"Tape it, keep it, and if you're a Manchester City fan watch it week in week out."

The countdown to the MCFCfans No.1 video continues ahead of this evening's potential banana skin against Scunthorpe.  This video was very nearly our No.1.  What a night this was at White Hart Lane.  Definitely one of the most incredible games I have ever been to.  3-0 down at half-time I remember buying a Bovril (presumably no booze that night) and having put it on the ground for one second someone kicked it over.  At that moment I thought things couldn't get any worse. In the comedy of having Barton sent off and being 3-0 down it seemed that we were still due to witness something else.  When the first City goal went in I had the genuine feeling we could get a replay.  But no one imagined what would happen next.  One of the best City videos on the internet...watch it week in week out.

CTID.

Click here to see the video

Well it seemed only right on the day of a derby match that we drop the low-rated video trash and stick to a firm derby favourite as we continue our video chart countdown.  This game was one of the most enjoyable games to watch live and has to be up there in many a City fan's top 10.  3-1 would be a tidy result tonight and if the team on paper performs on the pitch then we could have one foot in the final.  Come on City !!!

MCFCfans

Do you ever ask yourself, what will it be like if and when we start winning trophies?  An entire generation of City fans look forward to the moment when City lift their next trophy.  The Carling Cup is a mere three games away.  But do you think that younger City fans are ready to experience winning?!

This is another video that caught our eye for a low amount of views even though it's an interesting video.  Professor Cary Cooper talks about the psychology of City fans with a video that contains some great footage of the stands at Maine Road.  This one deserves more than the 2,954 views it has had so far so we've put it in at No.4 in the MCFCfans video chart. 

MCFCfans

After a long spell of peace and quiet on the blog, we return after a poor performance against Everton.  A job done by Everton who outplayed us for most of the game, certainly after the first 20 minutes. 

MCFCfans begins a series featuring our top 5 Manchester City videos with a favourite that is so well put together it’s a great surprise it sits quietly in YouTube with only 9,300 or so views. It's an emotional video that seems fitting after the defeat today...how easy it is to forget those days gone by.

The cracking backing music is brilliantly worked against images that reflect the cult following of Manchester City.  It's an awesome capture of a special moment in City history.  What a great club it is we support.  Enjoy!

MCFCfans

We were happily informed by Shaun Goater’s ‘Read the Goat’ column in the match programme that he would be wearing his t-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops whilst watching the game in 70 degrees heat, just as it started p***ing down in Manchester.  At that point City announced what on paper looked to be a formidable attacking line-up with Petrov, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor all starting.  But the shape didn’t pay huge dividends, and it was clear that the raft of recent internationals has interrupted City’s learning curve.

After a dull start, the game had its’ first highlight in the 11^th minute when the Kippax identified a posh chap from Fulham in a pink jumper.  “Who’s the tranny in the pink?” was followed by variations on the same theme for a couple of minutes before the aforementioned posh chap, who to be fair acknowledged the City end with a hearty wave, became so embarrassed that he took his pink jumper off.  For all Fulham’s population of the away end looked pretty pathetic their dogged determination on the pitch certainly wasn’t.

Petrov was awarded with a start after his good performances and operated on both sides, swapping with Bellamy in order to take up corner-taking duties.  But the 10-man Fulham defence made it hard for City to stretch down the flanks, and the attack often found itself in a circular formation that lacked link play in the middle.   It could have been a setup that Ireland would have been more suited to in the berth alongside Barry. 

When the deadlock was finally broken in the 53^rd minute it was a scrappy goal that was awarded to Adebayor during the match, but seems to have been given to Lescott post-match.  Great link-up play then saw Petrov pick his spot with a superb finish to make it 2-0.  City were cruising and it looked like the floodgates might open.  However, they opened at the other end in five minutes of defensive madness. The warning signs were there for all to see when Zamora somehow missed from point blank after a series of defensive howlers saw Fulham dance into the box earlier in the match.  There was a lack of organisation in defence that needs to be resolved rapidly. 

Tevez and Bellamy led by example in their promotion of work-rate, Tevez regularly getting into the box to create chances, but it was telling that City had twenty-four (24) chances and only six were on target.  The benefit to the team provided by the ever-improving Bridge was more than wiped out by Micah Richards who was a passenger for most of the game. To be fair to him he did a job that would have been done by Zabaleta had he not been suspended, but it was an obvious area of weakness that Fulham did well to exploit.

Overall, a disappointment but not a catastrophe. As TLDORC blog rightly points out, the press will be on the lookout for a new crisis club now that Liverpool have beaten United.  We need to make sure it is not City, starting with Scunthorpe.

MCFCfans

    All eyes on Anfield as City look to gain ground

The fact that City’s army of London-based fans have chosen to take the earlier trains to Manchester, even though they are 30 minutes slower than the later trains, perhaps signals that it is not just Mark Hughes who will have his eye on the game at Anfield today.  How times have changed.

City entered Mark Hughes’s notional second block of games this season with a draw against Wigan.  A good result seen as it ended with 10 men against a well-organised side that always give City a run for their money.  Saturday’s results at Wolves and White Hart Lane, alongside the ongoing dropping of points by the so-called ‘top four,’ lend weight to the argument that this will be one of the Premiership’s most open seasons in its’ short history.  At last. 

Today the world’s press will focus on the game at Anfield, and then no doubt splurge enough predictable, pre-written pap to fill a new landfill site.   City fans will emerge from Mary D’s Beamish Bar with a smile on their face if both sides share the points, before taking their seats to see City quietly go about their slow overtake up the inside lane.  For at this point in the season, City sits in a sweet spot that suits the club perfectly.  Not so high up the table to attract attention, a sneaky game in hand, and crucially in touch with the leaders.

Naturally, nothing less than a win will do today.   A draw away to Wigan followed by an interruption to the home record would be seen as the potential beginnings of wheels coming off.  City will field a strong team against theoretically tired Fulham who played on Thursday night, so a win should be straight-forward.  But Fulham have a tendency to surprise, especially in the face of adversity so the defence will need to be on its’ guard.  In fact City should be targeting 9 points from their next three league games in preparation for the likes of Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham to come.  A strong run to the year-end will confirm what many fans prefer to keep quiet for fear of exciting the demons.  Say no more!

On the player front it will be interesting to see whether Petrov is rewarded with a start.  The signs are that there could be more goals to come from Petrov, so why not.  It’s healthy rotation that keeps others on their toes.  In the meantime, it will be a joy to continue watching the likes of Barry (see Observer interview) and De Jong ply their trade.  As one friend recently put it, “De Jong is playing the Makelele role better than Makelele.”  If anything it is our longer-serving stars that need to come out of their shells somewhat.  SWP has been guilty of giving the ball away too cheaply at times, while Ireland has yet to really start firing.  Tevez is surely like the first sip of a fine Malbec, the best is yet to come.  And a final word on Robinho.  Yes we can live without him – but we can also live with him.  He will yet prove his worth with the under-rated talent around him.

MCFCfans

City start the club management’s next pre-defined block of games in an exciting season against Wigan on Sunday.  The first block went extremely well, and if City are in the top four by new year then I ‘ll have a fine Scotch in honour of a great first half of the season.  To be honest I’ll have a fine Scotch anyway, but it’ll taste better if City are up there!

City have defied the pre-season critics both on and off the pitch, smoothly riding the waves of press vitriol coming its’ way.  One can only hazard at the current state of mind of Sir Alex Ferguson who in yesterday’s Daily Mail advised us that City may be heading for financial disintegration in the future, questioning at the same time whether or not it can be good for a club to have financial stability.

The tide is turning.  Sport magazine, a London-based sports freebie, has been something akin to a United fanzine for much of the early season.  So it was no surprise that its’ editor didn’t reply to my friendly e-mail requesting some balance in their coverage.  It’s a decent Sport weekly, so why did they see fit to profile a different United player each week? 

Well maybe they were listening this week as the player profiling gave way for “The Power List 2009,” a list of Sports view of the 50 people who wield the most influence in British sport.  Sandwiched in between Lord Coe at No.3 and Jeremy Darroch, Chief Executive of BSkyB, is our very own Sheikh Mansour Bin Zayad Al Nahyan.  One of the world’s most powerful investors who has brought instant stability to City, certainly not the prospect of financial disintegration that £700 million of debt brings.

Kicking off the season again with a win against Wigan will be important. It’s a tough game that provides a stern test of resilience.  We will miss Bellamy if he’s not fit, but it’s up to the team to make sure we win games like this.  Once again the Manchester City Babies in Ghana have provided great inspiration.  The club picked up a triple crown of league victories in all age groups two weeks ago, and finished last weekend unbeaten with two wins and a draw – see their dedicated page here.

MCFCfans

   The respect handshake prior to the City match against Arsenal

What a fantastic victory against Arsenal.  We really did Sheikh up the Gooners.  But what a shame it has been over-shadowed by reporting that can only be described as totally un-balanced. 

City have reluctantly accepted the FA charge for the stamp on Van Persie, almost certainly the right decision in the circumstances.  The situation that remains with the goal celebration is an altogether harder one to judge from the club's perspective. Can City really expect a fair hearing at appeal in light of the totally un-balanced reporting in the press?

It's a mystery why there has been so little coverage and comment of the behaviour of a small section of Arsenal fans at the front of the away end.  Their reaction was of the kind I have never seen at a match in my life, with the exception of a fairly large riot at a derby match in Brazil.  It was completely over-the-top and reflective of a culture among a minority at the club who believe that player hate campaigns are de rigeur. 

No mention in the press reporting of Van Persie's celebration in front of the City fans when Arsenal equalised. Not one that I have noticed.  City fans, impeccably behaved in recent history, watched aghast at the reaction in the away end to Adebayor's celebration.  When Van Persie trooped over to the home-end corner of the Colin Bell stand did you see objects and chairs flying towards the pitch?  Not a bit of it.  No crowd rush, barely even a reaction and yet this has been nowhere in the reporting of the Adebayor celebration.  No mention either of Henry's unpunished celebration in front of Spurs fans in 2002. 

If any readers have in fact found a balanced report of this incident, please could they post a link as we would like to congratulate the reporter involved.

City fans are fair-minded supporters with a passion and love for the game.  We're light-hearted and full of good humour. We don't believe in player hate campaigns.  We don't take life so damn seriously that we need to rush to the front of the away end and knock a steward out.  Sure, Adebayor's celebration was perhaps over-the-top and most City fans would probably accept that.  What we don't accept is the relentless attack against our football club. In this particular case, the un-balanced reporting of this incident has the real potential to make idiotic so-called fans of clubs everywhere to think that a reaction like that is completely acceptable.  We appeal to quality reporters everywhere to stop and think before getting caught up in the anti-City hysteria that your industry peers seem intent on whipping up.  Our time has come, let us enjoy it.

MCFCfans (see poll on our home page)

The atmosphere today will be something close to the Hamburg  game.  It is the first big test against one of the so-called 'big four'.  It's game on, the talking stops here, and the playing on the pitch is everything.  It's time for a huge performance from every player.  What a mouth-watering prospect.

No Tevez for City won't make a jot of difference given the circumstances. City's approach to the game will be the key.  What will the mental state be?  If we give Arsenal too much respect in the face of the pressure then we stand to be taken apart.  But if our confident strutting is carefully employed with an Adebayor goal or two then we're in good shape with a belting crowd behind us.

Time to get in the car and drive to the match. Can't wait.  Will be collecting kit for the Manchester City Babies in Ghana on the way. They play Standfast FC this weekend, a rival side based in Tamale and above the Babies in the league in every age group (see MCFC Babies page). It will be a tough weekend for them but here's hoping for top points for City and the Babies this weekend.

MCFCfans

The week started so well with Oliver Holt's report in the Mirror entitled, "Why Kaka might regret choosing Real Madrid over Manchester City."  Finally, it seems the media is beginning to believe in the City "project."

However, City's official website report on Richard Dunne's departure seems to conflict with his own comments in the press this morning.  Mark Hughes said in that report, "It would have been difficult for Dunney to stay given his standing at the club and I understand that.  I wasn’t going to stand in his way. I could have tried to stop him going and said I wanted him as a squad player but out of respect for what he has done for City I wasn’t going to do that."

But Dunne himself suggested that he was forced out of the club speculating that it was a decision taken by the club to balance the books.  This morning's Times article reports that Dunne was led to believe that the club were busy selling him behind his back. Dunne is reported as saying, "From the day after the Bulgaria v Republic game in June, I was getting phone calls from people saying Garry Cook has been trying to sell me behind my back.  That was two months after me going to him and saying if he has any problems to come and deal with me."

As discussed on other blogs this morning (Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll), these reports sit uneasily with City fans who appreciate the years of service that loyal servant Dunne gave to City.  Most fans agreed that it was time to make changes in central defense.  The club has been making credible efforts to reach out and be a more supporter-facing club.  City fans and players alike will be keen to know that this effort extends to loyal playing staff.  However, the conflicting reports suggest that it may not all be a one-way street.  The Independent suggests that City dispute Dunne's claim that he was promised a testimonial. They also reportedly argue that they compensated Dunne adequately by giving him a £600,000 golden handshake and agreed to reduce the transfer fee with Villa down from £6m to 4.8m.  As is so often the case, we may never know the real truth.

MCFCfans

    City forced to defend early in the first half

A well-deserved one-nil victory (City Official Match Report) but an expensive three points for my wallet!  The foundations of my goal-fest prediction were all there.  But when I turned up and realised we were to be playing in white I thought the entire strategy might be undone.  I’m a strong believer in third kits being a bad omen.

I’ll exchange a dent in the wallet for three points any day.  City dominated for a lot of the game but it's fair to say Pompey gave us some cause for concern in various areas.  It was a great atmosphere and we roll on unbeaten in the league, unbeaten away from home, the only side to have not conceded a goal.  As one fan bellowed out in reply to Pompey’s cheating chant aimed at Adebayor, “Same old City, always winning!”  Yeah, steady on...

Any fans who weren’t at the game will know better as it was televised on Sky, but I hear the disallowed goal should have stood on the grounds that Barry was offside and not Richards.  Was Barry interfering with play?  There were also two big penalty shouts.  I thought both were penalties, but the Tevez penalty shout was probably the most blatant I have ever seen.  Again Sky may have already proven me wrong.  Either way, had a couple of all of those chances gone in the 3-0 correct score and total goals call might have looked a little more sensible.  I hope readers didn’t wager too much on similar outcomes. I heard one fan on the way out say he had Adebayor to score first and City 3-0.  Gutted.

Adebayor's goal brought about rapturous scenes in the City end with Adebayor's newly adapted song being bellowed out to a silent Pompey crowd (see home page for video).  If Adebayor can keep up the steady trickle of goals then our away form might just continue.

As it was many City fans were sweating like Aussies in a spelling test for a period during the second half when Pompey pressed for an equaliser.  Shay Given’s call for composure in seeing games out was not entirely heeded, as the gut instinct for many City players is still to rampage up the pitch in search of another goal late on.  But the 1-0 held and City fans celebrated to avoid the riot that would have unfolded had Pompey equalised after the Tevez penalty shout.

 City fans celebrate the final whistle...let the good times roll!

With readers having watched the game on television it leaves me to point out a few subtle nuances picked up in the terrace.  Firstly, the terrace banter is getting better and better.  The production line of imaginative and humorous songs that used to be the reserve of standing in the Kippax is on its’ way back.  If you’ve not been to an away game yet this season then I can highly recommend it.

On the player front Tevez looked a bit tired as the game neared the end.  More match fitness is required.  I guess I have to break my protective silence on Wayne Bridge as well.  He must close down potential crosses quicker than he does, or at all.  If we’re vulnerable anywhere it is down the flanks.  Finally, an observation on Petrov.  I spotted it at the Blackburn game and noticed it again at half-time at Portsmouth. His body language seems to be saying, “what am I doing here,” like he would be more interested staying at home pairing his socks up.  Head down and no enthusiasm.  I hope I’m wrong and he wins a place to prove his attacking worth.

After the international break, City have two huge games in the form of Arsenal at home and United away.  The Chairman’s recent interview with the official site suggested the Sheikh could be in town soon. Arsenal at home would represent a fine way to greet an adoring and grateful City faithful.

Bring ‘em on!

MCFCfans

  The Grand Master Plan takes shape

Firstly, a warm welcome to all of the new members of MCFCfans, supporters of Manchester City from all over the world who have been signing up to be a part of a growing global City community.   There are many great City fan blogs, and it is the sign of a club with real heart and substance that we should be blessed with so many not-for-profit, well-respected, unofficial sites. 

The form book certainly reads in City’s favour today.   WWWWW, our form back to the Celtic friendly, is not a sight we have seen for a while.  Added to this is the fact that City has not conceded a goal in the last four games.  There are certainly some small issues around the edges about one aspect or another of the team, but I would take that start any season.

As Hughes himself has confessed, Pompey presents a somewhat unpredictable challenge.   Playing a struggling team away from home, that has just had a major organisational change, is always perilous.  In the spirit of light-hearted banter, I think that predicting a tight affair today is the easy option.  City should trounce Portsmouth today, make no bones about it.   Pompey’s new owner has yet to make an impact at Pompey, and it could be said he needs to prove himself after his outbursts during the City takeover.  A lot of quality has left the club and not a lot has come back in the other direction.

There were several aspects that impressed me watching City from the stand on Thursday evening.   The one that really stood out though, was the condition of the players.   Very few players looked to be lacking match fitness even though we’re at the start of the season.  When a ball was being chased by any City player, it was chased with a burst of pace that demonstrated a rigorous pre-season training routine.  No longer does Stephen Ireland look like the only player who can run for 90 minutes. 

Stephen Ireland’s description in the Telegraph yesterday about a walk in the hotel grounds with Micah and Nedum was enlightening. “We were on a walk at the hotel, me and Micah and Nedum.  And we were just saying – Richard Dunne had just left, just before we went on our walk – and we were saying there’s just three of us left, this is mental you know.”  It’s happened so fast and yet, so far at least, the manner of the execution of the plan has been excellent.

It’s not difficult to pick out the new players who have made an impact so far.  All of them.  Adebayor is scoring and has slotted in nicely up front.  Barry’s command of midfield is a cut above, although there is more to be done to gel the midfield together.   Tevez showed signs of real class on Thursday night. His vision and ability to join up passages of play is something akin to a chess player.  Toure and Lescott looked relatively assured.  The niggling wing-back concerns persist, and there is a real need to find a way to get the best out of Robinho as the formation takes shape. But these niggles take time.

This is a team that is enjoying playing football together as the grand master plan is implemented.  There is a real buzz around the club and the players are feeding from it.  The feel good factor could create a big result today.  The betting certainly indicates a strong City showing (Betfair:  City 1.59 – 1.6, Pompey 7.0-7.2, Draw 4.2-4.3 @ 09.57am, 30^th Aug).  So I’m long total goals, but have capped my correct score optimism at 3-0 to City (Betfair:  13.5-14.0). 

Let’s hear a big noise in the 2,000 strong away end today Blues:  COME ON CITY !!!

   Here's hoping the newly formed City team show the deep passion

   and commitment of the Manchester City Babies in Ghana

What a great time to be a Manchester City fan.  I can’t stop myself day-dreaming about the noise that we created that night against Hamburg, only I apply the noise to some made-up cup-winning goal scenario.  I crave more of it.  Lots more!!

The signings we have made so far have been impressive.  If we can add a big central defender to the squad before the transfer deadline then we’re in really good shape to win something this season.  Yes, repeat, “win something.”  As Robinho has rightly pointed out though, unless the defence is sorted out then we will have an uphill struggle to make our way into the top 4.  Top teams win consistently by being strong at the back.  That being said, buying a defender isn’t necessarily the answer. We’ve played well at the back with what we’ve got in the past.  So surely there is a lot to be said for getting our existing defenders seriously organised this season?

MCFCfans returns to the blog after a long time out.  It’s been a busy and rewarding last few months working on the Soccer Babies project and supporting the MCFC Babies in Ghana.  After a difficult start to their first season in the Ghanaian youth league, the Manchester City Babies recorded an unbeaten weekend across all age groups last weekend.  It was truly great news and readers can catch up the progress of the Babies throughout the season on their dedicated blog. 

My trip to Ghana to see the MCFC Babies was truly memorable.  The English Premier League is at the centre of almost all discussions concerning football among young Ghanaians.  Scattered around the country are large theatres with big screens and multiple televisions that show all of the big live EPL games.  I had the misfortune of watching us lose to United in one of them.  Virtually every shirt was either a Chelsea shirt (on account of Essien) or a United shirt.  Among the 400 odd present in the theatre to watch the derby, there was one guy in a City shirt with the old Brother logo. He gave me a long story of how he had come to inherit the shirt, how he had cherished it ever since, and that he always went to the theatre to watch City.  

The potential of the fan base in Africa cannot be underestimated.  Our capture of Adebayor and Toure will advance City’s profile in the region.  But the support of local youth football teams in Africa playing in Manchester City colours is a fantastic win win for the club. Soccer Babies aim is to sell this to them once we have established a credible track record.

In the meantime back home over 7,000 fans will turn up to Ewood Park for the opening game of the season on Saturday.  I simply can’t wait to get there (I'll be twittering updates on the home page for anyone unable to make it).  Whatever criticism comes our way, whatever nostalgia for the past may circulate, whatever anyone might think about the money in the game, if you bleed blue blood then you simply can’t help being excited by the season ahead.  Bring it on.

Come on City !!!

CTID

MCFCFans

  The MCFC Babies in Ghana

We've been quiet on this blog for a while now but there's been a good reason!

Many readers of MCFCfans, MCIVTA, and  other City forums will be aware of the Manchester City Babies in Ghana.  The club is a youth football club run by Peter Amoabil, who is also the Representative of the Ghana branch of the Manchester City Centenary Supporters Association (MCCSA). 

Alex Channon, Chairman of the MCCSA, launched a kit and funding appeal for the MCFC Babies in Ghana that many of you kindly donated to.  That appeal began an association for me with the MCFC Babies that was to become the inspiration for setting up a charity to support youth football teams in Africa and beyond.

Well, after months of preparation, over a hundred e-mails back and  forth to Ghana, gathering Manchester City kit and footballs from far and  wide, missing flights and buses, finally here I am writing to you from Tamale in Ghana.  What a huge relief to be here!

Peter met me at the airport this morning and it was an exciting moment.  It feels like the beginning of a great journey.  But it is one that I need help with and so I am starting the process of spreading awareness now.

The long-term vision of the charity project is to combine the desire of English Premier League clubs to raise their global profile with the genuine needs of less developed areas and communities. Supporting the creation and development of grassroots football is merely the vehicle through which we’ll try and address some of those needs.  Clubs tend to have quite good charitable links within their local catchment areas.   But many seem to be missing a way of helping communities further afield. 

The fundraising concept is to create an umbrella fund of individual sub-funds for each Premiership club. Clubs and fans donate into their own club pot and once the pot reaches certain levels so grants and sponsorship can be awarded to genuine youth football club projects.  The system would enable clubs and fans to follow the progress of the club they have sponsored, in much the same way as you can follow the MCFC Babies progress in Ghana on the web page we created for them on MCFCfans: www.mcfcfans.co.uk/mcfc_babies.

The medium-term aim might be to arrange an exclusive partnership with a Premiership club, and being biased Manchester City is obviously preferred.  The timing, credit crunch aside, couldn’t be better with the 2010 World Cup in South Africa and City announcing their pre-season tour there.  The club is deluged with chairtable requests every week and such a charity would provide a means of centrally co-ordinating charitable efforts related to youth football outside the UK. But we need to make more progress in setting  up first.

I have been researching this project now for several months.  I have contacted many other organisations (The Craig Bellamy Foundation, Footballs4Fun, Streetfootball, FIFA’s Football for Hope)  with a view to collaboration and exchange of knowledge.  There is no point starting from scratch when partnering can deliver immediate results. 

The research continues and the short-term objective is to learn as much as possible and establish track record by supporting the development of the MCFC Babies in Ghana.  I will be sitting down with Peter, coaches and local football administrators tomorrow to work through our respective plans. The Babies will also  play a match in the morning wearing their newly donated Manchester City kits.

So what can you do to help? Continuing to donate kit is very much welcome and there is an address on the MCFC Babies page for this purpose. But what is really needed is the time, dedication and commitment of willing volunteers.  I’d be most grateful if anyone with charitable experience, administration, youth football experience, trustee experience, or just a general willingness to give up some time could get in touch.  

I will continue to post articles to various outlets but you can also follow progress at this Soccer Babies (provisional name...better suggestions welcome!) website, which is currently being developed: www.webjam.com/soccer_babies

In all of the trials and tribulations of supporting City, it’s easy to forget there are ways we can help those less fortunate than us through a mutual love of football.

Keep the faith.

Malcy

em:sm@mcfcfans.com

MCFCfans reports on the story of Carl Ramsbottom, and appeals to fans to donate generously to the bucket collections at tomorrow’s game against Middlesbrough

For most Manchester City fans, the away UEFA Cup match against FC Schalke at the end of November last year is a fond and distant memory.  But for one fan and his family, the trip was just the beginning of a traumatic and exhausting period that will continue for several months to come.

Carl Ramsbottom, who comes from Heywood just outside Rochdale, had been travelling back to his hotel after seeing City win 2-0 at the Veltrins Arena in Gelsenkirchen when a near fatal accident happened.  He had stopped to turn around and locate his friends and, with his back to a flight of stairs, he lost his footing in the crowd and fell.

A man with medical experience at the scene prior to the arrival of the emergency services immediately put Carl in the recovery position and ensured his airways were clear.  Keen to thank the unidentified man, Carl’s family made an appeal on KEY103 radio in Manchester.  Gareth Dickens, a City fan and male nurse at the Manchester Royal Infirmary, came forward.  Carl’s cousin Ian Ramsbottom, speaking to MCFCfans, said, “the family wanted to thank Gareth for his efforts as they may have saved Carl’s life.”

Doctors had to quickly release fluid in Carl’s brain by removing and deep-freezing a piece of his skull in an emergency operation.  They then put him into an induced coma in order to aid his recovery.  More than three weeks passed before the family had the relief of seeing Carl open his eyes for the first time following the accident.  Carl now faces another operation to re-insert the frozen skull bone, and a  long and uncertain road to recovery as his body learns basic functions all over again.    

The family have been overwhelmed by the support from supporters of Manchester City, FC Schalke and other clubs beyond.  Fans across the globe have been sending messages of support via message forums such as Bluemoon. 

The clubs themselves have also pitched in with support.  FC Schalke have been helping with hotels for the family in Germany and Manchester City are providing facilities for fundraising activities.  The club also sent a DVD with recorded messages of support from Mark Hughes and many of the City players last month.

The next major expense for the family is likely to be the need to transport Carl to hospital in the UK and this is likely to involve medical transportation by train or ambulance. Fans are rallying round with a series of fundraising events to help the family cover the huge costs involved.  Manchester City have granted rare permission for volunteers to do a bucket collection outside the City stadium prior to the match against Middlesboro tomorrow (Saturday 7^th February, KO 12.45pm).  Willing volunteers are still encouraged and are asked to meet outside the MCFC Superstore at 10.45am prior to the match.

MCFCfans has dedicated a page to the appeal that details some of the future fundraising events.  We’ll also soon have a PayPal donation button that fans around the world can use to send funds to the appeal.  Carl’s family are sincerely thankful for your support, which has been vital during this very difficult time.  We wish Carl all the very best for his recovery. 

MCFCfans

The BBC understands that Robinho has been questioned in connection with an alleged sexual assault in a Leeds nightclub and is understood to have been released on bail.

This is all Manchester City needs right now. Just as we were getting back to the football. Hopefully somoene trying to make a fast buck and nothing with substance. Who knows if this is related to his sudden departure to Brazil.

Times article

The Sun

The Mirror

Sky News

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In the final part of a two-part series (Part One is at this link) of articles reflecting on the Kaka transfer saga, MCFCfans looks forward to the ultimate remedy: let it all out on the terrace. Fans are ready to put the papers in the bin and make some noise on Wednesday night.

Journalists whizz down to the lowest common denominator

City may well have been running before they could walk, as Mark Hughes suggested to Martin Samuel in the Daily Mail on Friday.  Interestingly, Hughes also chose this interview to pick out Sulaiman al-Fahim, ADUG's first spokesperson, as being the root cause of City’s uphill PR battle.  He’s probably not far wrong.  Talk of signing Cristiano Ronaldo was naive, and not just because it wasn’t what City fans wanted to hear. 

Hughes went on to comment, “A lot of people at this club are new to the football business and maybe we need greater knowledge of what makes deals happen.”  Are these comments part of a positive group hug-like learning experience for club management?  or is it really the beginning of a power play of different agendas between Hughes and Cook, as suggested by this week’s Guardian Sport Blog post by Paul Wilson?  Lets hope the former.  Just going back to the Guardian blog post, did I really just read, “City were right to go for Kaka?!.”

Most wouldn’t disagree with City's need to sharpen up their deal-making and PR efforts.  But the article by Michael Henderson in The Telegraph entitled, “Send in the clowns – it’s another episode in the sad saga of Manchester City,” tested City fans’ patience to the limit.  Marina Hyde in The Guardian was yet another example of how journalists, faced with the need to stand out when a big story breaks, jump on to the slide in the reporter’s playground and race down to the lowest common denominator. These folks have already moved on to their next 'holier-than-thou' feeding frenzy, happily passing on the opportunity for intelligent and reflective debate.

We don’t have space here to discuss all of the debatable points that reporters had an opportunity to discuss.  However, the most obvious discussion on the table is the one concerning salary and transfer caps.  One that has been quietly mentioned by the odd random football club chairman, but one that in reality the Champions League cartel would rather not discuss. 

The Champions League has arguably done more damage to domestic football competitions in Europe than the arrival of wealthy foreign owners.  The clubs at the top of the EPL have moved in line with the increased number of places in the Champions League.   The approach taken by Aston Villa and Manchester City to mount a challenge seems quite different.  But both clubs are backed by significant wealth, and both clubs intend to gatecrash the ‘big four’ party. 

What will this mean for such money-spinners as ‘Grand Slam Sunday’ on Sky Sports?  Is the football fan not much better off with six, or eight,  or ten competitive teams versus the original boring and dominant one?  In fact the EPL has advanced to a point where the gulf between the clubs is smaller, and competitiveness has greatly increased.  But how long will it be before the European G16 (or whatever number it is!) decide that the little Ciddies and Villas of this world are becoming too big for their boots, and begin proposing European or Global leagues?  Again, none of this broader debate about the systemic issues in football was apparent in the recent reporting on Manchester City.

‘You can’t spend £100m on one player’ – yes you can

It is totally understandable that all football fans should look at the £100m sum and immediately consider what this same sum of money could do to solve some of the world’s real problems.  However, it is of no immediate benefit to do so.  Manchester City should not be made to suffer for participating fairly, and within the rules, in what is a transfer fee-based system.  

Before the advent of satellite television, the top division of English football had an audience mainly limited to within its’ own borders.  Record British transfer fees were still four or more times the value of buying a house, but the exponential growth potential was constrained by the size of the television audience.

The English Premiership now has one of the largest global sporting audiences of any other sporting league.  This audience carries a market value, just as royalties are received by music artists according to how many people listen to their music.  The sudden and dramatic increase in the global audience is the reason for the sudden and dramatic increase in transfer fees and wages. 

If football decides to constrain fees and wages, then all it does is transfer the audience income from the performers (players) and the producers (clubs) into the hands of broadcasters, football authorities, and other vested interests (well back to the fans would be nice too but what chance!).  Why should the players not be remunerated according to their global appeal, skill level, and huge audience?  Why should clubs not be compensated for releasing a player, who they have discovered and nutured, from their contract?  The revenue stream has to find a home somewhere.  It would be far more productive, and morally appropriate, to have a debate on securing a larger contribution from the top clubs to develop football at grass-roots level, at home and abroad. 

The attraction of the EPL throughout the world is the quality of the players and the football on show.  In remote parts of Africa huge crowds of hundreds gather around the smallest of televisions desperate to get a glimpse of a big EPL game.  Is there a sudden consensus that we don’t want to see the likes of Kaka play in the EPL?  No, there is a view that Manchester City doesn’t deserve such players in a blue shirt.

Daring to dream

In spite of Harry Redknapp’s free spending, the huge debts of many football clubs, the renewal by RBS of their Six Nations sponsorship, some balance in the reporting of Manchester City was in short supply last week.  When it finally arrived it did so from an unlikely source, The Daily Mirror.  Oliver Holt’s subtle prose in his article, “Don’t gloat over Manchester City Kaka-ing things up...all they’ve done is dare to dream,” hit the nail on the head.  “They [Manchester City] were the devils sitting on Kaka’s right shoulder, whispering temptations into his ear, while the angels [AC Milan] on his left shoulder told him to follow his heart,” Holt wrote.

In the meantime, Mark Hughes and City fans can look forward to the contribution that three new signings will make on the pitch.  Wayne Bridge, Nigel de Jong and Craig Bellamy are all good signings who will make an impact.  Shay Given is looking increasingly likely to follow, there may well be another striker in the mix before the window is out, and we shouldn’t miss out on Miguel Veloso.  He's a hot prospect.

Mark Hughes reports that the recent press barrage has brought the team closer together.   If you believe McGarry from The Sun then you’d think the dressing room is an anarchic free-for-all.  What nonsense.  You can put money on there being a collage of press articles on the dressing room wall on Wednesday night.

Of one thing there is no doubt, the press bruising has left City fans in defiant mood ahead of the Newcastle encounter.  Mark Hughes has seen a huge surge of support in our “Should he stay or go” fans poll on our home page, which is due to close at the end of the transfer window.

What better way to put the deafening roar of ‘ignorant and predictable pap’ to bed than to raise the roof on Wednesday night.

MCFCfans

In the first of a two-part series of articles reflecting on the Kaka transfer saga, MCFCfans makes no apologies for broadening and balancing the debate.  In part two we find fans desperate to put the papers in the bin and make some noise on Wednesday night.

What has been most disappointing about the recent press speculation and coverage of the Kaka approach, and Manchester City’s ‘project in general, is the narrow range of debate that has tended to dominate.  It is currently in vogue to ‘bash the rich kids,’ and there are so many parallels to the narrow coverage of the credit crunch.  Find a simple target and blame it for the world’s ills.

The word ‘obscene’ was used generously

In what one BBC Radio 4 presenter called, “the biggest made-up story in history,” the use of the word ‘obscene’ to describe City’s approach tells you all you need to know about the propaganda trap that City walked in to. 

Simon Caney, Editor-in-chief of Sport Magazine, rightly pointed out that the generous use of the word ‘obscene’ was missing the point.  Sheikh Mansour does his share for good causes, but in any event this was a fair and legal approach in a transfer fee-based market.  If Jo and countless other players can transfer for £18m, then Kaka can transfer for £100m.

“We recognise the need to ensure that our sponsorship activity reflects the process of restructuring that the bank has under way,” a Royal Bank of Scotland spokesperson said in reaction to reports (BBC Wed 21 Jan) that RBS had extended its’ title sponsorship of the Six Nations Championship for a further four years to the tune of £20m, a figure denied by RBS.  This is the story of arguably one of the biggest contributors to the UK’s credit crunch putting up what is arguably taxpayers’ cash at a time when they are laying off staff.  Is this not ‘obscene’?  Not if the relative column inches are anything to go by.

The credit crunch – upside down thinking

 “It is a bit bizarre that, in these times of credit crunch, we are talking about a club paying £100m for one player,” wrote Gordon Taylor, Chairman of the PFA, in his exclusive column on givemefootball.com.   Virtually all of Gordon Taylor’s comments are worth challenging, but this notion that Manchester City are going against the grain during the credit crunch is utterly absurd.

David Conn, writing in The Guardian in May of last year, reliably informed readers that Manchester United’s accounts showed the club’s total creditors at £764m.  £666m owed to financial institutions, including £152m to hedge funds.  Reports stated RBS joined Deutsche Bank in arranging securitisation for the acquisition finance.   Hicks and Gillett at Liverpool are no different with The Financial Times reporting on Friday that their RBS loan extension of £350m lasts only until July.  If you’re looking for contributions to the credit crunch then look no further.  Was all this debt labelled as ‘obscene’ by Mr.Conn or the wider press?

Manchester City has no such debts and therefore does not contribute to the UK’s possible bankruptcy.   Indeed it offsets the UK’s leveraged position.  The investment by ADUG constitutes new investment, a fresh injection of cash, and a removal of debt. Does that not sound like good news during a credit crunch?! 

The boost to Manchester and the UK of having a new investor with capital to invest will not be quantified until specific development projects are announced.  However, the circulation of new money within the game at a time like this could indirectly end up being a lifeline for some clubs.  That it may give Manchester City a short-term advantage is open to debate.  In fact it may give the club a short-term disadvantage, something that most reporters chose to ignore. 

One City fan recently wrote to David Conn at The Guardian to question the, “unanimous opprobrium.”  He went on to write to Mr.Conn,” I have always felt that, amongst the ignorant and predictable pap emitted around the world of football, The Guardian is a voice of reason.”  Conn had the decency to reply, but the damage to City was done.

MCFCfans

Part two of this article will be published at the same time tomorrow.  In the meantime why not add your vote to our Mark Hughes poll, "Should he stay or should he go" on our home page.

Breaking news: The re-arranged Portsmouth away fixture will be played on Saturday 14th February at 3pm.  As if travelling all the way down for the cancelled fixture wasn't difficult enough, now you've got to fight the missus to go to the replay!

Breaking news: New signing Nigel de Jong will wear the number 34 shirt, while Craig Bellamy has taken number 39.

MCFCfans' poll asking City fans if they think Mark Hughes should stay or go has seen a surge in support for Mark Hughes over the last 24 hours.  The increase in votes from fans thinking Mark Hughes should stay co-incides with a range of articles and messages of support from players.  Robinho, Ireland, and Zabaleta have all made comments in support of Hughes in recent reports.

Bloggers Danny Pugsley from Bitter and Blue and Jack Pitt-Brooke from The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll have also recently contributed to the Hughes debate that continues to roll on.

Has the fining of Robinho had any impact on fans' views in terms of relief that he won't be given preferential treatment? 

The transfer policy is one raging debate. The discipline and the fitness regime don't seem to be in doubt.  But it's the tactical decision-making that surely remains to be seen. Consider the following thoughts taken from a recent post on MCIVTA:

- Had Corluka not been threatened with being permanently out of position, he may be performing on the pitch as he did last season, but for us.
- Had Micah been left as the best right back in the country (bar none) he would not be struggling on the pitch because he is horribly out of position. The
disparaging remarks against him recently forget that he never asked to be played out of position (let's not even mention the left back experiment).
- Had Vassell not been told to block SWP on the right, the whole team might be more cohesive and effective.
- Had instructions not been to hoof the ball up to the lone striker (whoever it may be),the players on the pitch might produce the quality football they clearly enjoy.
- Had we played the second half team in the first half of the Derby, we would not have lost.
- Had we not been playing for a draw at Fulham, we could have ripped through them.

Out of the 6 points how many of these points chime with you? Comment here.

Whatever the errors and impact of Hughes approach on the team, there will always be that nagging feeling that we just have to stick it out this time. 

Our poll will close at the end of the transfer window.  Have your say now by clicking here.

MCFCfans

Bellamy on the move, "They (Hughes and his coaching team) know me better than anybody-else in the football game, and they are people I completely trust in.

"They have progressed me massively, and I owe them a lot. The added bonus is that it's Manchester City and the way it is going at the moment with possibly one or two more players coming in over the top of me.

"I'm fortunate that this opportunity has come along, and I am grateful. I feel I am at my peak and I hope over the next few years to perform really well here."

Bellamy on his move to West Ham, "I want to put down club roots and produce the best football of my career."  Hmm.

As Danny Pugsley from Bitter and Blue points out, “I still find it difficult to see quite how he fits into our formation - something I will follow with interest, as I don't believe he has ever had much success as a lone striker and surely we would benefit far greater from a striker with a real presence to lead the line.”

Of our three transfers so far this one seems to make the least sense.   More worryingly one has to ask if we are actually building a team.  This strange mix of alienated Eriksson-era players, players thriving, new Hughes signings, and Robinho plus any future mega stars doesn't really feel like a cohesive unit. As it stands the best option is surely to see out the rest of the season and hope Hughes pulls off a decent finish.

MCFCfans