Time To Resume Normal Service

It's been a strange couple of weeks.

All the rubbish media hype about the inevitable disruption to the minute's silence by loutish City fans never materialised, much to the disgust of the gutter press who I'm sure already had articles penned in advance about what a load of low-life scum all us City fans are..... well, we're not, but we knew that anyway, and now that whole world knows it as well.

I've got to say I felt a bit more emotional about it during the event than I thought I would. For me, the lingering shot of Bobby Charlton's face captured the moment with his obvious pain, and from what he's said about it himself, lingering guilt about how he survived yet others around him didn't. It's clear that the passing of half a century has done little to heal any of his emotional scars judging by the sadness etched in his face - it was very moving indeed.

Anyway, going back to the strangeness thing. First of all doing the double over United is pretty strange enough - I'd just entered my teenage years the last time it happened and had almost forgotten what it was like. I hope I won't be drawing my pension before the next time it happens!

Then there has also been this recognition in the ranks of some United fans that City played well and actually deserved to win, with absolutely no suggestion that the referee had cost them the game; dare I say it, but we heard grudging admiration of what City achieved on Sunday.... and rightly so.

I don't know, all this appreciation from United makes one feel slightly uncomfortable; it's not something we're used to. I must admit it was nice to see our lads being applauded down at the Stretford End after the game - that must be a first !

Now that it's all thankfully over I'm just looking forward to getting back to normal service with the re-instatement of that peculiar Mancunian rivalry in all its incisively brutal cruelty yet at the same time affectionately humorous splendour - long may it continue !

Finally, for those of you who haven't seen this explanation of United's performance, click here ..... it's a classic !

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 !

A Final Word on Munich

So much has been said and written about the Munich disaster and as a result the emotion levels surrounding the Manchester derby on Sunday have already gone up a few notches - god knows what it'll be like just before kick off time.

I haven't got a ticket for the match, but like the vast majority of City fans, I will be respectfully observing the silent tribute to those poor souls who perished so tragically half a century ago.

I'm absolutely sure most Blues at the game will behave impeccably during the minute's silence, although it does seem likely that there will be a few mindless idiots (not necessarily City fans) who will try to hijack this very public event - worryingly it happened during the tribute at Wembley this week where the minutes silence was brought to a premature end by the referee to avoid an embarrassing situation.

I must admit, It'll be a big relief when they whole thing is over. However, I got to say what crass stupidity it was by some anonymous football bureaucrats to schedule the Old Trafford Manchester derby to coincide the the Munich tragedy. Of all the dates it could have been played, what on earth made them pick that date when it's obvious events and emotions could trigger something very ugly.

I'm really sad that if there is an incident by some idiots, then all of us, as City fans are going to be tarnished with the same brush and our Club's reputation will be rubbished all around the world; we ( and United ) should never have been put in this situation.

Lest we forget, there also the small matter of a football match to consider on Sunday and our best response will be to let the players do the talking on the pitch.

To all City fans, please show silent respect to the occasion, but once the whistle goes, let normal service resume... somehow I just feel a draw would fit the occasion.

Benjani Training At Carrington

My spies at City tell me that Benjani Mwaruwari has been seen training at Carrington today.

The Club have just announced that he has been signed for an initial fee of £3.87m, which looks a whole load better than the £7m+ quoted as the transfer window closed.

Benjani is likely to go straight into the squad for this weekend's emotionally charged derby against United where he is desperately needed up front to sharpen up City's currently depleted forward line.

Welcome aboard son..... just do the business at the weekend please and stay fit please?

City v United Match Photos

A few memories of a magical afternoon

Whilst storm clouds gather in the red skies, the Blue Moon is rising !

Click photos for larger versions
















Images Copyright Bluesology.blogspot.com. No reproduction without permission

City's Card Has Been Marked

Six points from a possible six, four points ahead of United, Ronaldo and Rooney out of the Manchester derby and a home goal to remember - I don't think many of us expected such a fantastic start to the season.

After the stunning performance at Upton Park, it was always going to be difficult to match that in the next game and the first home Premiership game of the season wasn't a classic performance by any means, but there were again glimpses of wonderfully flowing one-touch football against a well organised Derby team who on last night's evidence may not be the push-overs everyone is predicting.

It was great to see one of the local youngsters grab the headlines and Michael Johnson's goal was just stunning. If Elano or Geovanni had scored that, I'm sure a lot of the headlines would have been about superior Brazilian skills so let's not short change the lad, his goal was pure quality and proof there is local talent; you just need to look for it and develop it properly.

Despite the great start though, I do have a slight concern about the number of yellow cards we've received in just two games. Bookings to Garrido, Ireland, Elano, Geovanni against West Ham and Petrov, Hamann, Johnson last night, bring the total to seven.

Both the games City have played have been good sporting games played in good spirit, but yet seven cards have been dished out to City for the most innocuous of challenges, whilst only one card has been shown to City's opponents in those games. None of the two games have been dirty, physical matches, yet seven cards have been shown - something is not right somewhere!

It seems to me that so far City have been very harshly treated by the officials, especially last night when the Derby players got away with a lot of cautionable offences, whilst the referee (who by the way bore an uncanny resemblance to CJ from the classic Rise and Fall of Reginald Perrin series), couldn't get his card out quick enough for the slightest transgression by the City players.

There were also some highly dubious free kicks awarded to Derby right on the edge of the City penalty area and at times it was if the referee was doing his best to help Derby score, hence the ironic cheers when City managed to get a rare decision in our favour

There was one incident last night when a Derby defender nearly ripped the shirt right off one of our players and it went un-punished. His shirt was literally up around his neck right in front of the ref, but for some reason he didn't see that as worthy of a yellow card. If it had been a City player he would have been booked without hesitation.

I'm just wondering if this is now a pattern that City will have to put up with throughout the season. Is it because Sven's the boss, is it due to the Shinawatra takeover and all the high profile coverage? I really don't know, but what's for sure is that our players have been singled out for harsh treatment whilst our opponents have been treated more leniently.

I'm sorry to say that in his first Premiership game, last night's referee was poor and extremely inconsistent. This will cost us later in the season when the suspensions begin to kick in.

Anyway, on a more positive note, it's the Rags on Sunday and whatever the result, we'll still be above them in the table. Surely the prospect of opening up the gap to seven points is more than enough motivation (even for the new foreign signings) to turn on the style and beat the old enemy - can't wait !

Dull Derby Sums Up a Season of Blues

You could probably tell from my previous post that I was not looking forward to the derby, although my anticipated humiliation by the Rags thankfully did not materialise; in fact I'll admit I sat this game out and dispatched the wife and number one son to keep my seats warm whilst I watched the game in a quiet darkened room in the depths of Cheshire.

In terms of the scoreline, it was better than I expected and on paper at least looked to be a close game. The reality however is that City never really looked like threatening the old enemy, despite the support of the Referee. Yesterday's game just seemed to sum up City's season ( and last season for that matter) in a nut shell:

• Ultra defensive formation and tactics to bore the pants off the crowd:

I can't understand why in out last home game in what was the Derby after all, we didn't put out an attacking formation that might actually threaten the opposition's goal and entertain the home crowd - a lone striker is never going to win you much. This just confirms the lack of tactical awareness of the current management team. We now have the dubious and embarrassing distinction of setting the record for the lowest number of home goals in a season, but hey, I guess at last we won something !

• More on-field thuggery:
  

I was hoping that after Thatcher and Barton, we'd got rid of this most unwelcome aspect of our game. Even though many of us may have thought that Ronaldo does deserve a good kicking, Ball's calculated and cowardly stamp on Angelina Ballerina was completely unacceptable and I'd like to see the Club take action before the FA steps in.

It's a real shame that it was Ball who had a Thatcher moment, as he has been a revelation since he joined in the January transfer window and has shored up that dodgy left flank. What is it about the number 3 shirt that seems to bring out the worst in a player?

• Players massively short of passion and confidence:

Last week it was Barton, this week it was Vassell, but you just knew that the penalty was never going to go in. All season, the players' attitude body language have spoken volumes. If the fans can see it, why can't the management?

• A manager deluding himself that all's well and we were just a bit unlucky:

Some of the comments from Pearce that City are pretty much in good shape and a top-six team apart from the lack of a few goals will have irritated an already beleaguered set of fans. Yes the strikers are poor, but the problems are much deeper than Pearce's very blinkered view of the situation.Much of the problem stems from the inability of the midfield to control the centre of the park, hang on to the ball for more than three seconds before giving it away carelessly and most importantly actually creating a decent chance for the strikers.

All of the above and more have resulted in yet another predictable season of mediocrity, tedium and disappointment. To be honest, writing about City is becoming quite a depressing chore with very little to be positive about.

Big changes need to happen quickly so that the best fans in the land have something to cheer and feel proud about. It looks like some stronger clubs will be coming up to the Premiership next season, so City won't have the luxury of weaker teams propping up the table. Next season, it could well be us unless we get some professional management throughout the club.

Derby Tomorrow, But Does Anyone Care?

The Manchester derby is one of the premiere events in the football calendar, or at least it should be. It has served up many memorable encounters over the years with some memorable highs and lows for both clubs.

I should be looking forward to tomorrow's game with great anticipation, but instead I find myself having very little enthusiasm for what should be the high-point of our season.

The 2006-7 season has without doubt been one of the most miserable and un-enjoyable seasons for quite a while. The initial promise as a visionary manager shown by Pearce has long since evaporated and we have had to endure tedious home football watching a set of players who looked totally demotivated and clueless whose overall standard of play is worse than my lads U-11s team.

Unless we manage a goal tomorrow, we're likely to set an unenviable Premiership record of the lowest home goal total. It's been so long since we've scored, I've almost forgotten how to celebrate.

Other low points have included the Thatcher and Barton episodes where we have too many times this season featured on the back pages of the national press for all the wrong reasons.

Added to that the ongoing take-over soap opera and the almost complete disdain and contempt the current board seem to show to the fans, our Club is becoming the laughing stock of the Premiership, but it really isn't funny and it cannot go on.

I've renewed my season tickets for next season, but Christ knows why? I'm at the point now where unless there is a complete change at the club from top to bottom, I'm really going to struggle about getting excited about next year.

Obviously, I hope we beat United tomorrow and finish the season with a bit of a flourish, but am I alone in feeling as flat as this about the club I support?

To coin a phrase, "Am I really bovvered?", well at the moment probably not.

What A Difference A Month Makes

It wasn't so long ago that we were being mercilessly taunted that City's fate would be sealed in the up coming derby game at Eastlands where a United victory would send City down to the Championship whilst at the same time clinching the Premiership.

Well, it's given us all great pleasure to see Mourinho reeling Ferguson' back in, although Chelsea did slip up badly at Newcastle this afternoon. In parallel, City have at last put a decent run together that has seen us pull away from the relegation zone and Premiership safety for another year.

I have to say that I've no real desire to see Chelsea buy another League title, but wouldn't it now be the ultimate irony if it were City who decided United's Premiership fate having had talk of the treble and City being relegated shoved down our throats for most of the season.

What greater motivation do City need when both teams take to the pitch on the 5th May then lobbing a massive spanner in the works to deny United the Premiership title. It couldn't have been better scripted. Another 3 - 1 would do very nicely !