WHEN THE TALK IS ABOUT VAR AND NOT THE FOOTBALL BEING PLAYED...

NOW YOU SEE IT - VAR YOU DON'T

KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - SEPTEMBER 2019

THE SANE SAGA

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 (or the people nearest to him are), then no one player is bigger than the club.

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.

If he doesn’t want to commit – get the £120 million from Bayern and lets all move on with our lives.

DÉJÀ VU – IT’S GETTING VARCICAL

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.

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.

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.

The main arguments of the three decisions were: it was Sterling’s arm 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 did review this and still said it wasn’t a penalty, despite the football confirming the foot stamp in graphic detail?

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 have to be right if there’s been a system implemented by the powers that be for this.

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.

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 clear and obvious, not for every little niggling and dubious event.

As a match-going fan, who was there for both of the VAR incidents in both games against Spurs (in the Champions League quarter final back in April and the recent Premier League game against Poch’s side), 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.

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 actually 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.

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?

CASE FOR THE DEFENCE

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…

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 (at the time of writing) 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.

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?

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.

A PREMIER LEAGUE HAT-TRICK?

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.

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?

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 (despite the finest efforts of some of our gutter press) 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?

Just think, it could be worse. You could be battling it out in the fight to finish 6^th. Again.

Emily Brobyn

@kippaxgirlemily

WE GO AGAIN...

THE POWER AND THE GLORY- THE WINNER TAKES IT ALL

KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - AUGUST 2019

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 that colossal season and to look forward and speculate as to how we remotely attempt to follow up both 100 points and treble-winning seasons.

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.

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.

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.

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.

WE ARE LIVERPOOL. THIS MEANS MORE

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.

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.

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?

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.

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.

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 goal difference. 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.

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 (Spurs and Raheem Sterling, anyone?), 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.

PARTING IS SUCH SWEET SORROW

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

A LITTLE RESPECT

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 (the club can call them Fourmidables™ all they want, but does anybody really count the Community Shield?) 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.

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.

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?

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.

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 (and not sacrificing a Cup like Fergie used to do) 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?

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.

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.

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 (giving birth is a very different feeling, a different kind of adrenaline, so don’t come at me for that!), 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.

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.

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!

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’m sure I’m not the only one) 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…

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…

Do they even have internet in Timbuktu?

Emily Brobyn

@kippaxgirlemily

'THE BEAUTIFUL GAME' BY PEP GUARDIOLA

KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - DECEMBER 2017

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.

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.

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.

TOTAL FOOTBALL

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

‘All pace, no end product,’ they mocked.

At the time of going to press (before the Arsenal game), 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.

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.

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 feels 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.

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.

On a side note, we’ve been linked with Alexis Sanchez and – perhaps more unbelievably – Lionel Messi. But (and I can’t quite believe I’m saying this), 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 that good right now, that every player is just as important.

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.

Don’t you just love it when City keep proving people wrong. Long may it continue.

NEVER FELT MORE LIKE SINGING THE BLUES

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.

‘No wayyyyyyy, Huddersfield are winning 2-0? You’ve got to be joking right? As if!’

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 that fan who watches everything United does to compare and contrast, but I do like having a moment in the sun when it comes round.

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 (that Kanchelskis hat trick), 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.

It was depressing. But it’s something that will live with me forever. The image of that 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.

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.

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^th 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.

It may seem petty, it may seem small time. But we really shouldn’t forget about The Banner™. I know I won’t.

RECORD BREAKING SERG

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 that 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.

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.

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.

‘Come on City!’ I cried. ‘We can still do this. Come on, let’s have some faith!’

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.

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?

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 that goal from Aguero was the goal. Some might say it was his career-defining goal.

That moment is the moment that everybody thinks about when you hear his name (some part of that is obviously down to Martin Tyler), 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.

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.

The Sergio Aguero Stand, has a good ring to it, doesn’t it?

THE KOMPANY WE KEEP

For the first time ever, I’m beginning to see a future for City without Vincent Kompany.

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.

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.

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.

DEJA BLUE

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.

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.

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.

Roy Keane recently said in an interview that he fully expects City to mess it up because ‘it’s in our DNA’.

Can we really go the whole season unbeaten?

Do you need me to answer that?

(I hate agreeing with Keane. I’m off to wash the disgust off me!).

Emily Brobyn

@kippaxgirlemily 

I Believe The Children Are Our Future...

LITTLE BOY BLUE: MY SON'S FIRST FOOTBALL MATCH

It was inevitable that, having been a City fan all my life and followed the Blues from Maine Road to the Etihad and beyond, I would pass this onto any children I may have. After mulling it over since the day he was born, I felt the time was right to introduce my son, Vincent, to what will become the love of his life- he just doesn’t know it yet. Yes, it was time to take my son to his first football match.

The timing of this was a source of contention from long before he was born. How early would be too early? When is deemed socially acceptable to take a baby to the football? I think I was paranoid and concerned as to how he would behave for a period of 90 minutes in a very public arena. I was worried about the possibility that, despite the fact he is a very happy baby, he would continuously cry, leading to collective moans, groans and glares from the fans surrounding me. I wasn’t overly worried about his reaction to being in large crowds, nor to loud noises, as he has been in environments like that before and been his usual cheery self. I guess the only way to find out was to take him and see what happened. 

Wearing his colours with pride

I’m lucky that I have a really supportive boyfriend, Adam, who I was going to the match with, who had encouraged me to take Vincent and offered to help me every step of the way. He reassured me constantly, living by the motto ‘what’s the worst that could happen?’ Of course, he was right (it pains me to say that!) The worst case scenario was that V would cry relentlessly and I’d have to take him back to the car and there would be no great shame in that, after all he was a baby. In my mind I was totally prepared for this to become a reality! To most concerned, City vs. Southampton was a slight formality. With not a great deal to play for after Chelsea tied up the title, it was one of those mundane end of season fixtures. Not for me. It was my son's first football match and that meant the world.

 Walking around the Etihad with V

On the day, I prepared his food and nappy bag as normal and dressed V resplendently in his City shirt and matching sky blue joggers. Timings of his meals weren’t really a concern as I knew I could feed him in the concourse before the game. I wasn’t sure if I could take his pram and leave it anywhere (I obviously knew I couldn’t take it into the stadium). I decided to chance taking it: having got there with plenty of time to spare, we found out that I could leave his pram at the City@home reception (somewhere I was very familiar with having worked at the club for a few years). I took him to City Square to see the lovely crowd of people that I know through Twitter and often meet up with before the games. Everybody was so reassuring and supportive and that really helped to settle me too, there are some truly wonderful Blues out there. Once in the ground, I also found out there was a baby change facility in the Family Stand. Of course, the staff at City were more than accommodating. Things were almost going too well.

Showing him his second home

But to my surprise, that’s exactly how the afternoon continued. As I carried V around the increasingly busy concourse, fans oohed and ahhed at the sight of his constantly smiley face, decked out immaculately in his City attire. I took him pitch-side and even to see my former colleague from BBC Radio Manchester, Ian Cheeseman and his sidekick, Shaun Goater. I hadn’t seen Ian for a while, practically since the days I worked on Blue Tuesday with him, so it was truly a delight to catch up with him and we made arrangements to meet again and keep in touch. I also saw a few people who I worked with at City, most who didn’t know I’d had a baby, so that was fun too.

 Seeing my good friend and ex-colleague Ian

By this time kick off was approaching, so I headed to my seat with Adam and gave V some food and milk. I think the key to the day going as smoothly as possible was organisation. Just as on any other day out we go on, making sure he was changed and fed resulted in a blissfully happy baby. Adam said his goodbyes and headed to his seat and I was left with my little boy- with just five minutes until the match started.

Heading to our seats before kick off

When the teams, Southampton and City, took to the pitch, I held V aloft and he was just smiling and giggling. Nothing seemed to phase him. The noise from the crowd was considerable, but he took it all in his stride, wide-eyed at the events unfolding around him. He was actually enjoying it: he was fascinated by people applauding, intrigued by the consistent cheers and amazed at the number of people surrounding him. My seven month old son was at a football match and it looked like he was actually having fun. Now for the real moment of truth- how he would cope with 90 minutes in the stadium. 

 Engrossed in the game

He coped just fine. The first half went by a breeze, with V having intermittent drinks of milk between constantly looking around at the sights and sounds on display. He was mesmerised by the flashing LED advertising boards (which to us adults are both incredibly annoying and distracting during the game) and at some points I swear he did actually watch parts of the game. The thing that excited V the most was the crowd interactions and noise. Whenever City moved forward and the home faithful roared encouragement, V would watch people’s movements and react with delight to the increasing noise levels. When the first goal went in, his reaction was priceless. He was giggling and bouncing up and down. I couldn’t believe it. He loved it! I had tears in my eyes: it was one of my proudest moments. 

Come on City

To most people that would sound quite sad, but when you’ve supported a team your whole life and always dreamed of passing on that support to your children, it was a bit of a dream come true. I was at the football with my little boy and we were enjoying it together. I’m sure if he would’ve gone watching City back in the 1990s that would be a very different story. Our children will never know they were born when it comes to the calibre of City and the position the club is in now. But V will. I will educate him on those days where we’d rock up to Maine Road expecting a defeat, and get one, usually at the hands of inferior opposition. The defeats to Wycombe, Wimbledon and Stockport will forever be etched in my memory. The amount of minutes of abysmal football I’ve sat through, of Typical City™, the amount of managers I watched come and go, that Jamie Pollock own goal, the amount of Georgian footballers…he’s never going to believe me, is he? I barely believe it myself looking back. 

 Having fun with Adam

I met up with Adam and his Dad, brother and nephew at half time, but it was pretty chaotic carrying V through the scrum on the concourse. The amount of people who shouted ‘awww he’s so cute!’ at me, who smiled, who said things about the next generation…he was attracting quite a lot of attention, but he took it all in his stride. Even through the second half he was as good as gold. He was due a sleep so towards the end he did niggle slightly, but I expected that. It was nothing that his dummy, a bit more milk and some Mum cuddles couldn’t fix. By the time the final whistle blew, and City had won 2-0 thanks to goals from the departing Frank Lampard and Golden Boot winner Sergio Aguero, he was back to giggling and bouncing around again, seemingly delighted that City had finished the 2014/15 with three points confirming second place in the League.

 Future season ticket holder

It was quite tiring, as he’s quite a big boy and I held him up for the vast majority of the game, but it was definitely worth it. All that self-doubt and paranoia was for nothing. Although I didn’t see any other parents with children quite as young as Vincent that day, I am aware that people do take very young babies to the football all the time, but I felt seven months was the right age to indoctrinate him into the life of a Manchester City fan. So for anybody who is contemplating it and having doubts like I did- don’t over think it. Just dive right in. Like somebody said to me, if you take them often enough when they are young, they will just become used to it and treat going to football and being in that kind of environment the norm. My aim now is to take Vincent to at least a game a season, so when he’s older he can tell his friends he has been to a match every season since he was born (but of course he was there throughout my pregnancy since conception, week in week out in my stomach).

Post match celebrations

As parents, you do have to make judgement calls and make decisions for what is best in your children’s lives. As it goes, this wasn’t necessarily a particularly big one, but it’s one memory that will live with me if not him for the rest of my life. To be there with my boy and a man who helped me every step of the way meant the absolute world and witnessing V’s reactions to the big moments of the game (and even the small ones) was priceless. It’s a joy to watch him constantly learning and growing, but it was a real pleasure watching him bouncing and smiling every time City scored. It was inevitable though, it’s in his blood. Long may that continue in his bright blue future. 

 The loves of my life in one photograph

Sunday 24 May 2015 was the day it all started for him: one day he’ll thank me…or never forgive me!