Help wanted

I (along with some of the other City blogs) was contacted by a Robin, who is a student at Brighton University and is writing a dissertation on fans views of German footballers in the Premiership (and leagues preceeding it).


Robin sent me the following email outling a request from all City fans who would be interested:



From : German Footballer
Sent : 30 May 2007 09:11:28
To : bitterandblue@hotmail.co.uk
Subject : Rösler and Trautmann

Dear ManCity Fans,


I am a postgraduate student at the University of Brighton and my MA-dissertation is concerned with fan views on German players in English professional football. At the centre of my research are five players including ManCity's Uwe Rösler (1994-1998) and, of course, Bert Trautmann.


It is vital for my thesis to know especially fom the fan's perspective how and why Rösler became a cult figure in Manchester. I found some stuff about Trautmann, but I could not figure out why, when and how Rösler became a City hero. As you maybe remember, he came to the club in March 1994 on loan from Dynamo Dresden.


At the beginning of the next season he got a proper contract and was already very popular. Fans created an own song for him which ended at the end of the year in the creation of a special t-shirt saying "Uwe's granddad bombed Old Trafford". I really need to find out how his relationship with ManCity fans started, whether you loved him straight away (maybe because of your positive experience with Trautmann) or because of any special thing that happened.


Would be great if you could help in any way (fan contacts, books, articles, your own experience). If you know people who might be able to tell me their view, please ask them to write to this email address. Anyone who answers should, if possible, tell his name, hisage, for how long he has been a City supporter and how he follows the team (TV, internet, newspaper, stadium) so that I get an idea of his involvement with the club. I am really desperate and I would appreciate it very much if you could assist me with this problem. Maybe you could post it on your fan-site?


Thank you in advance and best regards,Robin.


I believe that Robin has had a decent response so far from City fans, so if any of you are interested please drop him a line.

Rosler back in work

After his recent sacking from Lillestrom, Uwe Rosler hasn't spent too long on the managerial scrapheap as just nine days later he has been confirmed as the new manager of Viking FK, rivals of Lillestrom in Norway's top division.

In a strange twist, Rosler has replaced Tom Nordlie - who was caretaker manager at Viking before taking the helm at Lillestrom.

Rosler sacked by Lillestrom

After stating yesterday that Uwe Rosler could have an influence in helping Robert Koren join the club in January, it was announced yesterday that Rosler had been sacked as coach of the club, just one day after the completion of the Norwegian season in which Lillestrom finished fourth in the table.

Rumour round-up

There have been a couple of stories floating around over the weekend suggesting a couple of arrivals into the club in January.

Robert Koren of Lillstrom could be one player coming in, with it reported he and his advisors will head to Manchester this week, with former City player Uwe Rosler (now Lillestrom coach) apparantly a key player in the deal.

The Sunday Mirror meanwhile, suggests we are ahead of Blackburn in signing Zamalek striker Amr Azki, whilst another striker - Anthony Stokes of Arsenal has been linked with ourselves, Middlesbrough and Everton. Stokes, just eighteen is currently on loan at Falkirk in the SPL.

Tribalfootball suggests we will make a(nother) move for SWP in January, whilst Micah Richards' call-up to the full England squad led the way for the inevitable stories of a move south to Arsenal.