Blog » City, City, the best team in the land and all the world....sour grapes Wenger?
13 Comments- Add comment | Back to Blog Written on 22-Sep-2008 by malcylon __1__.jpg)
Istanbul, Istanbul, we are coming........
Greetings from Hong Kong. I'm sloshed, it's 4am local time. Where is the local City supporter's branch so that I can watch the Brighton game?
The Sun newspaper article. Just an easy place to start. My last post few posts have banged on about how City have got the talent to challenge at the top. We don't need to buy loads of quality because we've got loads of it already (strength in depth excepted). We've got Cassell's babes coming through like magic. Witness Stevie Ireland's magic balls today. Ok I only saw highlights but his distribution was excellent. I take it all back if he wasn't as good outside the highlights, but here is a man who has shut the critics up. Young players can falter in a dodgy team but it's amazing what being a baldie can do to your confidence.
City has one of the best passing sides it has ever had. [Emphasize this point was true prior to SWP and Robinho arrival] Actually I've stolen this idea from our man Ads, who has watched over the years that the players coming through the youth team are creating a first team that in future will take the league by strorm. But I believed in it myself. That's the benefit Ads has had boycotting senior games and watching the juniors, he's seen it coming. The media always misses the long game. We've been buildng this side for a while.
Thaksin, Cook, and the new owners witnessed a six goal thriller today. Do you think they got the message that the result came from a City team that has been slowly developing over the years? Do Richard Dunne, Ched Evans, and Gelson sound like palatable names that can transcend the chase for global profile that Cook so desires? They were all on the score sheet against so-called top 4 contenders. So too right.
I got the general vibe right about our new-found fire-power up front pre-kick off, but I got the result totally wrong. I thought up front we would produce, and something in me thought loads of goals, but I chickened out. 2-1 was a rubbish prediction. I received five text messages from people at the game today, and each and every one of them had the same word in them,"sensational!" It's just a shame Europe didn't bring back the Ryder Cup.
And so back to Stevie Ireland. I only got to see the highlights. Here is a man that deserves more praise. GBP 5m to Sunderland. Sod that.
I've seen loads of headlines here in HK. All saying that Robinho was the difference. "Robinho stars in City's romp," declared the Straights Times in Singapore. ".....they could be top-four contenders this season. Thanks largely to Robinho." OK he's brilliant and I love him. BUT. Time to differentiate ourselves from Chelsea. Imagine a lonely Robinho joining Chelsea all those years ago back in the days when we were singing Rocky Rocastle's name in the away end. Chelsea were nothing then and had to build an entire team. We've got one already.
Don't let the media ever lose sight of the fact that what Robinho has done is give a team of young talent the confidence to push on. City were on the brink of success anyway. Cassell is a hero. Maybe it's too early to say, but let's reserve Jim Cassell in the back of our minds as the man who in spite of all of City's prior 'Cups for cock-ups', was the man who produced Micah Richards, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Danny Sturridge, Shaleum Logan, Michael Johnson, Stevie Ireland...the list goes on. He is the man who should be credited with giving City the continuity that it now has. He is the reason why a player like Robinho can slot in as if he's been playing for City for years (as the commentators keep repeating...now starting to say same about PZ)...I propose a motion to make JC not just employee of the season, but an employee who has given his all to City. A man who deserves to be up there with the greats. But perhaps he would prefer to wait before he picks up the accolades, until he sees his Academy graduates winning a trophy in the first team (winning the Youth Cup was just the beginning.)
Remember the days of Gio...."Give it the genius!" I remember my drunken season ticket neighbours shouting in the Kippax when we were scraping the bottom of the barrell losing at home. The likes of Stevie Lomas (long called my look-a-like unfortunatetly) would pass the ball to Gio and the entire team would stop dead, waiting for him to jink past the opposition and score. He often did, but really the rest of the team were out of their depth when it came to Gio.
Enter Robinho. Into a team full of passing talent. It's as if all they needed was the knowledge that a man with pure quality is on the end of their pass. I remember when I saw Ireland for the first time as sub. Making slide-rule passes that smacked of someone who didn't feel pressure. Then the whole national team debacle, superman, possible Joey Barton scenario (well ok point over-done but best 5m? we ever made), some fans were on his back, but look at him now. Robinho has unleashed Ireland as he will Johnson, Petrov, actually forget this listing thing....we're going to become one of the most exciting teams to watch in the world....we already are.
City are back, City are back !!! See you at Mary Ds for the Liverpool game. Lets do our first 'top 4' scalp. COME ON!!!!
P.S. I think we've proved that GBP 32.5m is better spent on a superstar than a general run around at GBP 20m for Liverpool. The only decent signing Liverpool have had for big cash is Torres. If you've got the money then why not spend it on the best, that was the message with Torres, but not with Keane. City look miles better than Liverpool. About time we beat them more regularly. OK Wigan first. CTID.
P.P.S. I've just remembered why I started writing this article. Wenger. Guardian article. Hence the headline! OK Wenger lets put this into perspective. I have relative respect for you as a manager. But your club's commercial enterprise, being as it is in the 'about-to-go-down-the-drain' London banking hoo-ha, charges GBP 7,000 for an executive box to see City. City charge a mere GBP 3,000 to see Arsenal at home in a box. In fact most of City's hospitality is very accessible, unlike the Club Level at Arsenal, which is full of people who have never seen an Arsenal game in their lives. Bottom line, ADUG looked at Arsenal and didn't want it. Shame. But I will enjoy sitting in the theatre-like seats in the away end in North London and hopefully see SWP score a blinder against his old man's team. CTID again. Loving it.
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written on 22-Sep-2008
Garreth Ellidge says:
hahahahahaha thats brilliant!! you watching swp score a blinder at the emirates. you woke up yet? no respect for wenger as a manager? you obviously have dont know or appreciate anything about football.....what an utter rubbish article. Cant wait for abu cudnt give a cr*p about city goes and leaves you with the wage bill haha hahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahahhahahahahahahah
written on 22-Sep-2008
Citeh fan says:
I love mancity but adug didnt get arsenal because they are not willing to sell and good for them to do that...i kind of feel we lost a bit of tradition when we sold our club to thanksin and now to the arabs
and also werent we one of the many who said chelsea was going to buy their way through the top of the league? well what are we doing now?
i just hope we dont go on a huge spree and practically buy a whole new squadwritten on 22-Sep-2008
omar says:
hehe very funny...... i would advise you not to go to north london to watch that match... unless ofcourse you wanna go and watch some beautiful football arsenal play then that's a different story.
written on 22-Sep-2008
James says:
Citeh fan - youre blatently not a 'Citeh fan' as you say it. For a start no City fan would call the club ManCity. And as for buying the league, isnt that what every team that has won it since the Premier League began has done? If you cant beat them, join them. The likes of Arsenal and Liverpool will be looking nervously over their shoulders, and one of them will be dropping out of the top 4 in the next few seasons, from reading these comments, it looks like theyre aleady rattled.
written on 22-Sep-2008
scribbs says:
To James, what the hell do you know about City fans you twerp!! I've been calling ManCity, 'ManCity' for over 40 years and now I'm not a Citeh fan!!! Must be a Red. At least we're not sponsored by AIG!!! To Malc, you type very well when sloshed, I just fall asleep. Enjoy your wee trip, still waiting for the free petrol tho.
written on 23-Sep-2008
Fentor says:
I was at the Portsmouth game and your perception was right - Stevie Ireland was superb, certainly my Man of the Match; He seems to have added more power to his game (witness the number of 50-50 balls he won), definitely faster and he's always had an eye for a pass and a shot; You gotta remember he's still only 22 and learning his trade; Playing alongside the likes of Robinho, Kompany and Hamman (and whoever else joins) he and the other exceptional young talent we have will get better and better (in the same way Scholes benefited from Cantona, Fowler from Rush etc etc). I have to say that Kompany is an outstanding buy he looks superb and Zabaleta had a much better game than his first outing at Chelsea;
As for Wenger - I was wondering why he feels it necessary to comment on our takeover - I came to the conclusion he was drawing a line in sand regarding Arsenal's own fears of being taken over by Stan Kroenke's (http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/team ... 5.stm) and the also the paper talk of us signing Fabergas; Personally I'm glad this Al-Fahim chap seems to have been moved of the scene (he was responsible for the £135M for Ronaldo quotes); The statement that was issued on Sunday ( http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/team ... 0.stm ) seemed much more appeasing, realistic and hopefully won't get every manager, player and agent jumping on this merry-go-round. Lets face it talk of City/Chelsea/Whoever buying every world-star sells papers and provokes interest;
I hope City quietly go about their business and continue building the side blending quality players with home-grown talent;
Let's keep our feet on the ground Pompey were poor on Sunday, they had a bad day at the office and I'd expect them to be in the top 8 come April/May but I've never seen a City side demolish a top tier side in the manner they did on Sunday (not just the result but the method in which it was achieved); If the new owners back Hughes I really think we are going to push, I can't see us seriously pushing the top 4 this season but 2-3 years who knows...CTID!written on 23-Sep-2008
Fentor says:
PS - I wouldn't part £20M for Keane (neither £8M for Riera) but I bet Keane still scores against us - he always does !! If he's doesn't score next week whats the betting he breaks his duck against us
2-1 to City - Keane to score first..I'm off to the bookies in the morning(@16x16C).jpg)
written on 23-Sep-2008
malcylon says:
I saw 7 comments and thought crap what have I written!
Mr.Gareth Ellidge was clearly sloshed himself cos he mis-read that I do have respect for Wenger. I've met him on numerous occasions at charity functions and he speaks very eloquently on the subject of football. I've long admired his ability to spot and nuture playing talent.
Fentor makes a good point about why Wenger chose to comment. Agree we need to keep our feet on the ground. I've just realised my putting the name "Wenger" in the headline is why we got the Gooners on here, article appeared on the Arsenal NewsNow. The fact that there were only a couple of comments from Arsenal fans even though 100s of them read it means most of them took it on the chin.
James's ManCity comment is indeed odd. He's obviously not listening to my line of argument either. We don't need to buy an entire team!!!__400__(@16x16C).bmp)
written on 25-Sep-2008
JimmyGrimbleallgrownup. says:
Are there really fans of premier league clubs out there who would not want their club to experience the good fortune that Man City just have?
(Contrary to opinion, I call City, Man City, on the odd occassion!)
Go on, tell the truth, there is just a little of the green eye in most of the adverse comments I have just read.
You wish it was your club?.........Don't you?written on 20-Oct-2008
john donnelly says:
City draw with Newcastle
Mark needs to sort out Grrido at left full. Why? because he got scalped a couple of times at least and I knoe he is good going forward but he does not like to get physical and is caught out so many times. Remember last season?
Also City just did not look great at all tonight. They were lacklustre and looked to be depending on the big signings. Remember Kinkladze? Who doesnt. Well sort it out Mark before it gets a little more than nervous for you. You are not to build a team around any player!Do not fall into that trap. We city fans know all about that route. It is tempting but shy away from it. We were woefully inadequate and are starting to believe the press!We are way off a top 4 position. So we must eat a little humble pie , come down to earth and start fighting for each other.At least make it noticeable out on the pitch. We city fans always love a battler as well as a flair player.Assert your authority Mark please. Jo was not good tonight and you should spot it. Give him a match off, see how he likes it. Ferguson would do so.You are the boss so dont think that because some money is on the way you can rely on that.Just above Mid Table is not enough. But we will wait and see because we are patient enough. I believe the mentality of one or two players is not up to scratch so do something about it. You were passionate enough yourself Mark so come on!Show a little more ire from the touchline as well.
written on 20-Oct-2008
malcylon says:
fair calls John. I think giving Jo a rest is a good idea. He was working reasonably hard at times having said that. But I think a break would do him good and giving Ched Evans and Danny S a chance must be worth a go. Ched Evans is a bit on the loopy side but he's an out and out striker/finisher with grit and determination. With SWP, Rob and Ireland going forward Jo often looks too much like an extra 4th one of them, rather than a striker. Whereas I reckon those three could feed Evans and get more scores until Jo catches on. Sturridge has to be worth more chances as well.
Having said all of that I dont think MH has the formation he ultimately wants. He's playing a formation to fit the players. January is key. We need balls out solid Premiership experience irrespective of nationality. Nothing from foreign leagues is key I think. Too long to settle in.written on 22-Oct-2008
scribbs says:
also think giving joe hart a break as well. he's not the keeper of last year. we've scored more than any other side but have conceeded a
hatful as well. need another centreback, like to see Nedum get a few games, as well as Kasper. fullback's a worry, like Kompany, Steve
Ireland, SWP, Robinho, pity Boz got injured again, would be great with Robinho
the trouble is we can't keep on saying it will take time as an excuse everytime we have a poor result. the trouble is we are just not
good enough....yet.
Take our red neighbours for example, i hate to say it, but they have been great since the sixties, except for a couple of hiccups. gee, just
think of what that means...fifty years of ruling the roost, give or take a few years, we can only look on in wonder at what they have achieved
.......as much as it may hurt.written on 22-Oct-2008
malcylon says:
I've made changes to the site so that the message board can be seen publicly but can only be commented on by members of the site.
I'm trying to encourage use of the message boards rather than the comments sections on old blog posts.
I've posted my replies to above there.
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