The Lonesome Death of Roy Carroll

Cook speaks

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:57:00 +0000

The first noise for some time from our CEO. He seems to be making fewer public pronouncements since the failed Kaká deal:

"There was a buzz about the place when we played Arsenal. Everybody's expectations were high but we got disjointed a little bit," Cook told The National.

"We lost Adebayor for a little bit and then international games broke our momentum up.

"Since then we have had a couple of games where we thought we could have probably come away with a better result but that is the way it works."

As ever with these things, the interest is not so much in the comments themselves (there is nothing here to disagree with) but in their existence. It is generally a surprise to hear people from the non-football side of the club talking about football issues. But when compared to the public spats between Shinawatra and Eriksson this is nothing to worry about.

Ireland sides with Hughes over Elano

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:44:00 +0000

The most interesting thing to come out of the Abu Dhabi tour so far - Stephen Ireland has been talking about the mood in the camp last year, and how Elano failed to get behind Mark Hughes' changes:

"He [Hughes] had it tough," Ireland recalls. "Some players didn't want to be there. Some players just didn't want to buy into it. Elano and Jô, they didn't want to put in the extra effort and it wasn't like it was that hard. It wasn't like you were being run like a dog, just that it was more professional and more based on team spirit, and these players didn't want to get into that stuff."
Elano was subsequently sold to Galatasaray. "Under Sven, Elano got away with anything," Ireland continues. "It was Elano's world, to be honest. The gaffer came in and there were massive changes, and Elano couldn't adjust. He's a great guy, a nice guy, I got on great with him, and he's a very talented player, but he could have added a lot more to his game and been a lot better than what he is."

I appreciate that over the year I've done this subject to death. Just the other week I wrote about Hughes' comments on the issue. Just to recap, I side with Hughes entirely on these issues. The Brazilian clique were disgraceful last season in their attitude, and Hughes was right to rout them as he did. His personal battle with Elano - the embodiment of all that Hughes perceived to be wrong with the Eriksson regime - was one of the key stories of 2008/09. Stephen Ireland, while relatively successful under Eriksson, embodied the key features of the Hughes mentalité (hard work, making the most of your talent, physical fitness, winning attitude) just as Elano did the same for Eriksson (occassional brilliance, lapses of laziness, unworldliness, individuality etc.)

So for Stephen Ireland to be as vocal and as public in support for Hughes over Elano is no real surprise. But this sort of public grievance-airing is unusual, at least in Garry Cook's professionally run MCFC. So it does offer an interesting insight into what things were like last season. And it gives steel reinforcement to my belief that Hughes was right to sell Elano.

More on Yaya

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:37:00 +0000

First we had Kolo - brother of Yaya - suggesting to the M.E.N. that Touré minor might just be interested in coming to City:

Asked if he would like to see City buy his brother, Kolo said: "I hope so. He is a good player, and if he could come to our team that would be great."

And he feels Yaya would jump at the chance to come to England: "He has had a few hard times in Barcelona. He doesn't play a lot, and he loves football and loves to play.

"If he can come, especially to a club in England, he would be really happy because the Premier League is a fantastic place to play football."

But then his agent Dmitri Seluk said that he most certainly would not:

"If Barcelona do not like Yaya there are eight clubs, the most important in the world, who are interested in signing him.
"If he leaves Barca, he will not go to Manchester City where, according to his brother Kolo, he would be welcomed with open arms. He would sign for a more important club."

I wrote about this the other day. I just can't foresee Barcelona letting us have Touré in January. Next summer we could have a decent chance. But if Hughes wants immediate reinforcements for the midfield then I think he will have to look elsewhere.

New deal with Etisalat

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:30:00 +0000

Another commercial benefit of our being owned by Sheikh Mansour: a deal with the UAE's main internet provider, Etisalat. Garry Cook is delighted:

“The profile of the club is already growing globally, and the ability to effectively expand this growth with tailored communications forms the core of our agreement with Etisalat,” he declared.

“This strategic opportunity allows us to connect to passionate football fans around the Middle East and African regions, providing customized Manchester City content through mobile communications channels.”

The higher our profile and our turnover the better, in a sense. A bit of a shame, though, that Etisalat bars access to all Israeli and 'anti-Islamic' websites (according to Wikipedia, I admit), and that it uses spyware on its customers BlackBerrys. But then if I was serious about moral objections to this sort of thing then I would have refused to watch them when owned by Shinawatra. Which, of course, I didn't.

More on Robinho

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:25:00 +0000

This is the story that just won't go away - Robinho's move to Barcelona. And it's still moving. This week's training camp in Abu Dhabi has seen high profile denials from Mark Hughes and Garry Cook. The manager said:

"I am quite clear and Robinho should be quite clear that his future is very much with City. There is no reason to think that will change any time soon. These stories do not originate from anyone from City."

All is not what it seems, though. Daniel Taylor has reported that behind the scenes Robinho is desperate to move to Barcelona, and that the City hierarchy are quite resigned to his doing so:

Fourteen months after breaking the English transfer record to join the club from Real Madrid, Robinho is now so unsettled he has informed his advisers he does not "want another day in Manchester". Mark Hughes, the City manager, described the revelation last night as "people making mischief" but, behind the scenes, he has known for a long time that Robinho is disaffected and, grudgingly, the club have started the search for a possible replacement. Angel Di María of Benfica has been identified among the leading candidates and has a £27m buyout clause in his contract.
The question now seems to be when, rather than if, Robinho leaves. Hughes is keen not to lose such a talented player in the middle of the season but, if the Brazilian has his way, he will move at the earliest opportunity.

There's more, but we all know the fundamentals here: Robinho (and his wife, apparently) have not settled in the area, that he is attracted by what he sees as the more comfortable option at Barça, that Pep Guardiola wants a specialist left winger, and that the return to form and fitness of Martin Petrov and Craig Bellamy mean that Robinho is no longer the indispensable man.

None of this means that he will certainly leave in January, or even in the summer. But it is another step in that direction.

Hughes defends Bridge

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 13:46:00 +0000

After our left back was crucified by Alan Hansen on Match of the Day on Saturday evening:

"The pundits on Match of the Day just have an opportunity to nail individuals in the public domain," he said. "That process involves looking at incidents in games but not taking it as a whole. That's the role in life that they have decided to follow. There's a frustration, though, from our side when they don't go into particularly in-depth analysis. I'd question how many games they actually watch live, from the start to the conclusion of games. Everybody knows that's the case...
"Wayne is an experienced player who has won Premier League titles and been part of a Chelsea team at the top end," Hughes, right, said. "He understands what it's all about. At times individuals will make decisions that affect the team and sometimes you have to hold up your hand.But we're not going to do the same as the pundits because that's not what we're about. We look to analyse our mistakes and make sure, in future, we are better in similar situations. We won't single out individual players; that job is done by pundits."

Fair enough, I suppose. It's Hughes' job to defend our players in public. It's good for morale and part of the whole seige mentality that Hughes is keen to build. Hansen was right, though - Bridge was woeful on Saturday. And Lescott wasn't much better.

More Burnley reax

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 21:01:00 +0000

Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail

City’s problems are obvious. The two central defenders Hughes bought in the summer, Kolo Toure and Joleon Lescott, have not developed an understanding, while his full backs, especially Wayne Bridge, are struggling with their positional play.

City also lack a world-class defensive midfield player. If they had bought Javier Mascherano instead of Carlos Tevez then they would be a better team. City were undone against Burnley by familar failings in a terrific game.

Ian Herbert, The Independent

We will remember them. Manchester City did not have Richard Dunne in mind when they asked an officer from the Royal British Legion to read Laurence Binyon's verse before kick-off but that's how it transpired.

Dunne reluctantly left Manchester on 31 August – since when City have managed one clean sheet – and this contributed to a revisionist interpretation of his worth on Saturday. Dunne was the name City fans were murmuring at half-time and the one which, by 5.30pm, Stan Collymore was hollering to his listeners from a press box where those trying to compose some words of sense from this remarkable match longed for someone to flick a switch to turn him and his power supply off.

Mark Ogden, Daily Telegraph

This performance emphasised why Hughes was so determined to sign John Terry. For all his transfer dealings, he has yet to sign a player with Terry’s leadership qualities and drive. City do not possess a player with his fire and determination. There is no Roy Keane, Graeme Souness or Alan Shearer figure.

He might have assembled a dressing room of winners, players with Premier League and Champions League medals, but when the going gets tough, those players have been looking for somebody else to turn the tide in City’s favour.

James Ducker, The Times

A season that, to quote Hughes, started “like a house on fire” has gradually fallen limp, to the point where the manager and his players must feel as though they have been doused down with a rather large hose.

After winning their first four matches, City have managed a solitary victory in the seven league games since and if Liverpool beat Birmingham City at Anfield tonight, they will fall to seventh position, outside the minimum requirement of a top-six finish set by Khaldoon al-Mubarak, the chairman.

Jeremy Alexander, The Guardian

As a result Burnley, who had no intention of settling for crumbs, swiped the caviar and foie gras while City were waiting to be served. The service was slack from Stephen Ireland, recalled for Nigel de Jong in a formation so wide and attacking that it was nearly 4-2-4. Before Fletcher rolled in Eagles' cross there was a penalty in the wake of Shay Given's save at Birmingham last week. Then Given had stood off-centre, inviting James McFadden to go to the side he would then commit himself to. Graham Alexander took his sequence of success to 28, going the other way.

Times: City move for Di María

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 23:01:00 +0000

A new transfer rumour in the Sunday Times: City are set to move for Benfica's 21 year old Argentine winger Ángel Di María, should Robinho leave:

Benfica president Luis Filipe Vieira met City officials in Liverpool on Thursday before his club’s Europa League victory over Everton. Though Benfica will resist selling Di Maria during a season in which they hold a realistic chance of regaining the Portuguese title for the first time in five years, they will encourage suitors in the summer. Di Maria, whose transfer rights are 20% owned by a third-party investment fund, is valued by the club at more than £27m. At 21, the player has established himself in Argentina’s World Cup squad, having scored an audacious winning goal in the final of the 2008 Olympic tournament.

It's certainly a new one, and quite a surprise. I've seen quite a bit of Di María over the last year or so and he doesn't look much like the sort of player Mark Hughes would go for. Just go through the main criteria he looks for in signing a player: experience - at the top end of the EPL, and of winning trophies, a winning mentality, athleticism, being at the peak of his game. Put simply, none of them are there with Di María.

He's clearly a prodigious talent: technically gifted, able to breeze past defenders, with a good shot and a taste for the unexpected. But that's not to say that he's anywhere near the finished article. If we have to replace Robinho with a big money left-winger we are surely more likely to go for a more developed player. The News of the World today claimed that we are in talks to sign Franck Ribéry. I can't see us getting Ribéry, but he certainly seems more like a more plausible target than Di María.

An interesting possibility, though, is that a potential move for Di María signals a move to a new transfer policy; focussing on the best of young talent rather than established stars. Ultimately, I think that the pressure to get as close to third or fourth as possible this year will mean that we stick with targeting established names. But it's a good story either way.

Burnley reax

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 16:44:00 +0000

Joe Lovejoy, The Observer

Hughes put a brave face on yet another disappointing result, praising his players for fighting back from a 2-0 deficit into a winning position and excusing the outcome by saying: "There are times when we look like what we are: a team trying to gel." The good Sheikh, however, may be less sanguine about a slip from fourth to sixth place in the table which, even at this early stage, must call into question City's prospects of turning European potential into solid achievement.
On this evidence, they are still very much a work in progress, fallible at the back and caught between two stools in midfield. Joleon Lescott's England credentials were damaged by indiscretions that led to Burnley's first two goals, while the return of Stephen Ireland, at the expense of Nigel de Jong, left the team unexpectedly vulnerable in the central crucible.

Ian Herbert, Independent on Sunday

Manchester City could scarcely have done more before yesterday's game to remember those who laid down everything in defence of these shores. What their manager wouldn't give for someone who will lay anything down in defence of his side's goal.

Laurence Binyon's For the Fallen was the verse they read before kick-off, a fair description of City's back four last night as they crouched on their haunches in the drizzle and winced. They can have no complaint that their ranks, with one win in seven in the Premier League after a fifth successive draw, met with muffled boos at the end; nor that Kevin McDonald's 87th-minute equaliser had denied them a win.

Jonathan Northcroft, Sunday Times

Mark Hughes and his players were jeered when Stuart Attwell, who had a difficult game as referee, trilled the final whistle. When Hughes used a few oil drums of Sheikh Mansour’s vast stash to lavish £110m on new players over the summer, more was anticipated than home struggles versus Burnley. The fact the visiting team were vibrant, skilled and indomitable — virtues that are coming to characterise Owen Coyle’s brand of football — was irrelevant to City’s followers. All they know is their club have drawn five league games in a row and are not going to get into Europe, never mind the Champions League, like this.

Mark Ogden, Sunday Telegraph

“We’re 11 games into the season and we’ve done OK, no better than that,” Hughes said. “I warned everybody at the start of the season, there will be times when we look like what we are, which is a team trying to gel, and at other times an outstanding side.”
Both of City’s faces were on display, the former more than the latter. Having come back from 2-0 down to lead the game, City should have run out convincing winners as they poured forward in the second half, Craig Bellamy to the fore. But instead of settling things, they conceded a late equaliser that means they have taken just eight points in seven games.

Joe Bernstein, Mail on Sunday

A lot of fingers will be pointed at Lescott, who has looked unsettled following his acrimonious £24m departure from Everton. Yesterday, he gave away a penalty with a needless handball and then went to sleep when thinking that the game was almost won.
'I don't think Joleon was at fault for every goal. It's a collective thing,' said Hughes.
But you know next week in the Gulf he will be asking about the possibility of signing another couple of defenders. Whether he will be entrusted with the money - the back five City put out yesterday cost £70m - is another matter.

Burnley player ratings

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 15:49:00 +0000

Given How he must despair of scenes like those. Why exactly did he leave Newcastle? Blameless for all three of the goals. Clearly frustrated at bad marking both from open and set plays. 7

Zabaleta A peculiarly inconsistent performance. Looked as poor as most in the first half but improved after half time. For all I say about his crossing he had ten or so good opportunities to deliver and made nothing of them. 6

Touré No individual errors but as captain and centre-half he has to wear some of the blame for the collective mistakes. Carried the ball from the back as calmly ever and took his goal well. 7

Lescott Strange decision to raise hands conceded an early penalty, and he never fully recovered his poise. Let David Nugent through in stoppage time - I would not have enjoyed a 4-3 defeat. 4

Bridge Very poor. A series of mistakes, leaving the rest of the defence under pressure. And a terrible mistake which led to MacDonald's late equaliser. Sylvinho can't be far from a start. 4

SWP His best game in some time: got past Stephen Jordan repeatedly and his delivery was much better than at St Andrew's last Sunday. Set up Craig Bellamy and with better performance from the strikers would have set up more. Helped out with a big deflection for his goal. 7

Ireland Terrible in the first half but grew into the game later on. But did not provide the control we would have had with Nigel de Jong starting and did not exactly make up for it with his invention. It would be a surprise if he were to start at Anfield. 7

Barry Out of sorts for a few matches and he was poor today. Failed to impose himself on Graham Alexander and André Bikey. We could have done with both his control and invention at different points. 5

Bellamy Tireless running down the left, repeatedly getting past the full-back and cutting inside. Took his goal well, and continued to bother the defence when moved central for the last twenty minutes. 7

Tévez The same as recent games: endless running, dogged strength and hold-up play - but poor finishing when it mattered. Had two chances at 3-2 - one from a cut back from the right, one half volley from two yards out - which a £47m striker really ought to score. At this rate he's not going to get ten in the Premier League. 6

Adebayor Came back from injury to replace Santa Cruz but did not look fully fit himself: drifted out of the game and did not trouble the defence as much as he ought. We could do with his sitting out of Togo's crunch international against Gabon on Saturday. 5

Subs

Petrov Tried out both flanks, almost set up Adebayor and had a good shot on goal himself. 6

City 3 - 3 Burnley

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sun, 08 Nov 2009 14:33:00 +0000

What happens when you don't win a must win? I feel pretty low today after that. The one precondition of our having a good season this year is to repeat last season's home form. And if there was one thing we were good at in 2008/09 it was beating bad teams at home. So for us to welcome Burnley - two goals and zero points in five away games before yesterday - and to concede three and draw is nothing short of a disgrace and an embarrassment.

There's only one place to start. What sort of a defence concedes three goals at home to Burnley? The errors, individual and collective, were enough to make you question why Hughes had smuggled in Laurent Charvet, Tal Ben Haim and, despite appearances, Stephen Jordan to play in blue for the day. Lescott's handball for the penalty was mindless, and the collective switch-off for Fletcher's goal even worse. The climax, though, was Bridge's letting Brian Jensen's punt hit his back rather than head it away, David Nugent picked the ball up who fed Steven Fletcher who fed Kevin MacDonald. It wasn't great.

The question, though, is whether this is an individual or collective problem. Do we need better defenders? Or do we need more time for the current lot to gel? Wayne Bridge and Joleon Lescott are not bad defenders - they have excelled in the Premier League before and the last two England managers have both been sufficiently impressed to pick them. But they're clearly not functioning as a unit. Whether or not we need to shell out on a new left back, centre back (and maybe a right back too), or just stick with what we've got and hope they improve is a big decision for Hughes.

But as bad as Lescott and Bridge were they are not the only ones who deserve blame. Between the goals of Wright-Phillips and MacDonald we were all over Burnley, and while turning 2-0 to 3-2 is good, failing to turn 3-2 into 4 or even 5-2 is not. The number of times we got into scoring positions and failed to kill the game suggests that our defenders are not the only ones out of form. Carlos Tévez missed two glorious chances at 3-2 and Emmanuel Adebayor drifted out of the game.

Our draw at Villa Park was good. At the DW Stadium we did quite well. Blowing a 2-0 lead against Fulham at home is very poor. We were abject at St. Andrew's. And this was atrocious. We're getting worse, quickly. Who knows what horrors await us the far side of the international break, if we maintain this trend? Blowing a three goal lead at Anfield? A four goal lead against Steve Coppell's Hull City?

A note to the idiots

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:25:00 +0000

Don't boo Stephen Jordan or Tyrone Mears tomorrow.

Just don't.

Burnley preview

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 13:57:00 +0000

If you thought that the last game was a must win, this is something else. Just imagine the headlines, the top of Match of the Day billing, the laughing neutrals, the crisis club labels we'll get if we don't beat Burnley. Now remember that Burnley have 2 goals, 17 conceded and 0 points in five away games so far, and breathe out.

But after our third consecutive collapse at home against Fulham, we can't afford to be complacent about our home form. We ought to win, but then we ought to have held that two goal lead two weeks ago. This is City, remember.

After the stalefest last Sunday it would be nice to see a slight change to the team and formation tomorrow. I'm with the 97% of voters who would like to see Stephen Ireland from the start tomorrow. And I'm also with the majority that want to see him in his position from last season - in the hole behind a lone striker. Emmanuel Adebayor will replace Roque Santa Cruz up front whatever happens, and, in my dream scenario, Ireland would come in for SWP. Carlos Tévez would shift out wide in the Dirk Kuyt right channel role.

I can see the merits in returning to the early season set up; 4-4-2 with Ireland and Barry anchoring for Bellamy, Adebayor, Tévez and SWP. But it's not the team I'd choose. Mark Hughes hinted at the eventual re-introduction of Ireland in his press conference today, without committing on formation options:

"We've changed the shape of the team.

"For the majority of the season last year we played 4-3-3, but we have changed to a 4-4-2 more often than not this year.
"Nigel and Gareth became a pair when Stephen went out of the team, did well, so Stephen has found it a little difficult to get back in...
"He is too good a player to keep out of the team for too long."

I hope we see him tomorrow. Another possible change to the team is Sylvinho coming in for Wayne Bridge if he fails to recover from his injury, but that shouldn't really alter the balance of the game too much.

On a personal note this is my first home game since West Brom in April, so I'm hoping to be impressed. Prediction? A breezy 4-0.

Jonno back in U21s

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:29:00 +0000

Good news: Michael Johnson is back in Stuart Pearce's England U21 squad for the games against Portugal and Lithuania next week. If he plays (there are already some good midfielders there - Jack Rodwell, Fabrice Muamba, Fabien Delph), it will be good news. He needs games and while we keep on drawing we do not have the luxury of easing people back to fitness through the first team.

Lucky for us that the man who gave Johnson his City debut is ~~no longer City manager~~ in charge of the England U21s. Pearce had this to say:

‘Michael Johnson has had a massive absence from injury for a long, long time, so being in the squad will be a big lift for him."

Fellow MCFC Academy grads Micah Richards and Daniel Sturridge are also in the squad.

Bowen: RSC will improve

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 13:19:00 +0000

The Assisstant has spoken out in defence of Santa Cruz after his St. Andrew's horror show:

"Just when you think you have come through it and are 100 per cent, the weekend reminded us that this was his first league start in maybe five or six months of football.

"Plus he took a blow to his ankle which blew up like a balloon. He wanted to play on, but we could see the knock was holding him back.

"He will come on, and the more football he plays and the more training he gets, the more you will see the player we know that he is."

I'm sure he's right. If anyone knows the quality RSC has within himself then it's Bowen and Mark Hughes. And, frankly, if he wasn't up to it they would not have bought him. Nevertheless - and I really don't like criticising players too hard - his performance on Sunday was woeful. He managed to combine the mobility of Bernardo Corradi and Antoine Sibierski with the touch and awareness of Bradley Wright-Phillips or the second coming of Paul Dickov. No kidding.

Kolo: 'Our mentality has to change'

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:32:00 +0000

Spot on from the captain:

"We need to impose ourselves as we have some gifted players in this dressing room.

"We can enjoy our football by passing it and controlling games. That's what we need to achieve now. The team needs time but as time goes by we need to improve.

"City is not the team it was before, a lot of things have changed and our mentality has to change as well.

"We cannot be happy with a draw or drawing four games in a row. Chelsea, Arsenal or Liverpool would never be happy with that, which is why they have been at the top, so neither can we."

Zab: Burnley a must win

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 13:25:00 +0000

Too right:

"The next game is now very important. It is a good opportunity because we are playing at home and we need three Premier League points to stay up there.

After the draws, we really need to win now, especially as we are going into the international break.

"It is a long time until the next game against Liverpool, and we want to be fourth during that time. It's important to us that we are in a Champions League position going into the break."

Another Yaya Touré rumour

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:32:00 +0000

In The Sun today:

The Manchester City boss is eyeing a swoop for Yaya Toure after Barcelona hinted they are ready to let him go in January.
The Ivory Coast midfielder, brother of City skipper Kolo, has been on Sparky's hitlist for the best part of 12 months.

Mark Hughes' admiration for Yaya Touré is no secret. And there would be a certain attraction in doing what Arsène Wenger could not in uniting the Touré brothers. They could be to the 2010s what the Brightwells were to the 1990s. Dominant physical presence - one, but not the only quality of Touré minor, is the one thing lacking from our midfield options (don't say Michael Johnson.)

But I still can't see this happening, at least not in January. Barcelona are currently competing on four fronts and aren't exactly overburdened with midfield options. Xavi and Iniesta are obviously brilliant, and Touré, Busquets and Seydou Keita are all very good. But five midfielders, three slots and four competitions does not add up. They need at least one more in January (Mascherano is possible, but they might want someone cheaper), particularly given that they are losing Keita and Yaya to the African Nations Cup. So I just can't see it.

Next summer though? Yeah, why not.

Ireland's fears

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 13:26:00 +0000

Last year's player of the season comments on the health scare he suffered recently:

"Thankfully it wasn't too serious because at the time I thought that was the end of me," he told the Manchester Evening News.
"I don't know what it was. I have had every test that there is and I still don't know but it was a bit of a strange scare.
"It took me a while to get right but I am back on track. Everything is looking positive."

The more I've seen of us recently the more I think that we are missing Ireland's final third artistry. Where exactly he slots in, I'm not sure. This is the sort of thing I'd like to illustrate with my blue cards but as you can probably tell they've been out of action for a while. A friend who supports United came over for a few drinks last month and decided to find and tear up my 'TEVEZ 32' card. It's easily replaced but I haven't got round to it yet. But expect some post about team/formation options - with the cards - later this week.

Awards

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 21:57:00 +0000

My rather low key October awards (written after Birmingham City but naturally not including that game) are done and can be found here.

Birmingham reax

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 13:58:00 +0000

Neil Moxey, Daily Mail

Of course, Given hasn't crossed the great Manchester divide in the same manner as Carlos Tevez. But if there is one performer amid the glittering array of talent at Mark Hughes's disposal who can claim that no manager in the Premier League would turn down his services, it is Given.
It will come as no surprise that the Dubliner was equal to whatever Alex McLeish's side mustered at St Andrew's. But what did cause a few raised eyebrows was the sustained pressure exerted by a side that cost one twentieth of the funds lavished upon Hughes.

Oliver Kay, The Times

Depending on whether your cup is half-full or half-empty, Manchester City have lost only once in ten Premier League games this season or won only one of the past six. Both are true — and it is a run of form that, if Liverpool’s travails continue, will make Champions League qualification a realistic ambition for Hughes and his players — but it was a mark of soaring expectations that they left the Midlands disappointed last night, acknowledging that Birmingham City had been the better team and would have claimed the points had Given not saved a penalty from James McFadden early in the second half.

Stuart James, The Guardian

Unable to retain possession for any period because of Birmingham's high-tempo approach, the visitors never found any fluency and, at times, struggled to contain the threat of a side whose tally of eight goals from 11 matches makes them the Premier League's lowest scorers. A combination of the woodwork, Given's heroics and Birmingham's profligacy meant that City escaped with a point. The bigger picture, though, is that City have won one of their last six in the league.

Sam Wallace, The Independent

As for the rest of City's star cast, they will have to do better if they have pretensions of staying among the Champions League places come May. The list of teams with whom they have drawn their previous thre games – Aston Villa, Wigan and Fulham – do not constitute the most daunting opposition in the country. Without Emmanuel Adebayor, whose back injury kept him out the team, City looked flat and predictable in attack.

Birmingham player ratings

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 08:54:00 +0000

Given Heroics. A reaction save from Chucho in the first half, amongst many others, caught the eye. But the penalty save was excellent, keeping us from an embarrassing defeat. 8

Zabaleta Back in the side after suspension and did ok. Not too much going forward but was relatively untroubled at the back. I don't see how Richards gets his place back. 6

Kompany Impressed in his first EPL start of the season; as quick, alert and dominant as he was last year. Enough to leap ahead of Lescott and partner Touré in the near future? Probably not. 7

Lescott Better. No obvious mishaps, won most headers he went for and never allowed the forwards to get too far away from him. 6

Bridge One of this season's most improved players, he had another decent game. Untroubled and almost incisive when getting forward. 6

SWP Found himself in more good positions than any other City player, but the lack of final ball or invention was frustrating. Scunthorpe aside, he has not played well for a very long time. May need some time out of the team. 5

de Jong Captain for the day and relished the chance to lead with some of his favourite thundering tackles. The concession of the penalty, though, while costing us nothing, was an uncharacteristic judgement lapse. 6

Barry His worst game for City. Took a lot of stick from the Birmingham fans and never settled into the game. Barry Ferguson and Lee Bowyer are both very experienced players but Barry is leagues ahead of them in terms of class. He failed to show it yesterday, and we looked like half the side. 4

Bellamy The effort was there but he never quite found the space he needs to run into. Too many times he was forced inside and literally ran into Tévez. 5

Tévez Our best attacking player, for what that's worth. The only one willing to take shots on and his hold up play was better than ever. Still lacking a little bit of invention though. Could have won us a penalty late on had Mike Dean not stopped play for an injury. 7

RSC Didn't look anywhere near match fitness, having struggled with injury and illness recently. He was immobile and failed to win any of the long balls we hit to him. Adebayor has nothing to worry about. 3

Subs

Ireland Came on for de Jong in central midfield but could not influence the game as he would have liked. Still may start against Burnley. n/a

Petrov Tried hard but ran into the same problems as our other wide players. n/a

Birmingham 0 - 0 City

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 22:40:00 +0000

In isolation a draw at Birmingham City isn't terrible. But it is avoidable. And this is our third avoidable draw in succession. Yes, 19 points from 10 games is excellent, and fourth place really keeps us in contention. We are the only team in the league to have lost only once this season. But if we had won the last three games (I'm not counting Villa Park here, that was a good point), we would now be on 25 points, separated from United only on goal difference. And a won game in hand away from top spot. These are the margins at this end of the table; we are on the wrong side of success.

So that's all pretty annoying. But what's really getting me down this evening is the performance. We were very bad today. Hughes said it was the 'the poorest we have played in sometime' and he's right. We did not create a single good chance on goal, despite a front four of Craig Bellamy, Carlos Tévez, Roque Santa Cruz and Shaun Wright-Phillips. Even when Stephen Ireland and Martin Petrov were introduced we looked like we could have played on until 2010 and not created anything. Which is worrying, to say the least.

Just as worrying, and not unconnected from the lack of chances created, was the lack of control in midfield. It was one of Gareth Barry's least effective games at City, and without his imposing himself in the middle we are not the same side. De Jong is a master of the destructive arts but creates a vacuum in which others can flourish. When Barry isn't taking advantage of this protection we suffer. It is certainly true that we are more creative with Stephen Ireland in the side. Whether or not recent performances justify his starting, I'm not sure. And where, too? Instead of de Jong? Instead of Barry? Out wide? Answers in the comments.

How about a positive then: a clean sheet! The first since Fratton Park in August. Of course, James McFadden missed a penalty and so we were lucky to get away with one. But even with that it was our best defensive performance for a while. There were no horror shows of marking at corners or free-kicks, which made a nice change, as did the fact that both centre backs seemed to be playing with their eyes on the game. When Kolo Touré gets fit he will play, presumably re-creating his surprisingly dysfunctional partnership with the £24m man Joleon Lescott.

So it feels overall like a step backward. But it is another point on the road, taking us to eight points from four trips to the bottom half clubs. Which, at two points per game, is a decent improvement on last season's six from a possible thirty. We must thump Burnley on Saturday, though, to get back on track.

TLDORC October Awards

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sun, 01 Nov 2009 10:36:00 +0000

I can't write this before catching my train to Birmingham, so this is just a marker so that you know that the October awards will, naturally, not include this afternoon's Birmingham City game. Even though I'm going to have to write it after the match.

After the successes of August and September, October was a rather frustrating slow down in our long march to success. Three consecutive league draws, of decreasing quality meant that we blew a real chance to scramble ahead of the faltering big four. There's no shame in drawing at Villa Park, and drawing with ten men at Wigan left a mixed taste. But to blow a two goal lead at home against Fulham is the sign of a side that is not serious about sucess. Hitting five past Scunthorpe in the Carling Cup provided a cheap thrill but little more.

Aston Villa (a) 1-1 (thoughts, ratings, reax)
Wigan Athletic (a) 1-1 (thoughts, ratings, reax)
Fulham (h) 2-2 (thoughts, reax)
Scunthorpe United (h) 5-1 (thoughts, reax)

Player of the Month

This is tough. In August I had a choice between the experience of Gareth Barry, Shay Given and Emmanuel Adebayor. In September it came down to the two warriors, Nigel de Jong and Craig Bellamy. But October? The most newsworthy player was probably Martin Petrov, who shined with goals against Wigan or Fulham. Carlos Tévez started to produce performances of consistency and effort, even if the quality one would expect from a £47m striker is not quite there yet. Norfstander went for Wayne Bridge - a fair reward for a much improved but still maligned player. I suppose one could go for Gareth Barry who never quite hit the heights of August but still did well. What else though? An ironic vote for Joleon Lescott? I'm not exactly overburdened with good options.

And so I'm not going to make too big a deal of this, or pretend that the award recipient has transformed our play or changed my life as a City fan or should even be nominated for the Ballon d'Or. But I think that our best performer in October, all things considered, was Nigel de Jong. He did well before he came off at Villa Park, and was crucial to the second half rearguard at the DW Stadium. He played against Fulham and Scunthorpe, too, which, to be honest, pushed him ahead of those who only played two (Martin Petrov) or three (Wayne Bridge) games in October. But nevertheless de Jong has grown into this season, and now looks like one of the best practitioners of the destructive game in the Premier League. He certainly is justifying Hughes' decision to pay well over the odds for him in January. His wearing the armband at St. Andrew's was a good reward for his strong recent displays.

Performance of the Month

Craig Bellamy turned the game in our favour at Villa Park, scoring our equaliser and leading our charge against the home team.

Goal of the Month

It may have taken a deflection but Michael Johnson's long range strike against Scunthorpe was a moment of release comparable with Valeri Bozhinov's volley at White Hart Lane in April.

Birmingham preview

noreply@blogger.com (JPB) — Sat, 31 Oct 2009 18:19:00 +0000

If I've said it once I've said it a hundred times: our success this season will be defined by the number of points we manage to plunder from the battlefields of the bottom half. We were terrible in this regard last year, six points from a possible thirty. This year we've done better: seven points from three games so far, wins at Ewood and Fratton Parks and an honourable draw at Wigan. So this game is important in this respect.

It's also important in the sense that we seem to be slowing down. No league win since September, no clean sheet since August and a slight feeling that we are losing ground on the top sides. As good as the win against Scunthorpe was in mid-week, we need a league win to keep the pressure on our new rivals.

Unfortunately I'm not sure that we will win. Birmingham are a pretty good side and will not be easy to break down. They might just have enough to cause us problems. So it's going to be a battle. In terms of a line-up, it sounds as if we will have most of our players fit. The one interesting issue is therefore in wide areas. On current form I would go for Craig Bellamy and Martin Petrov, but Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips both had good games on Wednesday. So this is Hughes' big decision.

Prediction? A frustrating 1-1.