Manchester City made the short trip up the M61 to the Reebok stadium but came back with a huge leap forward in their status. The 2-0 win obviously was another three points in the bag and three more points for our Premier League tally but, more than that, it meant that our final position in the league moved from fourth to third.
The difference means no qualification trips to eastern Siberia in July before entry into the Champions League and instead we can enjoy the sunshine of LA and Dublin instead. It certainly has been a stellar season for City who, only a few days ago, lifted the FA Cup. This is their first major trophy since lifting the League Cup in 1976 and the first time our name has been on it since 1969.
This added to our joint second place finish in the EPL (yes we have the same points as Chelski), Carlos Tevez sharing the Golden Boot award and Joe Hart getting the Golden Gloves and you may start believing that all Mancini touches does turn to gold.
Going into the final game of the season City were in a foot race with Wengers Arsenal for third place and it would be fair to say that City fans were still nervous. All those years of being ’Typical City’ are hard to dismiss and would have been well in character to win the FA Cup only then to swith off for the remaining games. To be fair it was Bolton who had the better chances early doors after Knight had blocked a lone Tevez chance. It was our own ‘Deeee-ceeent’ keeper that kept us in it before Lescott headed City into a half time lead. Silva, Barry, Yaya and Tevez all spurned chances in the second half but just minutes after coming on, Bosnian super sub Dzeko sealed the points, and Champions League for the ONLY team IN Manchester.
Sunday, May 22, 2011
Tuesday, May 17, 2011
CITY 3, Stoke 0
So it was same again lads with us playing Stoke for the second time in four days. This time though, there was no silverware up for grabs but three valuable points that would launch City into the much coveted third position in the Premier League and with it the last automatic qualification position for next seasons Champions League.
Such was the importance of the game for Mancinis men that even the FA Cup was not on show and City started with a strong side. It was the same dominating City that we saw on Saturday only this time without the ‘35 year without a trophy’ tag hanging around their neck and in front of their home fans. A slick one two with James Milner on the edge of the box allowed Captain Tevez to finally unleash a shot that Sorensen didn’t get anywhere near. City went in at the half with the lead and third place looking more likely by the minute. Seven minutes into the second half prolific super striker Joleon Lescott pounced! His Klingon technique got him in front of Sorensen to guide a Johnson freekick into the net for his first goal this year.
Carlos Tevez didn’t like that and soon put City 3-0 up with a superb freekick that had Joe Hart join in with the Poznan!
City were playing with smiles on their faces and were extremely comfortable, so much so that even Roberto Mancini got up from his seat to acknowledge the fans as they started to chant his name. There was certainly a party atmosphere during the game, from the crowd as well as the players and that would continue after the whistle with spectators being asked to keep seated for the players to return and allow them to thank them for their continued support.
Next up is the Sunday season finale away to Bolton. A win there (or a match with Arsenals points tally away to Fulham) and Manchester City will automatically qualify for the Champions League, rather than having to qualify with matches starting in July. A side note that with this win Mancinis men have secured the most points total and wins total for Manchester City in the Premier League ever.
Such was the importance of the game for Mancinis men that even the FA Cup was not on show and City started with a strong side. It was the same dominating City that we saw on Saturday only this time without the ‘35 year without a trophy’ tag hanging around their neck and in front of their home fans. A slick one two with James Milner on the edge of the box allowed Captain Tevez to finally unleash a shot that Sorensen didn’t get anywhere near. City went in at the half with the lead and third place looking more likely by the minute. Seven minutes into the second half prolific super striker Joleon Lescott pounced! His Klingon technique got him in front of Sorensen to guide a Johnson freekick into the net for his first goal this year.
Carlos Tevez didn’t like that and soon put City 3-0 up with a superb freekick that had Joe Hart join in with the Poznan!
City were playing with smiles on their faces and were extremely comfortable, so much so that even Roberto Mancini got up from his seat to acknowledge the fans as they started to chant his name. There was certainly a party atmosphere during the game, from the crowd as well as the players and that would continue after the whistle with spectators being asked to keep seated for the players to return and allow them to thank them for their continued support.
Next up is the Sunday season finale away to Bolton. A win there (or a match with Arsenals points tally away to Fulham) and Manchester City will automatically qualify for the Champions League, rather than having to qualify with matches starting in July. A side note that with this win Mancinis men have secured the most points total and wins total for Manchester City in the Premier League ever.
Monday, May 16, 2011
City, FA Cup Winners 2011
So pop quiz hot shot. What do these four dates have in common? April 23rd 1904, April 28th 1934, May 5th 1956 and April 26th 1969? Answer? They were all dates in history when the ONLY team to come from Manchester won the most prestigious club cup competition in history, the FA Cup. Now City fans can add May 14th 2011 to that list as on this day Manchester City ended their 35 year wait for silverware with one power strike from Yaya Toure.
City arrived at Wembley in good spirits, having already secured at least fourth spot in the English Premier league and with that the chance of Champions League football next season. This being the highest finish ever in the Premiership and the highest in the top flight since the 1976-77 season. This still with two games to go and third spot still within reach.
City welcomed back Captain fantastic Carlos Tevez from injury and from the first whistle it was all Blue going forward. City had a number of good chances with Toure shooting just wide from long range, Balotelli forcing a great save from Sorensen and Tevez shooting straight at the Stoke keeper, who spilt then collected the ball. However the best chance fell to Spanish sensation David Silva who only yards from goal uncharacteristically drilled the ball into the ground and watched it go harmlessly over the bar. It was at this point, I must confess, that I started to worry for our beloved Blues. As you all know, City haven’t the best history against Stoke. Also add the fact that with the FA Cup sometimes it is the lucky team that wins it and you could argue a case for Stoke to snatch it and Manchester City to yet again be held up and made fun of. (Just think of the headlines as United lifted the Premier title!)
Second half seemed more of the same with Tevez on a break laying a ball into the path of an unmarked Silva in acres of space, only for the ball to get caught up in his feet. Stoke had been left to try long throws into the box until Jones was put through one on one with Joe Hart. However Hart made himself big in front of goal and Jones could only see his shot rebound off the City keeper. That would be their best chance and it was City who then took the lead. Persistence in the box saw the ball fall at the feet of Yaya Toure who rifled the shot into the back of the Stoke net. It was his goal that got us to the final and defeated United, it was his goal that saw blue ribbons placed on the cup that was placed in Carlos Tevez’s hands. City were lifting their first major silverware since 1976 and I was over the Blue Moon!!
City arrived at Wembley in good spirits, having already secured at least fourth spot in the English Premier league and with that the chance of Champions League football next season. This being the highest finish ever in the Premiership and the highest in the top flight since the 1976-77 season. This still with two games to go and third spot still within reach.
City welcomed back Captain fantastic Carlos Tevez from injury and from the first whistle it was all Blue going forward. City had a number of good chances with Toure shooting just wide from long range, Balotelli forcing a great save from Sorensen and Tevez shooting straight at the Stoke keeper, who spilt then collected the ball. However the best chance fell to Spanish sensation David Silva who only yards from goal uncharacteristically drilled the ball into the ground and watched it go harmlessly over the bar. It was at this point, I must confess, that I started to worry for our beloved Blues. As you all know, City haven’t the best history against Stoke. Also add the fact that with the FA Cup sometimes it is the lucky team that wins it and you could argue a case for Stoke to snatch it and Manchester City to yet again be held up and made fun of. (Just think of the headlines as United lifted the Premier title!)
Second half seemed more of the same with Tevez on a break laying a ball into the path of an unmarked Silva in acres of space, only for the ball to get caught up in his feet. Stoke had been left to try long throws into the box until Jones was put through one on one with Joe Hart. However Hart made himself big in front of goal and Jones could only see his shot rebound off the City keeper. That would be their best chance and it was City who then took the lead. Persistence in the box saw the ball fall at the feet of Yaya Toure who rifled the shot into the back of the Stoke net. It was his goal that got us to the final and defeated United, it was his goal that saw blue ribbons placed on the cup that was placed in Carlos Tevez’s hands. City were lifting their first major silverware since 1976 and I was over the Blue Moon!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Kiev 2, CITY 0
Manchester City have it all to do in the second leg of their Europa league tie at Eastlands next week as they slumped to a 2-0 defeat away in the Ukraine. City started with Tevez on the bench and it showed as City were pretty much always second to the ball. Chelsea flop, Shevchenko scored the opening goal after 24 minutes as City failed to clear their lines properly. That was something that was the problem with City all game long as wave after wave of Kiev attacks developed. Second half and City started with only ten men as David Platt was sent back down the tunnel to retrieve Mario Balotelli and our whole substitution bench. In fairness it didn’t make a whole bit of difference and it wasn’t long before Balotelli was replaced by Tevez.
From that point City seemed a little more livelier but still looked very vulnerable when Kiev would counter. The second goal of the game came from almost comical defending from City, allowing Gusev to control then rifle the ball past Hart, all from just outside the six yard box.
In truth it was only a fine stop for Hart later on that stopped it becoming three and although City did have a few chances they will have to perform much better in seven days time if they want to continue in this competition.
From that point City seemed a little more livelier but still looked very vulnerable when Kiev would counter. The second goal of the game came from almost comical defending from City, allowing Gusev to control then rifle the ball past Hart, all from just outside the six yard box.
In truth it was only a fine stop for Hart later on that stopped it becoming three and although City did have a few chances they will have to perform much better in seven days time if they want to continue in this competition.
Tuesday, March 1, 2011
CITY v Villa (Preview)
Manchester City will be hoping to put the disappointment of Sundays draw with the FA Cup fifth round tie with Aston Villa at Eastlands tomorrow. City beat Villa in the league fixture earlier on in the season but the Villans have improved somewhat since that game after the appointment of Gerard Houllier as manager and
City fans will not need reminding of their new striker, Darren Bent scoring on his debut, against City. Again City will be without DeJong, Johnson, Given and Vincent Kompany although David Silva and Micah Richards may return to the squad as City pursue their first silverware since 1976. This will probably be the best route for City to progress to the final as some really big teams have already fallen by the way side and with Reading knocking out Everton yesterday that means we will face the Championship side on Sunday March 13th if we brush aside Villa.
Manchester City have the edge with our encounters with Aston Villa in the FA Cup with Villa last knocking us out in the Quarter Final stage in the 1938 season. The most recent meeting saw us win 2-1 in the replay at Eastlands. However as we all know, stats mean nothing and this could be a make or break game for Mancini with the Premiership title already out of our reach a defeat in the FA Cup will leave a very tough group of teams left in the Europa League for us to get past, if we beat Kiev.
City fans will not need reminding of their new striker, Darren Bent scoring on his debut, against City. Again City will be without DeJong, Johnson, Given and Vincent Kompany although David Silva and Micah Richards may return to the squad as City pursue their first silverware since 1976. This will probably be the best route for City to progress to the final as some really big teams have already fallen by the way side and with Reading knocking out Everton yesterday that means we will face the Championship side on Sunday March 13th if we brush aside Villa.
Manchester City have the edge with our encounters with Aston Villa in the FA Cup with Villa last knocking us out in the Quarter Final stage in the 1938 season. The most recent meeting saw us win 2-1 in the replay at Eastlands. However as we all know, stats mean nothing and this could be a make or break game for Mancini with the Premiership title already out of our reach a defeat in the FA Cup will leave a very tough group of teams left in the Europa League for us to get past, if we beat Kiev.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
CITY 1, Fulham 1
Manchester City produced a lackluster performance at home today as the hosted Fulham and of course, the return of ex manager Leslie Hughes. Mancini put out a very attacking lineup but still were missing defensive players Vincent Kompany and Nigel DeJong as well as the creative talent of David Silva. Despite this it was the home side that struck first with a superb right foot shot from Moody Mario outside the area. That however would be all she wrote for City. After the break Fulham came out and for a moment I thought I was watching a Six Nations game with the kind of tackling that was going on! Fulham though did equalize through Damien Duff, after a first time cross from Andrew Johnson.
Tevez and Kolorov went close afterwards but in truth City by that time had employed a kind of hit and hope mentality to their attacking play. When City did pass it around however we did seem to break them down somewhat but then right back into the golf swing clearance.
It was certainly frustrating to watch as a City fan because we are better than that and towards the end when we needed to keep clam and ensure our passes and shots met their targets we would fail. Yaya back heeling a ball on the edge of the area only to find the feet of an opposing player is not good when you are about to enter stoppage time. That, however is not nearly as frustrating as mis controlling a ball and having it run out of play (Kolorov) or even hoofing a shot very high and very wide from some distance out when it would be wiser to select any one of three passes and progress closer (Balotelli). That said we need to let this game go, the title is gone and possibly so has second place. For now we must turn our attention to the FA Cup date with Aston Villa on Wednesday and then hope we have enough to ensure we keep our Champions League credentials alive for next season.
Tevez and Kolorov went close afterwards but in truth City by that time had employed a kind of hit and hope mentality to their attacking play. When City did pass it around however we did seem to break them down somewhat but then right back into the golf swing clearance.
It was certainly frustrating to watch as a City fan because we are better than that and towards the end when we needed to keep clam and ensure our passes and shots met their targets we would fail. Yaya back heeling a ball on the edge of the area only to find the feet of an opposing player is not good when you are about to enter stoppage time. That, however is not nearly as frustrating as mis controlling a ball and having it run out of play (Kolorov) or even hoofing a shot very high and very wide from some distance out when it would be wiser to select any one of three passes and progress closer (Balotelli). That said we need to let this game go, the title is gone and possibly so has second place. For now we must turn our attention to the FA Cup date with Aston Villa on Wednesday and then hope we have enough to ensure we keep our Champions League credentials alive for next season.
Saturday, February 26, 2011
City V Fulham
City welcome Mark Hughes back to the City of Manchester stadium for the first time since his departure just over a year ago. Well I say welcome, I am sure it will not be all that cosy. Either way I am just hoping for another three points at Eastlands for our beloved City as we try to solidify our pre season objective of a Champions League position.
This will not be easy though as Fulham have never been pushovers for us in the past, having last won in 2006 and this one will have the added ingredient of an ex manager coming back to prove a point. Fulhams league form has not been too shabby either going into this game with one defeat in seven which saw them clamber up to mid table, meanwhile Citys league form has dipped a little since being top in January.
That being said City will be lifted by their two previous cup games, both big wins and both with clean sheets.
I would dearly love for Mancini to go with the starting lineup he put out midweek against Aris. This obviously will have to be changed if Kompany doesn’t make the fitness race after damaging his hip. If we see a slick City we may be in store to see us dish out our first Premiership ass whooping. However if we start slow and play cautiously then we may be in for a long day with possibly a negative result.
This will not be easy though as Fulham have never been pushovers for us in the past, having last won in 2006 and this one will have the added ingredient of an ex manager coming back to prove a point. Fulhams league form has not been too shabby either going into this game with one defeat in seven which saw them clamber up to mid table, meanwhile Citys league form has dipped a little since being top in January.
That being said City will be lifted by their two previous cup games, both big wins and both with clean sheets.
I would dearly love for Mancini to go with the starting lineup he put out midweek against Aris. This obviously will have to be changed if Kompany doesn’t make the fitness race after damaging his hip. If we see a slick City we may be in store to see us dish out our first Premiership ass whooping. However if we start slow and play cautiously then we may be in for a long day with possibly a negative result.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)