CAN I HAVE A WORD?

So, here we are, almost into March 2009 and where are we? Well at the moment City are occupying 10th spot in the Premier League after earning a draw at Anfield on Sunday. I think everybody anticipated a defeat at the hands of Liverpool, but without their influential captain Steven Gerrard, I had a sneaky feeling the Blues could get something out of the game. In fact, at one point I thought we would go on to win it.

But no, it wasn’t to be. Are City incapable of defending a lead? Will we ever score from set pieces? Will Glauber Berti ever play a game for City? Am I asking too many questions? Perhaps so but then again I am inquisitive.

SAVED BY THE BELL?

Mark Hughes has today spoken out about the impact that Craig Bellamy has had on the team since his arrival in the January transfer window. I cannot lie, I really wasn’t Bellamy’s biggest fan before he signed for us, but I have to commend him. He certainly has made an impression on the team and fans alike: his pace and ability are of a very high standard and he looks hungry. I will let Hughes do the talking for now:

“I needed to bring in a guy that had drive and personality and outstanding pace, which would give us a threat that we didn't have before Craig came.

"The fact that he is able to stretch teams and give them a problem with his pace and ability on the ball, that enables other players in our team to have more space."

Hughes also gives a nod to the impact that Bellamy will have on the much-discussed dressing room ‘situation’ at City:

"I think it is important to have players who have that will and that mentality and certainly Craig has that in abundance

"I think it's good for the dressing room. As they gel as a group, because it's still very early, once they get three or four games together, I think you will see that mentality come to the fore even more."

THE ROAD TO ISTANBUL

I will also give a mention to the upcoming game tomorrow: the second leg of our knock-out UEFA Cup home tie against FC Copenhagen. With the tie evenly poised at 2-2, it was vital that City scored the two away goals, and realistically should have brought a win back to Eastlands with them. Stephen Ireland’s strike after conceding was a very welcome surprise, but it was just a disappointment to concede late on in the game. However, I expected a lot more from Copenhagen, and if City continue to play in the same vein as Thursday and Sunday at Anfield, with the same gritty midfield…well, I don’t want to curse it by saying! But it could bode well to progressing further in the competition.

DON’T BE SHY!

If you have any opinion on the work that I do, whether it be good or bad, don’t hesitate to get in touch with me. I’m on facebook and my email address is above. Also, I haven’t written for King of the Kippax for a while…I will be back with a bang in next month’s addition so get buying your copies mid-March!

Keep the blue faith,

Emily