It's A Fix

Wednesday - It's a Fix

Was texted this morning by my daughter in Newport that we play Cardiff on the Bank holiday weekend, and there’s no game when second baby is due on September 7th!

Fixtures don’t look too bad. Pellegrini’s finally arrived plus a couple of decent looking signings and we’re after a couple more – Isco and Cavani. Why didn’t we do this last summer?

Anyway looks like we’ll be putting KK207 together in early July so all contributions welcome by the end of June please.

Eight weeks to go, season tickets all sorted. Stay focused!
Dave

Tuesday

Tuesday

Just back from a week in sunny (unusually) Wales, and pleased that articles for KK 207 are arriving. End of  June new deadline owing to the kyboshing of the Cup special.

No rag shirts spotted. Took a train journey after visiting Dylan Thomas’s boat house (had to get that in, sorry!). Ticket collector asked where were we from. “Manchester” “City or united?” “Citteeeh” “I usually find that, City fans come from Manchester and united fans from everywhere but” .No prompting, honest.

Holiday (re) reading was the updated and paperback edition of David Conn’s ‘Richer Than God’ – the book generally on City for united fans to read. Football’s bollocks, us fans are all idiots, and the country’s going to the dogs, cos of City. Same mistakes repeated, sadly, which I’ll cover later. I’ve also re-read the reviews by Steve Rigby and Tangled up in Blue from KK’s 198 and 199 which are sadly still valid, despite the opportunity to correct by the publishers.  Astoundingly it originally got a 5 star rating in the City programme, which says a lot for that publication, ffs. (TUIBlue wrote to Vicky Kloss to complain and got a fob off!) I did enjoy the read though the mistakes and rag fawning ruined it for me – again, spoiling what could have been one of the very best City books, considering the access David had .

Season tickets sorted now thanks to a very co-operative ticket office.

Just the grandson to sort now.

Pellegrini’s not yet arrived and we’ve signed a couple of players, I think, not confirmed.

Fixtures out mid June – looking forward to them.

Dave

season cards

Just renewed. Sadly couldn't find how to pay by 4 instalments on the debit card so the cost went on the visa card. Doh. Joined the 3 cup schemes - had to fill in the details 6 times for the separate schemes for both of us. Error (unidentified) on the UEFA one for Sue so that's a cock up. Had to e-mail the club in this respect.
Last season I sent a letter re renewals and inclusion on the cup schemes (plus a donation of which they sent half back!). and was stood out in the rain v Villa as I'd not been registered though my letter was very clear!
Hopefully we'll get there in the end!?
Any thoughts.
Dave (the dinosaur)

Monday

Monday 

Palace v Watford – there was a pooh on the floor of the Palace dressing room at Brighton in the semi. Holloway asked “who’s shit on the floor?” One player piped up “me, boss, but I’m good in the air” Another said “if it’s got nuts in it, it’s mine!” Sorry, old jokes but still funny, to me anyway.

Palace have just won it with a penalty, won by Zaha (who looks like a handful I’m afraid) in extra time, converted by Kevin Phillips. So we’ve the worst trip in the country to look forward to.

Dave

Born in the USA

Born in the USA

Magic weekend at the Etihad. Couldn’t face visiting the place I’m afraid. Watched one of my old clubs Hull KR on the box. Rugby league referees eh? Even with video evidence they get it wrong, and what about that roving camera?

Well, a couple of decent results in America, beating Chelsea yet again 4-3 (after 3-0 down) and 5-3. Makes you wonder why we pissed about against Wigan and Norwich.

Soriano’s been spouting his vision for City – the youth academy and 5 trophies in the next 5 years including the European Cup. Hope he’s right but has subjected us all to some piss taking in the pub. Any thoughts?

Have I mentioned Pellegrini yet?

Must renew our season tickets before June 3^rd.

Dave 

Naarwich

Norwich

Tried out me bros ticket on the third tier of the east stand. Sue, who’d sprained her ankle, got the third degree when requesting the lift – got all that “it’s for the corporates bollocks” Same on the way out. Some of the stewards really piss me off. A bit of common sense and respect wouldn’t go amiss. It’s very high on that third tier, came down to the spare seat on the second at half time – seemed very low down. Got away with it a bit v Norwich, penalty wise, and they played pretty well, running about and stuff. Our lot couldn’t be arsed again, but I was quite impressed with Jack Rodwell. Physical impossibility for Norwich to beat us but they did – their second away win of the season and our second defeat. So the players can’t blame Mancini for that one. They  know how to put us through it? Another inept display, you’d’ve thought they’d want to win some respect after the cup Final debacle. No chance. Still, better for Norwich to clock up a win v us when points weren’t really at stake.

Still at least it didn’t rain, (but it poured)

Commiserations to Uwe’s Brentford and good luck to Dicky at Donny.

Dave  

penultimate Day

Penultimate Day

Well, nearly there. It’s been a long campaign, would’ve been successful if we’d lifted the Cup as we should’ve done.

What a week. Watched the Chelsea game at the Swinton branch, congratulations to them and Benitez. Shame on those Chelsea fans who wanted him out even before Christmas, knowing he was interim only.

City have announced that the stadium is to be increased in capacity and season ticket prices are now out on the web.

Been at a fans forum today – united and City plus a panel of Andy Ritchie, Frank Sinclair, Brian Horton on BBC world service. Too much on Beckham, Fergie and united.

Reminded Sinclair in the bogs of Chelsea v City mid 90’s mid week night match. Caught the ball on the front row and Frank ran over aggressively and shouted for  the ball which I chucked at him. He didn’t remember!

Tomorrow it’s Norwich who we normally beat, and if we do we’ll have had a fantastic home record again. 81 points would normally have given us the title. Here’s the it’s A Fix extract :

38) SUNDAY  MAY 19TH NORWICH (HOME) KO 4PM

Now in their 2^nd Premiership season, this time. 54^th League meeting. League Cup winners in 1985 Garrido is the most recent connection, and there were loads in the past. Congrats to them for winning the Youth Cup.

This season so far : they’re in 12th place with 41 points from 37 games with 1 win 7 draws and  10 losses away from home.

At Carrow Road in December it was a thrilling 4-3 City win. We went two goals up early doors through Dzeko (2, 4) Nasri got sent off after they pulled one back through Pilkington (14) Aguero made it 3-1 (50) Martin made it 3-2 (63) Dzeko/Bunn OG made it 4-2 (67) and Martin scored again (75) to make it our usual nervy ending.

Crowd was 26,827 with 2373 Blues.

In the Capital One Cup they won 2-1 at home to Scunthorpe in the 2^nd rd , 1-0 at home to Doncaster in the 3^rd rd, 2-1 at home to Spurs in the 4^th rd but went out at home 4-1 to Villa in the Q/F

In the FA Cup they won 3-0 at Peterborough in the 3^rd rd, but lost 1-0 at home to non league Luton in the 4th rd.

Form at home to Norwich: Last season at the Etihad it was a 5-1 City win. Goals came from Aguero (32), Nasri (51), Y Y Toure (68) Balotelli (88) and Johnson (90) with Morrison (81) scoring for Norwich. Crowd was 47,201 with 2786 Canaries.

For City : WDWWLWD

Comment: Good first half of the season for Norwich including wins at home v united and the Arse, but not so good recently though they’re now safe. Chris Hughton, he of the ridiculous Affro hairdo in the 1981 Cup Final for Spurs v us has done a steady job there, after taking over from Paul Lambert. We hoped that he and Roberto would enjoy a carnival day, with us celebrating our Cup win and the Canaries staying up, but only Norwich will be celebrating tonight though we should still win against the team we usually beat.

Could be a strange atmosphere, with Roberto getting lots of positive chants and with a few  players shaking their heads.

Let’s have the 3 points

WWTWTWShite: Averaged 13,750 in 68/69 and this season it’s 26,663.

Good luck to Uwe’s Brentford tomorrow.

Dave

Thank You Roberto

Reading (and writhing)

Reading, decided to give it a miss due to cost, distance, weather forecast  and work commitments. One part of me wanted to be there to show support, the other to boycott it in protest at Saturday and the fact that the players haven’t yet apologised to us fans.

So watched it at the Subbi club in Tyldesley which was a pleasant experience. Learned that Platt had walked out unsurprisingly. That makes his comments after the derby “we’re here to stay, we’re not going away” seem a bit ironic.

Been pestered a bit by the media – MEN, Talksport, and yesterday on BBC North West – 5 minute interview and 20 secs showing and looking like a fat f*ck!

Good article in the manumirror by Olly Holt on Mancini etc. apparently he didn’t have a holistic approach which is a bit rich as Soriano, apparently, goes around the club with his nose in the air, and doesn’t acknowledge the staff.

Moyes, incidentally, is described to me as a “vile person” by a senior BBC executive. So no change there then.

Anyway, we’ve secured 2^nd place, some any other seasons we’d have been Champs. Wigan lost at Arsenal so are relegated and that makes Saturday seem even worse.

Still, in the next few years our new man is going to deliver better than The Cup, League and Community Shield with a permanent cheeky smile on his face, as all things to all men, so that’s all right then.

Dave

Who cares?

Reading tonight, here’s the It’s A Fix extract :

37) TUESDAY MAY 14^TH READING (AWAY) KO 8 PM

First season back in the Prem for the Royals after promotion in top spot last season. Recent connection Matt Mills. 18th league meeting 

This season so far they’re  in  19TH place with 28 points from 36 games and 4 wins 8 draws and 6 losses  at home.

At the Etihad in December, it was a 1-0 City win, Barry scoring in the 90^th minute with that amazing header. Crowd was 47,007 with 832 Royals.

In the Capital One Cup they won 3-2 at Peterborough in the 2^nd rd, 3-2 again at QPR in the 3^rd rd, but lost 5-7 at home to Arsenal in the 4^th rd after being 4-0 up at one stage.

In the FA Cup they won 3-1 at Crawley in the 3^rd rd, 4-0 at home to Sheff United in the 4^th rd but went out at the swamp 2-1 in the 5^th rd.

Form at Reading : This will be our 9^th away meeting, 5 in the old second, one in the old third, and 2 in the Prem 06/07  (0-1) 07/08 (0-2).

For City it’s : LLWLLW

Comment: Well the players got their wish with the sacking of Mancini and after the disastrous display in the Cup Final need to get some pride back with a good performance at Reading. The Royals  have found it a real struggle in the Prem and replacing Brian McDermott with Nigel Adkins didn’t make much difference.

Last away game of the season and City go there in disgrace. We’ve just lost to a bottom 3 team, surely we won’t lose another, this time under Kidd and Platt.

WWTWTWShite : Averaged 3,459 in 82/83 and this season it’s 24,097.

Madejski stadium : Capacity : 24,200

Groundwise: It can be a bugger getting off the M4 to the ground but there’s plenty of on site parking, though, again, hard to get away from.

Sat Nav :   RG2 0FL

Class

Not sure how true this is, but my son has just told me that the City Store in Market Street, Manchester has been surrounded by united fans who of course are celebrating their victory and abusing the staff, although no damage reported as yet.  Strange decision to stay open, I would have thought they should have shut up early.  but nevertheless, it takes class to abuse 18/18 year old staff who probably don't even support City.  What would they have been like if they hadn't won the league?

Sunday gloom

Sunday gloom

I’m still absolutely gutted, further to the Final loss/capitulation, welcome to the Manchester City Benevolent Society once again. I’m still recovering, if I ever do.

Some brilliant posts, thanks fellas for helping me through the day. I thought that if we lost I wouldn’t feel too bad as Martinez and Whelan deserve some success but I’m just devastated.

As for Mancini, yes, well done and all that but this season overall has been a disaster from the summer dealings to the Final loss. Yes some highs, and finishing second (if we do) isn’t too bad but the same mistakes have continued to be made. Speculation about the manager/Pellegrini didn’t help but you would have thought that the manager and players should have been professional enough to beat a (surely) relegated Wigan outfit yesterday.

Manchester City, bloody hell, if it wasn’t for Wolves, Blackburn and Sunderland etc, etc, we’d still be the daftest club in the League. Typical.

Dave

Mancini Oh-Oh

If the rumours are true and I suspect they are, he will be gone soon.  But can I ask our fabulous owners one favour, PLEASE allow us to say goodbye and thank you to Roberto Mancini.  The man brought us our first silverware for 35 years and our first League title since I was 11 years old.  He deserves to take the applause from the fans.

words fail

Words fail.

We can’t do corners

We can’t defend corners

We can’t do free kicks

We can’t defend free kicks

We can’t do crosses

But we usually defend em

How many headed goals this season?
3? Garcia at Stoke

Barry v Reading

Sergio v Chelsea in the semi

Was that it?

Burf texted –

Undone by every team operating a high press, and with a bit of width and pace, Southampton, Swansea, Liverpool, Wigan, Dortmund all the f*cking same. You know exactly how it will unfold before a ball’s even been kicked. Slow, narrow, toothless, attacks. Barry hustled into catastrophic mistakes and f*ck all protection for Zab and Clichy. Oh and I’d buy that McManaman in a heartbeat…. And that’s why he should go.

Personally (Ed) forget Pellegrini, snap up Martinez

Dave