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.