It's ten years tomorrow since one of the biggest games in City's history, even if it sometimes seems like just the other day to the heroes of that remarkable play-off final against Gillingham at Wembley.Joe Royle's Blues, relegated the previous May to football's third tier for the first time in the club's proud history, were 2-0 down with 89 minutes on the clock and seemingly doomed to miss promotion.
But Kevin Horlock snatched a goal back and - with five minutes of added time offering fresh hope - Paul Dickov hit the greatest goal of his career to force extra time and a famous penalty shoot-out victory.
>>mcfc.o.uk (full article)
Portsmouth have accepted a bid from United Arab Emirates businessman Dr Sulaiman Al Fahim to buy the club.
The move follows negotiations led by Portsmouth executive chairman Peter Storrie on behalf of club owner Alexandre Gaydamak.
Al Fahim was the initial figurehead of the Abu Dhabi United Group when they took control of Manchester City last year, but is now acting for himself.
For those with shorter memories, Dr Fahim was very much at the forefront in the early stages of the takeover with us last summer, being a very high profile and public figure indeed. So much so, that the actual owners he was representing quickly sought to distance themselves from him and some of the more outlandish statements that were made, opting for a more sober and understated approach that we have seen throughout the past season.
Now he finds himself not only at the forefront of a takeover, but this time the owner himself and at the very least it should liven things up at Portsmouth, who were reported to be struggling financially.
An interesting aside to the takeover, is despite the job performed by Paul Hart and Brian Kidd after Harry Redknapp departed for Tottenham, it is suggested Dr Fahim very much has is own man in mind, Sven Goran-Eriksson.
"I never had any doubts about staying. Regardless, I was going to be here, and hopefully for the remainder of my career. I don't see why not. I really want to become a hero here, to hopefully achieve things.
"I'm settled here - I love the club, I love the fans, and I don't see what's going to make me leave this club.
"These are very exciting times. It's going to be interesting just to see what the line-up will be at the start of next season and how far we can push on. Hopefully we can compete for the title and get back into Europe."
The deal is reported to be worth in the region of £60,000 - a significant increase on his previous deal but by no means have we been held to ransom and forced to overpay for a player who could be on the verge of achieving a signifcant amount in the game.
The length of the deal (five years) is also worth noting, as it locks Ireland in long-term in addition to the likes of Hart, Richards, Onouha, Wright-Phillips - all home grown players who are expected to be the core of a succesful side moving forward.
2008/09 is the fourth season I have covered City since setting up Bitter and Blue, and at each season end have been the annual awards (2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08).
A season in which we saw expectation, disappointment, frustration, and hope for next season (with my preview here) - largely like any other season then, but perhaps and a greater scale than we previously witnessed.
Without further ado then, here are the 2008/09 Bitter and Blue end of season awards:
Bitter and Blue player of the season
Given the inconsistent displays that typified his City career to date, I don't think expectations of Stephen Ireland were too high going into the season. So for him to play at such a high level for the whole season was a surprise, but the accolades and plaudits have been richly deserved. Amazing to look back and think he could have been headed out of the club at the start of the season. The best news? He can only go on to become even better.
Winner - Stephen Ireland.
2007/08 - Joe Hart.
2006/07 - Richard Dunne.
2005/06 - David James.
Bitter and Blue readers player of the season
Again, no surprise and Stephen Ireland absolutely destroyed the competition gaining 86% of your votes to easily take the award. As an aside, could there have been a worse defence of a title?
Winner - Stephen Ireland.
2007/08 - Darius Vassell.
2006/07 - Richard Dunne.
2005/06 - Richard Dunne/David James (tie).
Breakthrough player of the season
The much vaunted academy had another productive year, both in terms of results and the graduation of players into the senior set up. However, one player who was perhaps thought to be surplus to requirements at the outset, took the opportunities he got to very much put himself in the frame for next season. A return of eight goals from fourteen starts was a good one and Felipe Caicedo ended the season as the man in possession.
Winner - Felipe Caicedo.
2007/08 - Joe Hart.
2006/07 - Michael Johnson.
2005/06 - Micah Richards.
Overachiever of the season
There have been some real impressive performances this season. Players performing to a high level, on a consistent basis for the large part of the season. Stephen Ireland (obviously) the prime example, with Pablo Zabaleta and Shay Given earning deserved praise in what were their first seasons at the club. However, has any player had such an unexpected impact as Nedum Onouha? Injury plagued and down the pecking order heading into the season, he has made the centre-half spot his own and turned in his best season. Now, he is on the fringes of the international set-up and could be earmarked as a future captain.
Winner - Nedum Onouha.
2007/08 - Didi Hamman.
2006/07 - Nicky Weaver.
2005/06 - Andrew Cole.
Underachiever of the season
A couple of players have perhaps not been at the level you would have hoped over the course of the season - namely Richard Dunne and Elano, but has any players star fallen quite as much as Micah Richards? From England regular, he is now a million miles from an international call up. His form in the middle of defence suffered, so much so that he was moved back out to right back. Arguably at a cross roads now, he needs to rebound with a huge season to get back on track.
Winner - Micah Richards.
2007/08 - Sun Jihai.
2006/07 - Bernardo Corradi.
2005/06 - Danny Mills.
Performance of the season
It may be strange to pick a defeat as performance of the season, but it despite crashing out to Hamburg, we were literally inches from overturning a disastrous first leg. From the very first minute, the spirit, passion, commitment and quality was there as we completely over ran Hamburg. The evening brought an end to our UEFA Cup season, but perhaps signified a glimpse of what maybe to come in the future.
Winner - Hamburg (home).
2007/08 - United (away).
2006/07 - Middlesbrough (away).
2005/06 - United (home).
Goal of the season
Often maligned at times this season, particular for his displays away from home, Robinho will always be labelled with the £32 million tag. I think he has come in for some unjust criticism and some of his displays have been outstanding. His goal in the 3-0 victory over Arsenal was superb, and an embodiment of the talent he possesses.
Winner - Robinho v Arsenal (h).
2007/08 - Elano v Newcastle (h).
2006/07 - Giorgios Samaras v West Ham (h).
2005/06 - Danny Mills v Everton (h).
Incident of the season
Not so much off the field drama has occurred during the course of the season (thankfully) in comparison to previous season. For once, we kept a manager, no real player huffs, and no sign of another takeover in sight. Whilst the money we have put us at the head of the queue for all and sundry back in August, no-one I'm sure expected the August transfer window to close with us having signed Robinho. A definite day of drama.
Winner - The Robinho signing.
2008/09 - The sacking of Sven.
2007/08 - The sacking of Stuart Pearce.
2006/07 - Joey Barton's transfe request
So there you have it. Season 2008/09 in the bag and for once, it appears as though it will be a summer of relative stability in comparison to recent summers.
Don't expect it to be a quite one though.
From the FA.com:
Goalkeepers
Joe Hart (Manchester City), Joe Lewis (Peterborough United), Scott Loach (Watford)
Defenders
Martin Cranie (Portsmouth), Kieran Gibbs (Arsenal), Michael Mancienne (Chelsea), Nedum Onuoha (Manchester City), Micah Richards (Manchester City), Andrew Taylor (Middlesbrough), Steven Taylor (Newcastle United), James Tomkins (West Ham United)
Midfielders
Lee Cattermole (Wigan Athletic), Andrew Driver (Hearts), Craig Gardner (Aston Villa), Adam Johnson (Middlesbrough), James Milner (Aston Villa), Fabrice Muamba (Bolton Wanderers), Mark Noble (West Ham United), Jack Rodwell (Everton)
Forwards
Theo Walcott (Arsenal) Gabriel Agbonlahor (Aston Villa), Frazier Campbell (Tottenham Hotspur - on Loan), Danny Welbeck (Manchester United)
Premier League football news from the Barclays Premier League | Cook: City can challenge United
Weiss keen to step up - Manchester City - Football - Sport - Manchester Evening News
BBC SPORT | Football | African | Kelvin Etuhu opts for Nigeria
Manchester City, The Developments That You Might Not Know About | Bleacher Report
Congratulations go to Tina Clews who takes the fantasy league crown with an impressive total of 2049, just ahead of Phil Clews (related I presume?) with 2022 and Jack Pitt-Brooke in third with 1949.
Win number 13 (the second best record in the Premier League) at home then to round out the season, and it probably was the stereotypical end of season affair. Once we went into the lead, there appeared very little to suggest Bolton had the inclination to come back into it and we duly closed out 2008/09 with victory.
Nice to see Glauber Berti finally get some playing time at the club. He is reported to be a popular member of the squad, but sitting on the bench twenty or so times has been the nearest he has come to an appearance prior to yesterday.
A quick note on Felipe Caicedo. I don't think there are many who believe he will be a long term answer for us, and whilst he is certainly raw, he does possess talent, and crucially has the ability to find the net. Yesterday's winner was his eighth goal in fourteen starts this season.
Reports
The facts are that Manchester City's first season as the world's wealthiest football club saw them finish 10th, which is one place below where they ended up under Sven-Goran Eriksson. On the surface it was not much of a return for the estimated £126m spent by Abu Dhabi United, although the raw figures disguise the advances that have been made.
>>guardian.co.uk
The match also had moments of outstanding football from Robinho, who yesterday, in a rare day of hot sunshine, looked like a £32m player. Pity he can also look over-priced and under-motivated when he is appearing away from Eastlands.
>>independent.co.uk
The Blues said goodbye to their season of transition with an eleventh home win in 12 attempts and are already busily planning for better things next season.
A half century of points and a place in the top half of the table, albeit 10th, represents a better than average return for a club that has not reached beyond the eighth rung of the ladder in the past 17 seasons.
>>MEN.
Manchester City’s players will retreat to the beach now, many of them probably never to be seen in the club’s shirt again, but for Mark Hughes the hard work stays here. He received some welcome words of reassurance about his future from Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the City chairman, last week, but the manager knows that he will be out of a job if his team end up in the same position – tenth – next season.
>>timesonline.
Etihad Airways, the Abu Dhabi-based national airline of the United Arab Emirates, has signed a three-year deal to be the official shirt sponsor and partner of Premier League side, Manchester City FC. The Etihad Airways brand logo will appear on Manchester City shirts from the summer.The partnership is initially for three years and was announced today at the City of Manchester Stadium by Etihad Airways’ Chief Executive, James Hogan, Manchester City FC Chief Executive Garry Cook and Sir Howard Bernstein, Chief Executive of Manchester City Council.
Manchester City Football Club today confirmed that its Chief Operating Officer, Paul Aldridge has decided to leave the Club in October.Garry Cook offered Paul his very best wishes and commented “Although I am disappointed, I can confirm that Paul has decided to leave the Club at the end of the summer. I fully understand his reasons and thank him for all his hard work and invaluable guidance during his time at the club. He leaves with all of our best wishes and we are pleased that we are still able to call upon his experience during the coming summer transfer window”.
With only one game remaining it is time to cast your vote for the player of the year award (which will be part of the Bitter and Blue end of season awards).
The previous awards are as follows - 2005/06, 2006/07, 2007/08.
I've included all players who have made at least 15 league and cup starts and feel free to vote either below, in the comments section or email me at bitterandblue@hotmail.co.uk.
Jo is to return to Manchester City at the end of the season after Everton admitted they cannot afford to sign the Brazilian permanently.As well as he may have done on loan at Everton, I've not seen or heard any indication that Hughes now seems him in his long term plans, but maybe the past six months could herald a new start for a player who, undoubtedly, does have plenty of potential."I don't see where we could even come close to getting the money they spent on him," said Moyes on the club's official website.
"But a loan has not been put to us or spoken about at all yet.
"It's something that, at the moment, we've not had any indication that they would have interest in. Obviously that means he will go back to Manchester City."
'We put in another offer but that was declined so we won't be going back. We've not got much headroom to negotiate and I'm disappointed.'>>Mark Hughes.
Last game of the season then, and looking at some of the pre-match stats suggests our results on the final day of the season have not historically been favourable.
Surely we should be value for a win tomorrow though against Bolton?
Where the outside world sees a team languishing in the middle of the Barclays Premier League after a disappointing first season under the ownership of the Abu Dhabi United Group and the management of Mark Hughes, Cook, the chief executive, sees progress and boundless potential.>>timesonline
ALL GOOD things must come to an end, and the highly-successful partnership between Manchester City FC and Thomas Cook will be completed after this season draws to a close.Our six years together has been a memorable journey, and it is typical of our generous main sponsors that they bow out by sponsoring a seven-a-side tournament for fans at City of Manchester Stadium on 30th May.
Commercial Officer Steve Sayer said: “Over the past six seasons Manchester City and Thomas Cook have enjoyed a great partnership during what has been an incredible period for the Club.
"Thomas Cook joined the 'City partners' family as main sponsor in 2003 when the club moved to the City of Manchester Stadium.
"Since then more than 60,000 fans have booked their holiday or travelled with Thomas Cook through the City Travel Club scheme, a real success story for the partnership.
"As our official travel partner, Thomas Cook’s meticulous planning and preparation for our UEFA Cup campaign this season provided a great experience for supporters and players alike.
"The club would like to thank Thomas Cook for their support and look forward to working together in the future.”
SHAUN Wright-Phillips will miss England's World Cup qualifying double header with Kazakhstan and Andorra next month with a knee injury.>>MEN
The City winger would almost certainly have been in the squad Fabio Capello is due to announce on Sunday.
However, City boss Mark Hughes has confirmed that Wright-Phillips' plans to play against Bolton at Eastlands on Sunday have been scrapped.
Instead the former Chelsea star will go for a "wash out" of his knee, with the expectation he will be back for the start of next pre-season.
CITY have completed the signing of teenage Schalke full-back Nils Zander.>>MEN
The German youth international is yet to make his senior debut for the Bundesliga outfit but has shown enough in their junior ranks for City manager Mark Hughes to be convinced of his quality.
And, for all the star names Hughes continues to be linked with, the former Wales chief has made 16-year-old Zander his first capture of the summer.
MANCHESTER CITY Football Club note with interest the reports circulating in the Spanish media that the club has made an offer to the Barcelona player Lionel Messi and that he has turned down the chance to join the club.While acknowledging that Lionel Messi is a world-class player of the highest calibre, Manchester City would like to make it clear that the club has at no time made an approach to Mr Messi or his representatives.
Expect plenty of rumour and denial this summer, but I imagine any transfer negotiations (expecially high profile ones) that do take place will be very low profile given the fall out from the failed Kaka bid.
Stephen Ireland has capped a superb season by being named as City’s Player of the Year by the Official Supporters Club.The 22-year-old midfielder has scored 13 times in all competitions for the Blues this season, but he has been won huge acclaim for his influential contribution throughout a gruelling season.>>mcfc.co.uk
Runners-up in the senior category were Vincent Kompany and Pablo Zabaleta, and the winner of the Young Player of the Year award was Danny Sturridge. The 19-year-old striker has made the most his chances this season, grabbing four goals and playing a big part in the win over Schalke when asked to play out of position on the left flank. Just behind him were fellow strikers Felipe Caicedo and Ched Evans.
So it would seem:
"We're nowhere, to be honest," he said. "We're still a long way off. Talks have barely started and I don't know what's going to happen or if I'm going to sign or not sign. It's out of my hands right now. It's up to the club, not me. But we're way off at the moment and it's getting to the stage now where I don't know if I'm going to be signing or not. That's down to the club, not me anymore."To counter this though, it is nothing we have not witness countless times before during rounds of negotiations. There has been no indication whatsoever that Ireland is angling for a move, and no way does Hughes or the club look to move him.
“I have been surprised at all the speculation, because I have always been consistent with everyone on the subject of the manager. “Every time I have spoken, I have said the we have the highest confidence in Mark, and I would like to re-iterate that now. Mark will be our manager next season - nothing has changed".>>mcfc.co.uk
"When you consider how things have gone since January, I think we have accomplished things and now we can start focusing on next season.A stable pre-season is not something I can remember - certainly since I started this blog - and I don't think its significance can be overstated and something that I will believe we will see the benefit of next season.
"For once this club can have a pre-season. This is a club that has had ten managers in 15 years - it is hard to believe we have ever had a real pre-season.
"So this time we will have that, and we will do so with a year’s experiences behind us. That will make us stronger. I think next year is going to be better than this one. The club has a lot more stability."
>>independent.co.ukThe sheikhs have raised the stakes. Defeat to Tottenham on Saturday killed off Manchester City's slim hopes of competing in the new Europa League next season, and with it went a potential carrot to entice new recruits to Eastlands.
The goal now set by the club's owners Abu Dhabi United Group is to break into the top four next season. Mark Hughes has been reassured after a meeting with the chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak, on Friday that he will remain as manager for the next 12 months.
"I don't think necessarily getting into the Uefa Cup is going to change the impact of whether we are going to build," he said. "That is not going to make a difference. In fact, in some ways it might give us the chance to get to the next piece of rebuilding. We are relatively pleased with the year. It has given us a good chance to consolidate."This is something I threw out there a week or so ago in that not having the obvious distraction of the UEFA Cup/Europa League (as nice as it was) would benefit us in the league, and that for ADUG it was the Champions League that was the aim. I think we can assume that to now be the case.
"I talked at length with him last night," Hughes said. "The situation is as it always has been - we're very clear with where we want to go with the club and what direction we are taking on and off the field. "We are in tune with what we want to do but we are totally frustrated and bemused by the speculation. It's come to a point where everyone has to understand that Mark Hughes will be the manager here next year. That has been made very clear to me." Like most of the City bloggers around, I would say that I am in the pro-Hughes camp and that it would be folly to dispense of his services without him having at least another season in charge. However, whatever decision is taken with regard to his future, you only hope that it is a swift one. The past two summers have seen great upheaval at the club, and for the most part has seen speculation and rumour abound. If the board are as firmly behind Hughes as he feels they are, then the best scenario would be for them to come out in the aftermath of the Bolton game and say so. Otherwise, expect to see us on the back pages even more during the summer.
I guess you can only cling onto something for so long before it gives way, which fairly sums up the past few weeks as we held onto the hope of that final seventh position in the table which would provide a route into Europe next season.
As it is, todays 2-1 defeat at White Hart Lane mathematically ends any prospect of us finishing that high in the table and leaves a straight fight between Tottenham and Fulham for that final place.
To try and illustrate any positives feels like an attempt to clutch at straws, so the plus points of a start for Petrov and a goal for Bojinov seems somewhat of an ambitious attempt to take something from the defeat.
Another away defeat then, and from reading the reports and post match comments etc they could well have come from any number of away games this season - a hard luck story, chances to win the game but ultimately contributing to our own downfall.
There is the old saying that 'the table doesn't lie', and our current position clearly shows that over the course of the season we ultimately haven't been good or consistent enough, with what seems a very lengthy season now almost coming to a close before the inevitable post mortems begin.
Bitter and Blue has been nominated for Best Club Blog in this years EPL Talk awards. Should you be kind enough to want to vote, you can do so here.
Today's game is potentially a huge one. Win, and if results go our way elsewhere, we could be in seventh spot with just one game remaining. Lose, and in all likelihood, seventh spot will be beyond us.
Go comment...
"If you look at the other managers around me in the league, a lot of plaudits are given to them and I don't get many," said Hughes. "The point I'm making is that the other managers in similar positions to us have been given accolades for the jobs they have done, and rightly so. Roy Hodgson at Fulham has been mentioned as a possible for manager of the year. Gianfranco Zola and Steve Clarke at West Ham have done a great job and got four-year contracts while Harry Redknapp has been labelled a miracle workerat Tottenham because he has dragged them up the league. I am just the one in the middle.">>guardian.co.uk
MARK HUGHES has moved to allay fears over the future of England Under-21 star Michael Johnson, who has missed most of the season with painful muscular problems in his pelvic area.There has been speculation that highly-rated Johnson's career might even be in jeopardy, such is the trouble he has had trying to get back to full fitness since his last game at Brighton in September.
However, Hughes does not feel the damage is so bad and Johnson, who is ready to work on his rehabilitation programme throughout the summer, might well be available for the start of next season.
"Michael is seeing another specialist this week," said Hughes. "The good news is that he doesn't need surgery.
"What he needs is more rehabilitation on the medical side. It is a little bit complicated but it is more about lengthening muscles - there is an imbalance there.
"It will take a period of rehab to enable the balance of his body to be in line to let him play pain-free. That's the latest news we have on it.
"We would like to think he will be available for the start of the season. After an intense period of rehabilitation, we hope that will be the case.
"The pains he was having on his right-hand side have resolved themselves because we have been able to do a lot of work on that side. It is about making sure the balance is there, which will enable him to play."
Having witnessed that gutless, spineless, passionless excuse for a team rolled over by a Rags side that rarely needed to get out of second gear I wonder with MH in charge whether we have effectively seen the end of 'derbies' as we knew them.An interesting one, and from this link, it suggests that Ferguson's record against former players is a good one:
I don't ask that just because I rate Hughes as too negative, no not at all, I can sit and watch Kompany and De Jong pass the ball backwards and sideways all day with the best of them before its (eventually) hoofed up to the lone striker. No I ask it for this reason. Have any ex Man U. players EVER beaten a Fergie side? I don't have the stats. and to be honest can't afford the time to check them, but I have a very very strong suspicion that MH hasn't ever beaten him, nor Bruce, nor Robson, nor Coppell etc etc.
Now I'm not one for conspiracy theories usually, but I have often wondered this year whether MH gets a bigger pay check from OT than Eastlands.
It would be good though if bitter and blue could do the research and tell me whether I'm right or wrong.
Alan Meadows.
Sir Alex Ferguson has only been beaten five times in 55 Premier League matches against clubs managed by one of his former players. Mark Hughes has won two, drawn two and lost five of his nine league matches in charge of either Blackburn or Manchester City against his mentor.I do actually agree with the email that both derbies this season have really lacked any sort of edge (from both sides) even when compared to some of the more one-sided ones in recent years. It is surprising though, given that results between ourselves and United have by and large been equal over recent seasons since we returned to the Premier League.
Premier League clubs have agreed, in principle, to support a quota system for home-grown players.
Proposals for developing domestic talent will be discussed further by clubs next month and a new system could be introduced for the 2010/11 season.
The most likely outcome is that the Premier League will adopt the rules the Football League will use next season.
From August, Football League clubs will have to name at least four home-grown players in their match-day squad.
In this system any player who has been registered domestically for at least three years before their 21st birthday is classed as home grown, so for example Cesc Fabregas would be a 'home-grown' Arsenal player.
"What everyone has to understand is that there are a lot of people out there who profess to have mandates to work for Manchester City and who are approaching players, apparently on our behalf telling players they can get deals for them and asking if they are interested," he said.
"Some players then react and some don't but it is a situation that has happened time and time again this year and that is why there is so much speculation about players that we supposedly approach. There are a lot of people who are out there who would like to manufacture deals and situations where they would in turn become part of a big money move for a player to come to City.
"Raúl is an exceptionally talented and great player and has been for many years. He is someone I clearly admire and respect enormously and has done great things for his club and his country but I have not tried to sign him. He will not be coming to City."
In their 4-2-3-1 system City needed to move the ball forward quickly, get strong support out wide from full-back and flood the grass around the lone striker when the ball entered the box. But they never tested United, who passed the ball better, used the width well and had greater work-rate, particularly from Carlos Tevez, Park Ji-sung and Darren Fletcher.>>David Pleat
A disappointing day, and like Jack, for me there were too many echoes of the 1-0 defeat earlier this season in todays game, and we never really convinced that we were ever likely to be in the game.
Principally, we lacked the intent, belief and purpose that was needed to take anything from todays game. The trio of Ireland, Robinho and Elano were in the main ineffective and given short shrift by United's midfield. Similarly, the defensive duo of de Jong and Kompany were unable to take a control of the game and be the launching point for our attacks. Surely more was to be expected from a midfield five of the quality that was on display? All of this of course allowed United a rather easy ride on course to an inevitable league title.
We were far brighter in the second half though and we more than matched United in terms of possession, but far too much of it was not built upon or was in ineffective areas. On the odd occasions that we did carve chances out (or perhaps half-chances is a more apt description) we were unable to capitalise and once again the need for a real goalscorer to be added was apparant. Nice little cameos from Petrov and Bojinov were welcome and hopefully point to better times for the pair next season.
The result was of course also a setback in the race for seventh, with Fulham perhaps getting a surprise victory yesterday leaves needing to win out to have a chance. Fulham's remaining fixtures are Everton and Newcastle and it is possible they will taste defeat in one of those games. White Hart Lane is not a happy hunting ground for us though, but that will have to change come next Saturday.
In today's Observer:
One of the first things that hit me was my entrenched goalkeeper's perspective. I'm coaching kids in outfield play and it is years since I played there. I've never been able to dribble, run round people or shoot (my italics).
No kidding.
Mark Hughes stays true to the long-haul game at Manchester City | Football | The Observer
West Ham put race for Euro place in limbo by failing to meet UEFA demands | Mail Online
Manchester United v Manchester City: Five classic derbies - Telegraph
Manchester United v Manchester City: Dimitar Berbatov and Robinho's opposite lives - Telegraph
"It's true that there has been contact with my representative Gines Carvajal from Manchester City, but I've not considered it because I'm not going to leave here. This is my club, and I want to finish my playing career here.
"When they told me of Manchester City's offer I didn't have a single moment's doubt. My place is here and I still think I can help the team win titles."
I did initially think that this story was merely rumour, but it does seem as though there is at least some substance to it.
I am though sceptical of exactly what 'contact' was made to Raul, and would be surprised if it was direct from the club as I don't see him being the type of player Mark Hughes would look for, more like it coming from one of the supposed network of agents or representatives we have seen alledgee to have links to the club.
There has been plenty of discussion over at we've got robinho about the merits of adding Raul, and I must say I am in agreement with the general feeling over there. The reported fee, plus his advancing years (despite him being only 31) do inicate his best years are all but behind him and a more clinical goalscorer must surely be higher on the agenda.
The 151st Manchester derby is upon us this Sunday, and added to the usual spice of a derby clash, a couple of sub plots have been thrown in to the mix, namely United aiming for the title and ourselves gunning for seventh spot to secure Europa League qualification next season.
Looking at our final three games, I feel six points should be enough to achieve this but I would argue that taking something from tomorrows game would be a huge boost. Make no bones about it though, it will be tough. United are on a good run of form and confidence is likely to be high at present. Their home form this season has been excellent (winning all but two at Old Trafford) and they clearly possess the players to cause us problems.
The game earlier this season was a strange affair, with it lacking the usual derby atmosphere and our performance was a largely insipid one which saw us never really in the game. Tomorrow should be different of course though for many reasons - new additions to the side, the side looking a cohesive unit, three wins on the bounce bringing confidence of our own, the desire to finish seventh and importantly, that the players appear to be fully focused and ready on achieving success tomorrow.
Victory at Old Trafford last season will also have buried some ghosts of derby's past, so we do have players in the ranks who have experience of winning at Old Trafford and there has been plenty of postive talk coming out of the City camp in the latter part of the week.
It goes without saying that we need our big performers to step up if we are to get a result - namely the trio of Robinho, Ireland and Elano, but also important are the duo of de Jong and Kompany who will do the 'dirty work' and to allow the attacking players to get involved.
I don't see many surprises with the line up and even if Shaun Wright-Phillips is back to fitness, I don't see more than a place on the bench for him given Elano's impressive form of late.
A goalless draw doesn't appear the likeliest of options given United haven't been involved in one for fourteen games and we haven't registered one all season, but I don't see a huge number of goals - despite the attacking threats that are on display, and perhaps a 1-1 draw looks the best bet.
From Richard Dunne:
"He (Ronaldo) makes the most of the situation, I suppose. Some referees give free-kicks but some don't. Diving or not diving, he's impossible to mark when he's on form. He's similar to [Lionel] Messi. If they are on form then they are difficult to stop. He is the best player in the world and he plays the game to his advantage."Nigel de Jong:
"There are so many more Blues than Reds," he says. "If I take a cab, the driver is a City fan. If I go to the shopping centre, all I see are City shirts. I was astonished when I first arrived because everyone was a Blue and I was asking everyone: 'How does that work? Manchester United are the biggest club in the world, aren't they?'Mark Hughes:"People would explain to me: 'That's just a global thing, the real workers' club is Manchester City.' And it's true, it's a working club, and the people in Manchester can relate to this club because they are working people. They are very proud of it. That's why Manchester City is so big locally – not worldwide maybe, but definitely locally."
"We're on a nice little run, four games unbeaten, and as I have said all week you have to go to Old Trafford with a lot of belief and confidence. That's what we have, we're playing well and winning games. We’re looking forward to Sunday, we're in decent shape and if ever there was a time for us to go to Old Trafford, it's now."
There seems to be a lack of Derby related news and stories around so far - possible with the Champions League dominating the column inches - so I thought I'd get the thread up a little earlier than usual for any discussion ahead of Sunday's game with United.
Feel free to post any comments or links, and I'll have a preview up sometime likely Saturday morning.
There was a recent comment left over at tldorc which threw up the suggestion that failing to secure seventh position this season (therefore not qualifying for next seasons Europa League) may actually be in our favour.
So much of recent focus - ie, since the defeat to Hamburg - has been about trying to make a late run to get back into Europe that there hasn't been much analysis on exactly what effect participation in this seasons UEFA Cup has had on our league fortunes.
Whilst most would consider European qualification of any sort a success from a season, for ADUG this will clearly not be enough to satisfy their ambitions. The revamped Europa League is not what they had in mind when they took over, the promised land (and cash) of the Champions League is of course the aim that must be achieved.
It is easy to forget at this juncture quite how early our season began way back in the Faroe Islands, and it is testament perhaps to the training methods of Mark Hughes and his staff that we do still look relatively fresh at this stage, and able to still challenge for that final qualifying position.
Looking at Aston Villa, they had a great opportunity for Champions League qualification this season, but - coupled with a fantastic run by Arsenal - simply ran out of steam, no doubt in part because of the diversion of the UEFA Cup, and they may not get another chance like the one they have had this season.
Now I don't believe that the UEFA Cup campaign has been the ruin of our league season, far from it, but it has to have taken its toll, and rather much has had to do with the changes Hughes has sought to introduce, which haven't all been succesful but the vast majority of which I believe we are beginning to see signs of fruition.
If then, the Champions League is the target, looking ahead now to the 2009/10 season, will we be best served by not qualifying for the Europa League?
Summer signings are now (and will continue to be) speculated about with a feeling that a lack of European football will be a hindrance to our chances of signing certain 'top name' players, but my view is that it is the Champions League that is the attraction and Europa League or not, this will not affect our potential to lure players.
With a more settled squad now, which has had the benefit of at least half a season together, with the long term absentees returning plus any new additions in the summer, we will go into 2009/10 with what is arguably our best ever (certainly that I can remember anyway) squad. With only the league (and domestic cups) to focus on, we could focus everything on making a real run at a Champions League place, which we all know will be such a difficult thing to achieve.
I'm not saying my preference is for us to avoid seventh place, and the UEFA Cup this season has in the main been fantastic to watch. And from the noises coming out of the club the focus is still very much on qualification, but if the bar is now set at a far higher standard, does this include the Europa League?
Manchester City Football Club are delighted to confirm that they will take part in the Vodacom Challenge in South Africa as the main part of their pre-season preparations for the 2009/10 Barclays Premier League campaign.The tournament, which celebrates its 10th anniversary this year, sees the Blues take on the two biggest clubs in South Africa. City will play Orlando Pirates on 18th July in Cape Town and Kaizer Chiefs in Durban on 21st July. The tournament will come to an exciting finale in Pretoria on 25th July when City will play one of the two South African sides in the final.>>mcfc.co.uk
With yesterday's results (how nice would a Stoke equaliser have been?) matters a very tight, with just a single point seperating West Ham in seventh to Tottenham in tenth with just three games left:
West Ham 48pts
Man City 47pts
Fulham 47pts
Tottenham 47pts
No great surprises that we came away with the victory, but pleasing nonetheless to come away with what was in the main a professional performance that leaves us firmly in the mix for the seventh spot.
I don't think we excelled in the early stages of the game and perhaps a better side would have tested us far greater than Blackburn did. Once we got the goal however, there was a sense (for me at least) that the points were in the bag as I do think Blackburn were perhaps targeting other games for the remain point(s) they need to guarantee safety.
Interestingly, yesterday was our third win a row, something we haven't achieved all season and it should provide great heart going into next weeks Derby, in which, as Hughes said post match, we do need to take something from:
"There are three games left and we probably need to get something out of every one of them. Results elsewhere for the clubs in and around us probably didn't go as we would have wanted.Press reaction:"But we can only do what we can do, and we would love to get straight back into Europe. We're pleased tonight because it keeps that little run going and four in a row doesn't happen on many occasions.
"so we'll enjoy it when it does happen. But then the focus will very quickly go on to the big game next week, and we'll go in with good heart from a good performance."
In fairness, there can be few more accommodating visitors to Eastlands than Blackburn, whose injury-hit troops dragged themselves to the brink of safety last weekend, only to suffer the kind of defeat that leaves them vulnerable to an expected burst of form from those below.>>men.co.uk
Success comes frequently to Manchester City at Eastlands these days but rarely quite as easily as this. Another nudge towards the inaugural Europa League was applied via the gift-wrapping of three goals in 18 first-half minutes that leave Blackburn Rovers with something still to do to achieve survival.>>independent.co.uk
Although these days nobody comes dressed as a sheikh, the season at Eastlands is ending much as it began, with blue skies, big wins and Brazilians rampaging forward.>>guardian.co.uk
A less vaunted South American, Ecuador's Felipe Caicedo, scored the first of three goals in 18 minutes that all but assured City's third successive Premier League victory before half-time. Keith Andrews replied for Blackburn, who still need at least one win to confirm survival.>>telegraph.co.uk
If Mark Hughes wants to act as a convincing salesman to prospective new arrivals at Manchester City, he only has to post off a DVD of Robinho. When he’s in the mood, Robinho embodies the dictionary definition of the word genius.>>timesonline
Just time for a quick preview today.
It's safe to say in the context of our 'mini season' now that three points is an absolute must today. There is a chance this weekend that victory today could see us in seventh spot with the other sides in contention having what looks, on paper at least, trickier fixtures.
The table currently looks as follows:
7. Fulham - 47 points
8. West Ham - 45 points
9. City - 44 points
10. Tottenham - 44 points
The weekends fixtures sees Fulham travel to Chelsea, West Ham visit Stoke, whilst Tottenham host West Brom and we of course face Blackburn. A win today and we could be seventh.
Blackburn could be a tricky prospect, and much has been made of the ploy of playing Christopher Samba up front but if he manages to win a game for them then there is something clearly wrong. Their win over Wigan last week may in all likelihood have made them safe and perhaps they will target their remaining points elsewhere.
Attacking wise, we are really on song at present with all our key players shining. A concern would be a lack of goals from our strikers (whoever is fielded) but the side is packed with goals and we will I feel have too much for them given we have seventh place in our sights.
Posts
All Comments
