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PORTO TARGET PELLEGRINI

May 26, 2013, 12:56 pm
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He's behind you
According to the Portuguese press, Manuel Pellegrini, outgoing manager of Malaga and hotly tipped to become Roberto Mancini's successor at the Etihad, also features at the top of FC Porto's wanted list, if, as seems likely, they dispense with coach Vitor Pereira's services in the next few days.

According to Sunday's A Bola newspaper, Pellegrini is already in possession of a proposal from Porto's S.A.D., the business arm of the club, to become the next manager of the northern giants and Portuguese league champions of 2012-2013. The news will send a shiver down the spine of those in Manchester fully expecting City to be the next port of call for the experienced Chilean. According to A Bola, the fact that City are also "in the race" for Pellegrini does not necessarily put Porto at a disadvantage and the paper claims that the Chilean finds the Porto proposal "highly attractive", although exactly who it is that appears to have uttered those words is unclear.

Pereira's departure from Porto appears to have been decided well before he managed to haul in the title against the odds with a last day win for his Porto side away at Paços de Ferreira. Although Porto went through the entire season unbeaten in the league, they failed in the Champions League, ironically being dismissed from the competition by Pellegrini's sprightly Malaga side at the quarter final stage. It was perhaps these two games that brought Pellegrini to the closest attention of Porto president Jorge Nuno Pinto da Costa, a man notorious for having it all his own way in Portuguese football. Despite their late success in the league, Pereira has neither the unanimous support of the Porto supporters nor the club's board members.With Pinto da Costa the owner of a deliciously suspect trigger finger, it is on the cards that Porto will indeed shortly be without a manager. The offer that has already been tabled to Pellegrini's agent is thought to be well short in financial terms of what City have offered, but Porto's recent sale of João Moutinho and James Rodriguez means they are €70 million up on this time last week, a fact that might allow them to bid higher if it came to such a fight.

It has to be said that a good 40-50% of the stories that feature in the Portuguese sports dailies at this stage of the season have to be taken with a decent pinch of salt, but the piece today, tucked away on Page 27 of A Bola on the pages dedicated to FC Porto, occupies a full page and goes into unusually deep detail. It is clear that Porto are and will be interested in Pellegrini. What is not so certain for them, is how interested he would be in them.

The link to the Porto/Pellegrini story


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CITY ON TOUR, ST LOUIS MISSOURI

May 28, 2013, 12:12 pm
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With City completing an incredibly successful post-season trip to the United States, where the club succeeded in raising its profile on numerous levels, this is the first of two eye witness accounts of how things were on the ground and reveals the great efforts fans made to be present at the games. 
This is what it's like to be City, Stateside

City on Tour: St. Louis, Missouri
By
Matthew Eide (with input from fellow travelers, Moritz Reiter and Liz Gossens)

The Journey

As Chairman of the Capital City Blues, Washington, DC’s Official Manchester City Supporters Club, I was thrilled to learn that City was coming to the States. After spending so much of my life watching them on television—I would finally be able to cheer them on in person with other supporters from across the US.
From nearly the moment it was announced, it was decided that a few members of the club would travel over 800 miles to St. Louis. A 13-hour trip by car across half of America was well worth it, because this is what it means to support Manchester City. We booked hotel rooms and rented a car, days before tickets went on sale. Logistically, the trip was filled with all sorts of bumps for a new club and Chairman: There was a point in time when we weren’t even sure we would have tickets.

Crossing the Mississippi
I worked with the Chair of the Chicago group to procure tickets (eventually), and connect with three other major supporters clubs—Dallas, Texas; Denver, Colorado; and New Orleans, Louisiana. We joked that it would be like the meeting of The Five Families of the famed organized crime syndicate…albeit with a much more congenial agenda.
The three of us: myself, my girlfriend Liz (technically an Arsenal fan, but also the Club’s Logistics Officer), and our friend Moritz (founder of Capital City Blues, and current Social Secretary) left Washington, DC at 9:00pm. We had already logged a full day’s work at our respective jobs, and faced a 13-hour drive through the Appalachia and across three flat Midwestern states, before the Gateway Arch would come into sight, on the other side of the Mighty Mississippi. Just before crossing the DC/Maryland state line, I turned to Mo and said, “Be prepared for a rainstorm—it always rains when Liz and I go on road trips”, Mother Nature would prove me correct. The skies opened up.
The drive was long, tedious, and in a few places outright scary. Liz took the first leg, winding through the mountains in the pouring rain, lightning illuminating the hills and scattered towns in Western Maryland, Southwestern Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Eastern Ohio. I took over somewhere after Wheeling, WV, and Liz slept. When Liz woke up, I was navigating through seemingly forgotten construction sites, and I noticed that the other side of Interstate 70 was shut down due to what we later learned was a fatal collision involving three semis and a pickup truck. Shortly after seeing the charred remains of the trucks blocking the other side of the interstate, with at least two miles of stopped cars and 18-wheelers, waiting for it to re-open, we witnessed the immediate aftermath of a small car hitting a deer a few yards in front of us. Chilling. It was a long night, and we were grateful to get out of Ohio. 

Liz took over about two hours outside of Indianapolis, and made the executive decision that we needed to stop at Long’s Bakery (an Indy staple favorite) for fresh doughnuts and milk. This was exactly the energy and morale boost we needed at 6am, and Mo took the wheel for the last few hours into St. Louis, as Thursday morning welcomed us.
We were greeted at our hotel with the wonderful news that they had rooms available early, and we could check in, sleep for a few hours, and regain our composure.  To say that we were exhausted would be an understatement.   

Fast forward to Thursday afternoon.

Pre- Match

Tommy and Victoria
While Liz and I slept, Moritz snapped photos of the Arch There he met Tommy, a lifelong fan since the early 1950’s who grew up in Moss Side outside the old Maine Road stadium.  He and his wife flew up from San Antonio to see family and the match. Moritz then headed to the bar in the hotel lobby, where he met other City fans that had come from Pittsburgh, Chicago, and Winnipeg, Canada.  More on Tommy later.
By 3pm everyone was ready to head to the local pub, Paddy O’s, to start the celebration. We walked over with guys from Pittsburgh and Chicago; unsure of what to expect when we arrived at the bar. It would be incredible.
Over the course of the next three hours, a steady stream of supporters mostly wearing sky blue joined us at the bar. We sang and sang, and got to know each other. 

It was there that we met up with members of the supporters clubs from Chicago, New Orleans, Dallas, and Denver, and fans who were trying to start their own local branches. It was there we would meet Kyle, from Chicago, who donates his time to City Soccer in the Community, and gave us advice on how to help build the program in DC—a major goal of our supporters club. 

This is where the story really begins. As American football and Major League Soccer (Vamos United!) fans, we all know what it’s like to be a part of a larger group of people all cheering for the same thing. We watched Chelsea fans do their thing in little groups, grilling, drinking, playing bean bag toss- but the City fans interacted as though they had known each other for their whole lives- connected simply by their love of the team. This was more than a group of people joining together to watch a match.
What made this experience different from all that is the fact that Manchester City supporters are part of a family.

Pre-match revelry the same the world over
From relatively new fans like Liz, talking about their favorite players on this year’s team, to people who have supported the club literally their entire lives, talking about growing up in Manchester and going to the stadium with their family and friends, everyone was instantly connected. Mark, from Blue Moon Dallas, led the packed bar in song after song, and then everything got quiet as a few unexpected guests showed up: The one-and-only Buzzer, City alum Mike Summerbee, and Vincent Kompany’s father, Pierre Kompany.

Liz watched a woman tear up with happiness as Summerbee spoke to the group about football gaining traction in the US, and how much it meant to him to be with us at the pub in St. Louis. I watched Tommy, the lifelong City supporter who Mo met under the Arch, choke up as he was given tickets by another supporter, for his family who hadn’t been able to find any. Tommy would later state that “this is what makes us City fans—we’re a family.” Truer words may have never been spoken.

Drinks were consumed, songs were sung, and everywhere I looked, there were fans sharing their City Stories and connecting on a level I had never seen before in anything else. Manchester City may have millions of dollars in the bank and is becoming one of the biggest clubs in the world but they have retained the family feeling of a small club: Strangers buying drinks for one another, giving away spare tickets, and solidifying lifelong friendships. 

There was some talk of the New York expansion, but as devoted DC United fans, we are torn on this development. As a Yankees fan, however, Mo is excited that both of his favorite teams are coming together. Liz and I aren’t sure that New York needs another MLS team, but are happy to see City represented in the States. Other MLS fans we spoke to generally echoed this sentiment: That there are other cities that could benefit from a professional soccer team (St. Louis, for example), and that New York didn’t make sense. Anyhow, on to the match! 

Match Time

At 6:30pm, we headed around the corner to Busch Stadium. The lines were long, and the City fans started singing without stopping until they had all cleared the gates. Chants of “If you hate Man United, clap your hands” coupled with the Toure brothers’ chant, and Blue Moon rang out around the South gates, with silent stares from the supporters in dark blue. Eventually the lines moved and we made our way to our section. We were surrounded by Chelsea supporters, a handful of other Premier League and general football fans, seeing their first professional match. It was clear that football is an under-recognized sport in St. Louis, which was echoed by numerous conversations we had with fans.
We hung our supporter’s club flags, and started cheering even before the players walked onto the field.Our seats were on the third base line of the stadium, and we had a bird’s eye view of Petr Cech in goal. 

During the match itself, the experience was similar to most sporting events- cheering, songs, and ribbing of the few Chelsea fans within earshot. Unfortunately things did not go our way, and the only goals scored in the first half were the three by Chelsea. Watching City come back from three-nil at the half, to win the game by one goal, was great- but it was being with these people throughout the match that made all the difference. These were no longer simply a group of people wearing the same colour, but truly a big, City family. The exhilaration of being on the winning side, coupled with the emotional full-ness of being part of something made this a completely unique experience. 

Four Poznans later we would walk out there proud of our boys on the pitch. The mood at Paddy O’s after the match was raucous and genuine. People had to leave at various times to ensure that they made it back to their hometowns, and there were lots of hugs and pictures taken. Between Mo, Liz, and I, we have been to too many sporting events to keep track of, but this was by far the most memorable. Even though it was a friendly match, the fact that we’re now part of the City family is what made it so powerful. I can’t wait for the next opportunity to spend time with these folks- and to see City in person again. 

Matthew Eide is the Chairman of the Capital City Blues, Washington, DC’s Manchester City Official Supporter Group. This trip was his first time seeing City in person.
 
You can follow the group on Twitter:
@ManCityDC



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DENVER CITY BLUES

May 30, 2013, 6:54 am
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With City completing an incredibly successful post-season trip to the United States, where the club succeeded in raising its profile on numerous levels, this is Part Two of our reports from the US and reveals the efforts fans make to follow the club
This is what it's like to be City, Stateside

 
Joe Beauprez – Treasurer, MCFC Denver

Denver, Colorado USA

 ___________________________________________________

Being a passionate City Supporter in the USA has never been the easy road; the list of ‘lovable losers’ here is comprised of very few teams, all of them in ‘American Sports’ (Cubs and Browns fans, take a bow) and one’s affection for them almost always down to having been born in their respective cities.  Choosing a team (not to mention an English Football team) outside of one’s hometown is generally an exercise in taking the safe road.  I originally came to support City through my love of Manchester’s music; what was good enough for Ian Curtis was good enough for me.  What shocked me was how quickly and deeply the connection took hold.I’m every bit as emotionally invested in City as I am the Denver Broncos, my hometown NFL team (meaning, terribly, irrevocably and, if you ask my wife, maddeningly invested). 

Pete Wright, DenverMCFC Chairman with unknown City fan before the game


Being a City supporter in Denver has always meant embracing a willingness to endure the sticks, stones & harsh stares from ‘them.’As recently as a few years ago, it wasn’t unusual for there to be only a few of us Blue shirts at the pub, even on Derby Day.Surrounded by a sea of red, but safely insulated by our commitment, love and unexplainable passion for City, come what may.The reds don’t understand why we love our club, but it doesn’t matter.We’re secure enough to not care that the misguided hordes think a trophy case full of silverware means they’re better than us.Silly them; truth will out. 

I’ve been thinking/talking/tweeting the last few weeks about our dear club.Some of the true believers may have felt cause to question the direction of the club, the motives of the board, and if not their own willingness to carry on, at least to once again undertake the internal discussion as to why self-torture makes any sense at all. 

Few can question the Ambition of those in charge.Personally, I’ve been viewing everything through a filter of Authenticity.Does the Club remember who it is?Does it really care who supports them?Does it value the communities, not only where it currently resides, but where it seeks to gain traction (read: USA)?Can I still be proud of my Club?Does City still feel….like City? 

The tragicomedy of the timing of the Mancini rumors followed by the FA cup disaster certainly felt to all who remember like the City of old, as most negative events do.The difference, to me, are the events that have followed on.City have lined up a manager who, by all appearances, can take the foundation of success and the winning attitude that Mancini created, almost from nothing, and build a lasting modus operandi into the team DNA, one that mirrors and even exceeds those of ‘old guard’ English & European clubs.City has also come to America, not (only) with money and splashy PR-ready events but with grass-roots, community focused camps and football activity to ensure generations of support, rooted in a deep and Authentic love of club. 

Was there a certain brutality to the treatment of Mancini?It’s hard to argue otherwise.But is the City board now sincerely doing its best to do what we never thought possible – win at every level, every year?Also hard to argue otherwise. 

My love for Manchester City will not waver if I never live to see another trophy.But I’d be lying if I said I didn’t like to win.That said, I’d never want my club to feel like something other than City.I will defer to the ‘old-timers’ whose memories bear the scars of decades of heartbreak and to whom the success of the last few years must still feel as strange as inhabiting another person’s reality.This ‘new City’ is all well and good as long as it’s still City – AuthenticallyCity.True Blue.We support the shirt, we support our club.Winning is alright by me……but no matter what, I’m City Till I Die, I’m City Till I Die, I know I am, I’m sure I am, I’m City Till I Die. 


What was for some time only a few blue shirts in Denver has grown to, by our count, 20 to 30 committed supporters, including a couple guys from Manchester.Hard to say when we’ll finally have a ‘sea of blue’ here but we’re on our way.We have grown by being Authentic.It is said that you don’t find a club to support, the club finds you.To the extent we can, we are drawing new supporters for the club through pride and devotion, and those who are drawn to that are finding us, and finding Manchester City.Just as we can feel good things coming for the Club, we feel good things coming for our special group of Blues here in Denver, and for our fellow OSC chapters in the US, many of whom we were able to meet in St Louis.We have a wonderful home pub at The Armoury in Denver, which has been as supportive a pub as any Supporters Group could possibly ask for.During the last Derby, for the first time, we dramatically outnumbered the reds in attendance.That’s something I never expected to experience, not this soon at least. 

Such is the life of a City Supporter in 2013 that the offseason still carries with it the continued weight of hope and anticipation, albeit of a decidedly more positive nature.In years past, those emotions would be needed to get through the inevitable internal discussion, wondering why we’d subject ourselves to another year of this.Now they focus on thoughts of more silverware and another year of bragging rights.It used to be enough to hope for a quiet morning in the pub without constant taunts from the Red Menace; 3 wins out of 4 in the league over 2 seasons, along with an FA Cup Semifinal victory, have turned the volume down on that a bit.No group talks smack from ahead like United fans however, and #20 has brought the trolls out from under the bridges once again.They never learn - we can’t be bothered by their taunts; everything that happens for us lately still feels like so much gravy. 

City’s move towards the annual expectation of silverware has taken some getting used to for all but its most recent supporters.The desire of those from outside the Blue Circles seems to be to paint the team (and the supporters) with the same broad brush as other big, Nouveau Riche “Pretenders” and their fans; heartless glory hunters who wouldn’t know tradition if it rose up from League One to hit them across the back of the head. 

What they still haven’t realized is that being a true City Supporter is in and of itself a glorious tradition, one that no sane person would willingly choose for himself (save those who’ve taken it up in the last couple years).Our tradition binds us together, gives us a common language; our suffering makes us a proud family, Authentically Blue.  

You can follow the Denver Blues on Twitter 


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MEET ME IN ST LOUIS

June 1, 2013, 7:46 am
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With City completing an incredibly successful post-season trip to the United States, where the club succeeded in raising its profile on numerous levels, this is the third and final part of our reports from the US which reveals the efforts fans make to follow the club
This is what it's like to be City, Stateside

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by Pete Wright
Chairman/President
MCFC Denver




Last week, I had the privilege of driving to St. Louis with my good friend Erick French, also of MCFC Denver. The 15 hour drive was split up between a stop to visit my parents in tiny Rossville KS, which is just outside of Topeka. My parents recently celebrated their 40th wedding anniversary, so originally I just wanted to go see them. Then the news came out that City was going to visit St. Louis. It seemed as if the stars had been aligned perfectly. My wife had to work that weekend and Erick wanted to go, so it became a complete guys' trip.
On the Wednesday morning before the match we set off through Kansas, through 8 1/2 hours we drove what is one of the most boring drives in America, I-70 through Kansas. We spent the night at my parents' place and set off again early Thursday morning for St. Louis. The 5 hour drive seemed to take forever. The eagerness to see City and to meet people from the other supporters' clubs was eating away at me. There had been so many people that I knew from emails and Facebook that it was finally time to enjoy some pints and cheer on the Blues.

We arrived in St. Louis, checked into the hotel and then it was off to the pub. Finding Patty O's was a bit of a trek but in the end we ran into Vic Gregory from the Chicago MCFC group with none other than the great Mike Summerbee with her.Meeting Mike Summerbee was definitely among the greatest things I have ever experienced as a City supporter. I have supported City since 1997 and have always held Summerbee in high regard as a legend not only for City but in all of football. Summerbee stayed at the pub for some drinks, called me "tone deaf" when I led the rendition of "Blue Moon" and posed for pictures with anyone who requested it. He was incredibly gracious and classy, even bringing one person to tears with his words of praise and his own humility. After he left we all remained at the pub for a while longer to increase our blood/alcohol levels and then it was off to Busch Stadium. Any United fans in our path were shamed as they should be and the songs of Yaya Toure and Blue Moon were belted out. 
We made it into the stadium and to our section where we continued our singing, even when we fell behind 3-0. We grabbed more beers and a bit of grub and continued to sing. One warning for those who'd like to visit Busch Stadium, the stadium is brilliant, the food on the other hand, not so much.  $29 got 2 beers and a crappy hot dog. For less you can get 2 beers and a foot-long dog at Coors Field.
The turning point of the match came when a few Chelsea fans wanted to come to our section and hurl abuse. It seemed to be a bad move, because at City, We score when we want!  When the 3rd goal went in they began to disappear, then Micah Richards drilled the 4th and they were gone.


After the match it was back to the pub for more beverages, singing and more pictures (some very incriminating pictures with an inflatable banana).The next day was spent recovering, spending a bit more time with the Chicago group then setting off back to Denver. It was an amazing trip and an experience I'll never forget. We City supporters may have been outnumbered, but that will always be in numbers, never in heart and passion. We showed City how much we love our club on that night and it was a tremendous experience.

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Peter Wright
Chairman/President
MCFC Denver.
Follow them on Twitter here 


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SEASON REVIEW: THROUGH OPPONENTS' EYES

June 3, 2013, 4:40 am
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PART ONE
  1. Why did City fail to hold on to the title? What was your impression of us last season?
We all have an opinion on what went right and what went wrong last season. Ideas shared over a few pints and a badly barbecued sausage this summer will soon have us ready for the next instalment of the Manchester City Story..
Less clear is what exactly other people think about City. Those Delilah-singng Stoke fans, the Evertonians making odd hand signals in our direction, the masses blowing bubbles across Upton Park. Deep inside these groups of apparently City-baiting folk, live individuals just like us! With the ability to think freely and lucidly with out the aid of Talksport or the Daily Mail! With a sense of humour! With rationality (well, mostly) and without the need for a single exclamation mark.This is what they made of City's season.


  • Phil Lythell Chelsea ESPN correspondent, season ticket holder, writes at Shouty and Spitty 
  • "A bit limp, to be honest. Lacked the spark and relentless drive of the title winning campaign. A bit too predictable in their approach and a lack of pace failed to cut teams open often enough. That said, second place and an FA Cup final is not to be sniffed at. Problem is that expectations have been raised which, as a CFC fan, I know about all too well!"
  • Luke O'Farrell writes for ESPN, EPL Index and blogs on all things Everton.
  • "Summer signings. Needing to strengthen after winning the league, the new arrivals were more befitting a side lower down the table. Aside from the brilliant Matija Nastasic, the rest were either too old, too slow, too injured or too bad..." 

  • Pete Sixsmith 's chosen dish is Sunderland (gristle and all). He writes at Salut Sunderland
  • "Poor recruitment in the summer; Scott Sinclair or Robin van Persie - not the most difficult question to answer. I also thought that the sheer intensity of the Premier League caught out very good players like Silva and Aguero. Having said that, it was certainly better than watching Sunderland; we would settle for 12th. never mind second...."                                         

  • Peter Thorne aka Billy Blagg has been writing on all things West Ham for ESPN for many years 
  • I didn't feel it was much more than a kickback from having won the title in such an astonishing way the season before. That ability to go 'OK we've won that but now let's look at next season' is a skill developed over many years and it just seemed that City hadn't got it yet. I think they probably needed to invest a bit over the close season but there wasn't that much wrong, was there?

  • Matthew Evans is a West Brom season ticket holder and ESPN correspondent
  • I think City failed to hold on to the title because of some poor/underwhelming signings in the summer and because the form of the core players(Hart, Kompany, Silva and Aguero) wasn't as good as the title-winning season. On a whole, they just seem to lack that killer touch they had the previous season. 

  • Marc Duffy follows Newcastle through thin and thinner and writes for ESPN
  • I honestly think this was the lowest quality PL we've seen in over a decade. City failed to hold on to the title for several reasons (in my humble) - Mancini's insistence on 'own player knocking' was one. The football you played was another (often too 'safe') and many of your big ones signings are nowhere near their price tag - Milner, Barry, Nasri, Clichy, K Toure - consistent league winners? No. Consistent even weekly looked to be a struggle
     
  • Chris Rann runs (ran? runs) the excellent George Weah's Cousin and is Saints ESPN writer
  • Too many individuals and a loss of respect for the manager I would speculate. Individually it is hard to pick a better team, but often it looked to me like they weren't working as a unit.
     
  • James Whittaker, ESPN's Stoke reporter
  • I think they were so fired up to win the title the first time around, much of the urgency dissipated as soon as they did. Last season didn’t seem to have any momentum or purpose, which is odd given that they were defending their title.
  •  
  • Chris Dottie is an Evertonian child of the Kendall era and resident of the city of Gaudi and Messi
  • Mentality. They seemed a lot less motivated to win a second league than a first, and there seemed to be a definite mercenary attitude this year. Too few Kompanys and Harts who actually care about the club and too many players who don't have any passion for their employer. The manager seemed to get wrapped up in his own psyche and intra-club battles and was unable to develop a more useful spirit and mentality.
  •  
  • Phil Mison has been reporting on Fulham affairs across all media since the late 80s 
  • Sum of the parts did not add up to the whole
  •  
  • Dave Glenn is a regular visitor to Old Trafford in his yellow polo shirt and cut off denims
  • Too complacent, typical season after winning title with not enough players fired up with the same fight and desire that won it last year. RM weakened the squad with sales and purchases in the Summer.


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SEASON REVIEW: THROUGH OPPONENTS' EYES

June 4, 2013, 1:53 pm
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PART TWO 

2. Roberto Mancini: Were City right or wrong to get rid?
Continuing the series wrapping up last season with the view of Evertonians, Unitedites, Throstles and Geordies, amongst others.This is what they had to say to the above....
Mancini explains his European tactics

  • Phil Lythell Chelsea ESPN correspondent, season ticket holder, writes at Shouty and Spitty 
  • "Tricky one. Has to shoulder some blame for being unable to supply correct motivation. Record in Europe still poor despite hard group. Spent all season criticising board for transfer policy. Players response after his sacking suggest he wasn't exactly popular. On the other side, only one team can win the title and 2nd is perfectly respectable. Having won the title for first time in 44 years probably deserved one more season - shades of Ancelotti's sacking at CFC a year after winning the double. I don't think Mancini did himself any favours but it was a little harsh to get rid of him...."
  • Luke O'Farrell writes for ESPN, EPL Index and blogs on all things Everton.
  • "Wrong, very wrong. It probably wasn't the season most expected, but few would emerge from that Champions League group. Evident at Chelsea and now City, these foreign money-men are yet to grasp the idea of continuity and longevity...." 
    Cup final woes didn't help
  • Pete Sixsmith 's chosen dish is Sunderland (gristle and all). He writes at Salut Sunderland
  • "Who knows? Managers have short shelf lives now. The players looked as if they wanted rid of him - how else can you explain such a dreadful performance at Wembley. Time will tell if Pellegrini is an improvement. Anyway, we have our own Italian to worry about...."
  • Peter Thorne aka Billy Blagg has been writing on all things West Ham for ESPN for many years 
  • "WRONG! He won the title for you last season - the world is going insane, country = dogs  etc....."
  • Matthew Evans is a West Brom season ticket holder and ESPN correspondent
  • "No. Thought Mancini was a very good manager, most success someone has brought Man City in many a year. Also enjoyed the fact he out-did Sir Alex in the mind games last season. Can't see that Pellegrini is that big an improvement on Mancini...."
  • Marc Duffy follows Newcastle through thin and thinner and writes for ESPN
  • "Absolutely right. I can totally understand City fans loving the man who delivered their first title in a generation, but as a neutral (although I do like City so would want you to beat most) I found it hard watching many of your completely dull games. I work for an Italian company in Milan and the locals there also don't get or rate RM in the slightest and they're overtly proud of their own...."
  • Chris Rann runs the excellent George Weah's Cousin and is Saints ESPN writer
  • "Right. People hark on about harsh sackings, but with the money at his disposal and the squad of players he had, a complete blank on the trophy front a horrendous champion's league campaign completely justifies it for me. He should have done better, simple as that and I think he lost the dressing room. No going back from there, and as someone who comes across rather dislikeable for me, I can see why...."
    Pulis without hat
  • James Whittaker, ESPN's Stoke reporter
  • "Wrong – though that is an outside opinion most probably with few of the facts available to me.(some outsiders thought Pulis should have stayed!)..."
  • Chris Dottie is an Evertonian child of the Kendall era and resident of the city of Gaudi and Messi
  • "Right. You pay an employee millions based on the future not the past and there was no feeling that City were any better placed to challenge next year than this...."
  • Phil Mison has been reporting on Fulham affairs across all media since the late 80s 
  • "I personally found him amusing but his obvious lack of chemistry with owners and big names went against him..."
  •  Dave Glenn is a regular visitor to Old Trafford in his leapord print jumpsuit and gold espadrilles.
  • He deserved another European campaign therefore should have stayed till at least Xmas..."



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ANOTHER SURGICAL STRIKE

June 5, 2013, 3:40 pm
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After months of the strangest speculation and oddest public requests from the player himself, City seem on the verge of signing Fernando Luiz Rosa from Ukrainian champions and Brazilian stud farm FC Shakhtar Donetsk. Like almost all Brazilians who play football, he goes by a nickname, in this case Fernandinho, or "little Fernando". Yet another from the massive unchecked "inho" family. Fernandinho was born in southern Brazil twenty eight years ago, in the city of Londrina of all places..

The experience City require
The question everyone is asking is what exactly can he bring to City? Here is what City's Brazilian supporters branch make of him:

"At the beginning of his career when he played for Atlético Paranense, Fernandinho was an attacking midfielder, but since his arrival in Europe in 2005, the Brazilian took on the new role of second holding midfielder and had to adapt to this new role, especially in approach play, cutting space and tackling. It is certainly true that, playing as a holding midfielder, Fernandinho has became a better player. owing to his great pace, his ability to open up defences, the Brazilian is now described as a box-to box player with a great passing and a surprisingly powerful shot. He will provide what was missing in the last two seasons: greater pace  in midfield. City can now start our attacking moves from the back, and offer some relief and freedom to the likes of David Silva, who will be able to stay in the final third, where the Spaniard is more dangerous...."

It is apparent that Pellegrini is, despite all of this activity having taken place before the official announcement of his new position at the Etihad, remaining true to his Malaga principles of fast attacking football. His first two signings are all about speed and precision. Manchester City 2013-14 vintage is going to be pretty but will be able to adapt its approach to games and will attack wide and fast, with the ability to go long or play the short passing game.

Luciano Silva Pinto , a Brazilian City fan living in Porto Alegre is not sure Fernandinho is necessarily the right choice. "Four or five years ago, yes, but I'm not absolutely sure he is good enough for where City are now. Hernanes of Lazio, the brilliant ex-São Paulo talent, might have been a more interesting acquisition.... Fernandinho must not be seen as a replacement for Barry either. A Fernandinho-Yaya defensive axis would produce problems,,,defensively".

Lazio's super talented Hernanes in his São Paulo days

Our Brazilian branch members continue: "He will also give us a new option: long balls. Fernandinho is able to make long passes and can quickly turn defence to attack with his passing over great distance. He has everything to be a success at City, but it is not entirely clear to me what his function in the team will be exactly. Will he be used as a replacement for Yaya Toure, or will Pellegrini put both together in midfield? Whatever the answer to that, City seems to be hitting surgical strikes in the transfer market with the new signings, and if Fernandinho achieves 50% of what his most famous "brother" did in Barcelona, we can start smiling and dreaming....".

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My thanks go to City's Brazilian branch and to Luciano for a very swift request for information on our latest acquisition.


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SEASON REVIEW: THROUGH OPPONENTS' EYES

June 11, 2013, 7:55 am
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PART THREE
Continuing the series wrapping up last season with the view of Geordies, Saints, Throstles and Hammers, amongst others. This is what they had to say to Question Three


3. City fans: billy big time or still more or less the same poor masochists as before?
  • Phil Lythell Chelsea ESPN correspondent, season ticket holder, writes at Shouty and Spitty 
  • "Still the same downtrodden lot. No arrogance has seeped in despite success (yet!) and their backing of Mancini was - and is - extremely laudable.."
  • Luke O'Farrell writes for ESPN, EPL Index and blogs on all things Everton.
  • "There will always be those glory hunting types, the ones that accompany any successful side, but the majority of City fans seem to have their heads screwed on and know their football. This was fairly apparent with the show of support for Mancini; the recent advert in Gazzetta dello Sport was a great gesture....." 
  • Pete Sixsmith 's chosen dish is Sunderland (gristle and all). He writes at Salut Sunderland
  • "Had a couple of smashing conversations as we walked back to the city centre after you had cuffed us 3-0 in October. City fans still seem to be sensible and realistic - like us and Everton and not like United, Newcastle or Liverpool.."
  • Peter Thorne aka Billy Blagg has been writing on all things West Ham for ESPN for many years 
  • "We've not had the chance to get fed up with you lot yet. Prefer you to that mob down the road but give it time....."
  • Matthew Evans is a West Brom season ticket holder and ESPN correspondent
  • "Fans level of expectations have certainly grown which is completely understandable considering City won the league but don't think there is too much arrogance about it. I also admire the support/stance the fans have taken on Mancini....."
  • Marc Duffy follows Newcastle through thin and thinner and writes for ESPN
  • "Still the same, definitely...."
  • Chris Rann runs the excellent George Weah's Cousin and is Saints ESPN writer
  • "You haven't quite gone full Chelsea yet. NEVER go full Chelsea. The support shown for Mancini was admirable given a lack of success this season. I'm sure you get plenty more face painters these days, but you were still a great crowd at St. Mary's as we have come to expect...."
  • Simon Hughes remembers cheering Brian Labone and Gordon West from the unreconstructed Gladwys Street:
  • I still retain an affection for City's more mature supporters, but the newer, plastic ones can fuck off.
  • John Wilson still has a poster of Peter Lorimer above his bed:
  • "Not Billy Big Time. Same as before but if City turned into a Barcelona or Real Madrid it just wouldn't suit them..."
  • James Whittaker, ESPN's Stoke reporter
  • "More or less the same I would say. I know a lot of Man City fans and remember sharing relegation with you all those years ago. There will always be idiots everywhere but for the most part, your lot are sound. ."
  • Chris Dottie is an Evertonian child of the Kendall era and resident of the city of Gaudi and Messi
  • "Both. At their best they can represent the plucky traditional supporter like no-one else, at their worst they can be bitter nouveau riche. There seem to be some of each and some who vary between the two, according to their fancy...."
  • Phil Mison has been reporting on Fulham affairs across all media since the late 80s 
  • "City supporters are a pragmatic lot and know they must walk in United's shadow. They do have a sense a humour, unlike unbearable Reds followers...
  • Dave Glenn is a regular visitor to Old Trafford in his velvet catsuit and mauve moccasins
  • " Same bitter deluded tossers as ever..."





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SEASON REVIEW: THROUGH OPPONENTS' EYES

June 19, 2013, 8:12 am
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PART FOUR
Continuing the series wrapping up last season with the view of Scousers, Saints, Hammers and Mackems, amongst others. This is what they had to say to Question Four

 Your side’s matches with City last season: memories that stand out, talking points?

  • Phil Lythell Chelsea ESPN correspondent, season ticket holder, writes at Shouty and Spitty 
  • "Community Shield was entertaining but was most memorable for Hazard's attempted backheel then went drastically wrong. First league meeting was Benitez's home debut - dreadful game but a point secured and a fair result. Throughly outplayed at Etihad, Chelsea never got going and City's midfield ran the show that day. Lampard's missed penalty very costly but, in truth, City were streets ahead of Chelsea..."
  • Luke O'Farrell writes for ESPN, EPL Index and blogs on all things Everton.
  • "Unlike the rest of those at the top, Everton have the hex over City and the four point return could easily have been six. The only aspect that rankled was the lack of class from Mancini and several others. This notion of the Merseyside paupers bullying the Manchester millionaires is the easy way out, there was minimal credit for the football on display...." 
  • Pete Sixsmith 's chosen dish is Sunderland (gristle and all). He writes at Salut Sunderland
  • "Talking points? Beating you at The Stadium of Light and it not being in the last minute. I thought City were poor on that day. My mate took his family there on a hospitality day out - said it was priceless to watch his Mag supporting son-in-law sit there with a rictus grin on his face. We were totally outclassed at your place. Humph!!!.."
  • Peter Thorne aka Billy Blagg has been writing on all things West Ham for ESPN for many years 
  • "The gutsy draw early on at UP really marked us down as difficult to beat (at home anyway!) but it wasn't that much of a game. The match at your place was really just another bad awayday for us but with the Premier League as it is at the moment, these are games we're just happy to compete in....."
  • Matthew Evans is a West Brom season ticket holder and ESPN correspondent
  • "Albion's home game with Man City made me believe they'd be champions again this year. Down to 10 men but still managed to come back from one goal down, admittedly West Brom didn't help themselves but it was the spirit of champions so surprised things turned out as they did...."
  • Marc Duffy follows Newcastle through thin and thinner and writes for ESPN
  • "None. Our performance at the Etihad was utterly disgusting and one of the reasons I lost faith in Pardew. I didn't expect a result, I did expect some effort....."
  • Chris Rann runs the excellent George Weah's Cousin and is Saints ESPN writer
  • "Well, nearly beating you on the opening day, and playing you off the park at home were both pretty memorable. Gareth Barry's delectable finish into his own net has to 
  • be up there, but Rickie Lambet's goal at the Emirates was a special moment for us...." 
  •  
    Gareth slots in
      
  • Simon Hughes remembers cheering Brian Labone and Gordon West from the unreconstructed Gladwys Street:
  • "Another good year against City. Robbed in the away game by a very poor decision from the ref. Home one marked by Osman being captain and scoring a beauty. A much loved and underrated player...."
  • John Wilson still has a poster of Peter Lorimer above his bed:
  • "The thrashing in the cup ! Leeds were playing terrible and City were coming back from a heavy defeat. We were obviously going to be hammered so I didn't even watch the match...."
  • James Whittaker, ESPN's Stoke reporter
  • "Not too many talking points really, we did best against you in the cup as there were no points at stake for our negative former manager. The home games were less painful and the away game followed the trend of every other away game to that point, surrender.."
  • Chris Dottie is an Evertonian child of the Kendall era and resident of the city of Gaudi and Messi
  • "Trepidation before the games, looking at City's line up and thinking that our luck had to run out. Still no - at the Etihad we were unlucky to only draw because of the type of penalty that is normally only given at Anfield or Old Trafford - a sure sign of your new status. At Goodison we got our fully deserved 3 points and even Jelavic scored. My main memory is Distin giving Dzeko a bit of a clatter early on as a loosener to see if he was up for it or not. Dzeko spent the rest of the game looking as if he was about to run off down the tunnel for his teddy....."
  • Phil Mison has been reporting on Fulham affairs across all media since the late 80s 
  • "We gave up 6 points and deserved nowt...."
  • Dave Glenn is a regular visitor to Old Trafford in hisJean Paul Gaultier tennis socks
  • Nasri ducking – just perfect....."

 
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SEASON REVIEW: THROUGH OPPONENTS' EYES

June 26, 2013, 3:21 pm
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In this final part of the five part series, we ask esteemed one club football writers and bloggers, supporters and media types for their opinions on all things City 2012-13. 

PART FIVE:

How has your view of City changed since the money flowed in? 

Once upon a time, when money was short.....
  • Phil Lythell Chelsea ESPN correspondent, season ticket holder, writes at Shouty and Spitty 
  • "As a CFC fan, there was never any chance of pouring scorn on City's big money approach. As with Chelsea, shame that many promising academy prospects have been pushed aside, though demands for success call for pragmatism rather than romance. Owners have demonstrated some patience though perhaps stance changing with recent sacking of Mancini. Obviously disappointed that there is another team between Chelsea and silverware so main difference is City becoming a genuine rival rather than an opportunity to pick up six points. No negative impression though...".
  • Luke O'Farrell writes for ESPN, EPL Index and blogs on all things Everton.
  • "Aside from the Everton gripe mentioned earlier, it has barely altered. It's hard to begrudge the money and the trophies, since most would probably swap positions in a heartbeat...." 
  • Pete Sixsmith 's chosen dish is Sunderland (gristle and all). He writes at Salut Sunderland
  • "It has changed a little. They no longer seem to cock up as spectacularly as they did in the past, but there is always the hope that they may do. Decent club, good fans. Lend us a few million, please...."
  • Peter Thorne aka Billy Blagg has been writing on all things West Ham for ESPN for many years
  • "City, like Newcastle and Liverpool, are kind of old school clubs as far as I'm concerned and I actually get a deal of satisfaction from seeing the likes of Arsenal squealing 'not fair' 'cos you're in a position to steal some of their players instead. As I've indicated, City are a breath of fresh air at the moment and you'll not be troubling Div III anytime again soon, I suspect....."
  • Matthew Evans is a West Brom season ticket holder and ESPN correspondent
  • "Well, City have hit the jackpot really. Could have happened to any club, just so happened that the riches fell at City's lap. I thought the club were being very well run, unlike other clubs funded by rich foreign backers, however the treatment of Mancini does make me question that. Can't begrudge the fans getting this success, they put up with more than their fair share of bad times and stuck with it...."
  • Marc Duffy follows Newcastle through thin and thinner and writes for ESPN
  • "From 'exactly the same as us' to 'I'm jealous..."
  •  
  • Chris Rann runs the excellent George Weah's Cousin and is Saints ESPN writer
  • "You make me physically sick. Well actually you don't, I wish you wouldn't waste all that money on English mediocrity like Milner and Barry though. Seriously, I like watching great players so keep bringing in the stars...."
  • Simon Hughes remembers cheering Brian Labone and Gordon West from the unreconstructed Gladwys Street:
  • "Yes, but I still feel the love. They'll be easier to get on with without Mancini in that stupid scarf. Also, please drop the Poznan...."
  • John Wilson still has a poster of Peter Lorimer above his bed:
  • "Pleased to see them lose more often because the owners think their money will bring sucess. Don't mind the team, or the managers, but object to and don't like rich business treating a team like City as their little toy. City were just City, as they always have been. Suddenly loads of money started coming in and the whole character of the club has changed. The owners don't care. They treat city as their little play thing. Because city haven't had much sucess (and crave for it) even some of their fans make their excuses for the ridiculous amounts of money spent changing their club cos they want a cup !! Its equally good fun seeing your side promoted from league 1 to the championship !!!..."
  • James Whittaker, ESPN's Stoke reporter 
  • "I’m not a fan of foreign owners buying clubs as play-things and it feels a bit like that in your case and the way in which the management is shifted out and players collected rotting in reserves only adds to that. Any team with such riches, such as Chelsea when Abramovich came in, will upset the balance of the league with their recruitment. As a football fan, that model is everything that is wrong with the modern game though perhaps we’re lucky being owned by a local fan...."
  • Chris Dottie is an Evertonian child of the Kendall era and resident of the city of Gaudi and Messi
  • "WhenI speak to their fans, not too much, they are still very decent football people with a sense of perspective. The statements and actions of the club itself however have made them a lot less likeable - where the fans are grateful for their good fortune, their managers and executives seem to display a good dose of arrogance and disdain for the lower orders. When we've got Victor Anichebe leading the line, complaints of a lack of strike power from a club that's spent squillions on Kün Aguero and Carlos Tevez stick in the craw. They are also a constant reminder of the unpleasant truth that money makes the world go round. I'd rather they won the league than any other realistic contender, but the empire-building in New York and the replacement of Doncaster Belles with City's ladies team make me feel very uncomfortable...."     
  • Phil Mison has been reporting on Fulham affairs across all media since the late 80s 
  • "No."
  • Dave Glenn is a regular visitor to Old Trafford
  • "Turned into Chelsea. Not won the league that somehow is their property after one season therefore we sack the manager. If RM had won a trophy would the fact that he is a tosser behind the scenes been ignored?..."

    I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who took part in this and gave freely of their time to share a few thoughts on the current state of Manchester City. Clearly, City retain an affection from supporters of many other clubs, despite the changing football landscape and the sea change in our own club's fortunes. Where opinions have changed, it is also heartening to note that it is not the City fans that have changed others' opinions, rather administrators or the general (sometimes perceived) attitude around the club. Whilst many onlookers will not realise the lengths the club has gone to ensure most still feel a solid attachment to City, it is obvious that modern times have brought about many alterations to the way we experience going to the match, being with friends and family at the game and getting behind the team. However, most of the negative sensations are being felt across all clubs, whether they are challenging for honours or not. Football has changed radically since 1992, as have attitudes towards and within the sport. Whilst pessimists and nail biters like those airing their opinions here still see a need to go, football will remain in good health.

                                          
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APACHE DOWN

June 27, 2013, 2:24 pm
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There is little hint of the drama unfolding far beneath us. Amid the clatter and the excitement of a full blown Manchester City away day excursion high in the rafters of the stadium, nobody has realised what kind of mini soap opera is being enacted down at the edge of the pitch, nor the long term consequences this will have. We are all so busy being enthralled by the glamour and the glitz of the Champions League, our senses at once sharpened by the giddy heights of it all and dulled by the massive amounts of Oktoberfest liquids we have been imbibing for the last 24 hours.

It is the 27th September 2011. We are in Munich watching City being given the old run-around by a Bayern Munich side that will go on to lose the final the following May and win it a year later. City had started the match in confident style, denied two reasonable penalty shouts before the strangely effective lurking skills of the semi-mobile Mario Gomez started to unravel the stitches of our great Manchester Plan.

Strike One
This was a match where Manchester City learned a great deal about what Champions League football was going to be like and a little about how life with Carlos Tevez was meant to be. Picked off by two successive acts of cold assassination, the pressure had been building nicely towards a crescendo, but nobody saw what was coming next. In an act of self-propelled petulance, substitute Tevez refused to warm up. Mancini, as we would later see on television, visibly shaking with rage at this act of sabotage, used Milner and then Kolarov instead, hardly in the same league of high impact substitutions as the wily Argentine. Lest we forget, to cap an evening of dubious behaviour, Edin Dzeko would also throw a gale force dicky fit as he was hauled off, hurling his top to the ground and shouting in the face of the manager. It would take quite some weeks for the carnage to settle.

It will take a lot longer for City fans to forget.

Considering the effort the little man from Fuerte Apache has put in since and indeed before this act of football treachery, it would be trite to dismiss his departure yesterday to Juventus as an opportunity to shout "good riddance". In fact, unless the club has a devious plan to replace like with like, City have lost a galvanising force of nature which has few equals in the modern game. For Tevez in full swing was one of those amazing sights that football fans are afforded from time to time: the player who, by sheer force of character and willpower, can lift an entire team and carry it forward. Here was a man, scarred physically and mentally by his down at heel upbringing in the Buenos Aires slums, who could shift mountains.

His physique, his power, his acceleration and his low centre of gravity reminded one of a rough cut version of other compatriots who have gone before him, without the incessantly twinkling feet perhaps, but still capable of superhuman feats of propulsion. Certainly his influence on games could be as profound. Corinthians, West Ham and Manchester United supporters will bear testimony to the motivational impact of this buzzing whirling dervish at the centre of the team's efforts. He dragged the Hammers away from the drop and played a full part in United's successes before falling foul of his manager's rod of iron and - opting to throw sand in his face - moving across the city. This was typical Tevez. Fuerte Apache might have taught him how to fight for his life but it had introduced none of the social skills of respect and integration.

No oil painting

Here was how one (less than simple) transfer could divide a footballing hotbed like Manchester. The welcome billboard was either a work of genius or a low shot to the family jewels, depending which side of the divide you lived on. What was unarguable was that Tevez was made for moments like this, the pin up boy of a local tiff that threatened to bring the house down. Unseemly skirmishes were often where he felt most at home in fact.His own homemade billboard reading RIP Fergie, after City's league triumph put paid to Ferguson's "not in my lifetime" quote was another example of a man, whose boundaries of decency have always been slightly blurred.

The effect of Tevez on City was immediate. He was in the vanguard as City's fortunes and appearance began to change radically. On the way out: Dunne, Caicedo, Bojinov and Ben Haim. In came Adebayor, Gareth Barry and Joleon Lescott. Tevez was part of the first significant wave of new investment after the panic attack of Robinho the summer before. In that first season, he would show up particularly well in the 3-4 defeat at Old Trafford and in City's first semi final appearances for 30 years, in the Carling Cup v United again. Tevez, displaying a taste for the big occasion, scored twice to put City ahead in the first leg at the Etihad and another in an unlucky reverse in the second leg. There would be no silverwear at the end of that first season, but, within twelve months, Tevez was lifting the FA Cup to thousands of delirious blues at Wembley. Champions League football would follow too and this is where the Argentine battler would blot his copybook good and proper.

The Odd Couple

Mancini swore he would never play for his City again.Tevez disappeared from City's radar for golf filled months until being offered a way out of the impasse by his back-tracking coach. A public apology was printed in the programme and the debate began in earnest as to whether City fans really wanted to see him back in the sky blue shirt at all. Never one to be embarrassed by such niceties, Tevez was back in and, despite looking overweight, produced a significant impact on City's run-in. He returned against Chelsea, a fitting opponent, given his prolonged success against the Londoners across the seasons. A hat-trick at Norwich, his third celebrated with a golf swing into the away fans, underlined City's resurgent form on their way to an emotion-filled title success over QPR.It also revealed an attitude in Tevez that was more take it or leave it than sorry for the times.

Tevez had played in each one of those last agonising games on the way to clawing the title away from United's grasp. Goals had flown in from short, medium and long range. he was not to be knocked off the ball. His eye for a chance was sharp and unerring. His influence had been unquestioned, yet still to many he was persona non grata. The size and volume of his welcome in Turin says two things about Tevez: he is a world renowned star and he is moving to a league that is on a gentle rebound from years of neglect. Still, he will look good in the number ten shirt of the Vecchia Signora and will join his erstwhile striking maverick Mario Balotelli in amongst the cypress trees of northern Italy. There he will find an adoring public and one or two decent restaurants. Whether the Caribinieri will be lenient with his wayward driving skills remains to be seen. What is certain is City have lost a wayward genius, a human metronome and a one man argument in one fell swoop.

Ciao, Carlos, and thanks for the memories.





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TEVEZ: WARMING UP. COOLING DOWN.

July 7, 2013, 3:17 pm
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By John Williams 
At it again
 
Following the infamous incident during the Champions league fixture v Bayern Munich in Sept 2011  it was widely reported that Carlos Tevez had refused to appear as a second half substitute, Tevez himself stated that this was not the case and he was under the impression that the instruction was for him to continue warming up, something he felt was unnecessary as he felt he was ready to participate in the game. The aftermath of the incident in the following days/weeks/months saw Tevez become an outcast at the club many citing that he was the one and only instigator of this situation, I for one never took this view and I shall try to outline my reason for this.

Carlos Tevez was the signing that had excited me more than any other for over 30 years and from game one he fulfilled, even exceeded, my expectations. Tremendous work rate and technically blessed, his never say die attitude soon endeared him to the Etihad faithful,  Roberto Mancini arrived at the club a few months later and all seemed well within the camp with Mancini  making Carlos club captain the following season.

Then the cracks started to appear, I was at the time in Colin Bell lower and soon noticed that whenever Tevez was not in the starting 11 he seemed to be continually pounding the touchline far more than any of the other substitutes, this was a pattern that was continually repeated and I could not help but think at the time that all was no longer well within the camp, shortly after Carlos handed in a transfer request and although the situation was resolved it became clear to many that the relationship between him and Mancini was by now very strained, it became a familiar conversation between the people in our section when Tevez was on the bench that should he be sent on to play he would be too worn out to perform. In my opinion that night in Munich was the tipping point, the catalyst for a situation that had developed over a long period of time.

I don't claim to know the full story and can only make assumptions on events I witnessed and the opinion I subsequently formed by observing from the sidelines. This is a golden age in the history of our great club and I feel a deep sadness that the career of one of the most gifted players I have had the pleasure of seeing perform in sky blue will be forever tarnished by events that night in Munich. No doubt in time when the plethora of Autobiographies are published much will be revealed about the Tevez incident and the Mancini era in general. 
 
Until then we can only speculate and debate the different perspectives and opinions which are so widely diverse within the faithful.
 
You can follow John on Twitter  here

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PARALLEL LINES

July 13, 2013, 2:17 pm
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All the managerial heavyweights were interested
30 years ago, Manchester City were embarking on a pre-season tour with a smart new
manager and staff in place, shiny new kit, exotic new players arriving from far-off locations and a sizeable new challenge staring them square in the chops. The story mirrors the beginnings of Manuel Pellegrini's reign at the Etihad more closely than one might expect with its alluring uncertainties and its feel of the new beginning.

In fact in July 1983, Manchester City were facing a far greater challenge than the task confronting the present-day squad. Relegated on the last day of 1982-83 by a loose and hopeful swing of Raddy Antic's right boot in the most dramatic of circumstances and without a manager since the removal of the lame duck regime of John Benson and his light blue puffer jacket, City had spent the summer sizing up the more than "100 serious applicants", including the then manager of Sydney Olympic, Tommy Docherty and the out of work Harry Gregg. Some readers might at this stage be asking themselves what the less serious applicants could have looked like, if these two were amongst the good ones. One can only say that, 30 years ago, certain reputations had not yet been completely mangled by the unchallenged procession of time and others were still to be properly secured.

After years of promising the earth and delivering small parcels of dust, chairman Peter Swales preferred experience, but it would be experience at a low price, if it were possible to could find this magic combination in the whirling managers' merry go round of close season 1983. This was a little like looking for salmon in a dust cart full of carrots, but nevertheless Swales embarked on his own journey of discovery to see what he could rustle up. It was a journey that took him to all four compass points but that would eventually end up with his Cuban heels pointing north.

The Daily Mirror turns to poetry

Quite by accident, it appears, Swales got lucky.

Amongst the hill of names that the press had gleefully attached to the manager's job at Maine Road was Billy McNeill, the manager of Scottish champions Celtic. Most thought this a little far-fetched for a club ever so slightly down on its luck. Why would the manager of Celtic want to move to 2nd division City, for heaven's sake? But then a strange thing happened. Either by coincidence or not, McNeill asked Celtic for a pay rise, to bring him closer to the likes of John Grieg at Rangers and the chipper Alex Ferguson at Aberdeen. He was, after all, manager of the Scottish champions and being paid less than the respective managers of Motherwell and St Mirren to boot. Celtic refused. The Glasgow giants have always held the purse very close to the skirt of their kilt and, on this occasion, the wind had got underneath at just the wrong moment.

They had been caught without their long johns on.

McNeill wears the "what have I done" smile at his unveiling
McNeill was wooed to Maine Road by Peter Swales's grand plan. Nowadays this would be called a project and it would involve sackloads of cash. Whether mention had been made of the new barrel roofing for the Main Stand or not is unclear, but perspex wonder or no perspex wonder, Billy McNeill decided to take the low road to Manchester and make his (relative) fortune. Swales, in his infinite wisdom, decided to leave Ferguson at Aberdeen, despite obvious signs that the Scot was building an empire at Pittodrie that was already the match for the Old Firm.

McNeill wasted no time at all in mapping out the players he wanted to ignite the revolution. Pellegrini rightly eyes the Iscos and Negredos of this world as safe well-known territory. These are players that he has seen in the flesh many hundreds of times, from close quarter or from the stands. He has been able to study them and knows what his new club will be getting from a purchase of this nature. So it was with Big Seizure, who returned to his Scottish roots for many of his first signings. In came ex-Rangers striker Derek Parlane, offloaded by struggling Leeds; in came ex-Morton schemer and Tottenham reject Neil McNab from Brighton for the midfield enforcer birth about to be vacated by Asa Hartford; another Morton prodigy, Jim Tolmie, arrived for pennies from Belgian club Lokeren and the side began to take on a distinctly tartan, distinctly costcutter look.

Pre-season would be the first evidence of McNeill's eye for a bargain and Swales's eye for an 
opportunity. The programme was a packed one, taking City through the football hotbeds of West Germany, Holland and Blackpool, long before the multi-million yen Premiership tours of the far east became de rigeur. There would be no cameras to record the tour, no squealing foreigners at the airport, but McNeill's hastily arranged cheapskate eleven were about to rack up a veritable hatfull of goals as they scorched the fields of Germany.

Not for City the most prestigious fields of Germany, but nevertheless, a marker would be put down for the season to come.
Derek Parlane becomes City's only non-Morton pre-season signing

The tour schedule looked a little like this:

GERMANY
FC Pfungstadt
VfB Eppingen
1FC Osterode
FC Sinsheim
VFL Wolfsburg
HOLLAND
Willem II Tilburg
ENGLAND
Blackpool

As the 17-man squad gathered at Ringway to head out across the continent, they were bolstered by experienced ex-Burnley keeper Alan Stevenson and out-of-contract Everton.reserve Alan Ainscow. Derek Parlane's tank-top provided the only minor controversy as the plane was boarded and City flew off into a new, sky blue future under Mr Billy McNeill and his Scottish deputy Jimmy Frizzell, the old general manager of Oldham Athletic.

A large crowd gathers on the roof at Ringway to check out Derek Parlane's tank-top
The days that followed would be an exercise in getting to know each other, getting used to the managerial team's methods and forming a solid bond before the big kick-off. As a further echo of recent times, McNeill would also shortly be confronted by his first big disciplinary issue. Time was short, nerves were frayed and the world was watching.



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A FRESH START

August 11, 2013, 12:53 pm
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30 years ago, Manchester City were embarking on a pre-season tour with a smart new
manager and shiny new members of staff in place, bright new kit, exotic new players arriving from far-off locations (well, Morton) and a sizeable new challenge staring them square in the chops. The story of 83-84 mirrors the beginnings of Manuel Pellegrini's reign at the Etihad more closely than one might expect with its alluring uncertainties and its feel of the Big New Beginning. 

PART TWO: Goals, Drinks on the Prom and Cambridge United

In 1983 Manchester City was a totally different beast to the one that parades trophies in the rain in Hong Kong and throws something to the tune of 86 million pounds at its summer purchases. Despite this, there are some spectacular parallels to be drawn between the pre-season that faced then-new manager Billy McNeill and his squad with that of Manuel Pellegrini in 2013 and none of them involve jokes about Jimmy Frizzell.

City warm up for the second division
City were preparing for life in the 2nd division, with early season opponents Crystal Palace, Barnsley and Cardiff  the initial barriers to leap over in a brave new world of low budgets and even lower expectations. After a dreadful 1982-3 season and a laughable exit from the top division at the hands of Luton Town, supporters and club officials alike were shell-shocked to be down with the massed might of the Uniteds Cambridge and Carlisle.

Despite a threadbare budget and a newly installed management team, expectations were that City might just be capable of providing some sort of a meagre challenge to the big guns of the division: Sheffield Wednesday, Newcastle United and Chelsea.

City's pre-season took in a picturesque tour of the quaintest teams in German amateur football. Whether this had been designed with confidence-boosting run-away wins in mind or not, the effect was just that. new signings Derek Parlane, Jim Tolmie and Neil McNab were given their debuts and the Blues embarked on a magical, goal-strewn lap of the Vaterland.




City would manage to score four goals, something missing from the previous campaign almost completely, on each occasion they took to the field, including a tally of six to round off the German part of the tour against a then lowly Wolfsburg side.

To keep things looking tidy, four were also scored when the Blues crossed the border into Holland to finish the tour against Willem II in Tilburg. As well as boosting confidence, this continental goal fest cemented the faith of Jim Tolmie in his own ability, helped Parlane realise that he was not on the soccer scrapheap and re-launched McNab's career as a useful ball-winning midfielder. All three would start the season in fine form back in England and McNab would go on to represent City for six years, making 266 appearances.




 

By the time City returned home, the season was almost upon them. There was just enough time for an ill-fated trip to the seaside where they lost their unbeaten summer run in Blackpool and lost Bobby McDonald and Peter Bodak to a late night session on the Golden Mile, the first of several headaches for Billy McNeill in that first season down in Division Two.



City would eventually finish the season in a limp 4th position, scraping home just ahead of Grimsby and Carlisle United and well behind the afrore-mentioned big three, but would be promoted on a wave of adrenaline the following year against Charlton in a never-to-be-forgotten final game of the 84-85 season at Maine Road.

McNeill's tenure was short but eventful. Whilst Manuel Pellegrini's pre-season with City has seen fewer wins than 30 years ago, it represents a similar starting point to that encountered by the Scotsman thirty years ago.

The Chilean with the Italian background will at the very least hope to be associated with Billy McNeill's long-time nickname from his imperial years as Celtic's skipper and serial trophy wielder: maybe after 30 years of false dawns and fits and starts, it is time for a new Caesar to build his empire on the banks of the River Irwell.
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APPLY HOPE NOW

August 19, 2013, 12:24 am
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Season 2013-2014 in three words



1) MANCHESTER CITY: Holistic to ballistic

2) CHELSEA: Relentless Mister Mourinho

3) MANCHESTER UNITED: Year zero begins

4) TOTTENHAM: Big (Bale) breakthrough

5) EVERTON: School of craft

6) ARSENAL: Nil by mouth

7) LIVERPOOL: Last bus home

8) SOUTHAMPTON: Launch Pochettino battleships

9) ASTON VILLA: Doing Lambert Walk

10) SWANSEA: Laudrup's last waltz

11) NORWICH: Ricky van Wolfswinkel

12) WEST HAM: Forever playing percentages

13) WEST BROM: No Lukaku, Anelka

14) SUNDERLAND: Luck not judgement

15) CARDIFF: Hark thou hear

16) NEWCASTLE: Cirque sans soleil

17) FULHAM: Moonwalk in gumboots

18) STOKE: Managerial superiority complex

19) HULL: Streets of San-Francisco

20) CRYSTAL PALACE: Holloway’s hollow hologram







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THE CONDENSED READ: Cardiff away

August 25, 2013, 3:50 pm
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tan trousers rising
Sunday 25th August 2013
Cardiff 3 Manchester City 2
Goodison, Bloody Fraser Campbell (2) - Dzeko Wallop, Negredo Bang
Att: a little over 27,000 squawking, hooting maniacs

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THE BEGINNING: Season 2013-2014's first away test. Into the Valley for the first time since 1993. Memories of Nathan Blake's curler, barbed wire fences and huge chunks of airborne Welsh masonry. 

Paul Simpson and Kenny Clements in a threadbare 2-2 draw in 1985 at Maine Road on the autobahn (hard shoulder) to promotion. Bobby Mac and Tricky Trev getting the goals in the FA Cup in1982. 

THE MIDDLE: Gary Medel v David Silva. Toblerone Headed Killer versus Tufty the Rabbit. How to play Manchester City when the central defence comprises J Lescott and J Garcia. Nine behind the ball and, when suddenly and fortuitously, in possession, lamp it upfield to quicksilver Fraser Campbell. Wait for ten seconds to allow to set before eating. 

City's possession qualifies them for ownership of the ball when the game is over. Dzeko and Negrdeo net beautiful goals. Silva shimmies like Scarlet O'Hara to Gary Medel's Hound of the Baskervilles. Cardiff cunningly win the game. 

THE END: A single spotlight falls on, consecutively, Joe Hart, who is doing his hair with an anti-dandruff comb, Javi Garcia, who is still trying to catch Campbell to shake his hand, and Vincent Tan, who is pulling his pants just another centimetre higher than they were before. Eyes begin to water, but pants hang on gamely to Vince's Peking duck midriff.


Blake House
THE STAT: City 637 passes/ 561 of which reached their target - 88% Cardiff 264 passes/191 - 72%. Just what does this mean? It could be Sanskrit, but I'm not sure..

THE QUOTE: "And the Premier League's most expensive team undone by little Cardiff...." - Alan Parry passes gate 3016 as he continues down the boreothon giant slalom.

"Where were you when you were shit...?" - Cardiff crowd with the unintended double-whammy backward irony song. 

THE LIST: On The Skids in the Valleys

Into the valley
Betrothed and divine
Realisations no virtue
But who can define
Why soldiers go marching
Those masses a line
This disease is catching
From victory to stone
Ahoy! ahoy! land, sea and sky
Ahoy! ahoy! boy, man and soldier
Ahoy! ahoy! deceived and then punctured
Ahoy! ahoy! long may they die
Out of concealment
Blank and stark eyed
Why so uncertain
This culture deceives
Prophesised, brainwashed
Tomorrow's demise
All systems failing
The placards unroll
Ahoy! ahoy! land, sea and sky
Ahoy! ahoy! boy, man and soldier
Ahoy! ahoy! deceived and then punctured
Ahoy! ahoy! long may they die
Time for the audit
The gathering trial
A collector's dilemma
Repositioned and filed
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MARKING THIN AIR

August 27, 2013, 6:56 am
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Much warm air has already wafted over the nation's best equipped key boards about City's switch to unsuccessful defending (elsewhere known as man-for-man-marking) in their second game of the season at Cardiff at the weekend. It is not altogether clear whether City had been employing this rigid tactic against Newcastle in the opening game of the season too, as that particular opponent deigned not to provide the kind of attacks that required any kind of recognisable marking at all.

At Cardiff, however, things were different. The home side appeared to start with mere feisty attitude as their formation and developed it as they progressed. From a first half dominated by City's gently suffocating possession game to an upswell of energy both on and off the pitch after City had gone one ahead, The Blues were perhaps surprised - as Pellegrini himself has stated - that it did not become easier after going one up. This is where new managers and players have something to learn about the indomitable spirit of some of the so-called underdgos in the domestic English game. Whilst one or two will lie down and have their tummies tickled, others just get more into your face and try harder. Cardiff had the impressive scrapper Gary Medel doing the progressive dirty work in midfield, harrying Silva and snapping at Touré and Fernandinho. A fellow Chilean, Pellegrini will have been well aware of the
Ready for battle
diminutive midfielders energetic qualities and, whilst Cardiff's hold of the ball was minimal in these areas, El Pitbull's industry kept City's dangermen isolated from their food supply.

Although City's possession stats were high, down on the pitch things were tighter than a t-shirt bought from a gypsy. The willing running out of defence from Bo-Kyung Kim and Craig Bellamy also played a part in lessening the heavy burden put on Cardiff's defensive lines from the start.  

Medel broke up play, whilst the midfielders around him provided a sideways outball to launch quick diagonal passes forward to the willing running of Fraizer Campbell. His success did not come from this tactic, although there were constant glimmers of hope from his muscular comings-together with the befuddled Lescott and tardy Garcia, but from successive second half corners where City's man-marking went to pot completely. Clubs already know that set pieces offer an excellent chance to score in games that are either tightly contested or where they are unlikely to get more than a small handful of chances owing to the superiority of the opposition. This is what Cardiff exploited gamely on Sunday.

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That it was ultimately Pablo Zabaleta wearing the culprit's sack-cloth and ashes was not really the point, as Garcia had also managed to completely lose his man's run (Campbell again) during the prelude to the equalising goal, scored by Gunnarsson on the rebound from Campbell's close-in effort, parried by Joe Hart. Hart himself came in for criticism afterwards. He clearly decided to stay on his line for both the second and third goal, a mistake for the former and excusable for the latter, as the ball in was deeper, further away from him and continuing on its outswinging curve.

Gentile: a big fan of close marking at set pieces
A year or more ago, Roberto Mancini had been quoted as saying that he did not feel his defenders were strong enough for man-to-man marking and deputy David Platt also placed a question mark against Hart's name and reputation, saying they had decided to get rid this summer and replace him with Begovic of Stoke City. Whilst the young keeper has a raft of off-field arrangements to take care of, he remains an excellent shot-stopper and England's undisputed national team goalkeeper. The change to a new defensive system at corners and free-kicks will effect the entire defence until it begins to click and when it misfires will tend to make them all look sloppy and lacking in concentration.

It must be said, however, that, despite the high possession figures in City's favour, the final ball from Yaya Touré was often overhit and Navas was successfully crowded out of his danger area and shepherded back into the midfield quagmire whenever he received the ball wide. he had little opportunity to attack down the flank and cross from there. instead cutting in onto his left foot, where the obvious ball became a pass inside to Silva or Fernandinho. This showed that Malkay Mackay's seemingly prehistoric tactics had more subtlety and thought attached to them than might at first have met the eye. In the end it came down to the sharpness of Campbell, who had an excellent game, and the failings of City's new system at the back. At 3-1 the score did not reflect the match that we were watching, but Cardiff's bravery and endeavour merited some kind of reward. That ultimately that reward was all three points was a reminder to City that any lowering of concentration levels can be punished by even the least potent of Premiership foes.
 


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THE CONDENSED READ: HULL home

September 2, 2013, 7:14 am
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One of those slightly-too-bright at the end of August Saturdays
Manchester City 2 Hull City Tigers 0
Negredo at last wallop, Touré identikit bosh
Att: 46,500 (with holiday gaps)
THE BEGINNING: A cloudless sky. A breathless audience. A joyless skirmish. Punt, stab, dip, flap and skittle. Poke, pat and flail. Individuals wonder how long they can politely leave it before telling Mr Pellegrini to "give it good a shake".

Hull's jet-heeled Aluko is through on goal, but turns into a clump of thistles at an inopportune moment. He spends an intimate moment studying the crop circles around City's goal.

THE MIDDLE: A gong sounds. A death knell for Gareth Barry? Edin Dzeko is removed and reappears dressed as a teenage skateboarder within minutes. Alvaro Negredo has a tatoo on his forehead. It reads "hungry as hell". He is fed by the game's first accurate home cross -a loopy one from Zabaleta's right foot - and in it goes under the star-shaped 'keeper McGregor.

Joe Hart, hair immaculate, offers the gallery a slideshoe dummy shuffle, sending a Hull forward the wrong way. Not at all risky when the whole world is watching for patches of misplaced miscalculated youthful arrogance. It is an attempt to draw the thousands of pairs of eyes feasting on Huddlestone's superior barnet, a mesh-effect electric swan's nest, back onto his own lovely pimple-spiked blond bonce. In capeli proelia superbia hackitoff.. 


THE END: Yaya wafts his right leg, the ball curls in an unforgiveable arc. Elmohamady, for it is he, joins his 'keeper in an inexplicably beautiful dance under the cross bar (like great crested cranes in courtship ritual south of the Serengeti), as ball evades head and hand. Elmohamady heads the bar instead and joins ball in the back of the net.

City finish the weekend in a dismal 3rd place. Vultures hover, the sky darkens and a large flock of crows flies into a tall building en masse. 


THE STAT: This is the first ever Premier League clean-sheet against Hull City. Negredo has scored 3 in 3 substitute appearances. Hungry.

THE QUOTE: "Have we ever had a player with a ponytail before? That's what really worries me. Lift it up & there's usually a horse's ass underneath..." LongsightBlues on Twitter
Forget David Seaman at your absolute peril, young man.

THE LIST:        Semi final i Hull 2 City1
                       Semi final ii City 2 Hull 0

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POTTED STOKE CITY

September 13, 2013, 9:30 am
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75-76 STOKE 4 CITY 0                                  In 1975, things are different. There is mud everywhere. Shirts are plain and ready to be spattered with it. Your best view features a stanchion and the back of the head of the bloke in front. Joe Royle and Geoff Hurst are considered objets d'art and the Victoria Ground plays host to a home side who regularly play the best sides in the land right off the park. City in 1975 are not one of the best sides in the land but that does not put stop them from also being played right off the park on this occasion. 4-0 to the Potters and goals galore for Moores, the age-defying Hurst and Alan Hudson. There are Pejics and Greenhoffs, Conroys and Smiths and all of that is too much for our Blues. > Whilst the home side celebrate Hudson's goal, a desolate looking Willlie Donachie trudges back to prepare for kick-off. ---
             
above - 80-81 STOKE 2 CITY 1
Run up to the 81 Cup Final and City are beginning to get the jitters. Even though we have entered April, Stoke are without a win in the calendar year up to City's arrival. In those days, you just knew what that meant and Stoke duly go on to record the victory that the statistics told us to put money on. A huge tide of emotion from the Potters faithful plays its part.Bobby McDonald's trademark close-in header is only a consolation as it whips past Dodd and Fox of Stoke.
below -81-82 STOKE 1 CITY 3
Fast forward a couple of months and City are bright and brave on the occasion of Trevor Francis' debut in sky blue. The away end is awash with Blues, come to see the mercurial skills of the ex-Forest flier. He does not disappoint with a quickfire double as City scamper to a famous win in the early season sunshine. Anybody there that day will not forget it in a hurry, as a great bank of away fans prepares to party all the way back to Manchester. Kevin Reeves is first in for a cuddle with City's new darling as the first wave of Manchester's finest prepares to mount the fences and join them 


below -80-81 CITY 1 STOKE 1
The snow lies thick on the ground in Rusholme. Claremont Road is a skating rink and Windy Corner is closed as it is too treacherous for the heavy drinkers of Manchester to try to stand up on. Instead we huddle together under the Kippax roof, waiting for excuses to clap like maniacs. The tv cameras are here too, as all the other games have been called off. City will climb to the top of the table if they win. A giant chimney stack called Brendan O'Callaghan scores for Stoke to put the kybosh on that idea and Tricky Trev does the same for City, but first place eludes us for another week. Francis jumps high in the snow-filled air to chest the ball down in front of Stoke's defence

below 96-97 STOKE 2 CITY 1

When Alan Ball brought his City side to the Potteries in 1996, trouble was brewing. Big trouble. Anyone permitting him or herself a visit to more than one of City's games per month during this period needed to see a doctor urgently to receive medication. This game became so poor that Stoke's fans started singing Bally's on the dole". They didn't realise how prescient their singing was about to be. With a poisonous atmosphere spreading through the club and onto the terraces, Ball's inept management came to a halt after this dreadful game, the small man with the funny voice throwing his checked cap to the floor in resignation. Whether he handed in the crinkled, sweat-stained shell-suit as well is still not clear. What was crystal clear was City were in a mess, soon to be magnified tenfold and to come back and bite us all on the backside when we returned to Stoke a season later...


 
below: 1997-98 STOKE 2 CITY 5
Anyone, who does not remember the gut-wrenching sensation at the end of this match, is a lucky individual. Most people's worst ever City moment and an event showered in tears and phlegm long before the final whistle confirmed that City were down in Division Three for the first time in their proud history.


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THE CONDENSED READ: Stoke away

September 15, 2013, 12:12 am
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Saturday 14th September 2013
Premier League, Britannia Stadium, Stoke

Stoke 0 CITY 0

Following Hodgson's Football Handbook of useful, intrepid away performances on the road to glory. Nil is better than nothing.




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