The days best City links 09/30/2009
Blues wave goodbye to unbeaten record - News - Manchester City FC
Manchester City: a First Class Club with a First Class Atmosphere? | EPL Talk
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
The return of Johnson
Amidst last nights victory saw the albeit brief, but nonetheless significant appearance of Michael Johnson, who was introduced with little over two minutes remaining.
I must confess to being an unabashed Johnson-ite, and have waxed lyrical about his talents throughout his period of absence through injury.
Although we have strengthened the squad tremendously over the past twelve months - especially so in the midfield/attacking departments, Johnson truly offers something different and his loss during 2007/08 was a major catalyst in our loss of form and subsequent slide down the table.
Indeed, if he can recover his fitness and break into the side, he could have a similar impact that we saw Stephen Ireland have during 2008/09.
What Johnson does offer that we do not possess elsewhere is a 'two-way' threat. It may be ice-hockey terminology but the description fits his style precisely. From our midfield players we have the defensive players (de Jong, Kompany, Barry) and then the attack minded ones (Wright-Phillips, Petrov, Ireland). A 'two-way' player is someone equally adept both in the defensive and offensive (attacking) areas and Johnson could provide the perfect bridge and link between the two aspects - think the role that Stephen Ireland has been handed but has yet to fully get to grips with.
There are no guarantees of course though. For one, Johnson has to get fully fit - and I suspect he will be brought along very slowly - and then force his way into the side. But if he can achieve this, he could be a very big part of our success both this season and beyond.
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Hughes praise for Petrov
Praise for the returning winger following the victory over West Ham:
"The great thing about the evening from my point of view is that Martin Petrov came in and made a real impression. That shows what a great professional he is."He's had to be patient and bide his time but he trains correctly and works exceptionally hard every day. he knows you have to be in the right physical state to make a positive impact."
"He had a really positive influence and that's what we need - guys who, when they get an opportunity, are ready to perform, not sitting in the stands feeling sorry for themselves.
"We need that quality through the squad - when somebody isn't available, we need somebody else to come in and make an impact like that."
Robinho's return delayed
Manchester City manager Mark Hughes has revealed Brazilian forward Robinho is set to be sidelined for another three weeks after injuring his right ankle.
The 25-year-old picked up a stress fracture while playing in his country's 3-1 win over Argentina on 5 September.
Initially it had been thought he would be out for just a month but Hughes has revised his recovery time.
"It is still in plaster, so he is not training, just doing work in the gym," said Hughes.
It is amazing to think that not only we able to comfortably absorb a prolonged period of absence for Robinho - the reality being that we have not missed his presence in the side - but once he does return, the form shown this season by Craig Bellamy, and indeed Martin Petrov in the victory last night, he will find himself effectively third choice for that spot on the left hand side.
Whilst Hughes has shown he is capable so far of managing players expectations (although still early days) given the size of the squad, Robinho kicking his heels on the sidelines could well be a different prospect - especially given it is a World Cup year.
West Ham player ratings
Given - A largely quiet night with one excellent tip over the bar. 7
Zabaleta - Offered quality when joining the attack and solid in defence. Justified his selection. 7.5
Toure - Looks completely at home and growing in stature with the captaincy. 8
Lescott - Struggled with the impressive Cole and one or two mistakes which could have been more costly. 6
Bridge - Solid and unassuming. Will enjoy a lengthy run in the side from Petrov. 6.5
Wright-Philiips - Looked to be the odd man out of the attacking players. One or two flashes but never really got a foothold in the game. 6
de Jong - Broke up any threat from West Ham and always onto the loose ball. Shown himself to be a vital component since his return to the side. 7.5
Barry - A lot of his work goes largely unnoticed but has shown himself to be a integral cog in the midfield trio. 7
Petrov - Played like he had a point to prove and delivered an exciting performance full of pace, threat and delivery. Scored one, made another and will be difficult to leave out. 8
Bellamy - Full of running, energy and pace in a more central role. His delivery from set pieces is proving to be a big plus. 7.5
Tevez - Scored twice, and could (should) have added a couple more. Brings team-mates into the game superbly but perhaps needs a more clincial finish. 7.5
Subs:
Santa Cruz - A quarter of an hour run out for his debut. Little chance to impress although had a half chance he may have done better with. 6.5
Johnson - No real time to make an impact but his return was a huge plus nonetheless. n/a
West Ham review
Perusing the press and blogs this morning, last nights victory over West Ham has in the main been described as a solid and functional victory - precisely the type of win that we should be putting together from our hour games, where three points should be the norm.
This view though both glosses over some of the inadequacies that were shown, but equally fails to offer praise where deserved.
At times - and whilst West Ham barely helped themselves in this regard with their marking for the first and third goals - we played some wonderful attacking football, swathes of blue shirts marauding forward outnumbering their opponents. As expected, Martin Petrov replaced the ill Stephen Ireland in a very attacking line-up and the fluidity and movement between the front men was certainly impressive.
Petrov appeared to be the focal point for our attacking outlet, and he really did play with a sense of purpose (note the goal celebration). The sight of him running with the ball directly at defenders is a majestic one, and he really does offer something no other player in the squad can, vindicating the decision to not allow him to move on transfer deadline day.
Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez linked well with one another in the more central positions, and Tevez scored twice, he was a little wasteful at times in front of goal yet was tireless in his effort and I don't subscribe to the view that too much of his work is done in areas where it doesn't count. Often last night he was the player who was launching our forays.
In midfield, Gareth Barry had another solid, unassuming evening whilst Nigel de Jong I thought was tireless and sharp in the tackle, and maintained his record of having not smiled during a match this season.
Where criticism could be laid was that at times we were far too open, allowing West Ham opportunities at 1-0 and 2-1 down to get back into the game. Individually, the defenders played well enough - Zabaleta certainly justifying his selection ahead of Richards, and Toure growing in stature with the captaincy.
Having taken such an early lead though, and then restored our lead there should be no way back into the game when we are at home. Better sides may well have exploited this to a greater degree, and equally, a return to keeping clean sheets would also add a more solid and stable feel.
It was pleasing to see both Roque santa Cruz and Michael Johnson afforded some playing time too, and the fact that our bench looked so strong, with Robinho, Adebayor, Onouha and Kompany on the sidelines shows the strength and quality in depth that we possess.
To some degree, we are still a work in progress as the new faces take time to fully gel and settle as a side but we really do look be in a position to mount a serious challenge on the top four.
This view though both glosses over some of the inadequacies that were shown, but equally fails to offer praise where deserved.
At times - and whilst West Ham barely helped themselves in this regard with their marking for the first and third goals - we played some wonderful attacking football, swathes of blue shirts marauding forward outnumbering their opponents. As expected, Martin Petrov replaced the ill Stephen Ireland in a very attacking line-up and the fluidity and movement between the front men was certainly impressive.
Petrov appeared to be the focal point for our attacking outlet, and he really did play with a sense of purpose (note the goal celebration). The sight of him running with the ball directly at defenders is a majestic one, and he really does offer something no other player in the squad can, vindicating the decision to not allow him to move on transfer deadline day.
Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez linked well with one another in the more central positions, and Tevez scored twice, he was a little wasteful at times in front of goal yet was tireless in his effort and I don't subscribe to the view that too much of his work is done in areas where it doesn't count. Often last night he was the player who was launching our forays.
In midfield, Gareth Barry had another solid, unassuming evening whilst Nigel de Jong I thought was tireless and sharp in the tackle, and maintained his record of having not smiled during a match this season.
Where criticism could be laid was that at times we were far too open, allowing West Ham opportunities at 1-0 and 2-1 down to get back into the game. Individually, the defenders played well enough - Zabaleta certainly justifying his selection ahead of Richards, and Toure growing in stature with the captaincy.
Having taken such an early lead though, and then restored our lead there should be no way back into the game when we are at home. Better sides may well have exploited this to a greater degree, and equally, a return to keeping clean sheets would also add a more solid and stable feel.
It was pleasing to see both Roque santa Cruz and Michael Johnson afforded some playing time too, and the fact that our bench looked so strong, with Robinho, Adebayor, Onouha and Kompany on the sidelines shows the strength and quality in depth that we possess.
To some degree, we are still a work in progress as the new faces take time to fully gel and settle as a side but we really do look be in a position to mount a serious challenge on the top four.
Monday, September 28, 2009
Sunday, September 27, 2009
West Ham preview
I'm no fan of Monday night games, yet given the exertions against United last Sunday then extra-time against Fulham on Wednesday, the extra forty-eight hours rest will undoubtedly be beneficial to us - especially considering the side has remained virtually the same throughout the season so far.
On paper, West Ham at home should be a fixture that we view as a winnable one. To have tangible success in the league this season - a minimum of Europa League qualification - it is imperative that we replicate the form at home shown during 2008/09.
So far so good at home then with two victories from two games so far and Jack makes a very valid point in discussing our home form in his preview of the game in that whilst there are no guaranteed wins, the games at home for those sides at the very top of the league appear to be.
That the points become almost automatic. Winning can quickly become habit and with our burgeoning reputation a good start at home over the first half dozen games will be the platform for a successful return over the remainder of the season.
Team wise, Adebayor serves the final game of his suspension whilst Robinho is still on the sidelines. Vincent Kompany is close to a return but unlike Roque Santa Cruz this game may come too early for him. I would imagine that should Stephen Ireland have recovered we should see an unchanged starting eleven, with in-form Craig Bellamy likely to be fired up to face (one of) his former clubs.
For West Ham, Matthew Upson and Jack Collison remain doubtful. I am looking forward to seeing both Hines and Diamanti in action though having heard plenty about them, but feel that Zola may well opt for a defensive formation with Carlton Cole given plenty of responsibility in leading the line.
A victory will see us leapfrog Tottenham into fourth place (with a game in hand). I have been impressed with the focus and application of the side this season and we certainly shouldn't be underprepared for any fixture.
West Ham have the potential to cause us problems, but for me, we should have enough to hold them off in a 2-1 victory.
Game stats
- We have won three of the past four games at the City of Manchester Stadium.
- Twelve of the eighteen home Premier League fixtures have been won by the home side.
- It is now 50 games since we contested a goalless draw.
- This is West Ham's worst start to a season since 2002/03.
- West Ham are yet to beat a side in the top half of the table this season.
Santa Cruz ready
It looks as though we may see him in action tomorrow evening:
"I can't wait to get out there," he said. "I don't think people realise how excited I am about making my debut – I just can't wait to do it. I think I'm in good shape to be involved in the West Ham game. Hopefully the rush won't make me take the wrong decision. Everything is looking positive with the knee; it has dealt with the stress I have been giving it. Now I need to get my match fitness."
Saturday, September 26, 2009
Scunthorpe drawn in Carling Cup
The draw earlier today handed us a home tie in round 4 of the Carling Cup against Scunthorpe, and really we couldn't have wished for an easier tie as a route into the quarter-finals.
The last sixteen is dominated by Premier League sides, with most from the upper reaches still involved. The full draw is as follows:
Blackburn Rovers v Peterborough United
Manchester City v Scunthorpe United
Tottenham Hotspur v Everton
Barnsley v Manchester United
Chelsea v Bolton Wanderers
Sunderland v Aston Villa
Arsenal v Liverpool
Portsmouth v Stoke City
Our last meeting with Scunthorpe came over three yea.rs ago with a 3-1 victory in round 3 of the FA Cup in January 2006.Friday, September 25, 2009
Goals
Mark Hughes reflected following the Fulham victory on the importance of our new found success from set pieces:
"We have not done badly this season - in the early part of last year we did not look a threat from set plays. In games so far we look like a team that can now.The 2009/10 season is in its early stages of course, but there is no doubting that we have got off to an impressive start thus far, recording six wins out of seven Premier League and Carling Cup games thus far, recording six wins from our seven Premier League and Carling Cup games so far.
"We have told the players where we want the ball delivered and how they need to be a bit more dynamic in the box and make sure they get first contact.
"Invariably if you get that first contact something happens for you. That is what we have tried to emphasise to the players."
Equally impressive is that these victories have come without fully realising the undoubted potential (small glimpses aside) that the newly assembled side looks to be capable of. Central to this has not only been the ability to grind out these wins but the importance of goals from set pieces in doing so in tight games, where you are struggling to carve out (or take) clear cut opportunities.
This was evidenced of course against Fulham where both the equaliser and winner came from headers from corner-kicks, something that we are certainly not used to in recent memory and of course without them, could well have seen us exit the competition.
So far this season we have scored 16 goals, with six of these coming from headers as a result of set pieces.
Early days of course, but it does appear that for all the newly acquired flair and skill, there is a tough edge to this side which is resulting in us being able to graft out goals when required - and long time watchers of football will know that more often that not these can end up being the most important goals you score.
The days best City links 09/25/2009
Norfstander: Ireland criticism uncalled for and complete nonsense
BBC NEWS | England | Manchester | Probe into Bellamy clash dropped
City consider all change at Eastlands - Manchester City - Football - Sport - Manchester Evening News
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Hughes praise for Fulham win
Mark Hughes heaped on the praise following last night's 2-1 victory over Fulham:
"It was a difficult night. Fulham scoring first was exactly what they wanted. They were very well organised, with plenty of players behind the ball and difficult to break down."We had to be patient, keep the ball moving and create things, because with Craig, Carlos and Shaun up front knocking high balls into their penalty box isn't an option. But we stuck at it and we are in the next round, which was the object.
"There was a lot of physical and emotional effort at the weekend. At times we looked drained because of that, and we were up against a team with a lot of energy fielding players who didn't play at the weekend."
It didn't catch the game last night but it doesn't appear to have been one of our better, or free flowing performances. As Hughes states though, the game did come on the back of a draining game on Sunday, with Pablo Zabaleta in for Micah Richards the only change.
Whilst Fulham made plenty of changes, there side was far fresher than ours which could have been telling once the game went into extra-time.
Perhaps then, we should be praising the victory, for it being achieved in a gutsy manner and the side finding a way to win when on plenty of occasions in the past we have surrendered meekly in this competition. Even more so given that the sides toughness in situations such as last night was called into question when Hughes began assembling the high profile and costly additions.
"We have not done badly this season - in the early part of last year we did not look a threat from set plays. In games so far we look like a team that can now.Whilst extra-time was perhaps unwanted, it did allow for some extended playing time for both Martin Petrov and Vladimir Weiss who have seen little action so far. We do also have an additional recovery period given the West Ham is not until Monday night.
"We have told the players where we want the ball delivered and how they need to be a bit more dynamic in the box and make sure they get first contact.
"Invariably if you get that first contact something happens for you. That is what we have tried to emphasise to the players."
Ireland given the all-clear
Stevie Ireland is back home after being taken to hospital following last night's Carling Cup win over Fulham.The Blues reigning player of the season was substituted in the 75th minute of the 2-1 win and taken for precautionary checks after complaining of dizziness and feeling unwell.
Tests were carried on the 23-year-old and he was given the all-clear. He is expected to rest today and resume training at the weekend for the visit of West Ham on Monday night.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
If Andrew Symonds played for City
Then this could have been oh-so different. Hat-tip to Sydney Blues for the reminder about this:
Sheikh Mansour completes takeover
From mcfc.co.uk:
Manchester City can confirm that a transaction involving 10% of the shares of Manchester City Football Club Limited has been completed.
The 10per cent of shares, previously owned by Worldwide Investments Limited has now been transferred to ADUG, the wholly owned company of Sheikh Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan, for an undisclosed sum. As a result of the transaction Manchester City Football Club is now 100 per cent owned by His Highness Sheikh Mansour.
The final word on Bellamy
Given the FA (rightly or wrongly) have not charged Craig Bellamy, we can finally draw a line under Sunday's incident now with Jack and myself discussing the issue over at United blog Republik of Mancunia.
Fulham preview
A quick opportunity then to put the derby defeat behind us and get back on track.
There has been a huge media focus on us in recent times, mainly for non-footballing issues it has to be said, so it would be nice to focus solely on on-pitch matters and this competition does offer us the best opportunity to land a trophy.
Fulham are a useful side though and for me, Roy Hodgson doesn't get nearly the credit he deserves for the turnaround he has presided over at Craven Cottage since he replaced Lawrie Sanchez. Perhaps as a result of our insular Premier League view, we don't measure the success he has achieved in a variety of positions abroad to the same degree we should do.
Fulham had a successful 2008/09 campaign and as a result of this we may have an easier task on our hands should they sit out a large chunk of their strongest eleven - although they did field an under-strength side in the Europa League opener so maybe the Carling Cup will be treated with some importance. They have also fared relatively well against us in recent times and it certainly isn't a game we can look past.
Team wise, maybe Hughes will make changes, although maybe he won't given the side that was fielded at Crystal Palace. Injuries and suspension will force his hand in one or two areas though and I'd like him to take the opportunity to give some of those fringe players a run out. He has already hinted that Martin Petrov could get a start, especially so given that Carlos Tevez may not be risked twice in quick succession.
Defensively, Pablo Zabaleta must be hoping for an opportunity and I would sit out Richards for this game. Valdimir Weiss, Javier Garrido and Sylvinho may also be set to see some action.
Despite the setback at United, I am confident of a victory tomorrow despite the probably lack of weapons in attack. We may make heavy going of it at times but I'll take us to progess with a 2-1 victory.
Team wise, maybe Hughes will make changes, although maybe he won't given the side that was fielded at Crystal Palace. Injuries and suspension will force his hand in one or two areas though and I'd like him to take the opportunity to give some of those fringe players a run out. He has already hinted that Martin Petrov could get a start, especially so given that Carlos Tevez may not be risked twice in quick succession.
Defensively, Pablo Zabaleta must be hoping for an opportunity and I would sit out Richards for this game. Valdimir Weiss, Javier Garrido and Sylvinho may also be set to see some action.
Despite the setback at United, I am confident of a victory tomorrow despite the probably lack of weapons in attack. We may make heavy going of it at times but I'll take us to progess with a 2-1 victory.
The days best City links 09/23/2009
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
No FA charge for Bellamy
The FA today announced that referee Martin Atkinson confirmed that he would not have sent Bellamy off had he seen the incident with the fan at the time.
This means Bellamy is free for selection for tomorrow’s Carling Cup tie at home to Fulham and Monday evening’s Premier League fixture at home to West Ham United.
Bellamy will be contacted by The FA and warned as to his future conduct.
The more I think about this decision, the more I am surprised by it.
Perhaps in the aftermath of the derby, the incident was lost a little in the emotion and how the game finished. There would surely have been a greater focus had the game fizzled out to a 0-0 draw.
There was likely to be an amount of provocation from the guy who got onto the pitch and we don't know precisely what happened or was said leading up to it. In addition, the emotions of a dramatic end to the match would have been racing around.
The cold facts though are that Bellamy struck a fan in the face. That cannot be right any which way you look at it. The club were always going to defend Bellamy, and rightly or wrongly, no club would take a moral stance by handing out their own punishment when the prospect of no action by the FA was a possibility.
It does set a dangerous precedent though in relation to future incidents.
By definition, the FA are also deeming this to be a less serious transgression than the conduct of Emmanuel Adebayor following his goal against Arsenal. Take the two incidents in isolation and you cannot say Adebayor's was a more serious, dangerous and 'improper' offence.
You'd hope not, but maybe the furore over the injury time at the end of the game helped sway the decision?
Onouha ruled out
Disappointing news for Nedum Onouha ahead of tomorrow's Carling Cup tie at home to Fulham: "Unfortunately Nedum is injured at the moment," said Hughes. "He pulled a thigh during the reserves game last week. He played around 55 minutes but felt a bit of discomfort. "There is a tear in there and he will be out for three or four weeks." I'm sure Onouha would have been in the frame for a start, but considering we have conceded six in our past two games Hughes may look to keep the same defence (certainly centrally) to iron out any concerns.
Hughes looks to learn from defeat
I wrote following the Derby defeat that once the dust settled, Hughes would be more reflective on the game as a whole, summising as follows:
In the cold light of day though when the emotion from the defeat settles, Hughes will look at the game and be concerned at the way and manner in which we conceded the goals despite the huge investment in that area.In today's MEN, Hughes has done just that (whilst still having a veiled attack at the officials):
"We have to be bloody-minded and make sure we see games to their conclusion, no matter what the officials add on at the end of the game," said Hughes.Looking at the game, there were tremendous positives that we can take from it - and the performances was a signal that this side is to be reckoned with, and an indication that a challenge to the top four is within our capability.
"We allowed too many balls into our box which we didn't deal with, and we are disappointed with all of their goals.
"That's the frustration from our point of view, not seeing the game out. But we showed some great quality, and stuck at it and in the end we were brave.
"We will pick the bones out of it and look at certain parts of the game when we could have eased the pressure."
Defensive mistakes have cost us in the past, and as well as United attacked, we contributed to our downfall on Sunday - although United's defensive performances was no better so credit should be given to both sides for their attacking intent.
A plus is that we now have the chance with two winnable games (Fulham in the Carling Cup and West Ham in the Premier League) to put Sunday behind us and iron out some of the less positive aspects of our play.
Santa Cruz set for return
From the MEN, ahead of tomorrow's Carling Cup tie against Fulham:
ROQUE Santa Cruz could make his long-awaited debut for City in the Carling Cup clash with Fulham.How many changes we may see is unknown, but in the previous round at Crystal Palace Hughes fielded a full-strength side.
The £17.5m striker has completed his rehab following a knee operation in April and now just needs games to regain full match fitness.
And his return can't come soon enough for Mark Hughes, who is without the suspended Emanuel Adebayor, while Craig Bellamy could also be hit with an FA ban after Sunday's explosive derby.
Robinho is also sidelined with injury.
Given we are a few more games into the season now, I do suspect that those who have remained on the bench so far will get to see some playing time tomorrow evening.
Charges galore?
The Guardian is reporting there could be a series of charges as a result of incidents from Sunday's derby.
They suggest Craig Bellamy could face a potential three-game suspension, after the FA admitting they were looking at the incident which saw him punch/push (delete as appropriate) the fan who ran on to the pitch. This of course would be subject to him being charged, and found guilty of, improper conduct.
The club have confirmed no action will be taken against him and from the noises coming out of the club, they would likely mount a defence of him should he be charged.
United themselves could face two charges, one for the incident where a coin struck Javier Garrido, and Che Neville could also find himself in hot water following his celebrations after United's winner, with Mark Hughes:
"...accusing his former team-mate of acting "like a lunatic" and, having run half the length of the pitch to make his point, it appeared to dawn on Neville that he could have landed himself in trouble. On the way back to the dug-out, he was keen to make it look as if he were just warming up, overlooking the fact that United had used their three substitutes."In no way defending Neville here (nor Adebayor before him), I'm sure this is something we are now going to see more and more of in the game should Adebayor be found guilty and banned following the charge of improper conduct, as even a solitary complaint could force the FA to investigate. Knowing that doing so could result in an opposing player being banned, I'm sure, will make the likelihood of this even greater.
The police have also confirmed that the fan who was the recipient of Bellamy's fist/palm has been charged 'with going onto a playing area without lawful authority or excuse.'
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Lescott - 'No excuses'
From mcfc.co.uk:
"You're disappointed to lose any game - Craig scored two wonder goals for us and we thought we'd done enough to get a point, but it wasn't to be."There are no excuses. We are pros and we have to look at ourselves collectively and as individuals and realise that it just wasn't good enough.
"We look at each other and we've made mistakes. We started the season with four clean sheets and now we've conceded goals. We have to correct that."
"It's good that we've a Carling Cup tie against Fulham on Wednesday to put things right. It would have been hard to wait another eight days until the West Ham game."
Derby defeat
No-one could argue that on the balance of play over the course of the game that we deserved a point, but having hauled ourselves back into the game on three seperate occasions, it is galling to say the least to come away empty handed and the sense of frustration will definitely take time to subside.
Much has already been written about the amount of injury time that was played, and yes it did appear excessive, but to play devils advocate a little here, it did also allow ourselves the opportunity to grab a winner. Looking again at the injury time that was played - perhaps due to our relief at equalising on the stroke of ninety minutes - we looked like we were frantically playing out time whilst United went hunting for the win. Serious questions must also be asked as to quite who was supposed to be marking Michael Owen when the ball was played into the box for the winning goal.
Hughes must have preached to the side to keep their concentration and not concede an early goal, yet this is precisely what we did as we fell behind barely two minutes into the game. Despite getting on level terms following a mistake by Ben Foster - defensive lapses being a common theme throughout the game - throughout the first half we more often than not appeared to be on the back foot with us allowing United too much possession and time on the ball (something I warned about).
The second half began little better than the first as we once again fell behind early to a Darren Fletcher header, yet once again hit back through Craig Bellamy (the best Derby strike since Brightwell?).
Following Bellamy's equaliser to make it 2-2, we really were dominated for long spells and realistically could have condeded before Fletcher put United 3-2 ahead - of which there hasn't been much mention of the fact Evra went down very, very easily to win the free kick that the goal resulted from.
But credit must go to the side for the tenacity and resolve shown to get back into the game on three seperate occasions where sides of the past would have caved in. Of course, this is no consolation or make the defeat easier to swallow but there are clear signs that yet again that this side does have plenty about it.
In the cold light of day though when the emotion from the defeat settles, Hughes will look at the game and be concerned at the way and manner in which we conceded the goals despite the huge investment in that area. After conceding twice at home to Arsenal last week, it does highlight concerns regarding our defensive solidity against the most potent attacking sides.
Hughes though appears to be fostering a siege mentality at present - with his defence of Craig Bellamy further evidence of this in addition to his post match comments - and having tasted defeat for the first time this season, the big test now is how do we respond.
If the defeat can be used to foster a greater resolve and to learn from the mistakes made in this game, then this side could well be a better one for having tasted defeat in the manner experienced today.
Bellamy punches fan
Mark Hughes on the Bellamy incident:
"I seem to recal Brian Clough clipping someone around the ear and he was lauded as a national hero. Maybe it will be the same case with Craig but I doubt it".
I'd imagine both Bellamy and the fan who came onto the pitch are probably going to be hearing a lot more about this.Changes
The final installment of David Conn's wonderful illuminating series on the club is up on The Guardian website (and in print no doubt too).
It is a big piece, and brings the 'story' up to date with a look at the numerous changes both on and off the field that have occurred over the past twelve months. There is plenty to pick out - and I do implore you to read it - but it is always intriguing when you are afforded a glimpse into the inner sanctum and workings of the playing set up.
The stand-out quote comes courtesy of Stephen Ireland:
"(This is) The happiest and most content I have ever been at Man City. Before, I always felt on edge, like I'm not sure what's around the corner."Ireland says the dressing room was "cliquey" last season, divided by the influence of Elano, who, although "a great guy and very talented player", was, Ireland believes, over-indulged under Eriksson. "The gaffer [Hughes] took some time to get a grip of the club," Ireland says. "He had it tough; he came into a club that had been damaged down the years, with players not having a winning mentality, accepting defeat, accepting losing away from home, accepting things that just weren't right. Mark Hughes came in with his own staff and worked to make that right.
"The first meeting the gaffer ever had, he talked about what he was going to offer us, he said to get on board and try to achieve. Some players just didn't want to buy into it, to put the extra effort in. It was a shame because they went, and I am sure they will look back and regret it."
Looking back to the 2008/09 season, there was plenty of clamour for Hughes's head amidst a series of poor results and performances. What has emerged since is that during this time, the foundations were being laid and it was inevitable that teething problems would be experienced until Hughes managed to re-vamp the squad (which he felt woefully inadequate) he had inherited.
The first tangible progress was to be seen with the signings in January (the Given and Bellamy ones Khaldoon admits he severely questioned at the time), which saw results pick up over the second half of the season.
The signings over the summer then took this to a new level, but of equal (if not greater) importance was the shipping out of those players who did not buy into the vision that Hughes - and the club - laid out to them. Chief architect of that clearly seems to be Elano, and for all his wonderful talent and moments that he brought during his brief spell at the club, I doubt anyone can now seriously question the decision to sanction his sale to Galatasary. The team, and squad, undoubtedly appear to be in a healthier position without his presence.
It has been an excellent series of features that Conn has put together over the past few days, and some of the most balanced writing that has appeared about the club amidst some of the more senationalist nonesense we have become accustomed to.
Part 1 and part 2 of the series are also definitely worth a read.
Saturday, September 19, 2009
United preview
With the war of words/name calling/mind-games that have been prevalent the past forty-eight hours or so, it is a signal that the derby is now very much upon us - and the media has taken an even greater interest in this game than usual.
We have had plenty of comments so far, with particular contributions from Ferguson, Hughes, Toure, de Jong, Ireland and Sylvinho to stoke up the flames ahead of the weekend.
But what of the game itself?
The suspension of Adebayor leaves us very light in attack, with Craig Bellamy almost certain to be asked to lead the line (unless Carlos Tevez is declared fit).
With attacking options limited, Hughes I'm sure will look to bolster the midfield by bringing in Martin Petrov on the left. With Wright-Phillips on the right hand side, this will see de Jong shielding the defence behind Barry and Ireland.
We have had plenty of comments so far, with particular contributions from Ferguson, Hughes, Toure, de Jong, Ireland and Sylvinho to stoke up the flames ahead of the weekend.
But what of the game itself?
The suspension of Adebayor leaves us very light in attack, with Craig Bellamy almost certain to be asked to lead the line (unless Carlos Tevez is declared fit).
With attacking options limited, Hughes I'm sure will look to bolster the midfield by bringing in Martin Petrov on the left. With Wright-Phillips on the right hand side, this will see de Jong shielding the defence behind Barry and Ireland.
For me it is Stephen Ireland who could have a big say in the outcome of the game. Playing in a more restricted role this season, he has so far struggled to match the highs of 2008/09. He could be given more licence at Old Trafford however and will be an important link between the midfield and attack. The ability to create chances may be at a premium, and Ireland is our best best for carving out opportunities.
Hughes will also seek to try and restrict United and their ability to be able to counter quickly when they win possession, with us putting plenty of pressure on United and not allowing them to settle.
The loss of Ronaldo has blunted some of their attacking threat yet they have opened up the season well - with just the blip against Burnley blotting their copybook. Wayne Rooney has stepped up well this season, with more responsibility (and a role that suits him more) since Ronaldo's departure and although it is early days, I'd expect him to sweep up the awards and accolades come the end of the season.
Toure and Lescott's formative partnership looks to be bedding down well, although a concern could be the way Van Persie dropped deeper to great success - something which Rooney will be adept at and he needs to be shackled effectively.
Prediction: The weight of derby history at Old Trafford leaves you feeling far from confident, but there is a sense that this side could be unburdened by the past. A tough proposition awaits but I'll go for us to come away with a 1-1 draw,
The loss of Ronaldo has blunted some of their attacking threat yet they have opened up the season well - with just the blip against Burnley blotting their copybook. Wayne Rooney has stepped up well this season, with more responsibility (and a role that suits him more) since Ronaldo's departure and although it is early days, I'd expect him to sweep up the awards and accolades come the end of the season.
Toure and Lescott's formative partnership looks to be bedding down well, although a concern could be the way Van Persie dropped deeper to great success - something which Rooney will be adept at and he needs to be shackled effectively.
It is no great secret that United are at their best when afforded possession and time on the ball - something I suspect visiting teams concede far too often at Old Trafford. Ball retention then is what we must focus on, and a reason why I think we go with five in midfield to crowd them out and to try and dictate the tempo of the game. The loss of Adebayor is a huge blow, make no mistake - something Ferguson attested to, and whoever leads the line will have to come up big for us to have a successful afternoon.
Prediction: The weight of derby history at Old Trafford leaves you feeling far from confident, but there is a sense that this side could be unburdened by the past. A tough proposition awaits but I'll go for us to come away with a 1-1 draw,
Hughes praise for Bellamy
Praise for the player likely to have the responsibility of leading the line tomorrow:
"Craig has been one of our stand-out performers. He's a great outlet for us - he shows huge endeavour and a fantastic ability to drive with the ball and take the fight to the other end of the field when you are under pressure.
"That quality is invaluable, certainly away from home where you are more likely to be under sustained pressure. There has to be an outlet there to relieve the pressure so you can change the momentum of the game. Craig has done that in a number of games this year."
Many predicted Bellamy would likely be ushered aside this summer when further reinforcements were added in the attacking department, but Bellamy has shown himself to be a key figure in the line-up so far during 2009/10.
It is also fair to say there wasn't a whole lot of love for Bellamy when he was signed in the January transfer window, yet he has far exceeded expectations and shown the qualities that Hughes espoused and you can see from his performances exactly why he is such a favourite of his.
Hughes - 'I came close to walking away'
"The reality wasn't exactly what was described and sold to me," he said. "In fairness, we were able to go into the transfer market, but there seemed a focus that players had to be sold, and I realised that maybe the resources weren't in place that I thought.">>Mark Hughes.
"If you are single-minded, you have to work purposefully," he reflected, "and if you get to a point where it is untenable and not manageable, then you make the decision to walk away. I never got to that point – but I was close."
Easy to be wise after the event of course, but in The Guardian feature by David Conn both Hughes and Garry Cook speak about their early days at the club under the crumbling Thaksin regime (including Cook's infamous 'good guy to play golf with' quote) - and hardly portray it as a good place to be.
The more that emerges over time about Thaksin's time at the club, the more you realise just how important and timely the ADUG takeover was.
One day, someone I'm sure is going to write a very interesting book about the Thaksin era.
Friday, September 18, 2009
Khaldoon al-Mubarak interview with David Conn
An in-depth interview between the chairman and David Conn is up on The Guardian's website, covering a number of topics but mainly centred around the topic of club debt raised as the issue de jour by Michel Platini:
"I could accept the argument if we were artificially building up the club through debt," Khaldoon said. "That produces a destructive end result; we have seen that happen. But in our case, the club will be in the healthiest position because there is no debt. We have funded it through equity [permanent investment], including the signing of the players.
"I believe what we are doing is a fair way to inject competition into football, without debt."
The piece is a pre-cursor to a wider feature on the club which appears on Conn's blog, with the first part now up, and is well worth checking out.
Sydney Blues to be interviewed on BBC
Following their brush with fame earlier this week, news reaches that the Sydney Blues are set to be interviewed by BBC radio ahead of this Sunday's derby.
Take a listen if you can, and check out their blog whilst your at it.
Positive news on Tevez
After seemingly being ruled out for a few weeks, the MEN suggests Tevez has a chance (albeit an outside one) of making the derby:
But after returning on Tuesday frIt would be a huge boost if he were to make it, but even if he does, I don't see Hughes still opting for anything other than a 4-5-1 line up.om intensive treatment in Argentina, Tevez has been fighting to prove his fitness in time to play against the Reds at Old Trafford on Sunday - in the 152nd derby.Publish Post
He trained lightly with a heavily-strapped knee on Wednesday and stepped up his work on Thursday, but City will leave it until the 11th-hour to make a final decision.
The official line is that the striker is still a major doubt, but Tevez himself is desperate to turn out against United.
Thursday, September 17, 2009
Adebayor given three game ban
Adebayor, 25, yesterday accepted the suspension, which will
commence with Sunday's Manchester derby match against rivals United at Old
Trafford, after pleading guilty to the violent conduct charge brought as a
result of his foul on Robin van Persie. The Dutch forward suffered facial
injuries during City's 4-2 Eastlands victory last Saturday.
Although City
officials believed that they could have mounted a case in Adebayor's defence,
the risk of losing such an appeal and possibly receiving a lengthier suspension
for the player prompted the club's legal advisers to accept the FA's punishment
of a three-game ban.
>>telegraph.co.uk
As predicted then, and hopefully this will now draw a (temporary at least) line under matters.
Most of us accept that regardless of what led up to the incident, Adebayor at the very least kicked out at Van Persie and therefore deserved a three-game suspension for it.
Hopefully we can now move on as it has dominated the media this week with all and sundry lining up to add their thoughts - lest we forget there is the derby coming up?
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
No Adebayor appeal
Confirmed by mcfc.co.uk:
Manchester City announce that both the club and Emmanuel Adebayor have reluctantly accepted the violent conduct charge laid by the Football Association in the wake of the victory over Arsenal.
The player strongly maintains that he did not intend to act in a violent manner.
He apologised on the day to Robin van Persie personally and to the wider public for the outcome of the challenge.
We await the findings of the FA's Disciplinary Panel which is due to meet tomorrow.
I suspect that given the reaction and attention that has been heaped on the incidents since Saturday, whilst the club and Adebayor may feel he is innocent of the charge (in public at least), they feel that the chances of a succesful appeal are limited.
By accepting the charge, it is likely to just be a three game ban (which a red card at the time would have brought) rather than a potential bigger ban if the charge was contested.
I do, however, expect the second charge of improper conduct (for his celebration) to be contested ahead of the 30th September deadline.
Backs to the wall
An interesting piece from Henry Winter in todays Telegraph:
The temporary absence of all his expensive attacking superstars for Sunday's derby may appear a cruel conspiracy to City, but it also provides an opportunity for Hughes to show how he can juggle depleted resources, how he can devise a game-plan to frustrate the champions.
Hughes is such a competitor that he is hardly likely to wave the white flag at losing Emmanuel Adebayor to suspension, probably for four games, and Robinho, Carlos Tevez and Roque Santa Cruz to injury.
Hughes will remind his players that so many people hope the City "project'' implodes. "Go out and prove them wrong,'' will be the gist of Hughes's speech. Having got his players' minds right – and he is fortunate that men such as Gareth Barry, Nigel de Jong, Stephen Ireland and Craig Bellamy will relish the challenge – Hughes must set the team up to stifle United and counter swiftly.
Winter is right and I think this is the angle that Hughes takes with the squad.
Whilst Bellamy will be more than up against it as a lone man against Ferdinand and Vidic, his attitude could well set the tone for the rest of the team, and indeed the game.
Hughes's re-assembling of the squad over the past twelve months was designed to weed out those he felt did not fit, and those that arrived possessed a more strong-willed and determined character - players in his own image if you will.
Sunday will be exactly the type of game Hughes brought these players in for. A tough, uncompromising fixtures that if we are to throw off the shackles of the past we need to take points from.
Big sides often batten down the hatches and cry 'siege mentality' and this week could well be a unifying moment for a squad that has been portrayed as one that will fall up the moment things don't go their own way.
What has been noticeable this season is that the team that has been fielded appears well-drilled and to know their roles and what is expected of them.
In days gone by, a line-up shorn of as many first choice players as we will be on Sunday would be a precursor for capitulation.
The impression so far is that this squad is made of stronger stuff.
Time will tell.
The days best City links 09/16/2009
MARTIN SAMUEL on the Emmanuel Adebayor debate: The hypocrites are in the stands | Mail Online
Arsene Wenger vents fury on Emmanuel Adebayor and Mark Hughes | Premier League - Times Online
Norfstander: Glimpses that Richards might be finding his form again?
Posted from Diigo. The rest of my favorite links are here.
Tuesday, September 15, 2009
Tevez doubtful for United
Bad news regarding Carlos Tevez:
Carlos Tevez looks like missing out on his return trip to Old Trafford in Sunday's derby.
The little striker flies back today from Argentina determined to overcome a knee injury from international duty and pull on the Sky Blue shirt against his former club.
Assistant manager Mark Bowen said: "He is back here today and we'll assess it from there, but he is very doubtful. What we are hearing is that it's probably going to keep him out, but until the doctor assesses him hands-on we don't really know.
"The boss has been in contact with the Argentina medical team, as has our medical team. The signs are not encouraging. We wouldn't 100 per cent rule him out yet - fingers crossed and we are always hopeful, but it's very doubtful."
It does appear as though Craig Bellamy is going to be asked to lead the line on Sunday given the absences with the rest of the attacking corps.
Santa Cruz may well be back in full training, but no way is he risked for a start this early in his comeback from injury.
Adebayor charged
The FA has announced Emmanuel Adebayor will face charges of violent conduct and improper conduct:
The Football Association today issued two charges against Manchester City’s Emmanuel Adebayor following Saturday’s Premier League fixture between Manchester City and Arsenal.At the very least Adebayor will now face a three-game ban relating to the incident with van Persie, and my hunch would be an additional game for his actions following his goal. However it does appear that the improper conduct charge will not be heard this week.
Under the fast-track disciplinary process, Adebayor has been charged with violent conduct following an incident with Robin van Persie, which resulted in the Arsenal player receiving facial injuries.
Referee Mark Clattenburg has advised The FA that he did not see this incident, but has confirmed that had he done so, he would have sent Adebayor off for violent conduct. The player has until 6pm on Wednesday evening to respond to the charge.
Adebayor has also been charged with improper conduct following his actions when turning and running the full length of the pitch to celebrate in front of the Arsenal supporters after scoring.
Clearly an appeal will be launched - and we will have confirmation shortly no doubt - but it almost certainly means Adebayor will miss the next three games at least.
Ireland confident
Some positive news following the concern that Stephen Ireland could miss the derby:
“I can’t wait for the match and I am confident that I will be fine for Sunday,” insisted Ireland. “The injury was painful on Saturday but the three points soon made that fade. Derby games are great; the nerves before hand, the build up, the fans just everything about them. They are especially good when you win. Gareth Barry’s first question to me was what are the derby games like and my answer to him was that he would not have experienced anything like it in his life.”
Home grown rule introduced
The Premier League have announced that a new 'home grown' rule will be intorduced for the 2010/11 season: "As of next season clubs will be required to have a squad named of up to 25 players, of which no more than 17 can be over the age of 21 and not home grown," Scudamore said. "The definition of home grown is trained for three years under the age of 21 by somebody in the English and Welsh professional system. "Clubs will have to declare their 25 at the end of August when the window shuts and then again at the end of January." In some ways it perhaps doesn't go as far as many hoped, given that there is no requirement to actually field the 'home grown' players either in the starting eleven or on the bench, and the danger is that some players (not necessarily with ourselves) will solely be kept around to make up the numbers. It could also affect the decision by the club to loan a number of the Academy players to other sides which has been a key part of the development of players. Despite the array of signings made during 2009, a look at the squad as it stands indicates we should meet this comfortably, and I'm guessing that over time this will also includes any of the foreing players brought in at the age of 15 or 16. How this affects future transfers is up for debate, but, if the club are thinking long term, this is a ruling that they would have to comply with in Europe so I'm guessing it is something that will be easily absorbed.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Ireland a doubt
So says the MEN:
STEVIE Ireland has added to City's injury woes as they gear up for the big Manchester derby next weekend.There is no doubt that Ireland has struggled for form this season on the back of his superb 2008/09, although in mitigation he is being deployed in a slightly different role this campagin.
The midfielder limped off with an ankle injury during the Blues' 4-2 win over Arsenal and is already a doubt, along with Carlos Tevez.
Robinho has already been ruled out after it was revealed he has a stress fracture just above his ankle. And Emmanuel Adebayor could also be out of the game once the FA decide his punishment following Saturday's misdemeanours.
But Ireland suffered an aggravation of the ankle problem which affected him in the win at Portsmouth a fortnight earlier.
"On Saturday it was touch and go whether he went out for the second-half, so we had to get him off," said manager Mark Hughes.
So much so in fact that it could be argued that his place could be under threat given the options we now have in midfield.
However, with the absence of Robinho and Tevez, with the very real possibility that Adebayor will also be unavailable, Ireland's presence will be even more valuable given the extra pressure on the midfield to create (and even take) opportunities if Craig Bellamy operates as a sole front man.
A big blow then if he doesn't make it.
Sunday, September 13, 2009
Adebayor accused
"I am sad and disappointed by my former team-mate Emmanuel Adebayor's mindless and malicious stamp on me during today's match. "We are both professional footballers and I know that the game is physical, I too have made hard and sometimes mis-timed challenges but never with the intention of hurting an opponent. He set out to hurt me today.
"I knew he was aiming for a collision because he changed the angle of his body to allow contact to be made. He moved backwards when his natural momentum would have taken him forward. I find that deeply disrespectful. He has shown a real lack of class today, to me and the fans.
"I do feel lucky that I have not suffered a greater injury. The contact was only centimetres from my eye. I have not received an apology from him, there were no words exchanged afterwards. He had his own agenda today and that is bad for football. It's bad for the game we all love.
"I want to make it clear that this has nothing to do with the result of today's match. We do not hide from that disappointment but I need to speak out about his behaviour."
What is remarkable about van Persie's comments are that they appeared (ie, were sanctioned) on the official Arsenal website, not an off the cuff or throwaway remark and not something I have seen previously.
A cliche perhaps, but only Adebayor knows the degree of intent that was involved in the incident but the footage is there to be able to make a reasonable judgement.
I deliberated waited until watching it again this morning before posting up, as watching it as live it did not appear malicious, and more a case of Adebayor catching van Persie as a result of his momentum from the tackle.
Seeing again on replay (and with the benefit of slow motion) that was clearly not the case.
There was a definite kick out by Adebayor at van Persie, and of course he made contact with him. Given the coverage the incident has garnered it is inevitable that the FA are going to take a further look at it.
Whilst he may escape further punishment regarding his goal celebration (as he was booked at the time), I don't think he escapes this - and neither should he. Sure he faced provocation from the Arsenal fans throughout the game but raking his studs (it wasn't a stamp) across van Persie's face isn't something that can be defended.
The huge worry of course is that he could well miss next weeks derby as a result of this, something that we can ill-afford given that Robinho and Tevez are already absent.
Make your own minds up:
Praise for Weiss
From Mark Hughes:
"We have high hopes for Vladi. He knows he is still very early in his development, when he came out of the Academy last year I think it was all a little bit too much for him. He found the step up difficult to negotiate initially."But, we knew we had a talented boy on our hands. What he needed to understand were the expectations and the responsibility that comes with being a professional footballer, in terms of what is expected of him on the field.
"At times he was finding it difficult to take on board what he needed to do with regard to his positional play and his responsibilities. However he has worked exceptionally hard and deserved his chance at the end of last season. I was really pleased to be able to get him on in that last game, and he really thrived in that little time he had against Bolton."
You get the sense that Hughes and the coaching staff are certainly enamoured with Weiss. He does look to have physically matured since 2008/09, and has been involved in the squad for each game this season (with an appearance at the Camp Nou).
Whilst the path to the first team is undoubtedly a tougher one to negotiate than in seasons past, it is not merely cliche to state if you are good enough then you will get your opportunities.
We are blessed with attacking threat in the squad, but it appears certain that Weiss will see extended playing time over the course of this season.
Saturday, September 12, 2009
Robinho ruled out
From MEN:
CITY forward Robinho has been ruled out for three to four weeks with a stress fracture just above his ankle.
The club confirmed the news following this afternoon's 4-2 win over Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League.
The Brazilian, City's record signing, suffered his injury on international duty.
Robinho sustained his injury during Brazil's World Cup qualifying win over Argentina last Saturday.
Record fee for Tevez?
A big story that broke late Friday was this one in The Times which stated the actual figure paid for Carlos Tevez was £47 million rather than the more widely reported (at the time of the transfer) £25 million:
Manchester City are paying an astonishing £47 million fee to Carlos Tévez’s private “owners” in a move that obliterates the British transfer record. The deal makes the Argentina striker the fifth most expensive footballer of all time.
City’s billionaire Arab owners have agreed to pay almost twice the £25.5 million fee widely reported to have changed hands, The Times can reveal. An initial £15 million payment is to be followed by two additional sums of £16 million.
Another £3.5 million will be paid if City win the Champions League while Tévez is at the club — an improbable scenario, but Sheikh Mansour has already shown the lengths to which he is prepared to go to transform the club from perennial underachievers into contenders for the biggest prizes.
This was followed by a denial from Kia Joorabchian today:
"This story is inaccurate and misleading. There appears to be the hand of mischief at work as the numbers quoted are fictitious. There was also no mystery about the true details as full disclosure was made both to the Football Association and the Premier League."
You would expect Tevez's advisors to deny a higher figure was involved, and as no word has come from the club - nor would any likely be forthcoming - it is difficult to do anything other than speculate as to the validity of the report.
What I would say is given the complexity of his ownership and the history involved with Tevez's transfer is that whatever the fee or terms of payment were confirmed to the appropriate authorities when the transfer was concluded, this would surely be the fee paid.
Anything other than an open and transparent negotiation would have been folly on the clubs part.
Arsenal player ratings
Given - Solid presence once again and made a couple of important saves. No chance with either of the goals. 6.5
Richards - Impressive both in defence and going forward. Linked well with Wright-Phillips and a constant threat. Best game of the season. 8
Toure - Defence qualities are better than first thought. Shut out Arsenal's front line and excellent distribution. 7
Lescott - A strong platform again with Toure. Slightly at fault for van Persie's goal, but atoned with the tackle for the go ahead goal. 6.5
Bridge - Impressive performance today. Carried the ball out of defence well and steady at the back. 7.5
de Jong - Fully justified his selection and was the fulcrum of the side today. A constant presence and consistently thwarted Arsenal's attempts to create. A must for the derby. 8.5
Ireland - Worked hard and often involved, but was not an attacking threat and struggled to impose himself. 6
Barry - Excellent alongside de Jong, and his influence on the side grows with each game. 7.5
Wright-Phillips - Had a real buzz about him today in a more attacking position. End product was not always there but an undoubted threat throughout. 7.5
Bellamy - The rating is as much for his defensive work as anything. Clearly followed Hughes's instructions to the letter and you can see why he is such a favourite. Nicely taken goal too. 8
Adebayor - At times was influenced by the occasion but when his mind was on the game he was again excellent. Strong on the ball, his run in the second half was a joy to see. Embroiled in a pair of controversial incidents he may come to regret however. 8
Sub:
Petrov - No real dangerous moments on the ball, but his presence on the wing allowed us to spread the play. 6.5
Thoughts on the Arsenal victory
Make no mistake, todays win was an important one.
With eyes upon us, and an air of expectation around the stadium we turned in a result and performance that suggested this side could be ready to achieve something.
With a more defensive formation, we managed to combine both endeavour and an attacking threat to come away with all three points when at one stage we may well have been facing a defeat.
It was a very watchable first half - and I thought we looked very comfortable - the selections of de Jong and Bellamy to supplement the defensive side of the game were justified as we stymied Arsenal for the most part. We looked solid at the back, were the more fluent and lively side and deserved the lead at the break.
It was interesting to see the opening goal the result of another set piece, and the threat we possess - with Richards, Lescott et al gives us a dangerous presence that we have lacked for such a long time.
You expected more from Arsenal after the break and we saw a more purposeful side, one ignited by the introduction Rosicky and this saw us come under heavy pressure. Shay Given again proved his value with a pair of excellent saves but a moment of quality brought Arsenal on level terms.
At 1-1 Arsenal then looked the side who would go on to take all three points, but there is a greater belief about this side, untainted by collapses of City past. I was concerned that we lacked the ability to conjour a winner up in the side without Tevez or Robinho, but one thing we do possess is pace and this threat led to the remarkable passage of play that saw us take the points in style.
The value of Petrov coming off the bench should not be underestimated either, his natural width allowing us to stretch the play and with Arsenal sensing their opportunity for victory, this created an opening for us as we sealed the victory with three counter-attacking goals of the highest quality that Arsenal had no response to.
The celebration by Adebayor following the third goal was unwarranted though. Yes he was fired up and to be booed at every touch (deserved or not) would surely rankle, yet a distance of 95 yards is surely enough to override any spur of the moment action or thought. Should censure arive from the FA, this could be even more ill-timed given his importance next Sunday.
Showing that we have not quite eradicated some of our more frustrating traits, we conceded again and on another occasion could have seen a penalty awarded for a handball against Gareth Barry, but there is no doubt victory over the course of the ninety minutes was deserved.
Our best start then for 48 years and a significant one in that after surrendering a lead, we had the wherewithal to then go on and win the game against an Arsenal side who, contrary to some predictions, will be a player in the top four.
Pleasing for Hughes that it was achieved with resolve and endeavour but also with the quality to product the goals that won us the game - and this without either Tevez or Robinho.
Traits which we will certainly need in our next fixture.
Friday, September 11, 2009
Arsenal preview
Whilst performances so far this season have been professional - with the results reflective of this - our opponents in those games are those who we should be victorious against if we have designs on a succesful season.
This now changes with the visit of Arsenal (and the trip to United the following week) as these will be more of a measure of us as a side, and our potential for the remainder of the season. The pre-season reports of the demise of Arsenal certainly appear to have been misguided and from what I have seen of them, they look to be a threatening side and one that is more settled than in 2008/09.
It has the ingredients for a great game, but following an international break there are plenty of unknowns in terms of player fitness and how much a side will be in synch with each other.
Team wise, both sides will be missing key players. Carlos Tevez was ruled out earlier in the week and there are doubts over Robinho. Crucially for Arsenal though, Andrei Arshavin will be absent - a big blow given his form so far this season and the integral part he plays in the side. He will be harder to replace perhaps than Tevez will.
I would expect us to revert to a slightly less attacking looking line-up, with Bellamy coming in for Robinho (which could be made regardless of his fitness) and Nigel de Jong bolstering the midfield. Mark Hughes's pre-match comments could also be a clue as to how we will step up:
"I have done OK against Arsene's teams in the past. I know what they enjoy and what they don't. We will try and exploit that."Importantly, this could also see Stephen Ireland given a more attacking licence than seen so far this season.
Of course, the sub-plot in the game is Toure and more importantly, Adebayor, facing their old club. Adebayor is likely to be a key player tomorrow. I have been mightily impressed with his play so far this season. A strong all-round player with a keen eye for goal, motivation will unlikely be an issue tomorrow and whilst Vermaalen has looked good for Arsenal, Adebayor will be a big test for him.
A win tomorrow would be a huge filip for us, and whilst only one game in what is a long season, what we would take from a victory would equally be as important as the three points.
Prediction: City 1 Arsenal 1.
MCFC Sierra Leone collection
I recently received an email from Phil Holme in which he outlined details of a collection that is happening at tomorrows game against Arsenal:
In the autumn of 2003 a member of Reddish Branch of the CSA completed 30 years as a police officer in Manchester and retired. He then started working in Sierra Leone in West Africa, where his job was to train detectives out there to investigate child abuse. Sierra Leone has for the past several years been either last, or second to last in the world wealth league tables published every year. Average life expectancy is around 38 years and living conditions for most people are appalling. On top of all these problems the country has gone through a particularly bloody civil war that lasted 11 years and only ended in 2000.If you see any of the collectors at the game tomorrow, please give generously for what is clearly a worthwhile cause.
When he arrived in Freetown, the capital City, Tony noticed the usual scattering of people wearing Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester United shirts. It soon became apparent that football is massive in the country and most people follow the English Premier League. At the end of his first week he was enjoying a beer at a beach bar when a young man approached him by the name of Armani Sheku KAMARA who was selling watches, sunglasses etc. He noticed that he was wearing a Manchester United lapel badge. As Tony is a dyed in the wool blue he joked with the young man that he could not buy any of his merchandise from a man wearing and Man United badge. Within a short time he agreed to throw the offending item into the Atlantic Ocean and negotiations commenced. It soon became apparent that not only did he have a good knowledge of Premier League football he also had a good knowledge of the ups and downs of Manchester City. He assured Tony that he was only wearing the United badge because a customer had given it to him and he promised him that if I could get him a City shirt he would be a City fan for the rest of his life. Little did he know what that conversation would lead to.
In early 2004 Tony returned to Sierra Leone having spent a few weeks back in Manchester, and of course took back with him a City shirt for Armani. Within a few days of receiving the shirt Armani told Tony that he was setting up a Man City Supporters Club in Freetown. When Tony next returned to UK he discussed the Sierra Leone situation, first with Howard Burr the Secretary of the Reddish Branch and then with Alex Channon the Chair of the C.S.A.. It was then that the Sierra Leone Branch of the Manchester City Centenary Supporters Association was born. On Tony’s next visit he was able to take back with him several dozen assorted City shirts donated by City fans over here. They proved very popular and soon were being seen all around the Freetown streets. Soon Armani had formed a Manchester City Football team in Freetown as well as a Junior Man City team. The problem was that they were wearing a red and white striped kit that they had to rent on a match-by-match basis.
Following discussion with Lorraine Firth at Manchester City the club kindly donated a full kit for the team out there. There was also a concerted effort by a lot of Branches to collect a s many shirts, boots as possible these were also sent. Another recent development is that a Reddish Branch member donated a generator for the community where Armani lives allowing around 100 people to have electricity. The shipping of the generator was financed by C.S.A. funds with the blessing of its members.
Tony Griffiths last visited Sierra Leone in March 2007 and we were proud to hear of many men women and children wearing an array of City shirts around the capital and beyond. The football team formed such a short time ago is going from strength to strength and Armani is something of a local celebrity who is frequently interviewed on national radio in Sierra Leone and works extremely hard to promote Man City for no financial reward. The Phuket Branch of the MCFC CSA then very kindly donated both a new home and away kit as many of the shirts donated were getting a bit passed it. On 23rd. November 2008 Man City Youth team appeared in the Sierra Leone F.A. Youth Cup final and WON. Not bad for a team that did not exist 4 years ago. You now can't walk through Freetown without seeing a City shirt and hearing shouts of City Till I die.
Unfortunately the first team had to pull out of the main league this season as it did not have enough cash - although the league have agreed to keep their place in division two for next season assuming they have funds in place The next phase is to try and help make the team financially independent by raising £15-20,000 for a bus this would double up as both transport to away matches which is one of the most prohibitive costs to the team - Then during the rest of the week it would become a revenue maker by running it as a proper bus in the Capital this would give two people a job and also raise enough cash to keep the teams running. Also it should provide enough to replace the bus every 10 years.
You can also check out the blog here that has been set up to help spread the word.
Tuesday, September 08, 2009
Toure named captain
Confirmation of the new captain to replace the departed Richard Dunne:
“He has all the attributes you need to be a good captain – great enthusiasm for the game, and is nice and vocal in the dressing room and before, during and after games. And he wants to drive the club forward.No surprise with the choice given Toure had been given the armband the past couple of games, with the official announcement delayed until the sale of Dunne.
“We are very lucky to now have that mentality in our dressing room with a lot of the lads, who could all carry the mantle of being a football team captain. But Kolo is the better option for us.
“You see those qualities from afar but until you work closely with a player you don’t get inside the way he conducts himself, and how he is as a man and as a footballer.
“Having worked with him for a couple of months, he has shown good qualities on and off the field, and the qualities he has shown are the ones you can use to the benefit of everybody."
There were other candidates touted of course, Kompany surfaced as a long term option during the latter stages of 2008/09, whilst Gareth Barry emerged as a candidate following his signing in the summer.
I posted recently about the lack of 'City' experience in the squad so it was always likely that whoever was appointed would not be a long term 'clubman', and whilst he does have a strong profile and stature he is not hugely experienced and had issues at Arsenal.
Of course, Toure is slated to be away for during the start of 2010 on African Cup of Nations duty, so a replacement for him will be needed then.
My money would be on Gareth Barry.
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