A straightforward if not inspiring win that shows that we are now getting some of the "win ugly" games that under Hughes we would have struggled to win.
Pompey stifled the game well in the midfield and created the better chances early on but when you have the quality of Ade etc you don't need many chances to win matches.
Ratings
Given 6
Not as accomplished as of late but not really tested
Zabaleta 7
Played well until injury forced him off
Toure 7
A calming influence
Kompany 6.5
Steady
Garrido 5
Often needs the last ditch tackle
Barry 5.5
Looked off the pace
Ireland 5.5
Touch not quite there today
Petrov 6
Potential but poor end product
De Jong 7
Steady as always
Tevez 7
Worked hard throughout
Adebeyour 7
Touch of class we have lacked at times,nice to see him score
Games in hand and 1 point off fourth..........roll on Hull
Sunday 31 January 2010
Wednesday 29 July 2009
Is this the perfect time to shake up the Sky 4?
Surely the best two words to a City fan at the moment is economic slowdown…Not the catchiest two words I’ll grant you and probably ones that don’t make you happy if you’re eating beans on toast for tea every night! But stick with me.
Because of the current economic climate that is permeating almost every industry I believe that there has NEVER been a better time to make an assault on the Sky 4. As City fans we are in a very fortunate position of winning the football lottery having been taken over by the biggest single investor in football. This has coincided with almost every other club, barring Real Madrid, in a position where servicing and re-financing debts has to take precedent over strengthening the side.
It simply isn’t a coincidence that Alex Ferguson all of a sudden has a grip on the reality of football finances after systematically spending fortunes almost every transfer window. Nor is it a coincidence that perennial big spenders Chelsea are now signing Ross Turnbull (whom I am sure Ancelloti had been eyeing for years!!). The Sky 4 is creaking and now it’s time to go for the jugular. Let’s look at the facts.
United have not only lost their best player, who with Tevez, must be worth almost 30 league goals, but they have replaced them with a half decent winger from Wigan, a has been striker who hasn’t scored more than a handful of goals in a season since he was a kid at Liverpool and some French guy whose name sounds like high priced stereo equipment.
Chelsea had an ageing squad to begin with (who are now a season older) and have supplemented it with a couple of kids who may or may not be something special in the future, A half decent Russian and a manager who, whilst successful elsewhere, has never managed in the premiership and can barely speak English.
Liverpool are skint and have only strengthened by signing there umpteenth fullback and will be weakened still further if Real Madrid have their way.
Arsenal have a squad that was just about good enough to cling on to fourth spot last season and have now sold a striker worth 20 a season and a centre back that has been a mainstay in the side for a number of years…..all to their potential biggest rivals.
Make no mistake, this is the time to push the Sky 4 and I think we will do better than some of us dare to believe.
To parody a chocolate ad….Sheikh Mansour, with this transfer window you are really spoiling us.
Bring it on!!
Because of the current economic climate that is permeating almost every industry I believe that there has NEVER been a better time to make an assault on the Sky 4. As City fans we are in a very fortunate position of winning the football lottery having been taken over by the biggest single investor in football. This has coincided with almost every other club, barring Real Madrid, in a position where servicing and re-financing debts has to take precedent over strengthening the side.
It simply isn’t a coincidence that Alex Ferguson all of a sudden has a grip on the reality of football finances after systematically spending fortunes almost every transfer window. Nor is it a coincidence that perennial big spenders Chelsea are now signing Ross Turnbull (whom I am sure Ancelloti had been eyeing for years!!). The Sky 4 is creaking and now it’s time to go for the jugular. Let’s look at the facts.
United have not only lost their best player, who with Tevez, must be worth almost 30 league goals, but they have replaced them with a half decent winger from Wigan, a has been striker who hasn’t scored more than a handful of goals in a season since he was a kid at Liverpool and some French guy whose name sounds like high priced stereo equipment.
Chelsea had an ageing squad to begin with (who are now a season older) and have supplemented it with a couple of kids who may or may not be something special in the future, A half decent Russian and a manager who, whilst successful elsewhere, has never managed in the premiership and can barely speak English.
Liverpool are skint and have only strengthened by signing there umpteenth fullback and will be weakened still further if Real Madrid have their way.
Arsenal have a squad that was just about good enough to cling on to fourth spot last season and have now sold a striker worth 20 a season and a centre back that has been a mainstay in the side for a number of years…..all to their potential biggest rivals.
Make no mistake, this is the time to push the Sky 4 and I think we will do better than some of us dare to believe.
To parody a chocolate ad….Sheikh Mansour, with this transfer window you are really spoiling us.
Bring it on!!
Sunday 26 July 2009
Sir Bacon takes the bait
Oh joy,
As if almost a month of wall to wall City coverage on almost all media wasn't pleasant enough we now have the mother load......
Sir Bacon frothing and preoccupied with ickle old ciddy.
We've had David Gill telling all that will listen that the fact you can get a ton of South East Asians into a ground to see you train is somehow more important that building a squad that can challenge Europe's finest. (especially when you've only just been humbled by Europe's finest and then lost your best player)
We've had a number of hacks telling us how money can't buy you class and that United somehow are the embodiment of class....you know class like putting sponsorship on a billboard for the 1958 Munich anniversary.
We have pathetic United fans that don't realise that football was around pre Sky telling us how huge United are and how they have a history of dominating English football. Although some of us who are of the greyer persuasion can still remember the mill stone of twenty odd years without winning the title.
And finally and most gloriously, we have sad old obsessed whiskey soaked bacon face constantly dribbling about City every other interview when someone hasn't parked him on the potty and given him his milky tea.
Small time and obsessed??? try a club who sponsor a "years without a trophy" banner in their own ground.
Come on bacon, it's just a joke....like the one about the Scotsman who believed that Owen would replace Ronaldo's goals.
Life is good, life is BLUE
As if almost a month of wall to wall City coverage on almost all media wasn't pleasant enough we now have the mother load......
Sir Bacon frothing and preoccupied with ickle old ciddy.
We've had David Gill telling all that will listen that the fact you can get a ton of South East Asians into a ground to see you train is somehow more important that building a squad that can challenge Europe's finest. (especially when you've only just been humbled by Europe's finest and then lost your best player)
We've had a number of hacks telling us how money can't buy you class and that United somehow are the embodiment of class....you know class like putting sponsorship on a billboard for the 1958 Munich anniversary.
We have pathetic United fans that don't realise that football was around pre Sky telling us how huge United are and how they have a history of dominating English football. Although some of us who are of the greyer persuasion can still remember the mill stone of twenty odd years without winning the title.
And finally and most gloriously, we have sad old obsessed whiskey soaked bacon face constantly dribbling about City every other interview when someone hasn't parked him on the potty and given him his milky tea.
Small time and obsessed??? try a club who sponsor a "years without a trophy" banner in their own ground.
Come on bacon, it's just a joke....like the one about the Scotsman who believed that Owen would replace Ronaldo's goals.
Life is good, life is BLUE
Tuesday 21 July 2009
The new Manchester City Attack……is it all that?
So the new season is tearing toward us at break neck speed and the sporting airwaves are full of City sky blue, rather than something else (please feel free to add your own joke here). One of the main City subjects this pre season is our much vaunted attack. Have we spent money wisely? How does it stack up? Let’s have a quick look…..
Shape
Firstly I don’t think that anybody can argue that on paper the shape of our attack as a front three looks the business. We have the hard work of Tevez, the guile and breathtaking skill of Robinho and the pace, power, height and finishing of Adebayor.
Pedigree
Again, who can doubt the pedigree that these three bring. All have played at the top level; all have performed and scored regularly in the Champions League and Internationally.
Cost
I suppose that time will tell on this one, over £80 million on three strikers sure is an investment :)
The Numbers
In football these days we sure do love a good stat…..let’s see the scores on the doors for these three (all figures exclude internationals)
Tevez : 07/08 52 Games 19 Goals 9 Assists
08/09 56 Games 16 Goals 7 Assists
Adebayor : 07/08 48 Games 29 Goals 4 Assists
08/09 38 Games 20 Goals 6 Assists
Robinho : 07/08 38 Games 15 Goals 12 Assists
08/09 41 Games 15 Goals 9 Assists
Combined 114 goals 47 Assists
Just a quick run through those numbers makes me salivate. There are lots of goals and plenty of assists.
A comparison from the dark side
So how do Stretford Rangers stack up?
Owen : 07/08 32 Games 12 Goals 2 Assists
08/09 32 Games 10 Goals 2 Assists
Rooney : 07/08 42 Games 18 Goals 14 Assists
08/09 45 Games 17 Goals 12 Assists
Berbatov : 07/08 46 Games 22 Goals 13 Assists
08/09 44 Games 14 Goals 9 Assists
Combined 93 Goals 52 Assists
Conclusion
When you stack up player for player over the past two seasons it looks like we may have a front three that is the match of any in the Premier League. Add to that SWP and Stevie Ireland’s goals plus whatever RSC can chip in and we certainly look potent. I think it is also safe to say however that we HAVE to bolster the defence to have any serious hope of upsetting the Sky apple cart.
It also looks like United desperately need to replace Ronaldo’s goals big time……..lets hope they can’t ;)
Shape
Firstly I don’t think that anybody can argue that on paper the shape of our attack as a front three looks the business. We have the hard work of Tevez, the guile and breathtaking skill of Robinho and the pace, power, height and finishing of Adebayor.
Pedigree
Again, who can doubt the pedigree that these three bring. All have played at the top level; all have performed and scored regularly in the Champions League and Internationally.
Cost
I suppose that time will tell on this one, over £80 million on three strikers sure is an investment :)
The Numbers
In football these days we sure do love a good stat…..let’s see the scores on the doors for these three (all figures exclude internationals)
Tevez : 07/08 52 Games 19 Goals 9 Assists
08/09 56 Games 16 Goals 7 Assists
Adebayor : 07/08 48 Games 29 Goals 4 Assists
08/09 38 Games 20 Goals 6 Assists
Robinho : 07/08 38 Games 15 Goals 12 Assists
08/09 41 Games 15 Goals 9 Assists
Combined 114 goals 47 Assists
Just a quick run through those numbers makes me salivate. There are lots of goals and plenty of assists.
A comparison from the dark side
So how do Stretford Rangers stack up?
Owen : 07/08 32 Games 12 Goals 2 Assists
08/09 32 Games 10 Goals 2 Assists
Rooney : 07/08 42 Games 18 Goals 14 Assists
08/09 45 Games 17 Goals 12 Assists
Berbatov : 07/08 46 Games 22 Goals 13 Assists
08/09 44 Games 14 Goals 9 Assists
Combined 93 Goals 52 Assists
Conclusion
When you stack up player for player over the past two seasons it looks like we may have a front three that is the match of any in the Premier League. Add to that SWP and Stevie Ireland’s goals plus whatever RSC can chip in and we certainly look potent. I think it is also safe to say however that we HAVE to bolster the defence to have any serious hope of upsetting the Sky apple cart.
It also looks like United desperately need to replace Ronaldo’s goals big time……..lets hope they can’t ;)
Thursday 16 July 2009
Media twisting the knife?
Now I wouldn’t be so cynical as to suggest that there may be a certain agenda sweeping the media called “twist the transfer knife” but it sure is a great tactic to keep fans drooling like Pavlov’s mutt’s.
The best thing is that from a City perspective it keys into some of our fans small time attitude that has been cultivated through a number of decades in the cold. We go from richest club in the world with the biggest project to “oh no Everton might be looking at him” in a heartbeat.
In addition it allows the hacks to trot out their anti anyone but the “Sky 4” and grafting managers they like stance(please see "Honest Harry", "Monkey on a hot tin roof O’Neill" and "Gollum Moyes")
To parody my favourite rap legend….it goes a little something like this
City are linked with a player
Hacks trot out headlines screaming ridiculous figures “City to pay Messi £80,000,000 a WEEK”
Sneering broadsheet blogs tell us that we are a disgrace to football and how dare we have the brass neck to bid for the best players.
Hacks say a deal could be soon and it will ROCK football
Sneering broadsheet blogs tell us that good players don’t make a good team and that Sir Bacon is being canny by allowing all the players he wants to go to Real
Hacks say deal is stalling
Hacks spin quotes made by player’s agent to obscure South American radio stations
Hacks say deal is back on IF the player is made the richest man in the world and he is given the gift of second sight
Hacks scream big figures again
Adrian Durham picks a side of the argument that will be the most controversial
David Conn gets all sanctimonious
Hacks say player is being hawked around Champions League Clubs and City are a smokescreen
Player signs/doesn’t sign
All City forums go into meltdown and we are ready to start again with the next target.
And I can’t wait ;)
The best thing is that from a City perspective it keys into some of our fans small time attitude that has been cultivated through a number of decades in the cold. We go from richest club in the world with the biggest project to “oh no Everton might be looking at him” in a heartbeat.
In addition it allows the hacks to trot out their anti anyone but the “Sky 4” and grafting managers they like stance(please see "Honest Harry", "Monkey on a hot tin roof O’Neill" and "Gollum Moyes")
To parody my favourite rap legend….it goes a little something like this
City are linked with a player
Hacks trot out headlines screaming ridiculous figures “City to pay Messi £80,000,000 a WEEK”
Sneering broadsheet blogs tell us that we are a disgrace to football and how dare we have the brass neck to bid for the best players.
Hacks say a deal could be soon and it will ROCK football
Sneering broadsheet blogs tell us that good players don’t make a good team and that Sir Bacon is being canny by allowing all the players he wants to go to Real
Hacks say deal is stalling
Hacks spin quotes made by player’s agent to obscure South American radio stations
Hacks say deal is back on IF the player is made the richest man in the world and he is given the gift of second sight
Hacks scream big figures again
Adrian Durham picks a side of the argument that will be the most controversial
David Conn gets all sanctimonious
Hacks say player is being hawked around Champions League Clubs and City are a smokescreen
Player signs/doesn’t sign
All City forums go into meltdown and we are ready to start again with the next target.
And I can’t wait ;)
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