Wednesday 28 September 2011

Tevez a misunderstanding?

So the day after the night before Carlos Tevez's representative "Honest" Kia Joorachian releases a statement claiming it was all a big misunderstanding and Tevez did not refuse to come on when asked.  Ok perhaps given his lack of clear English there might be a chance of everyone jumping to the wrong conclusion there might be a case for the defence.....Or is there?

Pablo Zabaleta a fellow Argentinian seemed to react in a negative way to Carlos the TV pictures clearly show Tevez talking to a very angry looking Zab who was looking straight ahead as if to ignore what was being said. Simply go onto youtube and search Carlos Tevez speaks English and you will find videos proving whilst not being fluent Tevez does indeed have a good understanding indeed far more than he makes out. Another annoying fact Zabaleta has played in England 2 years less yet speaks almost fluent English with a slight Mancunian accent no less!

The evening of the match Tevez said in an interview to Sky Sports "I wasn't physically or mentally ready to go in".  The next morning his statement mentioned so such mental or physical problems indeed it had all just been a misunderstanding and he was ready to come on.  Sorry Carlos why say one thing to a national television channel then something else in your statement? slept on it and realised you'd messed up I would suggest. 

Then bring "Honest Kia" into the mix a man banned from the Etihad Stadium whom despite not being a FIFA registered agent manages to get around that issue by being a "personal advisor".  Something hasn't sat right with me over last summers proposed moved to Corinthians and it's simply this, in 2006 stories broke of 2 players refusing to play for Corinthians and in the end  they were loaned to West Ham.  Bet you can't guess who they were?  Yes Javier Mascherano and the very same Carlos Tevez who suddenly they wanted back!  City seemed to smell a rat and put some conditions in the way including some money up front and no return to Europe within the first 2 years and low and behold the deal fell through. Amongst football fans Joorabchian has little credibility there have been too many yarns yet he still tries to portray himself as being up front and honest like he did in interviews for Sky over the Corinthians move.

Tevez has undoubtedly been a huge player for City he was the joint golden boot winner last season and no one had scored more in 09-10 10-11 seasons combined in the Premier League, he is one the the key reasons why City ended their 35 year wait for a major honour and the reason Champions League football is being played at the Etihad.  That said his actions if it's proven cannot be defended .  Even Gordon Taylor of the PFA has said there appears to be little case for the defence.

Roberto Mancini is reportedly heading for talks with chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak over last nights incident we await the verdict.   The majority of City fans seem to think if he has refused the door is that way I must admit it's a view that sadly I have to agree with Tevez when he joined was a big fish in a small yet growing pond the club bent over backwards to accommodate him and his difficult position due to his family being in Argentina by numerous times off to visit them (despite the fact it was his affair that made them leave)  Now the pond is much larger the club have players who can it appears fill the void. City fans have welcomed him back when he wanted to leave then change his mind only then to want to leave again, so it looks like a case of Adios Carlos enough is enough.

Sunday 18 September 2011

Great games and moments

Below is a selection of great moments from the recent past hope you enjoy my choices!

Charlton '85 points needed for promotion done in style
Huddersfield 1987 City go goal crazy!

an amazing evening

Andy Hinchcliffe scores direct from a corner


A point meant promotion....... 1 down then
First derby after promotion
A strange day for Niall Quinn
An amazing night for David White
Thrashing the eventual Champions
Rounding off that season in style
Alan Kernaghan wonder goal
Uwe Rosler
Kinky wonder goal



The Division Two play off
 The following year yet again a win and City were up

Eyal Berkovic


Last Ever Maine Road Derby
First ever at COMS
Perhaps THE greatest comeback ever?


Aston Villa Fa Cup dead and buried?? NO!
Perhaps the best free kick ever at COMS?

50th Anniversary of the tragedy at Munich
 We had the Shiekh and we had Robinho!
Arsenal disposed of
Sylvinho screamer
Chelsea away the league begin to realise we are a threat
FA Cup Semi Final
The Final City end 35 years of hurt
Carlos Tevez free kick V Stoke
 Sergio Aguero announces his arrival with a wonder strike
Spurs destroyed! sorry Spanish is all I could find on youtube!

Monday 12 September 2011

Wednesday City dine at Europe's top table!

Manchester City fans have been known for gallows humour.  the infamous "Alan Balls a football genius" at 6-0 down when playing Liverpool, to replying to taunts of "going down going down going down" with "so are we so are we so are we"

The arrival of Shiekh Mansour City fans dared to dream as big money signings came and the club went from mid table in 08-09 to narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot in 09-10.  Last season the thing many fans had dreamed of but dared not think could happen did, not only did City win the FA Cup they also finished 3rd in the Premier League ensuring automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages.

The draw could have been kinder but Bayern Munich Villarreal and firstly Napoli face tough games when they arrive at the Etihad Stadium.  Just to hear that Champions League Anthem been belted out of the PA at 7:40pm will ensure win lose or draw City are amongst Europe's elite I like many others simply cannot wait!

Sunday 11 September 2011

BLUE MOON! not blue moon

We all know and love the song, there is nothing better the 40 odd thousand belting it out at a match.  The club even sometimes slam an animation of the moon on the screens as it's sung.

There have been many versions played over the PA from the Marcels through to Supra's "Ricky Hatton".  The Supra version has for a while been used pre kick off to get the crowd cheering along and it never failed  To mark the launch of City's new kit celeb Blue Liam Gallagher recorded a version with his band Beady Eye that was used in the video to promote it.

The Beady Eye version has been used the first two home games this season and it simply hasn't worked it is too slow a few sat round me in the family stand tried but it just died down and the noise went up after it finally finished.  It was noticable the South Stand and "Kippax" fans also seemed to not get into it.

It's one of  those classic if it aint broke don't fix it moments the Supra version never fails to get the crowd going, and if anyone at the club reads this or sees the thread on bluemoon  I would hope we return to the Supra version as it would seem the majority of blues agree.  Some on twitter have even tweeted the hash tag #bringbacksupra  me included!

Come on MCFC you know it makes sense, it really should be BLUE MOON not blue moon at the Etihad!

Friday 9 September 2011

David White

Watching City in the 80's was a roller coaster of ups and downs but the one thing they always did was play fast attacking football with wingers.  Being a regular at youth and reserve games I had seen David White develop and really couldn't wait for him to make his bow in the first team.  He broke into the first team in 1986 and quickly became a regular and was soon a firm favourite of the Kippax.

Early in his career he showed signs of just what he was about scoring a hat trick in the famous 10-1 win V Huddersfield he also set up many goals with his bombing runs down the right wing.
After two years out of the top flight City returned to Division One and White really began to show he was a talent many blues remember "that" pass as White swung in a ball for Andy Hinchcliffe to bury a header into the top corner as City beat neighbours United 5-1.  It was the introduction of Howard Kendall as manager that in the end saved City from relegation but White held his own as Kendall brought in many players whom he knew from his days at Everton.

The following season despite Kendall quitting Peter Reid guided City to a creditable 5th 1 place above United.  The highlight for White had to be the 5-1 win away to Aston Villa where he scored 4 and even set up the other for Mark Brennan.

City fans knew White was worthy of an England cap but at the time there was a clear bias towards certain teams within the league.  Indeed as he moved into a more central role the goals were really flowing 16 in 91-92 and 18 in 92-93 (the first of which was Citys first in the new Premier League and the first on Skys Monday night football).  Finally White did get the call up his form had deserved probably 1 year earlier when he played for England away in Spain.  At the time I remembered thinking he deserved to be called up for a serious game and that seemed to be the views of many blues I knew.  Sadly England lost 1-0 and White got the lions share of the blame as he wasted a clear chance.  It seemed to affect him as he lost form and eventually in 1993 he was swapped for David Rocastle.  Things didn't perhaps work out for him at Leeds and two years later he was on the move again this time to Sheffield United and whilst at Bramhall Lane there was the odd performance that showed signs he still had it.  Sadly just 3 years later aged just 30 a persistant ankle injury forced him to retire.

David White is a player I will always remeber fondly and to be honest despite the vast number of talents City do have in their 11 now White will always be my number one favourite i've seen wearing the blue of City.