city blog A Tale of Two City's

Posted: June 16th 2009
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It was the best of times. It was the worst of times. In fifteen Premiership victories, we scored forty goals, conceding just six. Thirteen wins came at Eastlands, when the sun shone (or did it just seem like that?). Of our only two away wins, we skinned the Black Cats in August, and chewed the Toffees in late April. Our other twenty three games produced only five points, and forty four goals conceded. Conjure an image of 1970s Paris in spring-time - a French rugby fifteen - a fragrant Parc des Princes crowd. Compare that to the vast open terraces of Murrayfield, sleet driving in off the Forth, or Lansdowne Road, with a gale force wind blowing side ways off the Irish sea. Get the picture?

The class of 2008/09 were a team of wusses. Out of Ancoats, and a goal down, heads dropped faster than Paris of the 1790s. You know things are bad when Micah Richards starts pulling out of challenges. In consequence, the Seagulls shat on our Carling Cup hopes, and when the Sheriff of Nottingham’s men rode in to joust over FA cup spoils, Robinho Hood was nowhere to be seen.

Our EUFA cup campaign was equally shaky. In the earlier rounds, penalty shoot outs against teams we’d never previously heard of. But it was worth it. The quarter final second leg tie at Eastlands, against Hamburg, was electric. City supporters are no different from any others. We like a good whinge, and we can be a bit quiet at times. But there are occasions when we do give unconditional support. Hamburg, under Martin Jol, are an accomplished, mobile side. They dominated the first fifteen minutes, putting the tie almost beyond reach. But the crowd never let up, and the players responded. A late chance to take the tie to extra time fell to Micah, who nearly took out a woman in row Z. By the end, the players were out on their feet, excepting Richard Dunne, who took another early bath. Top night though.

Sparky came under significant pressure during the season. Had Aalborg gone on to win back in March, I reckon his head would have rolled. As it is, he has pots load of wonga, and the whole summer to sort things out. He might consider Alan Hansen’s emphasis on the spine of the team. In terms of a goalkeeper, Shay fits the bill. Central defender – in truth, Dunny, a great servant of the club, is increasingly a liability – particularly against pace. Solution; a dominant ball winning centre halve, with Micah picking up the pieces. Gareth Barry is an intelligent piece of business; Superman, undoubtedly best supporting act ; a kind of reverse Samson (sounds like a wrestling move) But we still ain’t got the main man in the middle. And a centre forward; though a Santa Cruz / Tevez combo sounds quite tasty. But where would a 4 4 2 along those lines leave Robinho?. Incidentally, the boy from Brazil went shopping with his girlfriend in the Trafford Centre recently. They went on the bus. Reminds me of my old school days; carving graffiti in the nicotine stains, and gobbing on passers by.

Too good – the little black ball boy, who was given the ‘Shauny Wright Wright’ chant whenever he retrieved the ball. He may have been shy to begin with – by  the end of the season, he had the swagger of the Gallagher boys. Too bad – Wayne Bridge’s right foot. Seriously – just watch MOTD next term – ball slotted out to WB – defender shows him the inside as per – come on Wayne, you know you can do it – it won’t fall off – but nah!