this week

This week
Ooh, a cold and rainy day. Minutes silence for Remembrance Day, again beautifully observed. Settled down to watch us put Burnley in their place and halt the number of drawn games to put us back on track.
Blimey. Two goals down, first a soft penalty. What did I say? Second, oh dear. Two new tall and strong fullbacks in January please.
Shauny had a goal disallowed for offside. Was it? Then he stroked one in off the heel of Jordan, so a bit more respectable at half time. We fought back well to go 3-2 ahead and just as we thought we might not do anything silly. We did.
Murder getting home with all the diversions around Eastlands. Settled down to watch MOTD later and to check out Sean’s ‘offside’ goal. Guess what? It wasn’t even shown. Surely MOTD should show important incidents in games.
So we drop to 6th, which could be 7th if Liverpool beat Birmingham tomorrow night. Not looking too good but if we can continue in the Carling…..At least the rags lost at Chelsea! The next KK is coming along nicely. 28 pages so far, keep em coming please.

this week

This week
Well, there was a good result for us at West Ham where Villa were beaten 2-1. In the Chumps Cup the rags drew 3-3 at home to CSKA with a suspiciously offside looking goal from Owen, a ridiculous dive from that dirty bast**d Fletcher, rightly booked, and a last minute own goal to give them a draw – bet the dubious goals panel give it to Valencia though!
More Robinho speculation, this time re possibly playing for Brazil when not fully recovered from injury. I think we miss him when we need that little bit of magic to turn a game.
Anyway, Burnley next who we usually stuff by five, six, or seven, but just a win will do to get us back on track as the next batch of games are really tough - for our opposition! Here’s the It’s a fix extract :
Last promotion : Was last season via the play-offs. An amazing achievement for a town of 70,000 population, mainly BNP, where no-one dares to be seen out wearing a rag shirt. Commendable!
Most recent connections : Tyrone Mears, Stephen Jordan Big name supporters : Alistair Campbell, Colonel Gaddafi? Last pot : League title clinched at Maine Road in 1960
Owen Coyles squad includes : Mears, Jordan, Gudjonnson, Nugent…..
This season so far : They’re currently in 10th place with 15 points from 11 games and 0 wins, 0 draws and 5 losses away from home. They did beat the rags at home so deserve respect for that!.
In the Carling Cup they went out 3-2 at Barnsley.
Our form in Manc v Burnley : Last meeting was in 01/02, a 5-1 City win (34,250). They did OK here post war until City’s return to the first division since then it’s been 6 Blues wins, 4 draws and no losses
Comment; We have a great recent record against the Clarets, and they’re dodgy away from home, so it looks like a home banker, as much as one can be with City!
Wind ups : Don’t mention Blackburn Rovers, oh go on then!
Stats ; 32 pre-war and 52 post make it our 85th league meeting and in Manc p/war it’s been : Played 26 won 12 drawn 6 lost 7
Their current average home attendance : 20,116
WWTWTWShite : Averaged 3,204 in 1985/86

this week

Birmingham. This was a tester for the KK team. Initially tickets were highly priced at £42, it was on a Sunday and on the box. Talk of a boycott on the message boards, so we deliberated. Chance of calling in at St Andrews on the way back from a weekend in South Wales, Then the ticket prices dropped, so we couldn’t really say no. Then we found we’d have to come back from Wales on the Saturday morning, and travel down to Brum and back on the Sunday. Then we had a spare ticket, and zine sales at Brum are always poor (did better than predicted though!), but the object of the exercise is always to support our team so we risked it, grandson Joe using up the spare ticket. M6 worse than we thought but made it after two and a half hours! Oh, and it was cold and windy.
One minutes silence for Remembrance Day impeccably observed by ‘The Impeccables’ Bit of noise on the concourse by late Blue arrivals who obviously weren’t advised by the Stewards of the silence. Once again, they’re very good at stopping us selling zines (which we were!), but doing anything other than the easy option gives them a major problem.
Our view was crap, right behind the goal, with the crossbar obscuring the main action on the pitch.
Hmm. Poor performance again – and what did I say about us not conceding soft penalties? It was a bit harsh, to be honest and Given excelled of course. Good support from the Brummies, I thopught and we were given a tough game.. After booking Bridge for booting the ball away in the first half the ref had no choice but to send off Ferguson for a second yellow late on. So, a clean sheet, and another point taking us up to fourth place….somehow. Not clear of the chasing pack, but falling behind the big three.
It was a better drive back after the game, and we settled down to watch MOTD 2. What a farce. No City attacks shown in the second half, but punters Sir Les and Mark Bright were allowed to comment on the attacks which were shown in the summary only.

Picked up ex Chairman Eric Alexander’s book ‘Please May I Have My Ball Back’ at Borders which should have been the best book on inside stories on City ever written but, although good, doesn’t go quite far enough as friends and mates etc have to be protected. More on that later. This adds to the list of books for review in KK – The Big Book Of City, Cheesy’s, Sully’s, Rodney’s, The Alliso/Mercer books, Tony Book etc etc. Any volunteers?

Today we attended the funeral of Dante Friend’s father Jack which went as well as any funeral can. Jack was much loved by his family and friends and was a very special and respected person who will be sorely missed.
Condolencies, in particular to Dante, Coral and Carmel.

It’s that time again! Just finishing the ‘Us v Them’ book in draft and now having to break off to start putting KK 174 together, so any early articles will be appreciated.
Cheers,
Dave

this week

Scunthorpe – Fine dry night, lots of kiddies entertainment going on outside Coms. No predictions (though I did suggest we should score five before letting them get any!)
One nil up, then 1-1, Roque then getting off the mark to make it 2-1 at half time.
Second half was a pleasant stroll, and only Arsenal can now stop us getting to our first semi since 1981, when we got to two!
Just back from Wales, where I had a look at Cardiff’s new ground, from the outside. No ground tours! It’s adjacent to Ninian Park which is currently being demolished. Very sad, or is it?
Anyway, back down the roadworks ridden M6 tomorrow for the Birmingham game. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract :

Last promotion was last season. Most recent connection : Joe Hart Big name supporters : Jasper Carrott Last Pot : League Cup in 1963

Ally McLeish’s Squad includes : Hart, Bowyer, Phillips, Carsley, McFadden,…..

This season so far : They’re currently in 15th place with 10 points from 10 games and 2 wins 1 draw and 2 defeats at home.
In the Carling Cup they went out at Sunderland 2-0.

Our form at Birmingham : Last meeting was in March 08, a 3-1 loss when Styles gave a ridiculous penalty against Sun Jahai to even up Elano’s earlier pen. 22,962 (1742 Blues) Only 2 wins (4-1 in 77/78, 2-1 in 78/79) in the 25 league post war visits, then 4 wins out of 6 pre Prem. and only 2 wins out of 5 Prem visits. Last draw was 0-0 in 84/85

Groundwise: No changes since our last visit, tho’ they want to up the capacity to 50,000 – stop sniggering!. We’ll be in the right half of the latest stand they’ve built, behind the goal at the railway end, now named after Gil Merrick, where it rains in through the gap. I like the songs they play pre-kick off – Mr Blue etc, They’ll be singing ‘Keep right on..’, just like Dave Ewing did to them at Wembley in ’56, but we can also outdo ‘em with ‘Blue Moon’ Keep your wits about you too.
Tickets were pricey at £42, but the new owners have dropped them to £25. Nice work!

Comment : They’ ve just been taken over. First season back in the Prem is turning out to be the anticipated battle for survival, and we must take the points, Joe Hart or not ! They had a welcome win over Sunderland last week but we need the three points to keep in touch with the top of the table

Wind Ups : “Town full of Villa” “If you can’t talk proper….”

STATS: 58 pre-war and 72 post-war make it our 131st league meeting, and down there, post-war, it’s:-
Played: 36 – Won 8 Drawn 7 and lost 21.
Their current av home att : 22, 270
Where were they when they were shite? – Av 7,030 in 90/91!
Away Day Zines: Wake Up Blue, Blue News, The Penguin, The Small Heathen, The Zulu,.

Pubs: None recommended near the ground, but there is a handy McDonalds!
Parking: Car parks near the ground or on the street.

St. Andrews
Capacity : 30,000 (3,000 for City)

Today the rags beat Blackburn, who, guess what, had a perfectly good goal disallowed. How long can this go on? No wonder everyone hates them.

Stuff

Dropped a few Centuryt City books off at Borders in Stockport yesterday, so now down to the last dozen. Anyway, news now of the (in) famous :

GENTLEMENS MORNING: November 7th v Burnley at Newton Heath Working Mens Club. Bar opens 9.30 am to 2pm. Refreshments, top band, The Microdots, Frank Sidebottom, 3 fantastic female dancers, DJ Dave, top comedian, James H Reeve and Tommy Booth probable guests. Tickets £7.50, strictly no ticket no entry. Contact Don or Ian on 07852826150 or visit MCFCGENTLEMENSBLOGSPOT.COM

this week

This week
First a couple of things I forgot to mention. Congratulations to Craig Bellamy for his first goal against the rags being voted as ‘Goal Of The Month’ on MOTD. Amazing. Will it be Goal of the Season?
Wigan. Steve Parish got thrown out for complaining to the stewards and police that Wigan fans were singing the, in Steve’s and many others opinion, the racist anti Adebayor song. This, despite a three page spread in the programme on ‘Racism, kick it out’
Fulham. Watched Soccer AM on the Saturday. They had an athlete on who ran and won a race in the Commonwealth games at Eastlands. got injured and knew at that moment that he was a manu fan, for fu*k's sake. No wonder everyone hates them.
Danny Mills, who seemed like a decent guy (on the couch) , reckoned, after one of Lee Croft’s stories that Lee’s face was too big for his head! Study him closely next week! Results went for us – Stoke winning at Spurs, Wolves’ late equaliser against Villa, Birmingham beating Sunderland but with a Joe Hart girlie flap for the Sunderland goal. Will he play against us next week?
Fulham, what a day. Absolutely pissed down as I got to my pitch soaked. I then had the cancer research girls encroaching, who to be honest I don’t really mind, it’s for a good cause. Then some guy selling scarves, shouting his bluddy head off, and his mate sounding some sort of bugle thing every couple of minutes.. Added to that Security stopped Tom from selling so I had to sort that one out, again, with the help of Danny Wilson, and Peter Fletcher. So a relief to get in to watch the game. Oh what a lift that was to hear the rags were losing and us two nil up – oh I never felt more like singin’ the Blues……then the inevitable happened – how many times have we gone ahead against Fulham? Four, five? And then we’ve let them come back at us, or can we not last 90 minutes these days? Micah and Lescott getting stick, but let’s not forget that they both scored. Don’t tell me there was ANYTHING wrong with Micah’s goal. Ok I know they’re there to defend primarily, but at least we’re not giving away daft penalties or own goals, and neither’s been sent off yet! I was slightly consoled on the way out by someone suggesting to me that we’ve beaten Blackburn away and drawn with Villa, Wigan and Fulham – teams we lost to last year so there’s a crumb of comfort.
Anyroad Scunthorpe next, let’s go five goals up before conceding any and we might make the quarter finals.

Here’s the it’s a fix extract : Well we couldn’t have asked for a better draw, could we? Which was just what we said when we drew Forest at home in the Cup last year? Only joking!
They’re currently in 14th place in the Championship after promotion through the play offs last season, with 17 points from 14 games. They’ve recently beaten Newcastle, but lost on Saturday 3-0 at Peterborough., but they’re not daft!
In the Carling they won 2-1 at Swansea in the second round, and 2-0 at home to Port Vale in the third round.
They were here as recently as 2006 in the 3rd round of the FA Cup, going one up until a Fowler hat-trick gave us a 3-1 win. Crowd was 27,779 with the biggest away following yet recorded at COMS, 6,129.
In the League Cup it was a 6-0 home win for the Blues in the second round of 1974/75 Bell 3, Barrett, Marsh and Doyle being the scorers in front of 14, 790.
In the league, we doubled them at Christmas in 1963/64 8-1 home (when I overslept and missed it!), 4-2 (correction) away.
N.Adkins squad includes : No familiar names, but Hooper could be classed as the danger man.
Recent connection : Peter Beagrie
Comment : No excuse for us not reaching a rare quarter final. Let’s pick the strongest squad, not underestimate them , and don’t get complacent if we go ahead. This is a crucial game. OK. Ticket prices are reasonable so let's hope for a decent turn out. Our team needs you!
Wind Ups : I suppose it has to be “you’re the C**ts in Sc**Thorpe” but I wouldn’t like to hear it sung!

this week

This week. (sorry, a bit of a biggie)
Watched MOTD on the Saturday night, then Goals on Sunday the next day. Is it me or was the Bolton disallowed goal at the Swamp, as shown on GON not shown MOTD? If so, why not? It looked a perfectly good one to me.
Anyway it was off to Wigan on a drizzly day. Waved to the team coach as it drove past, as you do! Took up our position. grandson Joe and myself, to flog a few KK’s, usually crap at Wigan, but had a better day today as it was a new issue.
The Sky cameras filmed us selling with a shot of the front cover, but it was obviously too controversial, and might have upset that touchy soul Ferguson, so they didn’t show it! Smart bloke in a grey suit approached. I thought “I know him” I thought it was Duncan who used to work in the ticket office, but as he smiled and said hello I realised that it was David Moyes. So I missed an opportunity to ask about todays Observer article where Lescott was scathing about Moyes (laughing all the way to the bank?) and his treatment at the end of his Everton days!
As for the game, just as I was about to say we’re usually losing at half time here, the dosy sods went and let one in. Should Shay have done better? I think so. “Fuck off Hughes was the shout from some Blues at half time, can you believe? Missed our goal, yet another from Petrov. Zab sent off, first booking harsh but he’s always likely to dive in and get sent off I’m afraid. We were then strong defensively to hold out for a precious point.

Attended a meeting at the club on the away support situation, jotted down a few thoughts :

1) South stand - home fans on either side of away fans preferred by home fans as it helps the atmosphere. Maybe moving the away fans a block towards the East stand (could annoy home fans already in there?) would stop them having such a prime position behind the goal. Giving away fans the top tier might be worth considering though. Exits, catering etc would need reviewing

2) For cup games it's disadvantageous to lose the south stand support, even if those fans are spread round the ground - uplifting (or annoying ) quiet fans! Good option would be the 3rd tier of the East stand (often closed for cup games anyway) Again subject to sorting exits, catering etc Not a good idea to have away fans in two different areas as they would then have repartee between each other (seen at Maine Road in the 80's!)

3) South stand away fans exit to coach park – home fans have to circumnavigate. Removing barriers could be worth a try, as at every other Prem ground, but could still be risky initially. Decent policing would alleviate any problems once everyone got used to it.

So top of my head stuff, after discussion with son Alex who goes in South Stand.

Any thoughts anyone?

All talk this week on the Beach ball goal at Sunderland. This much fuss wasn’t made at Sheff. United was it? And they’ve now decided that the rule is goal disallowed and a dropped ball awarded! (much to fergie's surprise!!!) So why wasn’t this decided after Sheff U.? Another top four decision. Sue reckons Liverpool are turning into City (the old City!) Fegie had a right strop in Russia when asked about his pending ban. No fuss made. Why? Yesterdays manumirror had a decent article by re-born Blue Ollie Holt on City and today Mark Hughes spoke out about Micah. Young enough to get better? Let’s hope so.
Tomorrow we’ve got Eastlands bogey team, Fulham. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract :

Their last promotion was in 2001, so they’re in their 9th season in the Prem., but they’ve never won eff all! Most recent connections : Dickson Etuhu, Andy Cole, Michael Brown, Kevin Keegan, Ali Mac. Big name supporters : Ray Brooks, but you may spot a few more.

Woy Hodgson’s squad includes : Schwarzer, Hangeland, Hughes, Panitsil, Murphy, Konchesky, Johnson, Zamora, Dempsey, Etuhu, Duff, Gera…..

Last season : Had a good season finishing in 7th place with 53 points and 3 wins 8 draws and 11 losses away from home.
By the riverside in December we played out a 1-1 draw. Benjani scoring a rare City headed goal in the 6th minute, and Bullard getting their equaliser in the 27th before 24,012 (2,284 Blues)
At COMS in April, Ireland put us ahead in the 28th minute but Fulham hit back with three (Dempsey (53, 83) Etuhu (59) 39,841 (617 Fulham) The win virtually ended our Europa hopes and Fulham took advantage.

This season so far : They’re currently in 13th place with 10 points from 8 games and one win, one draws two losses away from home.
They went out of the Carling Cup, to us, the other week 2-1 when they put out their reserves and we only overcame them in extra time! In Europa they’re doing OK and topped their group after the 1-0 win over FC Basle. Let’s hope the 1-1 home draw with Roma on Thursday took a bit out of them.

Our form at home to Fulham ; 7 meetings in the Prem with 2 City wins, 2 draws and 3 defeats (in the last 4)

Comment : We surely can’t be the fall guys yet again though at least it won’t be their first away win of the season like it usually is, can we? I said can we? Surely not, C’mon City.
.
Wind Ups : Come in a taxi….

Stats : 8 pre-war and 40 post make it our 49th league meeting and in Manc it’s:
Played : 24 won 14 drawn 4 lost 6
Their current average home attendance : 24,797
WWTWTWShite : Averaged 4,057 in 90/91

Now then, the good news this week is that Mohammed Patel has been banged up for masterminding the insurance scam, causing drivers to hit the back of cars when brakes slammed on, at islands. I was a victim at the Worsley Brow island, my car was written off (now seen as a taxi driving round Swinton!) and the cheeky bastards claimed for all sorts including accusing me of driving without due care and attention. As if. Anyway let’s hope they widen the net and include everyone involved :
The ‘clients’ : Tariq Hussein/Ansar Shabbir of Copster Hill Road, Oldham
The solicitors : Birchfields, 10, Knowsley Street, Cheetham Hill, M/C M18 8GF
The Doctors :
1) Dr K Irshad
2) Dr M Akhtar
3) Dr. A Quamar
If you know any of these people, you have my full backing to give them as much stick as you like. Ta!
Dave

this week

This week
Picked up the zines from the printers, spotted the mistakes (don’t tell me!) dropped them off at Urbis and Aleef then got them off to the subscribers and contributors, so everybody should be happy before todays Wigan game.
England beat Belarus with Bridge, Barry and SWP who notched a nice one. Crouchy got two and Beckham got MOM from Steve Bruce! Well covered on this blog!
The manumirror had Robinho on the back page with the caption “I want to go to Barcelona” He didn’t actually say that of course but it falls in line with the MUM’s anti-City pro rag campaign. Fergie, meanwhile continues his senility quest by criticising City and Real Madrid for spending money! Wow, haven’t heard that one for a while have we? What’s next? Wait for the “Arab’s pulling out of City” stories. Piers Morgan today has a pop at Robinho not caring about City, only money. He works for nothing of course!
Yesterdays results didn’t go too well for us. Rags scraped past Bolton, so Megson will be happy for his new mate Fergie. Villa beat Chelsea helped by another Dunney headed goal from a corner. Spurs won at Pompey and Liverpool lost at Sunderland to a ‘balloongate goal’. See - not only us! Apparently the rule is it should have been a bounce up where the beach ball was. Too late for Liverpool and the Sheff United cup tie now though! Arsenal beat Birmingham.
So it could be ‘Pool who drop out of the top four?

Today we’ve got Wigan. KK 173 will be on sale by three generations of Wallaces, plus Tom and Steve and here’s the It’s A Fix extract :
Last promotion 2005, a fantastic achievement, Lg Cup R/Up in 2005/06. Most recent connections: Antoine Sibierski, Michael Brown. Big name supporters? George Formby (deceased)

Last Season : Under Bruce they fell away after reaching 40 points and finished up in 11th spot with 45 points and 8 wins, 5 draws and 6 losses at home.
At the JJB on a September Sunday we contrived to lose 2-1. Valencia opened the scoring after 16 minutes, then Kompany equalised after 22 mins. High farce followed as Bennett awarded a penalty for a high dive, and Zaki obliged from the spot on 34 minutes (18,214, 4102 Blues)
At COMS in January it was a Zabaleta goal which clinched the 1-0 win, 41,262 (2,411 Piemen)

Roberto Martinez’s squad includes : Kirkland, Scharner, Melchiot, Koumas, N’Zogbia……Apparently he wouldn’t want ANY of our players!

This season so far : Martinez quit Swansea and took over in the summer from Bruce after he did his usual moonlight flit this time to Sunderland. They had a good start winning at Villa, but later capitulated as usual in the second half at home to the Whelan loving rags 5-0, then beat Chelsea 3-1.
Currently they’re 12th with 9 points from 8 games and 2 wins 0 draws and 2 losses at home. They went out of the Carling 4-1 at Blackpool.

Our form at Wigan : Just taking the last four Prem. visits we’ve lost 3 and drawn 1

Comment : They’re a bit of an enigma really, losing to the rags then beating Chelsea, so anything can happen, except we’re due a win there and we are now much stronger. The referee is Alan Wiley (was he the one we chanted "You're too fat to referee "that time?! So take your wrist watches off and wave them at him.

Wind Ups : Town full of Mu**chs
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DW Stadium : Capacity : 25,000 (5,000 for City)

Groundwise : it’s just the same, despite it’s change of name. Fancy them naming a ground (DW)after lil ole me!. We’ll be in the South Stand as usual, and it’s a sell out, as tickets are again priced at a reasonable £25. Their fans to our left will give them good support and listen out for the tedious "You're gonna win eff all" type chants.Drown em!
Stats : 10 post war league games and in Wigan it’s been : Played 5 won 1 drawn 1 lost 2
WWYWYW Shite ;:well supported in the non – league days, but down to an average of 2,758 in season 89/90.
Their current average home attendance : 17,322 (18,164 highest so far)
Away day zine : Cockney Latic ?
Pubs : The Red Robin near the away end, and there’s a Beer Keller type marquee under the north stand for about 400 so first in first served

Beckham saves the World - Again

Congratulations to SWP on scoring last night, but it was thanks to a Beckham "assist" so, it's unlikely he would have scored without the help. I see Steve Bruce gave Beckham the Man of the Match award for playing just 32 minutes. Imagine what he could have done if he'd played for the full 90 minutes. He could have solved global warming, cleared the UK debt, sorted Gordon Brown's bad eye out (I was going to say sort Gordon's brown eye out, but thought better of it as there may be youngsters reading this) Once a red, always a red, eh Steve (Bruce)

Crawlers

Sorry to go back to an older topic, but I couldn't allow Gary Megason's comments in tonights M(U)EN go without comment of my own. He reckons that Ferguson has been unfairly treated over his so called apology to Alan Wiley, he said

"Fergie couldn't have done any more, he gets hung out to dry because of who he is. He has apologised and then everyone criticises the apology. Alan Leighton seems to have a bee in his bonnet about the apology. I have seen him quoted as saying it was half-hearted. But you're dammed if you don't apologise and dammed if you do. If you don't apologise, you get slaughtered. If you do apologise, it's judged as half-hearted."

Many blues have already commented on this via the M(U)EN online site. But I'll tell you what Gary, you try saying what Ferguson said and let's see what happens to you. You are a creepy crawler and typical of all those in Football and the media who throw themselves at Ferguson's feet in the hope that they may be patted on the head. In the same edition and a few pages in, Stuart Mathieson more or less says the same thing and argues that "Ferguson has earned the right to speak his mind" OK then Stuart, how about you tell your editor that he's not fit to edit the M(U)EN or better still go and tell him that you think its not right that so many sports pages are taken up with stories on Man United and see where that gets you. There is a difference between free speech and trying to undermine someone to gain an advantage and the fact is Freguson thinks he is fireproof. He has been playing his mind games for so long that he thinks he can say what he likes. If neither Megson or Mathieson can see that, they should be in alternative employment. MacDonalds are always looking for staff.

this week

This week
Back from Northern Ireland now, and hopefully off to pick up KK 173 later today. Interesting debate on the blog regarding ole baconface. I think you’ll like the new KK front cover!
Well it was a great night last Friday at the Cookstown ‘do’ City old boys turned out in force, and there must have been about 169 Blues present. There was a question and answer session and needless to say some rag asked the panel if we’d manage to stay up this season. It never fails to amaze me why rags turn up at City do’s as though they’re some form of superior being. He was suitably put in his place I’m pleased to say. Don’t they have rag do’s? No wonder everyone hates them.
Supporters club stalwarts included Kevin Parker, who bossed proceedings admirably, Alan Galley, and Alan Potter were present. The meal was excellent and the group ‘Riff-Raff’ were superb doing rock from the 50’s to the present day. Knockout.
Gary Owen enjoyed himself on the mic, and Joe Corrigan and Tommy Booth bopped the night away on the dance floor. Peter Barnes and Tony Book were present but Johnny Crossan didn’t make it.
So credit due to organisers Colin and Barry, and thanks to our hosts Joe and Dolly for their hospitality.
England lost in the Ukraine, and Rio had another dodgy one, previously predicted for which I was called a clown by Mark the rag on this blog. No wonder everyone….have I just said that?
So not much news at the mo. Sean will give us the lowdown on England in the Ukraine for the next issue, meanwhile let’s hope our boys return home fit and well ready for the Wigan showdown
Dave

You Have My Apologies

I’d just like to take this opportunity to say that I don’t think Sir Alex Ferguson is fit enough to manage at the top level. He’s taking far too long over his substitutions and tactical decisions and I think that’s because he wants to take a rest. You see managers abroad who are fit as a butcher’s dog. The pace of the game in this country demands managers are fit and he is not. It’s ridiculous.

Now I’ve said that, I suppose I’ll issue a half-arsed apology this time next week and everything will be fine. Won’t it?

See, what Ferguson said after the match with Sunderland wasn’t only a disgrace, it was an inaccurate disgrace. And if the FA fail to punish him for it, then it will set a precedent – something which many people in the country feel has already been set: That Ferguson can say what he likes to little (small fine or touchline ban) or no consequence. One of the biggest cases in point was his side’s defeat to Portsmouth in the cup in 2008 – he said that Martin Atkinson was a “disgrace” and his performance “shouldn’t be accepted in our game”, before adding that Keith Hackett wasn’t “doing his job properly”. He was charged with improper conduct, but was not punished.

His then assistant, Carlos Queiroz, said that the referee was a “robber” and that he “deserved a red card”. And Queiroz also, somehow, escaped punishment.

He accused the referee of the 2-2 draw with Sunderland of being unfit and not capable of keeping up with the speed of the game, although, oddly, statistics have since shown that the referee covered more ground than most of the United team. If anything, that makes the manager’s words much more scathing of his own team.

Quite frankly, though, I see his actions in the press as nothing more than an attempt to deflect attention. After all, Sunderland played well – very well, in fact – and were unlucky to come away with only a point. United were poor, but nobody seems to have mentioned that in all of the media coverage because of what Ferguson said. What is it they say? A good day to bury bad news – seems this was something like that.

A week later and he’s apologised. Sort of.

He apologised for any “personal embarrassment” he might have caused – and to be honest, I reckon his comments probably caused quite a bit of that, with them being made in public about one individual. Then being broadcast around the world.

He added: “It was never my intention to bring the focus of intense media attention on Mr. Wiley.” In which case, I would have to ask why he commented about the referee in the first place. After all, there’s only one referee for that game – there’s assistants, but they are overruled by the referee – and by criticising that referee’s fitness on national (and international) television, what did he think would happen?

He claims that he intended to “highlight a serious and important issue” by speaking out like he did. But the statistics showed the referee covered more ground than some United players… So is there an issue? Unlikely.

He then said that he hopes that it’s an issue something that will be “properly addressed through the appropriate formal channels”; a statement that, to me, sounds like he’s standing by his original comments.

So, in effect, he’s apologising for how he said what he said, not what he said. But, in this case, it’s not exactly the manner in which his comments were said that’s the problem. It’s the comments themselves. If anything, they could quite easily be libellous.

This apology is far too little and much too late. By leaving it for a week – and including a bit about clarifying his position that Alan Wiley was unfit and not that he was making poor decisions nor was incompetent – it smacks of a statement issued to try and lighten his punishment. It doesn’t strike me that it’s got anything to do with remorse; if he was remorseful, why not issue the statement the day after the game when he had had time to cool down and reflect on what he’d said? Why wait for a week to pass?

In March 2008, Ferguson backed the campaign for players to show respect towards referees. How can he, in one breath, expect players to show respect and then, in another, say what he said about Alan Wiley? How can we expect players to respect referees if managers don’t?

It’s not so much the pot calling the kettle black, but the pot having a go at the matching sugar bowl and biscuit tin too. He’s overstepped the mark in the past, but this time he really has gone too far. He’s not above the law.

David Mooney

this week

This week
Villa away. Smooth trip down. Interesting game with the Dunney/Barry situation – City fans winning this one hands down, and Bellers, once again, making me proud of my son-in-law Brian’s Welsh tattoo on his arm. Trip home was a sod with the M6 riddled with road works and 50mph, if you were lucky, speed restrictions. Needless to say in the manumirror today, latest City hating rag journo James Nursey, compared Dunney’s non celebration to Ade’s ‘antics’ v the Arse. No mention of the City fans reaction though. Where do they get these two-bit lazy bastards from? And they get paid for writing this drivel.

Todays manumirror has a reasonable piece on Bellamy but with the inevitable pics of Ferdinand having a go at him after Craig’s pop at that ‘thug on the pitch’ at O/T’ who could, of course "had a knife" (he'd probably already chucked his coins. There’s also an interview with the fan at Villa who was waving those fake fifty pound notes at Gareth Barry, but no ‘no class, no respect, no dignity’ type headings. This in my mind continues the dangerous precedent of giving such people credence. They’ve already given publicity to the O/T pitch invader. Soon, at every ground in the country, especially against us, fans will try and get their 15 minutes of fame by abusing opposition players.

Anyway, thanks for all the contributions to KK173. It’s now at the printers. As you can imagine there’s been plenty to say on the Adebayor incident and the extra time derby. There’s also plenty more on various topics and at 48 A4 pages it’s given us more time to provide visuals to make it more presentable, I think! It has been without doubt the most vitriolic ant-City media campaign in the history of the club (outdoing Jimmy Hill’s witch-hunt on Brian Kidd in 1977 by far) , and we’ve hopefully put the record straight on that score as only a fanzine can do.
So we’re off to Cookstown in Northern Ireland for a few days, to take in the Supporters club branch’s 60th anniversary do, which promises to be a great night. There should be a few old Blues there, amongst them Tony Book, Joe Corrigan, Johnny Crossan, Peter Barnes, Tommy Booth and Gary Owen. So we’ll keep you posted on that one. Should pick the zine up early next week so it’s all go again then.
Cheers
Dave

Today

Patrick Barclay in the Mail on Sunday criticised Tevez’s goal non – celebration v W. Ham! You couldn’t make it up could you? Damned if we do, and damned if we don’t!
Rags get a Sunderland man sent off, Rooney stays on, they get another last minute fluke own goal, Fergie blasts the ref, his one time pal Alan Wiley. Ungracious. No wonder everyone hates them.

Villa away here’s the It’s a Fix extract :
Last promotion was in 1988, last pot League Cup in 1996. Most recent connections : Gareth Barry, Richard Dunnne, Stuart Taylor. Big name supporters : Prince William, Nigel Kennedy

Last season : They finished in 6th place, after looking like top four before collapsing after Christmas with 62 points and 7 wins 9 draws and 3 losses at home,
At Villa it was an opening August day 4-2 loss for City, 39,995 (2932) Blues, and at COMS in March it was a welcome 2-0 win 40,137, (2272 Villans).

Martin O’Neill’s squad has lost Gareth Barry, Zat Knight, Stu Taylor and Laursen (Total 16M), gaining Beye, Delph, Downing, Collins, Dunne (Total £32M) To complement the existing squad.

This season so far : They’re 8th with 12 points from 6 games. Shock home defeat to Wigan, then a win at Anfield, home win over Fulham but out of Europa already.
Our Form at Villa : In the twelve Prem meetings we’ve won 4 drawn 5 lost 3
Comment : It’s a ground we often do well at, so we’ll expect a result. It’ll be interesting to see what reception we give Dunney compared with what they’ll give Gareth Barry.
Wind Ups : “Shit on the Villa” always flows nicely off the tongue

Groundwise : No change to Villa Park, we’ll be down the side in the Doug Ellis stand again as opposed to being behind the goal at the Witton End, where the cameras could pick us out.
Tickets are £38
It’s the West Midlands police plus over efficious stewards, so be careful out there..
Villa Park : Capacity : 42,602 (3,000 for City)

Stats : 58 pre-war and 82 post make it our 141st league mtg
Their current average home att : 39,812
WWTWTWShite? Averaged 15, 237 in 85/86
Away day Zines ; Heroes and Villains, who we congratulate on reaching their 20th anniversary
Post Code : B6 6HE. Parking on industrial premises off A4040 Aston Lane (or on side streets) to North West of ground, then return via A38 to M6 jn 7
Pubs : The Yew Tree, The Cap and Gown on Witton island, The Harriers on Broadway, Barton Arms, High Street Aston.