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

IT'S HEADING FOR A FINAL DAY DECIDER...

NOBODY DOES IT BETTER – MAKES ME FEEL SAD FOR THE REST

KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - APRIL 2019

 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 (I’ve had to come to my Mum’s while she looks after my youngest so I can type this all up right now), 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.

FOREVER BLUE

Having stepped out of my comfort zone and gone from writing to contributing on the now-defunct City Watch Podcast (!), 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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

IT’S A FUNNY OLD GAME

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.

‘What’s the point – he’ll never get game time now Mendy’s back. Where his ambition to play first team football?’

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.

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.

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.

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 (with no disrespect meant), only supporters of a certain ilk can truly appreciate. He’s relishing his game time and we can’t take him for granted.

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?

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.

RAHEEM THE GREAT

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.

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.

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.

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.

THE RUN-IN

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 (at the time of writing), and with Spurs tailing off predictably, we are neck and neck for the League. It’s almost too close to bear.

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 that 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.

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.

The only difference really between us and Liverpool’s fixtures is that we’re still in the FA Cup (at the time of writing, before the semi final). 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.

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.

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 may 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 (rent, bills, food, my children), 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!

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 (yes I know, doesn’t count) 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 (possibly nine if Cardiff gets re-arranged for that month too) 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!

This is do or die: it’s crunch time. Last season when we romped the League, we came up against a really 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.

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.

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…

IT COULD HAVE BEEN ALL SONGS IN THE STREETS...IT WAS NEARLY COMPLETE... IT WAS NEARLY SO SWEET...

THE BEST SUMMER OF OUR LIVES

KING OF THE KIPPAX COLUMN - AUGUST 2018

The Summer of 2018 is the one we will remember for the rest of our lives.

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.

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.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

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.

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!

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.

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 (let’s hope he finds it there on his return).

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.

But England. Oh, England.

SEND US VICTORIOUS

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.

‘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.

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.

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.

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’.

But what people failed to stop and think about was that the England squad had winners in it. Raheem Sterling, John Stones, Kyle Walker and Fabian Delph all went to Moscow after that 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.

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?

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 (what a nonsense game, surely nobody cares about who finished third after missing out on the final?), 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.

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.

BACK TO THE FUTURE

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.

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.

Signings-wise: at the time of writing, Jorginho (a name quite frankly that I am sick to the back teeth of hearing) 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 (that unveiling at the Etihad though with Moonchester and Moonbeam – talk about cringe). 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.

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.

After our entirely PR-driven pre-season tour of the US (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), it’s the Community Shield against (at the time of writing, managerless) 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 (sorry boys!).

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.

SEA’S THE DAY

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.

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.

So we’ve spent the Summer (sorry if you follow me on Instagram and are bored of seeing my seaside photos!) 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!

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.

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.

But I’m really excited for it all, are you?

'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