot on the heels (if that’s the right phrase) of last week’s hamstring victim, Nedum Onouha, comes word of another dodgy hammy. “We have had to pull Antoine Sibierski out of pre-season training for what I hope will be no longer than two weeks,” explained Stuart Pearce. “He has a slight tight hamstring so our decision to pull him out is more precautionary than anything else.” This suggests Sib will miss the games at Tranmere and Macclesfield, as well as the trip to Thailand. One player who will be joining the squad in Asia is Jihai Sun. The utility man will join his team-mates on tour Monday after finally receiving a new work permit. The 27-year-old was forced to stay at home in China when his application was delayed unexpectedly. All such inconveniences have now been sorted. SP gave a fitness update of the Chinese international. “He was probably eighty per cent fit by the end of last season. Rather than carry him on through the summer at Carrington he went home to spend time with his family. He is currently training with his old club, which is beneficial for us as he waits for his visa.”

MATCH REPORT: HYDE UNITED 3 MCFC RESERVES 0

Tigers Give City the Blues

On a balmy July evening, City’s pre-season kicked of with its annual fixture at Ewen Fields, City’s old reserve home, and the permanent home of our hosts, Hyde United. It was also the inaugural match for new reserve team manager, Steve Wigley, who recently joined us from Southampton to replace the largely ineffective Asa Hartford. It would prove to be a typical City baptism for Steve.

As early as the tenth minute Steve would have been tearing his hair out as City’s goalkeeper, Kasper Schmeichel, unfortunately handled the ball outside the area from a Nathan D’Laryea headed back pass. Now obviously the letter of the law states that the ‘keeper should go for an early bath, but as this game was a friendly most normal referees would have asked the manager to replace the ‘keeper with the substitute ‘keeper to allow the game to continue. Not so Mr Evans, he decided the red card was the right decision. Obviously Steve Wigley vehemently remonstrated with Mr Evans for his lack of common sense decision to leave City down to ten men.

The first thing that Lawrence Matthewson did when he came on to replace Ishmael Miller was to pick the ball out of the net from the resulting free kick scored directly by David Moore, Hyde’s number nine, who would leave another telling mark on the game in the second half.

The game never really got going for either side as both teams failed to create any real chances and City’s midfield was too deep most of the time, leaving lone striker Karl Bermingham too exposed at times.

The breakthrough finally came though just before half time, but again for the home side. Mr Evans awarded a free kick for Gerry Harrison falling over himself on the left side of the pitch. Phil Salt floated a good free kick into the box and the tall, classy Matty McNeil rose well to head into the far corner of the net.

The second half was a complete non-event except for two incidents, Buckley scoring Hyde’s third from a half cleared header midway through the half and David Moore going in late on Micah Richards with his studs showing, forcing Micah to limp off the field. After Mr Evans had decided to apply the letter of the law at the start of the game, he then in his infinite wisdom decided not to even have a stern word with Moore.

So in my many years of watching the reserves, we were beaten by Hyde for the first time, and deservedly so as we never got going and Hyde showed a lot more desire to win. We will never know though if the result might have been different had it stayed eleven versus eleven, but I would not bet against Hyde achieving a similar upset. So Mr Wigley, welcome to City.

Hyde: Westhead, Lynch, Garner, Harrison, Hill, O’Kane (capt.), Blackenridge, Salt, Moore, McNeil, Clee.
Subs (all used): Milligan, Buckley, Adams, Dean, Triallists.

MCFC: Schmeichel, Warrender (capt.), Collins, N D’Laryea, Richards, J D’Laryea, Croft, Flood, Miller, Bermingham, Ireland.
Subs (all used): Matthewson, Laird, Bennett, Murphy, Etuhu, Johnson, Grimes.

OPINION: SMART MONEY?

In response to Martin Beckett’s article in MCIVTA 1137, I agree wholeheartedly with pretty much everything that he says, and his analysis of the workings of the boardroom have a definite ring of truth about them.

It’s funny how perceptions of the club’s success or failure each season (mine included) change as a result of the previous year’s progress. Martin is right to emphasise that, while Wardle is doing a reasonable job of keeping the club stable in the top flight, Bernstein was working with far less cash and took over the reigns at a time when the club had few playing assets.

One thing that I wanted to mention – without wanting to state the obvious, no manager gets every signing, or every promotion of a player from the youth side, correct. The best managers in the world make bad buys. Wenger bought Cygan. Mourinho bought Kezman. It’s the balance of their decisions over a period of time that matters.

But some decisions weigh more heavily than others. When you think about someone like KK, which was the more important decision? Promoting SWP early, or spending all of that money on Macca and Blobby? Imagine who he could have bought in today’s climate if the money hadn’t gone on Fowler (yes, I know it’s not as simple as that).

Just a couple of thoughts.

OPINION: SOMMEIL, BAD MANAGEMENT OR BAD JUDGEMENT?

With regards to Mike Bards’ rather strong, yet admittedly somewhat humorous, attack on what I felt was a fairly innocuous piece on David Sommeil, I thought it appropriate to write in again to defend myself, and given that at least one person has misinterpreted what I wrote, to clarify and expand upon what I said previously.

Surely it is reasonable to question (a) what has gone wrong when a £3.5 million pound player who arrived with a good pedigree finds himself so far down the pecking order; and (b) the value of possibly selling him for a small fee, when if the team was to suffer from injuries (or even departures?), we could find ourselves short of centre-backs?

Key to Mike’s argument is his misinterpretation of what I wrote about Sommeil being based purely on the view of one person with whom I talked. In fact, I was actually reporting back that when Sommeil was at Bordeaux “many people in France couldn’t understand why he wasn’t getting into the French national team”. This was the main thrust of what I wrote; that it was also this guy’s personal view is fairly irrelevant. Mike’s analogy with the Swedish plumber is therefore erroneous, and as evidence that the bloke I spoke to was in fact correct about the general high esteem in which Sommeil was once held, here’s a few quotes:

Marius Trésor (chosen by Pele as one of the world’s 100 best living footballers) on France’s 2002 World Cup failings: “Perhaps they did not take along the guys who are in form at the moment, like Carrière or even David Sommeil.”

The Independent: “Kevin Keegan is trying to make a double signing, with Bordeaux’s £5 million-rated centre-half David Sommeil and Barcelona’s Michael Reiziger heading for Maine Road.”

Kevin Keegan “He is a B international for France and it is only because of the wealth of central defenders available to the French national side that he hasn’t got a full cap.”

On top of that, one can point to him playing in a French Cup winning side, with whom he played in the UEFA Cup for 3 seasons running. Also, a report from the Manchester Evening News claimed that Arsene Wenger had once considered him for Arsenal and that Chelsea and Leeds were also interested at the time we signed him.

I have the utmost respect for Stuart Pearce, and in him we have one of the best man-managers in the Premiership – someone with the ability to turn Sommeil’s City career around. He wasn’t the manager when Sommeil suffered his fall from grace at City, and if we do sell Sommeil at a low price, this decision may be out of his hands due to the financial problems from which the club is currently suffering. I do however get frustrated by suggestions that Pearce is infallible (UEFA coaching badges or not!), and by repetitive assumptions that anyone who Keegan bought, for whom it don’t work out at City, must have been a poor player beforehand. Some of these less successful players may have been bought due to a lack of information or forethought, but the evidence suggests that Sommeil, amongst others, is not one of them.

OPINION: NOSTALGIA

Ian Nixon talking about nostalgia in the last edition reminded me about a great site I found a few weeks ago; it is http://www.tv-ark.org.uk/. If you go to the site and look under “adverts” then select “k”, you can download the “Kelloggs Frosties” advert featuring Tony the Tiger and someone called Colin Bell.

The site is great for anyone like me who is getting a bit long in the tooth and pines for the old country after a few beers!

OPINION: OFFICIAL SITE

The MCFC Official site for the best part is very good, but it does not keep up to the times.

The squad has been updated so that’s a plus, but the screensavers/wallpapers are still very much in the past, still has the fixture list for 2004/05 season, with no new 2005/06. Other screensavers/wallpapers that are available for downloading are Kevin Keegan in front of the supporters; it should now be Stuart Pearce (give him some credit). It has the Goat; sure he was great whilst with MCFC. The leaving of Maine Road; OK for sentimentalists I guess, but nothing new. Another section still has Ashley Lewis as a board member; he resigned a long time ago.

I have sent feedback twice on the subjects, I also sent an email to <mcfc(at)mcfc.co.uk> and nothing has changed. Why ask for feedback if they don’t do anything, or even acknowledge something?

I guess it’s the company who looks after the site for MCFC, must be just half-hearted about getting things done.

[A new and much improved website is due to be launched soon as Sky are stopping doing club sites, the new company will have something much better – Ed]

REQUEST: SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY FRIENDLY

For info, just spoken to a very helpful young lady in the Wednesday ticket office and have been told that there will be a pay on the day turnstile for City fans. The away end has a 6,600 capacity so if like me you want to take family, you can all sit together, and save £1.50 per ticket phone booking charge!

All aboard for the rollercoaster 05/06.

REQUEST: WBA TICKET

As a Vancouver resident (but ex-Gorton), I don’t get to Manchester too often but I’ve managed to arrange a multi-leg business trip so that I arrive in Manchester around 11am on 13 August. Perfect timing to get to the WBA game, but I don’t have a ticket or a current CityCard. I was wondering if there are any Blues in the readership who will be on holiday and would ‘sell’ me their season ticket seat for the game.

One would be excellent, but two or three together would be even better to help me smooth out potential family disquiet, i.e., arrive home for the first time in over a year then p**s off to the match within hours of landing!

I intend to go to the match regardless (bad, I know, but they know me too well and will understand) so please get in touch if you only have one spare season ticket. The other one or two tickets would be used to take my mother and her partner to the game, both of whom have never seen City play. Sad but true. Arrangements to collect and return the season ticket could be made nearby the time.

Thanks in anticipation…

REQUEST: LONDON BLUES

Debra and I will be “stuck” in London until at least June 2006. We are interested in meeting up with other Blues in the area, and joining a local Supporters’ Club if there is one.

BLUE VERSE

Soon the roar will be upon us
Our lucky pants we’ll wear again
Will he, won’t he, will not matter
When the whistle blow and we’re off again

It’s been frustrating to read the shabloids
With rumour, gloom, and downright lies
They wouldn’t know a real good story
If it stood before their blinkered eyes

We all love City until we die
With our replica shirt and dodgy pie
We all love Shauny running down the wing
And are sorry football’s a money thing

So we pay our money and we take our seats
Who say’s we never watch repeats?
Eve watched Robbie fluff a hundred chances
The piper plays the tune who dances

Fed up with the daily scapers
They say that City are deep in debt
But who are they kidding, do they think we stupid?
Didn’t they not know this country is built on debt?
Dear prudent Gordon’s pet

Best of luck everyone, hope you have a great holiday, oh and come on you Blues.

MCIVTA FAQ [v0405.03]

[1] MCIVTA Addresses

Articles (Heidi Pickup)          : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org
News/rumour (Don Barrie)         : news@mcivta.city-fan.org
Subscriptions (Madeleine Hawkins): subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org
Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org
FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[2] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

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

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

http://www.uit.no/mancity/ is the unofficial Manchester City Supporters’ home page. Created in 1994, it is the longest running of the Manchester City related web sites. Back issues of MCIVTA are also hosted on the site.

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

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

[5] What supporters’ clubs are there?

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters’ clubs: The “Official Supporters Club” (http://www.mancity.net/osc/); the “Centenary Supporters’ Association” (http://www.reddishblues.com/CSAWebsite/CSA.htm) and “The International Supporters’ Club” (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/article.asp?article=111845&Title=International+Supporters+Club&lid=Membership).

[6] Where can I find out about the fans’ committee?

The Fans’ Committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. The Fans’ Committee has been relaunched as “Points of Blue”. It has appeared on the club website as a minor entry under “Fans Zone”.

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

The GMR pre and post match phone-in is available on the web at http://www.bbc.co.uk/england/gmr/sport_intro.shtml.

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found at http://www.mcfctv.com/.

[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://www.LiveSoccerTV.com/, http://www.foxsportsworld.com/named/FSW/Index/Soccer, and 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.uit.no/mancity/players/

[11] Can I buy shares in the club?

Yes you can: Shares in Manchester City PLC are traded on OFEX. The latest prices can be on found the OFEX web site http://www.ofex.com/ (registration required) or in the business section of the Manchester Evening News.

[12] 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/.

[13] Where can I find a list of City-related websites?

Try Wookie’s Lair: http://www.wookieslair.com/modules.php?name=Web_Links

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: