Newsletter #1400

A bumper edition tonight as we reach another landmark of issue 1400 with news on the transfer activity (we’re late out as your newshound was forlornly waiting for incoming transfer news), match report from Phil on Derby, plenty of opinion on the current squad and reaction to latter performances, and more on the Munich debate.

So after much speculation and debate, the transfer window late dealings have seen: Miller to WBA, Dabo to Lazio, Samaras to Celtic (loan), and incoming Ecuadorian striker Caicedo for £5 million from Basle, Mancini on loan from Inter Milan and the Benjani/Akram sagas still to be sorted.

Arsenal are the visitors this weekend. Will our home form hold out?

NEWS SUMMARY

Transfer Window Deadline-Day Special

One In, and Almost Two: There was quite a finale to transfer deadline day, as on Thursday morning we awoke to hear that City were on the trail of two new strikers. Sven had teased us on Tuesday, when asked about his potential player targets. “We’re still working, we’re trying with two players at the moment but we know that time is running out. It’s very difficult with the really big clubs, they don’t want to release their great players at the moment. It’s not a question of money, it’s more a case of if they release someone they have to find a replacement and I can understand that. If we want to take another striker, he has got to be very good for now and for the future as well.” Having watched Darius Vassell miss a hatful of chances at Derby on Wednesday, Sven was confident of signing at least one forward before the transfer window closes tonight. “I think so, yes,” said Eriksson after the game. “I have been talking, talking, talking – and it looked very positive two-and-a-half hours before the game.” On Thursday the identities of the mystery strikers were revealed – Portsmouth’s in-form Benjani, and FC Basle striker Felipe Caicedo. Caicedo was snapped up early in the afternoon, in a £5 million deal. City soon secured a work permit for the Ecuadorian international, who joined City on a four-and-a-half year contract. It seems that Sven first spotted the 19-year-old during a scouting mission in the summer, when he was checking out Elano.

Benjani Blow: The deal for Benjani was far, far more complex. Pompey boss Harry Redknapp had agreed the sale of his £8 million-rated Zimbabwe striker providing he could sign a replacement. Tottenham’s Jermain Defoe was lined up by Redknapp, but then it became clear that Benjani’s move had to go through first. This meant that your correspondent spent the hours between 10.00pm and midnight of Thursday in front of Sky Sports News, watching the increasingly hysterical coverage – 11.10pm, and Benjani was about to take a medical, which would take about an hour – but that would be too late! So midnight came and went, Portsmouth had gone ahead and signed Defoe in any event, and City… didn’t get to sign Benjani in time. So how had this débâcle happened, considering the club appeared to have all day to get the player through a medical? Friday’s M.E.N. revealed that the striker missed two Manchester-bound planes to Manchester, then the third aircraft was delayed. “Due to the late arrival of the player in Manchester we were unable to complete the transfer,” was all club spokesman Paul Tyrrell would say, refusing to comment on the missed flights report. There was also talk that the player was in dispute with Pompey over payments he thought he was entitled to. Despite a belated attempt by Portsmouth to claim that the Benjani deal had gone through, at the time of writing there we still no confirmation from the Premier League of the transfer.

Manc Becomes a Manc: Another Thursday deal that did go through saw City sealing a loan deal with Inter Milan for 17-year-old Filippo Mancini. Filippo Mancini is the son of former Italy and Sampdoria legend Roberto Mancini who of course is the current Inter coach. Mancini Junior has been training with City for the past week and has impressed Sven Goran Eriksson enough for the Swede to offer him a loan contract. So nothing to do with giving his mate’s lad a bit of work experience, then. Mancini made his one and only first-team appearance for Inter Milan after coming on for the last 10 minutes in a 3-0 win against Reggina in the return leg of the Coppa Italia 2007-08 round of 16.

I Belong Tae Glasgae: Georgios Samaras proved to be a very popular boy in Glasgow this week, where both of the Old Firm were scrapping for the services of the Greek international. Celtic beat Rangers to the signature of Samaras, who has joined the Bhoys on loan until the end of the season, with the club having the option to make the move permanent in the summer. Big George’s agent did a good job finding his boy a potential new club, because the Sunday papers suggested that he might be heading to Spanish club Espanyol, after their skipper Raul Tamudo broke his arm last week Sidelined at City, Samaras was also a target for Birmingham this month but more recently he held talks with Rangers about a move north of the border. However, the striker, who cost City £6 million from Heerenveen two years ago and who has made just two Premier League starts this term, opted for a move to the SPL champions instead. Before sealing the deal, Samaras was pretty obvious in expressing his preference. He told the Daily Record: “At this moment I need to find somewhere to play football. I have the European Championship this summer and I need to play games before then. I would be happy to go to Scotland. I would not have any problem with leaving the Premier League – playing football is the main thing for me.”

Yabba Dabba Dooo – Dabo Deal Done! You’ll be relieved to know that this is the last time I’ll be able to recycle that over-used headline, as Ousmane Dabo has left the club after getting his City contract cancelled. He has rejoined Lazio, from whence he came in 2006. Dabo’s City career was less than spectacular, making a mere 13 appearances. His main claims to fame were being sent off at Reading, and taking an alleged pounding from Joey Barton. Lazio, Siena and Fiorentina were all said to be after the 30-year-old French midfielder. In the end Dabo moved back to Rome, where he’ll be reunited with Rolando Bianchi. Speaking of whom, Sven gave his views on the number 10’s return to Italy. “We bought eight players in the summer and seven of them settled in very, very well. Bianchi had more difficulties, mainly because of the way we play. He wanted to play football and to do that we have allowed him to go back to Italy for the rest of the season. I understand him because before he arrived here he was a step away from being in the national team. His dream is to be involved with Italy in the European Championship finals this summer and to do that he has to play. With the agreement with Lazio, they have the right to buy him at the end of the season for a certain figure. That’s the Italian way. They would never take a player on loan if they didn’t have the right to buy him at the end of the season. They say they are building up the value of our player if he plays for them and then scores 15 goals this season. So we accepted that. But then he might come back, and if he does then good.”

Akram’s Down the Pan: City have been unsuccessful in their appeal against the rejection of a work permit for Iraqi midfielder Nashat Akram. A City delegation – headed by boss Sven – travelled to the Home Office in London for the hearing. The panel rejected the club’s request to allow the midfielder a permit despite the 21-year-old having an impressive international record. City had agreed a deal for Akram, who featured in the Iraq side that won last year’s Asian Cup, with the Al-Ain club in the UAE. Eriksson told the club’s website: “This is a big blow and a great disappointment to us. I have huge sympathy for Nashat. He is a very good footballer with an excellent international pedigree. He has now returned to the Middle East and we will keep in touch with him. He is somebody who we will maintain an interest in for the long term.” The Guardian said that to gain a work permit, a player’s national side must be in the top 70 of the FIFA rankings and Iraq has only been ranked as high as Number 71. Akram has vowed to use the decision as motivation to improve both his career and the fortunes of Iraq. “It was my big dream to become the first Iraqi player to play in the English Premier League,” Akram said. “I have the ambition to show the skills of Iraqi players in the strongest league in the world. I will prove that Iraqi players deserve to play in any league in the world,” he said. And the call to allow Akram was echoed in Parliament, no less. Keith Vaz MP said this week “I shall be calling on the home secretary to review this decision,” said Keith Vaz, Labour MP for Leicester East. “Here we have someone who wants to come and work legitimately, a rôle model for his country, whose presence here can heal divisions in Iraq. Parliament has given ministers the right to exercise their discretion and they should use it. This case sends out all the wrong messages.” A spokesman for the Home Office said: “We don’t comment on individual cases.”

Nedum Needs Games: Nedum Onuoha is becoming increasingly unsettled at City, his agent claimed this week. The England Under 21 captain has started just six games for City this term. The 21 year old signed a new four-year contract in June last year, but his representative Peter Harrison admits that in the light of interest from rival clubs, his client has become unsettled. “Nedum wants to be playing, we cannot deny that,” Harrison admitted on Sky Sports. “He is one of the best young defenders in this country, there is no doubting that. But he wants to be playing and we will have to assess his situation.” The Sunday People reported that Aston Villa and Bolton were keen to sign Nedum.

Isaak’s Gone… Oh No He Hasn’t! It seemed that Andreas Isaksson would be on his way out of the club, after Turkish giants Galatasaray lodged a bid for the Sweden international. “The club has lodged a bid and now we must just wait and see. I really hope that it works out,” Isaksson said to fotbollskanalen.se. “It’s really exciting because Galatasaray are a really big club, which would be good for me.” But on deadline day came word that Isaksson had turned down the move. Sven’s assistant Tord Grip confirmed this change of heart. “Andreas is probably staying here, it now looks that way,” Grip told Sportbladet. “He is able to go on loan to Galatasaray and get a game. But that is what he doesn’t want to do and we cannot do much more.”

It’s Miller Time at The Hawthorns: So it’s farewell to another much loved News Summary headline (or cliché, if you will), because Ishmael Miller has been sold to West Brom for a fee that will rise to £1.5 million. The move follows a successful loan spell for the City Academy graduate at the Hawthorns, where he has bagged 10 goals in 24 appearances. The 20-year-old had previously struggled to hold down a place in the City starting eleven, making 17 substitute appearances in addition to three starts since his début against Wigan in March 2006. And in a continued effort to clear the decks, S-GE has allowed Paul Dickov to join Blackpool on loan. Apparently Tangerines boss Simon Grayson targeted the frontman in August but the deal fell through when Dickov opted to join Crystal Palace.

No Love for City: Here’s a quick run through of the deals that didn’t take place, although there were rumours…

• S-GE was chasing CSKA Moscow’s star Brazilian trio. The Times says the threeBrazil forwards at CSKA Moscow – Daniel Carvalho, Vagner Love and Jo – were allcoming under his scrutiny. It would have taken a massive fee to land all threeplayers, however. Reports in Russia claimed United were the club chasing Lovelast summer but City are known to be chief admirers of his talents.
• City would make a bid for West Ham striker Dean Ashton for £7 million.
• Sevilla striker Luis Fabiano, but club president Jose Maria del Nido rapped:“In no way will Luis Fabiano leave – only if the club receives an offer of over£40 million”.
• A favourite of mine in the Sun, Sven to be reunited with David Beckham (yeah,right).
• Nelson Rivas, a Columbian international defender, from Inter Milan (DailyMail)
• City had opened talks with Valencia’s Miguel Angel Angulo,
• Real Zaragoza’s Argentinian striker Diego Milito, although the Independentreckoned that this deal would have to take place in the Summer.
• City had pulled out of a deal with Schalke to bring Soren Larsen to the club.Schalke had reportedly accepted a transfer bid of around £3.7 million but Cityhave suddenly withdrawn their interest in the Danish striker.

General News

Knowing Me, Knowing You: Sven’s not had the best week for press coverage. Apart from the insipid FA Cup defeat at Sheffield United and a disappointing draw at bottom club Derby (of which more later), a couple of stories appeared that painted the boss in a less than positive light. Sky TV’s Soccer AM and Radio 5’s Fighting Talk had great fun at Eriksson’s expense, when it was revealed that City’s players had nicknamed the gaffer “Alan Partridge”. This is because, just like the comic TV character, Sven is living (it seems) permanently in a hotel. And I’m grateful to Our Neil for spotting the second piece of less-than-respectful Sven coverage this week. It appeared in the Daily Mail, and I quote: “Former England and current Manchester City boss Sven Goran Eriksson was a regular customer of an Italian mystic under arrest for tax fraud and cheating her clients. Eriksson, 59, consulted Clara Romano, 65, – whose trading name was Maga Clara for several years while boss of Lazio and after he moved to England, police said… Yesterday, Romano’s lawyer Gianfranco Formica said: ‘What I want to stress above all, is that I am here to defend my client however, yes I did see a copy of a cheque from Sven Goran Eriksson. I understand he and several other high profile people regularly consulted my client for predictions. What I also think is important here is that no-one among her clients has reported being defrauded. The fact whether you believe or don’t believe in her powers is not the question here, the issue here is has my client committed a crime and we do not say she has. There is a fine line between licit and illicit otherwise whoever practices such esoteric rites can be considered a fraudster.'”

Givens Gives Ireland Stick: It sounds like Stephen Ireland’s return to his country’s squad is some way off. Asked if he intended recalling the City midfielder, Caretaker Republic of Ireland manager Don Givens made it abundantly clear that he wouldn’t be trying too hard to entice the boy. “I’m not going to drive up to Manchester to be humiliated by someone like that,” Givens explained. “If he wants to play for his country he can tell us very easily. I don’t think it’s up to me to speak to him. I want commitment from the other side. This association bent over backwards for him. The previous manager flew to Manchester to speak especially with him and he turned it down, right? What do you think I should do? Drive to Manchester? No thank you. He obviously doesn’t want to come back in. All he had to do was phone me up and say ‘Don, I want to be included in the squad’ and he would have been in the squad. I don’t think it’s my place to make contact with him.”

Three Cheers for TV Sports Companies! Many thanks to Sky and Setanta for fiddling with City’s fixtures at this stage of the season. Two home fixtures have been altered – the March 1 fixture with Wigan Athletic will now kick off at 5.15pm, instead of 3.00pm, while Spurs’ visit to the COMS has moved from Saturday 15 March to Sunday 16 March, kick off 4.00pm.

Ex-Blues’ News

Big in Japan (Or Korea): Kiki Musampa’s spell at AZ Almaar is over, and City’s former winger is looking to the Far East for a new club. He could be in for a career in Korea. South Korea, that is. His agent says “Seongnam Ilhwa Chunma, Suwon Samsung Bluewings and FC Seoul are very interested and two of the three clubs have already made offers. He wants to move to the K-League but if no deal is done then he will go to Japan.”

After-Match Reactions and Comments

Blades Burst City’s Balloon: Call me naïve, but I had begun to believe that, with a new owner with plenty of dosh, an internationally renowned manager and a squad full of talented internationals taking us to some heady heights in the Premiership, the days of City as a “Comic Cuts” team were over. How wrong I was. On Sunday, City contrived to lose to Sheffield United in the FA Cup, with the first Blades goal being set up by a deflection off a 6-yard box full of balloons. Balloons thrown on the pitch by City fans – you couldn’t make it up. Luton Shelton was the beneficiary of this helium-induced madness, swiftly followed by a second strike, this time by Jon Stead (no balloons this time though). With nothing to lose, Sven threw on Danny Sturridge at half time, who immediately halved the arrears with a clever volley from the edge of the area. Alas, that was as good as it got for City, who rarely threatened the home goal thereafter. “The first-half went wrong,” was Sven’s pithy appraisal of the FA Cup farce. “We were not up for the fight, as we should have been. We lost too many balls in midfield and up front. We got better in the second half, but it was not enough. It is the beauty of the cup that hit us today and if you are not prepared to play good football you have to make a battle.” And what was his opinion of the incident already christened Balloongate? “It is a very strange goal because I think the ball changed direction. Two balloons made a one-two with Michael Ball,” he said. “We asked the fourth official twice during the first-half to tell the referee to stop the game and clear the balloons. The referee told Joe Hart that when the ball was in the other half he should clear it. But that is not right. You cannot ask a player to clear the pitch if the ball is live. It would have taken one minute maximum, but that is it. It would be stupid of us to say the defeat was because of the balloons. We should do better. It is our fault for the first-half. This was a good lesson for many of our players who haven’t played in England before, what the FA Cup is about,” said the Swede. “Maybe they thought when you play a team from a lower division that life is easy but it’s more difficult because the motivation from the other team is over the roof.”

You Lucky Robbo: It’s never great when you lose to an ex-Red of a manager, so it was somewhat frustrating to see a gleeful Bryan Robson enjoying a rare moment of triumph in his underwhelming career at Sheffield United. “I thought we were terrific and we owed the fans that one,” Robson said. “We have been missing far too many chances but today they went in for us. I thought we matched them in every department and that is what the lads are capable of.” Robson admitted their first goal had a touch of luck about it but was happy to accept it. “There was a bit of fortune about it. Today we did ride our luck at certain times but our counter-attack play was very good,” he said.

Goals and Wallets Nicked: Danny Sturridge brought a rare moment of enjoyment on the day with his first ever goal for the first team. Danny said: “I’m happy to score a goal, but I’m very, very upset that we lost the game. I was surprised to be in the squad and elated to get on the park. I thought I did well, the lads played tremendously in the second half and the fans got behind us, but unfortunately we let them down. The goal for me is good to score, but getting back on the coach, I’ll be very upset about the loss. The main thing is to win the game. I’d rather win 3-0 and not score than lose 2-1 and score. So I’m very upset about it.” And in the perfect end to a perfect day, thieves added insult to injury by nicking £2,000 from the City players’ wallets in their dressing room at Bramall Lane ground. A Blades’ spokesman said a theft had taken place during the course of the afternoon and police are investigating. South Yorkshire Police, Sheffield United and Manchester City are working together to investigate the matter. “A number of staff and players have had a quantity of cash stolen,” City spokesman Paul Tyrrell confirmed. “I am not aware that the dressing room was locked and the police are looking in it.” He would not say which players had been affected.

Derby 1 Man City 1: City were forced to settle for a point against struggling Derby despite Daniel Sturridge’s goal on his full début. Darius Vassell twice missed when clean through as Derby began like a team that had lost its last five league games. The Rams improved towards the break and Rob Earnshaw’s shot hit the post before Sun Jihai deflected Kenny Miller’s shot in for an own goal in the 47th minute. Sturridge converted Martin Petrov’s cross to level but neither team could fashion a winner despite late pressure. Despite a disappointing result, Liverpool’s defeat at West Ham meant City’s point at Pride Park was enough to move them into sixth in the Premier League. Sven thought that it was a better team performance than in the Cup, but was disappointed not to win. “In the first half alone we created three or four very good chances from which we should have scored and the goal they scored was not even a goalscoring chance. But if I compare what I saw last Sunday, when the attitude was not 100% right and we didn’t fight or help each other, with this I can’t complain. Hopefully we can keep playing like this and score more goals. With better skill from our side we would have scored more goals but we are working on it on and off the pitch. It was two points lost,” he admitted, “I think we deserved a win if you look at the chances we created. We made three or four very, very good chances in the first half – and for the goal they scored, we helped them with because it was a shot that would have gone 10 yards past the goal. Sun and Hart were very unlucky there. I was disappointed last Sunday when we were knocked out of the FA Cup – but here I can’t complain to the players because I thought the attitude was right. We stood up; we fought; we created chances, wanted to win the game. I think we were a little bit unlucky – but that’s part of football.” Derby boss Paul Jewell was happy that his team had earned their first point under his stewardship: “We fought like tigers. We’re never going to be the best team in the world but people will put up with anything as long as they see you giving effort and no player can be questioned about his effort. As a group on Saturday it wasn’t acceptable but at least we bounced back and showed a bit of moral courage. Getting a point against a team going for the Champions’ League is a start. I want to play a lot more football but the situation we’re in we’re playing for pride and if every player gives their all I can ask for no more.”

Squad News

Micah Rich Is: Despite reports to the contrary in recent weeks, Micah Richards has not signed a new deal, and this week there’s been talk of both club and player’s representative playing hardball. Contract disputes began when the player’s father Lincoln took over his financial affairs and reportedly tried to get his son on a £75,000 a week. And the Daily Mail reported ‘Manchester City are to adopt a hard-line approach with England defender Micah Richards that could spark a £20 million transfer war between Chelsea, Arsenal and them in Trafford. Richards, 19, is due to meet City for contract talks once the transfer window closes on Thursday, when he will be told the club are not prepared to break their pay structure… He will then have to decide whether to accept a long-term deal for about £50,000 a week or leave in the summer. Indications are that City’s ultimatum may work and the player will drop his initial demands and sign. The deal offered by City would make him the highest-paid player at the club, but it is below what many of his team-mates in the England dressing-room would earn.’ So it’s all relative isn’t it? Micah thinks he’s being reasonable asking for parity with some of his England teammates, while the club think that making him the highest earner at the COMS is good enough. Micah hit back at suggestions that he was being greedy: “It is frustrating to hear people talk about my new contract at City and make out that the reason I haven’t signed yet is because I am being greedy when they don’t know the facts. I have still got two-and-a-half years left on my current deal – it is not as though I am in my last year or six months – and things don’t happen overnight.” KK, back in his spiritual home of the Geordie Nation, was thought to be considering a bid, but Micah dismissed this. “As for the speculation linking me with a move to join Kevin Keegan at Newcastle, I don’t know where that has come from, but there is nothing in it. It is easy for people to make out I am something I am not. But football, and doing well on the pitch, is the most important thing to me.” Micah’s not been able to do that for a week, as a knee injury kept him out of the Sheffield United and Derby games. Sven was able to reassure fans that the ailment isn’t too serious. He said: “Richards needs five or six days’ rest with a knee injury. Our medical people don’t think Richards needs surgery so that is good news.”

There’ll Always be an England: Joe Hart is grateful for the show of faith he’s received from S-GE this season. “It’s ironic that a foreign manager has been the one to give me a chance,” said Hart. “It was a massive decision by him and I want to prove in every game he made the right decision. If I can help raise the reputation of English ‘keepers by doing well, I’m happy. We’ve got enough ability in this country to provide more ‘keepers in the Premier League. I’ve seen six or seven in the Championship who would do as well as some of the foreign ‘keepers. It’s a question of being given the opportunity.”

‘Spot the Braincell’ Bianchi: Rolando Bianchi made quite a start to his Lazio career over the weekend. Against Torino on Sunday, Bianchi came onto the field as a substitute on 60 minutes, and five minutes later was sent off for collecting two yellow cards. Torino remember thought they’d landed the City striker in recent weeks, only for Lazio to nip in and secure his services, so perhaps that added extra spice to his so-short début at the Stadio Olimpico. If he carries on at this rate, Rolando may have to reacquaint himself with the delights of English food…

Jewell in a Frown: Prior to Wednesday night’s game, Derby boss Paul Jewell admitted that he was “disappointed” that City had declined to help pay the wages of injured on-loan defender Danny Mills. The full back joined the Rams on loan until the end of the season on January 4 but suffered a serious knee injury in only his third appearance for the Rams, the 3-1 defeat to Portsmouth. Mills underwent an operation on Tuesday and he is not expected to return to action this season. County contacted City in a bid to cancel the loan or gain help with Mills’ salary, but Jewell revealed both requests had been rejected. He said: “I asked Manchester City if they could help with the wages because we have lost Danny now for the season. His wages are quite high but they wouldn’t play ball so we have to pay all his wages and at the same time they wouldn’t cancel the loan. It’s a bit disappointing but I guess that’s the way people do business.” He added: “I guess it’s the Premier League, every man for himself, sometimes you get a little disappointed in the way some people do stuff. You never know, Manchester City might want a favour off us one day.” He added: “I have no axe to grind with Manchester City. Maybe I would like to think in the spirit of the game they might do something. In the past it has happened to me, certainly at Wigan, and we have been reasonable.”

MATCH REPORT: DCFC 1 MCFC 1

City moved up one place to 6th with this point at Derby but will rue the fact that 2 points were dropped against a team that has won only one League match all season. Sven rotated his squad after Sunday’s poor performance and fielded a fairly inexperienced side: Daniel Sturridge was rewarded for his début goal with a starting berth alongside Darius Vassell, Kelvin Etuhu came in on the right, Stephen Ireland partnered Gelson Fernandes in central midfield, with Sun Jihai selected at right back, enabling Vedran Corluka to partner Richard Dunne at the heart of the Blues’ defence.

City should have taken the lead in the first couple of minutes: Darius Vassell latched onto a loose ball by Derby and despite being clean through with only Pirce to beat, he pulled his shot just wide of the right hand post. Corluka then headed over from a corner. Vassell then had another effort smothered by a Rams defender after a wonderful ball from Sturridge to Petrov who crossed accurately. Derby looked like they were there for the taking and another fine ball in from the left was headed over by Vassell, who was then clean through again only for Price to dive at his feet.

What is it about night matches? The game was played in an absolutely cracking atmosphere, with both sets of fans making it so, and dispelling the myth that ‘new’ grounds lack soul. Despite their plight, Derby have to be the most vocal home fans around, so impressive was their backing. ‘Who are yer?’ was the enquiry in the Blue section: ‘Super Derby, Super Rams’ came the reply. It’s hard to see where they get ‘super’ from right now, but you’ve got to give them credit for their faith. That said, they always have had plenty to say for themselves down the years! Their choreography included a strange Proms-like bouncing up and down (whilst they sang songs about Forest running away) which prompted much mirth and an enquiry as to what the heck it was from the noisy travelling Blue contingent. The only other Promenade that the Derby fans will be seeing is going to be the one at Blackpool next season, but with a takeover completed, a good manager in Paul Jewell, and backing like that, they will surely return to the top flight within a couple of years.

Their current team played a succession of poor final balls, which made City’s task easier, but even so, the home side started to come into the game more as the first half wore on as City were pushed back by Derby’s more experienced midfield, led by everybody’s least favourite villain, Robbie (boooo!) Savage. Leacock crossed from right back and Earnshaw’s overhead kick cleared the bar. The diminutive Derby striker then was high and wide with another effort as City started to make the home side look half decent with some sloppy passing. Fernandes gave the ball away in our half and Earnshaw bore down on goal, hitting the outside of the post with his well struck shot. City did not learn from this and Stephen Ireland gave the ball away in our own half three times in quick succession with some terrible passing. It was a relief that we got to half time with the scoreline blank.

The second half was barely a minute old when Derby took the lead, Miller’s wayward shot being deflected off the unlucky Sun Jihai past a stranded Hart. Was it going to be one of those days when we were to join Newcastle as being the only team to be beaten by perhaps the worst team ever to play in the top flight? Sven had other ideas, bringing on Elano for Etuhu and this changed the game. Ball and Petrov had already just combined well for a Petrov cross that was crying out for a finish when in the 62nd minute, Elano lobbed a superb diagonal ball from the centre into the path of Petrov who crossed into the path of the pacy Sturridge who swept the ball in like a top class, natural goalscorer. ‘Who are yer?’ we enquired again.

Ireland then copied Elano’s ball with another good lobbed ball to Petrov who played in the industrious Vassell who shot over. As the players from both sides got tired, the bookings tally started to rise: both Ghaly and Pearson saw yellow for Derby Corluka followed them for a trip on Savage (boo!). The atmosphere fizzed towards the climax and football was end to end without a real end product. City’s final chance was a free kick that Elano blasted into the side of the wall. It wasn’t a great game, with one poor side and one below par side, but a point is better than nothing. Hopefully, by the time this report is read, Sven will have signed a striker to give us more clinical finishing to turn such draws into wins.

Ratings:
Hart: Good handling and judgement on the rare occasions that he was called upon. 6
Sun: Good, solid performance with sensible distribution. Desperately unlucky with the own goal. 7
Dunne: Solid enough, though still not at his best. The left-sided centre back rôle is not his best position with the ball often coming onto his left foot, and his distribution suffers as a result. 6
Corluka: Composed and classy. 7
Ball: Solid, dependable and consistent. Capello should be watching. 7
Etuhu: One thrilling run, but struggled to get into the game. 6
Fernandes: Competed well in central midfield. 7
Ireland: Uncharacteristically erratic distribution, but never hid and battled gamely throughout. 5
Petrov: City’s main threat on the night with some superb deliveries into the danger area, including the goal. 7
Sturridge: Took his goal very well like a true goal poacher. One superb pass to Petrov in the first half showed that he has good vision. 7
Vassell: Missed a golden chance at the start, but involved in much of City’s best work. 6
Subs:
Elano: Looked refreshed coming from the bench and gave City a cutting edge with his artistry, including his superb pass to Petrov in the build up to the equaliser. 7
Mpenza: Physical and industrious. 6
Geovanni: Increased City’s attacking threat with his inventiveness. 6

OPINION: NEW HOPE

Sturridge is Pele re-incarnated. He is the same height, has the same posture and physical appearance and plays in the same style. That is, great skill/technique and physical strength.

His goal was comparable to Pele’s goal in the 1958 World Cup Final. Control on one knee and volleyed in with the other foot. Instinctive play that only the really great can do.

However, as per Pele, he will be used in the rôle as the second striker or the Elano position. That means we still need someone specialised in playing up front on their own.

OPINION: NO MORE PASSENGERS I

I need a little rant. I know the season has been great so far but Sunday’s performance by City was a disgrace. I don’t know about the players being robbed in the dressing room, I feel 7,000 loyal City fans were robbed. Robbed by our own heroes. Robbed of the £12 or £15 we paid for tickets. Robbed of the transport cost and the loss of an afternoon watching the balloons in blue shirts.

When I joined my first ship as a young, eager matelot, the captain got all the crew together gave a rousing speech and said “There will be no passengers on my ship, if I am not doing my job tell me because I will certainly tell you if you are not doing yours.” He was inspiring and we had a great 30-month deployment around the globe courtesy of the MOD.

Point being, Sven you had too many passengers on Sunday! They earn more a week than I do in a year, get it sorted!

On the very point, why tell the defence to play the ball out if after 4 passes Ireland gives it the big route one up the field? Surely Hart could have done that and saved some time? But why punt a ball route one against a team in a league where over 60% of teams play route one away from home and the defence is used to dealing with it? I am not a tactical genius but let’s get the basics right.

Starting to look a little shaky at the moment so let’s hope we put it right on Wednesday at Derby. Number 2 son and I will make the journey to Pride Park knowing that no matter the result we won’t be going there next season. Still, over £30 million for finishing bottom is not bad work, and of course we have the magic 40 points so have another year with the cream of English football even if the wheels come off for the remainder of the season.

Last, the Rags. I will be going to the Swamp this year even though I am sick and tired of hearing about a ‘disaster’ (TM) that happened when I was 3. I do remember it mainly because it made my Irish grandmother in Oldham cry and I was at her house when the news came through. It was wonderful to hear Terry Christian make a right arse of himself on Radio 2 last week talking over the guy from the City supporters’ group and then over the presenter as well. He came across as an ignorant, opinionated t****r, which of course he is.

OPINION: NO MORE PASSENGERS II

After the fiasco on Sunday, I’m now convinced that we will drop like a brick in water. Let’s look at what we’ve got:

Hart: Great prospect and can be almost blameless in recent weeks, only allowing goals in where badly exposed by the idiots in front of him.

Corluka: Placed in this list at right full back but I don’t rate him here, much better in midfield. About the only signing that I now have any confidence in.

Ball: A better bet than Garrido but seemingly gormless when clearing a ball in the presence of balloons. When the rest of the team are not performing, Ball seems sympathetic to his colleagues and appears to ‘Join in’ being crap.

Dunne: Sick to the back teeth of our Captain losing his man and allowing mediocre strikers the time and space to waltz into out penalty area to ‘Pick their spot’ (Bolton, Tottenham, Sheffield United, etc.).

Richards: Still learning but he ain’t going to learn from Dunne. Needs a good ‘reliable’ defender to learn from and be inspired by.

Ireland: Can play and works back but has really gone off the boil lately.

Elano: Mr Wonderful. Not. Elano hasn’t played for City since October. Easily pushed off the ball and then offers absolutely nothing to get the ball back. Whinges about heavy tackles. Welcome to England. Can we have our money back please? No space for shirkers and we can’t afford to carry him. We expect him to create for us and he’s not doing it.

Johnson: Out injured for what seems to be a very long time. I reserve comment as the decline in the team’s performances appear to have coincided with Johno’s absence. Mmm, not sure.

Hamann: If anybody else writes about how good he has been for the team this season, I’m going to start sending letter bombs out. Let’s face facts. He’s slow, he appears sometimes in the right place at the right time because he’s so slow, he’s still jogging back by the time the team have won the ball back. I also wish that I had a quid for every time he passes the ball to the opposition. Christ, am I the only one that can see this!

Petrov: Just had a decent month whereby he seemed to have found his form. However, looks desperately unfit, loses interest too easily, doesn’t relish playing on the right (not his fault) but, like some of his team mates, doesn’t take the initiative and make things happen. As one of the senior players in the squad, I expect much, much better. Needs to improve beyond belief.

Bianchi: Appears to have the talent but reluctant to put in the effort though as with any striker that plays for City, if you don’t put the ball into a scoring position, it doesn’t matter if you’ve got Alan Shearer in the team, you won’t score. T’will be interesting how he fares back in Italy. I think that Rolando could have done better.

Mpenza: Always defended him because he was holding the ball up and deserving of a place early in the season but his performance at Sheffield leaves him defenceless. Now convinced, not good enough.

Vassell: Another who I’ve defended due to his experience and pace but his performance at Sheffield was a disgrace. Needs to take a look at himself and ask ‘Am I earning this wage packet?’

Garrido: Not good enough. Bye bye.

Geovanni: Looks spritely when coming on recently and has to be worth a chance over Elano who is a waste of a shirt.

Samaras: Now on loan to Celtic. Georgios, I believe, could have been a good player for us but, once again, not prepared to work hard.

Not much to cheer about there, eh?

It makes you think back to how many games we’ve won by the odd goal or scored in the dying minutes. Where would we be without that run of luck at home? Rest assured that this coming weekend, the home record will go for two reasons.

1. We can’t beat Arsenal. It’s in our heads. Always has been (attitude).
2. Arsenal are far superior and will expose our frailties.

There isn’t one single player in the squad who is prepared to stand up and be counted and set an example. Our Captain Fantastic makes more gaffes than the rest put together yet everyone keeps saying how wonderful he is.

Depressed and disappointed, I’m just glad we’ve got 40 points ’cause I can only see a poor run in to the end of the season.

OPINION: NO MORE PASSENGERS III

I totally agree with Andy Collins comments in MCIVTA 1399, why bring balloons to a match and release them on to the pitch? Having said this, the match referee and his assistants should be responsible for ensuring that the field of play is kept clear of any debris. Think of all the people present who could have cleared these offending balloons at the ground: the ground staff, stewards, ball boys, substitutes; how long would it take, 1 minute tops, and to think the 4th official had been warned? I hope the referee Mr Riley is suitably chastised. Do you ever see debris on the pitches or grounds in other sports that might affect play, e.g. cricket, tennis, hockey?

Well, after having had a go at the idiots who brought the balloons, and the match officials, I cannot excuse the lame performance by our team on the day. The whole team looked totally jaded, as if they had played way too much football recently (or was it too much exposure on TV?). Corluka looked a shadow of himself, for such a big guy (6ft 4″) he just does not punch his weight, he is so poor in the air he would get out jumped every time by Cahill of Everton. He needs to learn a few things from Didi Hamann. Onuoha has real trouble with his passing, Elano was fouled constantly by Speed (how he never got a yellow card was a mystery – could have got one just for foul and abusive language), and was not allowed any time on the ball. Sheffield United had been well prepared, got stuck in, pressed the ball and just gave 10% more effort all round.

In contrast, we had players who thought they just needed to turn up and we would win the match. Our forward line is poor to say the least, and in part, the service to them is poor. Apart from Petrov on the left, who does anything similar on the right (no one since SWP), Vassell huffs and puffs but no end product, Elano is not the player he was a few months ago, Ireland looks tired, Geovanni comes on too late, Gelson runs around covering a lot, we need it to be productive.

Our midfield never overlaps like Gerrard or Lampard or Jenas or Fabregas, and even worse do not want to shoot at goal when the chance arises. Hamann has such a good shot on him, but does he ever shoot from distance – rarely, why? Look at out front man, 5ft 10″ and we were constantly lobbing the ball in the box, only to see SU defenders head it away time and time again. It’s so apparent that with the 4-5-1 formation that Svenn prefers, we need a tall, strong, holding player, in the mould of Adebayor, Dean Ashton or Kenwynne Jones, Julio Baptista, forget about Vassell, Mpenza, Vagner Love, too small. I have been watching the Africans Nations Cup, and there are a quite few big lumps, who are a right handful, and probably would not cost much either. We need a bullish forward going midfielder, I was very impressed with Ya Ya Toure for Ivory Coast (Kolo’s brother), big guy, with good strength, vision and skill to go with it, just what we need.

If we don’t improve or change our style soon, all our hard work to date will be undone and confidence will start to erode, we need to bring in a big strong, pacey, proven goalscorer comfortable with the lone striker rôle, or we will miss out on Europe altogether. All the teams around us have better squads and some have added to this, and have more goal scoring potential than we do. Can we match Blackburn, Villa, Everton, and look at Spurs with their line up, on their day they could beat anyone in this division.

I know I am whingeing, and should be happy with where we are, but after the start we have had, why should I settle for mid-table mediocrity? Let’s really push on, we have no excuse, especially with all the financial backing in place. I just hope that Sven can still pull something off before the Friday deadline.

We have 2 matches coming up that will be on the box, and both big matches. Can Sven pull a rabbit out of the hat and get something from the Man U and Arsenal games?

Come on City!

OPINION: TRANSFER WINDOW I

The game at Derby has proven that we are in dire need of a top quality finisher because sadly Vassell and Mpenza are not up to the required standard. I’ll qualify that by saying that doesn’t necessarily mean that either of those players should be shown the door, rather we can’t afford to go to one of the worst clubs in Premier League history, create a host of chances and not have 3 points to show for it. I wasn’t at the game and no doubt a few of you who did will be critical of the performance but from the chances that I saw the game would have been over at half time had we had somebody who could put the ball in the back of the net. A problem we’ve had all season.

At the time of writing we’ve just sealed the deal for Felipe Caicedo and more importantly Benjani will hopefully follow subject to Defoe going to Portsmouth from Spurs. Benjani certainly has proved he can score goals at this level so let’s hope he can do the same for us. Hopefully this will get tied up by the deadline and we can get back to winning ways on Saturday, a mere formality if you ask me!

OPINION: TRANSFER WINDOW II

Someone explain the rationale of loaning out Bianchi and Samaras to me. We buy them for a combined price of 16 million quid, yet we send them out on season loans for… nothing, with the inference that if they play crap elsewhere, we get them back at the end of the season.

Meanwhile (at the time of writing) no one is coming in as a replacement. Which means that we will see out the rest of the season with a strike force comprising of Vassell, Mpenza and Sturridge! Bianchi wasn’t setting the league on fire but he is better than nothing – and nothing is what is arriving as a replacement.

I can appreciate that loan deals have been great for the young kids but surely we shouldn’t be so quick to dispatch Bianchi and Samaras when we have no one in reserve as replacements? It’s a shame that what started out as a promising season is about to dissipate because of a lack of firepower. Stand by Paul Dickov, you may get your chance yet.

And by the way, enough of the balloons. Sunday’s incident would have been hilarious if it had not happened to us.

Typical City!

OPINION: WHAT PRICE LOYALTY

I stand by my comment in MCIVTA 1398: “Micah Richards for me is what City are all about, academy raised, heart of a lion and brave beyond belief”.

The money aspect is quite irrelevant, name me one senior player on our books who is truly worth their obscene wage as opposed to our heroes of the past.

As for the 15 or so costly mistakes (which can only be a personal opinion that I incidentally don’t agree with), I only wish the 10 other players around this young man were equally reliable. As for greed, players play for money, it’s their job. Agents represent the players for money, it’s their job to get as much as possible just like the rest of us. Don’t blame the players or agents because the wages are now obscene, look closer to home at the Shinawatras and Abramovichs with their bottomless pockets. Everyone has a price but not everyone is “totally replaceable”.

It’s been quite a while since all the top clubs jealously cast an eye at one of our young players, especially one who will be an automatic choice for England in spite of his alleged costly mistakes. The last one was little Shaun who is a pocket version of Micah. He hasn’t been replaced yet and I certainly wouldn’t question his loyalty.

As for the criticism about the Munich commemorations, why all the fuss? This was a colossal tragedy, is it too much to ask to keep quiet for one minute? For those who weren’t around at the time, we all cried together, red or blue. How on earth do some of you expect MUFC to react? Ignore it, applaud it? Many relatives will be there just for the occasion, to see their loved ones have not been forgotten along with thousands of genuine fans who were devastated when it happened. My brother will be one of them. Please don’t let us down.

OPINION: MUNICH MEMORIAL I

For those who are about to sing about plane crashes during the minute’s silence… Ok I’m prepared to do a deal with the devil on this matter.

No amount of Munich chanting can denigrate the memory of the 23 who died in 1958 as has already been achieved by the Man United PLC/Corporation who have milked the tragic episode in history for all its commercial worth and taken the MU franchise into such sanctimonious elevation that is way above the stratosphere and is now damaging the ozone layer.

The trouble is that all the media think (or want to think) is that the morons from Liverpool, Leeds or Man City who do chant are making fun of the dead. I can’t speak for Liverpool or Leeds fans but us City fans know that the chanting has to do with the tasteless manner in which the club, corporation, PLC, franchise (delete which is applicable) has profited in terms of PR sympathy from the tragedy for 50 years and canonized the organisation into sainthood.

However, the American Insurance Group (AIG) sponsored silence will be observed by me and probably 2,975 of the 3,000 City fans allowed entrance. One person’s mobile goes off and it will be heard, 25 or so idiots will chant and we will all be tarred and feathered by the same brush and we will all be turned into monsters in the media forever. We will be painted as Fred West, Harold Shipman, Peter Sutcliffe, Ian Huntley, Al Queda, Bader Meinhoff, Hitler, Pinochet, Pol Pot, Mugabe, Stalin, Myra Hundley and Ian Brady embodied as fans besmirching the sadly departed 23. That’s what we will all be seen as…

United will win the PR battle; they are playing with a double headed coin.

Outcome A – All 3,000 remain silent.

Then United were right to hold out for the silence as everyone has behaved in a well orchestrated AIG sponsored moment: United win!

Outcome B – 25 fans (The Scum25) start singing “who’s that dying on the runway” and making plane gestures with their arms.

Then we’re all the bad guys but United fans are wonderful: United win!

The 25 or so retards are thinking that “it’s our day to be heard”. No one listens to these pathetic specimen of human kind in any walk of life but for that afternoon in February 2008 they will be given the oxygen of publicity for their miserable existence and the spotlight will be on them. Their picture in the MEN or Channel M of the Scum 25 will be their badge of honour; it will be their 15 seconds of fame. The trouble is the media don’t know nor do they want to know the back story of the chanting, the bit that was airbrushed out of the recent movie…

Here is my deal on the table to the Scum 25. What I want from the deal!

I want one thing: Observe the (AIG sponsored) minute silence.

Here is the Scum Bags’ coping strategy:-

• Think of Frank Swift.
• Remember Matt Busby played for Man City in the 1930’s.
• Think of the three United players whose contracts were terminated when theyreturned injured (not dead) from Munich and never played again and were castout by the club. One died in poverty as a baker working 18 hours a day, one hadto sell his medals to pay for home help and one was told by Matt Busby that hewas no longer welcome at United, the club needs to move on.The three were Albert Scanlon, Johnnie Berry, and Jackie Blanchflower.Think of these three as their sad lives are chronicled in the book “The LostBabes”, rejected and ignored by United as they “got in the way” of thephenomenal Phoenix from the Ashes story and win the European Cup in 1968.One of the players returned to Manchester, looked for work and while injuredthe taxi drivers of Manchester gave him free rides around the city (by both Redand Blue cab drivers). This was a gift from the cab drivers such was the unityof Manchester at the time. The club told him that he can no longer partake of the freerides, they were so convinced they were paying the bill. They weren’t but suchwas their supreme arrogance and hubris on the matter they had convincedthemselves it was coming out of their coffers.

It is probably too much for the Scum 25 to think of those who sadly died but the above is a good enough list to keep their vile trap shut for 60 seconds.

Also think how much the tasteless chanting will try to spur on Man United to win. We don’t need that.

We need 3 points, we need to go to Europe, we need to win at OT. Time for the tide to change, time for people to know the truth, 50 years is long enough, the world needs to know the background story that has been swept under the carpet.

Think of the fact that AIG own Ocean Finance, like those companies who charge double digit interest rates, who loan desperate people £20,000 and make them pay back £150,000 over ten years and then repossess their homes when they miss a payment.

Think of the fact that United’s interest payments are £60 million a year and their profits last year were a similar amount. Think of the irony of that story where the entire profit of the club is wiped out with interest payments that are way above market rates and then think of the fact that the head sponsor owns Ocean Finance. Think that Ocean Finance HQ is in Croydon, South London…

Like I said, I only want one thing from the deal: absolute silence between the two whistles.

What do the scum 25 get from the deal!

You have my permission (albeit reluctantly) to sing whatever you like for the rest of the day;

Whatever your tiny, miniscule, retarded mind can think of, sing for all your worth after the whistle denoting the end of 60 seconds because it will be drowned out by Blue Moon.

Please, I’ve done my bit to show you how to keep quiet and think about the other things.

For the intelligent people who read MCIVTA, this probably seems over the top but don’t forget we are dealing with people (scum) with single digit IQ’s and the inability to simultaneously breathe and walk.

We now live in a society where a father of three is murdered in the street for asking some lads not to scratch cars and a man was killed with a hatchet in his head with an argument over a football landing in the garden so asking losers of the highest magnitude to keep quiet is possibly too much to ask.

So it is for the lowest common denominator in society we appeal to. After all 95% of people behave, but we have 5% of the population who do not and as a result we have police, courts, prosecution service, prisons, probation teams, defence lawyers, legal aid and ASBOs. A whole industry in society because the minority can’t behave and respect the law.

So if you are going to the game and know someone who thinks they will chant and you find it impossible to appeal to their better nature, common sense or reasoning then try one of the coping strategies.

Reluctantly this is the deal on the table, I wish it were different but it ain’t.

Already the lazy drunk hack journalists have written their copy and filed it for the Monday after the match, already we are toast in their eyes, they have already trialled us in the media, after all why let the truth spoil a good story?

I wish United were playing Portsmouth that day and we were away at Middlesboro miles away. These tw*ts will make us look awful and paint United as the poor club that needs another 50 years of sympathy.

If only there was a journalist out there to tackle the elephant in the room but they get paid to grovel in front of the high altar that is Manchester United and their continuous glory.

Maybe there’s hope, maybe the idiots will get the message that the silence will have the opposite effect and turn the tide.

OPINION: MUNICH MEMORIAL II

My 2p. How about a minute’s applause as a celebration of Manchester, ref’s whistle then a minute’s silence?

RESULTS

30 January 2008

Chelsea               1 - 0  Reading               41,171
Derby County          1 - 1  Manchester City       31,368
Everton               0 - 0  Tottenham Hotspur     35,840
Manchester United     2 - 0  Portsmouth            75,415
West Ham United       1 - 0  Liverpool             34,977

29 January 2008

Arsenal               3 - 0  Newcastle United      60,127
Bolton Wanderers      0 - 0  Fulham                17,732
Middlesbrough         1 - 0  Wigan Athletic        22,963
Sunderland            2 - 0  Birmingham City       37,674

League table to 30 January 2008 inclusive

                             HOME          AWAY        OVERALL
                    P  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F  A  W  D  L  F   A   GD  Pts
 1 Manchester Utd  24 12  1  0 31  3  6  2  3 17  8 18  3  3  48  11  37  57
 2 Arsenal         24 11  2  0 29  8  6  4  1 20  9 17  6  1  49  17  32  57
 3 Chelsea         24  8  4  0 23  8  8  1  3 14  8 16  5  3  37  16  21  53
 4 Everton         24  7  2  3 23 11  6  2  4 17 12 13  4  7  40  23  17  43
 5 Aston Villa     24  7  2  4 20 16  4  6  1 23 15 11  8  5  43  31  12  41
 6 Manchester City 24  9  3  0 20  8  2  5  5 11 17 11  8  5  31  25   6  41
 7 Liverpool       23  4  6  1 23  9  6  4  2 14  8 10 10  3  37  17  20  40
 8 Blackburn R.    24  5  3  4 13 13  5  5  2 19 18 10  8  6  32  31   1  38
 9 Portsmouth      24  3  6  2 14  9  7  1  5 20 16 10  7  7  34  25   9  37
10 West Ham United 23  5  4  3 15 12  5  2  4 14  9 10  6  7  29  21   8  36
11 Tottenham H.    24  6  1  4 32 21  1  6  6 12 19  7  7 10  44  40   4  28
12 Newcastle Utd   24  5  4  3 16 17  2  2  8 11 25  7  6 11  27  42 -15  27
13 Middlesbrough   24  3  4  5 13 18  3  3  6  8 19  6  7 11  21  37 -16  25
14 Sunderland      24  6  3  3 15 13  0  2 10  9 29  6  5 13  24  42 -18  23
15 Bolton Wndrs    24  5  4  4 17 11  0  3  8  7 23  5  7 12  24  34 -10  22
16 Reading         24  6  1  5 14 17  0  3  9 16 33  6  4 14  30  50 -20  22
17 Birmingham City 24  3  3  5 12 13  2  2  9 11 23  5  5 14  23  36 -13  20
18 Wigan Athletic  24  4  2  5 14 14  1  3  9  9 26  5  5 14  23  40 -17  20
19 Fulham          24  2  5  5 16 21  0  5  7  7 21  2 10 12  23  42 -19  16
20 Derby County    24  1  3  8  8 21  0  2 10  4 30  1  5 18  12  51 -39   8

MCIVTA FAQ [v0708.01]

[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.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: