Newsletter #1647

Opinion tonight on the parallels between England and City, what the season ahead holds, reaction to David Platt’s appointment, World Cup tales and the usual requests.

OPINION: ENGLAND & CITY LESSONS TO BE LEARNED

Thought I’d follow up my previous post commenting on the similarity between City and England: isn’t it just the same feeling after 90 minutes are up?

I was for example as non-plussed about England’s exit from the World Cup as I was by our defeat to Spurs at the end of last season; it’s not that I don’t care about the results, it’s just that I feel as though I’ve been around the loop so many times I’m getting totally inured to the experience. When Frank Lampard’s goal was not given, I was as angry at FIFA about that, as I was about the FA for the ‘Fergie time’ goal we suffered at Old Trafford last year, and I almost get the feeling that both organisations are not too upset when these kind of things occur provided that the ‘right’ result is obtained. As an aside, I’m also sick at the level of basic cheating that FIFA condones and one thing is for certain, if the organisation that runs professional golf was allowed to run professional football then they’d sort the whole thing out in less than six months. The Adam Johnson ‘diving’ non-issue to me sums that up too.

There were some other similarities between England and City that struck me too. Last season under both Hughes and Mancini I got the feeling that if the manager could play 5 similar midfielders then he would: whether it was Gerrard, Lampard, Barry or de Jong, Vieira, Barry you got the same sinking feeling that ‘we’, whether that was City or England would never move the ball forward with style, but were focussed on a boring safety first conservative approach mentality that achieved nothing. When it comes to the phone-in discussions it’s the same old looped information. For example, I’m getting fed up with hearing about the so-called ‘lack of passion’ regarding England performances, total nonsense and déjà vu for the kind of comments going around when City were in the lower leagues where it was for example ‘essential’ that we swapped Kinkladze for Pollock: cue relegation and York away, which was the lowest of the low for me and thank you to Royle and passion etc. for that. Look at England: you cannot tell me that Rooney was not passionate last week or for every game he frowned his way through in total frustration? He was just totally awful, truly awful, and it’s hard to see what more he could have done on the pitch to improve the situation. Ditto the rest of the squad, Barry was I’m sure totally ‘passionate’ but he was also so far off the pace it was frightening although not such a surprising revelation?

The same thing goes for the ‘we need an English type of manager’ argument now doing the rounds yet again: what, like Keegan, McClaren and Graham Taylor? Great to see the amazing nonsense that was Graham Taylor playing Keith Curle at full back for the first time ever, on his international début, being mirrored by Capello switching John Terry to left centre-back and Gerrard to left wing. The day England managers stop doing this, is the same day that City managers will stop buying expensive over-the-hill-but-need-that-last paycheck midfielders from Liverpool FC. In terms of English passion, we City fans had the most passionate manager on the planet with us for a couple of seasons, namely Stuart Pearce, and yet the fans were on his back towards the end, I’m very sad to say, and pleased to see him swapped for the totally non-committal Sven Eriksson. There were as many fans demonstrating for Eriksson to be retained at City as there were demanding that Stuart Pearce be got rid of – what does that tell you?

One nice Man City related fact is that we can still say that the best City and England manager of all time is the truly great Joe Mercer and yet both England and City passed up on the chance to retain this legend at their helm for the longest possible conceivable time. Incredible really when you think about just how brilliant Joe Mercer was, and how well both England and City teams played for him, that he was ‘let go’ by both clubs?

Looking forward to this season, and changing tack slightly, is that one of the best things about being a City fan at the moment is that we are logically ticking off all the great ‘what if’ questions: not too dissimilar to the FA in terms of trying every option and spending as much money as they can such is their desperation for success. What if we had an experienced English type of manager and tons of money to spend, compared to a successful foreign manager and tons of money to spend? Well we can actually compare Mark Hughes with Mancini and discern no difference whatsoever. What happens if we change manager mid-season to ‘throw the dice’ and see what happens? We did that too last year, and it made no difference whatsoever.

Another interesting and positive thing for me last season was that Chelsea picked up the double despite chopping and changing their manager for the umpteenth time; thereby confirming that ‘stability’ is a total red herring when it comes to management and having a successful club. In fact Chelsea have picked up two championships by a manager appointed at the start of that season! So much for bedding in and a 5-year plan. You’ve either got the right chap or you haven’t. Despite what everyone says, City have actually tried the very opposite of sacking the manager every two seconds and sadly it hasn’t worked. Take Peter Reid, Kevin Keegan and Joe Royle all of them backed to the hilt in terms of money to spend and great players shown the door, and it made no difference whatsoever.

So what will this season bring? Well personally I’m excited to find an answer to the following question: If you took ownership over one of the most unsuccessful but well supported football clubs in the world (and based on the last thirty years that’s either us or Newcastle), how much money would you have to throw at it to absolutely guarantee a trophy? I don’t know the answer to that question and I’ve always feared that for City, it may be an awful lot of money, but judging by the recent transfer activity we are at least going to see the upper financial limit explored and the question answered in the next couple of years! Let’s just hope it’s not the same experience the FA have recently had in terms of throwing money at a problem, assembling a squad of ‘golden generation’ superstars in order to guarantee success. I get the feeling that City will succeed where England have failed but then again, City being City, I would feel like that wouldn’t I?

OPINION: DAVID PLATT

So David Platt has been appointed as City’s first team coach. I cannot say I am very happy about this at all.

I don’t have a problem with the fact that he is a Manchester United supporter (there’s no accounting for taste…).

I never had a problem with the likes of Carlos Tevez, Mark Hughes, Brian Kidd, John Gidman or Peter Schmeichel being ex-Rag players on our payroll (but I have to say that Peter Bodak was rubbish). They always did/do their best for City and we can ask no more than that. Those aforementioned gentlemen have never had a bad word to say about City, as far as I know, and they have my full respect.

David Platt is different though. He is the same man who once said that he hated City in an interview under likes/dislikes in one of those kids’ footy magazines. Granted, it’s a long time ago (i.e. when he was a Crewe player) but it has always stuck with me and it resonates further because David Platt has never had a good word to say about City as a pundit in recent times.

I want to see proof that David Platt is sincere and doing his best for Manchester City. He will have to earn respect at City.

Furthermore, and perhaps more practically, David Platt’s coaching/managerial career does not inspire confidence. To my Forest-supporting friends and colleagues, his name is a very dirty word. Forest have only just recovered from the Platt era when he wasted a lot of money on poor players, which eventually culminated in debt and relegation. He did a lot of damage to their club. Furthermore, he didn’t do very well at Sampdoria either.

One recurring theme in conversations is that he is a good coach but a poor manager. May he never be our manager then.

That all said, I respect Roberto Mancini’s judgement and hope that David Platt can be a success at Manchester City. I have to because, like you, I want the best for our club.

OPINION: WORLD CUP WOES

An interesting one to ponder. Henry handled before scoring and bundld Ireland out of the World Cup. The Uruguay forward handled to stop a goal and send Ghana eventually out of the World Cup. Who’s the bigger cheat? My answer would be Henry, but it is an interesting argument.

On a City front do we have to learn to speak Italian? Pleased with who we have signed, but will we end up like Arsenal and be a basically foreign side in an English competition?

Just a little after the World Cup thought for England: sack the coach, promote Stuart Pearce and bring through the under 21’s, so in four years’ time well who knows. Have got to get rid of the egotistical, over paid, over publicised players, and bring in players that actually want to play for England. sounds like a recurring theme of mine doesn’t it?

OPINION: FA CUP THANKS

Dear City fans,

Just a very quick email. You were all good enough to respond to a plea for help I made seeking recollections of City’s 1969 FA Cup win over Leicester. Just to let you know that the best of these will appear in volume 2 of ‘From Bovril to Champagne when the FA Cup really mattered’, which I hope to publish by the end of this year.

This follows the first volume, which focused on the 1970s. More details at http://www.bovriltochampagne.co.uk/.

At some point I will also be working on the Cup Finals of 1981 and 1955 and 1956 so if you have any details about these, were at the games or know anyone who does, I’d be grateful if you could let me know.

REQUEST: 5-A-SIDE AND SIERRA LEONE

Last week I put a posting in MCIVTA thanking all who had contributed to the 5-a-side in some way and I also issued an appeal. Unfortunately my address was omitted.

In short I thanked all who assisted us in raising £1,500 one way or another at the 5-a-side.

I added that the CSA with the help of the club will be shipping a vehicle to Sierra Leone packed with City kits and other City stuff for the 2 football teams and our Manchester City Community there. If anybody out there would like to send some kits etc. for the appeal they can be posted to me:

Alex Channon
‘Penalty Spot’
11 Thirlmere Avenue
Swinton
Manchester
M27 5XD

If people would like to make a financial donation, cheques should be made payable to MCCSA and sent to the same address. Details of the shipment will forwarded to all once they are finalised.

In closing I must thank MCIVTA readers for their past generosity towards the Sierra Leone Appeal and in anticipation thank you for your future support.

OPINION: RIP CHRIS SIEVEY

Thanks to Alex Channon for his lovely tribute to Chris Sievey who sadly died recently, aged just 54. Better known as his alter ego Frank Sidebottom, he has entertained so many of us over the years. I didn’t know Chris personally, but he has given us so many laughs over the years with his unique brand of humour. I loved one of his last ‘tweets’ in which he said:

“Recipe for home made lucozade: some sparkling water, a egg, a packet of ‘cheesy watsits’ and access to your mum’s blender… it tastes exactly the same… but looks a bit cloudy with bits in! Best regards Frank Sidebottom”

I grew up listening to Frank Sidebottom’s Radio Timperley on Piccadilly Radio back in the 80s and great it was too. You know it was, it really was…

RIP Chris Sievey, Frank Sidebottom, Little Frank, and Forza Timperley Bigshorts.

MCIVTA FAQ [v0910.01]

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[2] What are MCIVTA’s publishing deadlines?

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

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

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[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.mancitycsa.com/) 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.mcivta.com/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: