So another Manchester derby is in the books and again the history books will record it as City came off second best yet again. For those who watched the game though, the words ‘second best’ are far from what City were at Old Trafford. City were the ones who threatened first through David Silva and to be fair it was shocking to see him miss the target with only two minutes on the clock. If it was Jo then no surprise but Silva is gold with those chances.
I think more about City’s threat should be viewed in how Ferguson set up his team, playing at home and only with the one lone striker, something the Scot never would have done in Manchester derbies of the past. That really is an indicator as to how far we have come in such a short space of time. However it was to be United who opened the scoring through Nani with four minutes of the first half remaining.
The second half saw Kolarov and Milner make way for Wright Phillips and new signing Edin Dzeko. Five minutes after coming on it was the latter whose shot was deflected off of Silvas back to put City back level.
It was clear that it would take something special in order for a team to win it and Rooney’s shin guard was that something special as it connected with a misplaced Nani cross to send an unstoppable shot past City goalkeeper Joe Hart. Now the goal was a good one, and it wasn’t like Hart could do anything about it but to hear some of the media describe it in their reports, the way they gush over it can make you feel quite ill. Here is my favorite: ‘Nani's cross from the right flank was high and behind Rooney as he lurked near the penalty spot, but he elevated an indifferent personal display to the heights by readjusting his position and sending an acrobatic, unstoppable overhead kick high past startled City keeper Joe Hart‘.
Now had City scored that goal instead of Rooney then the description I am sure would have read: ‘David Silva misplaced his cross into the area toward Tevez who tried his luck and aided by his shin pad the ball nestled in the back of the net, but in truth it could have gone anywhere!’. Don’t believe me? Well here is the same media outlet describing our goal. ‘Silva's fortunate leveler, unwittingly deflecting in substitute Edin Dzeko's shot via his back, had given City momentum‘.
The City players did well and that shows in the stats from the game. Possession is almost identical with them having 51% and us the other 49%. We had more total shots and more on target. We also almost doubled them up on corners but surprisingly we had two fouls less than them but the same amount of cards. All in all it shows we are moving in the right direction and sooner rather than later we will eclipse them and then what will the media do then..poor things!
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Sunday, February 6, 2011
CITY 3, Baggies 0
Manchester City sent a message to all those doubters that they are still there and they are still in the hunt for the Premiership title this season. King Carlos Tevez was the man of the moment as the birthday boy celebrated his 27th birthday with a hat trick to send City to within five points of rivals Manchester United.
City started well and had already hit the post when Aleksandar Kolorov burst into the area only to be hauled down by Steven Reid. After missing his previous two penalty attempts it was clear Tevez would place the ball. He did and duly scored to put the home team one up. From there it was West Brom who pressed and forced saves from a very concentrated Joe Hart. David Silva then set up Tevez for his second and didn’t have to wait too long for his third after Thomas handled in the area.
City were flowing and looked as if they had banished the demons of the last few games and if it wasn’t for Myhill City would have been more up by the break. Kolarov blasted a thunderbolt that rattled the crossbar and had Myhill check his fingers which he needed later to deny Silva when clean through.
The second half was a bit more cautious with City more concerned with not conceding a goal rather than increasing the lead although did create a good chance for Tevez to add his and City’s fourth but the birthday boy, possibly full of cake, blasted wastefully over.
At the end the City fans would go home happy, especially after hearing that rivals Arsenal had allowed a four goal lead slip to Newcastle which saw us gain two points on them. Later news came that Manchester United had been turned over by the bottom club Wolves to make next weeks derby came even more tasty than it was already, if that was even possible!
City started well and had already hit the post when Aleksandar Kolorov burst into the area only to be hauled down by Steven Reid. After missing his previous two penalty attempts it was clear Tevez would place the ball. He did and duly scored to put the home team one up. From there it was West Brom who pressed and forced saves from a very concentrated Joe Hart. David Silva then set up Tevez for his second and didn’t have to wait too long for his third after Thomas handled in the area.
City were flowing and looked as if they had banished the demons of the last few games and if it wasn’t for Myhill City would have been more up by the break. Kolarov blasted a thunderbolt that rattled the crossbar and had Myhill check his fingers which he needed later to deny Silva when clean through.
The second half was a bit more cautious with City more concerned with not conceding a goal rather than increasing the lead although did create a good chance for Tevez to add his and City’s fourth but the birthday boy, possibly full of cake, blasted wastefully over.
At the end the City fans would go home happy, especially after hearing that rivals Arsenal had allowed a four goal lead slip to Newcastle which saw us gain two points on them. Later news came that Manchester United had been turned over by the bottom club Wolves to make next weeks derby came even more tasty than it was already, if that was even possible!
Saturday, February 5, 2011
Neil Young Trophy?? Tell me what you think
I have been thinking a lot lately about Manchester City and the recently departed Neil Young. He was a City legend but as many people have said, he never got a testimonial from City despite his years of service to our beloved club. Ideas regarding a pre season friendly with City taking on another unspecified team has been banded around with all the funds from the match going to Neil’s family to do with as they wish.
I think that is a good idea, however after 90 minutes the game will be over and the world will carry on. I have another thought and this is my idea. City should set aside July 18th each year for the Neil Young Trophy game. The first year could consist of a City side and they would be joined by Preston, Rochdale and Macclesfield Town or just City and one other.
The reason I suggest the 18th July because that’s when Neil he turned professional. The teams, as you know, are the teams Neil went on to play for after City. I think this would be a great family day and a great way to honour a great player and City legend.
I think that is a good idea, however after 90 minutes the game will be over and the world will carry on. I have another thought and this is my idea. City should set aside July 18th each year for the Neil Young Trophy game. The first year could consist of a City side and they would be joined by Preston, Rochdale and Macclesfield Town or just City and one other.
The reason I suggest the 18th July because that’s when Neil he turned professional. The teams, as you know, are the teams Neil went on to play for after City. I think this would be a great family day and a great way to honour a great player and City legend.
CITY v Baggies (preview)
City go into today’s game against West Brom knowing that a win is crucial if they want to keep hot on the heels of the top two and just as importantly, keep a barrier of points from them and the fifth place team. City haven’t had a good run of results recently with two points thrown away at St Andrews on Wednesday and struggling in the FA Cup a week ago. In fact this will be the third league game against a Midlands team in a row, and so far a disappointing solitary point is all we have to show for it.
City have played West Brom twice so far this season. First they knocked us out of the Carling Cup on their ground in September 2-1 but our league fixture away to them gave us the three points we were looking for, and will be looking for again tomorrow.
City’s last game at home to WBA was in April 09 and saw a City side roll over the Baggies 4-2 but that was the only time we have beaten them while at Eastlands.
Looking at the team news obviously Balotelli and Johnson remain sidelined for knee and ankle injuries respectively. They are joined by Micah Richards who, as you know decided to see just how hard Nigel De Jongs head was during the recent game against Birmingham. Nigel himself is doubtful due to an ankle injury which saw him subbed off at half time. Both the Toure brothers could return to the line up which will certainly be a boost. City have shipped seven goals in their last three league games which alarmingly counts for almost a third of the total goals conceded all season. Mancini will be looking to tighten up the defense which looks very nervous at every kind of set piece that comes their way.
Interesting points going into the game is that City, despite having only that one win against West Brom at Eastlands have never lost to them at the City of Manchester Stadium and with a win today we will complete our first double over West Brom since the 1999/00 season, which obviously came in the second tier.
Edin Dzeko will score today. He must! It took him four games in the Bundesliga before he got off the mark and this will be his fourth attempt for City. If he does then get excited as after that he went on to score 66 in the next 108 league games! One last downside….Martin Atkinson is referee!
City have played West Brom twice so far this season. First they knocked us out of the Carling Cup on their ground in September 2-1 but our league fixture away to them gave us the three points we were looking for, and will be looking for again tomorrow.
City’s last game at home to WBA was in April 09 and saw a City side roll over the Baggies 4-2 but that was the only time we have beaten them while at Eastlands.
Looking at the team news obviously Balotelli and Johnson remain sidelined for knee and ankle injuries respectively. They are joined by Micah Richards who, as you know decided to see just how hard Nigel De Jongs head was during the recent game against Birmingham. Nigel himself is doubtful due to an ankle injury which saw him subbed off at half time. Both the Toure brothers could return to the line up which will certainly be a boost. City have shipped seven goals in their last three league games which alarmingly counts for almost a third of the total goals conceded all season. Mancini will be looking to tighten up the defense which looks very nervous at every kind of set piece that comes their way.
Interesting points going into the game is that City, despite having only that one win against West Brom at Eastlands have never lost to them at the City of Manchester Stadium and with a win today we will complete our first double over West Brom since the 1999/00 season, which obviously came in the second tier.
Edin Dzeko will score today. He must! It took him four games in the Bundesliga before he got off the mark and this will be his fourth attempt for City. If he does then get excited as after that he went on to score 66 in the next 108 league games! One last downside….Martin Atkinson is referee!
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Neil Young 1944 - 2011
Former Manchester City forward and forever legend Neil Young has died, aged 66 the club can confirm. As you all know Neil has been battling a long time with cancer and was recently honored at both Leicester City FA Cup games where he scored the winning, and only goal some 40+ years ago to lift the trophy for City.
Widely regarded as one of the greats and played a major role in the squad that is now remembered as Bell, Lee and Summerbee and enjoyed success for City in those glorious late sixties and early seventies. Neil joined us in 1959 as an apprentice but his talent soon had him in the first team by the age of 17.
Under the guidance of Allison and Mercer he helped City to the league title in 1968, then that goal to win the FA Cup in 1969. Twelve months later he scored one of the two goals in Citys 2-1 win in the Cup Winners Cup victory against Gornik Zabrze.
It was odd for such a gifted player to never win the international recognition he deserved and it’s still astonishing that Young never won a single England cap. With first-team opportunities becoming limited, left Maine Road in 1972 after scoring 107 goals for the club in 412 appearances and signed for Preston North End, prior to a brief spell at Rochdale before retiring.
Young was inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame in 2008 in acknowledgement of his services to the club, an honour that made him immensely proud.
Quiet and shy away from the game, he rarely visited the club in his later years, though still followed the Blues’ progress keenly. On the MCFC Official site they state "He will be sadly missed by his wife Carmen, family, friends and everyone connected with the Manchester City".
"Neil's daughters Melissa, Nadene and son Mark have all expressed their gratitude at the love and respect the City fans and club has shown. They have personally asked the club to thank everyone for their kindness and messages of support".
Neil will always be a City legend and certainly be ‘Forever Young‘.
Widely regarded as one of the greats and played a major role in the squad that is now remembered as Bell, Lee and Summerbee and enjoyed success for City in those glorious late sixties and early seventies. Neil joined us in 1959 as an apprentice but his talent soon had him in the first team by the age of 17.
Under the guidance of Allison and Mercer he helped City to the league title in 1968, then that goal to win the FA Cup in 1969. Twelve months later he scored one of the two goals in Citys 2-1 win in the Cup Winners Cup victory against Gornik Zabrze.
It was odd for such a gifted player to never win the international recognition he deserved and it’s still astonishing that Young never won a single England cap. With first-team opportunities becoming limited, left Maine Road in 1972 after scoring 107 goals for the club in 412 appearances and signed for Preston North End, prior to a brief spell at Rochdale before retiring.
Young was inducted into the Manchester City Hall of Fame in 2008 in acknowledgement of his services to the club, an honour that made him immensely proud.
Quiet and shy away from the game, he rarely visited the club in his later years, though still followed the Blues’ progress keenly. On the MCFC Official site they state "He will be sadly missed by his wife Carmen, family, friends and everyone connected with the Manchester City".
"Neil's daughters Melissa, Nadene and son Mark have all expressed their gratitude at the love and respect the City fans and club has shown. They have personally asked the club to thank everyone for their kindness and messages of support".
Neil will always be a City legend and certainly be ‘Forever Young‘.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Brum 2, CITY 2
It started all so brightly for Manchester City this evening as they traveled to St Andrews to face Birmingham. A win would have seen them keep the pressure up on their cross town rivals and of course Arsenal, who currently occupy second place. The visitors were quick out the blocks and when Silva and Tevez combined easily to score after only four minutes after Dzeko had gone close only seconds earlier the traveling supporters must have thought they would be cruising.
However that was not to be and at the midway point of the first half Birmingham grabbed the equalizer. To be fair, City have struggled all season with set plays and so was to be the case again. As David Bentley fired in a low free kick it missed everyone and into the net under an unsighted Joe Hart. Zigic was the nearest Birmingham player to the ball and he ran away with his arm held aloft, claiming the goal.
It is fair to say that possibly the biggest blow to City came when Micah Richards launched himself at the ball to head it away from goal only to come down hard and painfully on another City player and possibly the hardest head in the City team, Nigel DeJong. Seven minutes elapsed while Richards was getting treatment and after applying an oxygen mask and players help to lift him on the stretcher he was taken away and as this goes to press is in a Birmingham hospital, condition not made public.
That may have been the rallying cry that City needed to jump back into life and when Dzeko was fouled just outside the area it was Kolorov who pushed Tevez aside and let fly with a stunning left foot shot which bulged the back of Fosters net. It was no more than City had deserved and they went in at half time with the lead.
It seems though when City take the lead the stars and flair players of the team go into their shells a little, only Tevez really still showing the occasional determination. City did however have their chances before Birmingham equalized for the second and final time. First Tevez was denied an almost carbon copy of his first goal when again he and Silva combined. This time Foster stood up and the shot hit Foster rather than the net. Later City had a penalty turned down after Carr handballed in the area. The City reaction was that it was a certain penalty but the referee didn’t give it. It would only be seconds later when Kevin Phillips, recently subbed on would get involved with a clumsy Vieira and this time the referee, Mr Friend did point to the spot and Gardner duly dispatched the shot. The last kick of the game saw Kolorov attempt another free kick from almost an identical spot but this time it went only a fraction the wrong side of the post.
All in all City threw away two points here tonight and if we do not tighten up our defending from set plays and stop pushing when we go a goal up then we can kiss the top four position goodbye, never mind talk of titles.
However that was not to be and at the midway point of the first half Birmingham grabbed the equalizer. To be fair, City have struggled all season with set plays and so was to be the case again. As David Bentley fired in a low free kick it missed everyone and into the net under an unsighted Joe Hart. Zigic was the nearest Birmingham player to the ball and he ran away with his arm held aloft, claiming the goal.
It is fair to say that possibly the biggest blow to City came when Micah Richards launched himself at the ball to head it away from goal only to come down hard and painfully on another City player and possibly the hardest head in the City team, Nigel DeJong. Seven minutes elapsed while Richards was getting treatment and after applying an oxygen mask and players help to lift him on the stretcher he was taken away and as this goes to press is in a Birmingham hospital, condition not made public.
That may have been the rallying cry that City needed to jump back into life and when Dzeko was fouled just outside the area it was Kolorov who pushed Tevez aside and let fly with a stunning left foot shot which bulged the back of Fosters net. It was no more than City had deserved and they went in at half time with the lead.
It seems though when City take the lead the stars and flair players of the team go into their shells a little, only Tevez really still showing the occasional determination. City did however have their chances before Birmingham equalized for the second and final time. First Tevez was denied an almost carbon copy of his first goal when again he and Silva combined. This time Foster stood up and the shot hit Foster rather than the net. Later City had a penalty turned down after Carr handballed in the area. The City reaction was that it was a certain penalty but the referee didn’t give it. It would only be seconds later when Kevin Phillips, recently subbed on would get involved with a clumsy Vieira and this time the referee, Mr Friend did point to the spot and Gardner duly dispatched the shot. The last kick of the game saw Kolorov attempt another free kick from almost an identical spot but this time it went only a fraction the wrong side of the post.
All in all City threw away two points here tonight and if we do not tighten up our defending from set plays and stop pushing when we go a goal up then we can kiss the top four position goodbye, never mind talk of titles.
City v Brum (Preview)
Manchester City travel to Birmingham today with the hopes of maintaining their pressure on the Premier Leagues top two. Yesterday saw both Manchester United and Arsenal bag wins and pull away from City and Chelsea also bagged three points to move them to within a point of City.
City are still without Balotelli, and of course Adam Johnson and Micah as they look to bounce back from the draw against Notts County at the weekend. Tevez is a doubt also as he has a back injury but knowing Tevez even if he has to move about the pitch in a wheelchair he will, and still get more chances than Jo!
In the fixture at Eastlands in November there were no goals and City do not travel well to Birmingham in recent times. In fact the last time City won at St Andrews was back in August 2005 when Barton and Cole provided the goals and overturned a Birmingham lead to grab the three points. Although to be fair City didn’t get to play Birmingham each of those seasons as they fluctuated from leagues.
On the plus side Manchester City have picked up 21 points away from Eastlands this season although they haven’t scored an away goal in the league since the turn of the year. Only Arsenal have a better away record picking up three more points along the way. Couple that with the fact that we have kept 11 clean sheets home and away, equal best with Chelsea and Sunderland and this could be a very interesting tie.
Edin Dzeko will be the big name on show again today and will be looking for his first league goal for City. Despite ‘City ruining football’ he was the only one through the ‘in’ door. Bridge, Adebayor and RSC the main ones to go the other way. In fact Birmingham were more active in bringing people in with former Newcastle and Wolfsburg (Dzekos strike partner) Obafemi Martins and of course Curtis Davis.
Boss Mancini will look to recall Kompany, DeJong, Silva and Kolo back to the line up as we push on in pursuit of silverware, in any and all guises!
City are still without Balotelli, and of course Adam Johnson and Micah as they look to bounce back from the draw against Notts County at the weekend. Tevez is a doubt also as he has a back injury but knowing Tevez even if he has to move about the pitch in a wheelchair he will, and still get more chances than Jo!
In the fixture at Eastlands in November there were no goals and City do not travel well to Birmingham in recent times. In fact the last time City won at St Andrews was back in August 2005 when Barton and Cole provided the goals and overturned a Birmingham lead to grab the three points. Although to be fair City didn’t get to play Birmingham each of those seasons as they fluctuated from leagues.
On the plus side Manchester City have picked up 21 points away from Eastlands this season although they haven’t scored an away goal in the league since the turn of the year. Only Arsenal have a better away record picking up three more points along the way. Couple that with the fact that we have kept 11 clean sheets home and away, equal best with Chelsea and Sunderland and this could be a very interesting tie.
Edin Dzeko will be the big name on show again today and will be looking for his first league goal for City. Despite ‘City ruining football’ he was the only one through the ‘in’ door. Bridge, Adebayor and RSC the main ones to go the other way. In fact Birmingham were more active in bringing people in with former Newcastle and Wolfsburg (Dzekos strike partner) Obafemi Martins and of course Curtis Davis.
Boss Mancini will look to recall Kompany, DeJong, Silva and Kolo back to the line up as we push on in pursuit of silverware, in any and all guises!
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