Wednesday 24 March 2010

More Questions Than Answers City




The biggest question on every Blue's lips up until tonight's game was if City were capable of making that 4th spot their own? Could they then hold onto it and ultimately take that all important final Champions League spot.

The question on everyone's lips now is do we have the bottle for it and will we even finish in the top six after that spineless defensive second half performance?

The talk amongst the support will be of refereeing decisions that went against City and of dirty play and the stalling tactics from the Blue side of Liverpool.

Yet the true culprits lie on our side of the Blue line and their errors in judgement could ultimately cost us a European place.

The manager himself chose tonight's game to play his most attacking front five Tevez, Bellamy, Johnson, backed up by Ireland and Barry and for a while the selection looked certain to reap its rewards as for much of the first half like at Craven Cottage City bossed the game.

The difference this time was that we didn't convert any of our chances and were undone after a dodgy decision by a referee whose name I will never ever speak again in my mother tongue as it would do it a gross injustice.

Of course the players should have had the quality to come back and score at a ground they have failed to score only once all season.

Tevez a one man army grabbed the game by the scruff of the neck and tried to drag City kicking and screaming back into it with moments of brilliance that kept everyone on the edge of their seats.

Yet when it came down to it, just as at Tottenham the Sky Blues just weren't up to the task and in the end bottled it completely.

Toure and Kompany for all their attacking and ball-playing strengths just don't have the concentration needed to be world class centreback partnership as both switch off at key times and are susceptible to high balls.

Thats not to say that they were to blame for this defeat as Everton did their best impression of Stoke City and pressured, fouled and bludgeoned their way to this victory with their ten men behind the ball approach so credit where its due.

Moyes has obviously done his homework and knows that City cannot breakdown teams that adopt this old school style as they are missing a playmaker to unlock those tight banks of fours.

Any hope of City doing so had been fouled out of the game and after Stevie Ireland's exit there was more bad news to come. A woefully short of confidence Shaun Wright Phillips entered the fray and the quick incisive passing and triangles went in the opposite direction along with  City's hopes of equalizing.

Wright Phillips just doesn't have the passing ability to play in this front line and the fact he has now lost the confidence to run past a man has rendered him pretty useless as an attacking option.

Gareth Barry is another who is being found out to be one-dimensional, barging around giving or winning free kicks with his one paced, one-footed game designed to make up for his obvious lack of pace.

In fact any quicker, more physical opponent he comes up against manages to dominate him and draws more fouls than Jordan changes fellas.

The Manager of course has to take a large share of the blame for his changes and defensive tactics of playing with four defensive midfielders at one point when looking to get back into the game.

The fact that he went all out to sign Italian playmaker Cassano in January just illustrates what he thinks of his current options in that position.

So we began asking whether City could break into the top four and then hold onto their place. We end just asking if we really have improved since the demoralising loss to Spurs that signalled the end of Mark Hughes' tenure.

Have we progressed since then? Are we going to get that fourth spot? Is Mancini the man for the job? Are Barry, Wright-Phillips and a few others really upto the job?

One things for sure and thats the fact that every City fan will be feeling nauseous after tonight's performance. Some of you might even have to throw out a few broken things this time tomorrow- I know I will.

Sunday 7 March 2010

Robinho Beats Berbatov In Battle Of The Flops

According to a reporter in the Daily Star, Robinho may not be burning all of his bridges after all.

After weeks of interviews and speculation that he is unhappy at City and is looking for a way out The Star reports that he will rent Robbie Savage's Bling pad.

The £32.5million British record signing has beaten United flop Berbatov after he was blown away by the gadgets, boys toys and all-round bling factor of the annoying Welsh midfielder’s £2.35million home in Prestbury, Cheshire.

The paper quotes that Robbie will rent the pad for £10,000 a month until he decides on a permanent move.

A nothing story apart from the fact that most Blues and the footballing world are under the impression that they have seen him for the last time in a sky blue shirt of City.

Is this a sign of things to come or just more pap from the pappiest of newspapers? Would you like to see the mercurial yet self-centred Samba star return?

Ya Freddy Welcome To Manchester

This is just a quick mention to all City fans and other passionate fans from other teams to check out Ya Freddy's interview on the Official Club site.

In what at first sounds a little bit far fetched, Ya Freddy an African City fan and musician has written a new anthem to underline City's place as Manchester's only club called 'This Is Our City'.

His enthusiasm and vibrant personality really win you over and the song although no Wonderwall (my kind of music) is a fresh, fun contemporary take on what being a City fan is all about at the moment.

Check it out!

http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

Blues Academy Part I

History

Manchester City's Academy is responsible for our youth development at the club. Its staff is responsible for the education and footballing development of young players for the future.

The club's first youth team was set up by Albert Alexander in the 1920s when they were known as the A Team (no not that one).

It wasn't until 1951 however that the 'A' team would compete against reserve and youth teams of other clubs from North West in what was called the Lancashire League.

The next development in the system came in 1955 when a second youth team, the 'B' team, made up of younger players than the 'A' team competed in Division Two of the Lancashire League.

The academy system as we know it today came about in 1997 and it is at this time that legendary boss Jim Cassell came to us from Oldham Athletic.

Through his experience and drive the club's academy underwent a complete makeover and received official academy accreditation by the FA in 1998.

From that point we were able to complete in the elite FA Premier Youth League and the 'A' and 'B' teams were replaced by the Under 19's and Under 17's.

Today the academy is thriving with teams competing, from the age of nine up until the age of eighteen, to an elite level both in their domestic leagues and in international tournaments.

Over the past decade alone the Blues academy has produced a steady stream of professional footballers from pocket dynamos like  Shaun Wright Phillips and Vladimir Weiss to boy mountains such as Micah Richards and Michael Johnson.

Since winning the 2008 FA Youth Cup the City academy has rightly received the public adoration it deserves culminating in another final appearance last term.

But the Blues have been producing young gems for almost a century now and whilst some burst onto the scene early, not all have been a hit.

Some have shown great signs of early promise like Lee Croft but in the end failed to make the grade in top flight football. Others have broken through but not looked the part at all and gone elsewhere to further their careers like Leon Mike and Chris Shuker.

The Blues have been producing top level talent for more than a decade however with many stars graduating under the old system albeit to varying levels of success.

Some were told they were not good enough, only to go on to other clubs before becoming top professionals like Neil Lennon, Paul Warhurst and Colin Hendry.

Even now in the Premiership City have over ten academy graduates plying their trade for City or other teams showing its pedigree and why top youngsters choose us over more traditionally more fashionable clubs academies.

Current City Graduates plying their trade

God's own team
Micah Richards
Nedum Onouha
Michael Johnson
Steven Ireland
Shaun Wright Phillips 

David Ball
Derek Boyata
Greg Cunningham
Ibrahim Abdisalem
Javan Vidal

Premiership
Joe Hart- Birmingham (loan)
Vald Weiss Bolton (loan)
Dickson Etuhu- Fulham
Wayne Hennessey- Wolves
Tyrone Mears - Burnley
Steven Jordan - Burnley
Daniel Sturridge - Chelsea
Glen Whelan - Stoke City

Championship
Kelvin Etuhu - Cardiff (loan)
Ched Evans - Sheffield United
Steven Elliott - Preston North End
Bradley Wright Phillips - Plymouth Argyle
Ishmael Miller -   West Bromwich Albion
Lee Croft - Derby County 
Joseph Barton - Newcastle United 


Division One
Shaleum Logan -Tranmere Rovers (loan)
Chris Shuker - Tranmere Rovers

Division Two 
Kasper Schmeical - Notts Cotts
Terry Dunfield - Shrewsbury Town

Scottish Premier 
Chris Killen - Celtic
Willow Flood - Celtic





Honours


FA Youth Cup: Wins 2

1985/86: Manchester City 3 - 1 Manchester United (1-1 and 2-0, 3-1 aggregate)

1 GK Steve Crompton,
2 DF Steve Mills, 3  DF Andy Hinchcliffe, 4 DF Ian Brightwell, 5 DF Steve Redmond (c)
6 MF Andy Thackeray, 7 MF David White, 8 MF Paul Moulden, 11 MF David Boyd
9 FW Paul Lake, 10 FW Ian Scott

Sub DF Steve Macauley

Manager Tony Book



2007–08: Manchester City v. Chelsea (1–1, 3–1)

First leg

3 April 2008
Chelsea 1 – 1 Manchester City
Attendance: 11,890
Referee: Peter Walton
Kakuta 66' Sturridge 49'

Second leg

16 April 2008
Manchester City 3 – 1 Chelsea
City of Manchester Stadium, Manchester
Attendance: 19,783
Referee: Peter Walton

Mee 23'
Weiss 34'
Ball 86' (pen) McGivern 6' (og)
Jacob Mellis


1 GK Greg Hartley
2 DF Dedryck Boyata 82', 3 DF Ben Mee (c), 4 DF Kieran Trippier 90+5',  5 DF Ryan McGivern
6 MF Andrew Tutte,  7 MF VladimĂ­r Weiss, 8 MF Scott Kay, 11 MF Donal McDermott
9 FW David Ball,  10 FW Robbie Mak

Subs
GK Filip Mentel ,  MF Abdi Ibrahim 90+5', MF Angelos Tsiaklis 82', FW Alex Nimely-Tchuimeni, FW James Poole
(Daniel Sturridge played first leg)

Runners-up 4 times

1978/79: Millwall v. Manchester City (0-0 and 2-0)
1 GK Alex Williams    
2 DF Gary Fitzgerald, 3 DF  Dick Cunningham, 4 DF  Nicky Reid, 5 DF Tommy Caton   
6 MF Ross McGinn, MF McClure, 7 MF Leigh, 9 MF Clive Wilson       
10ST  Steve Kinsey, 11ST Kevin Glendon

1979/80: Aston Villa v. Manchester City (3-1, 0-1)1980

GK Alex Williams,
DF Andy May, DF Dick Cunningham , DF Gary Bennett , DF Tommy Caton
MF Ross McGinn, MF Keith Parkinson , MF Steve MacKenzie, MF Gary Bees,
ST Steve Kinsey, ST Clive Wilson


 1988/89: Watford v. Man City (0-1, 2-0 aet)

1 GK Martyn Margetson
2 DF Neil Lennon, 3 DF John Willis , 4 DF Mark Peters , 5 DF Gerry Taggart
6 MF Mike Quigley, 7 MF Ian Thompstone, 10 MF Michael Hughes, 11 MF Michael Wallace
8 FW Ashley Ward , 9 FW Jason Hasford

Subs FW Mike Sheron,  MF Colin Small


 2005–06: Liverpool v. Manchester City (3–0, 0–2)

1 GK Laurence Matthewson
2 DF Curtis Obeng, 3 DF Shaleum Logan , 4 DF Sam Williamson , 5 DF Garry Breen
6 MF Ashley Williams, 7 MF Paul Marshall , 8 MF Michael Johnson, 10 MF Michael Hughes,9 MF Karl Moore, 11 MF Michael Wallace,
10 FW Kelvin Etuhu , 11 FW Daniel Sturridge
Subs GK David Vadon, DF Micah Richards, DF Michael Daly, MF Christian Mouritsen, FW Ched Evans,  MF Clayton, S. Evans




Hall Of Fame

So who are the greatest academy players ever to be produced by the club. We at Vital and the5-1 Blog take a look at the Top 10 ever to play for the first team (sorry Ryan) and has taken into account the following criteria for the ratings.

Games played for the first team 
Key games for City
Achievements
Loyalty 
Potential
Focus

TO BE CONT... 

Friday 5 March 2010

MCFC To Become Citizens Of America

According to latest reports City are attempting to succeed where the likes United and Chelsea have failed in conquering America.

Both Chelsea and United have tried to conquer the hearts of the American soccer public with  off-season tours against the likes of the Seattle Sounders and LA Galaxy.

Old Taggart has surrendered United's US campaign for fear of losing ground in the Far East an easier and traditionally more profitable market for the Reds.

City however it seems have found a use for CEO Garry Cook's 'skillset' and plan to conquer the US Soccer market one step at a time.

Instead of touring in far off places like Los Angeles where the population is predominately Hispanic and therefore favours South American or Mediterranean club sides through descent, Cook has no doubt sought to concentrate on the areas where Americans of Northern European decent are based.

Plans are under way to invest in a Major League Soccer franchise with Vancouver, Philadelphia and Portland, where Cook has major contacts, being touted as possible targets.



The acquisition would be the perfect platform to launch a US City Academy and allow Jim Cassell and his team to develop and send over the Friedels, Dempseys and Donovans of this world earlier to hone their skills to become better players.

It would also make the difficult task touring in places like New York and New England easier and Cook has held preliminary talks with MLS commissioner Don Garber this week in Manchester.

Garber apparently wants to improve the quality and profile of the MLS by getting European clubs involved and has already held talks with Barcelona and Real Madrid about investing in one of their franchises.

According to City sources, Cook has strong links with Portland, where he worked with Nike, and is said to be keen on a summer tour there as well as in Philadelphia and New York.

Garber on the talks said,

"Part of the relaunch of that team is for them to think strategically about their business and where international expansion fits into that, and where the US might fit into that.

"We've had very preliminary discussions about that."


Would it be a good idea for City to buy a MLS franchise? Are there better and easier markets out there like Asia or Australia who produce better quality players?

With all of the economic problems in the Argentinian League at the moment what about a team out there? In the shot term finding the new Messi, Tevez or Maradona would certainly seem more likely than in the MLS.

To improve the clubs brand on a global level it does seem like a sound and smarter strategy than the ones previously applied by Baconface and Co.

Wright- For Riches Or The Love Of The Game?

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has laid into City's hierarchy, claiming that they are not showing his adopted son Shaun Wright Phillips the respect he deserves.

But while fatherly concern in seeing his son sign a new contract seems sincere motive for this outburst there may be other reasons lying beneath the surface.

Firstly, its not as if Wright Phillips has no future in the game as his current contract finishes in August 2012 after he signed a four year deal on his return to the club in 2008.

Nor is Wright Phillips likely to want for anything after his career comes to an end. He has had a superb career to date with high profile moves to both glamour clubs Chelsea and City swelling the coffers in his bank account and making him a multimillionaire.

Of course, one can never have enough millions and  due to Wright-Phillips signing before the Arab takeover, his contract will undoubtedly seem meagre (to him) in comparison to those who signed thereafter like Tevez, Adebayor and Kolo Toure.

His brother and father haven't exactly done badly either meaning the family itself has amassed millions from the glorious game.

Wright doesn't go into specifics of the contract on offer and rightly so, but does talk about Marwood and Cook insinuating that the way they are dealing with a player who is Blue through and through is both arrogant and condescending.

Now taking the money and contract negotiations out of the equation, one thing that does stick out is Wright's final comments about Shaun making the world cup squad.

After failing to make any of the national teams squads for a world cup finals could it be that Wrighty is more anxious himself about his son missing the world cup finals and the pain that goes hand in hand in it.

No doubt Wright is living his dreams through his son still and his sharp and insightful punditry would certainly be more in demand over in South Africa if his son was in the team.

Is Wright Phillips' so beat up about this contract issue that it is affecting his performances and jeopardising his place on the plane to South Africa?

After all, the race for that England right spot is as hotly contested and stressful as the race for that Champions League final space and the same teams are involved in Tottenham, Villa and City.

Or is this just an unsubtle PR guilt trip by his outspoken adopted father in an effort to force the new and improved contract through more quickly by making it public knowledge?

Here's what Wrighty said: "I tell you what was really awkward, they called him in and he wants to sign his deal, wants to sign for the rest of his career so he can be settled and get ready to go (to the World Cup in South Africa).
Worry


"But there's these people like (football administration officer) Brian Marwood and (chief executive) Garry Cook mugging him off, treating him like a youth-team player and not someone who actually wants to be there because of what he thinks Manchester City can do."

Wright added: "When you have people like Marwood and Cook, who for me are just a bit full of themselves(pot kettle), I'm not sure they know exactly what they are doing deep down so I'm just a bit worried about that.

"I would love him to be settled so he could just concentrate on getting City into the top four, which would be brilliant for all of them.

"That's what he wants to do and then God willing he can end up getting on the plane and going to the World Cup, doing well for England and everything would be great.

"That's what I would like to happen. But you know how football is, it's different from one week to the next."

Thursday 4 March 2010

Spurs And Villa Out Of Champions League Race

Spurs and Villa are out of the Champions League race for fourth spot in the Premier League which is great news for their main rivals Liverpool and Man City.

That is according to Liverpool legend John Aldridge, who believes that both Liverpool's easier run in and City's ability to play attractive football and scores lots of goals will be the deciding factor.

"I personally think it's between Liverpool and Manchester City," said Aldridge, "It is obviously very tight, and I think it could go right down to the wire. We could be looking at the last day of the season being decisive.

"Manchester City are, at the moment anyway, playing the more attractive football, and scoring goals, but you look at Liverpool's run-in, and that to me gives them a slight edge."


If only it would be so easy to count out a strong Villa side and exciting Tottenham team both as keen as mustard to take this year's chance of qualification to the big boys league

Aldridge may be right about Liverpool's run in, but the form of Tevez might have something to say about about the final outcome and if City can keep their home record going then the tough matches against Everton, United, Spurs and Villa will be the key.

One things for sure, and that's the race for fourth is shaping up to be the most exciting in Premier League history and that can only be good for the league as a whole.

Terry Would Be Dead And Ballack I Just Don't Like

In an astonishing twist in the City Chelsea soap opera Carlos Tevez has taken the hate between the two squads to Defcom 2.

In an interview in the Sun Tevez launched a damning attack on the former England captain by claiming that he is a man of no honour. He said,

“I don't think you can do that with the wife of another player. "It's wrong. In my opinion, Terry has no moral code for what he did to Bridge."

 He even goes as far as saying Terry would not have got away with his sordid affair with French lingerie slut Vanessa Perroncel (Wayne you really must shop for tottie elsewhere next time) back in his homeland adding,

"In my neighbourhood if you do that, you lose your legs, or more - you don't survive."



Just when you thought it was safe to come out of the water uncharacteristically Tevez taunts Terry's Chelsea team mate Ballack, after 'Ze German's' cowardly two footed lunge in last week's Premier League humiliation.

"I have always had problems with Ballack but, you know, it is just football, not personal issues between us.

"I don't know, maybe he doesn't like me, as I don't like him."


Surprising words perhaps from the usually quietly spoken Argentinian who obviously felt the Chelsea player's 'I am the law!' routine was wearing a bit thin.

Bad blood between the players is one thing and will make for some added bite to the Premier League clashes next season, but how are the most important people, the fans, taking this latest episode?

City and Chelsea fans have traditionally had a good relationship though so I wonder how they see these latest comments?

Maybe they support the victims of their two bad boys and are fed up with the mindless actions of two waning stars or maybe their loyalty is clouding their dark blue tinted judgement.

Wednesday 3 March 2010

Defoe For Bellamy - In Your Dreams 'Arry!

Now I know it is international week and all and the hacks have to focus on something to meet their quotas but this story really is beginning to grow old.

According to many of the usual suspects, used car salesman 'Arry Redknapp is trying to wheel and deal his squad away in an attempt to deflect blame away from his aesthetically pleasing but predictable managerial style of "Attack!"

Last season he tried to sign Craig Bellamy from West Ham but lost out to the deep pockets of Abu Dhabi's Man City owners and this year he has shown no signs of letting up in his pursuit of the pocket dynamo.

Now, according to the red tops, 'Ol' Nick Nack Paddy Wack' has been lurking in the shadows waiting for his moment to pounce and offer the Blues something they actually might deem worth having from White Hart Lane in Jermaine Defoe.

The story goes that he is willing to offer Defoe in part exchange for the flying Welshman and believes now is the time to pour oil on the fire that has risen after the training ground bust-ups between new boss Roberto Mancini and the Welshman.


So lets just consider that this story has an inkling of truth in it. Besides the fact that he's already bought and sold Defoe quite a few times, just why would Ol' Del Boy go to all that trouble bringing Defoe back just to swap him for a thirty year old dodgy-kneed trouble maker even if the Welshman is the better man on his day?

Defoe is explosive, quick  and a good finisher as his tally of 16 this year goes to prove, yet he is still not a crowd favourite with the Spurs faithful.



Spurs fans have complained at Defoe's one-dimensional game, lack of strength and stamina as well as his selfishness in front of goal. He is also not a big game player which could probably be the real reason for this rumour.


Bellamy may well have a reputation for being a 'Big Time Charlie' with the ability to start a fight in an empty room, according to Sir Bobby, but he still remains a fans favourite at every club he goes to.

Like it or not he is a leader, with a warrior heart and has proven he can play up front or on either side of a front three equally as well.






The real root of the mater might come down to who is the big game player and who can take the team to the next level?

Bellamy has this season alone scored multiple goals against each of United, Arsenal, Chelsea and Liverpool proving himself indispensable to the Blues top four challenge.

He has already fought off competition from Robinho, Petrov, Weiss, Bojinov and Shaun Wright Phillips to be the first name on the team sheet along with Tevez.


So maybe Redknapp sees him as a short term solution after seeing the younger England striker flatter to deceive with a third of his goals coming against Wigan Athletic this season.

On the other hand, maybe there is a more sinister plot line to this persistent rumour. After all, Bellamy has humiliated his nephew's Chelsea side on two occasions already this year and given the proverbial finger to Frankie's best mate the Chav King that is Mr Chelsea himself.

Could it be that Ol' Arry is thinking of buying another forward and leaving him on the bench until he has to loan him out? Do City fans really care and more importantly would any Blue swap Bellamy for Defoe anyway? Probably not.

Its more likely that the Spurs boss is looking for battle hardened yeomen in his attempt to toughen the obvious soft belly that Spurs have and Bellamy, love him or loathe him, is exactly the sort of player you want with you in the trenches.

With the resources on offer to City and with Tevez, Santa Cruz and Adebayor already at the club, do City really need Defoe?

You would think that it would be more likely 'The Citizens' would be interested in a world class finisher and all round footballer a la Torres, Villa or Fabiano to compliment our existing strike force.

You could argue that they don't even play in the same position as Bellamy has played wide right or left since his move to City and from that position is quite prolific in scoring 8 and providing 11 assists to Defoe's 16 and 2 as a striker.

One things for sure, City fans wouldn't swap Bellamy for ten Robinhos or five Petrovs, so why would they even think about swapping him for one measly Jermaine Defoe.

After all, if Bellamy was English I know who I'd rather have giving his all at the world cup this summer and he doesn't wear a diamond earring the size of walnut.

No he's the Welsh dragon with a chip on his shoulder the size of John Terry's black book and City fans love him all the same.