tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75661465531532340772024-03-04T22:12:56.028-08:00KippaxGirlEmilyOne life. One love. One beautiful game.Unknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger272125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-1656190206124308662023-03-20T13:35:00.000-07:002023-03-20T13:35:19.578-07:00KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - APRIL 2023<p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">HAS
IT REALLY BEEN 20 YEARS SINCE MAINE ROAD?</span></span></span></u></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"> YES, IT HAS…</span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></span></u></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></u></b></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"></span></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BV1qDTC16EIf7-VGHaOjjoY8i2BaOVeVRlirw4YE25JhUKpA6H61Vj7PfBFTnEkT9X1xX0rNRCS6pi8qa4gZY38xM_QVdonNeN1eSTfJlrYtDbPVTzikqNL6py6KO3xw_YP3ZRQI1Uq-QdGyfEtN7pdcdSqKGF062EoGrx_bfkHHAbe6V4eOZ4yznw/s1052/20191006_213752.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1052" data-original-width="815" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8BV1qDTC16EIf7-VGHaOjjoY8i2BaOVeVRlirw4YE25JhUKpA6H61Vj7PfBFTnEkT9X1xX0rNRCS6pi8qa4gZY38xM_QVdonNeN1eSTfJlrYtDbPVTzikqNL6py6KO3xw_YP3ZRQI1Uq-QdGyfEtN7pdcdSqKGF062EoGrx_bfkHHAbe6V4eOZ4yznw/s320/20191006_213752.jpg" width="248" /></a></span></u></b></div><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Have I made you feel really old? <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t mean to offend. But the truth is there
in black and white. It’s been 20 years since City left Maine Road for the City
of Manchester stadium – leaving behind 80 years of memories.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So many fans have the privilege of knowing what
watching football was like inside Maine Road. Hundreds of thousands stood on
the terraced Kippax stand – I only got to go in the all-seater version. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I say only, but for me, that was special
enough. There are so many fans who don’t know a thing about what Maine Road was
like. A whole generation of Blues haven’t been able to experience what a match
day was like in the heart of Moss Side. They hear the tales, the stories, the
anecdotes – but they’ll never know the impact that place had on our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When I recount anything to anybody about Maine
Road, I make one thing clear. Of course I see it through hazy, rose-tinted
glasses – because that’s where I fell in love with my football club. I rocked
up there and it was the flaws that I found so endearing. None of the stands
matched. The subs bench was plastic garden chairs. The score board rarely
displayed the right scoreline. A plastic seagull called ‘Elvis’ hung from the
Kippax. Eventually, scaffolding stands between both the North stand and the
Kippax and the Kippax and Platt Lane were built – the infamous ‘Gene Kelly’
that left fans singing in the rain. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">WE COULD BE HEROES<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The reality and the history books will tell you
that some of City’s darkest days played out at Maine Road. There’s no
sugarcoating that. My first match at Maine Road was in 1996 (my first ever
football match was at Goodison Park, a year before). City were on the slide.
Morale was low. The shining lights for me during that time were Uwe Rosler and
Georgi Kinkladze. Uwe – a tenacious German striker. Georgi – the twinkled toed
Georgian midfield magician. I idolized them both. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve been lucky enough to interview Uwe a few
times. Once, I took him to the site of Maine Road and spoke to him at length
about his time there. You could see reliving those memories visibly moved him.
I interviewed him too at the Etihad stadium and he became incredibly emotional
– he credited City fans with helping him through his traumatic cancer diagnosis
and recovery. He even came to my friend’s charity evening at the Etihad – he
donated his own time to help others. I always think it’s a delight when you
meet your heroes and they turn out to be even more magical than you thought
they could be. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">More recently, I shared some photographs of old
newspaper cuttings of Georgi Kinkladze on my socials to coincide with the 27
year anniversary of his magnificent goal against Southampton – which he liked,
shared and commented on. The post was greeted with such an outpouring of love –
a real reflection of his popularity and the adoration City fans have with him. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Going even further back (before my time,
sadly), Maine Road was lit up by the likes of Mike Summerbee, Francis Lee and of
course, Colin Bell. When I interviewed Colin, he was just a joy. So modest, so
humble and quite shy. He spoke with such grace – here was a man who has a stand
named after him at the Etihad stadium, such was his impact on the club. There’s
a whole generation of Colins wandering around Manchester because of him. The
older generation have a great affinity with him – I never tire of hearing the
tales of the ‘King of the Kippax’. He spoke to me about how much he just loved
football. He went everywhere with the ball at his feet. He could never grasp
the magnitude of his legacy. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was invited on a very special day at City
recently – a tribute day to Colin Bell. It was the day of the Newcastle match.
We had to be there for 7am – no mean feat having worked until 11pm the night
before. From start to finish, it was mind-blowing. We had a tour of the
changing rooms at the Etihad stadium and went pitch-side. We were taken over to
the CFA and had an exclusive talk with Serena Gosling, Director of Retail and
Licensing at City. She spoke to us all about the concept behind the Colin
Bell-inspired 2022/23 home kit – apparently the shirt design process begins a
good couple of years before release. Colin’s passing did leave the team unsure
as to whether or not to proceed with the release, but ultimately, with the
blessing of Colin’s family, it was decided to go ahead with it. A great
decision as it’s been one of their most popular shirts ever. It’s no surprise.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The National Football Museum had two of their
historians come over, along with some very special items. They brought three of
Colin’s medals over, along with a mould of his foot – and his crown. We were
given special gloves so we could all pick up his medals to look at them more
closely – I was terrified of somehow breaking them! One of the historians told us
all about the history behind his crown. A fan had given it to Colin in the
1970s after a game and he’d taken great pride in wearing it around his house,
particularly his kitchen. His family had then passed it onto the National
Football Museum after his passing. I was amazed at the condition it was in – it
was pristine. His crown was a detail added to the City kit after he’d died; if
you look in the back of your shirt, you’ll see Colin’s crown pride of place. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were then taken back to the Etihad stadium
to the ‘blue carpet’ to greet the manager and players as they arrived off the
team bus ahead of the match. We then watched the game from a platinum box – not
before my boyfriend, Adam, was one of a handful who’d been taken pitch-side to
go on before kick-off. He was about to celebrate his 40<sup>th</sup> birthday,
so it was a very welcome gesture. Sergio Gomez also took the time to visit our
box, along with Marie Bell, Colin’s wife. It was an incredibly humbling and
overwhelming day, an unforgettable experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">These are just a few examples of the thousands
of players who passed through Maine Road. But how do you even begin to explain
the legacy of Maine Road to the generations of fans that haven’t been as lucky
as we have to experience the place? Where do you start? It’s so important that
we share our stories and keep the Maine Road flame burning bright. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBprvdz54tLzMHmG41NnKQhVBg5FXfvwvqrclANnLZOPsx3TfihOS2OipW9WbznNzCjmX-9ZvajIEhWJ9v4PWszsJbZ8_VL4BthW9jV87qvRhVCRlhUd-hE35xoUZjrn6luyBrriMP4hDHARaiHPm7uddk4NtJxHJjd1WKcM5_wACyfQt_qYCNT1IzQg/s4032/20210326_143253.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBprvdz54tLzMHmG41NnKQhVBg5FXfvwvqrclANnLZOPsx3TfihOS2OipW9WbznNzCjmX-9ZvajIEhWJ9v4PWszsJbZ8_VL4BthW9jV87qvRhVCRlhUd-hE35xoUZjrn6luyBrriMP4hDHARaiHPm7uddk4NtJxHJjd1WKcM5_wACyfQt_qYCNT1IzQg/s320/20210326_143253.jpg" width="240" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">RETRACING FOOTSTEPS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Driving down to Maine Road now – you would
never know there was ever a football stadium there. I went recently and I
relieved my match day as much as I possibly could, but the reality obviously
fell rather flat. I parked up at Graeme Street – the place where before every
single home game we would leave our car. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Can I mind your car please?’ chirped an
over-enthusiastic local lad. He looked about 10 years old. I promised him £1
after the match if my car was in one piece. I blinked and rubbed my eyes. He
wasn’t stood there. It was just my mind playing tricks; so many weeks and years
of the familiar, but this was 2023. There is no Maine Road. I sighed and carried
on my walk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Onto Claremont Road – I could see the Claremont
pub, but I was always a Beehive girl. I headed to my favourite to order a pint.
No beer being served – because the Beehive pub is now a nursery. A sign of the
change to the area, even the Claremont pub looked like it had seen better days.
Further down the Claremont Road – the little shop on the corner of Maine Road
that sold the most fantastically quirky City t-shirts (who could forget the Uwe
– Old Trafford one?) – that’s now a kebab shop. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I could imagine it all in my mind though as if
it was a match day, like it was yesterday. The streets buzzing with fans
heading to Maine Road, the roads packed with traffic. A sea of sky blue shirts.
Flags and scarves. Young and old. Male and female. All heading in one
direction. The buzz in the air. The excitement. Anticipation. I stopped, took a
breath and turned the corner.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My heart dropped. The walk so far had been an
ongoing battle between my head vs my heart. My heart reliving everything the Maine
Road match day had to offer – my head reminding me those days were long gone.
Never has the reminder been so stark as to when you turned that corner from
Claremont Road onto Maine Road – to be greeted with a housing estate. There is
no Kippax stand dominating the skyline. There’s no Main Stand, no Platt Lane.
No North Stand. No club shop. Nothing. It's just row after row of identikit
beige and red brick houses. Soulless. Silent. Bleak.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Blue Moon chippy that used to sell the best
chips and gravy – is now a mini market. I could still smell it though. I
continued my walk; through the housing estate and discovered a long strip of
grass. On the grass is a circle of concrete, not much bigger than your dinner
plate. Inscribed on it are the words ‘in memory of Manchester City groundsman
Stan Gibson, who loved and cherished the Maine Road pitch for 40 years’.
Gibson’s Green. With a football. Turns out, the plaque was unveiled by club
legends Mike Summerbee and Tony Book at a special ceremony held in the summer
of 2014, to honour Stan and his four decades of loyal service.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There is nothing else. That is the only
reminder that a football ground ever stood there. Some of the road names on the
housing estate ring familiar: Bert Trautmann Close and Blue Moon Way. It’s all
a bit depressing. It’s a beautiful day though: the bright City blue sky an
ironic backdrop to my pilgrimage of nostalgia. But I’m left feeling empty. I’m
not sure what they could’ve done at Maine Road for fans, but it feels like it’s
worthy of so much more. The memories are evoked based only on my personal
experiences. If you headed there having not been to Maine Road – you really
wouldn’t have a clue.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I do go there quite often though. Sometimes I just
sit there by the spot for a bit and contemplate. A sacred place for a special
club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtl0uQ0WeFbbborKIhZ6R-46hfl7JyJkeGLyvzFd_tZZYOq_BAMf7ixKww-IPNlGXQnb4nKH0yMy37kvmvXtCc4w_kulqEjMgIiZ2w-8jeX3GLM3wQcok7SfGJq3qwxo7wC1Dnloci2SIH1EWpCdih7KIofbCN050XJd6woJYeGGBtTexGeDGXb7iew/s4032/20201023_162324.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTtl0uQ0WeFbbborKIhZ6R-46hfl7JyJkeGLyvzFd_tZZYOq_BAMf7ixKww-IPNlGXQnb4nKH0yMy37kvmvXtCc4w_kulqEjMgIiZ2w-8jeX3GLM3wQcok7SfGJq3qwxo7wC1Dnloci2SIH1EWpCdih7KIofbCN050XJd6woJYeGGBtTexGeDGXb7iew/s320/20201023_162324.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">LIFE THROUGH A LENS<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is why taking photographs and videos are
so important. I was going through boxes of my old bits and bobs at my Mum’s
house recently and stumbled upon a VHS video of the day I was a mascot at Maine
Road. The date was 7<sup>th</sup> Match 1998. City played Oxford United at
home. I’d bought an old VHS player from an electrical store in Bury for £20, I
pressed play and wow, I was stood inside the reception area in the Main Stand
at Maine Road. Then walking through the changing room. Then pitch-side, meeting
players arriving for the match. Gerard Wiekens, Peter Beardsley and Martyn
Margetson. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There’s a bit where my Dad is filming from the
Main Stand and pans around the empty stadium. North, Gene Kelly, Kippax and
Platt Lane all resplendent. This kind of footage is so rare – and so precious
too. He filmed inside the tunnel, me leading the team out onto the pitch and me
enjoying a kickabout on the pitch with then-captain, Kit Symons. There’s even
footage during the game from our seats that day in a box in the Platt Lane
stand. I was in bits watching it. All those memories came flooding back. It’s a
memory that I used to be ashamed of too. I was an ugly duckling, I got bullied
at school for my appearance and there it was on screen – all jam jar glasses,
train track braces and awful hair. Now I see through those flaws and treasure
it with all my heart.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's all those little things that I always talk
about when it comes to Maine Road. The ‘can I mind your car please’, the walk
up to the ground, the Beehive/Claremont/Parkside pre-match, the club shop.
Walking round to the Kippax having to go past the away fans heading into the
North Stand. Remember the little shop that was inside the Kippax selling club
merchandise? I always wanted the City crest radio that they sold in there. The
chicken balti pies. Singing to each stand during the game, mainly just to amuse
ourselves. Hearing Helen ringing her bell. Half time draw tickets. Coming out after
the game and picking up a copy of the Pink, then walking to the Blue Moon chippy
to get chips and gravy. The walk back to the car – only once in hundreds of
times did the young lad stick around (or come back) for his £1.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was recently interviewed by a Granada Reports
journalist called Jam as part of a project about Maine Road he’s working on. He
told me he grew up around the streets of Maine Road and used to sneak into
games on match day. He also said he used to be one of those young, local boys
who approached fans going to games to ask if he could mind their car. A pound
back then to him used to be a huge deal. I sat back and realized – it was
entirely plausible that he could’ve asked me back then to mind my car. Or my
brother’s car. We spoke for hours and shared our mutual memories – once you get
me started talking about Maine Road, it’s hard to shut me up!<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The era that I watched City at Maine Road was
potentially the worst football we’ve played in recent times. I wasn’t alive to
witness the heroics of Colin Bell, Glyn Pardoe, Alan Oakes, Tommy Johnson or
Mike Summerbee. I was a mid-1990s fan. Times were tough on the pitch for City.
But there were real moments of magic. The 6-0 against Swindon Town was a rare
highlight at the time. The second half of the 1998/99 season, when we fought our
way into the play-offs. The second leg of the play-off semi final against Wigan
Athletic, where we all ran on the pitch afterwards. 90 minutes away from a
return to the-then Division One. A bit of yo-yoing, then the Kevin Keegan
football arrived.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That final Derby Day at Maine Road was
something really special. I remember we’d been knocked out of the League Cup a few
days before, away to Wigan Athletic. We were all of the same mind – oh wonderful,
and it’s only United at the weekend. Great preparation. I don’t think anybody
gave us much of a hope that day. But the opener from Nicolas Anelka and a
further two from Shaun ‘feed the Goat’ Goater sent Maine Road into pandemonium.
The atmosphere was unbelievable – I don’t think many fans could process what
had just happened. We were definitely the underdogs that day, as we always
tended to be those days in the Manchester Derby those days. The 5-1 Maine Road
massacre back in 1989 was another day that continues to live in fan folklore.
Beating that lot is still just as special to me though, even to this day.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The final ever game at Maine Road of course
ended in defeat. 11<sup>th</sup> May 2003. A spectacular occasion, not a dry
eye in the house. Southampton’s Michael Svensson earning the ubiquitous honour
of scoring the final ever goal at Maine Road – a lone goal enough to secure all
three points for the visiting Saints. I cast a wry smile through the tears. Typical
City seemed a quite fitting way to bow out and say farewell after 80 years of history.
I wasn’t ready to say goodbye. I doubt many in the ground that day was.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We’ve been at the Etihad stadium for 20 years
now. I guess it feels like home because it is. Sounds simple, but have we really
made it our home? The club have made a considerable effort to turn it from the
stadium made for the commonwealth and tried to hide as much of the grim, grey
concrete as they can. Adding bars, a café and plenty of food and drink options
outside helps to get fans down a bit earlier before kick off and City Square seems
to attract plenty, although it’s not my cup of tea. I have to admit, I’m a big
fan of the new bar in the South Stand. It seems to have gone down a treat too
with fans in that part of the ground and we’ve started to get in the ground a
bit earlier now to head there before kick-off. Safe to say, the football on the
pitch has meant memories beyond our wildest dreams have been made in that
stadium. Dreams have come true for the boys in blue – I don’t think a single
soul from Maine Road could’ve thought it all possible for this football club. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But – Maine Road. Oh, Maine Road. A special
place, always to be remembered and never to be forgotten. I really hope the
club acknowledge the anniversary – never forget the past, no matter how bright
the present and future are.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-43431536989778396282022-01-10T08:09:00.005-08:002022-01-10T08:11:43.608-08:00KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - JANUARY 2022<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><b><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2022/01/king-of-kippax-column-january-2022.html" target="_blank"> <span style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;">STOP CRYING YOUR HEART OUT</span></span></span></u></span></a></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></span></u></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8aQ2sFnwhEQSZEQp5dW3BgL-HDRyo-bWxqakJv8kYrtu7MYDXjBkeReiOkTnm9RfNHA4PFxJdpAgQntTPDVcF9M2pjzE_Ysni7yXKOAR3vxJDDQKg-TM6PAX6Qgv_wFpzvCfTtyfneCrXVtDV8Xil2Ly5zSE5XPN3qzIvCL0EBuLbrghImoVlnnIgQg=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1365" data-original-width="2048" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi8aQ2sFnwhEQSZEQp5dW3BgL-HDRyo-bWxqakJv8kYrtu7MYDXjBkeReiOkTnm9RfNHA4PFxJdpAgQntTPDVcF9M2pjzE_Ysni7yXKOAR3vxJDDQKg-TM6PAX6Qgv_wFpzvCfTtyfneCrXVtDV8Xil2Ly5zSE5XPN3qzIvCL0EBuLbrghImoVlnnIgQg=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p>I can’t believe they’re still talking about it.<o:p></o:p></span></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By them, I’m sure you’re aware that I mean Arsenal fans. By the
time that King of the Kippax goes to press and you’re reading this, they’ll
probably <i>still </i>be talking about it. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh the injustice. New Year’s Day 2022 – the day when Arsenal
turned up for 45 minutes against City and gave us a really good first half -
but didn’t win and have cried about it ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll take you back to December as a whole. City, with a jam-packed
schedule, still had players missing due to injuries and Covid. But, unlike
other clubs and managers, did no complaining and just cracked on with it. Head
down, professional and, not only did they play each and every game, but they
also won the lot. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Admittedly, Brentford felt more like a battle than the previous
fixtures. In a weird way, it almost felt like a cup tie, but an early Phil
Foden goal was enough to give us all three points. But it definitely felt like
a scrap.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And then came Arsenal away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There had been a feeling like that match would be the hardest one
of the festive fixtures. Arsenal, doing well under Pep’s protégé Mikel Arteta,
were flying relatively high in fifth place. The game was coming just three days
after that tricky tie at Brentford. Between the fixtures, Joao Cancelo had been
attacked by intruders at his home whilst he was trying to defend his family –
yet still was included as part of the travelling squad to the Emirates. Arteta,
however, would be missing due to Covid, so his assistant Albert Stuivenberg
took charge in the dugout.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t know what gives Arsenal fans the guile, or the audacity,
to be so inexplicably outraged at not winning the match. How can anybody be <i>that
</i>entitled? The reaction since the game, or should I say overreaction, has
been nothing short of outrageous. As far as I’ve known my entire life following
football – the team that scores the most goals, wins the game. We’re back to
football basics here. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I did say to my boyfriend at one point during the second half – if
we go on and win the game from there, it’ll be absolute mayhem. And it was. But
you cannot just turn up for 45 minutes against one of the best teams in the
world and think you’re entitled to win the game. Life and football doesn’t work
like that. They looked the brighter team during the first half – I make no
bones about that. But a culmination of different events led to Arsenal losing
their heads, their discipline and their way. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Once Gabriel had seen red for his second bookable offence, we
dominated and the winner looked inevitable. Wave upon wave of attacks came over
and over again and, at one point looking at the clock, I started to think it
wasn’t going to happen. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then, the breakthrough.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2v570z36F-JFYUJIM_rXy7YwMB1IUTQsrPSf3hnZ5uBuHUx7kQHk_XSaiyBPPmSzRxaNnYiv3qR3xVt3FKnHYV_lfpu0dxZ9gAT6xJTNMwgbYQZiNCI0W1IIkyr_uCTsUWeodIf9fCoCJWHyIv1wkuWva3X8uq4N7cdgPCCkc7tl2i2Lrk9oe30O2WA=s1650" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="920" data-original-width="1650" height="178" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEi2v570z36F-JFYUJIM_rXy7YwMB1IUTQsrPSf3hnZ5uBuHUx7kQHk_XSaiyBPPmSzRxaNnYiv3qR3xVt3FKnHYV_lfpu0dxZ9gAT6xJTNMwgbYQZiNCI0W1IIkyr_uCTsUWeodIf9fCoCJWHyIv1wkuWva3X8uq4N7cdgPCCkc7tl2i2Lrk9oe30O2WA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Deep into injury time, it was Rodri who grabbed the winner – and
subsequently let the City players in a frantic, euphoric celebration in front
of the home fans, like something straight out of the Emmanuel Adebayor
archives. Debris rained down on the jubilant huddle – everything from bottles
to toilet rolls, Arsenal fans made their feelings very aware. But the win was
secured. City’s persistence had kept their winning run going – and extended the
lead at the top of the Premier League table to 10 points.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let’s be abundantly clear here. Arsenal had the chances to win the
game – they just couldn’t find the back of the net more than once. Wasteful
with their efforts, the Gunners lost all discipline once they went down to 10
men. The source of most of the outrage, the VAR decisions, were both correct in
their outcome. Stuart Attwell chose to trust VAR when it came to a first half
collision between the onrushing Ederson and Martin Odegaard – and when the VAR
replays show the incident slowed down, you notice two things. Odegaard has his
foot on Ederson’s and Ederson got the ball. So, correct decision.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The second one was between Granit Xhaka and Bernardo Silva.
Bursting into the box – Xhaka attempted to stop Silva by sticking his leg out,
and then, by pulling his shirt. The Portuguese midfielder eventually goes down
– and this time, referee Attwell consults the pitch side monitor to decide the
outcome. Once again, they are two key elements here. The leg from Xhaka and the
clear and obvious shirt pulling on Bernardo. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There can therefore be no complaints whatsoever from Arsenal fans.
It’s <i>rare </i>that City actually come out on the right end of VAR decisions.
Since it’s inclusion, we can be rightfully aggrieved of many injustices at the
hands of VAR – but this time, the correct decisions were made. So why all the
outrage? Why the condemnation? Why the holier-than-thou response and attitude
that made Arsenal fans so adamant that they should’ve won the game. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Take your chances. Keep your heads. Play to the whistle. This
isn’t rocket science. If they would’ve done that, it may have been a different
story. But it was City who rightfully got the win. An old football cliché talks
about a team’s ‘character’, but in this instance, we really did see a gritty,
ground out victory from Pep’s men. Call me crazy, but sometimes there’s a
greater satisfaction with a smash and grab win – especially with a last-minute
winner that’s celebrated in front of the home fans. This is elite level <i>shithousing</i>
as we call it – City kept going, didn’t give up, refused to take no for an
answer. We’re so used to watching majestic, breath-taking football from the
Blues. While that’s nothing but a delight to the eyes, you’d be lying if you
didn’t love a late winner that we all do delirious for.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I guess it should come as no surprise that City have somehow been
painted as the bad guys yet again. I spoke in KK282 about the many peddled
myths about the club and spent almost 5000 words dispelling each and every one.
But the backlash this time really is tedious. I won’t mention the name of the
comedian that went on a podcast and slagged us off with an entirely hypocrital
and racist rant, he’s had far too much coverage ever since (<i>I’m sure others
will have done throughout this issue</i>). But it’s the tip of the iceberg. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, it’s all down to sour grapes. A very petulant bout of
feet stomping, dummy spitting and toys out of the pram. So imagine my
jubilation when Nottingham Forest beat Arsenal 1-0 in the third round of the FA
Cup. Petty perhaps, but further proof that sometimes people really should let
the football do the talking. I respond online to all of this usually with heavy
doses of sarcasm – GIFs, photographs and memes. Mostly facts too - because
nobody can deny them and people don’t like to hear the truth when confronted
with it. Sometimes, as painful and as restrained as you have to be, it’s often
best to try and be the better person and not get bogged down in tit for tat
Twitter scraps with rival fans. It can take a lot to be the better person, but
it’s worth it to not look like a complete and utter t**t. See the comedian
above for example.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let’s stick to the positives. City are still in three competitions
– but the main thing is leading the race for the Premier League table ahead of
Chelsea by 10 points and Liverpool 11. It’s a formidable position to be in
half-way through the season – having played most of our tough games away from home
too. I went on Five Live recently with fans of both Chelsea and Liverpool and
they both all but conceded that the title race is over. I was much too humble
and pragmatic to admit that the sky blue and white ribbons would be staying on
the trophy for a consecutive season, but there was something exciting about
hearing that both of our closest rivals thought the best option for them was to
concentrate on other competitions. In a way, I think going out of the Carabao
Cup early this season may have done us a favour – less games than them both,
with more of an emphasis on the Premier League. It’s the one I always <i>love </i>to
win. I would love to see us do it for the fourth time in five seasons.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s a long way between now and May, but the key element is always
consistency and momentum. If we keep that up – Jack will be having a party
against his old club on the final game of the season. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now you can file that under ‘things I’ve <i>love</i> to see.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-87207080588017221502022-01-05T06:29:00.006-08:002022-01-05T06:36:01.499-08:00KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - NOVEMBER 2021<p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span></span></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2022/01/king-of-kippax-column-november-2021.html">LITTLE CITY, THE CLUB PEOPLE USED TO PITY: </a></span></span></span></u></b></span></span></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></u></b></span></span></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u><span style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2022/01/king-of-kippax-column-november-2021.html">FOR THE LOVE – NOT THE MONEY</a></span></span></span></u></b></span></span></u></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"><br /></span></span></span></u></b></span></span></u></b></div><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></u></b><p></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-size: 14pt; line-height: 107%;"></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQXnCAtWzvrAwMqB6RpidVqoxIHUG1bvY2pRTFnKebyE6bul3LMT6WvTft3xuOcWzFU9Ek8XdJZrK3Wm4mLHePQMx4a1q2UjF3b-aNIWLyhd8ih05R7ASTA8jx2zVzC84StKPaidvkgzkUN4moLJhAw-zSa8N3QOIbfi21yG0QCQhjHopqdKCrCvP0jg=s2055" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1526" data-original-width="2055" height="238" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjQXnCAtWzvrAwMqB6RpidVqoxIHUG1bvY2pRTFnKebyE6bul3LMT6WvTft3xuOcWzFU9Ek8XdJZrK3Wm4mLHePQMx4a1q2UjF3b-aNIWLyhd8ih05R7ASTA8jx2zVzC84StKPaidvkgzkUN4moLJhAw-zSa8N3QOIbfi21yG0QCQhjHopqdKCrCvP0jg=s320" width="320" /></a></u></b></div><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></u></b><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I remember years ago when I used to go on holiday with my
Mum, Dad and brother, Simon. Simon and I would always try and get the new City
shirt to wear for the plane. Adorned in Brother and Umbro or Kappa, we’d be
ready to jet off to faraway shores wearing our colours with pride.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Awwwwww, you support Manchester City?’ The sympathetic
voices would say, accompanied by a gratuitous, if not entirely patronising head
tilt. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Well yes, yes we do,’ we’d reply, sticking our chests out
like strutting poultry before a journey to the abattoir.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Didn’t know there was two clubs in Manchester,’ they
retorted. The head tilt would continue, swiftly followed by a smirk, before they’d
walk away. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This used to be a familiar occurrence wherever we went. Loveable
old little City. The club people used to pity. The yo-yo club with a managerial
merry-go-round that spun faster than any ride on Blackpool pier. Manchester
City: with their ground deep in Moss Side, with the scoreboard that didn’t work
and white plastic garden chairs for our subs bench. City – the butt of all
jokes. City- the laughing stock of football.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fast forward a couple of decades and Manchester City are now
apparently the root of all evil. A side that have dominated English football
for the past decade; sweeping up regular silverware by playing the beautiful
game the very way that definition intended. A club that signs some of the best
players in football, managed by a Catalan with a distinctly delightful football
philosophy. So, what’s the problem?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whenever I hear that somebody has a problem with City, I
immediately associate it with jealousy. I’ve had so many discussions with fans
of other clubs where I’ve said they all wish their club would’ve had the
takeover we did. They all wish their club was as well run as ours is. They all
wish they could be watching the calibre of players that we’ve been fortunate
enough to watch over the past decade. There’s a lot of resentment out there. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pardon the pun, but City are now a well-oiled machine.
Success is never guaranteed in football: but the seeds were sown, the roots
have grown and the club now consistently win silverware every season. You tell
me a football fan that doesn’t want that for their club and I’ll show you a
liar. So here are the biggest myths associated with City and just how I <i>really
</i>feel about them.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlvqv3gDslc5z_1bRQWLpT-bo6VPDOOEmxJV9e717HaMvFViw6yGFFob17lpbU4TyWnpnbf05dqGMqqkpxkOz614eHOiAXiQXHYS0zXn28w-s6TunUFcPUlnWNKCcNnUj4oh4IeaocGzXbN7TgtFrUm7aIF9nnEtMtrWgwJrbWaeiWiyxv3F0GnmdsMA=s2048" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1536" data-original-width="2048" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEhlvqv3gDslc5z_1bRQWLpT-bo6VPDOOEmxJV9e717HaMvFViw6yGFFob17lpbU4TyWnpnbf05dqGMqqkpxkOz614eHOiAXiQXHYS0zXn28w-s6TunUFcPUlnWNKCcNnUj4oh4IeaocGzXbN7TgtFrUm7aIF9nnEtMtrWgwJrbWaeiWiyxv3F0GnmdsMA=s320" width="320" /></a></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Empty seats at home’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">You can tie this in with ‘you’ve only had fans since 2008.’ <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">We’re still the butt of everybody’s jokes, but now it’s
because we allegedly struggle to fill our stadium. The Etihad stadium is
regularly referred to as ‘the Emptihad’ – fans seem to think we have issues
filling it. City had a regular core support at Maine Road of 28,000 fans: these
fans are working class people who just love football. The football revolution
that happened post-takeover at City has undoubtedly attracted more fans to the club,
but the make-up of bums on seats is still in the main by local, ordinary folk. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What people, staggeringly, fail to realise is that most
normal folk have a balance to address in their lives. Money has never been
tighter and City are regularly still in all four competitions by February (<i>a
rare exception this season, having bowed out of the Carabao Cup earlier than
usual</i>). Following a successful football club doesn’t come cheap and fans
have had to make sacrifices to stay committed to the cause. Champion League group
stage games always attract more ‘irregular’ fans, which dilutes the atmosphere
even further. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some might say these are excuses – I’d like to refer to them
as facts. There’s an argument to say we extended the South Stand a bit too
soon, anticipating higher crowds. But we do still attract regular attendances
of 52,000+. Post-Covid, City gave fans the option to defer their season tickets
for a year in case they were concerned about health issues attending games or
other matters. I know many blues that decided to take that up. I also know
friends who have been put off by the club moving to digital tickets. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Overall, the vast majority of City fans I know were itching
to get back to football after the pandemic. It’s a very testing experience
watching your club solely through a television screen – it’s just not what the
game is all about. It’s a bit soulless; there’s a disconnect, but I will
happily admit that still having football in our lives during Covid certainly
helped with my mental health. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The empty seat facts are that City’s ‘success’ is more
recent to that of longer-established clubs in the Premier League ‘top four’.
The club have only been conducting pre-season global tours for the past decade
or so. The hardcore support is local: most fans have been there, done it,
bought most of the shirts along the way. I’m proud of that though. I welcome
and know fans worldwide who are avid City fans, but the make up in the numbers
tells you most are local. There is no disrespect with truth. From Maine Road to
the Etihad and now the next generation are going to matches too. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">As annoying as the empty seat jibes are – take it as a
compliment. It means they haven’t got much else they can find fault in, so they
generalise a loyal fan base with mythical nonsenses. If it sounds pathetic -
it’s because it really is.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>‘You should grow a conscious’</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is one of my favourites. When the takeover at City
happened back in August 2008, most blues didn’t have a clue what was going on.
I remember watching the news unfold live on Sky Sports on transfer deadline day
bewildered: <i>what was going on? The club has been sold? Who to? </i>Most
people knew of the huge problems with the ownership under Thaksin Shinawatra,
but nobody could’ve seen what happened coming. Suddenly, the tabloids were
awash with headlines like ‘FANTASY FOOTBALL.’ Fans turned up at the Etihad
wearing Arab headwear to watch a player that had boarded a private jet on
deadline day thinking he was heading to Chelsea only to be met by Mark Hughes
and told he was signing for City. Confusion was all around – but clarity wasn’t
far away.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Success didn’t happen overnight - it came after years of
meticulous planning and heavy investment. But the most common diatribe that is
forced upon City fans is when people criticise us for supporting our club,
whilst trying to hold against us the actions of the country that our owner is
from. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘It’s barbaric.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘It’s inhumane.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘How can you be so spineless, why can’t you grow a
backbone?’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let’s make one thing <i>crystal </i>clear. I signed up to
support my inflatable banana-waving, none of the stands match in our ground,
mostly awful at kicking a ball about football club because I just inexplicably
fell head over heels in love with them. My first game, at Goodison Park, was
love at first sight. I never looked back. Call me crazy, but I loved how
perfectly imperfect we were: it was almost a reflection of me. A bit of an ugly
duckling. The imperfections were endearing to me. Manchester City and I are
kindred spirits. We had a manager who lasted 32 days in the job. The chairman
sold toilet rolls. We were getting beat by Bury at home. That’s my football
club. That’s what it was all about – turning up every week wondering what joys
we were going to be subjected to this 90 minute round. Invariably, just when
you think it couldn’t get worse, it did. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then we went on a tour of Division Two, then right to the
brink – and back again. Some of those days – then the Keegan era and the
football we played back then – those away days, were the best days of my life.
Before children and commitments: when disposable income meant never ever
missing a single game. The stories we could tell. The people we met, the
friends we have kept. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But what it all revolved around was football. 11 men kicking
the ball around in a sky blue shirt. Football. The ties that bind us together –
Manchester City Football Club. A sense of belonging, that feeling of home and
familiarity. Sharing it with mates – creating memories you’ll struggle to
remember but never forget. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When the takeover happened – did people genuinely think we
were supposed to walk away from everything we’d ever known? Players come and
go. Owners come and go. The only two constants are the club and the fans. We
support the <b><i>club</i></b> no matter what. MCFC OK. A recognised broadcaster
berated me once for having the audacity to have enjoyed myself supporting my
club and their successes over the past 10 years. I was on national radio –
they’d phoned me to speak about the European Super League saga and, initially,
I was obviously appalled. City fans had been blindsided by it all and we were
all struggling to process the news. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘But you’ve enjoyed it all, haven’t you?’ He said, dryly.
‘You celebrated; you’ve enjoyed every moment.’<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What exactly do you expect me to do? Hold my hands up
because my club have come into a bit of money and say no thanks, you’re
alright, that’s it, I’m throwing the towel in? Seriously? This club has
provided me with some of the worse and best times of my life. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Whether it’s under Francis Lee, David
Bernstein or Sheikh Mansour – I’m supporting them. For me, it’s really not that
deep. It’s football. It’s 11 men kicking a ball of air around a football pitch.
The team that scores the most goals, wins. The club with the most points at the
end of the season, lift a trophy. The fans celebrate. Don’t guilt trip me for
celebrating and enjoying the ride – heaven knows, I’ve paid my dues. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I said I fell in love with this football club and I meant
it. When you love somebody, it’s unconditional. It’s for better, for worse, in
sickness and in health. As far as I’m concerned, I was there for them at their
worst, so am I not allowed to celebrate them at their best because certain
elements of the media disapprove of our ownership? Do you <i>seriously </i>expect
that from loyal fans? Have you seen that from other clubs? Do they berate those
fans as much as us? This isn’t me wallowing in self-pity – make <i>no mistake –
</i>this is me attempting to make said people realise just how ridiculous their
stance is. Let people enjoy themselves free from an illogical cloud of
judgement. <o:p></o:p></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH6j5a_T4qmNV0VNp2iI6To6AkVuHq1xo-9O1j3ty7Xz2resjNmBWgiqhHv0hSudqmLCYQlXCAUsh68yfpwRH5GkyGLs59_VEvlfoA8qrdMuvPypp7-1HEnfO3GlCmrXE_LiijZUPD7kE0yXMX9LF3gCxydClS01LvAkboL6HVnx7Ik7V17-mpmCRzRw=s460" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="276" data-original-width="460" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjH6j5a_T4qmNV0VNp2iI6To6AkVuHq1xo-9O1j3ty7Xz2resjNmBWgiqhHv0hSudqmLCYQlXCAUsh68yfpwRH5GkyGLs59_VEvlfoA8qrdMuvPypp7-1HEnfO3GlCmrXE_LiijZUPD7kE0yXMX9LF3gCxydClS01LvAkboL6HVnx7Ik7V17-mpmCRzRw=s320" width="320" /></a></div>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘The owners will get bored of their project’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">We’re currently 13 years post takeover. There cannot be a
shred of doubt left as to the dedication to the ‘project’ at City from the
owners. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Some owners drain money from their football club. Other
owners simply lie stagnant and refuse to re-invest the colossal sums they make.
<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our owners have gone beyond transforming the football club.
They’ve transformed the entire area surrounding it. They’ve invested heavily
into East Manchester – it wasn’t required, but they did it nonetheless. They’ve
built homes, built a college; the investment has a knock-on effect and benefits
local businesses. Surely that’s to be commended, not condemned? They’ve built a
state-of-the-art training facility, complete with offices, hotel facilities and
invested further in both the academy and women’s teams. It’s a
carefully-planned, meticulous process that has been years in the making to get
to this point.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">City in the Community have recently celebrated their 35 year
anniversary of engaging in youth projects and outreach programmes throughout
Manchester. They do tireless, dedicated work and they deserved significant
recognition. I particularly want to give credit to the ‘Kids Fanzone’ that they
put on before each home game. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’re unfamiliar with them, because you’re in the pub
pre-match, the Kids Fanzone is an interactive and fun-fuelled experience that
is held on one of the indoor pitches at the CFA. The club do one-on-one
sessions, five-a-side kickabouts, football zorbing, arts and crafts, target
practice, goalkeeper sessions, fussball tables and much, much more to involve
the younger generation at City and encourage them to come to games. My two
children, aged seven and four, absolutely <i>love </i>it. The most incredible
part is that the club do this <i>for free</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cynics may see this as a marketing tool for City to entice
children to come to games – I view it as it’s something that no other football
club do for their younger fans. It’s an ingenious idea to make going to the
football a full day out for our children. After all, they’re the ones who we
will all the passing the blue baton onto eventually. One day, they will want to
be in town downing their pints before heading to the Etihad, but for now, while
they’re young enough, it’s a match day experience for them like no other out
there. Most of the staff there too volunteer their time to participate simply
because they love it. I’m incredibly grateful to every one of them (<i>if you
haven’t been yet and you have young children, you can get up to six tickets
free with you season ticket</i>). I know that City in the Community were there
before the takeover, but the owners value it and recognise it as part of the
beating heartbeat of the club.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bored? I think there’s plenty more to come. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘City are that insignificant that nobody cares about them’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, why are you talking about us then? Hypocrite.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘You’re just Wigan Athletic with money’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Well, we finished 15 points above Wigan a few months before
the takeover happened. They may have beaten us in the FA Cup Final and knocked
us out in the quarter finals in 2014, before beating us in the 5<sup>th</sup>
round 1-0 with a solo goal from Will Grigg is on fire, but let’s look at that
as the Latics winning the battles but not the wars. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Wow, those games were grim weren’t they. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it’s safe to say, for the vast majority of the time,
we’ve mostly been better than Wigan Athletic. Money or no money. It’s straw
clutching at its finest. Next.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>‘City are the problem with modern football’</b><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fingers firmly being pointed in the wrong direction. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When did it become acceptable for all clubs not only to
release three football kits a year, but charge an exorbitant amount to fans for
the privilege? Further to this, then release an even more expensive ‘player worn’
kit. Modern football is Sky, Champions League, VAR, half and half scarves,
Go-Pro-ing at the game, vloggers, grown adults making signs begging players to
give them their shirts after the game. Modern football isn’t City-specific –
it’s football-specific; so it’s wrong to try and leave all of the above solely
at our door. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes the problem is modern football as a whole – and is
there really any going back from that, is there?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘City aren’t and never will be a big club’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This is one that even Ole Gunnar Solskjaer peddled out ahead
of the recent Derby at Old Trafford. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘United will always be bigger than City.’ The headline
screamed across the tabloid’s back page.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bigger? What does that even mean? Do you get an open top bus
parade for claiming that your club is ‘bigger’ than the rest? Does size equal
trophies? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Does anybody <i>really</i> care? Once upon a time,
Nottingham Forest, Everton and Aston Villa were ‘big clubs.’ What definition
are you going by? Success in Europe? Is that all it really boils down to?
Sounds like a manhood-swinging competition to me. When all else fails and the
trophies dry up, let’s just claim to be a ‘bigger’ club. That more people
‘care’ about us. Does anybody really care about the ‘big club’ label, is it really
<i>that</i> important and relevant to anything or just does it help you sleep
better at night when your team is floundering and struggling to keep up with
the rest?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">In recent years, the ‘top four’ has been dismantled and
become a thing of the past. This should be welcomed: football had become too
predictable and stale. It should never be a closed office: we saw the rightful
reaction to the European Super League. We should want the Leicesters, the
Citys, the West Hams to be up there too. It freshens it up, it should be encouraged.
Every team should have a chance to challenge the so-called ‘elite’ – it usually
takes a takeover to do it, but clubs have been spending money long before the
Premier League’s nouveux riche. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">People are too quick to point fingers at Leicester, City and
now probably and eventually, Newcastle because of their takeovers. Jack Walker
at Blackburn – the money from his steel business meant that Blackburn Rovers
won the Premier League title. That wouldn’t have happened without his cash injection.
Chelsea and Roman Abramovich – United being floated on the Stock Exchange – it
all comes down to spending to accumulate – although we are currently witnesses
to the fact that spending money doesn’t always guarantee you success. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">The ‘big club’ humble brag is what my old psychology teacher
would tell me is a crutch for the weak. Because it is. Add it to the list of
insults you use because you’re living off past glories and struggling to keep
up in the present.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘City are ruining football’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Did City invent the art of spending money? Did City turn
football into a business? It would be argued that the birth of the Premier
League and the Champions League aided that. Sky constantly changing fixtures
and altering kick off times that regularly make it near on impossible to make
the last train home is nothing short of a disgrace. But we’ve all just grown to
accept it as the norm now, haven’t we? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">12:30pm kick offs, 5:30pm kick offs and now Amazon Prime
with their ingenious 8:15pm kick off times. Sky happily admitted that they knew
fans would probably revolt at first, but would eventually get used to it. The
football times that change on a whim too, when fans have already spent their
hard-earned money booking trains and, in some cases, hotels in advance because
that’s when these things are always cheaper. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s a very similar argument to modern day football, so I
won’t repeat myself, but if you think City are ruining football when they’ve
brought some of the most attractive football you’ll have ever been privileged
to watch to the Premier League, it tends to sound like sour grapes on your
part.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just sit back, watch and appreciate. Sometimes, that’s all
you can do.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">‘You’ve got no history’<o:p></o:p></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">This was the line used at me a few years ago outside the
Etihad by ‘DT’ from ‘Arsenal Fan TV’ fame. I’d say it was bellowed repeatedly
at me with pointed, gesticulating fingers rather than just used, but you get
the idea. It’s a popular one too – I think fans like to use it to make
themselves feel better about their own team’s shortcomings.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">What even defines history though, solely winning silverware?
I argued to him that it’s so much more than that and he wasn’t having any of
it.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve reached a point in my life when I’m just too old in the
tooth to tolerate nonsense. I just say it how it is these days. I’ve learnt
that pandering to people doesn’t work. You get sick of hearing the same
nonsense. How can a club founded in 1880 as St Mark’s, Ardwick Association
Football Club in 1887 and, finally became Manchester City Football Club in
1894, have no history? City have 114 years of history before the takeover
happened. City had won trophies before the takeover happened. It’s yet another
tiring, false narrative that is inaccurate and insulting to the club legends
that City rightly hold in such high regard.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Try telling the late Colin Bell, Mike Summerbee, Francis
Lee, Glyn Pardoe, Mike Doyle, Paul Dickov, Shaun Goater, Nicky Weaver, Kevin
Horlock to name a mere few that the club has no history. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But make sure if you’re daft enough to tell the people who
played a part in creating the history, that it’s to their face and not online.
The coward’s way of insulting people. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh, you don’t fancy doing that? Didn’t think so. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">All of the above and so much more used to really wind me up
no end. People use these myths as a stick to beat City fans with – enough is
enough. Ultimately, we are just loyal, passionate fans like any other club has.
Don’t begrudge us enjoying any good times we may have supporting our team when
we’ve been dedicated to the cause through so many dark days in the past.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I never ever thought I’d live to see the day my team lifted
a trophy. I thought winning the Division Two Play Off final while United won
the treble, including the Champions League, was as good as it would get. I
didn’t think that I’d ever feel that adrenaline rush from Paul Dickov’s goal
and when Nicky Weaver saved the last penalty back in 1999 ever again. We had a
lot of good times and played some great football under Kevin Keegan and they
were brilliant moments…<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But…wow.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">When I take a step back and reflect on just how fortunate
we’ve been…it’s mind blowing when you think about it. The sheer amount of times
we’ve been to Wembley alone; to know that area so well and be so familiar with
it because City have been that often, that is something I still never take for
granted. Any trophy means so much. In fact, trophies or no trophies, strip it
all down and it’s just City that mean the world. Because underneath it all, it
is still our club. Sometimes you have to look a little harder: past the glossy
exterior, the dozens of sponsorships, the ‘City Football Group’ brand that
includes several other clubs dotted around the globe in our network that no
City fan I’m familiar with truly cares about. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it’s there. I see it in City in the Community. I see it
in a few faces that have worked at the club from Maine Road and are still there
now (<i>they’ll probably be too embarrassed for me to acknowledge them by name,
but they know who they are</i>). I see it in the way the club values the young
fans by putting on a free Kids Fanzone before the home games for children to
engage and enjoy. They’re the next generation – they’re the ones who will still
be flying the flag when we’re all worm fodder.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I see it in Dave and Sue, who have worked tirelessly and
thanklessly for years making the best football fanzine out there. They have
dedicated years of their lives having their matchdays disrupted by selling
fanzines before and after the games, home and away, in all manner of weather
conditions to bring you the real voices of the fans. We all know how the media
are now: it relies on clickbait to engage supporters. Fanzines are more
important than ever. They are one of the only outlets nowadays that bring you
real, raw, honest and unsanitised opinion and dialogue from fans. Dave and Sue
are devoted to their cause – City wouldn’t be the same without them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">I see it in the fans. The faces you recognise on away days,
but don’t always know the names. The regular stalwarts. The characters. Pete
the Badge. Helen the Bell (<i>god rest her soul</i>). Jackie. Every fan that
shares this love, this passion, this dedication. The ones who have suffered,
but now reap the rewards of endless loyalty. The club wouldn’t be the same without
them.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cynics will say it’s far from a fairy tale – a Middle
Eastern man helping to payroll these trophies they say – but to us fans, it’s
been the ride of our lives. None of us signed up to a life like this. We didn’t
have a crystal ball that said if we endured enough, we’d enjoy everything else.
How were we supposed to know? Why the hell should we just walk away? It’s time
to cut loyal fans some much-needed slack and recognise them for being just that
– loyal fans. Stop picking holes in people’s support, stop telling other fans
how they should feel and how they should behave – let people live their lives
the way they see fit and they only way they know how to. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">That way is turning up for kick off come rain or shine, come
Francis Lee or Sheikh Mansour, come Lee Bradbury or Sergio Aguero, come
Division Two or the Premier League champions. Because if we’ve learnt anything
throughout this pandemic, isn’t it that football without fans really is
nothing? The show did go on, but it lost its soul. Its sparkle. Its key
ingredient.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fans make football what it really is. They’re the life and
soul of any club. Some of us were here long before the good times came to town.
Some of us fell in love with this football club way back when – flaws and all -
so try and remember that when you’re judging us for being here now. Been there,
seen it, done it, lived it, breathed it – got plenty of t-shirts. Good times,
bad times, awful times, amazing times. No other football club in the world has
been on the journey that we have as fans. The ups, the downs, the twists and
the turns. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">They call it character building – it makes you humble; it
keeps you grounded. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">You know what? I wouldn’t change a thing. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-6048739908891747462021-03-28T02:06:00.006-07:002021-03-28T02:12:52.451-07:00KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - MARCH 2021<p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #d0e0e3; font-size: large;"><b style="text-align: center;"><u><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2021/03/just-dont-mention-q-word.html">MARCH
OF THE INCREDIBLES</a></span></span></u></b></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span lang="EN-US" style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></u></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStRzj3_rpEZ89PweZ9jRPqrmxqcH-sy3GZj_Xkk6xMe8QqQAT4IAWv2WJatpk6sb_6j9GiRLpMZGuSOcqdoZ-zfk3vcfXP5AKqnh-JNsotE7CZjYLwwscJNEhnc08C6xGe31HORjj_mJD/s968/newFile-1.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="645" data-original-width="968" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhStRzj3_rpEZ89PweZ9jRPqrmxqcH-sy3GZj_Xkk6xMe8QqQAT4IAWv2WJatpk6sb_6j9GiRLpMZGuSOcqdoZ-zfk3vcfXP5AKqnh-JNsotE7CZjYLwwscJNEhnc08C6xGe31HORjj_mJD/s320/newFile-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></u></b></div><p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What a difference a few months can make. It
only seems like yesterday since ‘Pep Out’ was trending on Twitter, City were in
the bottom half of the table and Liverpool fans were positively giddy about the
prospect of retaining the trophy they’d waited 30 long years to win.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think it’s safe to say that ship has sailed.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;">Then we had United fans posting pictures of the
Premier League table and claiming Joint Top</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: Calibri; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;">™</span><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"> was a thing.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It isn’t and they’re not. Ole’s reds left with
that sinking feeling yet again.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now Pep is steering City’s juggernaut vessel
downwind with the finish line firmly in sight. Since mid December, it’s been virtually
nothing but plain sailing for City. Our phenomenal 28 game unbeaten run thwarted
only by United, the Incredibles are marching on towards a fifth Premier League
title and Pep’s third – but what other trophies will we secure along the way
and will we all be able to celebrate together in some capacity if circumstances
allow? Brighter days are coming; it’s just a matter of when, not if.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">YOU’VE GOT THE LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I remember when the world as we knew it stopped
turning during the first lockdown in March 2020. When everything came to a
standstill: the skies were stripped bare of planes, the streets desolate and
football was put on pause. When rumours started to swirl about the Premier
League returning, the game as we knew it came under massive scrutiny. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Was it money over safety?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While we were social distancing and wearing
masks, players were able to tackle, line up in a wall and celebrate together
for goals. Was it right? So many questions were asked, but the show must go on
and football did return – and may I say, for the greater good too. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The most recent lockdown has been even more
difficult for so many people. We may not have had football during the initial
lockdown, but we had sunshine in abundance. The feeling that we were all doing
our bit and that it would only be for a limited amount of time meant that people
were almost generous in their enthusiasm to stay at home, wash their hands and
help out in exchange for their freedom in a few months. We all banged our pots
and pans, painted our rainbows and lived in hope for a prompt return to
normality.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">By the time nine months had passed by and Boris
announced another lockdown, the rainbows had faded and most people’s enthusiasm
had long waned. With one of the coldest and wettest Winters for years, the days
were cold, dark, dismal and repetitive. Homeschooling was a firm part of every
parent’s juggling act. But this time, one thing was different. We had the
football. We had City – and boy did we need them.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m grateful for my children, for their
youthful ignorance has been my bliss and a welcome distraction. I’m grateful
for my partner for helping to keep me sane, rational and positive. I’m grateful
for my Mum, for being our single child support bubble and helping with the boys
when the juggle and the struggle has been too much. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But I’m grateful to for City. So, so grateful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For when most of our basic rights and daily
hobbies are taken away from us, City have been the one constant that we’ve
still been able to enjoy. Through the snow, rain and freezing temperatures,
City have been there to offer us some normality and I think that has really
helped me through the past few months. I know that nothing can ever replace
going to matches and I’ve really felt that. For years, we have planned our
lives around the fixture list and to have something so consistent removed from
our lives was initially so difficult. I’ve missed the smells, the atmosphere,
the adrenaline and emotions. But most of all, I’ve missed the people.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It may sound precious with the amount of people
who have lost loved ones and key workers under incredible pressure, but I mean
it with the best of intentions and only in the context of providing us all with
something that is relatable, common and the most welcome of distractions. A
degree of normality in extraordinary times. Not only have City kept us company,
they’ve provided us with the most phenomenal winning run we’ve seen since,
well, City did it last time. 22 wins in a row and 28 games unbeaten – with
Ilkay Gundogan and Pep Guardiola winning the Premier League Player and Manager
of the Month award for January and February. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So many questions had been asked. How would we
cope without Kevin De Bruyne? Could we finally win at Anfield? Where does
Laporte fit in when Stones and Dias have forged such a formidable partnership?
Would Aguero ever play for us again? Possibly the biggest question people had
dared to ask was ‘is Pep done at City?’ <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every question had been answered and then some.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">THE EVOLUTION OF PEP<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There have been a couple of questions that I’ve
been asked a lot recently when I’ve been invited onto the radio. The first one
being, ‘what has changed so much for City to turn their season around since mid
December?’ The second is always, ‘which era of Pep football have you enjoyed
the most?’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll answer the first one. I really feel that
City’s lack of pre-season left them so ill-prepared for the season of the
2020/21 campaign. De Bruyne has always been vocal about this: how much he
struggled to find his feet and settle into the demands and rigours that the
Premier League ask from their competitors. I also voiced my own concerns over
the potential disruption and uncertainty about Pep’s future and whether that
could play a part in players or even the manager himself feeling unsettled.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Once Pep addressed the question marks over his
future and the players found their feet, fitness and rhythm in the season,
there was no looking back. Everything clicked into place: the momentum built,
the consistency was established and, just as important, the mentality and team
spirit was clear for all to see. This was a team flourishing; growing in
confidence and working hard for each other. A team thriving and striving for
success in every competition. It wasn’t so much as Pep was back – he’d never
gone anywhere. And let’s thank our lucky stars for that.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As for the eras? It’s a difficult one. Much
like the luxurious headache Pep has to endure when selecting his starting XI
with such an array of talent at his disposal, we have really been spoilt during
the past few seasons with the football that we’ve lucky enough to watch. So
much so, that it’s testing at the best of times now when it comes to watching
other games on the television. The standard that City have set is so superior
to the rest, it’s often a tedious affair trying to sit through neutral matches.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it’s always only been their own standard
that City have been chasing. City have set the bar so high for everybody. The
eras of Pep at City have been conveniently defined by the club themselves
through the catchy slogans they label the seasons to help the club shop sell
leisurewear. The first season was more of a transition season, so we won’t talk
about that. The second season, 2017/18, was the Centurions season. The era of
free flowing, fantasy football, the likes of which the Premier League had never
seen before. The League was won with a 100 points tally – 19 points ahead of
our nearest rivals, United. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The third campaign, 2018/19, was the
Fourmidables. The season that we won the domestic treble and fought a colossal
battle with Liverpool for the title – toe to toe – winning it on the final day
with a 4-1 victory against Brighton. I think that season is the most stressed
I’ve ever felt following City – well, since the individual games vs QPR 2011/12
and Gillingham at Wembley 1999. The fourth was 2019/20 – a far from normal season
as we knew it and nonetheless, slightly disappointing given our recent
standards.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But this time round, 2020/21, should be
recognized as the season of the Incredibles. A term that Pep used repeatedly after
the 5-2 Southampton win because of the Laporte penalty decision and the
incredulous Foden penalty/non penalty saga, but incredible fits well with City
this season for many different reasons. The reason that impresses me the most
is what I like to call The Evolution of Pep.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Too many times last season, we were coming up
against teams and walking away post-match declaring that Pep’s style had been
‘found out’. A high line, a low block; hit us on the counter, grab a goal, then
sit and defend the lead. Frustrate us. Was it his achille’s heel? How do we solve
the problem? Teams know that by playing too open, they run the risk of us going
full throttle and scoring three, four, five against them. An open game for us
can be like carving a knife through butter. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But Pep has learnt and adapted. This season,
we’ve seen a much more cautious side to his style of play. I think a certain
amount of it has been down to game management: so many games to play and trying
to not expend more energy than necessary. But definitely against United at Old
Trafford and Liverpool at home in the League, we witnessed a manager who was
displaying restraint. A man would had given due diligence to being undone on
the counter by these teams before and who knew the value of one point over
three. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He could’ve rolled the dice and gone for it. I’ll
admit that I was screaming for him to do it. But he knew that, by doing that,
we risked conceding on the break. At the time, I was a bit sceptical. But,
looking back, I realise that it was a clever decision to make. We’ve seen a few
games this season, the Sheffield United games are first that come to mind,
where it’s been methodical and at a much slower and steadier pace than season’s
past. The key has been not to use many subs, not to overly exert yourself. Grab
a goal, keep possession, see the game out. There have been games this season
that we would’ve, or did, lose last season, had we not have evolved and learnt
from past mistakes. It’s a sign of a top drawer manager: one who has won most
things on offer in football but is still learning, adapting and experimenting. But
we’ve seen real guts too. Determination, endeavour, courage, passion and fight.
Some games really have just been about getting over the line. Some have been a
real battle. In a season packed full of matches, I can forgive them for that.
It shows again a different side – no guts, no glory. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The rotation this season has been clever too.
For the best part, we’ve been lucky to have an almost fully fit squad. Many
people talk about the value of our bench – this takes me back to the days of
Garry Cook and <i>that </i>napkin. Although I worked with Garry for a few
seasons, I never saw the napkin, but I know that the idea was to have two
players of real quality in each position across the pitch. To be able to swap
Stones for Laporte, Zinchenko for Cancelo, Rodri for Fernandinho and Kevin De
Bruyne for Gundogan is an extraordinary opulence. It’s even more impressive in
that it doesn’t affect the outcome of games. Each player knows their role when
it comes to the bigger picture. It’s a team effort – you only have to see that
when the players celebrate goals and at the final whistle. They’re working for
each other, striving for their targets and it’s exciting to see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So many players have stepped it up too.
Gundogan, who I have championed since his arrival at the club, was so
influential during De Bruyne’s absence and really came into his own. Bernardo
is back to his brilliant self – his work rate is nothing short of exceptional.
Mahrez – often the scapegoat for so many people – he has been more consistent
of late and produced some dazzling goals. I’m also enjoying him being more
selfless too. He has one of the best touches and techniques I’ve seen from a
footballer; it’s always only been about consistency when it comes to Mahrez.
Cancelo has been a revelation: he’s been our joker in the pack and has played
more of a midfield playmaker role than a full back. Credit has to go to
Zinchenko too. This season he’s been more assured: he’s matured and been more
consistent and assertive. The positives are plentiful.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I could heap praise on each and every player,
such has been the nature of the football we have been enjoying. I’ll save it
for a future article. But I will say this – we cannot underestimate the
importance of how improved our defence has been. The signing of Ruben Dias has
proved pivotal to that: he’s a naturally confident leader. He marshalls,
orders, bellows, instructs and leads with aggression and authority. Alongside a
resurgent John Stones, a solid and consistent partnership has flourished and
it’s been one of the true joys of the season. The confidence that comes with
having a dependable defence has helped to shape our team, mindset and driven us
forward throughout our record-breaking winning run. It’s a team effort – but I
do believe it will be the amount of clean sheets we have kept and the vast
improvement of our back line that has had the biggest say in potentially
bringing the title back to the blue half of Manchester this season.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">WE WILL FIGHT FOREVER MORE, BECAUSE OF…<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Most City fans would’ve known that our
remarkable 21 game winning streak would come to an end sooner rather than
later. Many old school blues would’ve know that was bound to happen against
United. That’s just the way it goes as a City fan. But to lose the game 2-0 at
home in the manner that we did was disappointing to say the least.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I know I may come across as spoilt by saying
this, but there is nothing wrong in admitting how disappointed you are at a
particular result, despite what the League table says. There seemed to be a
real divide on social media after the game. Disappointment yes, but some seemed
to be happy because we still had a sizable lead at the top. But there was still
a decent amount of blues that were bitterly frustrated by not only the result,
but the manner of the defeat. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So many managers of the past have embraced City
and what the club represent: its values, traditions and its DNA. But the only
thing that Pep has never really seemed to grasp is the importance to fans of
winning a Derby game. It may be just another game in a frenetic season to him,
but to the fans it’s a Manchester Derby. The term ‘bragging rights’ is mostly
abhorred by people in football, but when it comes to a Derby game, it resonates
true. Like most blues, I took pelters for years off United fans who were only
too happy to revel in the glory of their successes and the misery inflicted on
us time and time again. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But it’s funny how the tables have turned. They
may not be yo-yoing through the divisions, but their fans seem only too
delighted to bask in the triumph that a Derby victory brings, even if that
means that City still ultimately win the title. Back then, I lived for anything
from a Derby – points from a Derby game meant a successful season in my eyes. I
think <i>that </i>banner that a lot to answer for. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After the defeat, I was conflicted post-match.
I did feel hurt – it had been a while since I’d felt what a loss felt like. But
it doesn’t have to be one or the other. You can still be hugely exasperated at
City losing another game to United under Pep and still be optimistic about the
rest of the season. It’s never been cut and dry supporting this club, it
wouldn’t be City if it was. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A BRIGHTER DAY<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At the time of writing, City are currently
still in all four competitions. But this is a big week coming up – with both
the Champions League second leg against Borussia Moenchengladbach and the FA
Cup quarter final against Everton to play out. A lot has been made of the
club’s chances of winning the quadruple – but nearly all the talk has come from
the media. I don’t think I’ve heard a single fan really mention the possibility
– but you can be sure that, if it doesn’t happen, plenty of rival fans will be
goading us straight away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Ahahahaha, there goes your quadruple!’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Trust me when I say this and I’ll say it louder
for the people at the back (<i>who usually have selective hearing anyway and
believe only what they’re fed by the media</i>); I will be delighted if the
Premier League is the only trophy that we win. To many, it may not be viewed as
progress, or demonstrate a severe lack of ambition on my part. But I <i>love</i>
winning the title and to win it after the first half that we had to the season
too, for me, would be a remarkable achievement. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I understand that expectations have changed and
we have to compete on all fronts. I’d love to win all the silverware. But it’s
not solely what I’m here for. It’s all part of the roller-coaster ride: I still
think we’d get grief even if we won the Champions League. People would stick
find some irrational stick to beat us with. I’m still waiting for Pep to
receive the plaudits he deserves for not only retaining the Premier League, but
for winning the domestic treble that season too back in 2018/19. I know, I’ll
be waiting a long time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rumours have been rife recently about the
prospect of 10,000 fans being allowed in for the last two games of the season.
It would be magnificent to see fans return and I’m assuming the club would have
to organize a ballot to decide which fans would be the chosen ones. I don’t
have a chance because I share a season ticket with my partner at the moment (<i>due
to childcare and financial restraints – I’d always had a season ticket; but had
to give it up when my eldest was born. Since then, I cherry picked my games
until a couple of seasons ago, when we started to share one. Such is life</i>).
But you can be sure of one thing – I’ll be the one leading the socially
distanced conga outside the stadium! <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I think just the thought of that situation
would put so many smiles on people’s faces. Nothing has been won yet: as City
fans we know better than to get the open top bus out until it’s mathematically
certain. Even when we’re 3-0 up in a game, I find myself unconvinced until the
final whistle, which is ridiculous considering the football we have played this
season. I know that in an ideal world, we would love the Etihad stadium packed
to the rafters to cheer on the boys to victory in the blazing Manchester
sunshine (<i>should the weather Gods comply</i>). But these haven’t been normal
times for a time and I’d be happy to take anything if it meant being reunited
with familiar faces that I haven’t seen for so long and celebrating together –
even if masks and social distancing has to be in place. Ultimately, like everything
during the past 12 months, that will be decided by the government. Let’s see
what happens.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It really has been a season like no other and
there’s still so much to come from it yet. Rest assured, we will all be back
together in the not-too-distant future. We have so much to potentially look
forward to. So many reasons to be optimistic. We’re bound by our love of all
things blue – so let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope we can all be together
to celebrate soon too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily</span><o:p></o:p></span></b></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-67824101982725664622021-01-21T11:13:00.005-08:002021-03-28T02:14:15.117-07:00KING OF THE KIPPAX FEATURE - JANUARY 2021<p><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></p><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2021/01/colin-bell-1946-2021.html" target="_blank">‘I
was put on this Earth to be a footballer’</a></u></span></b></span></h2><h2 style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2021/01/colin-bell-1946-2021.html" target="_blank">My tribute to
the King of the Kippax, Colin Bell</a></u></span></b></span></h2><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="background-color: white;"><b><u>1946 - 2021</u></b></span></span></div><div><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="background-color: white; line-height: 107%;"><u><br /></u></span></b></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><b><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBKMg66EyE01jasPbjogaa8gXVzsDA8ZykZPlSd7DyxuDqZ6zEveM-tUkKXUF0Aw6JTXkdMqvLyWP_Ri5uDvidP2V81EYyeKf3i4U5VGwyzMp1CjrMcORBwetn90xOFwKSNzV8QWScLP3/s736/e13861073b675111294c022a5b945b1d--football-vintage-manchester-city.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="736" data-original-width="736" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqBKMg66EyE01jasPbjogaa8gXVzsDA8ZykZPlSd7DyxuDqZ6zEveM-tUkKXUF0Aw6JTXkdMqvLyWP_Ri5uDvidP2V81EYyeKf3i4U5VGwyzMp1CjrMcORBwetn90xOFwKSNzV8QWScLP3/s320/e13861073b675111294c022a5b945b1d--football-vintage-manchester-city.jpg" /></a></div><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></b></span></div>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When the news broke about Colin Bell, my first
reaction was disbelief. I think in grief, we go through different stages:
disbelief, denial, reluctant acceptance, then reflection, amongst many others.
As fans, we’re so used to footballers being our heroes. We put them on a
pedestal to worship, admire and respect. We don’t stop and think for a second
that one day they will be gone. It couldn’t be that day. It surely wasn’t time.
<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My instant thought was to my boyfriend’s Dad.
Stephen Porter is 70 years old – he’d often relay passionate stories to me
about the days of following Bury because of Colin Bell. He was such a fan, so enamored
that he followed Bell when he made the move to Maine Road and Manchester City –
and has remained a blue ever since.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was the fondness, sincerity and warmth in
which he discussed Bell that struck such a chord with me. This player he spoke
so highly of left a huge imprint on his life – the days out he had following
City and the goals Bell scored during those days that lit up his life. Bell was
the one – nobody could ever come remotely close to him as a footballer and,
once he’d met him, a person. He wept when he met him, he wept when he heard of
his passing. His hero. <i>The</i> hero.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">He named my boyfriend after him – Colin was a
popular name amongst Mancunians of a certain age who had been lucky enough to
witness Bell play. If you were one of those lucky ones – treasure those
memories. The outpouring of emotion from so many City fans after the tragic
news broke was remarkable, with hundreds of blues sharing their own personal
stories and tales of what Colin meant to them and the emotion they felt to hear
of his passing. It was the mark of the man to the reach and effect he had on so
many.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A generation of us in that sense were born in
the wrong era and only have the grainy YouTube videos and stories passed down
to us to go off. But every story shared, each tale told, helps to educate the
younger blues on why Colin is held in such a high regard by City fans, the club
and football as a whole. The videos of young City fans on away days in the
concourse, beer flying everywhere, arms flailing, singing ‘he’s the leader of
Man City’ to Colin’s song from the terraces is further proof to that – the
respect we all show to the former footballer who has left a legacy in sky blue
behind, transcending the ages, for all of us to cherish.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A legend in every sense of the word<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A man who had a stand named after him by the
club he achieved so much at. A man who could never understand why people would
walk up to him outside the ground and ask to shake his hand, want a photograph
with him to treasure or an autograph to frame. A man so humble and so unaware
of the impression he had left on so many people’s lives – yet Colin Bell really
was a legend in every sense of the word.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After
starting his career at Bury, he made his name playing for City in the so-called
‘golden era’ of football during the 1970s. He was part of the ‘dream team’,
playing alongside Mike Summerbee and Francis Lee and won numerous accolades and
trophies for the Blues.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Colin went
on to play for England, but his career was cut tragically short when he
severely injured his knee during a match against City’s arch rivals, Manchester
United. He was only 29 and at the peak of his career. After recovering, Colin went
on to play in America at the San Jose Earthquakes, but eventually retired,
leaving behind a career full of silverware and goals.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was lucky
enough to interview Colin – I am still incredibly aware of just how fortunate I
am to have been able to do this, because he very rarely gave interviews. When I
asked him where was best to meet, he suggested in the Marks and Spencer café at
the Gemini Retail Park in Warrington. This was typical of Colin – beyond
normal, not an ounce of flash or awareness as to his distinction or fame in any
way. He even bought the teas. He was warm, passionate, genuine and a lovely,
decent human being. Above all – he absolutely loved football. Football and
Manchester City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I don’t
know if anything made me want to become a footballer,’ Colin said.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just thought that I was put on this Earth to
be a footballer. That’s the way it went through the early stages of my life in
school. I was always playing football. I always went everywhere with the ball
at my feet. I was playing football at school at an early age. I just thought,
at the back of my mind, even though I was going through school, I would become
a professional footballer.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘It’s only
in hindsight, years down the line, you realize how lucky you are that it all happened
that way. There are a million kids that dream of becoming a footballer now and
it never happens for them. But fortunately enough for me, it happened.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Modest,
unassuming yet astonishing<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Happen it
did. He started his career at Bury and scored 25 goals in 82 appearances for
the Shakers. After three seasons and being club captain, in 1966 he moved to
City for £45,000 under manager Joe Mercer. During his 13 years at City, he
scored 152 goals in 492 games and endeared himself to the City fans forever,
who gave him the nickname ‘King of the Kippax.’ He was a box-to-box midfielder
who did everything: ran, chased, tackled, tracked back, passed and scored. He
was a complete footballer – he ticked every box. But he almost acquiesced in
just how brilliant a footballer he was. Modest, unassuming yet astonishing. Football
was all he ever knew.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I was
close to three players at City because they had a similar personality to me –
quiet and reserved. Alan Oakes, Glyn Pardoe and Mike Doyle. If we ever went
away on club trips, we would tend to run together and play golf together. We
did everything together when we were away with the club, basically because we
shared a similar personality and temperament.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I just
loved football. I just wanted to be a professional footballer. I just loved it.
To me, it was a hobby, but to become a professional footballer and get paid for
doing something that you love, there’s nothing better in life. I was getting
paid to do something I loved. It was fantastic. From being a young child, I
wanted to be a footballer and it worked out for me. I was very lucky.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I wouldn’t
have changed when I played. The only thing that I would probably change would
be the wages and probably the pitches. Other than that, the time I played, the
people that I played with and against, I personally feel that it was a better
era. A better time in life and a better standard of football, better everything
other than the two things I mentioned.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
influence of Bell alongside players like Francis Lee, Pardoe, Doyle, Oakes,
Neil Young, Mike Summerbee, Joe Corrigan amongst many others, helped City to
win the Second Division, First Division, the FA Cup, the European Cup Winners’
Cup and the Charity Shield and League Cup twice. He made 48 appearances for
England and played three games during the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘The thing
that I am most proud about is when you come out on top after those 42 League
games,’ Colin mused. ‘So I would say winning the Championship was my favourite
achievement. Winning the League is so, so hard to do. It’s a huge achievement.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘But for
glory, it would probably be the FA Cup in 1969. I was lucky enough to win that
as well. Both of those come very high in honours really. But the most important
thing for me was when I got injured and I came back from the bad injury to
really be able to finish my career.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I had
this connection with City supporters from day one’<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The knee
injury that Colin sustained in 1975 came as a huge blow. He was only 29 and at
the peak of his career. His determination to recover and play again for City
from the injury gave him his favourite memory as a footballer; the game that
marked his comeback after two years out, against Newcastle United on Boxing
Day, 1977.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘My
favourite game has to be that day,’ Colin said. ‘There were 45,000 fans there
and I got a standing ovation from both sets of fans. I just had this connection
with the supporters from day one at City. They just took to me straight away
and the reception that I got on this particular day was absolutely fantastic.
Football is a team sport, but this day I came on as substitute at half time, it
was a standing ovation for me personally. I will always remember that game, it
was my number one game. I’ve played for England, I’ve won these trophies, but
that had to be my favourite game. It will stay with me forever.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After 13
wonderful years at City, Bell made the move across the Atlantic to play for San
Jose Earthquakes, alongside another footballer who had made his mark in Manchester,
this time playing in red – George Best. Bell, so reluctant to recognize his own
brilliance, was quick to heap praise on others when and where he felt it was
deserved.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘George was
very special,’ he said. ‘He will stand out in history as a great player and he
really was. But the number one thing about George Best, even though he was a
great player, he was a lovely person. I used to run with him when we played for
the Earthquakes. We played away somewhere and we would run together. He was a
genuinely lovely person. I hadn’t met him prior to that: all the times that I
played against him when he was at Manchester United and I was at City. I hadn’t
bumped into him or gone out with him. But for a few months at San Jose, I got
to know him and he was lovely. But, as everybody knows, he was a very special
player.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bell called
time on his career after only a few games for the Earthquakes but looks back
with nothing but the fondest of memories. He went on to open a restaurant in
Whitefield, alongside his former Bury team-mate Colin Waldron, called Bell
Waldron, before becoming a Club ambassador for City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I opened a
business when I retired,’ Bell stated. ‘I had a restaurant in Whitefield, many
years ago. I knew that it was a short career. Nowadays they can retire on the
amount of money that make, but in those days you had to have something to fall
back on. So I opened a restaurant for when my career came to an end and I had
it probably for about 10-15 years. But now, if they play for three or four
years, players can be set for life.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I’ve
always considered City as a big, big club’<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bell’s
first wage at Bury was £12 a week and he admitted how much football has
transformed since throughout the years, conceding that finances were key to
success in order to compete at the highest level. But it wasn’t always that
way.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Football
is moving with the times,’ Bell said. ‘The thing that I have always thought
about over the years, is why somebody with money hadn’t invested in City
sooner. I’ve always considered City as a big, big club. Why we hadn’t had
interest from people with money before, I’ll never know. I’ve had my fingers
crossed for a long time that somebody would finally come in with money and I’m
so glad that finally happened.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘The money
was needed without a doubt, you can’t go anywhere without money nowadays in
football. The Premier League had become very predictable, it was always the top
four clubs winning everything because they had money. That’s unfair to the
rest. In my time, everybody in the First Division always had a chance of
winning the Championship because it was the same wages for everybody. Everybody
could afford the top players so everybody had an equal chance. But now, it’s a
crying shame that the other clubs are just struggling and there’s talk of relegation
from day one. It’s a crying shame.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I do think
the money involved these days though is well and truly over the top. It’s a
short career and I do believe that footballers should be paid decent wages
because they are entertainers. They are classed as entertainers. I think it
should be a good wage, but the wages at the moment that you keep reading about
in newspapers are well and truly over the top.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I can’t
blame the players for taking the money. It isn’t their fault. If somebody comes
along to you and says there’s X amount of money, I’m sure you would just say
thank you very much. It isn’t their fault. There should have been a ceiling
years ago on transfer fees and on wages. Somebody at the top should’ve done
that a while ago. It’s too late to change it now. A lot of footballers would
agree that they are very lucky to be picking up the kind of wages that they
are.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Let’s
give some of our youngsters a try’<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Bell was
lucky to play alongside so much homegrown talent in a City side that featured
many Mancunians – something that is increasingly rare nowadays in the sport. But
he also acknowledged that the game now has benefitted from an influx of foreign
talent, although he still wanted to see the youth prevail too.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘There were
a lot of Manchester lads back then,’ he said. ‘Which was great because I was a
Manchester team. I would think that about 50% of the players were Manchester
lads. You talk about foreign players coming in now; I don’t mind the quality
players coming in, I didn’t like it a few years ago when they first started
coming in, but you’ve got to draw the line somewhere. Once the quality players
are coming in, I would rather give English players a chance after that. By all
means, bring quality in if it’s going to improve the team, but at some stage
you have got to draw the line and say, we have got the quality players now,
let’s give some of our youngsters a try or our own players. I think it should
be a happy medium really.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Colin also
had some words of advice for the younger generation of footballers. Facing the
glare of the media spotlight and the scrutiny of a social media-driven world,
it’s a very different era for players these days to the one that Bell excelled
in.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘Football
is a short career and you have got to knuckle down and be whiter than white,’
Bell stated. Especially nowadays with the amount of press and television coverage.
It only lasts perhaps 10-15 years, so it isn’t a great length of time, so you
have to put the brakes on everything and be whiter than white. That’s how
professional footballers should be. I get annoyed or frustrated when they get
caught out, whether drinking or doing things that they shouldn’t do. They know
what the press are like, they are looking for anything. They shouldn’t give
them an excuse – they should be squeaky clean.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><b><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I was
blessed and so lucky to play football’<o:p></o:p></span></span></b></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For such a
glittering career, his injury was his own regret. In 2004, he received an MBE
for his services to football. Yet despite all his achievements, he still felt
like he could’ve won more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘I picked
up an injury when I could’ve played for another five years with the way my career
looked at that moment in time,’ Bell said. ‘To add another five or so years
onto my career when I was at the top and had played 40-odd times for England, I
could’ve probably reached 100. I could’ve probably won more trophies. I
could’ve probably got another 200 or so appearances in, my goal-scoring chart
would’ve looked better…there’s so many things. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">‘But that’s
my only regret. I was blessed and so lucky to play football.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
thousands that were fortunate enough to have witnessed his genius will agree.
They were all exceptionally lucky to have stood and watched his talent, his
skill, his dedication and his passion. Those who didn’t, have listened to the
tales with disbelief, in bewildered awe. He starred in the ‘ballet on ice’
game, featured during the match that condemned United to relegation from the
First Division and remains City’s 4<sup>th</sup> all-time top scorer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For a
player to touch people so deeply with such longevity, tells you everything you
need to know. Colin Bell will be remembered not only by City fans, but by
football as a whole, for being one of the best midfielders the sport has ever
seen. He made the number eight shirt his own. He was the beating heart of the
Club.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">King of the
Kippax. A legacy for a legend. So drink a drink a drink to Colin the King, the
King, the King. Forever the leader of Man City.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily
Brobyn<o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span lang="EN-US" style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily</span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-84769720096203110192020-10-09T04:15:00.002-07:002020-10-09T04:34:44.501-07:00A CRAZY START TO THE SEASON...
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/a-crazy-start-to-season.html">A STATE OF FLUX</a></u></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/a-crazy-start-to-season.html">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - OCTOBER 2020</a></u></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/a-crazy-start-to-season.html"></a><br /></span></span></b></p><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><p class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVIMnk4w7Usk8WOdS4Y4gybI595WJmLXcI6q0pIaMcLdCkOf88BVD-OLX56R2CkRRJQUOzfaZWiac33UtciCHZVCdCEmjPGhnKvrRNTHlXUb4wQNap1eKJ5xK4jnhHxF57nVSpdKWq0QM/s1024/https___images.saymedia-content.com_.image_MTc1ODQ3NzYzOTM2ODE0MTM1_fbl-eng-pr-leeds-man-city-copy-2.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="683" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgVIMnk4w7Usk8WOdS4Y4gybI595WJmLXcI6q0pIaMcLdCkOf88BVD-OLX56R2CkRRJQUOzfaZWiac33UtciCHZVCdCEmjPGhnKvrRNTHlXUb4wQNap1eKJ5xK4jnhHxF57nVSpdKWq0QM/s320/https___images.saymedia-content.com_.image_MTc1ODQ3NzYzOTM2ODE0MTM1_fbl-eng-pr-leeds-man-city-copy-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></p></span></span></b><p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-size: 16pt; line-height: 107%;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></b><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m writing this a couple of days
after City’s 1-1 draw against Leeds United at Elland Road. Our season has been
underway for a couple of weeks now, but has already been halted for the next
fortnight due to international games. Safe to say, it’s been a <i>very</i>
interesting start. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ll try and separate the
sensational and the rational because the reaction between City fans has been so
incredibly indifferent. I’d like to think I always just tell it as it is,
although a few people do seem to think I’m always a bit <i>too </i>optimistic.
I do like to find a positive in any situation and that applies to life in a
broader aspect too. For City, as I see it at this moment in time, certainly
seem to be in a state of flux.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">KEEPING HIS GUARD UP</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pep Guardiola. The enigma
himself. Rumours swirled throughout the six-week break regarding his future at
City and none of those have been addressed yet. I never wanted to enter the new
season knowing that, as it stands, it’s Pep’s last season in charge at the
Etihad. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I always wanted some
clarification and reassurance. My feeling was that we could do with no
uncertainty in any way. As the games go by, the last thing anybody would need
would be question marks over the manager’s future at the club and a potential
saga detracting and distracting from what is happening on the pitch. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I feel like at the moment, I’m
always looking for clues. Perhaps I’m overthinking it. I do that a lot. But I’m
looking at Pep’s body language, trying to over-analyse what he says. What does
that mean? Should I read further into that? Is he happy? Does he really care
anymore? I’m driving myself a bit crazy with it and it’s absolutely not how I
wanted the season to go. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Would I be doing that is
everything was going tremendous on the pitch and we were sitting pretty at the
top of the League? Possibly not. But I feel like it’s not helping anybody
knowing that, at the moment, City could have a new manager next season. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Two important points here. <b>Some
fans don’t mind that</b>. A section of Blues genuinely feel like Pep’s time
here is done. In some ways, it feels like a transitional season. Are the
signings he has made enough? Has he not been given more money to spend because
some of it is being held back for a new manager next season to spend on a
striker, amongst other positions? One said if the results continue like this,
he should be sacked by Christmas. Reactionary or realistic? Everybody is
entitled to their opinion after all. Have City become too predictable? Have
teams sussed us out? Does Pep react too slowly to change games?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The second point is <b>Pep has nothing
to prove to anybody</b>. Least of all, you and me. Yes, the Champions League
saga will always be his achilles heel at City, as it was at Bayern. Should his
time at the club be judged solely on his failures in that competition? No. It’s
completely wrong to ignore everything else he has achieved at City: the record
point tallies the trophies won, the domestic treble, not to mention watching
some of the best football I’ve ever seen any players play in a City shirt.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I feel like the past five years
have gone by in the blink of an eye. Time flies when you’re having fun; maybe
it’s only recently when the party seems to have slowed down that I’ve realised
how close we are to seeing the end of Pep at City. For me, it would be a
travesty. For others, the time has come. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I do have to admit though, I’m
still not over the Lyon game. I don’t think I’ll ever understand what really
happened in Lisbon that night. The King of overthinking, yet a revolutionary
football genius all the same.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">ALL BETS ARE OFF</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">After the 5-2 Leicester defeat
and the 1-1 draw at Leeds, a lot of blues were panicking. Questions over our
defence, questions about Pep’s future and questions about our new signings and
if they’re good enough. With starting the season after most other teams due to
the Champions League last season, we’re already playing catch-up – and the heat
was on.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then Super Sunday happened.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Leicester – the team who beat us
comprehensively just a week previous, albeit with the help of three penalties
due to some school-boy defending by City, lost at home to West Ham 3-0. A
surprise for a team that had started the season so well.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Next up, United. With an
indifferent start, Spurs’ manager Jose Mourinho travelled to his old stomping
ground Old Trafford, with a point to prove. Boy did he do that. A 6-1 thumping
of United at home doesn’t happen every week <i>(good memories for us blues!)</i>.
It was another Solksjaer disaster class – how Leicester got £80 million for
Harry Maguire will always be one of life’s biggest mysteries. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just when we thought the day had
served up enough surprises, along came Liverpool.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With three wins from three games,
Klopp’s side had started the season strongly. Who would’ve thought that a visit
to Villa Park would involve a complete capitulation from the current champions?
A mess from kick off right through to the final whistle, Villa put in the most
incredible performance to dominate and penetrate; resulting in a 7-2 victory
for the home side. The biggest ever defeat that a reigning Premier
League-winning side has ever suffered: leaving everybody stunned and bemused as
to what twists and turns the day had served up.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It definitely put our 1-1 draw
against Leeds into perspective. Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds have been playing some
swashbuckling football and to go there and get a point could ultimately prove
to be important. Not many other teams will get anything from their visits
there, although I sense if both teams would’ve been playing in front of a
sell-out crowd at Elland Road, the result could’ve been very different.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">That’s the thing to remember. There
are so many contributing factors to this extraordinary, unprecedented season,
that mean that we may just have to embrace the madness that unfolds. Players
having to self-isolate and miss games due to producing a positive Covid test, no
crowds generally meaning that home advantage doesn’t exist anymore and
tiredness from players who didn’t have much of a break and no pre-season of
note. All bets are off. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">WELCOME TO THE PLEASUREDOME</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Much has been said about the new
signings that City have made. Plenty of people have been questioning if they’re
enough, or good enough. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Nathan Ake, a 25 year old Dutch
defender, was signed from Bournemouth and initially, seemed to leave quite a
few people under-whelmed. Signing a defender from a relegated club, will he be
good enough? </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I was cautiously enthusiastic. He
can play either centre back or full back, which is always a bonus, it helps to
have that versatility. Plus what I loved was the well wishes that he received:
a lot of people spoke very highly of him and you can see the impact he had
amongst his team-mates. He adds some much needed height too and, from what
we’ve seen so far, he’s been consistent and reliable. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One signing I was really excited
about was Ferran Torres. A highly rated 20 year old midfielder from Valencia,
Torres is tipped to be the best winger coming out of Spain right now. He’s made
an interesting start at City: he scored at Turf Moor during the Carabao Cup
fourth round win there and he got two assists so far. His blend of attributes
makes him such a dynamic player – a winger who loves to cut inside, take
players on and shoot. Pace and trickery in abundance. But one thing I’ve
already noticed about him is his work rate – something that certainly sets him
apart from the winger we’ve just sold to Bayern Munich. A few blues have called
him a ‘luxury signing,’ but I think he’ll prove a snip and do really well for
us. I’m excited to see how he develops and progresses at City.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Finally – Ruben Dias. Arguably
the position we were all desperate to strength in was centre back and, after a
summer of ‘will-they, won’t they’ surrounding Napoli’s Kalidou Koulibaly, it
was Dias who was announced just days before the window shut.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Signed from Benfica, Dias was
club captain before departing for Manchester. I won’t profess to know much
about the Portuguese international, because I don’t, but he looked promising on
his debut against Leeds. A few fans were torn about what they wanted from a
centre back: do we sign a younger player and hope he grows and develops in the
back line, or do we bring somebody in who is more experienced and can hit the
ground running. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We know we’ve had problems
surrounding our defence, perhaps even before Vincent Kompany left. People keep
saying we haven’t replaced Komps – how do you replace the irreplaceable? You
don’t. You can’t. Not only for his defending, but his attitude, passion and
leadership. We’ve lacked in all those departments since he left. It’s his qualities
we’ve desperately missed and could really do with. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You knew as soon as you saw him
in the line-up, we’d fight. That’s what I can deal with. I can cope with a
defeat, so long as the players battle, fight and look like they care. If it’s
all half-hearted, with a lack of desire, it’s bitterly disappointing. All you
want as a fan is to see the players play like you wish you could if you were
out on that pitch. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But with Nicolas Otamendi gone,
John Stones in and out of the team through injury and players testing positive
for Covid so missing games, are the signings enough? For me, the left back
position has always been a problem right back to having Gael Clichy and
Aleksandar Kolorov. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It has always been ‘square peg,
round hole’ when it comes to left backs. When we signed Ben Mendy, we thought
our prayers had been answered. Then he suffered a horrific knee injury. Delph
and Zinchenko were asked to fill in and did remarkably well at the time, given
the circumstances. Both were playing out of position and helped us cope, helped
us to silverware. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now Delph has long gone –
Zinchenko is not a left back. I’d always said I hadn’t seen enough of Mendy to
be able to judge his ability – he’s been unlucky with injuries at City and been
in and out of the first team. But I do feel like now, I’ve seen enough. I’ve
been willing to give him the benefit of the doubt for so much now. He’s had a
pass because of his injuries, but I can’t continue to defend him and deflect
from what is glaringly obvious – he’s just not good enough.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I also think we need a striker –
but I’d be willing to wait a year for Erling Haaland. That is for sure.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">TEAM TALK</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Carrying on with the Mendy talk.
I am willing for him to prove me wrong. Please Ben, please do it. But I’m
always torn when I watch him. When he’s bombing forward on the wing and
whipping in a cross to assist – fantastic. When he’s struggling to defend and
committing stupid fouls – not so great. Pep loves nothing more than attacking
full backs, but they’ve still got to be able to defend. If Mendy can’t, then
he’s a winger, so should be treated as such?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It pains me to single out
individual players to subject them to such criticism, but you’ve got to be able
to be diagnose problems throughout the team as you see fit. Just don’t message
them abuse on social platforms – there’s no need and I’ve seen plenty of people
doing it recently. Let’s keep it classy, blues.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Another player that frustrates
the life out of me with Riyad Mahrez. You can’t be critical about him on any
social media platform, because he has the most loyal, vicious fanboys that
defend him every step of the way. It is so perplexing. But there are reasons to
be critical. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When he scores, the goals are
often remarkable. Thunderbolts. Net rippers. But if Gabriel Jesus was born
offside, Mahrez was born selfish. How many times do we see other players in
great positions around him and, instead of passing, he shoots? It’s often
preferable for him to pass instead of shoot. When he played as a false nine
against Leeds, I felt like he impaired instead of inspiring us. He didn’t press
like a false nine should, he looked lazy. At times his positioning was far too
static. When you’re instructed to play in that role, you should constantly be
chasing down the ball. It was exasperating. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Whether we like it or not, this
is a transitional period. The team we had during the record-breaking seasons of
2017/18 and 2018/19 has fragmenting and is changing. Evolving. Players come,
players go – nothing ever lasts or stays the same forever. Which means patience
is required. You can’t win everything all of the time, especially when the
clientele is different. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As things stand, it’s
Fernandinho’s, Aguero’s and Pep’s last season. Think about that for a minute
and think about how influential, important and crucial <b><i>all three</i></b>
have been to City’s successes.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I understand that having a
manager of the calibre of Pep sends the expectations into the stratosphere –
especially with the silverware and the achievements we have reached during his
tenure. Seeing Liverpool romp the Premier League last season has added to that
pressure. Competition is good – and winning silverware creates a lifestyle as a
fan that is insatiable and addictive. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There are plenty of positives. Kevin
De Bruyne – finally winning individual awards to recognise the exceptional
talent that he is – is in my opinion, the best midfielder in the world right
now and he plays for Manchester City. Phil Foden, England drama aside, is one
of the countries finest young players and he is finally getting consistent game
time. 17 year-old Liam Delap, one of our EDS stars, scored an incredible goal
during his debut in the Carabao Cup game against Bournemouth and looks to be
another encouraging Academy player. Raheem Sterling has now scored 34 goals in
all competitions since the start of last season. That’s just for starters. Look
for positives and you will find them.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There does seem to be a divide
between fans on social media. Some fans are just really happy to enjoy the ride
– they may mention the ‘good old days of York away’ for perspective and context
every now and again, so their criticism of any current results are minimal.
‘We’re not really here’, ‘going down with a billion in the bank’, let’s just
see what happens next week. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Generally these fans are branded
‘happy clappy’, ‘living in the past’ and ‘delusional’ by other fans – the fans
who are ‘hyper critical’: these tend to be fans who are in the ‘Pep Out’
category. A defeat triggers a deluge of reproach and condemnation. They tend to
refer to themselves are mere ‘realists’, thinking the club are papering over
their many cracks and that the team have problems all over the pitch, from the
goalkeeper to the strike force and beyond. A win creates ‘smoke and mirrors’
for these supporters – you do tend to wonder, with that much pessimism in their
lives just from City alone, how they’re coping with life in general in 2020.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I would like to think I’m a bit
of both. I’m capable of referencing our time in Division Two with nostalgia,
whilst still recognising that we do live in the here and now and it’s only
right and fair to judge a game off our current circumstances and not by which
division City played football in 20-odd years ago. When we have a stormer and
tear a team apart, I will heap praise on every player where it is due.
Likewise, if we have a stinker, I’ll rightly criticise. It’s all about having a
balance and being honest. Just call it as you see it. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I never thought in my wildest
dreams, I’d live to see City win the trophies we have done. I could’ve never
predicted that I’d go to Wembley that many times to the point where I’ve
actually now lost count. I am so grateful, so appreciative for all the
incredible memories City have given me. Of course I want to keep experiencing
that – winning is infectious – once you’ve tasted it, you want more. It’s
addictive. My eldest has been to dozens of matches and still never seen us get
beat. He’s been to Wembley three times and had a 100% win record there. He
doesn’t know he’s born. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But I’m also realistic. You can’t
win everything all the time, you just <i>can’t.</i> You can’t win every single
game. I do believe that, at the time of writing, we seem to be in a situation
where to a certain extent, we have been found out. We don’t have much of a Plan
B - but when Plan A works, it’s spectacular. Plan B seems to be whipping crosses
in to our strikers, who aren’t the tallest of people, which normally isn’t
effective. Teams know that we struggle against the low block: sit your team
behind the ball, absorb the initial 25 minutes of pressure, frustrate us, limit
our movement and attack us on the counter to exploit our vulnerabilities and
you’re in with a chance. That’s the situation we find ourselves in right now.
So where do we go from here?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, what most fans do
agree on is that football without fans just isn’t anywhere near the same. With
the introduction of VAR, the ridiculous hand ball rule and now, Covid, fans are
becoming increasingly disillusioned with what once was the beautiful game. How
is it fair that, in early October, you could go to a cinema to watch a live
football game, but not be sat outside, watching the game itself for real? </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Plans were in place for fans to
return to grounds in a staged approach, so only allowing a certain amount of
fans in at once, but I don’t believe it’s remotely fair to let any fans in
until <b><i>all </i></b>fans can return. What fun is it being selected to go to
a game, when none of your mates will be there, because the selection process is
a lottery as to who gets let in and who doesn’t? The whole part of what makes
match day so special is the fellow blues you endure, or enjoy it, with. I miss
it more than I ever thought possible. But I’m prepared to wait for the day when
we can all enjoy it together.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><b><span style="font-family: arial;">TALKING US UP</span></b></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As usual, I’ve been keeping
really busy. 2020 has been such a difficult year for everybody: I’ve been
pre-occupied with my children and other work projects, but my media work has
increased again post-lockdown.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I made the difficult decision to
finish contributing to the ‘Forever Blue’ podcast. It was something I’d been
thinking about for a long time. I’m beyond grateful for the opportunities that
have come my way as a result of being involved in such a platform, but I felt
the time was right to walk away to experiment with other avenues. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m being asked onto BBC Radio
Manchester’s ‘Talking Balls’ show a couple of times a week. I think both Kyle
and Gaz are brilliantly talented <i>(although I’ve seen Dave say otherwise in
here before, can’t win them all!) </i>and it’s a pleasure to be involved with
such a great show. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I still get asked to go on BBC
Radio 5 Live, it’s always the breakfast show. I was asked to film a piece for
Football Focus alongside my partner and two children and I’ve been booked to go
onto BBC Radio 5 Live Sport to appear on ‘The Squad’, a popular show that is
broadcast on Sundays. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’ve also had a few messages from
different City fan-based media outlets asking me to be involved. I’ve recorded
a few Bolt from The Blue podcasts <i>(alongside KotK’s very own Colin Savage), </i>been
on the Manchester is Blue video channel and quite a few video interviews for Man
City Fan TV. I’m sure at this point, people will be sick of the sight and sound
of me!</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I am always astonished that
people think I talk any sense. Writing has been my comfort zone for over 20
years, so I always feel nervous about pushing myself to try new things. For the
most time, I do try and embrace everything that comes my way and I’m learning
to develop a thick skin as opinions are always varied. I just try to stay true
to myself and honest. I think if you put on a persona or try to be controversial,
it’ll ultimately backfire. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m just so appreciative to
anybody who gives me any feedback or even listens/reads. I’ll keep it up until
somebody tells me I’m stealing a living! Thank you if you take the time to get
in touch – it means the world to be doing what I enjoy, knowing that somewhere
along the time, a few people may actually agree or like my opinion or optimism.
Some don’t, but those tend to be the ones that don’t even like themselves, so
I’ll take that with a pinch of salt.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here’s hoping that everybody is
doing okay through this hideously surreal year and that we will be all back
having a beer together in the not-too-distant future. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Those were the days – and they
will be again. They’ll be worth the wait.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-25410070509829466642020-10-09T04:05:00.005-07:002020-10-09T04:06:49.930-07:00THESE UNPRECEDENTED TIMES....
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/these-unprecedented-times.html">A LIFE LESS ORDINARY</a></span></u></b></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/these-unprecedented-times.html">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - AUGUST 2020</a></span></u></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #3d85c6;"></span><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/these-unprecedented-times.html"></a><br /></span></u></b></p><b><u><p class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBrcpenjZYZPFMNSWKXILFbJoNbpV0iJVr1PUTy_v-4GXBavRGvlRztzAFsf_42-_iogCVvQpQY5JicxU0ynCb5AuRiRP0B-Zo01_1eg9lZmORv5QPtk6MnC4qcZdC_whBd49cAN9JVyP/s646/30708864-8517829-image-m-17_1594647420733.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="646" data-original-width="634" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrBrcpenjZYZPFMNSWKXILFbJoNbpV0iJVr1PUTy_v-4GXBavRGvlRztzAFsf_42-_iogCVvQpQY5JicxU0ynCb5AuRiRP0B-Zo01_1eg9lZmORv5QPtk6MnC4qcZdC_whBd49cAN9JVyP/s320/30708864-8517829-image-m-17_1594647420733.jpg" /></a></p></u></b><div style="text-align: justify;"><b><u><br /></u></b><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I sat down to write my latest
article for King of the Kippax and had a startling realisation that the last
time I managed to write anything was February. <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">February. </i>Safe to say, it feels like the whole world has changed
since then. I’m not sure even I can be so succinct to summarize it all, but
I’ll give it a go. Let’s start with the talk of world football…</span></span></div>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">JUDGEMENT DAY</span></span></b></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Dave emailed me to say that
he was holding off on this month’s deadline to allow for the CAS verdict to
come in - and what a masterstroke that was. The news came in – the proposed two
year ban in Europe overturned and the fine reduced to £10 million. I’ve
subsequently spend all morning on the social media channels trying to educate
rival fans on why they should be applauding this outcome instead of condemning
it.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We all know that Financial
Fair Play was dreamed up by the UEFA ‘elite’, to attempt to protect the old
world order in football. The fine imposed is apparently due to City’s initial
lack of co-operation into the investigation – but who can blame them for
playing hardball, when the evidence was obtained in such an underhanded and
illicit manner? No wonder they weren’t forthcoming! FFP was a concept conceived
post-City takeover. Coincidence? I think not. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It really frustrates me when
I see fans of other teams so uneducated towards City and their financial
conduct. We’ve been very astute in the transfer market: we pulled out of the
Harry Maguire, Fred and Alexis Sanchez deals, because we disagreed (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">quite rightly might I add!</i>) with the
valuations and figures involved. Just because we’re Manchester City, owned by
Sheikh Mansour, doesn’t mean we will be taken for a ride and allow clubs to
exploit our financial situation. For the three transfers mentioned there alone,
it’s proved to have been incredible foresight and I’m happy that the club
conduct themselves with integrity and respect. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But the fury and venom that
other fans have been spitting is, depressingly predictable, but nothing short
of extraordinary. I’ve been astonished that people act like City are the first
club to ever spend money in football. Have these people been living under a
rock? Can they see any City players in the top 10 transfer records? It beggars
belief. I expected a reaction, but some of the vitriol and vile I have read (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and been subjected to, because I have dared
to defend the club</i>) is incomprehensible.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">So, what now? Finishing
second in the League means Champions League football next season. Could Pep
sign an extension, galvanised by the CAS outcome? Perhaps the best form of
ultimate revenge will be trying to win the competition that UEFA pride
themselves on so dearly. Not much of a team talk needed there. The cream always
rises to the top. Go and get them lads. The draw was interesting: beat Real
Madrid and we then face Lyon or Juventus in the quarter finals. The semi finals
will be Napoli, Barcelona, Bayern Munich or Chelsea. There is a bright side –
get through them, and you’d have to fancy us as favourites. They even attempted
to move the game to Portugal instead of playing it in Manchester – a concept so
non-sensical because Portugal isn’t on the Government’s fly list. So the City
team and staff would’ve had to quarantine on their arrival back into the United
Kingdom. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have a feeling UEFA won’t
take this lying down, but what can they do? Surely it’s the end of FFP – I just
hope Newcastle fans are ready for the backlash if their takeover goes ahead.
They’re a good bunch, I welcome the idea of another takeover in the League, but
they’ll have to have their tin hats ready. Every other fan has slated City
since 2008 – because deep down, they wish it would’ve happened to their club.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">WE’RE NOT REALLY HERE</span></span></b></p>
<p><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></b></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What a truly
bizarre/astounding/terrible/baffling few months it has been. I could never have
imagined having been to Wembley and Hillsborough; that those would be the last
football matches I’d be attending for a fair while. Those games feel like a
lifetime ago. The pandemic has been awful: we lost our neighbour and my
boyfriend’s Grandma to it. They are both gone far too soon and such senseless
losses to us. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It’s been a lot to get our
heads around: my eldest son, Vincent, had just started in primary school this
year and was enjoying greatly his reception year. I have to admit that I’ve
absolutely loved having him at home. I’d really missed him since he started
school and, although the home schooling has been a real challenge for me, on
the whole I’ve looked at it as a particularly special time for us. It’s been a
time in our lives that we will never replicate and always treasure, for the
good times and the bad. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As for the football? Where do
I start?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Initially I was incensed by
the idea of football being allowed to return behind closed doors without fans.
Who wouldn’t be? When you’ve based your life around the fixture list for as
long as you’ve known, to be told that the game can return without you, it’s a
bitter pill to swallow. I didn’t believe in null and void. I’d (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">painfully</i>) made my peace with Liverpool
winning the League, this wasn’t about them. We were still in two competitions –
the FA Cup and the Champions League. With the Community Shield (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!</i>) and the Carabao Cup already sewn up,
all was still to play for. But the thought of us, the fans, who’d been a
constant through thick and thin, not being allowed to be there, seemed so
radical initially. I was so against it.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As time ticked on and the
lockdown was gradually lifting, resumption of the Premier League arrived. I
watched the Arsenal game and felt a bit sick when I saw the players walking out
of the tunnel at the Etihad Stadium to be greeted with a sea of empty seats (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">cue the tiresome jokes</i>). We should be
there. It didn’t sit well with me at all and it just felt so alien, so wrong. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But then the game got
underway. The passing started. The players I’d missed, the football. I didn’t
think I’d missed football that much until I watched City and realised – I
really had. It’d been a life less ordinary. The constant had been missing. City
were back – just not as we knew it.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The results – barring Chelsea
and Southampton – have been incredibly impressive. Some of the football we have
played has been astounding. Which makes it even more baffling as to how we’ve
lost nine games (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">at the time of writing</i>)
this season. Individual errors, wasteful in the final third and Laporte’s
injury – three factors that have contributed hugely to the never-ending 2019/20
season and put paid to our title chances. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We know when City play that
there is no other team like us. Our passing, pressing, movement and
ingenuinety. Nobody plays like City play. I was pleasantly surprised at how
sharp the players were and at our fitness levels. Kyle Walker, over his blip in
form, is now a world class right back. Raheem Sterling is now enjoying is best
ever goal-scoring season, with 27 goals after his hat-trick against Brighton.
David Silva rolled back the years with a vintage display during our win against
Newcastle, with a beautiful free kick to boot. Kevin De Bruyne – what can you
possibly say that hasn’t already been said? Surely he will be in line to win
the Ballon D’or one day. Aymeric Laporte – a Rolls Royce of a centre back – so
calm and assured , always level-headed and offers so much reassurance in the
back line. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Pep has also been keen to
include the youth after the restart. Phil Foden – I am such a huge fan of the
confidence Foden has. He has confidence backed up with ability. When he plays,
he doesn’t look remotely out of place amongst the big boys. You can tell he’s
been learning from the best – some of his first touches, vision and passing his
been exemplary. Nobody could ever replace David Silva, but it’s good to know
the options are thrilling for when David does depart. Foden is exciting – he
makes a nuisance of himself and always offers a threat. He’s not one for the future,
he’s one for now. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Eric Garcia is another player
that has really come into his own. I’ve loved seeing him getting more starts.
We’ve been linked heavily with a move for the Napoli centre back Kalidou
Koulibaly: he would be a fantastic signing for us, there is no doubt. A few
have question marks over the fact he’s 29 years old, but I think we need an
established, experienced and strong centre back to partner Laporte. We need
consistency in defence moving forward. But that’s not to say there isn’t a place
for Garcia. He’s in a perfect position, should Nicolas Otamendi and John Stones
decide to leave. He’s proving to be a competent and mature talent. But Garcia
has been linked with a move to Barcelona – and after the Sane saga, who knows?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Cole Palmer, Tommy Doyle,
Taylor Harwood-Bellis and Jayden Braaf are all top young prospects from the
academy that have been promoted to the first team squad and I’m looking forward
to seeing the part they play moving forward for City. Let’s just hope we can
avoid another Jadon Sancho situation – we don’t want that level of ability
going through our academy and ultimately leaving us.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> The games have made me excited for what might
be next season, but also for the FA Cup and the Champions League games to come.
By the time you read this, we will know the outcome of the FA Cup semi final
game – against Arsenal. Again, a very peculiar feeling having no hotel or plan
pencilled in to go to Wembley, but in these strangest of times we have to go
with safety and that is priority. It’s Pep v Arteta and we all know the prize
that faces us if we manage to get passed the Gunners – either Chelsea, or a
Manchester Derby FA Cup final. I know who I’d prefer to play! I don’t think my
nerves could take it. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Who knows when it will be
when we’re allowed back into a football stadium. Pubs have opened, hairdressers
are the busiest they’ve ever been and you can go and get a City crest tattooed
on your arm if you’re that way inclined. Yet we can’t go back to watch our
football team play. </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How long will we have to
wait? </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Rumours are that the new
season will be starting in September and the Carabao Cup will be sacrificed due
to the 2020/21 season being condensed. I have missed the social aspect of
football the most. I miss going to the pub before my mates and trying, but
failing miserably, to predict Pep’s starting line-up. I miss all the faces I
see around us in the South Stand. I’ve missed the camaraderie. For me, that’s
what makes football, and City, so special. The characters we have, the friendships
that we’ve made and the lives we have shaped because of the club. Hopefully it
won’t be too long before we’re allowed back and we <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might</i>, just <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">might</i>, have
even more reasons to celebrate together by then too.</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Just make mine a pint, yeah?</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn</span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily </span></span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p><span style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-18362466109632415212020-10-09T03:49:00.006-07:002020-10-09T03:58:03.705-07:00THERE'S ONLY ONE REAL RIVALRY AT CITY...
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/theres-only-one-real-rivalry-at-city.html">YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW</a></u></span></span></b></p><p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: arial;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2020/10/theres-only-one-real-rivalry-at-city.html">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - MARCH 2020</a></u></span></span></b></p>
<p align="center" style="text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: 18pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></span></b></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBX36-4OyfwJMaCl-4af4XS3Xfr2pHViCD9KXVw-v38leFHkMih7Ba1iGbHHCRdQl640XgQ7Pp48tT5-rhqou-v3JqNBZZm1GQT03tGG5T8vaOchZdNmzZ6D0pQDFFe1rqw6LLp58b4RF/s1024/man-utd-home-1994-to-95-action6-1024x906.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="906" data-original-width="1024" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghBX36-4OyfwJMaCl-4af4XS3Xfr2pHViCD9KXVw-v38leFHkMih7Ba1iGbHHCRdQl640XgQ7Pp48tT5-rhqou-v3JqNBZZm1GQT03tGG5T8vaOchZdNmzZ6D0pQDFFe1rqw6LLp58b4RF/s320/man-utd-home-1994-to-95-action6-1024x906.jpg" width="320" /></a></span></b></div><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></b><p></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Over the past couple of seasons,
much has been made of our battle with Liverpool for the League title. After the
whole bus saga at Anfield, the media seemed determined to pit us both as rivals
– even more so after last season, with the title race being decided on the
final day. Everything became very intense, bitter and often very personal.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But for me, Liverpool have never
been our rivals, and never will be. With this season <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">finally </i>being their year (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">and
I’ve made my peace with that, I really have</i>), there is one thing that City
and Liverpool should be united in – enjoying the demise of their real rivals
over at Old Trafford.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It was the 2-0 defeat to Burnley
at their ground that made for a vintage night on social media. Many an ‘Ole’s
at the wheel’ meme, along with transcripts of Rio’s ‘get the contract out’
impassioned rant and photos of Phil Jones doing the rounds, providing much
amusement amongst City fans and beyond (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">can
you imagine the pelters we would’ve took if social media existed in the 1990s</i>).
It may sound absurd, because that game came in-between United beating us at
home this season twice, but at the moment, (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">in
fact for the past couple of seasons</i>), it feels like United’s crumbs of
comfort have been coming from taking points off us in a season. How the mighty
have fallen.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you’re an old school blue,
you’ll be oh so familiar with the history of it all. I’ll pick it up with my
memories of the rivalry, at the beginning of it all for me – the 5-1 derby win.
‘The Maine Road Massacre’ as it’s fondly known. When City tore apart an Alex
Ferguson side that included the most expensive English defender at the time,
with City featuring players brought through the youth system, like Steve
Redmond, Paul Lake and David White. That was back in 1989 – three years before
the formation of the Premier League, a time that signalled an era of United
dominance – and City’s decline.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My time at both high school and
college coincided with this era of football. United were the Premier League
poster boys: scoring goals for fun, terrorising defences, with some of the best
players in the world playing at Old Trafford. Only Arsenal, Chelsea and
Blackburn Rovers (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">once</i>) could hold a
torch to them. With Ferguson at the helm, they were a formidable force – they
were winners, leaders and champions. If you think it’s painful just reading
that, try living through it.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">City, on the other hand, were on
the slide. Manager Brian Horton came in and had some good ideas, along with
some decent players. Paul Walsh, Peter Beagrie and Uwe Rosler were all Horton
signings, and with them we played flashes of flair football – but also endured
a 5-0 defeat at the hands of United. An Andrei Kanchelskis hat trick helped
condemn us to an abysmal loss – with his celebrations still seared into my
memory. The next day; going into school wearing my Umbro City coat, forced to
face a barrage of torment and abuse from the United fans – none of which had
ever stepped foot inside Old Trafford. It was Glory Glory all right – and the
beginning of a truly rotten, miserable time to be a City fan.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It wasn’t long before Horton was
sacked and the rot really set in. Alan Ball arrived and the only positive from
his reign at the club was the signing of a certain Georgian midfielder, Georgi
Kinkladze. Dancing through defences and scoring dazzling goals, Kinkladze was a
truly magical talent, a lightning bolt in the storm that encircled him.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But even his genius couldn’t save
City from relegation from the Premier League. As United were lifting another
League trophy, the Blues dropped down into Division One – and the managerial
merry-go-round started to spin. Asa Hartford, Steve Coppell (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">!</i>), Phil Neal, Frank Clark, Joe
Royle…during the 27 years Ferguson was in charge at United, City went through
18 different managers.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We were widely regarded as a
comedy club: a football team whose club legend-turned-chairman Francis Lee had
promised to one and all that City would be the ‘happiest club in the land’
after he took control from Peter Swales. Really, the damage had already been
done during Swales’ tenure, but no irony was lost on the fact that Lee had made
his fortune running a toilet roll manufacturing company, so really we should’ve
seen it coming. It was all lies and empty promises that he couldn’t deliver.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The players weren’t good enough.
The football was shambolic. Back then, it was take the rough with the rough, as
it was all we ever knew. Typical City: disastrous, laughable, with our mis-matched
Meccano stadium in the heart of what was then called Gunchester, Moss Side,
with a substitutes bench that was basically a row of white plastic garden
chairs. We’d make the journeys home and away with blind optimism – I don’t
think it ever crossed our minds not to bother, because we’d just become
accustomed, almost brainwashed, that this was City. Take it or leave it. What
you see is what you get. Factions of fans did demonstrate against Lee and his
regime – and rock bottom wasn’t far away.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As if the jibes, the digs and the
mocking couldn’t get any worse – the unthinkable happened. Stoke City away. May
1998. Relegation to the third tier of English football. It was hard to take
solace in Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal pipping United to the title when your own
club were in such dire straits. It had gone beyond parody, beyond reprehension.
At that point, it was soul-destroying. Heart-breaking. But the season ticket
was a no brainer. At no point did it ever occur to us to stop. In fact, that
season started with a packed Maine Road in the summer sun, beating Blackpool
3-0. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Us fans just took it in our
stride. When Stockport County beat us 2-1 at home and a streaker ran on the
pitch – it was all just Typical City. Week in, week out, we turned up, we asked
the other stands in the stadium to give us a song and we got behind the team.
My teenage years were spent following City during their decline – while over at
Old Trafford the story couldn’t be more different. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">May 1999. More contrasting
fortunes. City won the Division Two play-off final against Gillingham after a
penalty shoot-out. United won the treble – the Premier League, FA Cup and the
Champions League. The achievements were poles apart – but celebrated just the
same by both sets of fans. For us, it was the start of our resurgence. We’d
managed to battle, fight and scrape our way out of oblivion – it was time to
get back to the Premier League.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I don’t begrudge United their
success during that time. But it definitely amplified and compounded our
failures. Their fans were so accustomed to winning – that mentality was drummed
into them through their consistency; for many, winning was to them what losing
was to us. But with triumph came arrogance.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The Banner™.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many, if not all City fans, will
be all too familiar with The Banner™ I’m referring to. The infamous ‘ticker’
banner. The one that displayed the amount of years that had passed since City
had last won a trophy – 1976 to be precise. It took one individual to think of
it, yet thousands to beg for it to come back after he’d removed it. That banner
was the bane of my life. Their years of power - our years of frustration. Their
egotism – our self-deprecating humour. That banner wasn’t humour, it wasn’t
funny, it wasn’t tongue-in-cheek. It was cruel. Malicious. Gloating at its
worst. They draped it like a badge of honour, pride of place, in their stadium,
while they lifted silverware and we watched our side slump to another defeat.
It was an unnecessary evil at a time when the boat didn’t need any more
rocking. It was rivalry – this was rivalry – but it cut so deep. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Our resurgence back to the
Premier League, and the subsequent takeover by Sheikh Mansour, has seen City
reach heights that I could’ve only dreamed of once upon a time. Beating United
in the FA Cup semi final in 2011 to go on and win our first piece of silverware
in 35 years paved the way for an avalanche of monumental successes at the
Etihad Stadium. The Banner™, for so long a monkey on our backs, finally
relinquished. The ‘not in my lifetime’ manager Ferguson, resigned to City
beating United to the Premier League title in May 2012 after <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">that </i>goal by Sergio Aguero. The changing
of the guard across the City: the Blues leading the trophy charge, with United
left to fight it out to struggle to qualify for Europe every season. Their only
merit </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Not that finishing sixth every
season is any disgrace. It’s not. That’s where my main problem lies. These
United fans have been so spoilt by their own success for so many years, they’re
judging themselves on their past successes instead of dealing with being a fan
and just getting on with it. I’ve heard so many reds on phone-ins moaning and
whinging about how low they feel as a fan following their team these days – and
I find it beyond incredulous. You’d think they’d be struggling, with a
relegation dogfight on their hands. But they’re not. When it didn’t cross our
minds to renew during those torrid times, across the road they’re mostly not
even bothering to show up to see their team play top six Premier League
football these days.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Try being relegated. Humiliated.
A low for a football club is not finishing sixth in the Premier League – they
should know, they experienced relegation themselves back in 1974. That’s a low,
a feeling I would never want to wish on any football fan. Relegation is such a
demoralising experience – but then again, look at Bury. Imagine supporting them
and going to Gigg Lane throughout your life, only for the club to not even
exist anymore. I can’t begin to think about the emotions you would feel if that
was your team. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Sometimes it can take looking at
the bigger picture to appreciate what you’ve got. I’ve seen certain City fans
spit their dummies out more than once this season, purely because we’ve enjoyed
so much success recently, and this season admittedly hasn’t been to our own
extraordinary standards. At the time of writing, City are second in the Premier
League. We are still in the FA Cup, the Champions League and in the final of
the Carabao Cup. So many fans of so many teams could only dream of their team
being in that scenario. Yet a minority of blues don’t think it’s good enough.
We all want to do the best we can and win trophies as often as we can, and it
can be frustrating when you see your team underperforming, but nothing gives us
the divine right to win everything all of the time – especially if we’ve just
not been good/consistent enough.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I often struggle between the head
vs heart tug-of-war that is ‘remember where you came from and what we’ve been
through’ vs. you can only judge your team on the here and now. I can’t justify
a 2-0 defeat at home to Wolves based on the fact that we used to lose to
Stockport County at home 22 years ago. I can look at it in the context of the
bigger picture and think well, it could be much worse. This season we’ve not
been clinical enough, we’ve not been consistent enough and the defending has
left a lot to be desired. When so many things are to blame, questions are
rightfully asked. But I’m not going to stomp my feet and throw a strop just
because the Premier League title isn’t heading to the Etihad stadium. I’m big
enough to be able to admit when another football team deserves it more and
Liverpool do this season – they’ve played some fantastic football (<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">whether you want to lay the blame with VAR
for helping them or not, but I think that’s more a reflection of you</i>) and
been consistent where we haven’t –who can really argue with that?</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">No team has been on the ‘journey’
that City have. Journey is normally a word that makes me cringe, but in the
context of our history, it’s necessary. To have been in the Premier League,
relegated multiple times, sink down to the third tier of football and to come
back up again, only for the club to be taken over and win everything bar the
Champions League, that’s some ride to have been on. We had a few more bumps
along the way – think Stuart Pearce, David James upfront, Thaksin Shinawatra –
and many say we won the football lottery. Maybe we did. But in anything in
life, you need to speculate to accumulate. But the ride, the journey, makes
every high that little bit sweeter. We could never be arrogant, we never should
be, it shouldn’t be in the make-up of any City fan to demand success. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">We’re right to want the best for
our team, but I think our past failures make us realise our present faltering
are mere blips in the road and not pitfalls. To stay grounded after the couple
of seasons of football we’ve all been so lucky to enjoy, to exactly the way we
should be. If I was at school now, I’d be skipping in the classroom. City fans
have so many reasons to be grateful. There’s some irony in having not been able
to enjoy our success: the media’s continued obsession with finding fault with
City tries its best to drown out the cheers from our fans. Whether it be citing
oil money, Arab regimes or counting how many empty seats we have at a fourth
round FA Cup game, the tabloids, broadsheets and broadcasters seem determined
to discredit City’s triumphs by all means necessary. We’re not the poster boys,
the darlings, the fawned over. We’re an ‘average team with a small fan</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">base that were lucky enough to
win the football lottery.’ They’ll never let you forget that. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I let out a wry smile in the fact
that Typical City will never die. We played the worst United team we’ve seen in
a long time this season and they beat us twice. They even beat us two seasons
ago to delay our title win – and you witnessed just how much that meant to them
that day. That used to be us – if we were lucky enough to be playing football
in the same League as them. It used to make our season if we managed to take
points off them, I don’t even mind admitting them. Because that’s a rivalry.
But don’t even think about feeling for them now. Some might say their plight is
the worst it’s been. Some will think it can get much worse. It did for us.
Those were the darkest of days – but now the tables have turned and we just
have to try and enjoy that for as long as it lasts. I might feel an ounce of
sympathy for them, if they would’ve given us the same virtue way back then, but
they didn’t. That’s a rivalry. That’s the way it goes. </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You reap what you sow.</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Emily Brobyn</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span><br /></p>
<p style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-12415035008940180202019-12-29T05:49:00.001-08:002019-12-29T05:51:56.257-08:00LET'S JUST ENJOY THE RIDE...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/hey-now-hey-now-dont-dream-itsover-king.html" target="_blank">HEY NOW, HEY NOW, DON’T DREAM IT’S
OVER<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/hey-now-hey-now-dont-dream-itsover-king.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/hey-now-hey-now-dont-dream-itsover-king.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - DECEMBER 2019</a></u></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPizKdkAbVXSJlC45suH6_UOWoTA5ScvUA2FviViSM3iXH-LVzdNq6d3BxYsLPZDrxVIM3X6Ly8PN4mPUmYfi8RUH2uHyIwiVqhSZQAtTKC4Q-hXxxWucTWHVu7DnUCP5a_oUSxGWelgjK/s1600/PRI_104913879.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="361" data-original-width="540" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPizKdkAbVXSJlC45suH6_UOWoTA5ScvUA2FviViSM3iXH-LVzdNq6d3BxYsLPZDrxVIM3X6Ly8PN4mPUmYfi8RUH2uHyIwiVqhSZQAtTKC4Q-hXxxWucTWHVu7DnUCP5a_oUSxGWelgjK/s320/PRI_104913879.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After what feels like an age (</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">really, it’s been two months</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">), I can finally sit down and write
again. You miss a couple of issues and, suddenly, we’re at Christmas already –
how times flies when you’re having fun! But really, looking after the boys and
spending most of November in and out of hospital (</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’m fine now, finally</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">) sadly meant I had no opportunity to sit down
and write, but I am here, determined, and ready to dissect all the latest
goings-on in the world of Manchester City. I’ve not missed that much, have I?
Of course I have.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BACK TO LIFE, BACK TO
REALITY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time, Manchester City set the football world on
fire with some of the best football you and I have ever seen. It was
breathtaking, scintillating, pure unadulterated fantasy football.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Opposition teams couldn’t get near us. Defenders were left
dizzy and breathless as the players in sky blue ran rings around them. We swept
teams to one side with our pace, passing and pressing. We won everything in English
football. We dominated. We were remarkable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This season, compared to the previous two, was always going
to prove a tough act to follow. In stark contrast, it’s been significantly
underwhelming. I think there’s a big split between fans who either a) refuse to
criticise Pep or point the finger at anybody in general because of recent
successes and b) fans who call a spade a spade, point out what is/has been
going wrong and get slated by the fans in point A. All in all, it’s a bit stale
and a bit of a mess.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The inquest began in earnest after the Newcastle game, was
put on hold after our stupendous 4-1 win at Turf Moor, then resurrected after
the Derby Day defeat. I’ve always believed that it’s fair to heap praise when
it’s due, but similarly, be able to criticise or question things when
necessary. The results against Norwich, Wolves, Newcastle, Liverpool and United
were all reasonably alarming in their own right: we all saw the fine margins of
last season. We knew Liverpool coming so close and missing out would sting.
They’ve lived that experience – yes, winning the Champions League is some
achievement, but don’t let that convince you that the one they really wanted
ended up adorned in sky blue ribbons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They’ve clearly channelled that anger, upset and frustration
and brought it forward with gusto into this season. They want it, bad. So, so
bad. Yes, they’ve had huge chunks of luck and decisions, but they’ve ran with
it and, as of yet, haven’t taken their eyes off the ball. City, in comparison
this season, have looked complacent. We have lacked desire and heart. At the
moment we’re missing passion, fire and guts. Remember when Liam Gallagher
snarled, ‘<i>you can have it all, but how
much do you want it?</i>’ The same can be said for City. How much do you want
it? Not enough it would seem.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lack of leadership is obvious. As much as I respect and
adore David Silva in equal measures, he is not captain material. A captain is a
leader: somebody with fire in their belly, an abundance of passion and who
leads both with their heart and their voice. I’m not saying David Silva doesn’t
have those qualities, but he’s hardly firing the boys up and motivating them to
victory, is he? It’s clichéd at this point to mention Mr Manchester City,
Vincent Kompany, but it’s also ignorance not to. He was the man first on the
team sheet for a big occasion, because you knew he’d excel in dragging the team
kicking and screaming towards three points. We knew his departure would leave
an irreplaceable void – not only in defence, but in leadership. It’s never been
more evident than it is this season. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One of my main concerns has been that we’ve really missed
Fernandinho’s presence in his natural defensive midfield position. With our
defence looking increasingly frail, we’ve really missed the protection Ferna
gives to the back line, and the gritty tenacity he brings, shifting defence to
attack. But Ferna isn’t getting any younger and that’s a tough position to
expect him to play and rely on him for most games. Then came the Burnley game –
and the best performance I’ve seen so far from Rodri in a City shirt. His man
of the match display was pivotal to City’s 4-1 win: his movement on and off the
ball, his strength, passing, physicality, the way he read the game – and that’s
all before I mention his thunderbolt of a goal. If he stays fully fit and in
that form, Ferna can stay in the back line until Laporte comes back for all I
care. When the Spaniard signed, we knew he was capable of great things – I’m
glad we’ve seen a glimpse of what he is capable of and I hope that’s just a
teaser of things to come from him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another worrying trait has been sup-par displays from
players who usually run the show. Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo, David Silva (<i>who has been overplayed – Phil Foden,
anyone?</i>), even Raheem Sterling to an extent. With Pep preferring to play
Gundogan in midfield alongside either Rodri or David Silva, play has been more
laboured, more pedestrian, compared to our usual zip and passing press. The
defence – where to start? John Stones – is he good enough? For me, he seems to
need his hand holding quite a lot, and without Laporte by his side, has looked
a bit lost. Does the quality of Laporte actually flatter Stones and are we
seeing him for the defender he really is – just a bit mediocre? Poor Fernandinho
has been thrown into the lion’s den, having to do his best in his new centre
back role until Laporte’s return in February. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we have the full backs. One of the key factors in
making Pep’s style of football work is his full backs. But we’ve had no consistency
in those positions throughout the season. Admittedly, his hand has been forced
with injuries, and Zinchenko having a spell on the sidelines, but it’s left us
with Angelino, Kyle Walker and Joan Cancelo. I am a fan of Walker: for me, he
starts as often as he can for us. I’ve not really seen enough of Angelino, or
Cancelo, to pass a fair judgement. Mendy of course has been blighted with
injury since he came to City, and from what I’ve seen of him so far, I worry
that he will never hit the form he had at Monaco for us. His passes into the
box are blistering, but often land in no man’s land. That’s a lot of money to
spend on a key position and not see any dividends. So you see the struggle with
full backs and how, when they play such a vital role in Pep’s style of
football, how imperative they are to the success of the team. A lot of fans
question why we let Danilo go and signed Cancelo if he’s not going to feature
more. That’s one for Pep to answer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gabriel Jesus. With Sergio Aguero injured, Jesus had
featured in every game. He’s always split opinion – but he did show versatility
at Turf Moor, with a 20 yard curler that was nothing short of exquisite. He
also added to that and could’ve had a hat trick, proving that he’s not just the
‘tap-in merchant’ that many have written him off as. But at Newcastle and
during the Derby, he had a couple of guilt-edged chances that Aguero would’ve
unquestionably buried. Like Kompany, Aguero will be like replacing the
irreplaceable once he leaves the Etihad, but Jesus certainly isn’t his
replacement. It’s clear we will need a striker once the Argentine decides to
head for pastures new, but I can’t bear to think about that just yet. We create
so many chances, but of late have been so wasteful of front of goal, and that’s
proved vital to not securing wins recently.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE GAME PLAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The past two seasons, when we were playing the best football
of our lives, teams struggled to get anywhere near us. This campaign, I feel
that we’ve been found out to a certain extent. Teams have found a way to limit
and stifle our system and to ferment our game play. By sitting deep,
frustrating us, then hitting us when they can on the counter, they know against
our defence, they’ve got a huge chance of scoring – and we’ve seen it too many
times already this season. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Burnley game was much more like the City we’ve become
accustomed to watching the past couple of seasons. The energy, pace, high
pressing play was all back and worked a treat. They say the best form of
defence is attack; no more so was this evident than throughout 90 minutes of
dominant possession at Turf Moor. The players who had previously put in dubious
shifts really stepped it up and it was a huge confidence boost all round.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But then came the Derby. So, with the benefit of hindsight,
did that Burnley win flatter us, or am I being really cynical? Crystal Palace
had just beaten them, and after our win, they lost 5-0 to Spurs, despite Spurs
putting in a woeful performance against United the game beforehand. So that tells you the extent of just how bad a
spell Burnley was going through at the time. The post-match celebrations from
Pep and the lads now look slightly bizarre, although at the time, that win
should’ve been the springboard for us to really push on into some really tricky
festive fixtures. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We know the football these players are capable of playing.
We have match winners, who can and do produce something out of nothing in the
blink of an eye. There are still so many things to play for this season. But
it’s naïve not to notice a couple of things that just aren’t going to plan so
far this season. By highlighting them, it doesn’t mean I’m any less of a fan,
nor does it detract from the astounding achievements City have enjoyed in
recent times. You can only live in the here and now and judge on the football
you are watching week in, week out now. I never thought I’d be blessed enough
to see my club win silverware, let alone everything that has gone along with
that of late. If that all ends tomorrow; it was mind-blowing while it lasted,
and I can just get back to going to the match, turning up, no expectations,
trying to enjoy the football, seeing my friends, happy days. We’re not spoilt,
nor do I know any fans in sky blue that are, and we must remember that. What
will be, will be. The club will still be here when the players and Pep decide
to move on (<i>which could potentially be at
the end of this season, are you ready to possibly contemplate that?</i>) – it’s
the only thing we’ve ever known – and nothing will ever change that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">LET’S TALK ABOUT VAR,
BABY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Actually, let’s not. No really, let’s not. I read on the
King of the Kippax Facebook page that Dave had feedback saying that KK264 was
VAR-heavy (<i>not surprised</i>), but I have
a feeling that will be a recurring trend throughout the season. I’ll try my
best to keep it brief then.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Without going into it too much, the Liverpool game left so
many people fuming even more than they already were. All we ask for is
consistency and the correct decisions – but, even with the technology being implemented,
they’re still getting it wrong. For me, it’s too subjective and open to
interpretation. Also, we need transparency with it for the match-going fan:
replays on the screens inside the ground and we need to hear the conversations
between officials, to hear the reasoning behind their decisions. Until we do,
the conspiracy/agenda rumours will be going nowhere.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I even feel like VAR had an impact on the atmosphere at the
Derby. Early on, we had a big penalty shout, that was instantly dismissed. They
then broke forward, went down the other end and, lo and behold, won a penalty.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether it should’ve been a penalty to us or not, at the
time, was irrelevant. The instant feeling in the ground was despondency. You
can feel the mood – so many people are sick and tired of VAR – something has to
change, before fans start to give their verdict with their feet. It’s such a
source of frustration and bone of contention for so many people. I’d rather
scrap it and go back to basics – at least goal-line technology can never get it
wrong eh! Bring back the days of questioning Mark Clattenburg and relying on
decisions to even themselves out through the season – surely that can’t be any
worse than VAR, particular in its current format. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TRYING TO GIVE US A
FAIR PRESS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve been continuing to be asked to do more bits and pieces
in the media in the past few months. Despite being in and out of hospital in
November, I kept being asked to go on BBC Radio 5 Live. Sometimes they want me
to go to the studio and sometimes they can do it over the phone or via Skype,
so luckily during this period, I could do all of my interviews from home.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I often get asked to go on BBC Radio Manchester too. The
breakfast show with Chelsea and Talking Balls, with Kyle and Gaz, are shows I
am invited on a lot. I try and do as many as I can: not only is it great
experience for me with having my degree in Sport Journalism, I’m always very
conscious that, for such a big club, City don’t have many genuine voices in the
media. I’m always keep to represent us in as positive a way as possible, but I
will always be open and honest. I don’t like to sugarcoat: quite a few people
in the industry like to tow the party line for the sake of preserving
relationships or stance, but I think it’s so important to be truthful – whether
people respect me for it or not, I’m not sure. But it’s the only way I know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was also invited to Media City to film a piece on Raheem
Sterling and the Derby for Football Focus. It only took about half an hour and
they only used a few seconds of it, but again, it was fantastic to be asked and
a pleasure to be involved in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m getting to the point now where I am almost ready to go
back to work. I had to take a couple of years off to be with my youngest (<i>I say off, but I’m pretty sure it’s been
harder work than most of the jobs I’ve had, although far more rewarding!</i>),
but now Noel is almost entitled to his nursery hours, that means some of my
time will free up and I’ll be able to look at returning to work.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m quite nervous about it all really, as I’ve no idea which
job route to go down. I’ve been doing so much voluntary media work over the
past few years: writing, podcasting, radio and television, all to keep a foot
in the door and of course, for the love of it. But I’m aware that it’s very
much a saturated market, and I’m very City-specific, although I’m qualified in
sports journalism in the broader sense. I guess the only way I’ll find out is
by dipping a toe in the water – if there’s nothing available media-wise, I’ll
be more than happy to find a job with my other skill sets. It’s an exciting
position to be in – and I have high hopes for 2020. My boys are growing and
thriving, so I feel like now is a great time to do something for myself too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PLAYING AWAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Long before my young children and real life responsibilities
came along, there was a time when I went home and away to every game following
City – because I could! These days, because of financial restraints and being
parents of course, we have to pick and choose our away days carefully. We’re
usually pretty lucky to do one a season truth be told, but this season we’ve
done Preston, Crystal Palace and Newcastle so far. But it’s Newcastle I’m going
to talk about. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Any time alone for my boyfriend Adam and I is incredible
precious and rare. He gets up for work at 3am, so generally we go to bed at the
same time as the children, about 8pm every night. Whereas most couples get time
together once they put their kids to bed, we don’t, so all our waking time
together is spent either at work or with the kids. It’s hard to find and
address a balance with a young family, and no complaints here as that’s the
commitment you make when you have them, but sometimes you just <i>need </i>time alone together. In a
relationship, it’s imperative, it’s just we choose to spend our time alone with
the boys in blue too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I picked the Hilton at Newcastle Gateshead for our stay (<i>no we’re not posh, it was the same price as
the Travelodge for some reason!</i>) and, because it was a 12:30pm Saturday
kick off, we decided to stay on the Friday night to make a bit more of it. Adam
got the day off work and we travelled there early afternoon, arriving at around
3pm. Could you imagine our surprise when, after 140 miles of driving, we pulled
onto the car park to see the City team coach there too. It was funny because
I’d joked with Adam about the team possibly staying there, but he didn’t think
they would because the hotel was in the Quayside vicinity, notorious with noisy
partygoers. The coach driver told us he was off to pick the team up from their
flight to Tyneside and they’d be back at the hotel around 6pm. We didn’t stick
around for their arrival as we had plans, but a couple of blues did. They told
us there were whisked in the side entrance surrounded and shielded by security,
‘prima donnas’ was the term used.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So a delightful evening was had: we went for a really
impressive curry, followed by a few pints of Red Stripe in a local indie bar
called The Dog and Parrot, and then back to the hotel for a nightcap before a
full night’s sleep – rare, very rare! We spotted some of the coaching staff in
the bar having a couple of pints, but the team must’ve been all cosied up,
ready for their early rise and preparation for St James Park.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next morning, our lie in was cut short because of the early
kick off (<i>I know, I know, we didn’t have
it as bad as the blues who travelled up there on the day</i>, so we headed to
breakfast and mused over the day ahead. Sausages and egg done, we went back to
the room to collect our bags – and, as the lift doors opened to our floor, who
was walking towards us? Only a certain Pep Guardiola. It was a real Sliding
Doors moment (<i>literally</i>). A couple of
minutes earlier or later, and we wouldn’t have seen him. I found it strange
that he was on his own: he was quiet, but humoured our requests for selfies and
was nothing but polite and gracious to us. We watched as he entered the lift
alone, then the doors shut and he was gone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Adam and I looked at each other in bemusement. I almost felt
like I’d imagined the moment, because it was so surreal. There was nobody else
around, just us and Pep. Turned out, the team and staff stayed on the same
floor as us, so we probably could’ve waited and met them all as they headed to
the game, but we didn’t want to harass them. Seeing our mugs pounce on them
before going to the match was the last thing they’d want and, by this time, I
was ready for a pre-game beer. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As it turned out, the game ended up a 2-2 draw and the mood
was decidedly sombre at the final whistle. But for us, the whole night away had
been nothing but perfect – the result would’ve just been a welcome bonus. The
journey home was full of discussions of ‘where do we go from here’, reflecting
on a game that we could’ve easily won 4-2 if we would’ve taken our chances. But
we never take the opportunity for an away day for granted. I think I’m on 48
out of the 92 grounds so far, so I’ll keep going when the Grandparent
babysitters kindly allow it, and hope to keep making the memories that surround
away days and make them so special too.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">AND FINALLY…<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s the season of good will to all men (<i>and women!</i>), which in footballing terms
means the games come thick and fast and the turkey dinner will come with far
fewer pigs in blankets for Pep and co.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve got some tough fixtures ahead of us: thankfully the
Champions League will be over until February, so we don’t have to concern
ourselves with that for the next couple of months. Arsenal have struggled under
Freddie, but could pose us a few problems with their pace upfront. Leicester –
oh Leicester – are looking like (<i>barring
a miracle, come on, let’s be honest now!</i>) the only team capable of stopping
Liverpool from winning the title and Jamie Vardy loves scoring against us, so
that’ll be fun. Wolves have already beat us this season and Sheffield United
are doing really well on the road. Into 2020 and it’s Everton and Port Vale in
the FA Cup. And breathe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We know we’re more than capable of producing on the way. We
know we’ve got the players, who have got the skill. But have they got the focus
and longing for it? Or has the concentration and physical and mental strength
it took to reach the heady heights of the past two seasons taken its toll? They
might be sportsmen, but they’re only human after all, and then of course form
has led to questions about Pep’s future after this current season. Much may
depend on what happens in the Champions League, so far now, that’s an
unanswered question. Along with so many that current form has raised.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Enjoy Christmas, whether you’ve been naughty or nice, and I’ll
see you on the other side. Loud, proud, loyal and still optimistic, no matter
what Father Christmas (<i>and VAR</i>)
decides to bring our mighty blues this festive season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-62329250778536817572019-12-29T05:41:00.000-08:002019-12-29T05:42:31.297-08:00WHEN THE TALK IS ABOUT VAR AND NOT THE FOOTBALL BEING PLAYED...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/when-talk-is-about-var-and-not-football.html" target="_blank">NOW YOU SEE IT - VAR YOU DON'T</a></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/when-talk-is-about-var-and-not-football.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/when-talk-is-about-var-and-not-football.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - SEPTEMBER 2019</a></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqdEfMTi_EdN5zdfNe2HZxNh9nqMx7sZYS9L1LyLhyphenhyphenQWOtl-UIjZqREuiSKmsdXH5Hl_bYNYFME8wwKoa-VavP9iLqTmgg0_Yl9eC1YfEaRx7KduVJj_fKNyuhbibTjQ1I5EA8p-HnkHC/s1600/0_Liverpool-v-Man-City-FA-Community-Shield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="539" data-original-width="810" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqdEfMTi_EdN5zdfNe2HZxNh9nqMx7sZYS9L1LyLhyphenhyphenQWOtl-UIjZqREuiSKmsdXH5Hl_bYNYFME8wwKoa-VavP9iLqTmgg0_Yl9eC1YfEaRx7KduVJj_fKNyuhbibTjQ1I5EA8p-HnkHC/s320/0_Liverpool-v-Man-City-FA-Community-Shield.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE SANE SAGA<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The summer months seemed to be fuelled with constant Chinese
whispers surrounding Leroy Sane’s future at the club. The rumour mill was
working overtime daily throughout social media – one minute, he was off to
Bayern Munich, and then he wasn’t, then he was – with nobody coming out to
confirm or deny.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It got to the point where I was just frustrated with it all.
It felt like somebody, whether it was Sane’s agent, or a family member, was
playing silly beggars and causing mischief in the middle of it all. Now I’m a
big fan of Sane’s footballing skills, capabilities and potential. When he’s in
the mood, he plays some idyllic, almost poetic football. A dreamy winger, who
can dance to his own rhythm and weave a magic spell over opposition defenders who
struggle to even come close to keeping up with him.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it’s only ever if he’s in the mood – and that’s a
problem. He can be so frustrating to watch because, more often than not, he’s
his own worst enemy. One of his biggest flaws seems to be his complete
disregard for tracking back – and we’ve seen that drive Pep crazy on a number
of occasions. For Pep’s system to work, it has to be a team effort. Individuals
can’t become passengers if they don’t pull their weight across the park. Even
Aguero has become much more of a team player, particularly last season, with
helping out at the back helping to make him an even more rounded player.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The German’s temperament doesn’t help him either, and his
adolescent attitude has got him in trouble on more than one occasion. But he’s
still only 23, and if anybody can nurture and develop him, surely that person
is Pep. But how good is their relationship and does Sane have enough respect
for him? We’ve seen Pep improve so many players – more recently, we’ve
witnessed Sterling and Zinchenko blossom under his tutelage, so there’s no reason
why Sane couldn‘t go on to be one of the world’s best players in a couple of
years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe he’s being poorly advised, greedy, naïve or even
perversely loving all the attention and speculation, but by the time the
Community Shield rolled around, I just wanted a resolution to the situation –
one way or another. I’d love him to choose City and commit his future to us,
but if he’s playing the game (<i>or the
people nearest to him are</i>), then no one player is bigger than the club.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I saw that Sane was starting against Liverpool in that
Community Shield game, I was admittedly intrigued to see how he’d play. Then,
bam, 12 minutes in and he’s substituted with an ACL injury. You couldn’t make
it up. Refusing Pep’s medical Mr Magic, Dr Cujat, in Barcelona for the
necessary surgery, Sane favoured Professor Fink – the German FA’s go-to
surgeon. It’s looking like it’ll be 2020 before we see Leroy playing football
again – and it’ll probably be then before we reach a conclusion to this
transfer/contract saga. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If he doesn’t want to commit – get the £120 million from
Bayern and lets all move on with our lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DÉJÀ VU – IT’S
GETTING VARCICAL <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something tells me that a lot of people are going to be
writing about this, given the amount talking about it, and we’re probably all
already bored of it so early into the season. But, it’s a huge talking point
and there’s no hiding from that, so it has to be addressed and discussed –
especially when it’s already costing teams valuable goals and points in the
League. What am I talking about? Of course, it’s VAR.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We all knew that VAR was coming this season and, despite it
being trialled in various places and active in the Women’s World Cup this
summer, none of us knew how it would really fit in when it came to the Premier
League and how it would work. It’s important to make sure it’s not confused in
any way with goal-line technology though: that’s something that is technically
sound, faultless and not down to human perception in any way whatsoever. It’s
annoyed me because I’ve heard some people use the World Cup final goal in 1966
as an example for VAR and that’s just silly – that’s goal-line technology and
it’s been in place for a while.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">City fans have already felt the full force of VAR decisions
during the first couple of games of the season: the Sterling goal that was
ruled offside during the 5-0 win at West Ham on the opening weekend, the Jesus
goal that was disallowed during the 2-2 draw against Spurs at the Etihad, the
Rodri penalty that should’ve been during the same game and the Sterling penalty
shout at Bournemouth.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The main arguments of the three decisions were: it was
Sterling’s <i>arm </i>that was apparently
1mm offside for the first offence. Are players allowed to score with their arms
now? If not, the goal should’ve stood and we’ve since seen goals stand for a
similar ‘offence’. Where’s the consistency? The Jesus goal vs. Spurs: it struck
Laporte’s arm during the build-up play and was struck off because of this and
because of the new handball rules that have been introduced this season. How
the Frenchman could’ve moved his arm away is beyond me and beyond anybody else
who thought the decision was ludicrous and extreme. The decision didn’t even
come from referee Michael Oliver; it came from the VAR control room down south.
The Rodri penalty shout: Lamela was all over him and dragged him down in the
area. Oliver should’ve reviewed it. The Sterling penalty shout at the Vitality
Stadium: VAR <i>did </i>review this and
still said it wasn’t a penalty, despite the football confirming the foot stamp
in graphic detail?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s infuriating, baffling, frustrating and, ultimately,
punishing to see the introduction of Video Assistant Referee leave fans asking
even more questions instead of giving us the answers we need from it. My main
problem with it and with all refereeing is the inconsistency. We see week in,
week out, decisions given for teams, with similar decisions not given for
others and, at this level of football, it’s just not good enough. When the
margins are so fine between win, lose or draw and every goal and point counts,
decisions <i>have </i>to be right if there’s
been a system implemented by the powers that be for this. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The other issue is that it can be largely down to human interpretation
of the rules and each individual is different, with varying degrees of
perception, which makes the consistency almost impossible to find. The Jesus
goal vs. Spurs, a last-minute winner, saw City drop two points because it was
disallowed. Some may argue that the Blues should’ve wrapped it up earlier in
the game considering they had 30 chances to do so, but the one that went in
shouldn’t have really been disallowed, and that’s turned three points into one,
meaning, despite it being still early days in the title race, City already
trail Liverpool in the hunt for our third Premier League title on the bounce. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s also a bit puzzling that referees have been
disencouraged from using the touch-line screens to review incidents. Surely
that’s what they’re there for? I understand it can slow the game down, but the
whole purpose of VAR is to get the decisions right, and if they need to use the
screens, it should be encouraged. Likewise, officials shouldn’t be afraid of
feeling like they’re undermining the referee by potentially giving a decision
that contradicts his. I think the main thing is that it should be remembered
and reminded that VAR is there for the <i>clear
and obvious</i>, not for every little niggling and dubious event. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As a match-going fan, who was there for both of the VAR
incidents in both games against Spurs (<i>in
the Champions League quarter final back in April and the recent Premier League
game against Poch’s side</i>), the Sterling and Jesus’ disallowed last-minute
winners, my experience of VAR has obviously left me asking huge questions.
There is nothing in football quite like celebrating a last-minute winner: the
adrenaline that rushes through every inch of your body, that provokes delirium
and bedlam in the stands and makes you hug total strangers. Leaping into their
arms and acquiring bruises that you question the next day, the unachievable
high and sense of ecstasy only available through football, a feeling worthy of addiction
that we constantly seek out week in, week out. So to go from that, to crashing
back down to earth with a bump, wondering what has gone on and being kept in
the dark, is disconcerting at best. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is VAR denying us the right of celebrating goals naturally?
Is it stunting the natural rhythm of football for the very reason it was invented?
Is it over-analysis and extreme? Do we <i>actually
</i>need it? I was one of the advocates of VAR: I wanted decisions to be right,
but at what cost? Are we sacrificing the very heart and soul of football for a
flawed system that will almost never be 100% accurate? If so, maybe we should
go back to basics and just endure the swings and roundabouts of inconsistent
refereeing and football karma. Football was never supposed to be a
hyper-technical sport: the most technical aspect should be the lines drawn around
the pitch and the tactics played on it. I feel like VAR has left people exasperated,
scratching their heads and longing for the simpler days of debating offside
decisions in the pub post-match, without watching lines being drawn on a screen
and measurements being drawn. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ultimate problem is that it doesn’t look like it’s going
anywhere anytime soon, so is it a case of put up and shut up, or will we
continue to witness the demise of the beauty of the game? I fear the latter –
same time, same place next month?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CASE FOR THE
DEFENCE<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’d said before the season even started, that my main
concern was the fact that City hadn’t replaced Vincent Kompany. Not that you
ever can, because they’re truly humongous boots to fill, but the gap he leaves
in our defence, for me, is distinct. I knew that Kyle Walker or Fernandinho
could always fill in to a certain extent in central defence, but I felt it
imperative to have a true centre back at the heart of the back line. Any
injuries to either Stones or Laporte and suddenly we’d be looking pretty light
back there. Not even a month into the new campaign, and look what’s happened…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s probably not for want of trying, because the Blues were
allegedly linked with Harry Maguire throughout the balmy months, but he was
apparently out of our price range. Stones has been injured, but looks set to
return after the international break.
But Laporte’s injury against Brighton (<i>at the time of writing</i>) is currently being assessed by doctors in
Barcelona and looks like he will potentially be missing a good few months of
the season. Fernandinho was his replacement during that game and did a
typically superb job against a plucky Brighton side. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It may be all well and good using Ferna and Walker to fill
in, but we tend to be particularly vulnerable at set pieces and definitely
suffer from a lack of height at the back. I’ve even seen somebody suggest using
Rodri in defence as he’s more physically imposing and potentially adaptable to
that move. The worrying thing is that it was my biggest fear during the summer
and it’s already come true. Where elsewhere on the pitch we have a multitude of
options to rotate, adapt and cover as and when required, once we get started in
the Carabao Cup and Champions League, I worry that we could possibly struggle.
We brought Angelino back – how ready and capable is he right now? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do think that Maguire would’ve been a good fit for us, but
agree that, at the cost of £90 million, is ridiculously over-priced. I think
it’s also important for us to have a real leader on the pitch. As much as I’m a
fan of the sentimental nod towards David Silva, for giving him the captain’s
armband during his last season at the Etihad, I think it’s important to still
have a really passionate and vocal talisman to lead and, again, that influence
is missing. Pep would argue that every player is vital on the pitch for that
and it’s a team effort, and maybe I’m old school in that regard, but I think
the influence of the captain cannot be underestimated. So we await news on
Laporte; people normally say no news is good news, but I fear in this instance,
it’s anything but.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A PREMIER LEAGUE
HAT-TRICK?<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since the season started, I’ve been asked again to do
various bits and pieces in the media. I’ve been on BBC Radio 5 Live again twice
and featured a few times already on the BBC Radio Manchester show, Talking
Balls. To my complete surprise, I was also recently asked to go on Football
Focus, a weekly television show on BBC One. Television is usually remarkably
out of my comfort zone, so I wasn’t too sure about doing it, but these are all
incredible opportunities that I’m lucky to have coming my way, and I’m so
grateful for that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The interview was outside the Etihad ahead of the recent
game against Brighton, and was just a casual chat, previewing the match and
looking ahead to the season. One of the questions I was asked was, ‘would you
prefer it if City won the Premier League again this season, or the Champions
League?’ It’s a huge question, one that has proved to be quite decisive amongst
our fans. Everybody seems to have their own perception of which trophy is
relevant and important to the club and them as fans. The Champions League is
the one piece of silverware glaringly missing from our collection: it’s the one
many feel Pep will ultimately be judged on throughout his tenure at City, so
winning that to many is an absolute necessity. So why do I want us to win the
Premier League again?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s really difficult to say where we go from here after the
last two seasons City have had. Becoming the Centurions, then following that inconceivable
achievement up with winning the domestic treble has left the bar set
stupendously high. I just believe winning the Premier League is a true test of
a team’s mettle across what is week in, week out, a full throttle nine months
of graft and pressure. 38 games, 19 teams the length and breadth of the country
in varying conditions competing in what is widely regarded to be the toughest
and most physical League in the world. Whoever triumphs in May cannot be denied
(<i>despite the finest efforts of some of
our gutter press</i>) their place in history and this year will be the toughest
yet. Whether we like it or not, Liverpool are in a powerful position, with a
truly talented young squad. I think it’ll be us and them for a few years to
come, battling it out in the fight to not only be the best in England, but the
best in Europe too. But we have some of the best creative and attacking players
in the world at City – we are lucky to be living in an era where we get to
watch De Bruyne, Sterling, Bernardo Silva, David Silva, Aguero all approaching
or at the peak of their careers. How many other football fans can say they have
the privilege of that? Of watching that calibre of player, every week, play for
their team?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just think, it could
be worse. You could be battling it out in the fight to finish 6<sup>th</sup>.
Again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-10355817402292906232019-12-29T05:30:00.000-08:002019-12-29T05:35:32.256-08:00WE GO AGAIN...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/we-go-again.html" target="_blank">THE POWER AND THE GLORY- THE WINNER
TAKES IT ALL<o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/we-go-again.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/12/we-go-again.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - AUGUST 2019</a></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2EXiiJa-d4U9UtEGrSdXdUQ1YcNJjBseG_soa2COuKaYn137_qSdSqPXaCriVtWgzie8yo93zNlPsA_1nwmBQjj_E___xuV5feY885aoat5VKR8sC0xKKQ5bs69xrjCIe8AWxCmz0ugy/s1600/GettyImages-1148715366-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="591" data-original-width="1024" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx2EXiiJa-d4U9UtEGrSdXdUQ1YcNJjBseG_soa2COuKaYn137_qSdSqPXaCriVtWgzie8yo93zNlPsA_1nwmBQjj_E___xuV5feY885aoat5VKR8sC0xKKQ5bs69xrjCIe8AWxCmz0ugy/s320/GettyImages-1148715366-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a bit of a surreal feeling trying to write my article
in the middle of July. I should’ve found some time to sit down just as the
season ended, while my feelings were raw, but the truth is I’ve had a relentless
few months, and this is the first bit of time I’ve had to gather my thoughts
and put pen to paper. Even now, to turn black and white into colour, I’m
currently sat 37,000 feet in the air on an Emirates a380 plane, somewhere
between Dubai and Bangkok, heading to see my Dad. Free time is a rare thing
with two young children, and with my youngest asleep next to me, I had to grab
the opportunity with both hands to reminisce about </span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">that </i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">colossal season and to look forward and speculate as to how we
remotely attempt to follow up both 100 points and treble-winning seasons.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ll talk about summer first, because as incredible as last
season really was, it didn’t half take a hit on me, for many reasons. For the
first time in my life, I have been glad of the summer break, and the past
couple of months have been a breath of fresh air. We’ve enjoyed great amounts
of family time together. We went on our annual holiday to Cornwall, and spent
two weeks there building sandcastles, swimming in the sea, watching remarkable
sunsets, eating fresh fish, drinking wine and beer and making memories for
life. We got really lucky with the weather too, as we went mid May and all bar
one day was wall-to-wall, glorious sunshine. It seemed that the majority of
June was a complete and utter washout, so I’m relieved it didn’t rain on our
parade. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But, despite the summer months not quite living up to the
standard set weather-wise last summer, we’ve had a truly wonderful time
together. My eldest, Vincent, has now finished nursery for good and is starting
school in September, with my youngest, Noel, looking to start nursery at a
similar time. It’ll be a huge period of change for us, so I’m just trying to
make the most of the time we have together and savour it as much as possible,
because once they start school, that’s it. I chose to have these early years
with them both, I felt like I’d only live to regret it if I didn’t and I can’t
imagine how bad a feeling that would be, as they already grow up far too
quickly anyway without having looked back once it was too late at the what ifs.
It’s also an exciting time for me, as it means that I can look at my options
too and see which direction I’d like to go in once I’m ready to go back to
work. We live our lives to live, and I really feel like we’ve squeezed the
juice and are raising two very happy, sociable, smart little boys. I couldn’t
be prouder: as much as I love City, of course they’re my priority and always
will be. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we’ve just enjoyed a couple of days in Dubai and are off
to Thailand to spend a week in the sun with my Dad and his wife out there. He
has a few different bases in the Far East: Shenzhen, Xiamen and Bangkok, the
Chinese bases are for work and the Thai apartment is more for relaxation. The
plan is to have a couple of nights in Bangkok, then head for the beach to soak
up some rays and ride some jet-skis. Our youngest is with us, while my eldest
is on his annual holiday with his Dad. I am lucky to enjoy a very amicable
relationship with my ex, one thing I’m grateful for, and he sends me photos and
regular updates during the one time a year he enjoys time away with his boy.
These nuclear families are becoming more of the norm nowadays than the
traditional ‘married with kids’ of past years, although it goes without saying
that I wish they were just as common. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So far, I’ve really enjoyed the switch off from football
and, apart from the transfer news I can honestly say the detox has done me the
world of good. Time in the sun, having sand between my toes, the waves soaking
my skin and the sound of my childrens’ laughter filling my ears has been
exactly the kind of break that I didn’t really know how badly I needed it until
it came around. I almost feel bad admitting it, I usually hate summers with no
football. How brilliant was last summer with the World Cup?! But this season
left me with a very different feeling, and I’m sure I’m not alone in it and I
have no shame either in admitting it. I’ve needed the space to reset and clear
my head after the stress that came with the run-in last season, but it won’t be
long now before we’re getting ready to do it all again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WE ARE LIVERPOOL.
THIS MEANS MORE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s go straight to the end and try and get to the root of
explaining just why last season left me so shook. A Carabao Cup final win against Chelsea, an
FA Cup final mauling of Watford and a neck and neck Premier League-winning
campaign meant that our beloved blues enjoyed a historic domestic treble win.
Of course, the latter as we all well know, was much more of an endurance test.
In fact it got to the point where my enjoyment was being replaced by an emotion
I wasn’t really familiar with following my football team – dread.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The title race between us and Liverpool turned a bit into
the stuff of nightmares for both sets of fans of the teams involved. A thriller
for the neural undoubtedly, but as the weeks headed towards the business end of
the season, we were constantly leapfrogging each other in the League. The
battle became stressful, toxic and tedious. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ever since the bus incident last season, when Liverpool fans
battered the City team coach with bottles and bricks as it headed to Anfield
for the Champions League quarter-final – our relationship with Liverpool fans
on the whole has deteriorated significantly. Jibes on social media quickly turn
into nasty and bitter arguments, with both sides trying to gain the upper hand
with petty point-scoring and entirely unnecessary insults, which often turn
personal. When the title race really heated up, so did the rivalry. Growing up
I was used to watching the United – Liverpool rivalry from a safe distance, but
with United favouring a sixth-place finish these days, it’s City that are
embroiled with Klopp’s Reds in the bitterest of battles for top honours. City
were pitted as the only team that could save everybody from a fate worse than
death – Liverpool winning the Premier League for the first time ever. The
celebrations would go on for eternity, they’d never let it be forgotten –
nobody in the history of mankind could possibly let this happen. Could you
imagine? Do you even want to contemplate what it would be like?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I should’ve loved every second season of last season.
Watching Pep’s usual brand of brilliant, ingenuiative, ground-breaking football
is always exhilarating, but towards the end I was just wishing it was over. I
know how bad things have been with United over the years, but I don’t remember
it being that toxic with them during the 2011/12 title run-in. I also don’t
remember it being anywhere near as bad with Liverpool during the 2013/14 ‘Gerrard
slip’ battle. For this season, most Liverpool fans did what all football fans
would’ve never thought remotely possible – they became even more unbearable. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s also give a mention to that ridiculous slogan of
theirs – we are Liverpool, this means more. How on earth does anything mean
more to you? What gives you the brass neck and audacity to say that your
football club’s achievements mean more to you than mine? I will tell you for an
absolute fact that they don’t. It’s yet more vitriolic bile from an arrogant
club who actually believe that their accomplishments in football mean they’re
better than any other team. Let me tell you something – they don’t. Even by
winning the Champions League, they thought that was a bigger achievement than
winning the domestic treble – it isn’t. I’m no fan of the Champions League: I
think the fact two teams made the final , that haven’t been Champions in their
own domestic League for many, many years makes a mockery of the whole value of
the contest. It’s a UEFA corrupt cash cow and I have no personal desire as a
fan to win the thing, although I’m well aware next season, it’ll probably have
to be Pep’s main focus, seeing as it’s the only silverware to now allude him
during his time at City.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I even saw a couple of Liverpool fans wildly suggest that
their second place tally of 97 points was worthy of them being awarded a
special trophy in itself. Let’s make this abundantly clear in the slim event of
any doubt – in the words of ABBA, the winner takes it all. There are no prizes
for second place, no matter how desperate you were to triumph. A point
difference still equates to a point – and don’t forget, if you think you came
close, United missed out back in 2011/12 on <i>goal
difference</i>. So take it the way us City fans would’ve had to, on the chin,
it’s a bitter pill to swallow, but by acting up and spitting dummies out, it
only serves to make you look a bit of a, well, a dickhead.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the upcoming season’s curtain-raising Community Shield
being against them, I fear somehow the battle may have only just begun. We were
both light years ahead of the rest of the Premier League last year, and I
personally don’t believe any other team has done enough to convince me over the
course of the summer through signings that the gap will be closed by anybody
else. But, with VAR being introduced next season, it will be interesting to see
how that affects all teams – particularly Liverpool, who some might say got
more than their fair rub of the green last season when it came to penalty
decisions going their way. Even with VAR – and we all know the drama that
brings with it (<i>Spurs and Raheem
Sterling, anyone?</i>), I still think Liverpool will be there or thereabouts –
but I think we will be better, more so than last season, particularly as
prayers have finally been answered and we have Fernandinho’s rotation
partner/successor, Rodri. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PARTING IS SUCH SWEET
SORROW<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Something else that happened last season that took away from
my enjoyment of it all was the news of Vincent Kompany’s departure from the club.
I know it wasn’t necessarily a surprise for most concerned, but the news,
coming on the morning after the FA Cup win that sealed our treble triumph, took
me from flying to forlorn in a nanosecond. I think it’s affected me more than
it should and I’ve spent the time since his announcement trying to rationalise
why that could be.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I tried to put this into words on one of Ian Cheeseman’s
Forever Blue podcasts and it left me very emotional. Like most people, City
have always served to be the one constant in my life. No matter what I’m going
through, I have always relied on City as a distraction or even to a certain
extent, a purpose in life. City have always provided me with a sense of
belonging, even when I’ve felt unsure and lost about which direction to turn,
decisions to make or what to do. When Kompany joined City back in August 2008,
I was still at university studying my degree in Sport Journalism. Throughout
his time at the club I have: graduated, got engaged, travelled around the
world, got my dream job, found out it really wasn’t my dream job, split up with
my fiancé, got pregnant, been a single Mum, met somebody new, been with him for
almost five years and had a second child. That’s without mentioning every
single phenomenal moment that I’ve been through with City: all the trips to
Wembley, the Aguero moment, the 100 point season, THAT Kompany goal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Not only have City been my constant through all of those
indescribable moments, but so has Kompany. I’ve put the Belgian on a pedestal
pretty much ever since his arrival at the Club. I’ve had faith in him even when
the vast majority wrote him off and told him to call it a day, ‘if he would’ve
been a horse he would’ve been shot by now.’ I’ve fought his corner time and
time again: I’ve believed in his abilities, his vision and backed his
determination because he’s been there in my life at a time where I was low too.
He’s led City to some of their biggest triumphs and been a figurehead and role
model for many throughout that. It isn’t just because I named my eldest after
him! Without even knowing about it, Kompany’s qualities and moral compass has
inspired me to be a better person when times were hard and I needed a sense of
direction. What would Vinnie do? He’d never give up, never give in, that’s what
he’d do. So neither will I. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I almost feel like it’s a real coming of age moment for me,
despite already being 37 and middle-aged. I’ve settled down with my partner, we
have two beautiful children and we continue to support City together and
encourage our children to follow suit. Without really knowing it, I feel like
Kompany was my stabilisers in life and now it’s time for me to close a certain
chapter and look forward to what the future may hold in a different aspect and
new chapter of my life. A lot of life can be psychological and we often bottle
up how we feel about certain things and put on a brave face. I feel like I can
now finally let go of certain elements of my past and move forward in earnest.
Although initially I couldn’t really imagine a City without Kompany: as a
captain, he’s been there through some of the club’s most pivotal moments. He’s
led us to victories through grit, guts and determination and dragged us through
important wins. I know that no one player is bigger than the club – I am a huge
advocate of that. But as a captain and human being, he’s utterly irreplaceable.
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But he still has plenty of personal ambition and dreams yet
to fulfil and I commend and admire him for that. He couldn’t have left on a
bigger high. Our loss is Anderlecht’s gain and I’m sure every blue will be
following his progress with a vested interest. Now David Silva has announced
that this will be his last season at City and we all know who will be next…Mr
93:20™. All good things must come to an end: it’s the changing of the old guard
and the beginning of another exciting era at City, we have to be nothing but
grateful and thankful for the part these players have played in the history of
our beloved club and the imprint on its history they’ve left. It’s just this
one, Vincent Kompany, played a part in a way in a way I never thought possible,
and the testimonial game – well, I’ll probably need a full box of tissues to
even stand a chance of coping.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A LITTLE RESPECT<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I realise that it probably sounds ludicrous to have such a
negative tone to an article that essentially should be all about celebrating
City’s historic domestic treble (<i>the club
can call them Fourmidables™ all they want, but does anybody really count the
Community Shield?</i>) It’s not only been the battle with Liverpool fans that
has been tiresome, but the media too. Hell-bent on tarnishing City by any means
possible, they have done all they can to try and discredit the Blues’
achievements.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s nothing new; it’s been going on for seasons now.
Thankfully, Raheem Sterling had the intelligence and guile to call the media
out for the part they’ve played in constantly harassing and bullying him with
their ridiculous non-stories of him shopping in Primark or Poundland, but it’s
the tip of the iceberg. Last season, it was constant articles claiming
‘exclusives’ about City’s apparent FFP wrong-doings and foul play – which,
depressingly, didn’t even stop after our 6-1 FA Cup victory. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I shouldn’t take the bait anymore. I am slowly becoming
immune to it after becoming accustomed to the obligatory negative media takes
after something positive happens to City – it’s as predictable as Liverpool
fans are unbearable. But it’s time to take a stand. Everybody wondered how City
could possibly follow on from that truly remarkable 100 point season – how
could we top a campaign where we were head and shoulders in front of the rest
of the teams in the Premier League? Where records tumbled and teams were swept
aside by a Pep side so majestic, so delightful, with a brand of football that
could only possibly be admired and adored?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We topped it by retaining our League title and completing a
domestic treble – the first ever club to do so. By winning the Carabao Cup, the
FA Cup and the Premier League, we became history makers and record breakers yet
again. But for me, it was the manner in which we won the League that should
truly be applauded and demands nothing by the utmost respect for anybody worth
their salt who understands and watches sport. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For a team to win the last 14 games of a season in a row, to
still be competing in all competitions as seriously as possible by using
positive squad rotation (<i>and not
sacrificing a Cup like Fergie used to do</i>) until our Champions League
quarter final VAR knock-out, is nothing short of astounding. To deal with that
level of pressure and to be aware that the finest of margins in any situation
or alternation during every 90 minute battle could result in possible defeat
and the advantage being given to Liverpool, is something only the finest of
sportsmen with the strongest of mentalities can cope with. How I’d love to pull
up the minority of City fans who actually threw the title towel in during
December – try keeping the faith eh boys and girls?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The title race became a bare knuckle brawl, with the final
few games, be it Liverpool or City playing, all nerve-shredding and massively
anxiety-inducing. I’ve never hoped for an opponent to at least take a point off
a team before, just to try and alleviate the pressure even a tiny bit. It became
suffocating and stressful. Eventually you realise that it’s best to just try
and focus solely on what your team are doing – after the 1-0 win against
Liverpool at the Etihad stadium, the title was always ours to lose. But to have
the focus, resilience and determination to win every single point available to
us throughout those 14 games is what has impressed me by far the most out of
anything we achieved last season. If that was any other team, the media and
critics would be fawning at the outcome. A slip, a mistimed tackle, a shot off
target instead of on – as displayed with the John Stones goal-line clearance
against Liverpool and the Sergio Aguero goal against Burnley – it was a title
race of the finest margins – but to come out on top after being placed under
such immense tension and to hold their collective nerves – makes me proud
beyond belief. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It took a while for our triumphs to sink in, probably
because the final few weeks of the season were so busy for me. BBC Radio Five
Live kept asking me to go in the studio to discuss the title run-in, more often
than not opposite a Liverpool fan, to try and invoke some form of ‘radio
banter’ between us. But, as it happened, Lizzi Doyle turns out to be in the
minority of being an unquestionably and thoroughly decent Liverpool fan, so it
was hard to be pitted as a rival in her company, when all we could do is
respect each other and say just how badly we both wanted the Premier League
title win. I understand that they’re yet to win it, but just because we have -
doesn’t make it any less special. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In fact, this season’s win is right up there for me with
being the sweetest title win yet. The Aguero moment stands alone in Premier League
history for being quite possibly the biggest adrenaline rush I’ve had in my
life (<i>giving birth is a very different
feeling, a different kind of adrenaline, so don’t come at me for that!</i>),
and I’m not sure that will ever be beaten – although the Kompany goal against
Leicester probably comes second to that. At the time I’ll admit, the rush I
felt did feel 93:20-esque, that dizzying euphoric,
taking-you-to-the-strastosphere hysteria that can only come when a hugely
important goal is scored. When the ball hit the net for that goal, and
everybody in the stadium realised a) what they’d just had the privilege of
witnessing and b) what an important goal it was in our push for the title, the
roof came off the place. Let’s not get me started on Komps again, I can’t. But
- what a goal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The phone calls continued and I found myself on BBC Radio
Five Live – to my complete surprise I might add – quite regularly. My poor Mum
was coming round at 6am on a Monday morning to mind the boys, who were both
still snoring, while I was jumping in my car at the crack of dawn to beat the
traffic to Salford Quays to go live on air. Then BBC Radio Manchester started
to ask for me too and, by the end of the season, I was on BBC Radio One too. It
became really busy and really crazy and completely unexpected too might I add.
I was doing this alongside Ian Cheeseman’s Forever Blue podcast too. The final
day climax was the day after we’d won the League: I did Five Live, Radio Manchester
- then back down a floor to Five Live for the rest of the show. This was all
with the worst hangover I have had in a long, long time. The decision to watch
the City-Brighton game at City Square in the sunshine with a load of mates and
far too much beer seemed a good one at the time – although I’m sure I only
drank that much to try and calm my nerves. It had definitely been that kind of
a season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The work didn’t stop there. We have our annual holiday to
Cornwall every year at the same time in May – which meant missing the FA Cup
final. We watched it down there of course, and celebrated with the boys on the
beach afterwards, but the media requests kept coming in. I managed to do phone
interviews while I was down there, I even did one for BBC Radio One while sat
on Fistral beach, which was quite surreal. The last one I did, for BBC Radio
Manchester, involved me jumping out of the car the day after the parade, to
talk about what made me proud of Manchester. Of course, it was City and their
incredible achievements. I’m at a point in my life now where I am starting to
think about what I might do with my life once my children start school and
nursery respectively, and it’s given me food for thought. I never thought in my
wildest dreams that I’d ever be able to go back to my media career after having
children: I’m not sure why, maybe it’s a confidence thing. But, since doing
podcasting for the past couple of years, this has given me a bit more
self-belief when it comes to whether I’m good enough to put myself out there
and speak passionately about the team, and sport, I love. It felt quite
ridiculous, little old me, sat opposite Nicky Campbell and Rachel Burden,
discussing City. Needless to say, it made my parents very proud!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But because I was so, so busy during those weeks, then away
on holiday, then the FA Cup final, Kompany’s revelation and the parade, it
honestly took a while for me to digest the magnitude of City’s triumphs. I
almost needed to take a big step back from everything, from life, to just sit
and take a few moments, to process it all. It was hugely overwhelming. The
stress of the run-in had taken over in a big way, I’d even been struggling to
sleep (<i>I’m sure I’m not the only one</i>)
with it all, so for it to all reach a dramatic conclusion and be resolved in
such a remarkable way, it did take a while to come back down to earth again.
But it’s been nice to be able to enjoy much less stressful weekends: drives out
to the seaside, where doses of Vitamin D make your endorphins dance and sleep
is welcomed back like a baby lying on fresh sheets. It’s been the most perfect,
blissful summer. I’m just not sure if I’m ready to do it all again just yet…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As usual, the only person I’m trying to kid here is myself.
I’ll be there with bells on ready to do it all over again. But let’s take a
second to think about what life would be like if it would’ve gone the other
way…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do they even have internet in Timbuktu?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-67760593157426671022019-05-05T10:08:00.000-07:002019-05-05T10:09:21.824-07:00IT'S HEADING FOR A FINAL DAY DECIDER...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/05/its-heading-for-final-day-decider.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">NOBODY DOES IT BETTER – MAKES ME FEEL
SAD FOR THE REST</span><o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/05/its-heading-for-final-day-decider.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2019/05/its-heading-for-final-day-decider.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - APRIL 2019</a></span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvi7vXkb6ICViTtiK7GSb1ojc8OayjMdQnhe9BDQ8QLS9wi7UwUv0gvjlsmm1O63hS-rtSfqush3giIiRF8oTWFtS1TszEkmiRLMYJS0ZrTsZRislUaaavgIkH77kYQN88A02BrPxeXJU/s1600/1_JS167238951.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="409" data-original-width="615" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYvi7vXkb6ICViTtiK7GSb1ojc8OayjMdQnhe9BDQ8QLS9wi7UwUv0gvjlsmm1O63hS-rtSfqush3giIiRF8oTWFtS1TszEkmiRLMYJS0ZrTsZRislUaaavgIkH77kYQN88A02BrPxeXJU/s320/1_JS167238951.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span></o:p><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Finally, I have had the time to open my laptop and string a
few sentences together about our little old City. Having two children means
that, most of the time, everything is chaos. By the time they’re in bed at
night I’m fit for nothing and my head is on nursery rhyme, jingle, electronic
sounds from toys, overload. More often than not, finding the time to write
these days is desperately rare (</span><i style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I’ve had
to come to my Mum’s while she looks after my youngest so I can type this all up
right now</i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">), but I’m determined to keep contributing and giving my thoughts
and opinions on everything to do with the Blues , as long as Dave and Sue will
have me.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FOREVER BLUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Having stepped out of my comfort zone and gone from writing
to contributing on the now-defunct City Watch Podcast (<i>!</i>), I’m now a regular panel member for Ian Cheeseman’s Forever Blue
podcast. Podcasts are a funny thing: I was so nervous the first time I ever did
one and always thought I’d make a laughing stock of myself. But it turns out
people do sometimes actually agree with some of the things I say. Which is very
surreal. You’re never going to please everybody all the time, but as long as
you stay honest, most people will respect you for that, whether they agree with
you or not. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It can be quite daunting though if your opinion is different
to other panel members on the podcast. I remember last season when we did a
podcast and discussed the Champions League draw. We were talking about which
teams we didn’t want – and I was the only person to say Liverpool. I got mocked
a bit by the panel, but I gave my reasons – and then look what happened. We
drew them and they ended up knocking us out. It doesn’t always go like that,
but a few people remembered that and I gained a bit of respect for it.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s really difficult putting yourself out there like that
though. You’ve got to be able to grow a thicker sin, accept that everybody is
entitled to their opinion and that different viewpoints aren’t necessarily a
bad thing. Ian always told me, as long as you can back your opinion up, you
will always have respect and credibility for that. I’ve been asked to do a
couple of other City podcasts, but for now I just want to stick to contributing
to Forever Blue. Ian is a good friend, he has shown me incredibly loyalty, and
for that I’ll always be grateful. Plus I have next to no spare time right now,
so I have to be selective about the things that I do when it comes to
broadcasting and writing.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We also had Andy Morrison on the podcast recently: I’m
planning a special article for King of the Kippax based on his interview, so
that’s one to look out for. His story, on a human level, is both equally
devastating as it is fascinating, and it was surreal to be able to ask him some
questions after Ian had conducted the main interview. I’ve interviewed dozens
of players, but that was very special. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve also contributed on BBC Radio 5 Live quite a lot
recently; I tend to be talking all things City on their breakfast show with
Nicky Campbell and Rachel Burden. I’ve just recorded an interview too with The
Anfield Wrap for their main paid subscription show. Yet I still don’t feel
overly confident speaking on these platforms – I’ve still not decided if it’s
something I’ll continue to pursue, writing is definitely my comfort zone, but I
am enjoying it and it allows me to spend what little spare time I have talking
about City – and what’s not to love about that?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IT’S A FUNNY OLD GAME<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s always made me laugh how fickle football fans can be. I
remember when Zinchenko was linked with a move to Wolves in the Summer. When he
decided to stay, many Blues mocked him for it on social media.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘What’s the point – he’ll never get game time now Mendy’s
back. Where his ambition to play first team football?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some said he wasn’t ambitious enough. Some said he was
greedy, happy to take a wage without getting enough game time. But a minority,
myself included, were glad he decided to stay and saw a future for him at the
club.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward to now and Zinchenko has just been voted City’s
Player of the Month for February – no mean feat considering the form of
Bernardo and Sterling, along with Aguero’s two hat tricks. But it’s thoroughly
deserved for the Ukrainian: after the 6-0 drubbing of Chelsea, the 22 year old
has been unplayable.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His attitude is commendable, he’s obviously a much liked
squad member, his confidence has soared, but crucially, both his technical
ability and physicality have much improved. It’s obvious to see that he’s been
working on his strength: you only have to look to the Chelsea game at Wembley
for proof of that, having dealt with the threat of Pedro and Willian quite
comfortably. Game after game he’s been solid: he’s a dream left-back for Pep
because his natural position is actually more of a winger/attacker, so his pace
and trickery serves him well when turning defence into attack for City. There’s
talk of a new deal being lined up for him – it’s no less than he deserves – and
if/when Mendy ever gets fit again, the Frenchman has to know that he’s got one
hell of a fight on his hands to gain his place back in the starting line up.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Gundogan is another player who has really impressed me
recently. When Fernandinho got injured, a lot of people obviously panicked.
After City failed to sign another defensive midfielder to be able to rotate in
when Fernandinho is rested/injured, alarm bells were ringing. But Gundogan
really has come into his own of late. We’re seeing the Borussia Dortmund
Gundogan at last, the player City paid £20 million for, and that price is
looking more and more like a bargain. The Champions League second leg against
Schalke is the best I’ve seen him play for us so far. The way he was linking
play, quashing their moves forward and some of his passes were phenomenal. He’s
an intelligent footballer, one that perhaps (<i>with no disrespect meant</i>), only supporters of a certain ilk can
truly appreciate. He’s relishing his game time and we can’t take him for
granted. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fernandinho has long been established as a key player in
this side and his role and contribution cannot be underestimated. City have
offered new deal to Gundogan and he is yet to sign – at the age of 28, he has a
decision to make. Does he stay and fight with all his might for a place in the
first team, knowing that a fit Fernandinho will always be favoured in that
position? Knowing that if he plays elsewhere in midfield, his fight is just as
tough being surrounded by superb midfielders? Or does he look for a new
challenge, at a pinnacle point in his career, knowing that he could secure
guaranteed game time and be a first team starter elsewhere? It’s a really tough
decision for him to make and I understand the time he needs to take to do that,
even if the foot-stamping fans don’t. I would love him to stay – and he may
just be the answer to our defensive midfielder problem, without us having to
make an extra signings. But it’s been a certain percentage of fans who have
belittled his ability, mocked his contributions and sneered at him for a long
period of his time at the club. It’s a shame it’s only now that fans are
starting to wake up to his capabilities at City. It might just be too little,
too late – and who could blame him for that?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But good news on the new deal front has been the imperious
Bernardo Silva signing a contract extension, taking his stay at City up to
2025. There’s no doubt he’s a front runner for Player of the Season – nobody
puts in the work rate and miles like Bernardo does. He runs himself into the
ground twice a week for us, his trickery dazzles and his first touch is the
best I’ve ever seen from any player – and that’s no exaggeration. He’s been
undroppable for Pep all season and has established himself as a firm fan
favourite: he’s the type of player you just delight at being able to watch play
for your football club. He has everything: charisma, bottle, flair, technique,
scoring ability, fight and he will run for longer than Forrest Gump ever did. He’s
quite possibly a representation of the kind of player we as fans would aspire
to be if we could ever be lucky enough to grace the pitch at the Etihad – he has
those attributes that endears himself so dearly to the City fans – with his own
ABBA ‘Voulez Vous’ song to go with him. It takes some doing to become ‘top
Silva’ when you’ve playing alongside David, but based on current form, few
could argue that he’s well on his way to securing just as memorable as legacy
as his Spanish teammate. Based on form so far this season, for me, it’ll be
between him and Sterling for Player of the Season.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RAHEEM THE GREAT</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I want to take a minute though to talk about Sterling,
although he serves so much longer. I’m happy to admit that I was one of the
doubters when he joined us from Liverpool. I wrongly judged him – possibly on
reputation alone. I don’t think I’d been brainwashed by the media, although
sadly, many have been, but I’d just seen a few things about him that had made
me think ‘what a d**k’. I thought his price tag was massively inflated and
largely based on potential. But when he signed for City, as is the case when any
boy in blue, we get behind the player and support him regardless. Last season I
thought Sterling was incredible – 18 goals and countless assists – with some of
those goals crucial. Match-winning goals. The last minute goal at Bournemouth
tore the roof off the place. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But this season, remarkably, he’s improved even further.
Ever since that incident at Stamford Bridge with the Chelsea fan, it seems like
a weight has been lifted off Sterling’s shoulders. He seems more confident,
more assured, more humble, more determined. It’s a sad indictment of the world
we live in that it takes something like that for the media to reassess their
viewpoint on him. For years, there has been a huge smear campaign against
Sterling, one that he has now rightly called the press out on. He alleged that
the media’s vilification of him and other players is all down to the colour of
their skin. Fair play and a standing ovation from me for the 24 year old to use
his platform to say that and to make certain members of the press think about
their actions and the consequences they can have. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why does Sterling get booed by the opposition fans at every
ground we visit? Why, doing the World Cup, was he the only player in the
starting line up that got booed in the pub I was in, in the middle of
Manchester? Because his faux reputation precedes him: people have been wrongly
brainwashed by the media to believe that Sterling is a flashy, trashy, cocky
footballer. The constant snake emojis used towards him – he’s a money-grabber.
He only moved to City for the money. NO – he’s a young man with ambition and
with the talent and skill to back that up. He took the winning penalty in the
shoot-out at Wembley to win us the Carabao Cup – the place he was born. That
took balls of steel. He nailed it. Many could and would falter under such
pressure – he didn’t. He’s already won many trophies at City and contributed
massively towards those, proving that he made the right decision for his
career.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He continues to learn, to thrive, to excel, to grow and,
most importantly, command respect. Respect is no less than he deserves. It
takes watching him every week to really appreciate how important a player he
has become at City. He’s a joy to watch. His hat-trick against Watford and his
captaincy against Schalke only strengths how crucial a part he plays for us –
and it’s about time other fans took notice of not only how talented a player he
really is, but how genuine a man he has become. It’s tragic that it’s only
since he’s called out the media, that his charity work has been highlighted.
That other tales of good will gestures have been raised. Raheem is the finest
example I could point to for my two young sons – he’s a superb role model, make
no mistake of that – and there can be no greater karma and legacy against the
naysayers than that. Safe to say now that I’m one of his biggest fans and I
look forward to seeing him progress even further.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE RUN-IN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When City had a pretty much disastrous December, many wrote
them off in the race for the Premier League title. But Liverpool have since
wobbled, and we have continued to keep our winning run going, so now (<i>at the time of writing</i>), and with Spurs
tailing off predictably, we are neck and neck for the League. It’s almost too
close to bear. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re now flying towards the business end of the season,
where every aspect of both sides is constantly being scrutinised and analysed.
The fixtures left are the main talking point, with City being painted as having
the tougher run-in. I don’t think there’s really <i>that </i>much really in it. Playing a team threatened with relegation
can be a much tougher ask than playing one of the so-called ‘bigger’ teams. We
as City fans know the importance of trying to survive a relegation fight, and
you’ll give blood, sweat and tears in order to try to maintain your place in
the Premier League. You raise your game beyond anything you’ve known, so the
role that these teams could play can never be underestimated. We’ve both got to
play teams down there, so it’ll be intriguing to see if any of them can derail
a title charge. I’m looking at Palace away, United away and even Burnley away
as being our toughest tests. Cardiff and Newcastle away for them shouldn’t be
easy, plus they’ve got Chelsea at home. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Champions League quarter final draw has just been made
and those games will play their part too. Ajax v Juventus, Porto v Liverpool,
Spurs v City and Barca v United are how the final eight teams will shape up. I
wanted Porto, Ajax or Spurs so I’m pretty made up with that. Spurs are never to
be underestimated, but they’re arguably the less media-hyped English club of
the three, if we would’ve drawn Liverpool/United, the run-up to the fixtures would’ve
been unbearable. Ajax or Juventus in the semi final should we progress is also
relatively kind, so could we actually be heading to Madrid in June? UEFA will
want their poster boy Ronaldo to feature in the final, but it’s going to be one
hell of a couple of months. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The only difference really between us and Liverpool’s
fixtures is that we’re still in the FA Cup (<i>at
the time of writing, before the semi final</i>). Having just got home from
Swansea, I’m still not really sure how we still are in the Cup. A first half of
chaos, going 2-0 down, to then somehow miraculously come back and win the game
3-2, with no extra time needed, I’m still in a bit of shock about how it all
panned out. The amount of beers I drank that day didn’t help the memory, but I
do remember the turning point being Pep bringing the subs on: Zinchenko,
Sterling and Aguero made all the difference. The goals may have been dubious to
say the least, but in a season where Liverpool have enjoyed more than their
fair rub of the green with decisions to keep them in the title race, I’ll take
that all day long. I almost felt sorry for Swansea: once upon a time that was
us. They gave it a really good go and on another day would be heading to
Wembley, but there’s no denying the quality in Bernardo’s goal that started the
comeback, even if the penalty and final Aguero goal had question marks over
them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With Watford, Brighton and Wolves all left in the FA Cup, it
was Brighton who were paired to face us. But here’s the dilemma I have – and
I’ll be really honest. I love going to Wembley. I’ve been 11 times now watching
City, I still can’t believe I’m writing that, 11 times, and they’ll be people
who have been more because I’ve had to miss a couple. But it’s now getting to
the point where I’m having to potentially choose which games I can go to
because I can’t afford it all. It’s not just the ticket with Wembley – it’s the
travel cost, the food and drink. When we went down for the Carabao Cup final,
we did it there and back in a day and only got home at 1am. I know people who
got back later. But my boyfriend, Adam, has to be up for work at 3am and he
couldn’t book the day off because he had run out of holidays. Doing it there
and back in a day, especially with Vincent, is such a big ask, but cost and
holiday-wise, we didn’t have any other options. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now we’re playing Brighton, and I know you can never take
anything for granted, the potential of being in the FA Cup Final is looking
realistic. We’ve reached the Champions League Quarter Final. So we <i>may </i>need money for two more finals
there. I know people say not to count chickens, but these are things
financially that we need to consider, coupled with the cost of everyday life
anyway (<i>rent, bills, food, my children</i>),
it’s getting to the stage where we have to make decisions and we may not be
able to afford both the semi final and the final too. Why they play the FA Cup
semi finals at Wembley anyway is beyond me, but it doesn’t really help me out
when I’m trying to find the funds to be able to afford everything and being
stretched to the limit like every other blue. The price you pay for success!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The media are starting to make a bit more of a noise about
the fact that the ‘quadruple’ is still on for us, funny that they’re
realistically the only people talking about it. City fans know better than that
– I don’t think any one of us is thinking that we will do it. But, it’s almost
April. We have won the Community Shield (<i>yes
I know, doesn’t count</i>) and the Carabao Cup. We’re in the FA Cup Semi Final,
the Champions League quarter final and well and truly in the hunt for the
Premier League title. Is it a good or a bad thing when it comes to Liverpool
that we are still spinning so many plates? Just looking at our fixtures in
April makes me feel tired. Eight (<i>possibly
nine if Cardiff gets re-arranged for that month too</i>) huge games in three
different competitions and the pressure is well and truly on to win them all.
People talk about player fatigue, but what about us fans? It’s knackering just
trying to keep up with it all! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This is do or die: it’s crunch time. Last season when we
romped the League, we came up against a <i>really
</i>big week in April – and lost all three games. We all remember it, but we
wish we didn’t. At that point, Liverpool knocked us out of the Champions League
and United, well, they just delayed us winning the League until they got beat
by West Brom at home. No real damage done in that respect! Hopefully the
players have taken that experience on board and can now look back on it as
character building. If we have a week like that in April this time round, with
how close the League is and Liverpool not really showing too many signs of
relenting, it could be a different story. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the big plus for City is that we’ve been here before and
done it – three times in seven years. We have the experience of coming from
behind to win the League, twice. When it comes to the crunch, it’s a test of
who wants it more, who is stronger, both physically and mentally, who is more
motivated for it. Anything could happen between now and May to affect both
teams involved – a surprise suspension or a shock injury could have a
detrimental effect on either side. There are so many contributing factors, so
many twists and turns to come. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would love to win it all; I don’t think you’ll find a
football fan who wouldn’t want to see their team lift every trophy and enjoy
all the successes it brings with it. For me, the Premier League is the one to
win. It’s the toughest, with the most games to play over a longer period. The
FA Cup has always held a special place in my heart - even that awful day when
Wigan beat us to win it hasn’t taken away my love for the competition. I’ve
never really taken to the Champions League, which probably sounds ridiculous,
but for some reason I’ve struggled with it, no more helped with UEFA and their
ridiculous Financial Fair Play fiascos. But for many teams, it’s considered essential
to win it to really be held in high esteem and be regarded as amongst the elite
in European football. I don’t believe we’ll have a greater chance of winning it
than this season – but will something have to be sacrificed elsewhere in order
to do that? Can we really sustain the momentum and winning streak to power
through until May? I’ve got butterflies just thinking about it. But nobody does
it better than Manchester City, do they? The drama of the Carabao Cup final
shoot-out, the recent comebacks at Schalke and Swansea and recovering ground in
the League to still be challenging for the title shows just how special this
team is and what we’re capable of. It could be a very different story that I’m
telling come next month, but for now let’s just enjoy the what ifs. Makes me
feel sad for the rest…</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-55216208358751829012018-12-18T13:33:00.000-08:002018-12-18T13:33:47.153-08:00THIS IS HOW IT FEELS TO BE CITY - THE NEW NORM<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/this-is-how-it-feels-to-be-city-new-norm.html" target="_blank">IT
WAS ACCEPTABLE IN THE 80’s (AND 90’s, JUST NOT WHEN IT’S CITY IT SEEMS<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/this-is-how-it-feels-to-be-city-new-norm.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/this-is-how-it-feels-to-be-city-new-norm.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - JANUARY 2019</a></u></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFMGgleeA7pz0StFBEeqrcL18STfYC35Vn6jBzMSWYCcRI94KmSEl1zKKOE8Btq2yPXjKtOaNqQoB6Yyd8BUYJGE2GQSavIDBcngQdK5hqJt3m85X3kNEF0N3wv7Eccuet6725fqp9rC7/s1600/sterling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="620" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlFMGgleeA7pz0StFBEeqrcL18STfYC35Vn6jBzMSWYCcRI94KmSEl1zKKOE8Btq2yPXjKtOaNqQoB6Yyd8BUYJGE2GQSavIDBcngQdK5hqJt3m85X3kNEF0N3wv7Eccuet6725fqp9rC7/s320/sterling.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 21.3333px;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was recently asked to go on a
radio show to dissect the Chelsea-City game. I’ve been asked on a few times and
the presenters are usually lovely. This time, it was different hosts though and
I will spare them their blushes by refraining from naming said show and host
here (<i>it wasn’t Cheesy, but that goes
without saying!</i>)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After name checking me, the host
opened the conversation with the question:</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘So Emily, would you like to congratulate Chelsea on their win?’<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I mean, it was 7:20am on a Sunday
morning, but did I actually hear that right? Would I like to congratulate a
team for beating us? Would I like to congratulate Chelsea on winning a match?
Would I? <i>Would I?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It felt like the question spun
round in my head for a good half an hour, when in reality it was a matter of
seconds. But I was brutally aware that I was live on air and had to give a
rational, respectable response to that abomination of a question.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Well yes, why not?’ I retorted.
‘Congratulations on the three points, but it’s a title race between us and
Liverpool. The three points will serve well towards Chelsea’s battle to secure
Champions League football next season.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After the interview concluded, I
made a brew and reflected. Actually, the more I thought about that question,
the more enraged I became. I felt like a boiling kettle. Would he have asked
that question to say, a Wolves fan that had just got beat by Southampton? Can
you imagine it, ‘would you like to congratulate Southampton on their win?’ Of
course, it wouldn’t happen. Perhaps if the team had just won the Premier League
title or the Champions League final, but certainly not for winning a game of
football in early December.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is this what it has come to? Is
this really what it feels like to support a team who is a scalp for everybody
and a scapegoat throughout the media? Is it really that much of a monumental
event in world sport if we lose a game? The delight opposition fans take when
we do; the sheer glee, the revelling up and down the country and across social
media. So this is how it really feels to be City? It’s time to start growing a
thicker skin if this is the new norm.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It isn’t paranoia on my part. I
do genuinely feel like the club has taken a battering recently, especially
after the Der Spiegel FFP ‘leaks’. Many a journalist quite happily participated
in the media hysteria the ‘scandal’ had whipped up – demanding that sanctions
were placed against City for their ‘blatant disregard for FFP’. Ferociously stomping
their feet and wagging their fingers over a week-long set of ‘revelations’ that
didn’t really reveal much of note whatsoever, apart from throwing yet more mud
in City’s direction. The ‘reportings’ only served to add to the media and rival
fans’ distain for the Blues.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then we’ve got Danny Baker –
gobshite mouthpiece who keeps bragging about having been on I’m A Celeb despite
being voted first out – giving it the big ones on Twitter, comparing the
Premier League to Formula One. The tiresome man was trying to claim that City’s
domination is making the League ‘boring’ and ‘dreary’, and that ‘elite clubs’
should ‘f**k off to their Euro Super League’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s so factually incorrect it’s
laughable. He seemed to insinuate that the title was a foregone conclusion and
that, from his tweet, you’d think that City commanded a colossal lead over
their rivals. In fact, how City can be dominating to that extent when actually,
as I type, it’s Liverpool who are top of the League, is beyond me. It’s almost
paranoia on his part, because the media have yet again hyped up the possibility
of City having an invincible season, when most sensible people know that would
never happen. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Did we have armies of people
complaining during the 1980s, when Liverpool thrived and dominated? Was there a
huge stink (<i>apart from us Blues of
course!</i>) when United, under the guidance of Fergie, swept everyone aside to
storm to their greatest ever trophy haul during the 1990s? Apart from Leicester
City and Blackburn Rovers, the Premier League years have always tended to have
one team who have come along and, for at least a couple of seasons, been hugely
successful. United, Arsenal, Chelsea and City are all part of that formula. So
to only now state that it’s City that’s making the League boring with their
successes is completely baffling. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, it’s not baffling. It
stinks of bitterness and jealousy. Blackburn Rovers - who won the Premier
League back in the 1994/95 season – took it to the last day of the season to
pip United to the title. They had Kenny Dalglish as manager and their secret
formula was the magical partnership of SAS – Chris Sutton and Alan Shearer.
Sutton scored 15 goals, but it was Shearer who was the talisman, scoring 34
goals to help them lift the silverware. Colin Hendry, Graeme Le Saux and Tim
Sherwood all made it into the PFA Team of the Year for them, acknowledging
their efforts towards the title win. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The quite unlikely achievement
was celebrated because then owner, the late Jack Walker, had invested millions
of his own money into Rovers. His estimated net worth was £600 million: he took
over the running of the family sheet metal business, Walkersteel, and from that
began to invest heavily in the club. His millions went towards new ground
infrastructure and new training facilities, not to mention towards signing new
flagship signings at Ewood Park. The fans were overjoyed, the media delighted
at the sight of his tears of happiness on that final day of the season at
Anfield (<i>the only time that ground has
ever seen a Premier League title win might I add!)</i> What a story – Walker’s
millions made dreams come true. What a hero.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leicester enjoyed a similar,
quite extraordinary fairy-tale Premier League title win. Their 5,000-1 odds at
the start of the season showed the extent to which <i>nobody</i> had remotely considered them capable of winning the League.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under the guidance of manager
Claudio Ranieri, the Foxes emerged as the surprise package of the 2015/16
season. The late owner, Vichai Srivaddhanaprabha, had injected millions into the
club from his King Power duty free empire, enabling Leicester to invest- and
really shake up the status quo.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was the England striker Jamie
Vardy that grabbed the headlines with his 24 goals, distinctly and vivaciously
assisted along the way by winger Riyad Mahrez’s (<i>wonder where HE is now?!</i>), with his 17 goals. Other players worth a
shout included N’Golo Kante, Robert Huth, Danny Drinkwater and Christian Fuchs.
Once the team had hit the dizzy heights in the table, belief began to grow and,
with the momentum behind them, they took their fans on an astounding journey
that culminated in them lifting the Premier League trophy. Proof indeed, that
miracles can and do happen.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ll lump Chelsea, Arsenal and
United together, because their stories are all reasonably similar. Chelsea,
with the notorious might of Russian chairman Roman Abramovich’s Roubles behind
the club, have won it all. With ‘captain, leader, legend’ John Terry at the
heart of their defence, Frank Lampard in midfield and Didier Drogba upfront to
name but a few, Stamford Bridge was a trophy haven, and in the Mid 00’s, no
trophy hadn’t been graced with the Royal blue and white ribbons of Chelsea.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arsenal – well, Arsenal were
simply a joy to watch. Their foreign signings greatly enriched the Premier
League more than any football fan could’ve realised they ever would. What City
fan could forget being at Maine Road for that 4-0 drubbing? Yes, the where
Carlo Nash’s touches of the ball were just picking it out of the net after each
and every Arsenal goal. Say what you want, but at that time, they were an
absolute joy to watch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Under Frenchman Arsene Wenger,
the Gunners enjoyed their infamous ‘Invincibles’ season during 2003/04, and won
the League and Cup double in 1997/98 and 2001/02. The League was graced with
Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Marc Overmars, Robert Pires and
Freddie Ljungberg – who all helped Arsenal to their trophy haul – back in the
days when it was catfights aplenty between Wenger and Fergie.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, the final team mentioned
there, United, I’m not going into their trophy successes in such detail, of
course. But, throughout their glory years, they spent millions and millions of
pounds on players to help them secure silverware. Yes, they had their
home-grown talent, but they wouldn’t have remotely enjoyed such dizzy heights
had it not been for such serious, heavyweight squad investments. In fact,
they’re still at it these days – spending obscene amounts of money, just not
enjoying the same accomplishments. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve made my point in such a
detailed way, as to illustrate the intolerable hypocrisy of not only Danny
Baker, but of every single fan, critic and journalist who dares to highlight
our spending. I know it’s nothing new, but for us to still be on the receiving
end of pelters for it is beyond tiresome.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The word ‘boring’ is being thrown
around a lot – how can <i>we </i>be making
the League boring when it’s absolutely wide open right now? How can our
football <i>ever</i>, and I repeat, <i>EVER, </i>be described as boring, when it’s
some of the most technically astute, accomplished and visually sensational the
Premier League has ever been blessed with? I say that, consciously, with no
shred of bids, because every word of it is true.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The extent of fan jealousy
towards us is at fever pitch and it’s no surprise that it happens to coincide
with us playing some of our best football. Did anybody ever pick holes in Jack
Walker’s spending? Who knocked Leicester City when they won the title with a
lot of help from King Power along the way? It was all ‘a breath of fresh air’,
‘what a fairytale’ and ‘how amazing for Leicester’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Arsenal? Spent millions. Chelsea?
Spent millions. United? Spent <i>billions</i>.
Yet every fan has the audacity, or sheer idiocy, to make Sheikh quips towards
us. Where would any of those clubs I’ve previously mentioned be without the
money they’ve invested and spent? In fact, where would <i>any </i>club, or on a greater scale, <i>any </i>business be, without spending money. Everybody worth their salt
knows you have to speculate to accumulate – this is not a new notion – and it’s
certainly not something that City are pioneers of. It’s been going on long
before Trevor Francis became the first British footballer to command a £1
million transfer fee back in 1979 (<i>Birmingham
City to Forest, in case you wanted to know</i>)<i>.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think I’m just sick and tired
of the stick City constantly seem to get these days. I’m <i>almost </i>at the point where I’m starting to become immune to it. You
have the usual suspects – Duncan Castles, Neil Custis and the host off Good
Morning Britain who I’m not even going to flatter enough by mentioning his
name, because his ego is out of control enough. But there are plenty of others
– Matthew Syed, Ian Herbert, James Ducker and many more who led a shamed
crusade, via the Der Spiegel links, to encourage action from UEFA to sanction
City. John Dillon even incredulously insinuated that City and David Silva had
used the horrifically sad circumstances of the Spaniard’s son’s birth, and
subsequent recovery to full fitness, to spin negative attitudes towards City. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sadly, journalism seems to be an
industry these days led by ‘clickbait’ articles. The more controversial,
misleading and scandalous a story sounds, the greater the reader hits. Even if
the story angle is spun, the journalists show no desire to backtrack or
apologise. More so, a journalist I have previously worked with (<i>and who I shall keep anonymous</i>),
admitted that newspapers tend to lead with stories on the headline grabbers,
because they know it gets them the numbers they need online and sells papers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a truly sad state of affairs
– one that has been highlighted all the more through the recent racism furore
of Raheem Sterling at the Bridge. I won’t go into it in depth, because I’m sure
others have in this issue, but I will say this. The media have made Sterling a
scapegoat for the past couple of seasons. They are culpable for brainwashing
society’s ill-washed with their complete gutter press and open bullying of the
23 year old.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s therefore no surprise that
Sterling gets booed at most stadiums he goes to. It’s wholly unjustifiable and
hugely unwarranted – here is a young, successful footballer who left Liverpool
to further his career. This decision has already proved to have paid off
massively for him, with both his personal career progression and his
contributions towards helping City achieve silverware. But it’s no surprise
because the press have managed to turn him into a pantomime villain. How dare
he shop at Greggs, Poundworld and Primark? Outrageous that he bought his Mum a
house? Ludicrous he has a tattoo tribute to his late Dad! The headlines become
more despicable the more successful Sterling becomes. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Sterling has since come out on
Instagram, asking for the media to ‘have a second thought about fair publicity
and give all players an equal chance’, saying the press ‘get their message
across’ differently for ‘a young black player and a young white player’. He
knows the score, he knows it’s a race issue, fuelled by it being also a City
issue. It’s made furthermore bizarre because, at the time of writing, the club
have issued no statement publicly backing or supporting Sterling. You may say
they don’t need to, why should they? You’d just like to think, even know I’m
adamant and know for a fact they look after their players and have a duty of
care to come out with a message of support would be a good standpoint to
deliver. Radio silence it is at the moment though (<i>but we all know the club HATE any slight negative angle towards them</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With great power, comes great
responsibility. With great success, comes constant scrutiny. Maybe I’m just not
used to it, perhaps I should be by now. I will always, with every breath in my
body, continue to fight the good fight and publicly condemn any injustices
towards City in the media. But it’s the hypocrisy and short-sighted lunacy that
riles and disturbs me. When they won the treble the season we were promoted
from the then Second Division, they were the darlings of English media. We win
silverware and it’s always tarnished with derived nonsense. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It will continue inevitably, but
so will our sensational, mesmeric football.
But I suppose we do come across this in real life. Some people delight
in seeing others do well, but a minority absolute loath it. They despise it.
And it’s that bitterness, envious and poisonous stance that is trying to take
away from the incredible achievements City are enjoying. But it won’t taint us
– it will only serve to make us stronger and less tolerant to the bullshit
surrounding us. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">And long may our successes and
achievements continue. Because they will – and I can’t wait to watch those
moronic imbeciles squirm while we carry on lifting trophies for the foreseeable
future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-73499614192729755162018-12-18T13:16:00.001-08:002018-12-18T13:18:10.380-08:00BIT OF A SOPPY ONE THIS...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/bit-of-soppy-one-this.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: medium;">WHAT WOULD I BE WITHOUT MANCHESTER CITY?</span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></a></u></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/bit-of-soppy-one-this.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/bit-of-soppy-one-this.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - DECEMBER 2018</a></u></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><br /></u></span></b></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1JZGvPEnJov-jcMauG-9oSjjcXC7DULeLxzToaz3HkZr-MpC5P2mnYNTeMNWKr9dzRLfNdPzUIs90bW31H3jSO5UMRVV9nXUm45qqr2UyV_DVL-X-6yBHxy71OLReT4CgFtYOmHPlc8x/s1600/20180506_152426.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiE1JZGvPEnJov-jcMauG-9oSjjcXC7DULeLxzToaz3HkZr-MpC5P2mnYNTeMNWKr9dzRLfNdPzUIs90bW31H3jSO5UMRVV9nXUm45qqr2UyV_DVL-X-6yBHxy71OLReT4CgFtYOmHPlc8x/s320/20180506_152426.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was talking to a very good
friend of mine, Ian Cheeseman, recently, speculating about the long-term future
of City and the what-ifs. We were wondering what direction the club would go in
and musing over the future of the current fan base if we ever won the Champions
League.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I already know people who have left
their season tickets behind, whether it be for financial reasons or personal,
but then it made me think. Could I ever turn my back on my football team? Just
the thought of answering the question made my heart drop. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">W<i>hat would I be without Manchester City?<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The way of life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For around 25 years, I’ve planned
my life around the football fixtures. Before children and responsibilities in
general came along, I used to go home and away across the country following
City. This meant almost every weekend was spent travelling and supporting my
team. Whether it was London, Liverpool, Leeds or Leicester, I’d be there.
Sometimes we’d stay overnight, meaning the weekend was taken up with following
the Blues. 3,000 of you who have the loyalty points, the time or the
supporters’ club memberships, still do this. You lucky sods. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I still mark the fixture list on
the calendar (<i>as soon as the rearranged
television fixtures come out – no point beforehand!</i>) and add on all cup
games. If a friend asks to meet on a Saturday? ‘Let me just check my calendar,’
of course, largely meaning the fixture list. So City have dictated my social
life for a quarter of a century already. When I say that out loud, it sounds
really sad, doesn’t it? But it’s more than just a hobby – it’s a way of life.
It’s all I’ve ever know for a huge chunk of my life. It’s all we’ve ever known.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These days, with having two boys
under the age of four, finances and circumstances at the moment mean that we
are sharing a season ticket, so we take it in turns to go to the home games. We
have dropped down the pecking order points-wise for away tickets, so following
City away is now once in a blue moon. Which is fine by me, as it makes it all
the more special when we do get to do it. It’s unrealistic to think we could do
any more right now all things considered. We can take Vincent to the games as
he’s four and really enjoys it, but Noel is almost two and still hasn’t mastered
the act of sitting still, so the thought of taking him for the sake of it and
chasing him round the stand for 90 minutes isn’t really an appealing one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It goes without saying that we
never miss a game. So the ones we get to – fantastic – the others, like many
other people, we watch on the television or on a stream. Does it make us any
less of a fan? Absolutely not. These are the sacrifices we inevitably have to
make as we make decisions throughout our lives. Living vicariously isn’t always
possible when you have a budget to manage and two little humans to feed, dress
and entertain. Most people have responsibilities, with decisions to make. A lot
of the time, life is a balancing act. Trying to keep everything in balance,
everybody happy, everything afloat, can prove so difficult. But the one
constant has been City – and that won’t change any time soon.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s in the blood<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know so many people who were
named after former City players. Colin, Mike, Francis…the memories of those
legends of the past will forever resonate through generations: not only because
of their skills on the pitch, but because fans during that time created a
further legacy for them, by naming their sons after them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s not an easy thing, thinking
of what name to give your child. I remember when I was pregnant with my first
born, I wrote down a list of potential names to consider and the pressure and
practicalities of giving my child that name for the rest of their life weighed
down on me with such a heavy burden. All of my friends and everybody that knows
me <i>knew </i>it would have some City
connection. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But he was always only ever going
to be called Vincent. Captain Kompany has earned his place in City’s history
with his typically solid, swashbuckling defending displays over the years. Some
may remember him for his unfortunate injury record; I for one will only take
away the positives, and there are so many to choose from. His attitude is
faultless, his heart is golden and his heroics have helped towards many of our
trophies. The signings of Stones and Laporte have inevitably seen the Belgian
fall down the pecking order, but I’ll always be able to tell my Vincent the
stories of just how pivotal a part his name sake played in the story of City’s
successes over the years.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My second born was slightly
tougher. I didn’t want him to have a name that he could potentially be one of a
few in his classroom, so that ruled out Kevin, David, Joe. Many people said
Sergio to me and laughed, but it did actually get to a point where I seriously
started to consider it. I mentioned it to Adam and his response was laughter,
of course. He’d definitely be the only Sergio in his class, that’s for sure! I
thought Serg for short was pretty cool too, but, ultimately, we both decided to
go for it as a middle name, with Noel (<i>of
Gallagher, Oasis, fame</i>) as his first name.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, with sons called Vincent and
Noel Sergio, it’s pretty hard to escape which football team I support. That’s a
conscious choice I opted for and one that will stay with them now for the rest
of their lives. It’s in their blood. Vincent has been to quite a few games now;
he’s seen us lift the Premier League trophy at the Etihad and the Capital One
Cup twice at Wembley. Noel is yet to go because, basically, he doesn’t sit
still yet! But hopefully one day, like many fans before them, our match day
traditions and love for our team will strike a chord for them. One day they’ll
be going in Mary D’s supping pints before the game. One day they might meet
their girlfriend because of City. One day they may have a hand in naming their
child after the next generation of City heroes. One day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s that generational support
that is so vital to the club. City are focusing so much at the moment on
attracting the global and corporate fans. I’m all for that and I encourage that
entirely. But what about the local fans? The fans that have been there since
day one? The great Grandfathers, who took the Grandads, who then passed on
their support to the Mums and Dads. The families throughout the years: aunties,
uncles, cousins, sons and daughters that went week in, week out at Maine Road
and now turn up at the Etihad without fail. That hardcore support that City
relied on during the club’s plummet to Division Two, are still going, but will
eventually, slowly stop. We have to make our best effort to pass on our
allegiance to our children and encourage them to partake in our hobby just as
passionately as we have done throughout the years to ensure the fan base
remains. I want them to be able to enjoy it just as much as I have done – even
when the day out was much better than the football! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a different generation now
though. The club has evolved beyond anything it ever looked like when I started
going. The stadium, the players, the management, the football, the philosophy,
even the mentality has started to shift. ‘Typical City’ was the tag we all used
to refer to – the new ‘Typical City’ norm is winning. A winning mentality, a
winning habit and winners across the pitch. The losses sting perhaps more now,
because they’re so few and far between. The football is mesmerising, hypnotic
but just as addictive. Like a habit so hard to shake, to quit, to walk away
would be impossible. Not even the heaviest of hearts could make such a
decision. It’s blue blood – that will never change.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Memories for life<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So many memories I have
throughout my life, are memories that I’ve made involving City. The good, the
bad and the ugly. Every single boyfriend I’ve had with the exception of one
have been City fans. I met my current boyfriend, Adam, through Twitter and this
only happened because he was a blue. The first time we met was at the Etihad. Some
of our best memories together have been shared there, falling in love and
having our baby boy, Noel Sergio. We’ve celebrated many of our successes
together and it’s one of the hobbies that we share and enjoy as a couple. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ten trips to Wembley when at one
point in my life I thought I’d be lucky to ever experience one. The first time
securing promotion to the then Division One by the tip of our fingernails, the
second beating United to pave the way to the third - ripping the banner down by
winning the FA Cup. The nights out that have ended in spectacular hangovers,
the days seeing the joy on my little Vincent’s bewildered face. Finding a copy
of King of the Kippax at my Grandad’s house after he passed away from prostate
cancer, only then discovering he read my work. Going to games with my Mum, Dad
and brother as a family, together, before they divorced and Dad moved to Hong
Kong. Celebrating our second Premier League title on the pitch when I was 20
weeks pregnant with Vincent, only to run on again, this time with him
celebrating on his knees arms aloft, after our third title win. Travelling down
to Stamford Bridge with Adam’s Mum and Dad on my birthday and telling them an
hour before the game that I was pregnant with their third grandchild. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve only scratched the surface.
Every match brings different memories – and there have been hundreds. Whether
with friends or family, strangers or colleagues, football has this often unique
way of unifying people. It’s tribal, it’s infectious, but, ultimately, we’re
all family. It’s a bond we all share, a tie that binds us. What would I be
without these memories? Where would my life have taken me? Who would I have
met? Would I be happy?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The goose-bumps, the sighs, the
eye rolls, the agony and the ecstacy. The bruises, the aches, the sore throats
and the limbs in the celebrations. The rivalries and the harmonies. I’ve
experienced every emotion possible following City; I’ve invested my heart and
soul to the club. The results define your mood every weekend – who was that guy
who said football wasn’t a matter of life and death, it was so much more? Ah,
yes. Well, you’ve got to say, he makes an excellent point.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The opportunities it’s created<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As I’ve written about previously,
I first started writing for King of the Kippax when I was 15 years old and
still at high school. It was largely down to Dave and Sue that I continued down
the path of writing. I loved English at school and I knew I had to do something
in life connected to it: I was writing all the time in my spare time, so it
made sense to try and pursue it in some way. The encouragement and confidence
that Dave and Sue gave me inspired me to eventually go to university and study
a degree in Sports Journalism. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was my passion for everything
City that extended into my writing. I wrote opinion pieces, player profiles,
match reports, features and about personal experiences. I was more than capable
of writing impartially about other teams and still am, but it was all things
blue that kept me up until midnight. I sent off work and wrote voluntary for
many different organisations, I was invited onto radio programmes by the BBC
and the now defunct Key 103 (<i>now Hits
Radio</i>). I wrote match reports for the Mirror and articles for Football
Fancast. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After I graduated and had the
weight of not only years of voluntary media experience, but a recognised
qualification too, it was working on BBC Radio Manchester’s hit City radio
show, <i>Blue Tuesday</i>, that led to my
job at City. I worked there for three years: I got to interview all the first
team squad, to celebrate those trophies with them and to help out many worthy
charities with signed club merchandise. I have many unbelievable memories that
I will treasure from during my time there. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since then, my children have
become my immediate priority and focus. But I still take great pleasure in
writing for <i>King of the Kippax </i>and
have been lucky to have worked alongside my friend Ian on the <i>City Watch Podcast, </i>an iTunes Top 10
Sports Podcast. I still dip a toe in the water whenever I can and writing will
always be one of my favourite hobbies. Who knows, perhaps in the future, I may
have an opportunity to revisit it as a career. But, without my club, the love,
knowledge and passion for my team, Dave and Sue and the unwavering support from
Ian, I wouldn’t have even thought about going down this career path, and for
that I have to be grateful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The people you meet<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, this is one of the most
important parts. Without City, there are a lot of truly wonderful people that
wouldn’t be in my life. I have met so many friends who I have only met because
they are City friends, and their friendships have actually become stronger over
time than many of my friends whom I have known for many years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of people criticise social
media, but it’s played a huge part in being able to connect with so many fellow
fans and meet up with them at games. I love meeting people I follow on Twitter
at games. We’ve all discussed it many times and there’s just no way that our
paths would have ever crossed in life had it not been for City. I’ve met fans
from across the country, even across the world. When we went out to Dubai, we
met up with a few blues out there and watched the game at their Official
Supporters’ Club. If I ever happened to go on holiday during the season (<i>usually a big no-no!</i>), the first thing
I’d do is find out where their Supporters’ Branch is to be able to go and watch
the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was because of my family,
namely, my Uncle Bob and my brother, Simon that I decided to support City. But
as the years have gone by, friends and colleagues have become so important in
my life. I’ve already mentioned Ian: he’s a genuine, loyal and deeply
passionate person and by far the biggest blue I know. I’ve known him for almost
as long as I’ve known Dave and Sue, who are both truly caring, wonderful and
generous people, for whom I’m always grateful for publishing my musings. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Twitter is full of amazing,
funny, brilliant people who I’m lucky to call friends. Maddie, Abbie,
Nicki, David, Dan, Kathy, Nicola, Juli,
Barbara, Anne, Richard, Nathan, Alan, Ryan, Deb, Samantha, Jenny, Rach…I could
write a paragraph of names and smile thinking about all the memories I’ve
shared throughout the years, both individually and collectively, whether at an
away game, or at Wembley, or at the Etihad. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To you, reading this, those names
probably mean nothing. You will have your own band of friendships that you’ve
formed down the years going to City. Or perhaps you go to every game with your
Mum, your Dad, your children or your partner. Those rituals, those routines,
those experiences that fill your heart with so much joy (<i>and sometimes, pain</i>), you wouldn’t swap for anything. Imagine if
you didn’t have that. You may have also lost a precious soul who was a blue and
that will continue to happen: we’re all not getting any younger, so that’s why
it’s so important to encourage all the young blues to carry the news. Their
legacy can be their future.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve reached a conclusion. I
couldn’t remotely imagine my life during the season without City. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Times are hard, money is tight
and people are being stretched even more than ever. This leads to having to
make tough, heart-breaking choices. Like I said, we share a season ticket at
the moment, because our children are both young; we can’t afford to have two
and our childcare situation means that more often than not, we have to
alternate going to games. I know a few people who do that. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know people who are not as
fortunate and can’t afford to go to games at all. Or people who have given up
their season tickets because they feel like the club is moving too far away
from their core working class support, towards attracting the corporate
clientele. I also know people who have moved abroad and have to work their
lives around not only the fixture list, but factoring in time differences to be
able to make kick offs to watch the game. The club may be attracting a new,
global fan-base: they have to, to help with merchandise revenue, but there have
been plenty of ex pat and foreign blues there long before the money started
rolling in. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I also, sadly, know blues who
don’t think foreign fans count towards being genuine supporters. They are no
friends of mine. Unfortunately, as well as meeting plenty of fantastic, genuine
City fans, you do meet the odd dickhead along the way. I’m sure you know who
you are, and thankfully, social media has plenty of ways to prevent such people
from engaging with you, if you so wish.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All this passion, this
dedication, this tribalism. All this energy and effort directed towards a
football team. But it’s not just a football team. It’s City. It’s all we’ve
ever known. It’s all we ever will know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve already mentioned that,
without City, I wouldn’t have met my boyfriend, Adam. I had a season ticket
with my ex, Chris, Vincent’s Dad. So, without City, I definitely wouldn’t have the
two beautiful, healthy children I have today. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Now, if that isn’t something to
be truly thankful for, I’m not sure what is.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-26093381848444060432018-12-18T12:52:00.001-08:002018-12-18T12:53:42.397-08:00IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALL SONGS IN THE STREETS...IT WAS NEARLY COMPLETE... IT WAS NEARLY SO SWEET...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="background-color: white; color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/it-could-have-been-all-songs-in.html" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: large;">THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES</span><o:p></o:p></a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #0b5394;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/it-could-have-been-all-songs-in.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u style="background-color: white;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/12/it-could-have-been-all-songs-in.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - AUGUST 2018</a></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0b5394; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u style="background-color: white;"><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNS-Act8aoOHGHQwj40EFW_zgjXd6myrENIS6RrHE_weoBLB_SsGx3eOpGXoM3yluC_Lf3Fr8dAi6iVgu2iPQwprr1YmKuPS81gAYik0UEwpBHuFbJlUr_AeDNs4jdiwarFtURBzy281QE/s1600/TELEMMGLPICT000167452093_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqEGnaGdKWTbTgcBBebr969k-nWfM3SjSy0g0fn3ATipk.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1002" data-original-width="1600" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNS-Act8aoOHGHQwj40EFW_zgjXd6myrENIS6RrHE_weoBLB_SsGx3eOpGXoM3yluC_Lf3Fr8dAi6iVgu2iPQwprr1YmKuPS81gAYik0UEwpBHuFbJlUr_AeDNs4jdiwarFtURBzy281QE/s320/TELEMMGLPICT000167452093_trans_NvBQzQNjv4BqEGnaGdKWTbTgcBBebr969k-nWfM3SjSy0g0fn3ATipk.jpeg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Summer of 2018 is the one we
will remember for the rest of our lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s the one where we had
continuously scorching hot sunshine. The one where we had barbecues every
single day and didn’t get bored. A Summer where I took my children to a
different beach every weekend in the UK: from the seaside in Cornwall to the
shores of mid Wales, beaches that looked more like the Caribbean or the
Mediterranean than our own country. Heat so ferocious it fuelled fires that
burned for days on the Moors and Winter Hill.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s been the Summer that you
longingly hope for year upon year but doesn’t come to fruition. For this year,
those balmy nights and hazy days, tropical temperatures graced the shores of
Great Britain, the Jorginho deal was ‘close’ every day – and England reached
the semi finals of the World Cup. Did I actually just type that? Yes you heard
it right. England were part of the final four in the biggest tournament in
world football. Football may not have come home, but it united a nation bathed
in sunshine and for that we should all be grateful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I was looking forward to the
World Cup this Summer just to provide me with my football fix before pre-season
with City started. I hadn’t been heavily invested in international football for
many years. I love watching the World Cup and the Euros when they roll around;
mainly to use it as an excuse to scout upcoming talent that I’d love to see
playing for City – but the tide has turned that much at the Etihad that most of
the really impressive players on show already played in sky blue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last time I was really
patriotic, and I mean jumping around like a maniac in an England shirt with a
flag, was 2002. It’s been a while since I’ve really cared about the national
team, although it goes without saying that I keep an eye out to see how City
players fare for their respective countries. I guess all those years of hurt
really did take their toll on me and I just lost interest in England. How
neglectful/glory fan of me!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But going into Russia 2018, the
mood seemed different with England. There was little to no expectation from
anybody towards the Young Lions. It’s a different generation; a squad that
carries no baggage is a squad with a different mentality, with a psychological
edge. Free from the shackles that have tied others down for years, able to
perform with a new found energy and confidence. It’s been a joy to see, a
delight for all and a surprise for the nation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Throughout the countries, it’s
been a relatively mixed bag from the City players there. Germany – Joachim Low
made the stupendous mistake of leaving Young Player of the Year Leroy Sane out
of his squad – tumbling out at the group stage. Why you would leave such a
talent behind is beyond comprehension, particularly as it was his pace, drive
and energy that they so severely lacked. Argentina – Sergio Aguero scoring
twice but frustratingly benched twice – again, he can only do his job when he’s
on the pitch, something Jorge Campaoli failed to acknowledge, allowing his rift
with Aguero to affect his team’s performance. Nicolas Otamendi didn’t have his
best few games, with a couple of typically hot-headed moments, leaving last
season’s form largely in the dressing room at the Etihad (<i>let’s hope he finds it there on his return</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Bernardo Silva had some moments
of brilliance for Portugal and has done his case with Pep no harm, as did David
Silva for Spain. Both put in displays we’re used to seeing from them week in,
week out, but ultimately exited at the quarter finals. Ederson didn’t get to
play but Fernandinho and Gabriel Jesus both featured for Brazil: the latter
displaying his usual hustle and energy upfront but failing to score any goals.
Then there was Belgium, with Vincent Kompany rested for a couple of games after
his recent injury, but brought into the side and played well. Kevin De Bruyne –
the GOAT –played an absolute blinder and scored similar too –but ultimately
their efforts weren’t enough to see Belgium progress into the final after
getting beat by France in the semis. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But England. Oh, England. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEND US VICTORIOUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They didn’t quite do that. But
boy did they give it a really good go. I didn’t expect to be gushing over both
England and City this year. What a football year 2018 has been.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Not in my lifetime’ is a phrase
branded about quite frivolously – and tongue in cheek because of Fergie – by
some, but City winning two trophies, breaking a load of records and England
getting to the semi finals of the World Cup whilst being managed by a player who
missed THE penalty in the Euro 1996 semi final shoot-out sounds like a fable
mocked up in your local boozer late on a Friday night. These things don’t
happen, ever.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m a big fan of the documentary
‘One Night in Turin’, which charts England’s journey through Italia ’90. The
late Sir Bobby Robson, so hideously mocked by the press at the time, took his
team of England players off to the 1990 World Cup in Italy. Nothing was
expected of them: they’d been chewed up and spat out by the red tops, with
rising star Paul Gascoigne becoming the tabloid’s next target for his
late-night boozy antics and jack-the-lad juvenile, jovial behaviour. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But what happened to them was
nothing short of sensational. They reached the semi finals that year – knocked
out on penalties to West Germany, Chris Waddle blazing his penalty over the
crossbar. But they united the country, gave England hope when fans and critics
had wrote them off before a ball was kicked. They came home heroes – and
rightly so.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This almost mirrors what has happened
to England 28 years later. Many of the players in the current national squad
weren’t even born when Italia ’90 was played out. When they left the country to
head to Russia, there was no great fanfare, no bustling crowds sending them on
their way. Many people didn’t know what to make as Gareth Southgate as manager;
he’d picked a young squad – The Young Lions. There weren’t too many survivors
from a previous era of hurt and upset. People wrote them off: ‘too young’, ‘not
enough experience’, ‘won’t get out of the group with that lot’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But what people failed to stop
and think about was that the England squad had <i>winners </i>in it. Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Fabian
Delph all went to Moscow after <i>that </i>incredible
season at City. Their confidence was sky high and they were playing some of the
best football of their lives. The youth in the England squad also brought
vitality, a fresh outlook, a new attitude, free from many of the shackles that
have burdened and tied down so many in the past after the heroics of 1966.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tunisia and Panama – nothing to
be afraid of, with Belgium always destined to be the hardest game in the group.
But nobody could’ve possibly predicted the 6-1 annihilation of Panama and this
is where the excitement started for many. A Harry Kane hat trick and two goals
from John Stones, a rampant England side recording their biggest win ever in
the World Cup finals, the result set the country alight with a real buzz in the
air. Maybe, just maybe, this time could be different. A kinder route to the
final after the Belgium defeat did nothing to prevent the giddiness, a nation
growing in cautious confidence, could this be the dawn of a new era? Could it
be?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A quarter final against Sweden,
the IKEA Vikings, and a solid 2-0 win sending England to their first semi
finals for 28 years. We all now believed. Gareth Southgate and his squad had
given us new hope and many people the best moments of their Summer. We’d
watched the Panama win with our family during a barbecue on a scorching hot Sunday.
We watched the Sweden win in a packed bar in Manchester, with everybody
spilling out into Peter Street to celebrate with reckless abandon afterwards.
Thankfully no stomping on ambulances here, just many chants of ‘football’s
coming home’ with people dancing, jumping around and hugging each other in the
blazing hot sunshine. It was a very surreal moment. Everybody so joyous, so
happy, so together in their celebrations – what a pleasure and a privilege to
be a part of, something so unexpected and truly wonderful.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then came the semi final. A night
where the country stood still. Roads were silent, with friends and family
gathered around the nearest television screen to witness history in the making.
The furthest England had progressed in a World Cup since 1990 – potentially 90
minutes away from a World Cup final. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The old football cliché ‘a tale
of two halves’ is prevalent here. England sent into dreamland within the first
five minutes with a Kieran Trippier free kick sailing into the top right of the
net. The Three Lions coping well with anything Croatia had to offer and
attacked with gusto. Sterling tormenting their defence time and time again;
creating opportunities but failing to find that important second goal. But the
second half England lacked that impetus and looked out of ideas and sluggish.
Croatia capitalised on sloppy defending and, after extra time, we were out of
the World Cup again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That really hurt. I didn’t expect
to be so emotionally invested in our national side, it had been so long. Like many,
I allowed myself to be swept along in the hysteria, a feeling that felt so
good, adding spontaneous delight and delirium to everybody’s Summer. I truly
believed that we could do it. We were 22 minutes away from the World Cup Final.
It felt like a real kick in the stomach. It was such a golden opportunity for a
new generation to make their mark; so many big guns had disappointed and fallen
flat on the big stage, whereas England had soared. The comedown was real. I
hadn’t felt that disappointed over football for a long, long time. It was a bit
of a reality check. I almost feel like, with getting that close, we will never
get so close again. Next time, the expectation and pressure will be back. World
Cup semi finalists – surely we can repeat that? I’m not so sure. The boys are
young, but finishing in the final four means the weight of the world next time
round.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But really, the boys do come home
with full credit to them, with most of their reputations enhanced. Stones
rediscovered that form he had before his injury at City, with many citing him
as the next Bobby Moore, putting in some outstanding performances and scoring
twice. Walker proving to be just as valuable and Sterling – well, if anything,
this World Cup has just shown me how many people don’t truly understand
football. So many people were quick to jump on social media to lambast Sterling
for ‘missing so many chances’, without stopping to think about the fact that he
created them in the first place. His pace and energy put the fear of God into
the opposition, opened up space for others to run into. He is an attacking
midfielder – he did his job with aplomb – the only game we lost was when he
didn’t start, and every time he was subbed we looked worse off for it. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With One Night in Turin. the boys
came home to crowds of thousands and an open top bus. I don’t believe that
reception is really warranted this time round. Yes, they’ve done remarkably
well and come so far, but there is still much work to be done. At the time of
writing this, England still have to play Belgium in the play-off game for third
place (<i>what a nonsense game, surely
nobody cares about who finished third after missing out on the final?</i>),
then the boys will be granted some much needed time off before coming back to
City and preparing for the 2018/19 season defending the Premier League trophy.
And breathe. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don’t be sad it’s over, be glad
it’s happened. Some of those celebratory moments made my Summer what it was. My
first World Cup with my two beautiful sons and my partner. It will never be
forgotten. Very precious memories. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BACK TO THE FUTURE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s hard to put into words just
quite what last season was like for us City fans. It was so much more than we
could’ve all possibly hoped for, could’ve dreamed of. We left the opposition
trailing in our wake, a gap so embarrassingly dominant it was almost like
playing in our own League. There’s no arrogance; just a startling honesty that
the standard of the football that we played was at least 19 points better than
the closest team to us. Even now the dust has firmly settled, it’s hard to
process the level of control we had and the standard of football we played –
breathtaking, mesmeric and captivating fantasy football. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So, where do you go from smashing
dozens of records and winning two trophies? Where do we go after such a
record-breaking season? You move to defend your titles, win more and somehow
still improve further. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Signings-wise: at the time of
writing, Jorginho (<i>a name quite frankly
that I am sick to the back teeth of hearing</i>) looks to be heading to Chelsea
because he would prefer to live in London than Manchester – his loss. But City
have made their record signing with former Leicester man Riyad Mahrez signing
for £60 million (<i>that unveiling at the
Etihad though with Moonchester and Moonbeam – talk about cringe</i>). We were
linked with him of course in January, but the midfielder has now made the move
and, to be quite honest, yes, a fantastic player, but I’m scratching my head at
where exactly Pep will play him. He already has the Bernardo/Sterling dilemma
on the right and Sane has been flying on the left, which is Mahrez’s preferred
position – not a bad headache to have, and I am excited to see what he’ll offer
in a team he’ll no doubt thrive in when he gets the chance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Angus Gunn leaving did disappoint
me. I’ve seen the young goalkeeper progress so much since I used to work for
the club and covered the EDS back when they played at Platt Lane and I really
thought we’d move to keep them and have him as our reserve. But £10 million
plus add-ons is a lot of money to turn down and I’ve no doubt he will go on to
be England’s number one in the future when he thrives at Southampton. Zinchenko
has also been linked with leaving, but for now he’s still at City. Pablo Maffeo
has gone to VFB Stuttgart and I’ve probably missed others out, but for now
that’s the main movement in the transfer window. Not a great deal, but we
didn’t need to drastically strength. Most of the improvements were made last
Summer, although a back up for Fernandinho would make me sleep better at night.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After our entirely PR-driven
pre-season tour of the US (<i>sorry, I just
don’t pay any attention whatsoever to pre-season games, they serve no purpose
apart from selling shirts and spreading the word in foreign countries for the
club</i>), it’s the Community Shield against (<i>at the time of writing, managerless</i>) Chelsea on the first weekend
of August and then Arsenal at the Emirates for our opening game of the 2018/19
season. Talk about a baptism of fire. It’ll be an interesting start that’s for
sure, with many players returning late after featuring in the World Cup,
although at least Otamendi and Aguero will have had an extra long rest (<i>sorry boys!</i>). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There’s no reason we can’t go out
there and defend our title with the same excitement as we provided last season.
The main difference was the gulf in class between us and our rivals – and that
difference as mentioned was 19 points. I am yet to see any evidence of any
teams around us strengthening and improving to the tune of a 19 point difference.
Don’t get me wrong - I don’t think it
will be as much as a walk in the park as it was last season by all means. But
people realised that other squads needed to be added to in order to try and bridge
the gap and I’m not sure that has really happened at all. I just worry about
making a good start – hopefully all our players come back refreshed enough,
ready to push on and achieve more dreams in blue.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">SEA’S THE DAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I usually spend the Summer more
or less wishing the time away, but this time was different. As soon as the
season finished, Adam and I were preparing to take Vincent and Noel Sergio down
to Cornwall for 10 days for their annual holiday there. We absolutely love it
down there: the week we go in May has been blessed with incredible weather now for
the past two years of going and the place we stay, in Portreath, is beautiful.
We’re lucky to be able to go out of season at the moment because the boys
haven’t started school yet, so there were no crowds and quite often we find
ourselves the only people on certain beaches.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The whole 10 days were spent
bathed in magnificent unbroken sunshine, on a different glorious beach every
day, with Vincent building sandcastles and Noel legging it into the sea and
eating sand pies. Porthcurno, Marazion, Porthgwidden, Portminster, Portmeor,
Kynance, Towan, Watergate, Fistral, Perranporth, Hayle and Gwithian. All
ridiculously stunning, with golden sands and turquoise waters. Every evening we
drank beer and Aperol spritz watching the breathtaking sunset over the sea in
the hot tub. It was like a dream – and best of all, we didn’t even need our
passport. Yes you need to be lucky to get the weather, but boy did we. It was
quite possibly my favourite holiday and set the tone for our wonderful Summer.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we’ve spent the Summer (<i>sorry if you follow me on Instagram and are bored of seeing my seaside photos!</i>) having as
many days out as possible to enjoy the delightful sunshine we’ve been living
under. I wasn’t here in 1976 and I’ve heard so much about it, so it’s been a
joy to experience days and days of prolonged sunshine in our country and, along
with the football, it’s really provided that feel good factor for most of us. We’ve
discovered more of our beautiful UK coast, with trips to Barmouth and Abersoch
in Wales, and many more days out at zoos and parks. We wanted to squeeze the
zest and juice out of the weather and I definitely feel like we’ve done that –
I’ve not had this good a tan since I last went on holiday to the Caribbean!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So as those long, hazy days roll
by and the season approaches, I’ll be sad to wave goodbye to the heatwave that
has gripped us so tightly recently. But normal service will resume in a matter
of weeks – football may not be coming home, but City are coming back – and we
all know what that means. More thrills, less spills, more of that incredulously
unbelievable Pep Guardiola football we were so lucky to watch last season. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always, I’ve no idea what to
really expect with City. But I do know it won’t be boring. The pressure and expectation
will be there and we’ve got to know how to cope with everybody wanting to beat
us again. Déjà vu, c’est la vie. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I’m really excited for it
all, are you?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-11009240118405338372018-03-12T05:36:00.003-07:002018-03-14T05:37:09.178-07:00THERE WE WERE, NOW HERE WE ARE<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/there-we-were-now-here-we-are.html" target="_blank">‘THAT’S IT, THAT’S GAME OVER’<o:p></o:p></a></span></b><br />
<b><br /></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/there-we-were-now-here-we-are.html" target="_blank"><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></b><b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">THERE WE WERE, NOW HERE WE ARE. AN ODE TO CITY, TO LOYALTY AND TO KING
OF THE KIPPAX.</span></b></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/there-we-were-now-here-we-are.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/there-we-were-now-here-we-are.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX 250th EDITION SPECIAL</a></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzQShDkARLge97KRkjF9keAg-mHCMGUOwDbKBXzZO7JA7AthsbGAmp6MMvpbbnH9a0UPc_t8ys5ybiI2klJ4rQhphH6fti3_tR9vOiP1jB4HrqdLzrl9PnbXX-hKoFtO5GZ_QsWjhiE4m/s1600/20180305_220444.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMzQShDkARLge97KRkjF9keAg-mHCMGUOwDbKBXzZO7JA7AthsbGAmp6MMvpbbnH9a0UPc_t8ys5ybiI2klJ4rQhphH6fti3_tR9vOiP1jB4HrqdLzrl9PnbXX-hKoFtO5GZ_QsWjhiE4m/s320/20180305_220444.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re not really here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The fans of the invisible man – we’re not really here. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I wrote an article back in 2010 trying to explain what the
definition of ‘we’re not really here’ was to me. Back then, eight years ago, I
said it’s a representation that I can’t quite believe I’m here compared to
where I’ve been in the past as a City fan. It seems an appropriate time to
bring that article back to life and up to date – a lot has happened in those eight
years after all. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There could be no more fitting tribute to Dave and Sue in
the 250<sup>th</sup> issue of the best fanzine in the land (<i>and all the world</i>) to indulge myself and
the readers in a journey that was once more tragedy than triumph. It’s also a
cracking way to put those loyalty doubters at bay, particularly after last month’s
silliness.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here’s to Dave and Sue. With King of the Kippax first on
sale on 24<sup>th</sup> September 1988 at Oakwell, when I was just six years
old, it’s a credit to the talent, dedication, hard work and quality of them
both and the team around them as to the longevity of the much-loved fanzine.
Where others have been and gone, Dave and Sue have persevered to bring us a
superb monthly publication full of quips, satire, facts and top drawer writing.
We thank you for your dedication to the cause as we embark on a journey so
incredible, so phenomenal, only us blues could ever believe it would happen –
because we lived and breathed every moment. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My City journey began in the late 1980s. I was always close
to my older brother, Simon, so when he started following a football team called
Manchester City, I made like most easily-influenced siblings and did the same.
I’d skip into primary school and stand talking to the boys about football
instead of playing with all the other girls. The love affair started when I was
about nine – and is still just as passionate 25 years later.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although my fandom began at a similar time to when King of
the Kippax originated, my first match came a few years later. Simon had been
allowed to go to games for years: me being the delicate flower I was (<i>a girl – unheard of now!</i>), I wasn’t
allowed to go until I was old enough. I was living and breathing City; going
into school wearing my precious Umbro jacket, talking tactics with the only
other blue in my years, Adam Barratt, being mocked by the glory fans in my
class, but desperate to experience the beautiful game for real. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After nagging my Mum and Dad for seasons, they finally
relented, and my first game came on a school night. Wednesday 15<sup>th</sup> March
1995 was the date: I was 12 years old and City played Everton away. We bought
our tickets for £12 in a portakabin outside Goodison Park. City drew 1-1: Terry
Phelan was sent off, Mauritzio Gaudino scored but David Unsworth equalised with
a penalty late on. That was it. Going to a game only served to fuel my love for
City.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Almost bizarrely, my love for City flourished at a time when
the Blues were floundering on the pitch. I wasn’t in it for the glory like most
of the Liverpool and United fans at my school. Going to a football match was an
alien concept to them. I was in it for City – and was in over my head. I think
at one point it really did become an obsession: my walls were covered in
pictures of the players at the time. Most girls would have boy bands or a hunky
pin-up on their walls, but not me. I had Peter Beagrie, Nicky Summerbee, Niall
Quinn and Paul Walsh. There was hardly an inch of the wallpaper in my bedroom
that wasn’t covered with photos of the players (<i>and</i> <i>that lasted for a good
eight years</i>).</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDzjBLdWpitK_ZTOB7lgY1HiJwPZOtNmQaURc6flFRKkSF_HLjH0F2r19-UqambxfSXc3_oCzBDLZf_Os51ERiBk421JqLyyfFs9NSDxPDtSa5_rVR-o6x05-qMDoM1x9rsVqTTQej9ct/s1600/20180305_213219.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="274" data-original-width="604" height="145" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlDzjBLdWpitK_ZTOB7lgY1HiJwPZOtNmQaURc6flFRKkSF_HLjH0F2r19-UqambxfSXc3_oCzBDLZf_Os51ERiBk421JqLyyfFs9NSDxPDtSa5_rVR-o6x05-qMDoM1x9rsVqTTQej9ct/s320/20180305_213219.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it took a year to then persuade my Mum and Dad to let me
venture to Maine Road. The landmark date was Saturday 13<sup>th</sup> April
1996 – three days before my 14<sup>th</sup> birthday. It was Sheffield
Wednesday at home. I loved Maine Road: I know none of the stands matched, it
was in the heart of Moss Side where gangland shootings were popular at the time
and it was a bit of a shithole, but it was our shithole. It was where most of
my memories were made – for better or for worse (<i>mostly the latter</i>). On that day of my first game sat in the Kippax,
an Uwe Rosler strike was enough to give City a 1-0 win, but was far from the
saving grace in a season that saw the Blues relegated from the Premier League.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvSS7DFsZvvJQdw7QjYi1E7z-C8Ubr4yV8N9qhgQRxF6KLmybys2rrElF-I2Y_T0URbzpYVidshpgxEGDYyTBk2Qv8Q_d6-ebM1QZn3fZ_ztrW08Ra8NKHPRcq4j-KXgpdzYSs_VPQdYy/s1600/20180305_220024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDvSS7DFsZvvJQdw7QjYi1E7z-C8Ubr4yV8N9qhgQRxF6KLmybys2rrElF-I2Y_T0URbzpYVidshpgxEGDYyTBk2Qv8Q_d6-ebM1QZn3fZ_ztrW08Ra8NKHPRcq4j-KXgpdzYSs_VPQdYy/s320/20180305_220024.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The tears flowed but it only stemmed to make me ask to go to
more games. So I did – and it was March 1997 when I sent in my first
contributions to King of the Kippax. I’d written a match report for the 0-0
draw against Sheffield United and an article about ‘Premier Passions’: a BBC
show that had followed Peter Reid during some of his time at Sunderland. Dave
and Sue had very kindly obliged me and published both pieces – I was still at
high school, but had a huge passion for creative writing, so this was massively
encouraging for me.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was around this time that City were at the peak of their
decline. The 1996/97 season we had been to quite a lot of games. Simon had
passed his driving test, so we could go to games more regularly, so when the
1997/98 season came round, we took the plunge and got our first season tickets.
I was also the club mascot for City. On Saturday 7<sup>th</sup> March 1998,
City played Oxford United at Maine Road. I led the team out at the tender age
of 15 (!) and felt a sense of great pride as I applauded all four stands (<i>five if you include the Gene Kelly!</i>).
But, amazingly, the rot had well and truly set in. That day, City got beat 2-0.
By Oxford United. At the end of the season, we were relegated to Division Two.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s hard to put into words what those ‘dark days’ really
felt like. We’d go to Maine Road always expecting a defeat. Anything else was a
bonus. Relegation was like being drop-kicked in the stomach: a cold, desolate
feeling that swept over you, leaving you limp and numb. We were the laughing
stock of football. The butt of everybody’s jokes. As United continued to
dominate, we were left to commiserate. Constant humiliation – it’s all we ever
knew.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But we stood in solidarity. We renewed our season tickets
and went to more away games. We watched us play Northampton Town, Walsall,
Macclesfield Town and Colchester United. We watched Millwall rip up seats and
throw them at the North Stand while the helicopters circled overheard during a
3-0 City win. We watched Stockport County beat us at home 2-1. We sat through
thousands of minutes of scrappy, scruffy, shitty football – and watched us
finish third in the League – facing the possibility of promotion only via the
Play-Offs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After running on the pitch when we beat Wigan to get to the
final at Wembley, I had no idea what to expect. City were favourites, but we
knew anything could happen. I still remember that day like it was yesterday.
The emotions resonate with me even now. 2-0 down and we didn’t look like
scoring. Commentator and ex-manager Brian Horton screaming, ‘that’s it, that’s
game over.’ Then Kevin Horlock and Paul Dickov somehow took it to extra time.
The penalty shoot-out: words can’t describe the roller-coaster of that day.
From facing Division Two exile head-on to Nicky Weaver’s mazy run as we all
went wild. City were back.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s when the fun really started. For seasons, we went go
home and away following City. Planning my life around the fixture list is all
I’ve ever known. Travelling the length and breadth of the country following the
Blues was a pleasure and a privilege: from the Riverside, St James Park and the
Stadium of Light to Oakwell, Valley Parade and Elland Road. From Highbury to
Hillsborough, Prenton Park to Pride Park, we had the time of our lives with our
disposable income following City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Joe Royle left, it was time for a new era and Kevin
Keegan brought with him his trademark ‘we’ll just score more goals than we’ll
concede’ approach. At that point, the football we played was more than we
could’ve possibly dreamed of. Scoring over 100 goals in a season, beating
United 3-1 and watching Eyal Berkovic and Ali Benarbia play in our midfield was
an absolute joy. Players like Paulo Wanchope and Nicolas Anelka playing for our
club, getting pissed up and down the country watching City. For me, that was
living the dream. It may have been the best of times, it may have been the
worst, but up until leaving Maine Road, I’d cherished every minute of the highs
and the lows.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s all part of ‘we’re not really here’ for me. When I
think back to Maine Road, the memories begin with parking up on a side road
with Simon in Moss Side, to be greeted by an exuberant child asking if ‘they
mind the car please.’ After advising them we would pay up post-match if the car
was still intact, we would head into the Beehive pub for a couple of pre-match
drinks before setting off for the ground. We’d often turn down the man selling
jerk chicken outside Bunty’s off licence for sausage, chips and gravy from the
Blue Moon chip shop on the corner of Maine Road instead.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Recollections of queuing up to get in the club on match day,
walking around the back of the North Stand, past the away support to the Kippax
turnstile, guessing which number game it would be out of my season-ticket book
along the way. Once inside, we headed up the concrete steps to my seat in
Kippax CC Lower and read the match day programme while the teams warmed up on
the pitch. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The clock ticked down and before you knew it, it was 3pm (<i>yes, Saturday at 3pm, those were the days!</i>).
The teams emerged from the tunnel at the Main Stand to the guitar introduction
of Oasis’ ‘Roll With It’ and a mighty cheer went up. Whether it’s Horton or Joe
Royle on the touchline, Tony Coton or Eike Immel in goal, the loyalty never
wavers, refuses to falter. The Kippax seagull blows wildly in the breeze and
Helen’s bell rings consistently. The minority that occupy the ‘Gene Kelly’
stand shiver in the rain as the Kippax tannoy states that Mr Banks is on Level
One. Chants from the North Stand urge the Platt Lane stand to give them a song
and an almighty roar engulfs the ground as Uwe Rosler volleys home. The
scoreboard still says 0-0 but the City faithful knows they’re ahead. Some
things never change. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A vast multitude of moments
drench the memory banks. Too many to distinguish between: Uwe Rosler chipping
Peter Schmeichel at Old Trafford after a sublime through-ball by Georgi
Kinkladze. The Georgian’s tears on that dark day against Liverpool in 1996 but
his unequivocal brilliance and ingenuity lighting up my match tickets single-handedly. Steve Lomas, Garry Flitcroft, Peter Beagrie, Niall Quinn, Tony
Coton and Paul Walsh. Gerry Creaney’s last minute winner against Charlton, a
disastrous own-goal by Tranmere at Prenton Park handing us a point from nowhere
and watching Bolton win the First Division title on our own turf (<i>horrific</i>). Barry Conlon getting a
standing ovation during a 6-0 demolition of Swindon Town, a 28,000 set of
collective tears during Lakey’s testimonial and being forced to leave St.
Andrews early after Murtaz Shelia scored only to find out on the M6 that we
lost the game. Richard Edghill, Kit Symons, John Burridge, Martin Buster
Phillips (the first £10 million player, allegedly) and Kevin Horlock.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leading the team out as a mascot
at Maine Road in March 1998 against Oxford United at home only for the Blues to
lose 2-0. Jamie Pollock’s own goal adding to Vinnie Jones’ post-match
celebrations for Queens Park Rangers as storm-clouds literally gathered after a
penultimate ominous result. Relegation to Division Two (<i>gulp</i>). Playing Blackpool the first day of the season in Division
Two to a sell-out crowd of unbelievable believers and getting soaked to the
bone at Springfield Park when the Goat scored the winner against Wigan.
Watching Millwalll tear the North stand apart while police helicopters circled
in the sky. Jeff Whitley, Andy Morrison, Paul Dickov, Nicky Weaver, Michael
Branch and Terry Cooke. Taking to my seat in the Kippax to watch the play-off
screening at Wigan only for City to concede within the first couple of minutes
then witnessing the hand of Goat before running onto the pitch in sheer ecstasy
having reached Wembley during the second leg. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Going to the Twin Towers,
Wembley, and singing Blue Moon at the top of my voice. Feeling the disappointment,
anguish, agony, amazement then utter disbelief and seeing Dickov sliding on his
knees. Holding my head in my hands when every penalty was taken, crying
throughout. Watching Weaver do his unpredictable run. Jumping on my seat and
bouncing to M People’s ‘Moving On Up’, realising the great escape really was
possible. Only a season later, Ewood Park full of City fans celebrating
back-to-back promotions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Travelling to Gillingham in the
hot sunshine for a pre-season friendly with my mate Spenny hanging out of the
car window while we played ‘Blue Moon’ excessively over Tower Bridge, a Gerald
Wiekens wonder volley giving City three points at Elland Road and substitute
Shaun Goater earning a standing ovation when replacing the substituted George
Weah. The Ipswich Town Cup game postponed due to a waterlogged pitch after a
sporadic ten minute spell of torrential rain, being affected by smog inhalation
after visiting the Riverside and being spat on from the tier above at Anfield.
Carlo Nash’s first four touches of a game being picking the ball out of his own
net four times against Arsenal at home. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Goat’s hat-trick being almost
marred by Spenny getting head-butted outside Turf Moor, coming back from the
Hawthorns depressed after a 4-0 drubbing and travelling to Highfield Road to be
impressed by a new signing called Ali Benarbia. Making the journey across the
Pennines with six thousand other Blues to watch an incredible team performance
during a 6-2 away victory, only for City to lose 4-0 against Wimbledon at Maine
Road the next week (<i>the joys of the Kevin
Keegan era</i>). Paulo Wanchope, Eyal Berkovic, Stuart Pearce, Lucian Mettomo
and Steve Howey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Travelling to Oakwell on
Hallowe’en to get stuck in terrible traffic on the M62 and arrive at half-time,
having missed all three of City’s goals. Darren Huckerby applauding an empty
away stand at Millwall, New Year’s Day hungover at Bramhall Lane. Topping the
First Division, signing a French player by the name of Nicolas Anelka to
partner the Goat upfront then going to Villa Park only to reach Hilton Park
service station and realise we’d lost our four match tickets. Going to Highbury
and leaving empty-handed but leaving St. Andrews with all three points. Driving
to Gresty Road with no ticket and sitting outside listening to the cheers only
for the City team coach driver to invite me aboard to listen to the game with
him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wigan fans coming up to me after
their Cup victory at the then-JJB Stadium claiming revenge for the ‘Hand of
Goat’ incident. Being knocked out by Wigan only for Gary Neville to feed the
Goat in a 3-1 final derby at Maine Road victory and watching the Bermudan hero
equalising at Old Trafford during the return fixture. Having to pay a tenner
for two drinks in a pub outside Stamford Bridge before witnessing Chelsea’s 5-0
drubbing of City after four hours of driving, then encountering a horrific
eight hour drive back from St. Marys after Southampton beat us 2-0. The final
game at Maine Road against Southampton, with City typically getting beat 1-0.
As if the end of an era wasn’t hard enough to stomach, the horrific and
unexpected tragic passing of Marc Vivien Foe on June 26<sup>th</sup> 2003. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Witnessing Michael Tarnat’s
wonderful free kick at Ewood Park before embarking on the epic journey to
Lokeren via Luton, Heathrow and Brussels. Upon arrival, enjoying a two hour
taxi journey to the ground and Spenny’s luggage only turning up when we checked
in for the flight back to England. Sitting in the home end in Deepdale and
getting ejected for singing Blue Moon and having missiles thrown at me. Sylvain
Distin, Mark Bosvelt, Shaun Wright-Phillips, Darius Vassell and Andrew Cole. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Stuart Pearce taking charge of
the club; playing goalkeeper David James upfront during a 1-1 home draw against
Middlesbrough in May 2005, missing out on UEFA Cup football through a Robbie
Fowler missed penalty. Only scoring 10 goals at home throughout the 2006/07
season, with Joey Barton being our top goal scorer - netting six goals.
Bernardo Corradi, Georgios Samaras and Emile Mpenza. Sven Goran Eriksson
replacing Pearce and City getting beat 8-1 to Middlesbrough at the Riverside.
Thaksin Shinawatra buying the club for £21.5 million in June 2007 despite
having been charged with corruption in Thailand and having his $2 billion
assets seized. The City directors knew this and still approved the sale – <i>knowing </i>Thaksin had zero funds. Mark
Hughes being appointed as manager – and then came the best deadline day we’ve
ever known. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s the collective, eclectic and
stupendous array of memories that have helped define my personal ‘we’re not
really here’ stance. It’s being aware of the past when I dare to dream in the
present and for the future of the football club I support. More memories will
be created along the way, but for now I’ll treasure the ones I have in the hope
that my heart remains intact along with my sanity. It’s never been easy but
then nobody said it would be when I pledged my sky blue allegiance all those years
ago. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We went to the brink a couple of
times. The Swales era. Who knows what could’ve happened if Kevin Horlock
wouldn’t have scored that goal back in 1999. Or Paul Dickov. God only knows
what might’ve happened had Sheikh Mansour not chosen City: at one point the
club was borrowing money from the bank against television money that hadn’t yet
been paid to City, just to pay the bills. City even asked former shareholder
John Wardle if he could lend them money to pay the players. Thaksin was a
fugitive on the run and nobody at the club really had much of an idea a) where
he was and b) what was going to happen. The club was in a state – then came 4<sup>th</sup>
August 2008. Sheikh Mansour – the seismic shift in the order of Manchester City
Football Club. A defining date in the stature and future of the club.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve just come back from my 10<sup>th</sup>
trip to Wembley watching City. I’ve seen them win there <i>seven </i>times, with three losses. I’ve watched them win the FA Cup,
the League Cup three times, the Community Shield and the Premier League twice –
soon to be three times. How I wish I could go back in time and tell my 15 year
old self – it’ll all be worth it. Everything will be alright. The loyalty
you’ve shown - that never wavered and only strengthened through the relegations
and humiliation - will pay off in the most flamboyant and elaborate way. One
day the football club you support will be the envy of not only rival
supporters, but other clubs and have the critics who really know their football
salt, fawning and adoring. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When Mansour bought the club, his
open letter to the fans stated, ‘we intend to build a team capable of sustaining
a presence in the top four of the Premier League and winning European honours.’
The papers screamed the headlines FANTASY FOOTBALL: Manchester City, now rich
beyond their wildest dreams, plan of handpicking the best players in the world
to build a legacy the likes never seen before in the world football. No player
is out of reach. Names were banded about – the word ‘project’ has never been so
overused. It was an exciting time – but we never really believed how far it
would go and just how these ambitions would come to fruition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Those bad days, the really bad
days, will never be forgotten. They’ll only serve to make sure I really
appreciate and savour the best football I’ve ever watched at my football club. In
a way, they affect how critical I am of the football we play now. It’s hard to
be harsh when you’ve sat through half of the rubbish I have. Thousands of
minutes of absolute tosh; football that bad it was hard to see the light back
then. These are the heady, glory days I never thought I’d ever witness nor
enjoy at Manchester City. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Mancini era was as good as I
thought we would get. Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Yaya Toure, Joleon
Lescott, Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Sergio Aguero, Edin Dzeko, Samir
Nasri, Gareth Barry and David Silva. The 6-1 derby win. The win at Newcastle:
absolute bladdered, celebrating with a load of Geordies who hated United almost
as much as we do. 93:20 – quite possibly the single best ever moment we will
enjoy as City fans because it involved not only winning the Premier League, but
denying United of that in the final minute of the game. The FA Cup win bringing
the banner down. The Mancini years laid the foundations for the club to build
on towards an exciting era, the likes most Blues have never seen before. Manuel
Pellegrini continued this, adding two League Cups and a Premier League trophy
to the tally, but with the greatest of respect, it was more of an interim move
until a certain Spaniard was available.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The here and now is this: Pep
Guardiola’s Manchester City are playing the best football ever seen in the
Premier League. It’s inventive, creative and innovative. It’s hard work on the
ball and even harder work off it. It’s probing, pressing and passing. It’s
delightful, mesmeric and magical. Superlatives barely do it justice. Some of
the old guard still play their huge part in it – Silva, Aguero and Kompany –
but the new generation of recruits are having a huge say and playing their way
into the history books. Leroy Sane, Bernardo Silva, Ederson, Gabriel Jesus, Kyle
Walker, Danilo, Phil Foden, Brahim Diaz, Tosin Adarabioyo and Lukas Nmecha. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But perhaps most impressive of
all has been the improvements Pep has made to players he inherited. Raheem
Sterling, Fernandinho, Kevin De Bruyne, John Stones (<i>post injury slump aside</i>), Nicolas Otamendi and Fabian Delph. Even
Aguero, whose work rate has improved massively under Pep’s reign. Otamendi is
now the best centre back we have at the club and one of the best in Europe. De
Bruyne – what can possibly be said that hasn’t already? He’s a remarkable
box-to-box midfielder, who works tirelessly creating opportunities, with
stunning vision, movement and passing. Sterling giving Aguero a run for his
money with the amount of goals he’s scored this season. Fernandinho, possibly
the most underrated player in the Premier League, he plays such a crucial role
as our main defensive midfielder. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">City are now a global brand. Gone
are the days where I used to go on holiday and people used to ask who the
football shirt I wore belonged to. When people used to believe there was only
one football team in Manchester. I used
to have to explain who I supported – that’s crazy. Supporting City used to be
greeted with either laughter or the sympathetic head tilt. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Awwww, little City.’ Yes, I got
that a lot.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite all the trophies, I think
the moment that the change has hit me was only a couple of weeks ago. Going to
Wembley, for the 10<sup>th</sup> time, and beating Arsenal 3-0 in the League
Cup final, only to play them again just a few days later in the League and beat
them again 3-0, is nothing short of astonishing. That’s a mark of how far we have
come. I will never forget watching the Arsenal invincibles and being in awe of
that team. Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira.
They used to beat us – hammer us – consistently. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This time in particular was
Wednesday 11<sup>th</sup> April 2001. I mentioned it before. Arsenal were
apparently under strength – and they still scored four goals against us in the
first 35 minutes of the game. Carlo Nash resigned to just picking the ball out
of the net. We were hopeless: Arsenal were on a different level to us and we
just chased shadows for 90 minutes. All we could do as fans was applaud the
travelling side – at that point, they were the team I aspired to. That was the
kind of football I wanted my team to play. Unforgiving, punishing, full throttle,
captivating football. It would never happen.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it has. Oh how it has.
Goosebumps football. Standing ovation football. Imaginative, defining football
- the likes never seen before in the history of English football. Beating
Arsenal twice in a few days so easily, whether they are a shade of the team
they once were, sent a psychological shockwave to me. This is what you wanted
Emily. This is the football you could only ever dream about, being played by
your football team, beating the opposition team you once applauded off the
pitch instead of applauding your own team. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it is hard to believe that’s
my football team. Arrogance will never happen; we are all in awe of what is
happening at City and accepting this is still a struggle for me. Surely not. Really?
We are the best team in English football. Even saying it is weird!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How is it possible? I watched
City get beat by Stockport County, Wycombe, Lincoln City, Blackpool, Wimbledon,
Oxford United and Bury. I turned up and sat through the lot. </span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkqUe0TiOM30WRJtTLXKD6Ue5WWGdpcl3f18qBK-XgGFvhTsScmnkkJ_2U2OYpVGRSMw95joR6i-notaUO3de-KIjDYoDIoGYuaDQssSn_ipo-Li4Wm-wzrMd6y4WQXFhrrM_w6V7wpdI/s1600/1908333_10154220539295444_3058390303841772240_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="640" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXkqUe0TiOM30WRJtTLXKD6Ue5WWGdpcl3f18qBK-XgGFvhTsScmnkkJ_2U2OYpVGRSMw95joR6i-notaUO3de-KIjDYoDIoGYuaDQssSn_ipo-Li4Wm-wzrMd6y4WQXFhrrM_w6V7wpdI/s320/1908333_10154220539295444_3058390303841772240_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So don’t tell me I haven’t paid
my dues and that I’m not loyal. I’ve visited 52 away grounds (<i>I know that may not seem a lot, finances
dictate that</i>) singing Blue Moon at the top of my voice. Now we have people
supporting us for the glory – one day the thought of that would’ve been
laughable! My eldest, Vincent, has never seen City get beat. Out of all the
games he has been too so far, including two cup finals at Wembley, he’s yet to
see them get beat. How do I even begin to explain to him what we went through?
I’ll show him the photos, the videos and the programmes. But you only truly
know if you lived through it yourself. The pleasure off the pitch and the pain
on it. The days of singing at the Platt Lane from the Kippax to try and keep us
entertained throughout 90 minutes of dross. Those days may be gone, but for me
will live forever.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am an optimistic realist. I’m
absolutely loving every single second of supporting the most dominant force in
English football at the moment. It takes a bit of getting used to following the
team that everybody wants to beat. It’s uncomfortable and doesn’t come
naturally, but to hell with the haters. Two fingers to the green-eyed types
that cite money as our biggest success. They only wish it would happen to their
club. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it happened to ours. Pep came
to ours. It’s our football club breaking the records and wowing football fans
with spellbinding play. It’s us that are blessed to watch it week in, week out.
To watch Silva weaving his magic through midfield, De Bruyne floating a pinpoint
ball in for Aguero, Ederson assisting from a goal kick and Sane dancing down
the left wing. They play in sky blue, for Manchester City, in 2018. For us to
admire, adore and applaud. Never has loyalty been so richly rewarded, so
unequivocally deserved. Long may it continue. Long may we enjoy. If it all ends
one day? At least it happened. We’ll be here no matter what. It’s all I’ve ever
known.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’re not really here - but we
should be really, really glad that we are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To Dave and Sue – thanks for the
memories. In good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, a huge part of
this club and the humour that helped us fans through it all. Thank you.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
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Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-24878028704676583612018-03-05T06:50:00.003-08:002018-03-05T06:51:30.910-08:00WE NEVER WIN AT HOME & WE NEVER WIN AT ANFIELD...<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/we-never-win-at-home-we-never-win-at.html" target="_blank">YOU CAN’T WIN THEM ALL –
BUT YOU CAN DEFINITELY TRY</a></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/we-never-win-at-home-we-never-win-at.html" target="_blank"><br /></a></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/03/we-never-win-at-home-we-never-win-at.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - MARCH 2018</a></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well the Watford game feels like so long ago now, but the
first game of 2018 saw Pep keen to prove a point. After the draw at Selhurst
Park, Pep went full strength – and the 3-1 win set City on their way again.
Burnley next in the FA Cup, and despite the early goal, a superstar innings
from Sergio Aguero saw the Blues sail through to face Cardiff with a 4-1
victory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Another Cup game, this time against Bristol City, and Pep
rotated but still managed to secure a slender 2-1 advantage to take to the
return leg at Ashton Gate. Then came Liverpool.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am <i>never </i>confident
about going to Anfield. I don’t think I’ve met any City fan that is. But this
season, I just felt that if we ever had a chance to get the win there, it was
now. It’s been the season for breaking many records, so why not? They play
open, probing football, which suits us to a tee, so why couldn’t we go there
and get the win?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Much like water is wet and grass is green, the 4-3 defeat
brought to an end our unbeaten run and chance of being ‘invincible’ this
season. Did anybody actually really believe that would happen though? It was a
crazy 10 minute period in the second half that saw City fall apart and Liverpool
capitalise on uncharacteristic errors. I’m trying to brush over it and not be
too harsh because, of course, at the time of going to press, we are still 12
points clear after a phenomenal season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Newcastle next and the 3-1 win was convincing enough to put
us back to winning ways, with a hat trick from Aguero. The returning leg of the
Carabao Cup Semi Final saw City secure a place in the final against Arsenal
with a 3-2 triumph, and a 2-0 win against a filthy Cardiff City side just days
later sent us into the fifth round of the FA Cup to face our old foes Wigan at
the DW Stadium.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So overall another fantastic month for City and it’s easy to
underestimate just how difficult January can be. These games are coming thick
and fast – the price you pay for cup run success. But it’s almost time for the
Champions League knock-out games against Basel, and a very tough couple of
weeks for the Blues with Arsenal in the Cup Final, in the League and Chelsea in
the League all coming in the space of a week towards the end of February/early
March.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s hard to believe that yet again we’re all talking about
how a disgustingly reckless tackle has escaped without the punishment it
deserved. Cardiff City’s Joe Bennett’s tackle on Leroy Sane was that brutal,
the German’s leg practically bent as he went in studs up. The referee, Lee
Mason, deemed the tackle only worthy of a yellow card. We now live in a
football world where a tackle that horrific, which he seen Sane sidelined with
ankle ligament damage, receives the same punishment as taking your shirt off
does. How is that fair? It’s not. Something desperately needs to be done; it’s
been a familiar sight so far this season and it’s continuing without many
batting an eyelid. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it’s been fantastic to see Aguero back in a run of form
– despite the persistent whispers surrounding his potential departure this
summer – and I’m gutted to see Sane sidelined for what looks like (<i>at the time of going to press</i>) the
foreseeable future. Kevin De Bruyne has been up to his usual sublime tricks –
that free kick against Cardiff City being a cracking example. Behave Kev! Good
to see Bernardo Silva too putting in some exemplary performances of late too
and really showing there are two Silvas at the club who can be just as magical.
Excited to welcome Laporte on board and see what he has to offer – young and
full of potential. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There have been a few question marks hanging over John
Stones and his recent run of form; after coming back from his injury he’s made
quite a few big, sloppy errors that have cost us goals. It’s so frustrating to
see, because before he was out he was in a stupendous run of form and looked
solid at the back next to Otamendi. I don’t like singling players out and I’m
sure he’ll find his way back to that form, it’s just been slightly concerning
to watch of late. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MAN LIKE DAVID<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When everybody saw the team sheet for the Spurs game and
realised David Silva was missing due to ‘personal reasons’, the rumour mill
went into overdrive. Some of the rumours bordered on ludicrous, some were much
more sinister.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In his own time, Silva came out himself and addressed the
rumours. He thanked the club, his team mates and Pep for their understanding in
the matter, and the fans for their well wishes. He then went on to explain that
his son, Mateo, was born prematurely, and is fighting a daily battle to
survive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I read this, I was gobsmacked. How he could even get on
a plane to England in the first instance id beyond me. But to fly over and put
in the kind of performance he did vs. Watford is nothing short of phenomenal.
He must be in utter turmoil: people often think football is a matter of life
and death, but a good dose of perspective can tell us otherwise. Football must
be the absolute last thing on his mind. Being with his son and partner every
precious moment and minute would absolutely be his priority.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I admire the way the club and Pep have handled Silva’s
situation – but it doesn’t surprise me. When I worked at the club, I suffered a
miscarriage. The club couldn’t have been more supportive. I don’t think they
were to know just quite the extent it affected me – for years afterwards – but
as an employer they were extremely sympathetic and sensitive to my situation
and for that, I’ll always be grateful. It’s good to hear that stance is
consistent throughout the club – from top to bottom.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s missed games to be with his family – and rightfully so.
The club will always be here no matter what, that goes without saying. But
amongst Silva’s trauma, he’s still managed to remain a consummate professional.
He’s been travelling between Manchester and Spain to support both his team and
his family and not once has he delivered a sub-standard performance during that
time. It’s utterly remarkable. We all knew we were lucky to have a player of his
calibre and trickery at OUR club, but through all his heartache to remain so
dedicated to his work too, well, makes his really worth his weight in gold. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The vast majority of blues during his silence remained
respectful to his privacy and need for time. The handful who speculated that he
had cancer? Well, it beggars belief doesn’t it. Mindless idiots.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">CITY WATCH PODCAST<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s been another eventful month for the City Watch Podcast.
I’ve actually missed the past couple due to being struck down with this horrendous
flu that’s been doing the rounds – try cleaning shitty nappies and entertaining
two under three year olds while suffering from that! It’s been a really rough
couple of weeks, but I’m finally coming out of the other side now thankfully.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But before that we had our television debut at the Podcast.
I’ve done bits and bobs of TV work in the past: I was asked to present a
package on City once for North West Tonight a few years ago and it’s not
exactly a medium I feel particularly comfortable with. Like most women, I am
very paranoid about my looks. It stems back from being bullied at high school
and needing a six hour operation on my jaw. So, despite my selfies, I am very
insecure and feel much more comfortable behind a microphone or a keyboard.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So imagine our surprise when Liverpool Football Club TV got
in touch with City Watch and Ian asking if they could come and film the Podcast
and do a few interviews with us as a feature for LFCTV ahead of the big match?
Ian, Jordan, Adam, Stuart and I headed to the XS Manchester Studios in
Spinningfields in Manchester to conduct a ‘faux podcast’; basically we had to
pretend to record our podcast while they filmed us. The two guys that came from
LFCTV, Paul and Miles, were fantastic and we all had a really good laugh with
them. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Despite feeling completely both out of my depth and my
comfort zone, the final product was a delightful five minute package of the
growing popularity of podcasts, along with a preview of the Liverpool-City
game. If you missed it, the links to it are on both my Twitter and the
@City_Watch Twitter account. What a great experience to be involved in though –
and all of this, along with my contributions to the City Watch Podcast, have
stemmed from writing for King of the Kippax again. I’m forever grateful to Dave
and Sue for including my ramblings/rants/anecdotes and musings in their
much-adored publication. I will always try and do them justice!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE
MANCHESTER/TRAFFORD POWER STRUGGLE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It feels like every month I’m talking about that lot next
door. You know, the ones with the gobby Portuguese manager and the fans who
mock us for having empty seats but can never be arsed to run up anymore because
they’re stopped winning trophies? Oh, THAT lot. The ones who belittle us for
the amount of money we spend on players despite playing £89m for Pogba (<i>a former player of theirs – doh!</i>), £90m
for Lukaku and £450,000 a week for their latest acquisition, Alexis Sanchez.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the hypocrisy that seems to run through the veins of
everybody linked with that club is quite outstanding. Take Gary Neville for
example. I (<i>obviously</i>) used to
despise him when he played for United and when he became a pundit for Sky
Sports I like others joked about cancelling my subscription. But he proved me
wrong: he came across as a fair and balanced pundit, actually capable of giving
praise to City and criticism to United when rightfully deserved. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But this season, it seems like the mask has slipped and true
colours are shining through. For some reason, Gary seems to be sniping more
towards City, with comments loaded with resent and jealousy. Perhaps he’s upset
Pep chose City and they got lumbered with Mourinho? Perhaps he’s suffering from
amnesia and fails to remember that United have long been the pioneers of
spending big on players?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Or perhaps, like many United fans and other fans and pundits
this season, he’s suffering from City Flu. In Gary’s case, symptoms include:
harping on about how many trophies your club used to win, pointing fingers
about spending money despite your club paying £450,000 a week to a new signing
who was desperate to sign for your rivals and picking fault in a manager’s way
of setting his team up to play, despite having been sacked from your one and
only job as head team coach.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As if Martin Tyler’s commentary vs. Liverpool wasn’t bad
enough; actually saying that Mane’s goal was ‘justice’ because of the red card
he had received at the Etihad? The red card he had in fact <i>rightfully </i>been given due to his high boot ripping Ederson’s face
apart. Neil Custis seems to be on a daily crusade to spread his anti-City
nonsense to anybody stupid enough to listen, a la Duncan Castles and Matt Law
from The Telegraph questioning the essence of Financial Fair Play because we
want to pay Athletic Bilbao’s Aymeric Laporte’s buyout clause (<i>at the time of writing this, we just have</i>).
Yet, no similar questions asked to Liverpool when they paid £75m for Virgil Van
Dyke? People think we’re paranoid, but the anti-City media agenda has never
been stronger and more apparent.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But back to United and their ways. They simply can’t handle
the fact that City are the better team and have no idea how to cope and deal
with it. As I mentioned last month, they were used to being showered in success
and trophies; they don’t like being forced to watch such uninspiring, average
football. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It isn’t me being arrogant, of course. We couldn’t be
arrogant if we tried. It’s the current Manchester-Trafford power struggle. The
Sanchez saga: Sanchez wanted City, City wanted Sanchez. United want what City
want and offered an unjustifiable amount of money for him. City rightfully
stuck to their guns and morals and let Sanchez go to a team that are used to
throwing money at problems. A club whose supporters, pundits and manager have
the guile, stupidity and hypocrisy to mock <i>us
</i>for spending despite their recent transfer endeavours. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There’s one thing money can’t buy. Class. Integrity.
Respect. The past is yours, the future is ours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A WALK DOWN WEMBLEY
WAY<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Once upon a time, I remember watching Joe Royle’s Everton
play United in the FA Cup Final at Wembley. It was 1995: I was a 13 year old
girl watching City play, well, not quite the most attractive football I’ve ever
seen us play (<i>am I being too polite?!</i>)
Although I was understandably thrilled to see Everton beat that lot 1-0 and
lift the Cup, I was also hit with a bit of the green eye.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘I’ll never get to see my team play at Wembley,’ I lamented.
‘I’ll never get to experience what it’s like to go and watch City play in a Cup
Final, let alone win it.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then, four years later, I found myself watching my team at
Wembley for the Division Two Play-Off Final against Gillingham. A day so
overwhelming , so full of emotion and so important in the club’s history, I
find it quite difficult to put into words quite how I feel about that day (<i>I’m welling up just thinking about it</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Although it <i>technically
</i>wasn’t a Cup Final in the traditional sense, it was monumentally crucial to
City and the future of the club. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fast forward 19 years and it’s almost astonishing to believe
that I’m now planning my 10<sup>th</sup> trip to Wembley. <i>Double figures</i>. I’m not sure how I’ve gone from dreaming of a
Wembley Cup Final to getting to visit the place 10 times – it’s unbelievable
and we are <i>so </i>lucky to get to watch
our team, play there so often (<i>no Spurs
no, that doesn’t count!</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What about all the memories we have made along the way? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That Manchester United Semi Final, which was on my birthday
no less. Potentially the best birthday ever, one spent getting absolutely
legless in the Green Man pub for the first time, following by more drinking on
the roundabout and some very drunk tears at the final whistle. The FA Cup Final
that subsequently followed against Stoke – the solitary goal from the big man
Yaya Toure bringing the banner down after 35 years – and all the Jagerbombs
that followed. All the celebrations in a drunken stupor, swinging off the bars
on the Tube on the way back to our hotel singing ‘Oh Adam Johnson’ (<i>!!!!</i>) over and over again.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was back down to Wembley just a few months later, in
August, to face United again in the Community Shield – my first experience of
defeat there. Say no more. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But we didn’t have to wait too long to go back again to play
Chelsea in the FA Cup Semi Final. That meant more drinking at the Euston Tap,
more cans on the roundabout and a 2-1 win, sending us through to the final –
against Wigan.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">How weird was that looking back? We had gone down for it
with my good friend at the time, Mike, who was a huge Wigan fan. We had been
mates for years – and teased each other over the ‘hand of Goat’ goal that
helped City beat Wigan to the Play-Off Final back in 1999. To go from that to
playing each other in the FA Cup Final, for us, was just baffling.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We stood on Wembley Way together just gobsmacked. It was a
really surreal moment. All those years ago, joking to each other about Shaun
Goater and Stuart Barlow and now, here we were, about to watch our teams face
off in one of the biggest games of the year. Some blues even laughed seeing our
rival shirts together and chanted ‘you’ll never be her husband’ (<i>I was there with my fiancé at the time too,
who was a blue</i>). We even took Mike on the roundabout – he was the only
Latic on there. We had such a laugh. But that was before the game.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, as for the match? Rumours afterwards were rife that
Mancini had lost the dressing room and that was the players’ revolt. It was
such a sickener though. When the heavens opened and that Ben Watson header went
in just as we were all preparing for extra time – it was a gut wrenching
moment. But I was genuinely happy for Mike. When we met him afterwards, he was
crying his eyes out with happiness. We did Jagerbombs with him and had a great
night. That was a horrific result though, there’s no mistaking that. Coming out
of Wembley was awful. It still haunts me to this day (<i>even though we’ve seen much worse!</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was Sunderland next in the Capital One Cup Final in 2014.
I had just split with my fiancé, who I had not only my season ticket with, but lived with and had just found out I was
expecting a baby with. It was a bit awkward at the time because we had a lot of
mutual City mates, but this Wembley trip was very different because being
pregnant of course meant that I couldn’t drink.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I drove down on the day with my brother. We went and met up
with some friends near the roundabout and I saw said ex-fiance getting drunk on
his own – what mixed memories these Wembley experiences are bringing back! But
two absolutely incredible goals from both Samir Nasri and Yaya Toure meant my
brother was spinning me in the air with delight and the League Cup was ours. I
decided there was no better way to announce my pregnancy than at Wembley with a
pre-written handmade sign, so at the final whistle that was unveiled and the
news was met with much bittersweet happiness from my friends and family.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A couple of years later and we faced Liverpool in the
Capital One Cup Final. What a difference that time had made personally – I was
heading down to Wembley for the ninth time with my boyfriend, Adam, and my then
18 month old son, Vincent. It was quite possibly the proudest moment I’ve felt;
walking down Wembley Way carrying my little boy, having been there just two
years previously with him in my tummy. I’d gone from going to Wembley on the
piss with my mates, to going there and experiencing a family day out. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We had the most fantastic day. Vincent couldn’t quite walk,
so we booked a hotel next to Wembley and took him round in the buggy at first (<i>we even ventured near one of the allocated
drinking establishments, The Crystal, although the less said about that place,
the better!</i>), but then as kick-off approached, we ditched the wheels and
carried him round. We bumped into so many of our friends too, who all got to be
a part of Vincent’s first Wembley experience. The game? Well, it was all about
Willy. The goalkeeper that everybody had baulked at starting ahead of Joe Hart
turned out to be the penalty shoot-out hero. Winning on penalties with Yaya
Toure blasting the final one home was a dramatic end to a very emotional day –
and walking out with my family at the end under the blue arch with another
trophy was everything I’d dreamed of and so much more.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The most recent trip to Wembley came last year, in the FA
Cup Semi Final. By this time, we had welcomed a brother for Vincent, Noel
Sergio. But we decided that Noel was definitely too young to take and Vincent
was with his Dad that weekend, so we opted for a weekend on the booze. We
stayed at the same hotel again and went down on the Saturday, which confused
many Chelsea and Spurs fans as we walked down to our hotel in our shirts on the
day of their game. We met up that night with some of our City friends and went
for a night into the capital, for food and cocktails. Oh what a night. There
were some <i>very </i>sore heads the next
day as we headed to the Green Man.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Drinking the day of the game was a struggle, but we graced
the Green Man and the roundabout with our presence and reminisced about the
times we’d been there before. This time there was no final: Arsenal beat us 2-1
after extra time with the deciding goal coming from none other than that man,
Sanchez. But the controversial decision by the linesman to disallow a goal for
City that should’ve stood, with the linesman claiming the ball had gone out of
play when in fact it hadn’t, left many City fans feeling robbed. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I remember spotting a couple of men back at our hotel
wearing FA blazers, so I took the opportunity to voice my disapproval. They
were both Brighton fans, so excited at the prospect of facing us in the League
next season, and while one of them seemed to dismiss us and walk away, the
other actually took the time to have a talk to us. He was sympathetic to our
cause (<i>although that doesn’t give us the
Final place we deserved</i>), and admitted that the decision was wrong. He said
the FA were implementing the use of VAR next season (<i>this current season</i>) as a trial to see how and if it works. He said
obviously had it been in place that day, the goal would’ve stood and we
would’ve been through to the final. Too little, too late. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Many memories made and many more to come no doubt. What a
time it is to be a blue and what a journey we’ve had throughout the years. This
time round, we will be going to Wembley with Vincent again, as Noel is too
fidgety to take just yet. He wouldn’t sit still. This time Vincent will be able
to walk down Wembley Way himself and sing City songs he’s learned by going to
the Etihad. But there will come a time when we will all go together as a
family, and hopefully a time too when my boys will go together with their
friends and, eventually, their own family too. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me, these Wembley trips represent significant points in
my life. They each come with their own unique stories, much like everybody’s
journeys down there. As long as City keep performing the way they do on the
pitch, these trips will continue to grace our lives and live long in the hearts
and minds of us all. My Wembley record stands at: played nine, won six and lost
three. I’m hoping that perfect 10 gives Pep his first trophy of many as City
boss – would be nice to see my Vincent watch his namesake lifting silverware
again in a stadium that holds so much sentimentality for us all.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hope you all have a fantastic time down at Wembley or
wherever you will be watching the game. February is a reasonably favourable
month for us at the moment: a trip to Turf Moor to face Burnley followed by
Leicester at home in the League. Basel in the Champions League followed by
Wigan away in the FA Cup rounded up with the trip to Wembley to face Arsenal in
the League Cup. It’s definitely not a bed of roses, but it does feel like the
calm before the storm if you look at March’s fixtures…</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One thing is for certain – they’ll be plenty to talk about
next month. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Same place, same time?</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
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<br /></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-60961759248860604152018-01-29T13:27:00.000-08:002018-01-29T13:28:46.361-08:00We See Things They'll Never See<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/01/we-see-things-theyll-never-see.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - FEBRUARY 2018<o:p></o:p></a></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2018/01/we-see-things-theyll-never-see.html" target="_blank">(WRITTEN BEFORE THE WATFORD GAME)</a></span></span></u></b></div>
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<b><u><span style="font-size: 16.0pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></u></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAQxEI4czdYKctea5OFdoJnXztTt28etB1bZh-VC2ShPgtY3_Ffx3jsL84fwMUD8MF49dGLxWV8a2jsgdEWLrYtIp8qKyCh_u7oBXetT0GZhsydGs5Xteds_qLTXI0s00zgYG5X-GONio/s1600/manchester-united-v-manchester-city-premier-league-old-trafford-31-390x285.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="285" data-original-width="390" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbAQxEI4czdYKctea5OFdoJnXztTt28etB1bZh-VC2ShPgtY3_Ffx3jsL84fwMUD8MF49dGLxWV8a2jsgdEWLrYtIp8qKyCh_u7oBXetT0GZhsydGs5Xteds_qLTXI0s00zgYG5X-GONio/s320/manchester-united-v-manchester-city-premier-league-old-trafford-31-390x285.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The date is 27<sup>th</sup> September 1997. My 15 year old
self is sat in her season ticket seat at Maine Road –Kippax Stand BB Lower. The
opposition today? Swindon Town.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was one of those rare days; we had six goals to
celebrate. That never happened. Nobody could quite believe it – we actually
battered a team for once! Driving home from Moss Side with a smile on your face
because of what you’d witnessed on the pitch was a very rare occurance. We’d
even found a new cult hero – there’s only one Barry Conlon. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Neither the football nor the ‘cult hero’ lasted very long -
which couldn’t be further from what we are experiencing right now at City. I
can’t believe I’m writing this, but it’s January and City are <i>still unbeaten </i>in the Premier League (<i>this goes to print before the Watford game</i>).
No, I’m not still pissed from Christmas, it’s actually happening. We started
the New Year with a 14 point lead at the top of the Premier League – all the
best for 2018, Blues!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">JUGGARNAUT 1-0 BUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the time of going to print last month, we were about to
play United; which feels odd because so much has happened since then. Jose
tried his predictable mind games pre-match, claiming we were nothing but a team
of drivers. Change the record eh Jose. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When the team news came out and I saw how attacking their
line-up was, my confidence did waver slightly. But within minutes of the game
starting, it became clear that Jose was parking the bus.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Park the bus, park the bus, Man United,’ City fans mocked.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was 90 minutes of deep defensive play from them, with the
odd hoof it up towards Lukaku in the vain hope of creating something and their
players surrounding the referee begging at any given opportunity. In fact,
Lukaku assisted us – twice. United were never at the races and the confident
2-1 win was made all the more sweeter when Jose kicked off over our
‘disrespectful’ dressing room celebrations. Hello Jose: pot, kettle, hypocrite.
This behaviour is of course Classic Jose – all a ploy to detract from what happened
on the pitch. He’s the master of manipulation, of smoke and mirrors – but I
think it’s about time he practiced what he preached and showed a little respect
(<i>don’t hold your breath!</i>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Swansea was next: a delightful 4-0 away win in first gear,
with two goals from David Silva and another futile parking the bus attempt from
the opposition.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was then onto Spurs at home and a game that many viewed
as our strongest test of the season. I didn’t – I felt strangely really
confident. Spurs tend to play open, expansive football, which suits us just
fine; ideal to play through. But even I was shocked at the extent of our
dominance through the 90 minutes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">David Silva had been ruled out after returning to Spain due
to personal reasons – something we all wish him the very best with and respect
his privacy with too. Gundogan came in- and had his best game in a blue shirt
yet. The German scored the first goal and had a part to play in almost every
other goal to. David Silva is David Silva; nobody could ever emulate or replace
him. But Gundogan proved to be a more than capable stand-in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But it was once again Kevin De Bruyne who again stole the
show in midfield: orchestrating City attacks with bewildering simplicity. His
vision and passing has made him the best box-to-box midfielder in Europe – not
bad for a Chelsea reject!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s worth nothing of course that Spurs, as well as being on
the end of a 4-1 drubbing, should’ve been down to 9 men after what can only be
described as potentially career-ending tackles by Harry Kane and Dele Alli. But
they’ll be more on those later. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leicester next in the Carabao Cup quarter final: Pep rang
the changes and fielded a second string side made up of youth players and
fringe first teamers. He managed to strike a perfect balance: just enough
experience, coupled with gifting Foden, Zinchenko and Tosin with starts against
a fellow Premier League team; a fantastic opportunity for the lads to grasp and
learn from. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Leicester started with Mahrez and Vardy on the bench too,
perhaps surprisingly given this would possibly be their best chance of
silverware this season. City’s one goal lead was looking to be enough – until Demarei
Gray managed to convince Bobby Madley that his dive was a penalty. Not only was
it blatant cheating, the fact Madley had given <i>seven </i>minutes of injury time seemingly from nowhere meant the game
should’ve been over before the decision was made.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We then had to play an entirely unnecessary 30 minutes of
extra time before winning on penalties – and what a penalty that was from
Nmecha! Good save from Bravo too and I’m happy that he got to enjoy that
moment. Pep’s celebration though – orchestrating the fans to his own ‘we’ve got
Guardiola’ chant – may have gone some way to silencing the minority who thought
he didn’t care so much for the Carabao Cup.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A relatively routine (<i>!</i>)
4-0 home win against an initially stubborn Bournemouth side was swiftly
followed y a 1-0 away win over Newcastle. They set up so defensively – any
deeper and they would’ve been in the North Sea. It was another instance of how
we have to be patient to break such teams down. We should be confident in our
ability; press, push and stretch them and force them into errors to be able to
take advantage. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">They had a 10 minutes rallying spell in the second half, but
the one goal was enough to make it 18 wins in a row – a new record and only one
behind Pep’s own record that he set at Bayern Munich.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Onto Crystal Palace on New Years’ Eve and fair play to them
for giving it a bloody good go and actually taking a game of football to us.
The winning streak may have ended, but it could’ve been worse: Ederson save a
late penalty, another dive that tricked referee Jon Moss, and we looked below
par, lacking intensity and our typical passing accuracy.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More disturbingly, both Gabriel Jesus and Kevin De Bruyne
went off injured – the latter after a horror tackle from Puncheon that once
again failed to result in a red card. Moss had a nightmare: he delayed our
physio getting onto the pitch to treat Jesus’ injury, gave a penalty that was a
dive and no red for another potentially leg-breaking challenge. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It wasn’t a disaster – in fact, it proved to be a decent
point against a team that put up more of a fight than most have and I admire
them for that at least. Most Blues going into the game were nervous and knew it
would be a test. But Aguero missed a hatful – a worrying trend – and the
passing in the final third was abnormally sloppy. We looked more of a threat
when Sterling came on, but we never really looked like Sterling – I wanted
Sanchez in the Summer and I would like him even more now please City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s really difficult to single players out for praise when
it’s such a team effort. Players who would’ve previously been seen as selfish
as passing more, thinking more and the team spirit is infectious and exciting.
I heap praise on Otamendi this month – rightly so – and my love for Ederson is
ever-growing. For me, he’s the key signing this summer. He’s made a monumental
difference to the team: his distribution is ridiculous and he instills
positivity and confidence from the back. I keep praising Sterling too; his
scored 18 goals in 95 apperances during his spell at Liverpool and he’s scored
17 for us in all competitions so far <i>this
season</i>. Of course, he credits Pep with the praise for his remarkable
progression – as do all the players involved. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pep’s attitude and mentality runs through the players’ veins
and they all credit that with the remarkable form of City this season. They’ve
won games that a Pellegrini side for example would’ve definitely lost. It’s all
down to the Pep effect – and to think people were worried about whether he
could do it in the Premier League. He’s now reported bought an apartment in the
city centre – hopefully it’s a sign of his commitment to City beyond his current
contract. A girl can dream!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">IF YOU CAN’T BEAT US,
HACK US DOWN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve just mentioned instances in recent games of opposition
players subjecting our players to horror tackles. Referee Craig Pawson failed
to send off both Kane and Alli for potentially career-ending tackles on
Sterling and De Bruyne during the Spurs game. Similarly, Andre Marriner failed
to even book Jacob Murphy for a despicable studs-up challenge on Gundogan (<i>even if he couldn’t see it properly, the
linesman had no excuse as it was right in front of him</i>). During the Palace
game, Jon Moss didn’t show a red card to Puncheon for his high, rugby-esque
tackle on De Bruyne.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s become a worrying trend of late, where opposition
players seem to think it’s okay to hack our players down to try to stop us
playing. Even more worryingly perhaps, is Gary Neville’s recent quotes
encouraging this kind of behaviour. Neville has become increasingly bitter
towards City of late, with snide comments aplenty during coverage of our games.
How is it okay that an ex-professional even thinks about coming out with such
garbage?!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t particularly enjoy finger pointing at referees – but
when the quality of officiating is this poor and inconsistent – questions need
to be asked. But where do we go from here, because this is now a proven
problem. Up until the Palace game, our players/victims had thankfully emerged
unscathed, but it was sickening to see De Bruyne hacked down so maliciously and
stretchered off in agony. It had been coming unfortunately; and will continue
unless the FA clamp down on it. I don’t expect
special treatment in any way and it’s not asking for much – just a fair,
level playing field where such tackles
are greeted with the punishment they rightly deserve.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">BLUE MOON PODCAST<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Since I’ve had my two little boys, my career has well and
truly taken a back seat. I was delighted to start writing for King of the
Kippax again - I couldn’t believe Dave and Sue would want me back – it’s
nothing but an absolute privilege.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve always been close friends with Ian Cheeseman; since I
was about 15 years old, looking to start a career in Sport Journalism, Ian has
always been there for me offering opportunities, like the BBC Manchester radio
show, <i>Blue Tuesday</i>. So not only could
I not believe it when he phoned to invite me on his XS Manchester radio show <i>Forever Blue</i>, I was gobsmacked when he
phoned to ask if I would like to be one of his panel members on a podcast he
was launching with City Watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’d followed City Watch on Twitter for years – they have over
115,000 followers and are seen as the number one unofficial source for all
things City. So it was a pleasure and a privilege to be invited to be involved
in such an exciting media project. We record the podcast at the XS Manchester
studios in Spinningfields once a week: Ian is the host and I feature alongside
two of the guys from the City Watch team. I rotate in with one of Ian’s other
friends and it’s a fantastic experience to be involved in.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the first show, we just sucked it to see if people would
listen to us all rambling about City. But the figures have been brilliant – and
by show three we had made it into the iTunes top 10 for sports and recreation
podcasts – above established Sky and BBC podcasts. We were all amazed – and
it’s justified recognition to the collective effort that we all put into it.
Stuart, City Watch’s owner and founder, is over the moon with how it’s going.
For me, it’s just nice to be able to talk about City for an hour a week and
have people actually listen. It’s a lovely hobby to have and the lads involved
are all so talented and knowledgeable. If you fancy listening, head to mcfcwatch.com,
@City_Watch on Twitter, @mcfcwatch on Instagram and the City Watch page on
Facebook.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I hope you enjoy listening to it as much as we enjoy making
it.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">OTAMENDI IS SUPERMAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a testament to Pep as just how many players have
improved under his leadership. But one of the most remarkable turnarounds has
come from our Argentine centre back, Nicholas Otamendi.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’m happy to admit that, the past couple of seasons,
Otamendi and his sliding tackles have put the fear of God in me. He could be
hot-headed, rash and inconsistent. But this season he is establishing himself
as one of the best defenders not only in the Premier League, but in Europe.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">His passing stats have been incredible: during the Newcastle
game, Otamendi completed 122 passes – seven more than the entire Newcastle team
including substitutes. He’s matured: his passing out from the back has become
crucial to the transition from defence to attack. He’s also managed to get on
the score-sheet a few times himself. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The change hasn’t gone unnoticed, with Pep likening the 29
year old to Superman. For me, it’s a fit John Stones and Otamendi in the heart
of defence as our best pairing now moving forward. I do think we could do with
another central defender during the January transfer window. Kompany (<i>as much as it breaks my heart</i>), is more
liability than reliable, Tosin is too inexperienced to use consistently in the
Premier League just yet and Mangala is, well, Mangala. We could do with a
player who is happy to play his part, accept being a part of the squad rotation
but who’s skilled enough to be able to play it out from the back and fit in
with Pep’s system. We’ve been linked with Origi Martinez and, of course, Jonny
Evans. I would love Bonucci, but I can’t see that happening anytime soon. An
interesting month of rumours is ahead!</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">PARK THE BUS, PARK
THE BUS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, what a month it’s been in Trafford. It seems like Jose
is well on his way to cracking up: the post Derby Day dressing room feud, being
knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Bristol City and poor results across the
board have left United a laughing stock and let City fans have a lot of fun on
social media mocking them.</span></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Jose even moaned about the amount of money City have spent
on full backs. We bought Aguero, David Silva and Jesus for what it cost them to
buy Pogba back. Maybe he should try the money at his disposal a bit more
wisely? We also bought Fabian Delph for £8million and Pep turned the fringe
midfielder into a superb left-back – so, although I know he’s pointing the
finger towards Mendy and Walker specifically, maybe he should educate himself
on the craftsmanship and coaching skills of Pep instead of being bitter and
resentful.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The ‘park the bus’ song and mind the gap comments from City
fans are nothing but a bit of fun. We couldn’t be cocky or arrogant if we
tried. In the 1990s, we had to endure <i>that
</i>banner, along with a tidal wave of jibes and comments from their lot
constantly. We did live in the shadow of their success: we got promoted from
Division Two the same season they won the treble and they even mocked us
celebrating that! At the time, celebrating anything City-wise was few and far
between, so we took the positives where we could find them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But there would always be United fans to knock us back down
again. We should savour this moment and give it out both barrels: after all, we
cannot forgive nor forget their behaviour. I’m not saying we are stooping to
their level and it’s certainly not arrogant. It’s just poking fun while we are
watching the best football of our lives. It’s harmless, and in most instances I
just get ‘20 times’ (<i>yawn</i>) thrown
back at me. I never thought I’d live to see the day where we are in this
position – try wiping the smile off my face! </span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">FESTIVITIES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christmas has now been and gone and what an exciting it was
with my little boys. Vincent is three so it was his first Christmas knowing
about Father Christmas, Rudolph and putting out the carrot and mince pie before
bed time on Christmas Eve. Noel Sergio is only one, so he was oblivious, even
when he crawled into a front room laden with presents on the big day. But it
was so magical and, although exhausting as any parent will be able to relate,
oh so worth it to see the look on V’s face on the morning opening his presents.
</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We spent most of the time celebrating with family of course.
All our family are Blues, so Boxing Day we took great delight in watching the
United-Burnley game with more than a few drinks. It did feel very weird not
watching City on Boxing Day, it’s such a tradition, it’s all gone so daft now
and it’s so unfair on the travelling fans. Adam and I then enjoyed a night away
in the Lakes – precious time to relax amongst all the madness and mayhem!</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So it’s now 2018, a World Cup year, and the only real plans
we have involve City and a week away with the boys in Cornwall. We have gig
tickets for Noel, Liam (<i>why won’t they
just get back together and have done with it – saves me spending money paying
to watch them separately all the time!</i>) and The Killers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But with a Carabao Cup semi final on the horizon against
Bristol City, that final weekend in February could potentially involve a trip
to the capital. Factor in the return of the Champions League and City being in
the form of their lives - something
tells me this year is set to be an absolute corker.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">All the best to you and yours fellow Blues. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">What a time it is to be a City fan – oh what I’d give to
have just one day back in the classroom at high school right now! #bothbarrels</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-12159765754510596032017-12-15T07:57:00.003-08:002017-12-15T07:58:18.936-08:00WALKING IN A CITY WONDERLAND<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2017/12/walking-in-city-wonderland.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - JANUARY 2018</a></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2017/12/walking-in-city-wonderland.html" target="_blank">(WRITTEN BEFORE THE DERBY GAME)</a></span></u></b></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 32px;"><b><u><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXnZ4USPSSeGGwOg0PSINN9QSqjtWm8hqzLWYh1eYVXdn03diHR3UO2aUGDypgomCMeRHElL9SbxsL4msh5gLIPH10mq_KrowK8KnwIkuiLktbLeaQTTcSP-WGqJTsXmLx7AluNgjuXHQ/s1600/Manchester-City-manager-Pep-Guardiola-celebrates-referee-Anthony-Taylors-decision.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="630" data-original-width="1200" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeXnZ4USPSSeGGwOg0PSINN9QSqjtWm8hqzLWYh1eYVXdn03diHR3UO2aUGDypgomCMeRHElL9SbxsL4msh5gLIPH10mq_KrowK8KnwIkuiLktbLeaQTTcSP-WGqJTsXmLx7AluNgjuXHQ/s320/Manchester-City-manager-Pep-Guardiola-celebrates-referee-Anthony-Taylors-decision.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Tis the season to jingle your bells, deck your halls, eat,
drink and be merry. Christmas is here and (<i>this
goes to print before the Derby game</i>) CITY ARE STILL UNBEATEN! No I’m not
hallucinating, I’ve not had too much mulled wine- we really are still unbeaten.
With 13 Premier League wins in a row, City will set a record if they beat
United at Old Trafford. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I know, I know, that’s a huge if. But it’s safe to say,
we’re going into the game in the best form of our lives with everything to play
for. There’s never been a better reason to be confident for Derby Day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But – this being City – we are <i>all </i>waiting for that banana skin. Go the season unbeaten?! Now <i>that’s </i>a funny joke. This is City,
masters of our own demise, there’s no possible way fans that are seasoned fans
of the club could ever be serious about being invincible all season. That
defeat is going to come. The run will end. As long as it doesn’t end at <i>that</i> place, I’ll be rather happy.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NO CASE FOR THE
DEFENCE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well wasn’t November just a joyful month to watch football? We
started with an incredible performance away to Napoli in the Champions League.
Bonfire Night brought a comprehensive and confident win against Arsenal,
followed by an assured win at Leicester. Then came Huddersfield, Southampton
and West Ham: teams who set up to sit almost their entire team behind the ball,
with the sole purpose to stop us from playing football. Of course, for some
teams that’s the only option they have. They’re scrapping for their lives – a
point against us would be huge to them. We’ve been there, we know the score. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We’ve got to expect that. Speaking about banana skins, I
went into all of the above games fearing the worst. It’s the Typical City in
me, what can I say? It’s not logical: the players we have, the form we are in
and the way we play is enough to encouraged every ounce of confidence in you,
but there will always be that nagging thought at the back of your mind. What
if. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘It’d be Typical City if we lost this.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Maybe it would’ve been Typical City if we lost it. But we
didn’t. All three games we didn’t. Huddersfield not so much, but Southampton
and West Ham were games when we had to come from behind to win. Both teams
employed a very similar approach: time waste at any given opportunity, sit
every man as far deep as you can and absorb every wave of City attack. Snatch a
goal and defend for your lives. It’s not football, I don’t agree with it, and
I’m not sure how fans of those teams quite happily pay money to sit and watch
that shite every week. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s depressing as it is predictable to watch. It’s
anti-football at its worst. But in both games, City came from behind – and won.
We must learn to expect this kind of approach from certain teams and brace
ourselves for it. We’ve got to be able to adapt our game plan and show the
strength in character to be able to absorb such tactics without heads dropping
or patience running thin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That’s exactly what the two games demonstrated. City two
seasons again would’ve lost both of those games. It’s the belief that Pep has
installed in the players. The will to win. The focus and determination to keep
going, keep probing, keep asking those questions. To never give up. That’s a
lot too for the younger members of the team – it shows how much desire and
character we have – and how strong the team spirit is right now. They’re
working for each other, helping each other and digging deep (<i>if not leaving it late</i>) for those three
points. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The worrying trait about recent games though, is we have
looked oh so leggy. The long, congested run of fixtures looks like it is
starting to take its toll and certain players look in need of a rest. It’s took
us a while to get going – in both cases it’s taken us going a goal behind to
actually kick into gear and go on to secure the points. Hopefully it’s a trend
that can be bucked, because we’ll have to be there from kick off for the Derby,
there’s no doubt about that. But I’m sure Pep will have the players well
prepared for Jose and those famous dirty tactics of his. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You could see what it meant to the players, particularly
after the Southampton game. Raheem Sterling, scoring that absolute beauty with
the final kick of the game, Pep going crazy with his backroom staff and Mendy
pulling a Usain Bolt, sprinting/limping down the touchline to join in with the
celebrations. The photographs in the dressing room afterwards: we’re all in it
together and there’s a different belief this season, the like we’ve never known
with City before. In a way it’s akin to that of the Mancini title-winning
2011/12 season – and if it goes the way that did, I think we’ll all be pretty
happy come May.</span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RAHEEM THE DREAM<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I watched John Stones on Sky Sports before the game against
West Ham (<i>we were at the game but we
always Sky+ it and watch it back when we get home</i>) and he admitted that he
thought quite a few players had improved under the guidance of Guardiola. One
of the players he mentioned, of course, was Raheem Sterling, who is in the form
of his career right now.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve praised Sterling a lot in the past couple of months and
rightly so. He deserves every bit of credit he’s getting. He’s become a more
intelligent, determined player. You can tell his attitude has changed: he’s
fiercer, he thinks more on the ball, looks around more – and is much more
accurate with both his passing and his shooting.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He’s level on Premier League goals with Aguero – with nine
goals so far this season – and two assists. He’s scored in four out of five
Champions League games so far. Only Ronaldo has scored more in the whole
competition. He scored late winners against Bournemouth, Huddersfield and
Southampton for us – that’s nine points he has been directly responsible for.
Without those late winners – it would’ve been three points instead of nine. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a huge difference to the team and the position we are
in right now and it’s all down to self-belief and confidence. Sterling is
flying and you can see he’s in his element playing with that ability and energy
around him. You get the sense he’s excited to be a part of something special at
the club – and he’s grown so much with Pep as manager. He’s fulfilling the
potential the price tag suggested – in fact, right now that fee is looking like
a snip (<i>much like De Bruyne and Stones</i>).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So we thought we’d have a little laugh. Seeing as Sterling
is flying at the moment and we all like to sing about him being ‘top of the
League’, we thought we’d make him top of our Christmas tree. That’s right – we
bought a star and stuck a photo of Sterling to it, adorning said tree on top of
our tree. I took a photo of it and put it on Twitter – much to the general
hilarity of everybody.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was meant as a tongue-in-cheek joke. With Christmas
quickly approaching and City dazzling everybody with their football prowess, it
was an obvious joke to me. So imagine my astonishment when the man himself –
Sterling – put the photos of my ridiculously tiny Christmas tree (<i>trust me, if I had space amongst the toys in
my front room, I’d have a much bigger one!</i>) on his Instagram story for all
of his 2.9 million followers to see. He said it made him laugh, which I’m
definitely happy with!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">After a day, a lot of Blues had commented to say it made
them laugh too, but as is ever the case when we are eight points ahead in the
title race with a <i>lot </i>of red-eyed,
envious monsters baying for blood, I started to get grief off a <i>lot </i>of United fans. Grown men offering
me out for fights, telling me I was pathetic, even mocking my <i>children. </i>All over two photographs of a <i>Christmas tree</i>. I mean, you pick your
battles, but what started as a joke, quickly turned sour. I blocked the idiots
and had to delete the photos. It just wasn’t worth the aggro I was on the
receiving end of.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At least Raheem liked it. If he keeps that form up, we’ll
all be laughing. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE PRICE OF SUCCESS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a really weird feeling being a City fan at the moment. On
the one hand, we are witnessing the best football most of us have ever had the
pleasure to witness in a sky blue shirt. Win after win after win: week in, week
out, we are being dazzled by beautiful football. It’s football the way football
should be played: technically brilliant, creatively spectacular and
monumentally superior to anything else on offer in the Premier League this
season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On the other hand, we are experiencing the downside that can
only come with being eight points clear at the top of the Premier League.
Opposition fans, pundits and critics alike are almost chomping at the bit for
our winning run to come to an end. Martin Tyler could hardly hide his
devastation when David Silva scored the winner against West Ham. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘City’s run continues,’ he snarled, through gritted teeth.
West Ham fans going into the stadium telling us to keep it respectable and
‘only score six past us please’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So this is what it feels like. I remember when City were everybody’s
second team – mainly because people felt sorry for us. We used to be the butt
of all football jokes; a team looked at both in pity and with mild affection.
Now all the jokes focus on money. How rich our owners are. How disgusting it is
that City are buying their way to success – why you’d almost think we invented
the notion of purchasing players that enhance the way your team plays in order
to put you in the best possible position to win trophies!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s hypocritical, short-sighted and resent in its purest
form. Why you’d not want to give out praise and credit where it’s so rightfully
due because the team in question have lucrative owners makes no sense at all.
The media fawned over United and Barcelona during their best years. Same with
Arsenal during the Henry-Bergkamp era.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s simple. Every team who wants to be successful needs to
spend money to get there. You need to speculate to accumulate. We’ve just spent
very wisely: we’ve identified the weak spots in the team, waved goodbye to
players that aren’t good enough and brought in the best available players in
the sought-after positions to get the job done. Perhaps it’s hard for me to
understand why anybody who enjoys and is a fan of football as a sport wouldn’t
be giving a standing ovation to the football being played by City right now. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Examples of this behaviour come in many different forms. A
Burnley fan on Twitter giving us fans grief, asking if we miss the ‘emotion’ of
football. She’s obviously never experienced an Aguero 93:20 moment in her life
– it doesn’t come much more emotional than that! The focus before the
Huddersfield game being on the comparison of squad costs – I’m pretty sure they
didn’t do that before the United game. Then the amount of Huddersfield fans who
took to social media to berate City, throwing out insults typically like ‘oil
money’, ‘Arab so and sos’ and the timeless classic ‘you’d be shit without
money’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course we won the lottery with the takeover. There’s not
a day goes by when the City collective aren’t grateful for that. But it could
happen to any team. Opposition fans are just bitter that it didn’t happen to
theirs, and that’s something we as fans have to face up to and contend with on
a daily basis. We’ll just keep doing what we do, enjoying this stupendous ride we’re
on and learning to grow an even thicker skin. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It is bloody great though, isn’t it?! #pinchyourself</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TAXI FOR POGBA<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of City fans had an understandably disgusted reaction
when <i>those </i>quotes emerged recently
from Paul Pogba about us. In an interview with the BBC’S Football Focus, Pogba
said that he hoped that City’s season would be disrupted with injuries to
important players, as to help United’s cause.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘<span style="background: white;">I hope - and it's bad to say
things like this - but I hope they will get some very important players
injured like what happened with us. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People
don't see this, don't speak about this, but every time we have important
players that get injured when there is important games.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So
if that starts happening with them as well maybe we'll get a little difference.
A little touch that makes them weaker.’<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There’s
so much wrong with even thinking this, let alone coming about to the press and
being officially quoted with it. It beggars belief. A professional footballer
wishing injuries upon his fiercest rivals in order to gain an advantage –
surely if you’re a professional, you’d want your opponents to be full strength,
so you’d have no excuses?! But no, not Pogba. He’d be quite happy if City
incurred injuries if it meant disruption to our title charge.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A
note to the not-so-wise Pogba, but that’s already happened to City this season.
Mendy has been ruled out for the majority with a ruptured ACL. Kompany has had
spells out. Aguero was involved in a car crash and was out. Stones is currently
out for six weeks after pulling his hamstring. The injuries have happened – are
happening. Stones has been a crucial player for us this season. But we adapt; the
show must go on. We don’t sit around moaning about it, we squad rotate. The
Frenchman should do his homework or better yet – show a little bit more
respect.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 13.4pt; margin-left: 0cm; margin-right: 0cm; margin-top: 0cm;">
<span style="font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But
karma worked a treat for Pogba after he was sent off for what can only be
described as a hideous tackle on Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin. The red card means
that Pogba sits out the Derby – couldn’t happen to a nicer man. Maybe next time
he’ll think before he speaks – I won’t hold my breath.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE LOYALTY POLICE™<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don’t know about you, but I am getting a little bit fed up
of other City fans telling others how to support the club. I see and hear it <i>all </i>the time and it is such a huge
bugbear of mine. I even saw it in this fanzine last month – the cheek! Back in
the day when I was young and naïve, I would’ve been banging that drum of ‘how
dare you leave the ground early’ and ‘you surely can’t miss a game, what are
you playing at? Call yourself a blue?!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s get one thing straight: if people pay their money,
they have the right to do whatever they want. If they want to go at 82 minutes
past, that is entirely their prerogative and who are we to judge. Likewise, if
they can’t make a game, they shouldn’t be chastised and cast off as a part
timer. It’s absolutely ludicrous, tedious and childish. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Yes City are the best thing since sliced bread; they are the
love of our lives and we remain devoted to them, planning our lives round the
fixture list every season whether we have owners who own a country they’re that
rich or whether we play a goalkeeper upfront because we don’t have strikers
good enough (<i>it was done for the height,
but you get my drift</i>). </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But people have commitments outside of football that often
dictate how they follow the club. Finances are a huge thing for most people.
Work commitments too. Family life: I have had a season ticket for years, but
had to give it up when I became pregnant with Vincent, because at the time I
was a single Mum. Now I’m with my partner and we have baby number two, we share
a season ticket and take it in turns between games. It often works out very
well and fair – that’s just how we have to do it for now, because we have two
small children. On the odd occasion when we have a sitter, we can go together.
Night games are near-on impossible. But those are <i>my </i>circumstances and if you think I’m any less of a fan than Joe
from Stockport, who is 18 with a disposable income and no commitments that allows
him to go to every game home and away, you’re completely in the wrong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Circumstances determine how many games we can attend.
Similarly, they dictate when people have to leave games. Some people leave
early because they have to rely on public transport: buses and trains commonly.
I’ve seen people moaning recently at the amount of people who leave before full
time – shut up, focus on <i>your own </i>support
for the team and have the decency to respect the fact that every fan is an
individual with their own reason behind their actions. Who are you to judge,
seriously? I don’t leave early, but I can understand people who do because
getting away from the ground through the traffic is an absolute nightmare at
full time. Fair play if you want to leave to skip that and get away sharpish –
you may risk missing a last-gasp curler from Raheem, but that’s the risk you
take. More often than not because they have to. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I have no idea why people choose to be obsessed by other
people’s behaviour. Likewise, I’ve no idea why people obsess over attendances
and empty seats. But if it’s not affecting your life directly, then leave it.
If you choose to stay and clap every player off until the team disappear down
the tunnel, that’s up to you. If you’re lucky enough to afford every game home
and away, fantastic, but don’t look down your nose at other fans that can’t. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It doesn’t make people any less of a blue – we’re all in
this together, remember?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MISTLETOE NO WHINE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I do love this time of year though and I’m super excited for
Christmas with my boys. Vincent is three now, so he’s much more aware of Father
Christmas and the naughty/nice list. He’s especially aware of presents – funny
that, isn’t it? Noel is one on 13<sup>th</sup> December, so he’s still a bit
small and will be more interested in playing with the wrapping paper than the
presents he’ll receive! But I’m making it adorably festive for them both and we
plan on spending the day itself with my partner’s family in Bury.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Christmas is a hugely important time of the season, so the
fixtures of curse dictate our plans for the festive period, but we plan on
getting copiously merry and *hopefully* we can all enjoy the most wonderful
time of the year. Generally, on paper, the fixtures have been kind to us, but
if we’re all still expecting that banana skin, you just never know.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Let’s keep our glasses of alcohol half full for now – and
let’s just enjoy it! For this is the best season of football we’ve watched in a
while and Pep’s present of choice to all of us would be to bring the New Year
in with City in pole position for the Premier League trophy come May.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the time of writing this – pre-Derby Day – it’s looking
really good. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Keep that glass half full – and raise it to an amazing
season so far. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Merry Christmas, Blues!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-8107680429116342182017-12-04T05:46:00.001-08:002017-12-04T05:47:42.630-08:00'THE BEAUTIFUL GAME' BY PEP GUARDIOLA<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2017/12/the-beautiful-game-by-pep-guardiola.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - DECEMBER 2017</a></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9vOGzWedSK4024NBtr44lNlXius8M4ghVZe2qmLEDRNEmEMvTqj5q-IJHINiKrpwA6YmY-O37RxPQd477iX7ChUZoJ36424HhuzfUM5z0oj5TJ52fNBu4pgJNYxyBQHq3x5V2Xj_P0vV/s1600/20171028_161647%25280%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1200" data-original-width="1600" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhy9vOGzWedSK4024NBtr44lNlXius8M4ghVZe2qmLEDRNEmEMvTqj5q-IJHINiKrpwA6YmY-O37RxPQd477iX7ChUZoJ36424HhuzfUM5z0oj5TJ52fNBu4pgJNYxyBQHq3x5V2Xj_P0vV/s320/20171028_161647%25280%2529.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For once, I’m not really sure
where to begin. As a writer, you become used to using superlatives and
adjectives to add to your story, as a fan I can’t quite believe I’m using them
to describe my football team.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For last month, I took great
pleasure in writing about City’s unbeaten run. How I couldn’t believe that we’d
made it to the end of September with our impeccable record intact. I now can’t
believe it’s been another full month and the run has continued. October has
been and gone and City are not only still unbeaten, but have already qualified
for the next round of the Champions League.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No, you’re not dreaming. This is
how the beautiful game is supposed to be played. This is Manchester City, circa
2017. This is City, under Pep Guardiola.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TOTAL FOOTBALL<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think the penny finally dropped
after we beat Napoli 4-2. To go there in the middle of a gruelling run of
games, in an intimidating atmosphere against a strong side and dominate the
best part of the match, sent out the strongest of messages. If you hadn’t been
taking us seriously so far, it’s time you did. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the best part, pundits and
journalists have been starting to give us the praise that’s so rightly due. So
they should: City are playing the kind of football most teams can only dream
of. Pep Guardiola’s brand of football has arrived: it’s his squad and he now
has the players capable of delivering the football we’ve seen previously from
Pep at Barcelona and Bayern. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In my first article from this
season, I said that the time was now for Pep to prove himself. A lot of people
knew just how capable he was of delivering his style of football given the
right tools for the job – the tools are in place and the master craftsman is at
work, much to the bewilderment and delight of City fans. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a privilege to watch and
it’s hard to believe that this is our football team. The team spirit is there
for all to see: the players want to work for each other, the work ethic is
commendable and the football is mesmerising. There’s no weak link – and players
who may have had question marks lingering over their heads are now thriving in
the form of their lives.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">John Stones for example. Many
thought the £47.5 million price tag we paid for him was excessive, but the
price takes into account potential, and it’s that potential that he’s now
fulfilling. That price is now beginning to look like value for money. If he
carries on in this form, we could be looking at our captain for this season. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a similar situation with
Raheem Sterling. The 22 year old has been slaughtered in the press and amongst
opposition fans, who criticised his £49 million price tag and were adamant he’d
never fulfil the potential he has shown.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘All pace, no end product,’ they
mocked. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the time of going to press (<i>before the Arsenal game</i>), Sterling has
scored seven goals so far this season. Level with Aguero and one behind Harry
Kane, he’s also racked up two assists. It’s about time people recognised that
Sterling is a key member of the City squad – he acknowledges rightfully that
Pep plays squad rotation and he has to be part of that, but his hard work is
paying off – that’s always the best way to prove people wrong and he’s doing it
so well.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s interesting too that the
goals are being more spread out across the team. Take the defence for example.
Conceded 10, but scored seven and assisted with eight goals. It’s further proof
if needed that Pep’s total football is coming to fruition and proving great
dividends across the field. It’s a collective effort, where attack is the best
form of defence and Ederson aims for as high a pass completion rate as Silva or
Stones. Sane and De Bruyne have both been nothing short of sensational. Picking
a Player of the Month is almost impossible, it’s that much of a collective
effort.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Quite a lot of opposition fans
have told me how lucky I am this past couple of weeks. Things can change in the
blink of an eye, and we know as Blues never to count our chickens or take
anything for granted. But this time it <i>feels
</i>different. It feels like we are watching and witnessing something really
special at the moment. This is a new defining golden era at the club. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The players we have are young,
exciting and are just as excited to be a part of the history they are making.
It’s passion, pace, tenacity, hard work and bloody good football all rolled
into one. It’s intelligent: the kind of football you can’t take your eyes off
for a second or you’ll miss a superb goal, an inch-perfect pass or a blistering
counter attack. It’s a special time and long may it continue. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On a side note, we’ve been linked
with Alexis Sanchez and – perhaps more unbelievably – Lionel Messi. But (<i>and I can’t quite believe I’m saying this</i>),
where would they fit in? Who would you drop at the moment to make room for
them? Messi is Messi, and he comes along, somebody will certainly have to make
way, but the strength in depth is <i>that </i>good
right now, that every player is just as important. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A big shout too goes to Fabian
Delph. As I mentioned last month, he could’ve gone in the Summer, but he
didn’t. He stayed and fought for his place: Mendy’s injury meant we needed an
adequate replacement and left back and Delph has proved adaptable enough to
fill in better than anybody could’ve possibly hoped for. He has put in some
stellar performances of late and looked more than comfortable in the Champions
League, earning him the nickname, Delphino. The praise is more than due and
another middle finger to his haters and doubters. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Don’t you just love it when City
keep proving people wrong. Long may it continue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">NEVER FELT MORE LIKE SINGING THE BLUES<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I think one of my favourite
moments from October is when the score from the Huddersfield-United game echoed
around the South Stand during the Burnley game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘No wayyyyyyy, Huddersfield are
winning 2-0? You’ve got to be joking right? As if!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was true. We ended up beating
Burnley in a comfortable 3-0 win and they got beat by Huddersfield 2-1. Now,
I’m usually not <i>that</i> fan who watches
everything United does to compare and contrast, but I do like having a moment
in the sun when it comes round. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Why? Because my high school days
were riddled with the torment of supporting City in the constant shadow of
United. I was constantly ribbed, bullied and teased by Peter Reid’s/Brian
Horton’s/Alan Ball’s/Asa Hartford’s/Frank Clark’s/Steve Coppell’s/Joe Royle’s
failure at City. When I walked into the form room after they beat us 5-0 (<i>that Kanchelskis hat trick</i>), the lads
were baying for blood. None of them had gone to a game at Old Trafford of
course, but as I walked in with my City coat on, the chant went up. GGMU. It
lasted all day, but the ridicule lasted until I left high school in June 1998. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was depressing. But it’s
something that will live with me forever. The image of <i>that </i>banner in the Stretford End and the sheer arrogance that their
fans possessed during that time and still on the whole do. Most of them think
they have a God given right to win trophies based on their past. Heaven forbid
little City become actual contenders in the long run. How dare City play better
football than us – go on, admit that it’s happening. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Just imagine paying to watch the
football they play. Can we call it football? Mind numbing and monotonous.
Unimaginative and uninspiring. We all know that Jose loves to play up to the
anti-football card, but it’s become even more apparent when he’s playing it in
the same league as Pep’s magnificent football. Boring, boring Jose.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Of course, they are our main
threat in the title race this season. Rumours continue to swirl about Conte’s
relationship with Roman Abramovich at Chelsea, Wenger and Arsenal are typically
destined for 4<sup>th</sup> spot, Liverpool have disappointed under Klopp but
The Harry Kane Team™ do continue to impress under Poch. But it’s Jose and
United who look to be our main competition for the trophy: it’s an interesting
battle given the huge gulf in class both on and off the pitch. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It may seem petty, it may seem
small time. But we really shouldn’t forget about The Banner™. I know I won’t. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">RECORD BREAKING SERG<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was only a matter of time
before Sergio Aguero broke Eric Brook’s goal-scoring record. He reached 178
goals for City in style during <i>that </i>4-2
thriller against Napoli. It’s the most incredible achievement and we’ll
hopefully see plenty more where that came from him in the months and seasons to
come. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s a huge cliché, but when it
comes to goals from Aguero, there’s one that stands up head and shoulders above
the rest. That will go down in history forever, the one goal that we still
can’t watch back without tearing up. 93:20. The goal that won us the League.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Around me in the East Stand,
everybody had pretty much given up hope. It was a mixture of anger and, well,
just people crying. Sobbing. It was Typical City™ to be in the driving seat and
mess it up at home to a team battling for survival. But I had hope and was
screaming like an absolute idiot.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Come on City!’ I cried. ‘We can
still do this. Come on, let’s have some faith!’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Edin Dzeko’s goal put a bit of
fire back into people’s bellies, but the majority still feared the worst. Too
little, too late. No chance. This was still going to happen. We were still
going to win the League. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Looking back, it was all a bit of
a blur. I remember Balotelli receiving the ball in the midfield and passing it
to Aguero. I think I had two thoughts at that point. A) he’s blasting it over
or wide or B) this is it. The moment. Time stood still. It seemed like an age
between him receiving the ball and hitting it goal bound. But the net bulged.
That roar. That moment was adrenaline, ecstasy, relief, joy and what the hell
had just happened?! What had we just witnessed? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We witnessed history in the best
possible way. It’s still so hard to put into words and it will always stir
emotions I didn’t know were possible. It’s feelings I doubt I will ever
experience again. It’s so hard to explain – of course, the 47,000 who were
there that day will be only too familiar with that sentiment. But <i>that </i>goal from Aguero was <i>the </i>goal. Some might say it was his
career-defining goal. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That moment is <i>the </i>moment that everybody thinks about
when you hear his name (<i>some part of that
is obviously down to Martin Tyler</i>), but it’s impossible to put a price on
just how important that goal was, how much it meant to everybody at the club
and how much financially it was worth. There’s been 177 other goals, but none
can ever compare to that.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some have mentioned the
possibility of a statue of a stand being named after the Argentine, and I think
it’d be a fantastic gesture and only too deserved. Colin Bell played his part
in the successes of the club, and many others have since, but none so much as
Aguero. He’s a huge part of City’s history and that should be recognised.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The Sergio Aguero Stand, has a
good ring to it, doesn’t it? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">THE KOMPANY WE KEEP<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For the first time ever, I’m
beginning to see a future for City without Vincent Kompany. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It pains me so much to say it
because I’m the biggest Komps fan – I even named my first born after him – but
with Stones and Otamendi playing so well at the back, it’s the first time I’ve
sat back and realised we don’t actually have to rely on Kompany anymore. The
injuries have taken their toll and he doesn’t seem to be as active as he once
was on social media about City. A lot of fans have been disappointed about his
club vs. country stance and there have been hints that Pep hasn’t been too
happy about it either.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I would love for him to get back
to full fitness and fight for his place in the starting line-up, healthy
competition is good. He’s even on the back of my home shirt this season. I’ve
never had a bad word to say about the Belgian and this is no way criticism, we
all know how unlucky he’s been throughout the past few years. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">No matter what happens, he will
always be such a monumental part of the story. He deserves our respect – I just
hope if he does make a decision, he decides to stay at the club in some
capacity. Like Zabs, it’d be wrong seeing him go elsewhere. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DEJA BLUE<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When I first started watching
City, Brian Horton was our manager. Tony Coton was in goal, Peter Beagrie was
on the wing and Uwe Rosler was upfront. Horton played open, attacking football,
with varying degrees of success. But he gave it a shot and the results produced
some thrillers – namely the 5-2 win over Spurs at Maine Road. He was
attack-heavy but the football was lively, but success was stunted by injuries
to key players. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve always had great respect for
Horton. He had a good football philosophy. I interviewed him at his house and
he spoke so highly of City. He loved the club, still does. He tried to play
football and sign creative players with severely limited resources, when a
bitter power struggle was going on between Peter Swales and Francis Lee. He
played with width, with an aggressive and powerful striker upfront, and
creativity in midfield. He’s respected by the Blues who know their football –
and who agree his exit was absolutely premature.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what does that have to do with
City circa 2017? I’m not comparing Horton to Pep, that would be silly. But
maybe, just maybe, way back then, we had a taste of how things could be when we
play football right. With the right resources, the right tactics, the right
players, we can play the game the way it’s supposed to be played. Open,
attacking and inventive football. The beautiful game. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Roy Keane recently said in an
interview that he fully expects City to mess it up because ‘it’s in our DNA’.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Can we really go the whole season
unbeaten?</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Do you need me to answer that? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">(I hate agreeing with Keane. I’m
off to wash the disgust off me!).</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily </span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-44672929417512147822017-10-30T05:56:00.001-07:002017-10-30T05:57:15.175-07:00WAKE ME UP WHEN SEPTEMBER ENDS...(AND PINCH ME TOO)...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2017/10/wake-me-up-when-september-endsand-pinch.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - NOVEMBER 2017</a></u></b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOIzGMmVR-VA0z4BLxm9LW9yYKybGhYn24v_xqIxaPx-6pQspK8zijFQcJRkulhM5fJU6GssSnDN2spL6SZgn-CUyk8i-2ibFqzeTGSsTt4a_3CThrU9usruxgnBJmhXcM8eHaF2gsqMm/s1600/dc93bfc5-2969-468f-8e90-ebb62f93b655.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="532" data-original-width="945" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYOIzGMmVR-VA0z4BLxm9LW9yYKybGhYn24v_xqIxaPx-6pQspK8zijFQcJRkulhM5fJU6GssSnDN2spL6SZgn-CUyk8i-2ibFqzeTGSsTt4a_3CThrU9usruxgnBJmhXcM8eHaF2gsqMm/s320/dc93bfc5-2969-468f-8e90-ebb62f93b655.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s hard to believe that this time last month I was sitting
down in front of my laptop preparing to write about the indifferent start to
the season that City had made. I used the terms/clichés, ‘new signings bedding
in’ and ‘no excuses for Pep this season’. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">People were questioning our defence. People wondered if,
despite our Summer spending spree, Pep’s squad was big enough. People even
wondered whether Sergio would break Eric Brook’s top goal scorer record this
season.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There were plenty of questions, but it was too early for
many answers.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Then came September.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">WAKE ME UP WHEN
SEPTEMBER ENDS<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I love October. The crisp Autumn air signalling the end of
Summer. Hallowe’en fun and frolics with my children, with pumpkin picking and
trick or treating aplenty. But I especially love October this year because City
entered it on the back of an entirely unbeaten month. September was a 100% win
record for Pep: 7/7, sitting top of the class on goal difference at the time of
going to press. The first time we’ve won our opening two Champions League
games. What a time to be alive.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I felt reasonably confident going into the Liverpool game,
but I don’t think anybody could’ve predicted what followed. The Scousers will
moan that the Mane high boot/decapitation attempt on Ederson (<i>in which intent is irrelevant</i>) changed
the game and it did to the extent that it eliminated the threat from their star
player, but the capitulation that followed from Klopp’s side was nothing short
of astounding. No red card should see your side fold the way they did: what
more, Klopp had no response to it. He didn’t react or change his side to cope
effectively – a manager held in such as high regard as Klopp shouldn’t be as
embarrassed as he rightly was with such a score-line. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But the 5-0 result was nothing more that City deserved.
Sane’s incredible last minute effort capped off a stunning team performance
that set the tone for what was to follow in a truly spellbinding month for the
Blues. A 4-0 win at Feyenoord and a 6-0 win at previously unbeaten Watford. A
2-1 victory at West Brom in the Carabao Cup was followed by a 5-0 demolition of
Crystal Palace at the Etihad. A 2-0
triumph over Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League with the cherry on the
cake, a 1-0 win at Stamford Bridge, home of the current Premier League
Champions, Chelsea. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">25 goals scored and just <i>one</i><b> </b>conceded. That should put to bed any
doubts anybody had over our defence. Let’s really take the time to give credit
where it’s due and heap praise – on everybody. From the back to the front, it’s
been a colossally enthralling month of truly bedazzling football. It’s been the
kind of football we expect from a Pep side, but don’t ever dream for a second
we’d be lucky to watch week in, week out. It’s what we thought could happen,
with a squad so gifted. A squad littered with pace, youth, energy, experience
and efficiency. The perfect blend with the potential for a seismic impact –
September was the month City arrived. For when questions have been asked,
players have delivered in abundance.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Ederson – stretchered off so dramatically in the Liverpool
game – has been a dream in goal. We don’t have to worry when the balls goes
near him, we trust in him, we know he can handle the situation. He brings an
almost eerie calm behind the defence: his decision making has been almost
flawless, his bravery is to be commended and his distribution – well, it ranks
up there with the best outfield players. He’s the goalkeeper you need to
reassure you: sensible, respected and mature. He gets on with his job with
gusto and is proving to be quite the acquisition.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kyle Walker and Danilo – equally as impressive, adaptable,
pacy and solid as each other. ,Mendy was looking an unyielding character in
that left back position before his injury, with his first time crosses a
particular favourite of time. John Stones – what a month it’s been for him. He
started September with many still doubting his capabilities, but I think all
doubt can be laid to rest now. He’s developed into a figurehead at the back,
forging a formidable and unforgiving partnership with Otamendi. They’ve been
good for each other – and due to Kompany’s injury absence, have grown both
together and as individually solid defenders. Otamendi still worries me with
those sliding, lunging tackles, but thankfully he’s come out of most of them
well recently so I can forgive him! Stones? Well, he is potentially looking a
little reminiscent of a certain former Chelsea captain. Potential City captain
in the not-so-distant future? Maybe.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Fernandinho is always an unsung hero, bridging the gap between
defence and midfield. When a player goes about his business almost unrecognised
and without much fuss, it usually means that he’s doing a pretty good job, and
that is exactly what Fernandinho is about. He’s just doing a really, really
good job. Head down, focused and consistent. Not as combustible as Nigel De
Jong, not as studious as Gareth Barry, but just as good as his job. Every team
needs a Fernandinho – we’re just lucky he chose us.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The midfielders. The creative types: the ones who really
weave their wands and work their magic to produce such trickery and flair.
Raheem Sterling: the one with the hefty price tag at such a young age. An
England youngster with the weight of expectation on his shoulders, he’s flying
at the heart of a confident team with encouragement all around him. Sterling is
working hard to prove those doubters wrong and knows he has to be part of a
winning squad to succeed. Leroy Sane – such remarkable energy and footwork.
Scoring magnificent goals and thriving amongst a team so excitable and
remarkable. David Silva being David Silva. His namesake Bernardo just as
mesmerising. Wonderful to see Gundogan back from injury and looking just as
electrifying as before. He holds a soft spot for me because he has so many
shades of Kinkladze. The dinks and vision take me back to the brightest light
in the 1990s during the darkest time – we’ve only just begun to see what he’s
capable of.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Kevin De Bruyne – I’m running out of adjectives. It’s been
that kind of a month. I don’t think I’ve ever said that. Incredulous to believe
a Chelsea reject could go back to Stamford Bridge and absolutely run the show –
just for the visiting team this time. He’s the kind of player you should
rightly weep about when you let him slip through your fingers – the conductor
at the heart of a City orchestra that has been playing the most enchanting of
symphonies. His vision is exemplary; he’s knitted together the attacks with
stupendous wonder. Out of everybody, at a push he’d been my pick for player of
the month.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Aguero and Jesus? Of course they can play together. They
compliment each other and the team spirit has even made Sergio pretty generous
when it comes to assisting instead of shooting – worth noting, particularly
with that record in his reach. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Have to also give a mention to Fabian Delph. He was mocked
in the Summer for not wanting a move to Stoke and for wanting to stay and fight
for his place at City.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Fight for his place? More like to earn a tidy wage by being
happy to be a benchwarmer,’ they mocked.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Well, he stayed and he has worked hard to fight for a place
in the team. Never mind *that* goal against Crystal Palace, but his performance
against Chelsea even left Mendy nervous in his hospital bed. Delph should be
commended for having the right attitude and for being willing to adapt to suit
the team’s needs. A consummate professional whose endeavours have been rewarded
– I love it when players prove people wrong. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve mentioned team spirit there a couple of times, but the
last time I saw such a team spirit was probably the early days of the Mancini
era. The players are working for each other and it just <i>works. </i>It’s an utter delight to watch and it’s hard to keep our
feet on the ground – but we have to, because this is City and we never know
what’s around the corner. But the energy, the movement, the vision, the
attitude and persistence is what sets this team apart. They’ve got each other’s
backs. They know they’re all in it together. They are willing to fight for each
other and together. They support each other on social media and include the
fans, which also does make a big difference. We’re allowed an insight into
their interaction with each other and we see bonding and giving a shit. That
Trafford lot may be over our shoulders, but they’ve yet to play any of the big
sides and we’ve overcome our biggest test yet. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Chelsea was the complete performance – completed with the
most fitting of goal scorers. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Onto October: Stoke, Napoli, Burnley and Wolves at the
Etihad with West Brom away. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Note to self: it’s normally when you count your chickens,
that they don’t hatch.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">DAM BUSTING<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s safe to stay there was a <b>lot </b>of reaction to the news that came out of the Netherlands
following Sergio Aguero’s car crash. Waking up to read the news breaking on
Twitter about our star striker, who was poised to break the record set by Eric
Brooks going into the Chelsea game in a rich vein of form, was not an ideal
start to my Friday. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I knew that Aguero was in Amsterdam at a concert because I
follow him on Instagram, so I’d seen the ‘stories’ that he’d been posting on
there. But as soon as I found the photos of the smashed-up taxi he’d been in, I
realised surely he’d done more damage than initially suggested. It looked
really bad. So imagine my surprise that City fans and ‘pundits’ alike was
reacting in anger to the situation. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘What the hell was he thinking?’ ‘Why the hell is he in
Amsterdam when we’re 48 hours away from the biggest game of the season so far?’
‘What is he playing at?’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Are these people actual rational human beings?! Do they
realise that he could’ve been involved in a similar incident coming out of the
CFA in Manchester? Or driving out of his home back in the UK? Do these
imbeciles actually stop for a minute to consider that players are allowed to do
whatever they want, within reason, in their spare time? I work part time and my
boss would never for a second tell me what to do in my spare time. He wouldn’t
be remotely interested. Granted I’m not playing for a high profile Premier League
side and have sponsorship deals coming out of my ears, but let’s cut the guy
some slack please.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The initial reaction of a sane person would be one of
concern and shock. Thankfully, that seemed to be the response from the majority
of the fans I came across. The minority let the side down. Then there was
Richard Keys, who incredulously had the guile to compare it to the Rooney ‘way
over the drink drive limit and over for a booty call behind his pregnant wife’s
back’ incident. It beggars belief. We are very lucky that Sergio escaped with
nothing more than a broken rib. Just be grateful for that. Be grateful that his
time out is minimal – and that he’s still with us to tell the tale. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">MENDY IS THE MAN<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">More injury woes came in the form of our brand spanking new
left back, Ben Mendy. With what initially looked nothing more than a slight
knock, everybody’s worst fears were confirmed when a scan revealed a ruptured
ACL. He’s since had an operation, but the recovery time means we may not see
him on the pitch again this season, but if we do, he should be back in time for
the main title push in April. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was a big blow to a player who’s proved to be a firm
fans’ favourite so far since joining from Monaco. His antics on social media
have left everybody entertained and waiting for what’s next to come. He’s the
founder of the #sharkteam hashtag, the name he’s bestowed on this new-look Pep
side, with fans taking to website in droves to buy inflatable sharks to take to
the Stoke game. There are even rumours that the club may have jumped onto the
bandwagon and ordered a mass shipment of inflatable Jaws-lookalikes to
capitalise on Mendy Mania. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Whether he’s filming Bernardo Silva in the canteen and
mocking him, or bringing down Duncan Castles a peg or two on Twitter, one thing
you can rely on Mendy for is dedication and optimism. He filmed himself going
down to theatre for his op with a big smile on his face and he posted several
videos from his hospital bed of him and his friends watching the Chelsea game
and cheering us on. ‘Come on City’ was the cry, with his Gucci hat with the
painted-on worker bee to represent Manchester. He sent his teammates a video
before that game with words of encouragement and it was touching to see Delph
post-match dedicating the win to the ‘big man in the hospital bed.’</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Mendy is the man of the moment – and long may that continue.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">#sharkteam</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">TYPICAL CITY <o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It may seem a bit harsh to take a pop at the club after such
a fantastic month, but City being City, they do make it very easy for us. I’m
not sure whose bright idea it was to think of conducting a behind-the-scenes
tour at the City Academy with Chappy as the host and actually contemplate for a
second that they could get away with charging £200 a pop for it. Is that how
much Chappy is charging these days? I know plenty that’d do it for free – and
be more popular.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Similarly, who in their right mind thought they could
introduce a ‘Women At The Game’ event for the Champions League tie against
Shakhtar Donetsk? </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">‘Meet together. Watch together. Cheer together,’ An
inspiring tagline if ever I heard one.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">35% of the average football crowd in 2017 is female. That
number has been steadily rising for a good couple of decades. You can’t patronise
a core element of your support with what can only be described as belittling
bullshit. We have been meeting together, watching together and cheering
together for a number of years if you haven’t already noticed. We don’t need an
entirely ill-advised manufactured event to socialise at football. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The days of us being confined to the kitchen are long gone –
we are actually allowed out to attend the match in this wonderfully modern era
of equal rights. I mean, Emmeline Pankhurst didn’t waste her life campaigning
for women’s rights only for City to come along and entirely alienate the female
City population in one fell swoop. Is there any kind of quality control that
goes on at City in the marketing and events department before these ideas are
promoted? It’s just baffling and utter tripe.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A big issue at the moment that the club are also struggling
with is the queues that are gathering at the turnstiles before the game. I
touched on this last month and on why the security measures are necessary in
light of the heightened tensions and constant barbaric terrorist acts that seem
to be happening almost daily now across the globe. The huge queues that form
pre-match are a serious concern now and it’s time for the club to address them.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">One way this has been attempted to be dealt with is by
offering fans ‘chip for a quid’ if they enter the ground early. Another
promotion was selling soft drinks for £1. Hang on a minute, somebody hold my
pint so I can rush down and benefit from such an alluring offer! No City no.
Half price beer maybe, but nobody is going to look upon those deals as an
incentive to leave the pub early. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Also, the club spend time promoting the events going on in
City Square before the match, so which one is it to be City? Do you want us in
the ground early eating our chips for a quid supping our coke, or do you want
us outside watching two fans interviewing former players? It’s contradictory –
you need to be clear on where you want the fans to be and when. If you want us
all inside the ground by a certain time, then take the entertainment inside. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s not going to work. People stay in the boozer sometimes
right until the last minute. It definitely won’t work for night matches: people
picking their kids up, getting home from work, rushing around. There is no way
that everybody can be at the ground 45-60 minutes before a night game because
people have lives. They have other commitments outside of football – football
fits in around all that, so you have to make it slightly easier for everybody
in that regard. Why not employ more security staff to do the checks outside the
ground? Or let people use more entrances instead of restricting people to just
one turnstile? There are ways around it, because it’s never been as bad as it
is right now to enter the ground before the game. Not only are fans queuing for
ages, it poses a huge security risk in itself, with people almost sitting
ducks. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’d only take a bit of common sense to rectify the
situation – but then again that’d be too easy, wouldn’t it? #typicalcity</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So what a month September was. My eldest, Vincent, turned three
so we took him to the Palace game as a treat/test to see how he’d get on.
Decked out in his new shirt, he was so excited on the journey there and I’ve
never felt more proud walking up to the Etihad than I did with my boy holding
my hand tightly, shouting ‘Come on City!’</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">He loved all the excitement outside and the atmosphere when
the team bus turned up. We thankfully arrived early enough not to queue, so he
had a hot dog inside and skipped to his seat in the South Stand. When the teams
came out onto the pitch, he looked around in bewildered awe. He’s been to a
couple of games before, but he’s at an age now where he’s older and more aware,
he could really take it in and join in with the songs. </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We managed to get 10 minutes out of him before he was asking
for his Kindle to watch YouTube and I totally expected that. But he joined in
with all five goal celebrations and exited the Etihad pumping his fist shouting
Leroy. That’s more than enough for me. It was a very proud day for this City
Mama.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You’d think City being impeccable off the pitch would mean
the media would be fawning over us, of course that’s not to be. I had an
interesting engagement on Twitter with Ian Ladyman, Daily Mail’s Football
Editor, over an entirely unnecessarily negative Aguero tweet for which he
demonstrated no morals, remorse or integrity. Trying to constantly find the
negatives in positive situations is lazy and unsubstantiated journalism, with
non-existent sources cited to accompanied make-believe stories that excite our
opponents as much as that offend City fans.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The constant City bashing from most media outlets is proving
to be sadly predictable: price tags relentlessly brought up as valid arguments
for justification for current form and attempting to fantasize rifts with Pep
and players is lazy click bait at its best. It’s monotonous, boringly churlish
at a time where credit is rightly due regardless of any other factors. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But we’ll just let actions speak louder than any words – and
take great pride in that.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">As always.</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Emily Brobyn</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">@kippaxgirlemily</span></div>
Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-61073004393119660662017-09-25T01:17:00.002-07:002017-09-25T01:19:24.055-07:00Pep, referees, security and the new signings...<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2017/09/pep-referees-security-and-new-signings.html" target="_blank">KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - OCTOBER 2017</a></u></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><a href="http://www.footballpundette.co.uk/2017/09/pep-referees-security-and-new-signings.html" target="_blank">(WRITTEN BEFORE THE LIVERPOOL GAME 09/09/17)</a></u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #3d85c6; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u><br /></u></b></span></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The last time I wrote for King of the Kippax was October 2015. My son, Vincent, was a year old and I had no idea that the next time I contributed, I’d be a mother to two boys. My second, Noel Sergio, is now eight months old, born into a world where Manchester City are regularly fighting for the Premier League trophy, have Pep Guardiola as our manager and some of the finest players football has to offer on the pitch at the Etihad.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can say that my children will never know they’re born when it comes to City. They’ll never know those dark days of Division Two, the managerial merry-go-round of the mid-90s and the superstar signings of Martin ‘Buster’ Phillips and Lee Bradbury. But I think they’ll at least know Typical City™. Somehow I don’t think that’s going anywhere anytime soon. We’ll always have that element somewhere – I mean, whose bright idea was it to have the fireworks before the Everton game? I couldn’t see the first 15 minutes of the game! I watched it back on Sky when I got home and it looked like a bad foggy night. Typical City™.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>THE PEP EFFECT</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I always find that some of the most interesting content for articles comes from overheard conversations between fans. Case in point: coming back on the train from Wembley in April after getting beat in the FA Cup Semi Final by Arsenal. We’d ended up in First Class because the train was that full (Mr Branson had kindly declassified it for us mere mortals), so we were inevitably surrounded by Blues lamenting the performance. Expectations had been sky high when Pep joined – I think some fans expected him to waltz through the door and sweep the opposition aside, without really giving much thought to the squad that he had inherited. So the conversation revolved entirely around Pep and whether he was the man for the job. Yes, for the entire two hour journey home.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At the time, it was almost like Pep was immune to criticism because of his reputation. His excuse for the season had been that it wasn’t his squad – he’d inherited the vast majority from Mancini – and if he’d inherited it from Mancini, that doesn’t speak volumes for Pellegrini. Had any of Pellegrini’s signings actually been made by him or were they Txiki and Ferran specials? There was a conclusion that City had just been treading water under Pellegrini – he’d just been manning the fort until Pep was available.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So for the inherited squad reason alone, Pep couldn’t be judged for his debut season. The dead wood needed to be shifted – and wasn’t it just. He needed to bring in the players he wanted – and didn’t he just. Every player on the ‘hit list’ has left and been replaced with upgrades. Full backs Ben Mendy, Danilo and Kyle Walker, winger Bernardo Silva and goalkeeper Ederson have arrived and, with the deadline looming as we go to print, there could potentially be Alexis Sanchez on the way to us too. Here’s hoping.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">With the dead wood now shifted and players brought in that Pep has requested, this season there can be no excuses. There’s nowhere to hide – it’s either do it this season or go for it in the final season of his contract. He’s already a third of his way into the contract, he’s made the right signings so the time is now. With Mourinho and United making strong improvements during the Summer too, it looks like it will be an all-out two-way assault for the title. Great, just when you hate the rivalry enough and it really heats up.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Pep has already admitted that he won’t change the way he plays to adjust to the rigours of the Premier League. Sometimes it has felt like there isn’t much of a Plan B: certain teams who park the bus are difficult to break down, and if they counter and grab the goal, they sit on the lead and our style makes it hard to play through that. It’s fine when a team plays open, attacking football that </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">offers us space to play and create, but against the Stokes and the West Broms it often results in frustration.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Take this season so far for example. Everton played superbly at the Etihad; they put in an excellent defensive display and, once they’d grabbed the goal, were extremely difficult to break down. The equaliser did eventually come, but it took patience. Same as the opener at Brighton away – patience until Aguero broke the dead-lock with 70 minutes gone. Bournemouth: came at us, took the lead with that exquisite goal by Daniels but proved to be a little more lacklustre and allowed us back into the game. The 97th minute winner from Sterling – although incredible – was our get out of jail card used up. We’ve seen a lot of possession, the tippy-tappy so familiar with Pep, the trickery and skills from individual talents, but not a convincing team display so far. Of course, we’re only three games in with new players bedding in, but the past couple of seasons we’ve got off to a flyer and lost our way a bit. Where to go from here?</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I like Pep – I’m a big fan. I’m not one of the Twitter minority already calling for his head. But I’m also not blinded by his past successes. He’s not immune from criticism and shouldn’t be. I know what his teams are capable of achieving – but I also know that sometimes successes can’t be replicated, especially in a league as difficult as the Premier League, where there’s no such thing as an easy fixture. Every team views us as City – a scalp, a Cup final, it’s an achievement if they beat us. That’s not being arrogant – that’s just the stature of the club now. But we should be capable of overcoming and dealing with that.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are great expectations that come with City now: the money spent should equate to trophies come May, so the heat is on. That pressure and expectation means Pep has to deliver or risk failure. I won’t judge him – until May. That’s the way football is now; people expect instant results, particularly with his track record. He’s now got the squad capable of it, there’s nowhere to hide for him this season.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>LEAVING US BLACK (AND BLUE)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Is it me or is the standard of refereeing in the Premier League getting worse with every season? I didn’t think I’d see a performance as incompetent as Robert Madley this season, but of course, his highness Mike Dean topped it at the Vitality Stadium. Madley sent off Kyle Walker for a second bookable offence – a raised elbow – that didn’t even make contact with the player. That was the tip of the iceberg on a night of inconsistencies that left us battling for a point with 10 men against a tricky Everton side.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But Mike Dean, honestly, I’m struggling to find the words. I was waiting for the obligatory Kompany red card to come, but the Sterling red card was nothing short of an utter disgrace. Where is the common sense in that instance? Where the away team have just scored a winner, adrenaline goes through the roof with both players and fans, and you forget where you are for a few seconds. Euphoria rushes through your body and the celebrations where a reflection of that. The fans encroached on the pitch – the players didn’t jump into the away end so technically there was no rule-breaking going on.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">If he’s following the letter of the law, he has to book every player that joined in because it wasn’t just the goalscorer that took part. Similarly, if he’s following the letter of the law, he has to send Ake off for being the last man when he tackled Jesus. He has to book Daniels for his goal-scoring celebration when his kung-fu kicked the corner flag and booted the advertising board. He at least has to book Cook for his potentially career-ending lunge on Jesus. But he didn’t. He opted against common sense in the closing stages of the game and decided to rewrite the headlines. He wanted to </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">be the star of the show, like he always does. Interestingly, a host of pundits and footballers spoke out on Twitter post-match slating Dean’s decision. Bobby Zamora, now retired, said that Dean was ‘one of the worst #arrogant’.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A last-minute winner is one of the best moments as a player and a supporter to enjoy – take 93:20 for a cracking example – but the enjoyment and fun is being zapped out of the game by the officials. This is football – our life revolves around it. Some fans had stayed overnight for the game, some had set off at 4:30am to be there for the rearranged kick-off, and the thanks they got for celebrating the winner was being grabbed by over-zealous stewards and being put into a head lock. Fair play and kudos to Aguero for trying to help the young lad out: not so much over-paid, out of touch, prima donna now eh? The thanks he got? The steward accused Aguero of throwing a punch at him. The mind boggles.</span><br />
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<br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When will the inconsistencies stop? How are referees being allowed to get away with such incompetence week in, week out? I know if I put in that performance at work, I’d be looking for another job. It’s unacceptable, particularly when big decisions mean players go missing while they’re serving bans, potentially costing us crucial points. The FA needs to wake up – I’m not entirely convinced that VAR will solve anything, but something must be done because it’s becoming a depressing reality every week.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>BETTER TO BE SAFE THAN SORRY</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Like everybody, I couldn’t believe the despicable events that happened at the Manchester Arena on May 22nd. We were on holiday in Cornwall at the time: my boyfriend Adam had woken to make a bottle for Noel at midnight and I’d checked my phone for the time. There was a news alert on my phone – suspected explosion at Manchester Arena. We both went on Twitter straight away – and were aghast at what we found. Terrorism on our doorstep again. 22 people killed; the youngest of them just eight years old. The target? Young kids enjoying a pop concert. An attack yet again on our freedom but even more shocking, at our children. Our mothers. Our fathers.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">A lot of fans have had their say on the increased security outside the Etihad Stadium. After the Paris attacks, fans have to park away from the Citystore when visiting the shop and can no longer park outside. There are also increased bag searches and ‘wanding’ when entering pre-match. I’ve been in a queue many times and heard people moaning about having to queue for this – it beggars belief. Once a guy was moaning because he wouldn’t get his pre-match pint – what cost your life, sir? I understand Dave had an encounter recently where a steward questioned him when trying to bring in fanzines (something he’s been doing for many years, so very bizarre), but generally I obviously support the vigilance and think everybody else should too.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">You can’t put a price on safety at the moment – I believe football stadiums are a prime target for terrorism and have been for a few years (see what happened with the Paris attacks with a suicide attacker detonating his vest outside the Stade de France because he’d been denied entry). Any event or place with Westerners enjoying a social activity in groups of people is deemed a target – especially with so many people in a stadium together. It’s always better to be safe than sorry and the club have to be seen to co-operating with security measures whether the fans agree or not.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But I also believe that the queues themselves could be deemed a ‘soft spot’. That amount of people grouped together, with no security on the Etihad Campus before you reach the turnstiles, could potentially be a disaster waiting to happen. All it takes is one or two terrorists – it doesn’t bear thinking about. I’ve become a bit paranoid about attacks and terrorism and it’s brought on a bit of social insecurity I didn’t previously know I had. Now I feel nervous in crowded areas. I’m always</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">looking for the exits; I’m forever suspicious of people and feel on edge and panicky. Safety in numbers has never been less true. But it’s what they want – to cause psychological distress and anxiety and we can’t live our lives in fear. Keep coming, keep enjoying the games and try to carry on as normal. Just understand the guys on the turnstiles have a job to do and they’re trying to protect us, just respect it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>TUNNEL VISION</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">City sure know how to get people talking. Case in point – The Tunnel Club. The new state-of-the-art corporate hospitality facility at the Etihad, where fans get to pay £15k+ plus for the privilege of watching the teams walk out through a glass tunnel before the game. Come on down, cried City. For here is the place where you get a tactical briefing by Brian Kidd, ignored by Leroy Sane as he enters the stadium wearing his headphones and sit in plush leather seats with Astroturf beneath your feet instead of concrete. The stuff of dreams – if you can afford it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But at what cost to the core support? Plenty of fans have been forced to relocate out of their usual seats to make way for the new corporate seat section. Fans who have sat there for years have now been moved onto the third tier. While The Tunnel Club was being built, a big wall emerged in the middle of the Colin Bell Stand, which meant fans separated by a couple of blocks could only socialise with each other at half time by cutting through the seats in the stand. Since The Tunnel Club opened for the first game, there is now no access as a thoroughfare through the Colin Bell Stand.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">This now means that fans who have had long-standing half time meet-ups can no longer do it. I can no longer walk round to my brother in the East Stand to meet him at half time, because a steward stops me and tells me The Tunnel Club’s security is priority. So the core support, fans for years, are having traditions they’ve kept for years quashed at the expense of City trying to attract new business clients. It’s nothing short of a disgrace. It’s disgusting. I don’t care if I can meet him before the game, I want to be able to continue with traditions. I liked to meet other friends a couple of blocks down at half time, friends from Twitter that I only get to see at half time, but oh no, The Tunnel Club has put paid to that. Thanks, City.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Never mind the fans who stayed loyal during Division Two; they’re disposable, they’re statistics on a spreadsheet. Hospitality is no new concept, but now we need to pander for the business customers, who use football as a way of wining, dining and impressing clients. It doesn’t necessarily matter which team they use to do it – so why not create a unique experience for them to host their guests in? It may inconvenience our long-standing support, but who cares if it makes us a shit load more money. Sorry, it’s just not for me. It’s a human aquarium, a voyeuristic goldfish-bowl but the club will say a way of balancing the financial fair play books. It’s also been noted that any fans in The Tunnel Club qualify automatically for away tickets – again, taking away from us mere mortals, prioritising those with the financial means over those with long-standing loyalty. Somebody at City needs to have a think about how to keep the core support happy as well as making a few quid. Quite a few people have been very pissed off by it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>SO FAR SO GOOD</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s hard to judge the season so far. Having only played three games, it’s unfair to be too harsh based on the fact we do have the age-old excuse of new signings bedding in. Mendy looks a quality signing – he’s an absolute unit and his first time balls into the box against Bournemouth were a sight to behold. Bernardo Silva looks magical – when he combines with David Silva they remind me of an elite version of Berkovic and Benarbia. They’re going to cause some defenders some grief this season. The ball seems to stick to his feet like glue and he’s fitted in well. Kyle Walker has of course </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">been the subject of a huge injustice with his red card, but looked comfortable, pacy and solid during the Brighton game. I need to see a bit more of Danilo before I judge him and Ederson’s distribution is already an unequivocal improvement on Harts.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But what I have learned is that we’re all going to have to try and be a little bit more patient. Is that even possible? It’s not that I have become a spoilt fan, I know where we’ve come from, but I do think we are right to be expecting a little bit more. We have the players, the talent on the pitch is astronomical, and I do feel like when it clicks it’ll be something really special. It’s just how we approach and deal with the trickier games- those are the games where the real tests will come. The wet and windy nights away at the Britannia. The promoted sides that are playing their cup final. When 10 men sit behind the ball and we’re trying to walk it into the net. We’re in an era that we didn’t ever think could or would possibly exist at our football club, we’ve had twists and turns we didn’t think possible, we’ve just got to keep holding on and enjoying the ride.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ll show my sons the videos of some of our performances at Maine Road one day. They won’t believe it. They’ll think we’re making it all up. While all my friends at school chose to support United in their glory era, I picked City.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">At least they can be thankful of that.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>Emily Brobyn</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>@kippaxgirlemily</b></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-85666281168251005262016-09-09T01:03:00.001-07:002016-09-09T01:23:41.401-07:00Vodka at the ready, it's time for a new set of Freshers...<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><u><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://footballpundette.blogspot.co.uk/2016/09/vodka-at-ready-its-time-for-new-set-of.html" target="_blank">FROM FRESHERS TO GRADUATION: UNIVERSITY - THE BEST DAYS OF YOUR LIFE</a></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It’s that time of the year again when excited teenagers are raiding the homeware department of Wilkinsons, stocking up on vodka and waving goodbye to their parents for the next three years of their lives. For most of them it’s their first time living away from home and embarking on the experience of a lifetime can be quite an exciting, if not daunting, prospect. It’s been 10 years since I went on that journey – but is university really worth it?</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">I made the decision to go to uni slightly later in life. I’d gone to college straight after high school but not known what to do with myself; I knew I loved to write but wasn’t sure whether it was more of a hobby than a career. With the lack of direction, I under-achieved: mediocre grades followed – and so did a career in retail. Not that working in retail is a bad thing. For the first couple of years I loved it: I met so many friends and the job itself was fun and sociable. But I began to wonder if this was it for the rest of my life.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">My parents said the same. I was still indulging in creative writing as a hobby when my Mum suggested going to university for study for a degree in what I loved to do. At this point I’d written on and off for the Manchester City fanzine ‘King of the Kippax’ for a number of years and was building up a portfolio of work. I worked voluntary for BBC Radio Manchester and had actually applied for a few trainee media jobs – and always received the same generic ‘sorry but you need a degree at the very least to be remotely considered.’<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">Could I do it? Could I go to university at the age of 24, surrounded by hundreds of 18 year olds who were all there to party? For six years I’d worked full time, so to go from that to the infamous university lifestyle would be quite a change. But Mum was right: would I rather be left to rue the day or go for it and at least say I tried? Mum had even found the perfect course for me at the University of Central Lancashire in Preston studying Sports Journalism: I’d read through the syllabus and it was everything I wanted and more. The only sticking point was my dodgy college grades. Would I even be considered for a place? I completed the UCAS application, aided unequivocally by a sparkling reference from my English teacher, Mike Gregory, sat back and waited.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">By this point I’d really got my head around going. I wanted to live in halls and embrace the lifestyle. I’d become disinterested in my retail job- all my hopes hinged on the verdict from UCAS. When that day arrived, I was petrified. I was shaking when I logged into the site. There it was in black and white- unsuccessful. My heart sank .The dream was over before it had begun. But there she was again – Mum. Fresh from a devastating break-up from my Dad, her husband of 29 years, she was going through the hardest period of her life. But she was urging me not to give up on my dreams. Telling me to phone the university up and beg for a place.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">‘Tell them Emily, tell them it’s now or never for you. Tell them how much you want it.’<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">So I did. I phoned them up and spoke to a lovely man called Andy Dickinson. I poured my heart out to him: I didn’t cry, I remained positive and determined, telling him how I’d realised how much I wanted this, how hard I’d work if given the chance, how my college grades were no fair reflection on the life experience I had gained since. He put me on hold to go and ask the Head of Journalism. When he came back, the answer was still no. This poor guy wasn’t prepared to hear my sob story on a Thursday afternoon but he had to. He was my only chance and there was no way I wasn’t giving my final shot my all. After 15 minutes of basically begging, he put me on hold and went and asked the question- again. It was heart in mouth time, this really was it.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">‘Well Emily, this must be your lucky day,’ Andy said. ‘We are prepared to give you a chance and offer you a place.’<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">With that, I was in. Sneaked in through the back door, but I was off to university. After raiding several homeware stores for my uni essentials and doing a substantial food shop, I was ready to spread my wings and move into halls. September had come round so quickly and the hardest part was saying goodbye to Mum, particularly when she was going through such a difficult time. I assured her I’d be home at weekends – and off I went.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;">The living situation<o:p></o:p></b><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">The whole moving into halls and meeting my new room-mates process was so daunting. It was a lot like I imagined Big Brother to be: it was a matter of waiting to see the door go and seeing who walked through it. Whether you liked them or not you had to live with them. I chose private halls as I needed a bathroom (<i>imagine the state of shared bathrooms though!</i>) and waited to meet the boys and girls I’d be sharing living quarters with for the next nine months.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>In Squires 'VIP' with flat mates Ashleigh and Caz (and a barmaid)</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Girl-wise, I was lucky. I loved Ashleigh and Caz to bits. Still do. But the boys were an absolute nightmare. Noisy, messy and smelly didn’t even begin to cover it. Living with them was how I imagined hell to be and we’d regularly encounter girl v boy arguments. Sometimes it was all-out war. The management of our halls had to get involved at times it was that bad and it did put a cloud over the first year at times. They’d cook fry ups at 3am, set fire extinguishers off, run in banging on the doors on purpose when you had a 9am lecture and walk round with their cocks out. No girls, not what you want to see from a fat, hairy Irish guy. At one stage we had to hide our plates and cups from the front room because they’d use it all and not wash it – or they’d eat our food. </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>A rare moment of harmony between the first year flat mates</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The next two years had their ups and downs accommodation-wise, ironically more so because of living with just girls. It was great because you could choose who you wanted to live with, but if you didn’t know anybody too well living with them would always expose any personality clashes and ultimately led to disharmony. It can be a wonderful thing living with your best friends, but it can be downright biblical if you encounter a detrimental fall out along the way. This happened in both the second and final years and it was awful: looking back you know the petty arguments were ridiculous, but at the time they seemed colossal and added unnecessary tension and friction to what was supposed to be an enjoyable experience.</span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Just your average Monday night in Squires with Sarah and Frankie</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">But when it was great it was amazing. The time of our lives: we thought we were the bloody Spice Girls. Whether we were lazing around in our nightwear and sweats or dolled up to the nines in thigh boots and bum-skimming dresses, it was always a laugh. We could talk to each other about anything and everything and always had each other’s backs. Some nights we’d just go to Blockbuster (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">remember that place?!</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">) and grab a DVD and ice cream, others we’d actually stay in and study. Most nights we would start drinking in the flat at 6pm, head to a club then finish drinking back at the flat at 4am.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Thursday nights in 53 Degrees</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">I think what I struggled the most with living-wise was the first year and having to co-habit with total strangers. Perhaps this is where the age divide came into play: don’t get me wrong, I could (<i>and did</i>) act more immature than some of the 18 year olds, but some of them just didn’t care. Mostly the boys, but a couple of the girls too – first time living away from Mum and Dad, cutting loose, doing whatever they wanted whenever they wanted. It was a lot to get my head around.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;">That notorious lifestyle<o:p></o:p></b><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">Nothing quite prepared me for the uni lifestyle. This is going to sound pathetic, but for the first couple of days during Fresher’s Week, I seriously came close to packing it all in and going home. I’d not even been on a night out – I’d stayed in with my flatmate Ashleigh, who </span><span style="color: #333333;">was also quite homesick at the time. It was just so different to anything I’d experienced before; I didn’t know if I could adjust myself that much to a point where people stayed up all night and slept most of the day. It was a culture shock.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLX_zsEf036CfOdPZUuCxsQxBcjNmcB0sh3FCDeFrS9tq107jAmK3ulfCCoEG_b5GtibCUlC4qdDMNMIQvkq3saOHYgUJY66sCiHnI7uHgMMlbOUOs6tZsTXM-xgZtXDwwUC2IGT9XY7dj/s320/n283500649_220677_8355.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Embracing the lifestyle head on</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">I suppose in the end I adopted a mentality of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ and threw myself in at the deep end. I embraced every aspect of uni head-on: the booze, the raving and the misbehaving. My decline into debauchery didn’t take long. Some days we’d only have a lecture for an hour so we’d scrape ourselves out of bed, lie on the sofa recovering before heading to one of the local pubs (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">The Adelphi, The Ship and Roper Hall</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">) for hangover food. Then do it all over again that night.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhznl7vAcwh7nR5omwpdcdneXFbjJKPG_f6ZHWFZsa4vUiTQX8xVbQYnk6vcO1YevZZS1qIWCV78LVLmsZXj9lf7P9V74xqvn-lCrwBk3zfUUxLnHmmICPfpDCLfKBTkf1IdYREbEpp1OaT/s320/n283500810_540308_4176.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Just an average Wednesday night</i></span></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">I suppose in the end I adopted a mentality of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ and threw myself in at the deep end. I embraced every aspect of uni head-on: the booze, the raving and the misbehaving. My decline into debauchery didn’t take long. Some days we’d only have a lecture for an hour so we’d scrape ourselves out of bed, lie on the sofa recovering before heading to one of the local pubs (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">The Adelphi, The Ship and Roper Hall</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">) for hangover food. Then do it all over again that night.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWZUWG5ZJSW8Hk3kRZfGcmMcEw4oqKPKcum1lroBNnMjF5QsY2Ow1sw4DNI4gf-0j6Wdpc1p6oaCOHHSKy-Lpl4ZkKZcjkyC3qsCSkttYw-iZhAiEds5M_Rv80oigjWXXxzZFJBqBj78lX/s320/n649240135_2389699_7945.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><i>A state of 'man down'</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">But it was super fun getting dressed up with the girls all the time – getting ready for nights out with your music on, dancing in your underwear is always fun. Most nights would have themes, which offered an ideal excuse for dressing up – something that happened all too often. I look back now and wonder how I got away with some of my outfits: schoolgirl, sailor and cat-woman all seem pretty tame compared to the ‘pimps and hoes’ night where my outfit consisted of stockings, suspenders, heels, tiny black PVC hot-pants and a pink vest that said ‘sexpert’ on the front with names and accompanying scores of ex-lovers on the back. That was my standout ‘what was I thinking’ moment! </span><span style="color: #333333;">But on the most part, getting glammed up, heading out in tiny skirts and wearing Ann Summers costumes in the nightclubs was all part of it – coupled with sambuca shots and double vodka red bulls.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiUY9ZjIjQtE9gwKW-nkF4lbC9_luWlw8B9eYD5ExOdcoRU0Ib8VCwi1QhvaqqU2mLEWNJiDiTiOg5guvCaRWjwuxpHXE3xuoqbq0g1jR5qh4Rp-lUAerZBiWfrli8c8Gel3WPSFuKm35z_/s320/20160906_143914.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>One of the outfit regrets - what was I thinking?</i></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">Some of our most memorable (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">through the alcohol haze</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">) nights out were: the back to school night with Pat Sharp at Lava (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">I always wanted to be on Funhouse!</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">), chav night at 53 degrees, Fresher’s Week in the second and third years, my Barbie birthday where everybody had to wear pink and glitter and, of course, every Hallowe’en. Hallowe’en was by far the busiest night of the year: where you were witness to the most weird and wonderful costumes going. Everybody made an effort and it was always a quality evening – even if it was a bit sweaty under the spotlights in a catsuit.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnkbJ9hgX47onpx5NY8_ksA6ac65v3rDWWL07PyiqG6wp6cCku1fz4q2aRdOtamBJ_unb8qLjNDwHvAKtszsDK2OuIglr5mNcnOQiW8XKzzqan-3cRQAxf4fso5hhZWo00oY9kIvjFSluj/s320/n599625443_1584982_8321.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="320" /><img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nyAPh-7B43nSa8i927DbB4TTzNHOPQlRdOgDkrRav3RPohzm_X1hCGsFlUTA0xg5Orh9TfaFr6U53sh_2KOB_aT-I5PqvT_vigXpLyrpqJEaOulraa9eyDg91_lA1L-CtkUED1-xxCfx/s320/n283500810_535855_31.jpg" style="background-color: transparent;" width="280" /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><i>Chav night and Hallowe'en</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">As for the boys…well, I started uni in a relationship that had already run its course. By the time we returned after Christmas in the first year, I was single. I remember our first night back on the Monday in Squires and it was fantastic. Not a care in the world, just on the dance-floor throwing shapes with the girls and acting daft. I ended up dancing with one of the lads from my course – who I’d never looked at in any way apart from as a friend – and so began a dalliance that only ended a few months before we finished uni. In fact we kept in touch up until I met Adam, but that’s when the contact ended. He had a girlfriend back at home (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">at the time I didn’t care, mortifying</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">) and together we had a lot of fun. He’s now marrying that same girl – if only she knew!</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjr3RU_H9_Jbi80ZVPuDCWY2S1Cs_agZgZ5SdbDM_lts2a15s61yZ8D6widM71pqxQyzBFtIA924FHNTKjlU3OG1IrIPCWS_BdQQbJMBg8rOBnib6faFa5adxgOC-qIbXOv8i8d0vc_aGge/s320/n599625443_348110_9270.jpg" width="246" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>If you can't beat them...</i></span></span></div>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">It’s safe to say I definitely had my share of fun boy and girl wise at uni, like most. I can’t share some of the stories because they are either a) too explicit or b) illegal. Far from being the only one, we would sit around the next morning in equal states of disarray and disbelief at our exploits the night before. Shout-outs go to Paul, Shaun, Ashley and Tom. Some of the tales of </span><span style="color: #333333;">alcohol, drugs and sex will remain very fond dirty little secrets – probably the best place for them. All of that ended in the third year when a very old friend got back in touch with me. His name was Chris; he came along at a point in my life when I needed a bit of stability and calming down. Six years later, Chris became the father of my child. The rest, as they say, is history.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyLlJfbn2BuZRq2CriqVhb0rONB9ubvCPvJQoU5I4cKsc-5bLn6hKkPSvJTFv4N42h27qcIL89loiG2A-eu5GoYa3RsQIxmIN6NfqpOFUpGtMKMwytMSNCpZw5KPhE5wBAyxsYWDebi-xP/s320/n283500674_844390_8026.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Out for a meal with Frankie</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">Money-wise it was never really that much of a struggle. Student loans coupled with grants and bursaries all helped and I worked a few part time jobs along the way to help fund my lifestyle. Spells at Subway, Carphone Warehouse and working the breakfast buffet at a Premier Inn all brought the extra pennies in to help pay for food, toiletries, booze and clothes. The day the loan came in was always special – we’d nearly all go on a mad shopping spree to buy new outfits and make up.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTQfybHNJ4JL8OVQeswcbIPjI0dK9DdBLLqODVszjXTIdg8w5WPgyQ0y148QZW0HXR_RCjJIhuo6AWiibDREvlB7_NlAmVdT2WfZHMUB-imzHVQBgqahXJvvIexErAHmcVXVoeA_N5msaO/s320/n599625443_1584783_3387.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Casual Pizza Hut</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Sometimes we’d do our food shopping together and cook for each other and sometimes we’d all go for meals out. We’d go on trips out to Blackpool, Manchester, Southport and even London. I don’t think I ever lived off beans on toast – and I was a stickler for drinking decent wine! You just learn to cut your cloth accordingly – working part time definitely helped make life slightly more comfortable for me.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;">The education<o:p></o:p></b><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #333333;">I should really get round to talking about the reason I went to uni – the education! Yes for me an education did actually happen. For others who weren’t overly bothered about getting a degree and who were all about the party, it didn’t. It’s true that you get out of it what you put in. I loved some of my modules – some I didn’t really find relevant to what we wanted to do, but the core journalism modules were fantastic.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfovZ7lw69nlk6RecYEf8Jp1i0ItaCPj5WBN3iuM0p2sVzV2GaAts1G29RlyHw10HljaH5xRwuj5Ri5FUFxQCALen6DYpjw9wkKpekh-eGVQyR2bwzMUwI4olSvHcQepi8jQkHlyiVutNV/s320/3322_173087590443_4164936_n.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Just some of the boys off my course</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">I remember on the first day of uni walking into a room full of males. With our course being Sports Journalism, it was dominated by teenage boys. I’d say the ratio was around 45 boys to four girls. It would’ve been easy to be intimidated by that situation, but I used it to my advantage. I wanted to prove that my gender wasn’t an excuse and that I could be equally as good as the males, if not better. I became the very best of friends with Frankie, one of my female course mates, and we stuck together through any episodes of chauvinism and misogyny (</span><i style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">despite us knowing more about football than most of them</i><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">).</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5qxNyaG2fuVSdPD03HewOzKBjhwKm96jqHboTzAmpdU4mrr40rtz5-fPGjAsNXArC18TJ-aYwYt0j1PtbUqbi6MO_c_GUKJva9IxGLgfC5CLxJ7BJikAuKaYk2FSU9OHbf6ukm5EwdMts/s320/n283500810_635456_857.jpg" width="214" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>With my Frankie</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Perhaps I’m being sexist, but I relished the gender divide: often when put into groups I’d plan quality projects with excellent contacts and the boys would just be along for the ride and contribute minimally. That always provided some level of personal satisfaction – I was merely preparing myself for battle amongst a male-dominated industry. I had to say some of the males on the course were fantastic and treated you as an equal, but some couldn’t look past the fact you had breasts and knew more about certain sports than them. They’d scoff and look down their nose at you – more fool them. Thanks go to Sam, Dean, SVG, Chris, Andy, John and Ali for being the good guys.</span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKe9iP-sngy-uMouoY7tO3TsFxeFQuJ1O8y9XL1pGpVQfVhVNsmEyPk8ydcXrU7uCGf1CK11OVovgueAbn1mo87KzfVEeRmIe09NIBoi7uwocYHKCAhNSN7amh6qNiXQySn4EvYWWYpUtC/s320/3322_173092645443_599625443_6804230_6879700_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Charlie's speech at our final meal together</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">It was also a privilege to be taught by some of the best in the business. Our course leader, Charlie Lambert, was nothing short of phenomenal. He’s since retired, which is a great shame, but he brought years of industry experience and infinite wisdom throughout our three years and really guided us all on our way. One of our modules was taught by Peter Stevenson, who continues to report for Sky Sports News to this day. I know gaining a degree is an expensive task, but you can’t put a price on that experience. We even had a guest lecture from Janet Street-Porter – one of my industry idols. Lecturers like that bring not only their expertise but they inspire you even further to gain your degree to aid you towards your chosen career path.</span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_FbrOtx91FoeKeeGGp0r0FBVR1S2gW4u14FPoy10lcOAfty407iWhnkqH4gI9Wh3LPahXn8A0kRAvWCOR6dXOFMX8xgHKt4R-d5dWIGObFu4w9vAYy29hz5x2J6OaUHVzs1XF6EoW8gOh/s320/1909501_116633415443_5342_n.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><i>Presenter Jake Humphrey invited me to London to interview him</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I opted for a tricky approach during uni. I kept up with my voluntary work and even applied for more. I figured that the more unpaid work on my CV and the more media companies and contacts I knew, the better shot I had at a career post-uni. I worked for all four mediums: online, print, television and radio. I did my work experience at FourFourTwo magazine in London and I never once rested on my laurels. I always adopted the approach of doing the very best I could. I’d be on air on Key 103 Manchester radio Sunday nights contributing briefly to a sports segment, Nuts TV would phone me in the week to contribute to football debates, I’d be writing content for FootballFanCast.com and keeping up with writing for King of the Kippax too. Sheer determination kept pushing me to take on more and more.</span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyOr-y1mhpVTxtPSkusOiHDjoR4sH0GAJjx-dn2RjghnudqwdAOUlvIu4FnrnJHckfX5M6gKmY9Ppj2SvUNFIF3uekC3Stvba1K7sU-maLFlxYjRWSL8yyA34pHXPuCzNaabjB6hyIptdq/s320/FB_IMG_1473305782239.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Gabby Logan was one of many wonderful interviewees</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">When given an assignment for my course, I always tried to find the best interviewee possible for the chosen topic. Gaining interviews with television presenters, Premier League footballers and football club legends are all achievements I’m proud of and contributed significantly towards my degree. I’d spend hours researching contacting, emailing, pestering – what’s the worst anybody can say to you, no? Even when they did, I didn’t give in. It took three attempts to Gabby Logan’s agent to gain an interview with her. Eventually I was invited to London for an exclusive – persistence and determination is paramount to succeed. </span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;">I worked hard on creating and running my own blog, <a href="http://footballpundette.blogspot.co.uk/" style="color: #b215da; text-decoration: none;" target="_blank">Football Pundette</a>, all of my interviews and articles can be found on here.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIUOie1kSxMKtz9ujmnPVPGm4CAtKaD1M8N4AInWUYD2ESYGMR-983IRKUtDQ7vOMbEEPl9gD7DXkcGKA90rJNsQdbAtF5PpQPythRhSiQe3HGcNhgBWp4ld68xK7URdpX0yG4W-4sM3PB/s320/FB_IMG_1473305776675.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Manchester City legend Colin Bell agreed to an interview</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To a certain extent, I think I stretched myself so thin I compromised my overall grade. I finished with a 2:2 and I do believe I could’ve done better. But my contacts book was impressive and I believe I left myself in the best position possible to gain a paid job in my chosen field. I look back and feel a great sense of achievement at having graduated by gaining a degree through dedication and spotting opportunities where others potentially didn’t. I gave it my best shot – you can’t do any better than that. I’m also proud of what my fellow course-mates have achieved since graduation, with a handful now working for BBC Sport, The Mirror and other significant media organisations. Well done us.</span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK9BMrvGFzeaNpwmpjp5F_FrXe7C0g6cIGRJZ4PBlz51-hrAs2AYEZPAlhHUdVgY5vQoir7xjl_nOrEQWgBCHjLbZPpQM3Jh8LGj5d-2kb1ZfqqGYKqM7HL2tFPLdOD5CohDC6vTF0p7yM/s320/1913874_337470955443_2924953_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 19.5px;"><i>So proud that my Mum and Dad both attended my graduation</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My Mum and Dad set aside their differences for a few hours to both attend my graduation and that was a special moment. Uni is a truly unique experience and I think if you have the opportunity to go then don’t even hesitate – and throw yourself into it. It helped massively for me that I knew exactly what I wanted to do – I was focused in a season of 18 year olds who weren’t too sure if the course was for them or even what they wanted to do with their lives. A handful did get their heads down and unlike the majority, didn’t just go for the piss-up.</span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiX4Zl2O7lSh_ZZHpzSSc7w7jy71iMDO57OrR-eGz4FOiCeZfKF55t2SUUBNLHqylMwaAVZLv-jqf0IfYNYvDmq0wDc9bpHqNZejYxbgqDnJSe-0B7U2zqQjHgnzBWLLlfl2zDCPI8k2ONL/s320/n644860244_2742701_227.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>An unforgettable experience</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: #333333;">But the experience itself: the independence, the course, the nights out, it’s all collectively indescribable. Some of our nights out were fantastic, but I often had just as much fun watching a film in our pyjamas. The people I met, the memories we shared, will forever stay with me. It’s only with hindsight that you can appreciate just how easy a life it really was back then. Now, the petty squabbles seem minor, some of the girls I met were absolute diamonds, and as for going out every night – I can’t remember the last night out I had! I was a very special three year window of time that was daunting, challenging but ultimately amazing – times I will cherish for the rest of my life.<o:p></o:p></span><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><span style="color: #333333;"><br /></span><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;">The legacy<o:p></o:p></b><br style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;" /><b style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"><br /></b><span style="color: #333333; line-height: 21.735px;"></span><span style="color: #333333;">The career? I guess this is where people turn round and say ‘so where did it all go wrong?’ Well, it didn’t. My life goals just shifted. I’d achieved my degree, I went on to achieve my dream job at the football club I support for a few years (<i>all that glitters isn’t gold</i>) then my life on its head when I lost a baby. Since then, my career took a back seat while my maternal instinct kicked in. For most of my life all I could think about was being a sport journalist - that changed to spending my life longing to be a Mum. It’s funny what life throws at you and how grief can affect you, it just turned all my aspirations on its head.</span></span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhLM81TMq2dY9jbdP3VV5uLMGMk8MUW8FYaJl9JXMiqdLNqeDRnl6e6-vOLM9jACVbnar9oqARAioqj8O2PjjqS6YrJyrcx3hSfAt-Sdmj-qmm_0o1f0aT9D4wdoEKwlKV0FCoBFjY5Zers/s320/403548_10151734876315444_2088611201_n.jpg" width="240" /></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><i>Working at City for three years during their initial trophy haul was a privilege</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I’ve been blessed to now be a mother to Vincent, my beautiful little boy. He’s almost two and he’s also now going to be a big brother at Christmas time. I work part time in an administration role for a wonderful family company and I believe I have a perfect work-life balance. I couldn’t be happier. I still love to write – these days it’s just finding the time. But I’d love to keep the door open as it’s a shame to work so hard and not to keep up with that passion and a subject you are highly experienced and qualified in.</span></span><br />
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<img height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqfrc6-DJokqIoZhAxn0x185KwEQzAILcPCbDNaOJVM5VhyphenhyphenWbynX8hrEqKQynPe_sc9Rs56fVIdgW0PGQScJr31HEGQYfKX8Uyapqk-P9ePcTeGeAogWQCTe9h-oiYSA5ATZZ9IU8w4OM7/s320/14211971_10157421088755444_814390314812117318_n.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Relishing my life as a Mum to Vincent</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Some might say I have under-achieved since graduating. That’s your opinion and one you should keep to yourself. It’s easy for people to judge without knowing how difficult circumstances have been. I wouldn’t have got my job at City if it wasn’t for going to uni. It was a pleasure interviewing some of the best players in the Premier League and an incredible experience: I was at the club at a very special time and the insight was surreal and fascinating. Working on BBC Radio Manchester’s Blue Tuesday show was an opportunity I would’ve been highly unlikely to gain had it not been for uni. Both Ian Cheeseman and Sarah Collins were wonderful to me and a constant inspiration: the day I left was a sad day indeed. I've known Ian for many years and he often went out of his way to help me, something I'll always be grateful for.</span></span><br />
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<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbXSc8pgJ0_BDcDZuBa1hcuTKxRC_OKan2HG9ibEZ_R-MbuRCDLn2W9bVAiCrRF_yo0ozxwV4bcGbwb7Js4xV4FAav0fCC2DHr8sfdNmjKhK-rneIzTeZNQ2G81NKhTab5vAGNZfzqTF37/s1600/1936608_225226840443_2964652_n.jpg" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Working alongside Ian Cheeseman and Paul Lake at BBC Radio Manchester's 'Blue Tuesday' show</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">University not just about the drinking. It’s not about who you wake up with the next day. You don't necessarily need it to get certain jobs these days, but others you definitely do. It gives you not only a wonderful education, but a fantastic grounding in life. You learn life lessons along the way and, among the immaturity; it instills a level of maturity in you to continue forward with your life. You meet friends for life, Frankie is somebody I will always have in my life and who I wouldn’t have met if it wasn’t for uni. It taught me the value of money: from going through a bad period in my life financially when I was a teenager, I learnt how to budget and save. It’s taught me to forgive and forget because life’s too short. It taught me to apply myself and always keep trying, never give up. Ultimately, it taught me to be eternally grateful to my Mum for urging me to follow my dreams: I just hope I’ve made her proud somewhere along the way. </span></span><br />
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<img height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5WLY0pRvmP-BmXpUVgMvZkEPMpmpLgDbRHwKy_QCc5f8cDEaR4ekAVJhJUQyvAw7GZo26MSg6AFfHanTW7Iv8Uy5eTiaDOKt3KV5ZdRQT9uCxFwRPRzn_xLTUlGv-SpsGwuW7whp6SGqo/s320/20160906_144204.jpg" width="320" /></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><i>Still the best of friends with Frankie ten years later</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So to all those Freshers: enjoy – they’ll never be a time in your life quite like it ever again. </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 19.5px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-78930158777820797982016-03-31T15:22:00.003-07:002016-04-07T12:06:18.269-07:00GET READY FOR A SUMMER OF LOVE...<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<a href="http://footballpundette.blogspot.co.uk/2016/03/get-ready-for-summer-of-love.html" target="_blank"><u><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><b>A TALE OF TWO CITIES – AND ALL THAT PEP<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span>TALK</b></span></span></u></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_RdyI38XyzYSaLBwwLI1OBz44E-FXfkyugytwHuDLAvBtaWtzaQ1HALXVGuNOGyFaymUWXdNa3s07zCnA2BApsoqlQCuaKtD01UakZvjT3UByXV2cIKhZBMSmBCIy5qd-uBgFA1ascUH/s1600/Pep-Guardiola-and-Manuel-Pellegrini-joke-after-a-press-conference-in-July-30-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK_RdyI38XyzYSaLBwwLI1OBz44E-FXfkyugytwHuDLAvBtaWtzaQ1HALXVGuNOGyFaymUWXdNa3s07zCnA2BApsoqlQCuaKtD01UakZvjT3UByXV2cIKhZBMSmBCIy5qd-uBgFA1ascUH/s320/Pep-Guardiola-and-Manuel-Pellegrini-joke-after-a-press-conference-in-July-30-2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Cast your minds back to August. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ah, the start of the 2015/16 season, when Jose’s Chelsea
were title contenders, Leicester’s main priority was survival and Brendan
Rodgers was still in the dugout at Anfield. Over at the Etihad, a revitalised
and pumped Vincent Kompany was back to full fitness and ready to lead his
Manchester City team into battle to secure their third Premier League trophy in
five seasons. Rumours had been rife that Manuel Pellegrini was set to be
replaced by Pep Guardiola – something that hadn’t been confirmed nor denied. So
City issued a statement revealing that the Chilean had been offered a two-year
contract extension that would see him stay at the club until June 2017.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Well isn’t that lovely; a contract extension that will stop
everybody from talking and writing about Pep. A strategic move intended to
allow the manager and players to focus solely on winning silverware and to put
a stop to those rumours once and for all. Well done City, very holistic of you.
Well, holistic, naïve or completely pointless.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2E_4WLh3JgfbFQ71WMwPktI9M3zIWEhX2v3DbVXKFlHipKau0OZtn6PPMYXJ9dkNN3ZgOu9_AlHkOA4QoYgHno-Fq7JuvrjhNjSOdUDlSWSHEMPB5-aSvR3MAUpdPflMEZ1cnRKfrtkt/s1600/vincent-kompany-44780.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjw2E_4WLh3JgfbFQ71WMwPktI9M3zIWEhX2v3DbVXKFlHipKau0OZtn6PPMYXJ9dkNN3ZgOu9_AlHkOA4QoYgHno-Fq7JuvrjhNjSOdUDlSWSHEMPB5-aSvR3MAUpdPflMEZ1cnRKfrtkt/s320/vincent-kompany-44780.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Five games in and City were flying. With no goals conceded and
some stellar performances, including an awe-inspiring 3-0 thumping of Chelsea,
everything had clicked for the Blues. The defence solid, the midfield full of
creativity and flair and Kun Aguero upfront, no team had come close to looking quite
as impressive and threatening. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">‘Sheikh Mansour went to Spain in a Lamborghini,’ bellowed
the home faithful. ‘Brought us back a manager, Manuel Pellegrini.’ </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I even penned an article about how at this rate, <a href="http://www.unilad.co.uk/sport/the-way-manchester-city-are-going-the-title-race-will-be-over-by-christmas/" target="_blank">City could have the title sewn up by Christmas</a>. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">How wrong I was.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">For nobody could have foreseen the seemingly implausible
outstanding season that Leicester have had. Few would have predicted Jose’s
departure from Chelsea and well, okay, more than a few would’ve bet on Rodgers
appearing in more of a pundit role than a managerial one this year. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But nobody would’ve predicted the cataclysmic collapse of
Manchester City. From title favourites to struggling to maintain top four
status in a matter of months, the wheels on the bandwagon have come flying off in
every which way. Injuries aplenty, insulting prices for a Champions League
quarter final home tie and a manager so stubborn it raises even the most
mild-mannered fan’s blood pressure; it’s both an embarrassing and perplexing
end to a season that started with so much expectation and promise.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>GREAT EXPECTATIONS</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Expectation is a funny thing. The mentality of fans seems to
be two-fold: we plummeted to Division Two 18 years ago so we should just be
grateful that we have had this incredible takeover with world class players at
our club. On the flip </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">side, it’s time to stop living in the past. Winning the FA
Cup, the Premier League, the Capital One Cup and the Community Shield has given
a taste of success most fans could only dream about. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MBnTHyjRd6uZyS6OU0w5cac9hEgmnnOqYkOkYLiB64vEfRvDxX6m0PM0AQuJIktQEQEBEjzUGBH8bY5HhqSZCwh1pgV5zckx2qSzBR7RvkAR2js3dJHnU6RlvCykVBsFWQpHGFL6ZchL/s1600/sergio.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6MBnTHyjRd6uZyS6OU0w5cac9hEgmnnOqYkOkYLiB64vEfRvDxX6m0PM0AQuJIktQEQEBEjzUGBH8bY5HhqSZCwh1pgV5zckx2qSzBR7RvkAR2js3dJHnU6RlvCykVBsFWQpHGFL6ZchL/s320/sergio.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">That’s set the standard and left a certain acquired taste in
the mouth. Once you experience your football team winning silverware, it’s
infectious. The personal memories that accompany the triumphs can’t be
underestimated. But success in itself breeds expectation – you only have to
look at United and Liverpool to know that. Fans want more of the same –
anything less is a disappointment. It can offer conflicting emotions – you
don’t want to let go of the past and ‘the journey’, you know you’ll never have
an ‘Aguero’ moment again, but that doesn’t mean you want the team to stop
progressing and trying to win trophy after trophy.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN29s_sHRDRD6rWSr8BFy17nzkfpFD_xvdaMNIwR3lWImqy-FIGOAzHSAUGHY77-BsmhXe68ctWBSS2SCThwZ4FLujmTfXE1JWJ4XFZsngFMrASV8jv_GvGOYprUHxUk_m00EPQcR_Xmw/s1600/man-city_2251971b.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhDN29s_sHRDRD6rWSr8BFy17nzkfpFD_xvdaMNIwR3lWImqy-FIGOAzHSAUGHY77-BsmhXe68ctWBSS2SCThwZ4FLujmTfXE1JWJ4XFZsngFMrASV8jv_GvGOYprUHxUk_m00EPQcR_Xmw/s320/man-city_2251971b.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I’m in the conflicted camp. I don’t want the club to become
all corporate and it seems that’s the way it’s heading – targeting the money of
the business client and pricing out the working-class hardcore element of the
fan-base. It was inevitable. It’s understood that fans can’t expect super
signings paying eye-watering wages and state of the art facilities without some
form of increase, but where does it end? It’s dangerous ground when the club
are constantly implementing cheesy gimmicks and marketing ploys to target a lucrative
global audience – alienating and neglecting those 28,000 Maine Road regulars in
the process.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>DOCTOR, DOCTOR…</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s an easy excuse to give, but injuries have taken their
toll. Incurring so many muscle injuries has got to be looked at by the
management and medical staff surely. It’s cost the club no end this season. Kompany,
so influential in the heart of defence, has spent more time recovering than
playing this season. David Silva, Sergio Aguero, Nicholas Otamendi, Joe Hart,
Pablo Zabaleta, Kevin De Bruyne, Raheem Sterling, Wilfried Bony and Samir Nasri
to name a few have all spent time in the physio room, leading to a dramatic
loss of form for some concerned (<i>sadly,
I’m looking at you Spanish Dave</i>). </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKu45CcVH83W_cO_HB7THlQtRAR213XCo3pxKxf9E3uuPwgiJNPIBwRQrIqhSqZq09H4wajLVSXUG3RN-u_ZdMr7yfA_V9C-_FMETjsVaOwaPsfFzdcdIFZb4Vs4RL6TbpUkQOaCtE-B6/s1600/vincent-kompany-injured-march-2016.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrKu45CcVH83W_cO_HB7THlQtRAR213XCo3pxKxf9E3uuPwgiJNPIBwRQrIqhSqZq09H4wajLVSXUG3RN-u_ZdMr7yfA_V9C-_FMETjsVaOwaPsfFzdcdIFZb4Vs4RL6TbpUkQOaCtE-B6/s320/vincent-kompany-injured-march-2016.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Sticking with that thought, under-performing has been a
painfully reoccurring theme throughout the season. Sometimes you have to stop
sugar-coating and call a spade a spade. Jesus Navas can run and run and run and
spend all night running, but the chances are he a) won’t beat his man and b)
won’t get a cross in. Maybe c) his shot will go out for a throw in. Bony has
been nothing short of a flop in front of goal; with Kelechi Iheanacho
impressing when given game time, how and why is it that Pellegrini has stuck
with Bony time and time again? It’s indefensible loyalty. Otamendi,
frustratingly inconsistent in defence, has a perchance for a slide tackle,
which more often than not gets his name in the book.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Mega money signing Sterling has been all potential and no
performance, Aleksander Kolarov is akin to a temperamental tortoise (<i>if such a thing should happen to exist</i>)
and let’s not even go there with Martin Demichelis (<i>the betting is not acceptable as a smokescreen</i>). The jury is out on
Fernando and Eliaqium Mangala is a hell of a lot of money to punt with not much
of a result. Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy have been mediocre – they can perform
on their day, but mediocre doesn’t win you silverware.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If I was Pep I’d be keeping: Aguero (<i>obvious reasons</i>), Silva (<i>I
live in eternal hope that he will find his magic wand again</i>), Hart (<i>England’s number one™</i>), De Bruyne (<i>Belgium’s Frank Lampard</i>), Zabaleta (<i>Mr City</i>) and Fabian Delph (<i>my opinion has changed on him this season</i>). </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTDYidxGBJHVhYptzCaHck_CJSLw32lQe2uBprRnfgzRDXHO9iR1TA2X7H2F9RQFk7DurMUIrT-rRw3JBu3Lqty_6hwWE-ECBaU33KmaMDba2YF6yRD16qP1aLXzewHNwWeR2EVFAK2ZJ/s1600/ogffog.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFTDYidxGBJHVhYptzCaHck_CJSLw32lQe2uBprRnfgzRDXHO9iR1TA2X7H2F9RQFk7DurMUIrT-rRw3JBu3Lqty_6hwWE-ECBaU33KmaMDba2YF6yRD16qP1aLXzewHNwWeR2EVFAK2ZJ/s320/ogffog.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What about Yaya? The man who splits City fans’ opinions and
causes many an argument on social media: a midfielder who can spend 82 minutes
meandering round the centre of the pitch when City are a goal behind, looking
like he’s walking through sand and thinking about what’s for tea, only to push
forward in a surge of blistering pace and not only score the equaliser, but the
winner too. He’s frustrating because it’s always on his terms; he plays when he
wants to. He doesn’t defend because Yaya ‘doesn’t defend’ and apparently that’s
acceptable. He can look like a petulant child who is being dragged round a
shopping centre on a Bank Holiday, yet as long as he’s on the pitch he’s
capable of producing match-winning moments of brilliance. The politics of Pep,
coupled with his mischievous agent, means a question mark hangs over his future
at the club.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>THAT CHARMING MAN</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Back to Pellegrini and that contract extension. It’s been
nothing but a PR disaster for City. Of course the future of the manager is
going to affect what happens on the pitch- it shouldn’t, but it does. Such
instability and unrest has cost the club their third Premier League title.
That’s not being arrogant, but having been in an enviable position five games
in only to see Leicester run away with it…well, there’s more questions than
answers. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Pep coming to City has every fan excited – but what effect
has it had on Pellegrini? This Charming Man has transformed into Despised By
Most Fans and in most respects, he has been the master of his own downfall,
with a catalogue of damning errors/habits that crop up consistently. He never
has a Plan B: too many times a team have been allowed to come at City from the
off, grab an early goal and defend to secure all three points. We can’t cope
with teams who get at us, come at us with pace and we then struggle to break
said team down: see West Ham, Liverpool, Spurs and Stoke for further evidence
of this. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREMJhMgkZwL3utYQbkYpMyhxHFYbD_K73DBcZMbHeS0in4V827lyuCCunK6594J3gAIBf9XDetS9Mh9a2lT74L8HxZr7jC0Bm9vaKMU2d2KC2I6piagDc5Z6hnfYItJzHG8mQJyYCZjdk/s1600/324265-manuel-pellegrini-gen-700.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="182" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjREMJhMgkZwL3utYQbkYpMyhxHFYbD_K73DBcZMbHeS0in4V827lyuCCunK6594J3gAIBf9XDetS9Mh9a2lT74L8HxZr7jC0Bm9vaKMU2d2KC2I6piagDc5Z6hnfYItJzHG8mQJyYCZjdk/s320/324265-manuel-pellegrini-gen-700.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">His stubbornness: Pellegrini has his favourites and it’s to
his detriment that his loyalty has proved unfounded. Bony, Navas and Demichelis
all fall into this category. It’s not his style, but a bit of visual passion
wouldn’t go amiss – the majority of his time is spent staring into the abyss in
an emotionless, hypnotic trance. Let’s be straight – the only trophy won by
City this season was decided on penalties, after the team spent the majority of
the 120 minutes wasting guilt-edged opportunities. Being wasteful in possession
and in front of goal has been the story of the season, along with a criminally
leaky defence that has barely been protected by its midfield. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_eTi5SdHFVFm0k_qgd-buxzvB4Ivy8vMrWLNLNf-1xNvsnFXnO6tHSRzHLkwxW5Q4fdy4RK2ijPedOozneisDD8lcRAUMwpKbCsWENQGhthMMCnBjAFiftSmacNQ3tYMBNK4rwJ-gAtP/s1600/Manuel-Pellegrini-Wilfried-Bony.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjf_eTi5SdHFVFm0k_qgd-buxzvB4Ivy8vMrWLNLNf-1xNvsnFXnO6tHSRzHLkwxW5Q4fdy4RK2ijPedOozneisDD8lcRAUMwpKbCsWENQGhthMMCnBjAFiftSmacNQ3tYMBNK4rwJ-gAtP/s320/Manuel-Pellegrini-Wilfried-Bony.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s not been the Pep announcement that proved detrimental
to City’s season. The rot had already set in long before the rumours were
finally laid to rest, the cracks appearing by October after a 4-1 mauling at
White Hart Lane. At this moment, if City’s form doesn’t improve, Pep could
realistically be coming to manage a Europa League side (<i>thankfully, the deal is said to be iron clad</i>). The danger is that
it’s at no odds to Pellegrini whether City finish in the top four or not (<i>apart from his bonus</i>). Winning the
Premier League and the Capital One Cup in his first season has almost glossed
over the fact that he inherited a squad that Roberto Mancini helped build – and
has merely steered the ship on autopilot. Txixi Begiristain has largely been
calling the shots transfer-wise – with entirely mediocre results. </span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0_MdLNEvUl2RbWjrNJTdZqMVsegsmCRL2qejYq8nYQx7vPOsquPJ5Id2fht0DwVPEHXXGiXTjo_8lHUqy2_BDiP8YBgP4fWYzSaUbi4Weg0kfWLuumPombam-ZSkKg08Tf7MeDuY5VzN/s1600/man-city-liverpool-capital-one-cup_3423352.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB0_MdLNEvUl2RbWjrNJTdZqMVsegsmCRL2qejYq8nYQx7vPOsquPJ5Id2fht0DwVPEHXXGiXTjo_8lHUqy2_BDiP8YBgP4fWYzSaUbi4Weg0kfWLuumPombam-ZSkKg08Tf7MeDuY5VzN/s320/man-city-liverpool-capital-one-cup_3423352.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">There’s no doubt it’s an ageing squad with desperate need
for renovation. Initially, it was signings like Robinho, Shay Given, Kompany,
Zabaleta and Nigel De Jong that signalled the changing of the guard at the
club. Then along came Gareth Barry, Kolo Toure, Joleon Lescott, Emmanuel
Adebayor, Carlos Tevez and Craig Bellamy. Building upwards and moving forwards,
in came Yaya, Silva, Kolarov, James Milner, Mario Balotelli, Aguero, Nasri and
Edin Dzeko. The balance of proven performers and winners at the most elite
level in football, coupled with flair and grit, was a recipe for success.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">The more recent signings at the club have tended to see City
pay an extortionate premium based on a) the fact that it’s City paying and b)
potential. I’d put Sterling, Fernando, Mangala and Otamendi in that bracket. A
lack of organisation on the pitch, with Kompany invariably out, has been
alarming. Yaya is not captain material, whereas Hart is. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But where’s the passion and desire gone, the team spirit,
the focus and the will to win silverware? Surely with a new manager around the
corner they’d want to be playing to impress, or are they just a bunch of
mercenaries after all? With a current manager who has lost the plot, blinded by
the light at the end of the tunnel, it’s proving to be a sad end to an era.
There is the crumb of comfort that is the Champions League quarter final, but
how can a team that can only muster 0-0 draws against Norwich and Aston Villa
beat Zlatan and Co? Maybe Typical City still exists after all…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>A MUCH NEEDED PEP
TALK</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Onto the positives and there’s plenty of those. It’s a time
to clear the decks and start afresh. Let’s be realistic: rebuilding will be
expensive. Sheikh Mansour can afford it and Pep will want, expect and have been
promised only the best. It’s standard practise that City are linked with a
multitude of players daily, but it’ll be interesting to see who Pep targets to
help build is dynasty – and who he opts to show the door to. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It’s not just at City either. Euro 2016 will fill a void
that the Premier League leaves and comings and goings will be sure to fill the
back pages during the balmy months. Will Jose replace Louis Van Gaal? Who’s set
for the Chelsea job? Will West Ham hold onto Dimitri Payet? Similarly, will
Leicester be able to persuade Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez to stay? As for Paul
Pogba, that will he or won’t he just refuses to go away.</span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5rWo5c0-Wox6sd5xcJlldKThuApgCKYGcj9NCIE0DI75A3E4gusyFV2bTSFm7MJ-_5X0MqicqFlTicKVFdkUmrIbmVdwgZFJvGHTDlHENZ6YmYvT_roM0q-ML27J9rsjwiaJhYrkUs2b/s1600/Pep-Guardiola.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_5rWo5c0-Wox6sd5xcJlldKThuApgCKYGcj9NCIE0DI75A3E4gusyFV2bTSFm7MJ-_5X0MqicqFlTicKVFdkUmrIbmVdwgZFJvGHTDlHENZ6YmYvT_roM0q-ML27J9rsjwiaJhYrkUs2b/s320/Pep-Guardiola.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">With only a couple of months to wait until Pep’s arrival,
the only silver lining to City’s season (<i>bar
a Champions League miracle</i>), is the excitement that a summer of change will
bring. New faces create fresh expectation, but healthy optimism. Pep will be
sure to guarantee he is fully equipped in all departments to create a force to
be reckoned with moving into next season. Not only that, who doesn’t want to
see a manager of that calibre in the Premier League? Not only that, but at your
football club? As if you needed an excuse to get to the beer garden…</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">
</span></span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7566146553153234077.post-62885508183926999922015-10-29T02:12:00.000-07:002015-10-29T02:15:47.413-07:00A FOOTBALL PUNDETTE EXCLUSIVE<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A lot of people think footballers are untouchable. Most tend
to think they are ridiculously overpaid, self-absorbed and out of touch with
reality. They live in a world with a fantasy lifestyle that us mere mortals
just simply can’t relate to. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That was until recently, when a footballer’s cry for help
struck a chord for me so deep, it evoked painful and difficult memories that
I’d struggled to battle through and tried so desperately yet so impossibly to
forget. It’s a curious world we live in where said footballer’s activities
hitting the headlines made me realise just how lucky I am – and how unfortunate
I’d been in the past.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could never have thought I’d ever have anything in common
with Jake Livermore. We are both English – and that’s where any common ground
normally ends. He earns his wage playing football for Championship side Hull
City. I pay my bills through an administration role and writing. He’s seven
years my junior. Frankly, we couldn’t be any more different.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That was until the midfielder hit the headlines in August.
After testing positive for cocaine in May and being suspended from his duties
pending an FA investigation, the revelation that Livermore and his partner lost
their new born baby in May last year gave the FA a moral decision to make. The
25 year old said he turned to the substance after spiralling into depression
following their loss. The FA deemed the situation ‘extenuating and exceptional
circumstances’ and offered the footballer a reprieve.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Most of the reaction to this has been sensitive, considered
and respectful. But there is always a minority who mock and sit in judgement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">‘He was out snorting cocaine while his poor missus mourned
their loss.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">‘Losing a baby is no excuse to go taking drugs as a way of
coping.’</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It’s the easiest thing in the world to sit behind a keyboard
and pass judgement: tapping out 140 characters of bile with no respect or
compassion for the feelings of the person concerned. It’s much more difficult
to try and understand, to empathise and to relate. Losing a baby is one of the
hardest situations anybody can go through. There are other despicable things
that can happen and I don’t want to take away from that. But it takes two to
make a baby, so both parties should be expected to mourn. Just because Men are
from Mars and Women are from Venus doesn’t mean the woman should be the only
inconsolable party, the only one grieving.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I can relate to Jake Livermore because I’ve been through it.
I’ve lost a baby and I’ve grieved. I’ve searched for answers and struggled to
make sense of it. When it happens, you are simply left to deal with it. There
are no manuals, no after care, nothing. All your hopes, dreams and plans for
parenthood are left in tatters and you are left to somehow pick up the pieces
and move on with life.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It just doesn’t happen like it. I have told the story behind
my miscarriage <a href="http://thisgirlielife.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/dear-diary-how-i-cope-with-my.html">here</a>,
so I won’t go into the details of when and where it happened. But I’ve never
spoke in depth about just how much an affect it had on my life and on our life
as a couple. This is why the Livermore case struck such a chord with me. It was
too familiar – too close to home.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">My initial reaction was a feeling of complete numbness.
Although it was early days at seven weeks, probably nothing compared to the
pain Jake and his partner must’ve gone through after actually meeting their
son, Jake Junior who passed at birth, we had discussed names and become excited
at the family life that lay ahead. We had embraced the prospect of being
parents – and that had suddenly been taken away from us in a matter of minutes.
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Looking back, the initial aftermath was a blur. I went to the
doctors and asked for help; not really knowing what the standard protocol was
in these situations. Is there a typical way of coping with losing a baby? Ah
yes, silly me. Of course there is. The doctor prescribed me Citilopram and sent
me on my way. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">It wasn’t really explained to me what the tablets were
about, what the possible side effects were and the potential change they’d make
to my life. I didn’t know they were anti depressants. In hindsight I was
probably naïve, thinking I could rely on a doctor to turn my monochrome world
back into colour again. Like a little girl, I looked at the GP as a fairy with
a magic wand, who could take my pain away and bring the light back into my
life. Was I depressed? I didn’t feel depressed as in having suicidal thoughts,
I just felt like somebody had turned the lights out in my world. All the life
had evaporated from me. Is that what depression feels like? I had no idea what
to do with myself.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I wasn’t ready to discuss it with him. He had been amazing
during the incident and my time in hospital in Antigua, but it wasn’t enough. I
didn’t know what to say, I don’t think he did, so we couldn’t and didn’t take
comfort in one another. It remained a taboo subject, one that was never to be
talked about and that proved detrimental. Instead, we attempted to move on with
our lives as best we could. Back to work, back to the future, minus our baby.
Minus the future.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">When Jake Livermore turned to cocaine, it was clearly an
attempt to block out the monumental pain and loss that he had suffered. Nobody
has the right to say he was selfish. Nobody has the right to act self-righteous
and dictate what the right or wrong way to react in that situation is. There is
no right or wrong. There is nothing. There is pain, inconsolable and isolating
heartbreak and torrential devastation. A loss so severe it turns your world
upside down; destroys the status quo. How do you suggest anyone copes with
that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Now tell me the death of a child is merely an ‘excuse’ to
take drugs. Explain to me how best to deal with that level of pain. Of torture.
People react differently to grief and should be allowed to do so free from
judgement. When you’re at your lowest ebb, it’s anything to help ease the agony
and anguish. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Our loss was profound to the interaction we had with each
other. He also went to the doctor and, surprise surprise, was also given
Citalopram. With both of us on anti depressants, skirting conversations about
our loss and coming home from work to our apartment together tinged with
awkwardness, my sense of loss was unbearable. I couldn’t cope. My heart had
been set on our baby, a new life, an amazing blessing to anybody’s lives. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I didn’t sit and weep constantly. We just gradually started
to drink more. Neither of us had read the small print on the box of tablets
that warned against the consumption of alcohol with the pills, so we didn’t
know the side effects. Hostility, anxiety, panic attacks, loss of sex live,
mood or behaviour changes. They soon became apparent.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The arguments and fighting occurred normally after I’d had a
bottle of wine and he had a few pints. Or wine. Sometimes it would turn
physical (on my part), most of the time it was aggressively verbal. At first,
we would kiss and make up the morning after, but as it became regular, I think
we just accepted it as the new norm in our relationship. Drinking wasn’t just
reserved for the weekends- it was a midweek thing now. It was a way of coping:
the only way I knew how. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">People would ask when we would be trying again to conceive.
That was another taboo subject. Anything to do with children was. Our sex life
was almost non-existent: I’m sure paranoia on his part in case I fell pregnant.
The loss had started to change my personality: I became bitter, resentful and
probably deeply unlikeable. Only at the time I couldn’t see the wood for the
trees. I was in too deep: the mixture of alcohol and tablets proved to be my
release. The two combined became my coping mechanism. My life was over as I
knew it: the cocktail of drugs and wine or vodka made me feel alive again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Certain personal relationships deteriorated beyond
recognition: I’m not sure if people knew just how bad it got, if they
understood what was going on or whether they just thought I’d had a personality
transplant. I really tried to put on a front, a mask if you like. But it was so
hard. Marriage and babies surrounded me and I felt like I was drowning. I knew
nothing was right anymore. I just didn’t know what to do about it. So if I
wasn’t as close to you if you had a baby during that time, don’t take it
personally. Try to understand. I just lived in a zombie-esque trance. For it
wasn’t life anymore, it was a mere existence. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">We got engaged in June 2011. Looking back at the photographs
from that night it was there for all to see: we were both drunk therefore we
were both happy. Let’s put a ring on it. No plans were ever really made for a
wedding. We bought pet chameleons- again an attempt to fill the drastic void
left by our loss. Although they brought colour and fun into our lives, an animal
can never truly be a substitute for a child. Particularly when the animal dies…</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I thought about going elsewhere for sex. My high drive
hadn’t been affected and I was in an impotent relationship with no sign of that
improving: one night he caught me drunk texting an old flame from university.
He retaliated but neither one of us would’ve actually done anything about it.
As twisted as things had become, deep down we knew we still loved each other
too much. I was tempted, but that’s as far as it went. We remained loyal and,
as far as I’m aware, in love.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">That was, until things reached breaking point for us over
Christmas 2011: I’d had a deeply regrettable violent encounter with an
individual whilst under the influence of my reliable drink and drug concoction
and enough was enough. He told me he didn’t love me anymore- those words jolted
me more than anything ever had since our loss. He was all I knew, my world:
although we brought out the worst in each other, I still believed we were
unbreakable. I was wrong. That was rock bottom. Dad invited me to stay with him
for a couple of weeks in the Far East- and it was the best thing I ever did.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeTRmwpsZW_5dHCC2_yhe_nhJiM_aAJNWVUUdeePrSN-ri6qpwLF4aA0-tsbUkU-8bbUVCFLYLKioGVFA4SDjznnSgIFKmK5i_Fx-opRteO-dnA9-qXqrmmfp3yyQdoV1DHoZTSLtMXvj/s1600/DSC01775.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGeTRmwpsZW_5dHCC2_yhe_nhJiM_aAJNWVUUdeePrSN-ri6qpwLF4aA0-tsbUkU-8bbUVCFLYLKioGVFA4SDjznnSgIFKmK5i_Fx-opRteO-dnA9-qXqrmmfp3yyQdoV1DHoZTSLtMXvj/s320/DSC01775.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">The two weeks in Hong Kong, China and Bangkok did me the
world of good. It transformed my life. The break switched the light back on,
illuminated my world and made my life technicolour again. I saw wonderful
sights, spent precious time with my Dad and had a lot of time to myself, with
myself. I think the time away brought a lot of clarity for me: I stopped taking
the tablets, I didn’t think about them whatsoever. I was too distracted by my
surroundings. I did have one night in Hong Kong where I drank a copious amount
of vodka and met an adorable man from New York. Say no more (well, we were on a
break). After 18 months of anarchy and destruction, I’d found an inner serenity
I didn’t know existed. I’d finally come to terms with our loss- it was time to
try and move on in earnest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I think looking back we would both admit the relationship
should’ve ended there. But it didn’t: he met me at the airport; we resolved our
differences and both agreed to put the tablets and the past behind us. For a
long time it worked; we even went on holiday to the Far East together for
Christmas and New Year, going to the places I’d visited during my stay earlier
that year, places that aided me so much in my recovery.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">But it wasn’t to be. A drunken argument on his part in front
of my family (and at New Year his) brought back painful memories, yet we still
continued in the pursuit of happiness. I knew it wasn’t right, my friends
attempted to scream sense into me, but I am a hopeless romantic who was blinded
by insecurity, love and loyalty. Ultimately, it wasn’t my choice. We had spent
five years together, 18 months of which before I fell pregnant were incredibly
happy times, but he ended it in January 2014.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">A week later I found out I was pregnant.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Fast forward almost two years and I am blessed to have a
beautiful and healthy one year old son, Vincent. He makes me forever proud and
there’s not a day that goes by where I don’t feel fortunate to have him in my
life. I’m also privileged to have met the most selfless, wonderful man, Adam. Together,
they both make me strive to be the best person I can possibly be, to live every
day looking on the brightest side with nothing but gratitude. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I could never have imagined I’d be where I am right now:
I’ve never been so optimistic about the future and I can’t wait to spent my
life with my two men – and add to our little family one day. I am lucky to be
surrounded by love and happiness and that’s something I will never take for
granted. I wish Chris nothing but contentment and good health: he was a big
chapter in my life but that is over now and it’s time to look to the future in
earnest.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I pinch myself daily: although I will never forget about the
angel I have over my shoulder, I know that Vincent is never alone at play time.
I see him smiling and giggling into thin air, I know who’s with him. It’s not
just me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">I’m glad that life does go on. The memories are never
forgotten, but time does work wonders as a healer. You develop coping
mechanisms. Without Vincent I would feel like something is missing: I feel like
my calling in life has always been to be a mother- and a wife. Most of us girls
do dream of our picture perfect ending- but realise that life isn’t always how
Disney portrays it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">After being suspended pending an investigation, Jake is back
playing football for Hull City- he’s had a second chance and is grasping it
with both hands. There are struggles, pain and loss. There’s no harm in
admitting that and you’re not defined by how you deal with that. Sometimes to
have a second chance at it, another shot, is more than you can ever dream of. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Life is not a fairytale – but we are always capable of
finding our Happy Ever After.</span></div>
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