Wednesday, March 22, 2006

Another 48hrs


Unfortunately there isn't another 48hrs , and as a result the 2005/6 season effectively ended on Monday night On Friday night we still had high hopes of extending our superb home form and t aking a step closer to Europe with a win over Wigan and expectancy was also High regarding the FA Cup QF versus West Ham.

The Wigan game saw nine changes from the team that saw off Villa to secure our first QF since the days of Peter Reid . One was the return of Sylvain Distin , the two to keep their place James and Sinclair. Despite a bright start the cutting edge never appeared to threaten Wigan with BWP gaining a rare start and failing to impress and Darius looking like he needs the hernia op he is scheduled for sooner rather than later. Wigan without ever excelling forced there way into the game and always the more likely in a game devoid of any quality , bar Lee McCullough's header after Sommeil and James had both sliced the ball to give Wigan the corner , when it should have been hoofed down the other end of the pitch. Presumably James didn't think it was as funny as he originally thought when McCullough powered the ball past him with a superb back post header. Samaras had made a brief appearance as sub before been subbed with an injury that was going to haunt us. Sinclair should have leveled it up but again fluffed a one on one with the keeper , maybe he had been watching a collection of Anelkas and copied the style.

Still at this point most blues were not too despondent , the first team was due back versus West Ham and the optimism that unjustly flows through city fans was begining to bubble.
So where did it all go wrong ? Tricky Trev and more notably Samaras has picked up injuries in the Wigan game so it didn't bode well from before kick off. Again City started brightly in a cracking FA cup atmosphere (credit to West Ham for shifting 5/6 thousand for a monday night TV game and in 4 days as well)
The Hammers had there fair share of first half possession but rarely threatened with city allowing them to move it along the back four and into non Threatening areas and looking pretty solid at the back. Up front however the lack of quality was apparent despite a number of balls going into the box , there wasn't that much quality and West Ham also looked pretty comfortable at the back. However Dean Ashton , a failed target for City twice , looks like every inch of the 7 million the Hammers board invested in him when City balked at the fee. A superb first half twist and turn and the Hammers go in 1-0 up.

The second half onsalught never really got going for City and Sun Jihai made it mission impossible with his swat at Matthew Etherington , Queue Ashton again with a suspiciously off side looking goal. and despite a late Musampa goal the FA Cup dream dies for another year.

Ah well , at least were safe ! So two defeats and can't complain about decisions or bad luck or even playing a superior side as both all 3 teams are quite evenly matched.The team simply didn't perform on each occasion.

vote it up!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Second goal wasn't offside. It can be seen on the BBC sport website. When Benayoun crossed, Ashton was clearly onside.

Anonymous said...

Seemed a yard offside to me anonymous - the BBC aren't keen on City so what do you expect?

Article was about right. The Norfolk witch said she would never sell Ashton - we'd spent all our money by the time her time of the month was over.

Sun's dismissal was a disaster. Should have busted his nose - if you're going to get sent off, make sure the b****** doesn't get up.

Kiki was at fault with their second goal. Kept looking round to check if the ref was going to blow up. Reilly, having spent so long writhing in agony, then skipped down the tunnel with a big grin on his face.

SP, and the whole City team, have to come to grips with the fact that they aren't dealing with nice people. Most of us (the City Supporters), aren't nice people either. Reconcile.

Anonymous said...

So now what... play for the highest position possible or start playing the young lions from the Academy- Etuhu,Miller.. Sturridge.
Barring further injuries line-up against Chelski could read:
James,Richards,Distin,Dunne,Matt Mills.
Croft,Musampa,Flood,Sommeill
Vassel,BWP,(Miller).
Subs:Weaver,Thatcher,Grimes,
Miller... Mills or Bermingham

Anonymous said...

Dailly (not Reilly!) was stretchered off - he did not skip down the tunnel - what game were you watching?

Anonymous said...

Hi citeh,

Yeah he was stretchered off but he managed to walk down the tunnel. Torn hamstring, he's out for six weeks. I suspected the grin mentioned above was a grimace of pain, but after you guys twice decided to play on who could blame him for a wry grin at your getting punished.

Good game btw. Unlucky and unfortunate for the sending off. Respect to Pearce, you've got a great manager there.

Cathal Breathnach said...

I was at both games "Mr Banks" and I have to say without the likes of Samaras and Cole we aren't very affective up-front.

I thought Vassell was decent but I thought BWP was woffill and I would of prefered if he had of maybe played Miller instead. And you are right that the season is over for us because if you look at all of those injuries we are f*cked!

Cathal Breathnach said...

I was at both games "Mr Banks" and I have to say without the likes of Samaras and Cole we aren't very affective up-front.

I thought Vassell was decent but I thought BWP was woffill and I would of prefered if he had of maybe played Miller instead. And you are right that the season is over for us because if you look at all of those injuries we are f*cked!

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