City Give Reds The Blues

Well, what can you say ?

After all the media specultion about whether City fans would or wouldn't be respectful to the memory of the victims of the Munich tragedy, the team confounded everyone, including themselves probably with an unlikely, but yet typically City victory against all the odds.

I could write volumes about the game, but all that really needs to be said is that the players and the fans were just magnificent and every Blue can be immensely proud of their Club tonight.

As it was a wonderful all round team performance, it's a bit unfair to single out individuals, but Dunny and Richards were simply a different class today. In many ways, we did to United what Arsenal did to us at home last Saturday and played a tactically smart game for which Sven and the rest of the backroom need to be given a lot of credit.

Nobody gave us a chance today and it was expected that we'd just turn up to be fodder for United in this higher-profile than normal derby game, but I think we've stunned the world today. I'm sure the various media will be disappointed about the fact we won and that our fans did us proud, but 'twas ever thus !

Well there you go, we've taken six points off United this season and it doesn't get much better than that !

The Hit Man And Him !

City fan, Ricky Hatton has come in for a fair amount of stick over his friendship with Wayne Rooney, who we're told will accompany the Hit Man into the ring when he fights Mexican Jose Luis Castillo in Vegas on June 23rd.

I say "Hit Man", but Ricky has said he's changing his name to "The Manchester Mexican" as a tribute to his many friends from that part of the world and it's nothing to do with winding up his opponent - yer right !

It's also predicted that Ricky will be sporting a sombrero and poncho as he enters the ring with Shrek alongside him. Thankfully Blue Moon will be playing in the background and I hope that his ethnic attire will be suitably blue.

As for all the criticsm Ricky has had about the Rooney thing, well it is an unfortunate choice of mate, but everyone is entitled to choose their own friends, even if they are from rival camps. We may not like it, but it's Ricky's business and nobody elses. Personally I'd have liked to see Dunny or Weaver propping him up on his other side just to balance things up a little and maybe there's still time ?

Now before I get a load of stick, how many ordinary blues have Rag mates or even scousers? We all do and the banter and stick from local rivals is what makes football the best game in the world. There shouldn't be a double standard just because he's in the public eye.

So, I say best of luck to Ricky Hatton, the Manchester Mexican and hope all City fans will be supporting him. In these dark times at Eastlands, he's one of City's few rays of sunshine and a great ambassador for the club as well as being one of the country's unsung national heroes - let's not crucify him over something as trivial as who he hangs out with from time to time.

All the best Mate !

Should He Have Dunne It ?

It seems that Richard Dunne's criticism of some of City's foreign contingent has touched a few raw nerves within the dressing room and the waves it has caused are still rippling away through the club.

Former skipper, Distin seems to have taken particular exception to Dunny's comments saying that the French and the Italian contingent have "taken it personally ! ".

Well Sylvain, they bloody well should take it personally, as should the American and African contingent; something you would find easier to understand better if you sat in the stands like we do and watch the same set of players either going through the motions or looking totally out of their depth.

What is it about these high-earning prima donnas who seem to live in their own cocooned world that they think they are above criticism or reproach? They need to hear it like it is and I'm only surprised Dunny has managed to hold on so long before venting a bit of steam. If the rest of us performed like they do in our respective jobs, we'd get a rocket up our arses!

Dunny is the club skipper and carries out his responsibilities with obvious pride. Being City captain is clearly a big honour for him and by speaking out like he did, he was only reflecting what fans have been complaining about all season. Make no mistake, us natives are extremely restless at the moment.

Dunny alone stands out like a beacon in the gloom of Eastlands and seeing him as fired up as he was on Wednesday against Chelsea, he did what he has done all season and lead by example. It was a hi-octane performance from a leader giving it 110%.

I'm sure Dunny will now be gagged by the Club and slapped on the wrist, but hopefully his controversial but accurate explaination of City's dire form will have done its job. Sure we lost again on Wednesday, but it was a gallant defeat rather than abject surrender. It remains to be seen whether the white flag goes up at the Riverside tomorrow and "normal service" is resumed or whether they have finally got the message.

To the sensitive souls in the City changing room - sorry guys but the truth hurts. If you don't like it, then do something about it one way or another!