You knew that one of the most interesting deals to come out of this flurry of transfer activity would involve the oil rich club Megabucks City. In the close season City signed Clichy and Savic before moving for Pantilimon and then a little known talent in the form of Sergio Aguero.That we thought was the best signing for City this window, and indeed it is still pretty impressive.
However, in the second week of the Premiership season Mancini landed his man in Nasri. It was a transfer saga that dragged on with Arsenal saying he didn’t want to go. Even Manchester United got involved, saying that they wanted to hijack the deal.
But although Nasri and Aguero are great signings they were not really a surprise. City are a team with a great manager and more money than some country's economies, and they are looking to improve on last season's third position.
No, the real surprise link (which is turning into a more legitimate deal by the hour) is the potential capture of Ex-Bayern Munich, Ex England and Ex Manchester United injury prone Owen Hargreaves. Hargreaves was photographed coming out of Manchester’s Bridgewater Hospital and shaking hands with City Medical Staff following tests on his knees and shoulder.
Owen Hargreaves was born in Canada and as his mother is Welsh and his Father is English he was actually eligible to play for the Canada, Wales or England national teams. He obviously chose England and, although he has been frozen out of the England setup, he is looking to force his way back into Fabio Capello's mind.
He started his career with German side Bayern Munich and spent seven years in Germany. There he helped Munich win the Budesliga four times and the Champions League once.
Hargreaves left Germany in 2007, joined United for €17 million and made his League debut in United's third game of the season, a 1-0 defeat to City away. He scored his first and second goals for United from free kicks, one against Fulham and the other against Arsenal.
However, injuries would rob him of moving on and up in his career and he only made a handful of appearances in the 2008-09 season. Traveling to London and Sweden to see specialists didn’t help and eventually he went to the States.
There he underwent surgery on his right knee in November 2008 and a similar one on his left knee two months later. This meant he would miss out on the season, and another Premier League and League Cup winner's medal.
After many comeback dates were missed, due to fitness or the manager pulling him, he would eventually turn out for 45 minutes in a reserve game. From then on he was not used much at all, becoming an unused sub against Spurs and then coming on in the 93rd minute in their penultimate game against Sunderland.
There were more setbacks for Hargreaves, finally resulting with his comeback being cut short after he picked up a hamstring injury. That was in November 2010 and on May 2011 he was informed his contract would not be renewed.
Certainly, despite his injury problems he has still won a lot throughout his career, including two Champions Leagues, and he would be the perfect replacement for recently retired Patrick Vieira and cover for Yaya Toure when he leaves in January for the African Cup of Nations.
As this is written it is believed the only stumbling block is the finer details of the contract. A pay-as-you play contract may be good for both parties, and as Hargreaves is not owned by a club the deadline constraints have no bearing on this potential signing.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Sunday, August 28, 2011
City V Brum (Unofficial English Cup Winners Cup)
The draw has been made for the third round of the League Cup and the round sees Manchester City face off against Championship side, and current Cup holders Birmingham City.
Since their relegation from the Premiership the Midlands club has struggled. So far they have only managed four points from the first four games and I think possibly their League Cup win last season, qualifying them for European Football, may have shifted the players focus away from the League.
In addition to this, Birmingham have also lost the manager that masterminded that League Cup win left for rivals Aston Villa and instead Chris Houghton. Also, off the field Birmingham have had concerns with their Chairman, after Carson Yeung was arrested at his home in Hong Kong in connection with alleged money laundering.
Make no mistake though, Birmingham can still cause City problems if the Premier League side isn’t focused fully.
In fact the Cup history between these two teams is quite interesting. The last time these two teams met in the League Cup, Manchester City ran out comfortable winners 6-0 with four goals from Huckerby, one from Goater and Luntala with a goal.
That was a round four game and despite the convincing win City couldn’t progress further, getting eliminated by Blackburn in the very next round. There was another 6-0 result in the League Cup on December 1962, this time it was a round five game and the result was in favor of the Midlands team.
In other Cup competitions, how City got on against Birmingham is totally dependant on where the game takes place. Games that took place in the FA Cup in 1927, 1929, 1947 and 1951 between these two teams all resulted in Birmingham wins and only two City goals. All four were played in Birmingham. However, the meetings in 1913, 1956 and 2001 were all Manchester City wins, two were played in Manchester and obviously the 1956 was the 3-1 FA Cup Final win.
Birmingham have won the League Cup just as many times as their Manchester rivals. The most recent win came last season against Arsenal, and the previous one was a two legged affair against Aston Villa in which Brum beat out their neighbors 3-1. Like Manchester City, Birmingham have also appeared and lost in a third Final. That was against Liverpool and was lost on penalties.
Onto Manchester City, everything with City and their participation in the Finals has happened in the 1970’s.
The first win was achieved after extra time against another Midlands club, West Brom. Doyle and Pardoe were the goal scorers on that day to secure the win. Then 1976 saw, up until recently, City lift their last trophy. Again, it was a 2-1 win with Barnes and Tueart the City scorers that day against a Newcastle side.
Their unsuccessful appearance happened slap bang in the middle of the two victories, coming in 1974. Again, this was a 2-1 result but on this day the victors were yet another Midlands team, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Since their relegation from the Premiership the Midlands club has struggled. So far they have only managed four points from the first four games and I think possibly their League Cup win last season, qualifying them for European Football, may have shifted the players focus away from the League.
In addition to this, Birmingham have also lost the manager that masterminded that League Cup win left for rivals Aston Villa and instead Chris Houghton. Also, off the field Birmingham have had concerns with their Chairman, after Carson Yeung was arrested at his home in Hong Kong in connection with alleged money laundering.
Make no mistake though, Birmingham can still cause City problems if the Premier League side isn’t focused fully.
In fact the Cup history between these two teams is quite interesting. The last time these two teams met in the League Cup, Manchester City ran out comfortable winners 6-0 with four goals from Huckerby, one from Goater and Luntala with a goal.
That was a round four game and despite the convincing win City couldn’t progress further, getting eliminated by Blackburn in the very next round. There was another 6-0 result in the League Cup on December 1962, this time it was a round five game and the result was in favor of the Midlands team.
In other Cup competitions, how City got on against Birmingham is totally dependant on where the game takes place. Games that took place in the FA Cup in 1927, 1929, 1947 and 1951 between these two teams all resulted in Birmingham wins and only two City goals. All four were played in Birmingham. However, the meetings in 1913, 1956 and 2001 were all Manchester City wins, two were played in Manchester and obviously the 1956 was the 3-1 FA Cup Final win.
Birmingham have won the League Cup just as many times as their Manchester rivals. The most recent win came last season against Arsenal, and the previous one was a two legged affair against Aston Villa in which Brum beat out their neighbors 3-1. Like Manchester City, Birmingham have also appeared and lost in a third Final. That was against Liverpool and was lost on penalties.
Onto Manchester City, everything with City and their participation in the Finals has happened in the 1970’s.
The first win was achieved after extra time against another Midlands club, West Brom. Doyle and Pardoe were the goal scorers on that day to secure the win. Then 1976 saw, up until recently, City lift their last trophy. Again, it was a 2-1 win with Barnes and Tueart the City scorers that day against a Newcastle side.
Their unsuccessful appearance happened slap bang in the middle of the two victories, coming in 1974. Again, this was a 2-1 result but on this day the victors were yet another Midlands team, Wolverhampton Wanderers.
City Thrash Spurs 5-1
Manchester City sent out a clear message to the rest of the footballing world today with the 5-1 trouncing of Tottenham Hotspur on their own ground.
Now City have beaten Spurs by numerous goals before, and on more than one occasion, but it has always been at City’s ground. In fact you have to go all the way back to 1911 (before both World Wars and Jersey Shore) to find an away win and multiple goals (2-0).
Fast forward to August 2011 and Roberto Mancini’s men put on a footballing display. Starting with the most attacking lineup I have seen from a City for a long time Manchester City made it clear that with the addition of Samir Nasri they were now a complete package.
From the start, there was a lot of attacking and quick counter attacking. Friedel and Hart tried to outdo each other with smart saves early on. Meanwhile the Aguero, Dzeko, Silva and Nasri quartet was looking something special.
It would be a Nasri cross that Dzeko got to just before the Spurs defender that put City 1-0 up after 34 minutes. Tottenham, almost immediately from the restart pushed City's’ defense hard. Five minutes later Crouch had a great opportunity to equalize but instead headed it wide of Harts goal. That would prove to be the turning point as with less than two minutes from that chance City were 2-0 up. Again it was the Dzeko/Nasri combination. Dzeko headed a Nasri cross back across the goal, leaving the Spurs keeper rooted to the spot.
The second half started as the first half had finished, with crisp, precise passing. Ten minutes into the second half and Dzeko became the hat trick man. This time though the cross was provided by Toure who squared the ball to the Bosnian who practically walked through the rearguard. City were a joy to watch and Spurs were always second to the ball every time. When Spurs did have the ball, City hustled and harried them into mistakes.
Aguero put City 4-0 up on the hour mark with a truly wonderful solo effort. His change of pace left Dawson eating dust before drilling the ball high past Friedel and into the roof of the net. Redknapp made a change bringing Livermore on for the Chelsea target Modric as boos rung out across the stadium. It was only two minutes later that Spurs pulled one back through Kaboul. Although Defoe was clearly impeding the City goalkeeper no real appeals were made from the City players and the goal stood.
This gave Spurs a slight glimmer of hope and Hart had to be smart to save a couple of shots before City effectively closed down the game by holding an impromptu training session on the White Hart Lane pitch. One touch passing backwards, sideways and sometimes, but very rarely forward took whatever remained in the home sides fight right out of their legs. Then as if to show they could score at will, in the final minute of stoppage time City broke and Dzeko added his fourth after a one two with Gareth Barry before rifling a shot past Friedel. With that, the whistle blew and the Bosnian had succeeded in putting City fans, and Fantasy Football fans that him in their team, into a fist pumping celebration!
Now City have beaten Spurs by numerous goals before, and on more than one occasion, but it has always been at City’s ground. In fact you have to go all the way back to 1911 (before both World Wars and Jersey Shore) to find an away win and multiple goals (2-0).
Fast forward to August 2011 and Roberto Mancini’s men put on a footballing display. Starting with the most attacking lineup I have seen from a City for a long time Manchester City made it clear that with the addition of Samir Nasri they were now a complete package.
From the start, there was a lot of attacking and quick counter attacking. Friedel and Hart tried to outdo each other with smart saves early on. Meanwhile the Aguero, Dzeko, Silva and Nasri quartet was looking something special.
It would be a Nasri cross that Dzeko got to just before the Spurs defender that put City 1-0 up after 34 minutes. Tottenham, almost immediately from the restart pushed City's’ defense hard. Five minutes later Crouch had a great opportunity to equalize but instead headed it wide of Harts goal. That would prove to be the turning point as with less than two minutes from that chance City were 2-0 up. Again it was the Dzeko/Nasri combination. Dzeko headed a Nasri cross back across the goal, leaving the Spurs keeper rooted to the spot.
The second half started as the first half had finished, with crisp, precise passing. Ten minutes into the second half and Dzeko became the hat trick man. This time though the cross was provided by Toure who squared the ball to the Bosnian who practically walked through the rearguard. City were a joy to watch and Spurs were always second to the ball every time. When Spurs did have the ball, City hustled and harried them into mistakes.
Aguero put City 4-0 up on the hour mark with a truly wonderful solo effort. His change of pace left Dawson eating dust before drilling the ball high past Friedel and into the roof of the net. Redknapp made a change bringing Livermore on for the Chelsea target Modric as boos rung out across the stadium. It was only two minutes later that Spurs pulled one back through Kaboul. Although Defoe was clearly impeding the City goalkeeper no real appeals were made from the City players and the goal stood.
This gave Spurs a slight glimmer of hope and Hart had to be smart to save a couple of shots before City effectively closed down the game by holding an impromptu training session on the White Hart Lane pitch. One touch passing backwards, sideways and sometimes, but very rarely forward took whatever remained in the home sides fight right out of their legs. Then as if to show they could score at will, in the final minute of stoppage time City broke and Dzeko added his fourth after a one two with Gareth Barry before rifling a shot past Friedel. With that, the whistle blew and the Bosnian had succeeded in putting City fans, and Fantasy Football fans that him in their team, into a fist pumping celebration!
Champions League (I Love The Smell Of Europe In The Morning)
September 14 marks a very special day for Manchester City and its supporters. On this day, at the Etihad Stadium, Manchester City will participate in their first Champions League game.
What are the chances that City can go all the way to the Final and win it? I think if you ask City fans, most will say, "If we can just get out of the Group, then who knows."
So what about the Group? City have been placed in Group A, which consists of Bayern Munich, Villarreal and also newbies, Napoli.
Can the likes of Nasri, Aguero, Silva and Co. fend off Europe's finest?
It will be a tough task, taking into account the inconsistent performances in the Europa League last season. However, things have changed since then. This City team are now a year more together and, possibly more importantly, they have won something!
So what are City's chances?
Well, they certainly have been smiled on by lady luck, avoiding the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid and Barca, of course. Also though, the way the fixtures have been set out have also dealt City a kind hand.
First up are Napoli, and the first game for both teams in Europe's elite competition will be on City turf. Certainly the fans could ease any nerves of the night.
Another interesting statistic (as it stands) is City have home games in the Premiership before they then take on Champions League duties. Wigan, Everton, Villa, Wolves, Newcastle and Norwich all travel to City before they compete in a Champions League tie.
Indeed, it is not until City return to domestic duties that the pressure builds with away ties at three of the Big Four.
With the Spanish and Italian Leagues starting today there is no way to know what form these teams will be in this season. We know they will be tough, that is a certainty, and with Bayern already four games into their season with only one goal conceded, we know that City will need to get all the advantages they can and make them count.
What are the chances that City can go all the way to the Final and win it? I think if you ask City fans, most will say, "If we can just get out of the Group, then who knows."
So what about the Group? City have been placed in Group A, which consists of Bayern Munich, Villarreal and also newbies, Napoli.
Can the likes of Nasri, Aguero, Silva and Co. fend off Europe's finest?
It will be a tough task, taking into account the inconsistent performances in the Europa League last season. However, things have changed since then. This City team are now a year more together and, possibly more importantly, they have won something!
So what are City's chances?
Well, they certainly have been smiled on by lady luck, avoiding the likes of AC Milan, Real Madrid and Barca, of course. Also though, the way the fixtures have been set out have also dealt City a kind hand.
First up are Napoli, and the first game for both teams in Europe's elite competition will be on City turf. Certainly the fans could ease any nerves of the night.
Another interesting statistic (as it stands) is City have home games in the Premiership before they then take on Champions League duties. Wigan, Everton, Villa, Wolves, Newcastle and Norwich all travel to City before they compete in a Champions League tie.
Indeed, it is not until City return to domestic duties that the pressure builds with away ties at three of the Big Four.
With the Spanish and Italian Leagues starting today there is no way to know what form these teams will be in this season. We know they will be tough, that is a certainty, and with Bayern already four games into their season with only one goal conceded, we know that City will need to get all the advantages they can and make them count.
Micah Signs 4yr Deal.
With all the talk of Manchester City and the millions they spend on players, it is important not to forget the young English talent they have.
Joe Hart was offered and signed a new five-year deal with the club earlier in the summer, and now it's the City defender Micah Richards' turn.
Richards was offered a four-year deal with City as Roberto Mancini looks to build for the future. Micah, still only 23, debuted for City in 2005 against Arsenal as a substitute but had to wait another four months before being given his full debut.
It would be under the guidance of another great English defender, Stuart Pearce, that Richards would show his worth. For the 2006-07 season, Micah was given the No. 2 shirt rather than his previous No. 45.
Richards has not only been a rock at the back. (Who remembers his tussles with Tevez in the Manchester Derby a few seasons back?) But he has has come up with some important goals.
His first was a header in the dying moments of an FA Cup game against Villa. That last-gasp goal set us up for a replay, which we won. His second was again an equalising goal, this time in the league and against a strong Everton side.
His goals in the FA Cup-winning run are also noteworthy. In the 5-0 replay win against Notts Co, Richards scored a sublime volley. In truth, the game had already been won, but then in the quarterfinals against Reading, his header was the difference between what happened and what usually happens!
Micah beat Steve Redmond as the youngest first-team City captain when he deputised for the injured Dunne in a game against Villa in September of 2007. He has been knocked unconscious for the cause and is a player that gives everything he has when he pulls on the sky-blue shirt.
Joe Hart was offered and signed a new five-year deal with the club earlier in the summer, and now it's the City defender Micah Richards' turn.
Richards was offered a four-year deal with City as Roberto Mancini looks to build for the future. Micah, still only 23, debuted for City in 2005 against Arsenal as a substitute but had to wait another four months before being given his full debut.
It would be under the guidance of another great English defender, Stuart Pearce, that Richards would show his worth. For the 2006-07 season, Micah was given the No. 2 shirt rather than his previous No. 45.
Richards has not only been a rock at the back. (Who remembers his tussles with Tevez in the Manchester Derby a few seasons back?) But he has has come up with some important goals.
His first was a header in the dying moments of an FA Cup game against Villa. That last-gasp goal set us up for a replay, which we won. His second was again an equalising goal, this time in the league and against a strong Everton side.
His goals in the FA Cup-winning run are also noteworthy. In the 5-0 replay win against Notts Co, Richards scored a sublime volley. In truth, the game had already been won, but then in the quarterfinals against Reading, his header was the difference between what happened and what usually happens!
Micah beat Steve Redmond as the youngest first-team City captain when he deputised for the injured Dunne in a game against Villa in September of 2007. He has been knocked unconscious for the cause and is a player that gives everything he has when he pulls on the sky-blue shirt.
Friday, August 26, 2011
City Strikers: Past and Present
With the arrival of Sergio Aguero, Manchester City can now boast yet another potentially prolific striker to go along with their rich history of great strikers. But who has been our best thus far? Last season, Carlos Tevez was the name on everyone’s lips and his goals helped City to their highest Premiership finish ever and lifted our first silverware for over 30 years. I have no doubt that without Tevez, City wouldn’t have achieved the success of the 2010-11 season. We certainly couldn’t rely on a moody Balotelli or a misfiring Dzeko to make up the difference. But what of City strikers of the past? How do they fare?Now, I am going to exclude players like Adebayor, Santa Cruz, Bianci and even Jo because although they were big name players that came with big price tags, I do not think they really contributed in the way that others have.
Certainly, you could look to Shaun Goater and Paul Dickov as coming up with big goals throughout City's demise and revival. In fact, if it wasn’t for the iconic Dickov goal in the playoff final, City would not be anything like the team we see today. I am sure I do not need to remind City fans of Shaun Goaters contribution to the cause also. The Bermudian scored on his debut in a 3-0 win and never really stopped from then on. He was City’s top scorer in that season in the third tier of the football league and, following promotion, he was also the top scorer for City to ensure back to back promotions and put us back where we belong, the Premiership. We were relegated but Goater fired City back up after just one season, again as top scorer. Shaun scored one every two games once back in the Premiership, including two in the last Maine Road derby game. Everyone remembers him mugging Neville right?
Traveling back further in the 1990s, you have the German Uwe Rosler who in the 1994-95 season scored 28 percent of the League goals as were barely avoided the drop. Every City fan remembers his lob of United keeper Peter Schmeichel, even though we lost that game.
Niall Quinn joined City in 1990 and instantly netted his first City goal in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. He would finish that season scoring four goals in nine games and it would be in the following seasons that he would leave his mark. Quinn would play in all the games in his first full season and score 20 league goals which lifted us up to a fifth place finish. This would be the highest finishing position for Manchester City since the 1977-78 season but also, we finished above neighbors United.
One of the most memorable moments for City fans of the Mighty Quinn would be a game against Derby County in the season just mentioned. The City keeper had just brought down a player in the area and had been sent off. In those days, teams rarely named substitute keepers and so Quinn, having already scored, was put between the sticks and he saved the resulting penalty. This confirmed Derby County’s relegation and secured us all three points. Sometimes it seems that clubs live and die with certain players and Quinn and City is one of those examples. What would be Quinn’s last season proved also to be the start of City’s demise. City would not play another Premiership match for the rest of the 1990s. The Phoenix we saw rise in 2008 started with the ashes of 1996.The 1980s were not the best of times for Manchester City but we still managed to boast goal scorers such as David White, Paul Stewart and, of course, Clive Allen. We spent most of that decade either fighting against relegation or winning a promotion without really gaining any momentum.
Indeed you have to back to the time of Neil Young and Francis Lee in the 60s and 70s to see more examples of top drawer strikers. Neil Young was our top scorer in Joe Mercer's first season as City manager and helped propel City back to the top division. Two seasons later, he would be an ever present in City’s Championship winning team, finishing as City’s top scorer in the process. The next season, he would score the winner in our last FA Cup victory (until Mr. Toure netted recently). In that goal, City beat a plucky Leicester side by a solitary goal, similarities to our most recent victory are not lost on me. If that wasn’t enough, a year later he was scoring in another Cup Final. This time the opponent was Gornik Zabrze and the competition was the European Cup Winners Cup Final. Our next entry scored the winning goal but Mr. Young also got on the score sheet on that historic night in Vienna.
Francis Lee, where do we start with this young man? Well, we can start by forgetting his foray into ownership of City in the early 1990s and focus on his playing career with City. In his first season, he scored 16 goals in 31 games and we won the League. Also in his favor was the fact he loved to score against United at their ground. He scored the winner in the 2-1 victory in 1970 and got a hat-trick the next season just before Christmas. The following encounter also saw Lee net twice in a victory and in fact although we finished fourth, it was only by one point that we didn’t win the League in 1972 also. Again, with Young, he was involved in our last European success. The European Cup Winners Cup was a straight knockout, home and away competition, Lee scored six times including the winner.
Now if you want to go back into the City archives further, you will find a young man called Joe Hayes. He would spend 12 seasons at City from 1953-65 and score 152 goals in 364 appearances. This included the winning goal in our 3-1 FA Cup win against Birmingham in 1956, a season in which he played all League games and netted 23 goals. The following season, he went a little better, playing two games less but increasing his goal tally by two.
Finally, my last two names for you. Firstly, Eric Brook. This guy played for us right up until Hitler threw his toys out of the pram and all over Europe. He started in 1928 and would end up playing 493 games for us scoring a total of 177 goals. 158 of these were in the League which places Mr. Brook top of our all-time League scorer charts….well joint top with a certain Tommy Johnson. Johnson scored both goals in a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough on his debut. After that, his initial return was nothing special. His first season of note was the 1926-27 season in which he netted 25 league goals in 38 appearances, including a hat-trick on the final day against Bradford in an 8-0 win. This was not enough to see City back to the top division, but the next season, his 19 goals (again including a hat-trick, this time in a 7-4 win against Swansea) would see City promoted as Champions. However, his biggest contribution was his almost a goal a game in the following season, 38 goals in 39 appearances. His last season saw him contribute a goal every three games including signing off with the winning goal in his last game, at home to Liverpool.
So City has had some very important and interesting strikers throughout their history. Some were flamboyant and excited the crowds with some cheeky moves whereas others were just grafters. They were the ones that would fight for the goal. All were what City needed at that particular time in their history and all contributed in their own way.
Certainly, you could look to Shaun Goater and Paul Dickov as coming up with big goals throughout City's demise and revival. In fact, if it wasn’t for the iconic Dickov goal in the playoff final, City would not be anything like the team we see today. I am sure I do not need to remind City fans of Shaun Goaters contribution to the cause also. The Bermudian scored on his debut in a 3-0 win and never really stopped from then on. He was City’s top scorer in that season in the third tier of the football league and, following promotion, he was also the top scorer for City to ensure back to back promotions and put us back where we belong, the Premiership. We were relegated but Goater fired City back up after just one season, again as top scorer. Shaun scored one every two games once back in the Premiership, including two in the last Maine Road derby game. Everyone remembers him mugging Neville right?
Traveling back further in the 1990s, you have the German Uwe Rosler who in the 1994-95 season scored 28 percent of the League goals as were barely avoided the drop. Every City fan remembers his lob of United keeper Peter Schmeichel, even though we lost that game.
Niall Quinn joined City in 1990 and instantly netted his first City goal in a 1-1 draw against Chelsea. He would finish that season scoring four goals in nine games and it would be in the following seasons that he would leave his mark. Quinn would play in all the games in his first full season and score 20 league goals which lifted us up to a fifth place finish. This would be the highest finishing position for Manchester City since the 1977-78 season but also, we finished above neighbors United.
One of the most memorable moments for City fans of the Mighty Quinn would be a game against Derby County in the season just mentioned. The City keeper had just brought down a player in the area and had been sent off. In those days, teams rarely named substitute keepers and so Quinn, having already scored, was put between the sticks and he saved the resulting penalty. This confirmed Derby County’s relegation and secured us all three points. Sometimes it seems that clubs live and die with certain players and Quinn and City is one of those examples. What would be Quinn’s last season proved also to be the start of City’s demise. City would not play another Premiership match for the rest of the 1990s. The Phoenix we saw rise in 2008 started with the ashes of 1996.The 1980s were not the best of times for Manchester City but we still managed to boast goal scorers such as David White, Paul Stewart and, of course, Clive Allen. We spent most of that decade either fighting against relegation or winning a promotion without really gaining any momentum.
Indeed you have to back to the time of Neil Young and Francis Lee in the 60s and 70s to see more examples of top drawer strikers. Neil Young was our top scorer in Joe Mercer's first season as City manager and helped propel City back to the top division. Two seasons later, he would be an ever present in City’s Championship winning team, finishing as City’s top scorer in the process. The next season, he would score the winner in our last FA Cup victory (until Mr. Toure netted recently). In that goal, City beat a plucky Leicester side by a solitary goal, similarities to our most recent victory are not lost on me. If that wasn’t enough, a year later he was scoring in another Cup Final. This time the opponent was Gornik Zabrze and the competition was the European Cup Winners Cup Final. Our next entry scored the winning goal but Mr. Young also got on the score sheet on that historic night in Vienna.
Francis Lee, where do we start with this young man? Well, we can start by forgetting his foray into ownership of City in the early 1990s and focus on his playing career with City. In his first season, he scored 16 goals in 31 games and we won the League. Also in his favor was the fact he loved to score against United at their ground. He scored the winner in the 2-1 victory in 1970 and got a hat-trick the next season just before Christmas. The following encounter also saw Lee net twice in a victory and in fact although we finished fourth, it was only by one point that we didn’t win the League in 1972 also. Again, with Young, he was involved in our last European success. The European Cup Winners Cup was a straight knockout, home and away competition, Lee scored six times including the winner.
Now if you want to go back into the City archives further, you will find a young man called Joe Hayes. He would spend 12 seasons at City from 1953-65 and score 152 goals in 364 appearances. This included the winning goal in our 3-1 FA Cup win against Birmingham in 1956, a season in which he played all League games and netted 23 goals. The following season, he went a little better, playing two games less but increasing his goal tally by two.
Finally, my last two names for you. Firstly, Eric Brook. This guy played for us right up until Hitler threw his toys out of the pram and all over Europe. He started in 1928 and would end up playing 493 games for us scoring a total of 177 goals. 158 of these were in the League which places Mr. Brook top of our all-time League scorer charts….well joint top with a certain Tommy Johnson. Johnson scored both goals in a 2-0 win against Middlesbrough on his debut. After that, his initial return was nothing special. His first season of note was the 1926-27 season in which he netted 25 league goals in 38 appearances, including a hat-trick on the final day against Bradford in an 8-0 win. This was not enough to see City back to the top division, but the next season, his 19 goals (again including a hat-trick, this time in a 7-4 win against Swansea) would see City promoted as Champions. However, his biggest contribution was his almost a goal a game in the following season, 38 goals in 39 appearances. His last season saw him contribute a goal every three games including signing off with the winning goal in his last game, at home to Liverpool.
So City has had some very important and interesting strikers throughout their history. Some were flamboyant and excited the crowds with some cheeky moves whereas others were just grafters. They were the ones that would fight for the goal. All were what City needed at that particular time in their history and all contributed in their own way.
Are Silva, Kun and Nasri the new Bell, Lee and Summerbee
I know that it is far too early to be comparing the new three of David Silva, Sergio Aguero and Samir Nasri to the legendary trio that were Bell, Lee and Summerbee, but it is quite fun to look at the similarities between the two trios. Also, as a side note, I understand that Mancini is no Mercer, and that the game of football has changed since those glory days, but I am writing this so just go along with me.
Then: Mike Summerbee: Born 15th December, 1942. Mike played on the right wing but also could play as a forward. He was known as a player with a fiery temper and somewhat of a practical joker. He joined City in 1965.
Now: David Silva: Born 8th Jan, 1986. Ok, so he is the oldest of the trio, and Summerbee is the youngest of his trio, but they were both the first of the three signed to City. Within three years of Summerbee signing, City had won the League. So either this year or next at the latest, I reckon! There are three inches difference in the height with Silva being the shorter, but they both could play on the wing or as supporting striker. Also, we know the Spanish play passionately, which is European talk for "fiery temper."
Then: Colin Bell: Born 26th February, 1946. Colin was nicknamed Nijinsky for his stamina on the field. No nonsense, get your head down and play kind of guy who dominated the midfield. He was 5-foot-11 and probably most City fans' favorite player. He was signed by City in 1966, a year after "Buzzer."
Now: Samir Nasri: Born 26th June, 1987. At 5-foot-10, only giving up the single inch on Bell in the height department, Nasri can play as an attacking midfielder, winger or even further back if the game dictates. Just like Mr Bell, he will keep running all day if needed. If you need proof, just look at his last game for Arsenal against Liverpool. He ran his socks off, even though he didn’t want to be there. That is the commitment Bell had to his team, and the commitment to City we will see from Nasri will be similar, I am sure. Just like Mercer with Lee, Mancini is looking at Nasri as being the last piece of the puzzle.
Then: Francis Lee: Born 15th December, 1942. Touted by Mercer as the "Final Piece of the Jigsaw," Lee signed for City in October 1967. A stocky forward who, although did not score on his debut, would go onto score 148 goals in his City career.
Now: Sergio Aguero: Born 2nd June, 1988. Gives up half an inch to Lee in the height department. Although he did score twice in his first game, he, like Lee, went goalless in their first starts for City. Just like Lee, I think, Aguero has the ability to score many goals for City.
Now, obviously, the comparisons are not entirely matches due to the change in football since the times of Bell, Lee and Summerbee. Transfer fees that City paid are a glaring difference, but I think roughly they are the closest we have had for a while. Even the ages are close! For example, 38 months separate the oldest to youngest from the trio in the 60’s and 70’s. With this three, 29 months separate them. Then there is the times that they were signed, all within close proximity of each other, 3 years for the older trio and 2 years for the newest batch.
What do you think?
I know my father enjoyed the trophies and success brought to City back then and fondly talks about "Bell, Lee and Summerbee." Hopefully we can now do the same with "Silva, Kun and Nasri."
Then: Mike Summerbee: Born 15th December, 1942. Mike played on the right wing but also could play as a forward. He was known as a player with a fiery temper and somewhat of a practical joker. He joined City in 1965.
Now: David Silva: Born 8th Jan, 1986. Ok, so he is the oldest of the trio, and Summerbee is the youngest of his trio, but they were both the first of the three signed to City. Within three years of Summerbee signing, City had won the League. So either this year or next at the latest, I reckon! There are three inches difference in the height with Silva being the shorter, but they both could play on the wing or as supporting striker. Also, we know the Spanish play passionately, which is European talk for "fiery temper."
Then: Colin Bell: Born 26th February, 1946. Colin was nicknamed Nijinsky for his stamina on the field. No nonsense, get your head down and play kind of guy who dominated the midfield. He was 5-foot-11 and probably most City fans' favorite player. He was signed by City in 1966, a year after "Buzzer."
Now: Samir Nasri: Born 26th June, 1987. At 5-foot-10, only giving up the single inch on Bell in the height department, Nasri can play as an attacking midfielder, winger or even further back if the game dictates. Just like Mr Bell, he will keep running all day if needed. If you need proof, just look at his last game for Arsenal against Liverpool. He ran his socks off, even though he didn’t want to be there. That is the commitment Bell had to his team, and the commitment to City we will see from Nasri will be similar, I am sure. Just like Mercer with Lee, Mancini is looking at Nasri as being the last piece of the puzzle.
Then: Francis Lee: Born 15th December, 1942. Touted by Mercer as the "Final Piece of the Jigsaw," Lee signed for City in October 1967. A stocky forward who, although did not score on his debut, would go onto score 148 goals in his City career.
Now: Sergio Aguero: Born 2nd June, 1988. Gives up half an inch to Lee in the height department. Although he did score twice in his first game, he, like Lee, went goalless in their first starts for City. Just like Lee, I think, Aguero has the ability to score many goals for City.
Now, obviously, the comparisons are not entirely matches due to the change in football since the times of Bell, Lee and Summerbee. Transfer fees that City paid are a glaring difference, but I think roughly they are the closest we have had for a while. Even the ages are close! For example, 38 months separate the oldest to youngest from the trio in the 60’s and 70’s. With this three, 29 months separate them. Then there is the times that they were signed, all within close proximity of each other, 3 years for the older trio and 2 years for the newest batch.
What do you think?
I know my father enjoyed the trophies and success brought to City back then and fondly talks about "Bell, Lee and Summerbee." Hopefully we can now do the same with "Silva, Kun and Nasri."
Tottenham V City (Preview)
So with Samir Nasri on the City books it is now onto the job of winning Premier League games. Next up for City is another away trip, this time to Tottenham. It has been hard to determine exactly how Spurs are going to be this season. So far they have only played two competitive games. The first was away to Hearts in the Europa competition in which a very poor Hearts side made them look better than they actually are, running out 5-0 winners. Then it was off to Old Trafford and a defeat against a less than convincing United side against a poorer Spurs side.
So to the stats. We have met Tottenham a total of 124 times in the league and the points have been evenly spread with us winning 46 and them with a slight advantage on 47 wins. However, with the exception of last season, City haven’t had good times against Spurs. In the last ten encounters Spurs have won 70 percent of the time, with us doubling our victories last season through a Crouch O.G!
When you ask about interesting games between the two teams, some younger supporters may pick out the FA Cup game of 2004. The one where Spurs were up 3-0 at half time and we had just had Joey Barton sent off (shocker I know!) The second half we came out blazing and turned the game around for a 4-3 victory. Some of the slightly older supporters will instantly go back to the FA Cup Final of 1981 and Ricky Villa. The less said about that one, the better.
Without a doubt though our weirdest set of results came in the 1957/58 season when on September 28 we beat Spurs 5-1 at Maine Road only to have exactly the same result, in reverse, in the return fixture on February 8th.
Our best set of results against Spurs in the league came in the 1967/68 season. That campaign we beat them 4-1 on our ground and then 3-1 on theirs. Oh yeah and that was the year we won the league. In the first game, played on December 9th, four different scorers had their names on the sheet for City. Bell, Young, Summerbee and Coleman. The return fixture saw just two names, with Bell getting a brace and Summerbee with the third.
We haven’t had it all our own way though. We have been thoroughly hammered by Tottenham on more than one occasion. In 1958 and 1934 we lost 5-1 and in 1924 we lost 4-1! On the plus side we have also had our fair share of handing of asses on platter moments too! 6-2 win in, guess, 62! 5-1 in 1958 and more recently a 5-2 drubbing in 1994. That was just after the USA had hosted the World Cup! However the most significant result came toward the end of the 1972 season. Tottenham faced relegation from the top flight going into the last three games. First up, City. The final score in that game, 5-0 City and bye bye Spuds!
So to the stats. We have met Tottenham a total of 124 times in the league and the points have been evenly spread with us winning 46 and them with a slight advantage on 47 wins. However, with the exception of last season, City haven’t had good times against Spurs. In the last ten encounters Spurs have won 70 percent of the time, with us doubling our victories last season through a Crouch O.G!
When you ask about interesting games between the two teams, some younger supporters may pick out the FA Cup game of 2004. The one where Spurs were up 3-0 at half time and we had just had Joey Barton sent off (shocker I know!) The second half we came out blazing and turned the game around for a 4-3 victory. Some of the slightly older supporters will instantly go back to the FA Cup Final of 1981 and Ricky Villa. The less said about that one, the better.
Without a doubt though our weirdest set of results came in the 1957/58 season when on September 28 we beat Spurs 5-1 at Maine Road only to have exactly the same result, in reverse, in the return fixture on February 8th.
Our best set of results against Spurs in the league came in the 1967/68 season. That campaign we beat them 4-1 on our ground and then 3-1 on theirs. Oh yeah and that was the year we won the league. In the first game, played on December 9th, four different scorers had their names on the sheet for City. Bell, Young, Summerbee and Coleman. The return fixture saw just two names, with Bell getting a brace and Summerbee with the third.
We haven’t had it all our own way though. We have been thoroughly hammered by Tottenham on more than one occasion. In 1958 and 1934 we lost 5-1 and in 1924 we lost 4-1! On the plus side we have also had our fair share of handing of asses on platter moments too! 6-2 win in, guess, 62! 5-1 in 1958 and more recently a 5-2 drubbing in 1994. That was just after the USA had hosted the World Cup! However the most significant result came toward the end of the 1972 season. Tottenham faced relegation from the top flight going into the last three games. First up, City. The final score in that game, 5-0 City and bye bye Spuds!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
English Riots
As news of the past few days riots in London and other parts of the UK spread across the Social Networking sites I knew that this was going to be another dark chapter in British history. As I live overseas, friends here asked me how family and friends back in England were coping. It was with those questions that I was reminded of the War poster, a variant of which is hanging on the wall above my computer. It simply says ’Keep Calm and Carry On’. It seems so apt for the chaos that rains down on England right now.
London went through the blitz when German warplanes relentlessly, night after night, dropped bombs on the civilians for 76 consecutive nights. In that sustained attack over a million houses were destroyed or damaged and more than 20,000 Londoners killed. The Germans would target other Cities up and down the British Isles, claiming another 20,000 lives. However the bombing did not bring Britain to it’s knees. In fact the constant barrage never really seriously hampered production and the war industries continued to operate and expand.
Then London was targeted by the IRA. Nail bombs being a particular favorite of the Irish Republican Army and civilians made for the easiest and most unsuspecting victims. Again the Londoners just got themselves back up, dusted themselves off and started all over again. 'London has always been reinventing itself, it is a City built on the wreckage of itself' a quote from Michelle Williams' character in the movie ‘Incendiary’. It’s been flattened by storms, flooded and rotten with plague. Even Hitler couldn’t finish it off‘.
The terrorists attacks of July 7th on the mass transit of London was yet another chapter in the book. The Underground system was targeted as well as a iconic London bus and despite the loss of life, most people went on about their lives the very next day. People got back on buses and rode the ‘Tube’.
This happened in London but the rest of the British people have the same resolve. Heartbreaking stories of people getting attacked, robbed and stores and buildings destroyed are terrible but then you have the spirit of the people shining through. The couple who kept the police on their particular street in ample supply of tea and biscuits. Or the cleaning crews, unpaid members of the public, taking to the streets to aid the cleanup may be small gestures but trust me they show the true spirit of the Englishman. Make no mistake, these rioters will face justice and England will continue as normal. They will get back up, dust themselves off and start the rebuild again. Land of Hope and Glory.
London went through the blitz when German warplanes relentlessly, night after night, dropped bombs on the civilians for 76 consecutive nights. In that sustained attack over a million houses were destroyed or damaged and more than 20,000 Londoners killed. The Germans would target other Cities up and down the British Isles, claiming another 20,000 lives. However the bombing did not bring Britain to it’s knees. In fact the constant barrage never really seriously hampered production and the war industries continued to operate and expand.
Then London was targeted by the IRA. Nail bombs being a particular favorite of the Irish Republican Army and civilians made for the easiest and most unsuspecting victims. Again the Londoners just got themselves back up, dusted themselves off and started all over again. 'London has always been reinventing itself, it is a City built on the wreckage of itself' a quote from Michelle Williams' character in the movie ‘Incendiary’. It’s been flattened by storms, flooded and rotten with plague. Even Hitler couldn’t finish it off‘.
The terrorists attacks of July 7th on the mass transit of London was yet another chapter in the book. The Underground system was targeted as well as a iconic London bus and despite the loss of life, most people went on about their lives the very next day. People got back on buses and rode the ‘Tube’.
This happened in London but the rest of the British people have the same resolve. Heartbreaking stories of people getting attacked, robbed and stores and buildings destroyed are terrible but then you have the spirit of the people shining through. The couple who kept the police on their particular street in ample supply of tea and biscuits. Or the cleaning crews, unpaid members of the public, taking to the streets to aid the cleanup may be small gestures but trust me they show the true spirit of the Englishman. Make no mistake, these rioters will face justice and England will continue as normal. They will get back up, dust themselves off and start the rebuild again. Land of Hope and Glory.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
Community Shield. Who Cares!? I did!
So yet again, for the third time in the space of only a few months City traveled down to London in search of silverware. City would face the Salford Reds in the Community Shield, a traditional pre season curtain raiser that promised to be anything but traditional.
The last time these two teams met City were the victors with the single goal from Yaya Toure, and in much the same way as that game it was United who would dominate the opening exchanges and, if truth were told, were much the better side, fitter and quicker to the ball. City meanwhile seemed sluggish and disjointed and were lucky not to be goals down when Lescott moved between Ferdinand and De Gea to slot home the opener. At that point City came alive and at the death Dzeko doubled the lead. Halftime would be just what United needed though as a knockout punch that no doubt would have been landed was interrupted by the bell, or in this case the whistle.
As all City fans know from experience though a United team on the ropes is possibly the most dangerous United team you can face and that proved to be just the case. City started the second half stuck in first gear as clearances hoofed out of Harts penalty box were quickly returned with speed and determination by a rampant red surge. I am now going to type four words that I never imagined I would ever type, ‘Ferguson, to his credit’ (Oh that stings!) made wholesale changes at the half and they repaid him almost immediately. Smalling reduced the deficit getting on to a Young freekick before Nani scored a cute equalizing goal. From that point on there was only going to be one team to score and ironically it came from a rare City forward adventure in the United half. Dzekos weak header was wellied clear by Rooney and while the usually reliable Kompany discussed with Clichy who would get the ball Nani had latched on and was through one on one with Hart. As the net bustled the United fans rejoiced and, once more, City hearts sunk.
The last time these two teams met City were the victors with the single goal from Yaya Toure, and in much the same way as that game it was United who would dominate the opening exchanges and, if truth were told, were much the better side, fitter and quicker to the ball. City meanwhile seemed sluggish and disjointed and were lucky not to be goals down when Lescott moved between Ferdinand and De Gea to slot home the opener. At that point City came alive and at the death Dzeko doubled the lead. Halftime would be just what United needed though as a knockout punch that no doubt would have been landed was interrupted by the bell, or in this case the whistle.
As all City fans know from experience though a United team on the ropes is possibly the most dangerous United team you can face and that proved to be just the case. City started the second half stuck in first gear as clearances hoofed out of Harts penalty box were quickly returned with speed and determination by a rampant red surge. I am now going to type four words that I never imagined I would ever type, ‘Ferguson, to his credit’ (Oh that stings!) made wholesale changes at the half and they repaid him almost immediately. Smalling reduced the deficit getting on to a Young freekick before Nani scored a cute equalizing goal. From that point on there was only going to be one team to score and ironically it came from a rare City forward adventure in the United half. Dzekos weak header was wellied clear by Rooney and while the usually reliable Kompany discussed with Clichy who would get the ball Nani had latched on and was through one on one with Hart. As the net bustled the United fans rejoiced and, once more, City hearts sunk.
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