[Archived] Manchester City 1-1 Post Match Stuff

[colin]

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Manchester City. The team that everyone loves to laugh at. Probably with good reason. Bernard Manning, that epitome of good taste and under-spoken humour, once commented that Oxo had red cubes for beef stock; yellow cubes for chicken stock; and light blue cubes for laughing stock. And he’s a City supporter.

Living in Manchester for the past umpteen years I have an affinity with City:

My better half spent some of her youth on The Kippax.

They make the trials and tribulations of being a Rovers’ supporter seem like a fortnight on a sun-kissed tropical island with a sex-starved Jo Guest/Brad Pitt (chose your own flavour.) They have been up and down the league table like a fiddler’s elbow. It wasn’t too long ago that they were playing Macclesfield Town.

And most importantly of all, they are based in Manchester unlike some red-shirted, Trafford-based team that I could mention. You think we have problems with “The Scum?” Think of what the City fans have had to go through from that lot.

So, how have we gone on against City over the recent years? Since the 1992-93 season we have played them fourteen times in the league. Won six; lost five and drawn three. Pretty even.

Three memorable matches for me have been:

The 4-1 pasting we gave them on at Ewood on 15th April 1989 when Simon Garner broke the Rovers all time scoring record with a hat-trick, an event tragically overcast by the Hillsborough disaster which happened on the same day.

Second match was on 7th May 2000 where they got promoted to The Premiership by beating us 4-1 at Ewood. Rovers took the lead and then hit the woodwork four times before capitulating in the second half. City’s fourth goal was scored by some little runt called Paul Dickov* and prompted a celebratory pitch invasion by the City fans. The only time I’ve really hated them.

* I wonder what happened to him

Third match was at Maine Road a couple of seasons ago. The first Rovers’ game I’ve ever cycled to. We were 2-0 up with fifteen minutes to go with City down to ten men. You can guess the rest. 2-2. Typical bloody Rovers.

Anyhow: on with tradition and the Q & A sessions. I’ve asked Pete a family friend (who has for the past few years been teaching IT at Burnley college – a bit like feeding strawberries to a pig and his brother in-law Jon (who is an accountant for a partnership of solicitors [less interesting than being a solicitor to a partnership of accountants])to do some chat.

Unfortunately, due to e-mail address confusion & amnesia the responses haven’t arrived yet. I’ll put them in as soon as……….

Here's Pete's .... For which I thank him profusely.

Q1

You left Maine Road for a brilliant new stadium at Eastlands for nothing. How the hell did City pull that one off?

Actually, it’s not for nothing. The council will receive in the region of £2,000,000 per year in rent. Also, the regeneration of the Eastlands area and the benefit of city crowds to local business will help to offset the costs of the stadium. If no-one moved in after the games Manchester would have a white elephant on its hands - instead they have a blue one!

Q2

Anelka and Fowler, you seem to have exceeded Rovers in signing two unpredictable & often useless forwards for vast amounts of money. Rovers’ fans empathise. What’s going on with your two?

Fowler does not seem to be the player that he was certainly. He has put in one or two good games but too infrequently and we are still waiting for Kegan’s promise that he will come good. Anelka really lacks the service from midfield. If he had this service, this question (as far as Anelka is concerned) would be redundant. However, he is caught offside too often when he has the pace to start onside and still get to the ball first. Anyway, look at the leading scorers last season and this - Anelka is there in the top five or six.

Q3

Someone described managing City as like trying to nail jelly to the ceiling. Any thoughts on this?

Yes, ‘pushing treacle uphill’ is another I have heard. Actually, the problem with City is that we are so unpredictable. We can be brilliant one game and rubbish the next. Another problem is the inability to score or even to seem to try to score on occasions. For Kegan (as well as the fans and I’m sure the players), it is very frustrating. The other thing is that if we had put away some of the chances we have had in front of goal, if some of the decisions had gone our way and if some of our luck was better, this question would not be being asked. At least City are not boring - we never know what’s round the corner. From what I have seen of Rovers this season, you will be familiar with the situation.

Q4

As mentioned before, you’ve dropped to the old second division but still kept the massive support. Does this mean that City supporters are clinically insane or is there some alternative explanation?

Perhaps it’s the lead in the air or something in the water, perhaps we are clinically insane. Whatever, City supporters just remain faithful no matter what. We had faith and we went in numbers. This gave the club a chance to maintain funds and enable City to climb back to the Premiership. If we had stayed away we would only have had hope, no funds, and might still be in the old second division. When you are rewarded for your faith, you continue to believe. Rovers need that belief now. We still believe we will win the Premiership one day. Cut us through and we’ll read “City ‘til I die” in the middle. Win lose or draw, we will still believe. In short, yes, we are insane, but it’s better than being red!

Q5

Shaun Wright Phillips: the mutt’s nuts or what?

SWP (Shaun Wright Phillips not the Socialist Workers Party); one of the reasons City supporters continue to believe, is that every so often a player like Shaun comes on the scene and sets the place on fire. When he gets the ball at his feet and runs at the opposition’s defence every true football fan will feel something inside. If you are the opposition, this is probably admiration mingled with a little fear. If you are a City fan, this is pure bliss and a joy to behold. He is worthy of his England place, as City fans have known for some time. Not that he doesn’t have his off days, but when he is good he is very, very good, and when at his best, he is wicked! The mutt’s nuts? - absolutely!

Q6

Richard Dunne: Has he got the biggest arse of any footballer you have ever seen? And is it true that the kit man at Eastland has to make his shorts out of discarded sails from the Round-The-World yatch race?

Richard Dunne does weight training with cans of Guinness specifically to make his arse bigger - it makes it more difficult for the opposition to get round him - his recent performance against the filth at Old Trafford proves it! His shorts are not discarded sails, they are made from old parachutes - he likes the feel of the silk against his skin! (Please do not pass on my address to Dunnie).

There does not seem to be a question seven*. Let me use this space then to wish Rovers an improved season with the exception of the City fixtures.

* Just testing ( cough cough ahem)

Q8

Kevin Keggly. Does he ever make sense to you?

Kevin Keggly – I assume you refer to our esteemed manager Mr Keegan – does he ever make sense to me? Well, yes, he does actually – whoops, put that onion back in the grenade launcher Mildred, the children will need watering after I’ve given the camel a bath and hand me the glass mallet while you’re about it. I’ve just seen the team sheet for Saturday and I think I shall become a 12th century autocrat with portfolio for lettuce!

Q9

What do you think about to Rovers? (Remember that I know where both of you live, and although I have a restraining order keeping me from the Theatre Of Merchandising with my can of petrol & lighter…….)

Rovers have the potential to do a great deal better than their current form suggests - after all, there are ex-City players there - then again, perhaps that is why you are struggling (?). Seriously though, it’s hard to believe you are where you are in the table - again, with a little more good luck you could be a lot better off. Mark Hughes might turn things round with time but the upset of losing a manager so suddenly is bound to cause problems. If you can stop the silly mistakes and put away a few of your chances up front, you should ease away from the bottom of the table. I fully expect to see Rovers safe by the end of the season. City should beware and not read anything at all into the relative table positions - there are not that many points between us.

Q10

What’s the score going to be?

Score: Rovers 1 City 2, but I would say that!

Any other comments: “If you hate Man United clap your hands ... “

Edited November 13, 2004 by Paul

[1864roverite]

Cant see anything other than a 1-0 win and it could go either way

I would just love it if we could turn the result on its head and win the match and it would be nice if the following three conditions could apply

we get a penalty

we finish with 11 players still on our side

we win

come on you mighty blue boys

[philipl]

Assuming we don't suddenly discover our Boro and Chelsea "form", this is a banker draw.

Could be the sort of dull as ditch water sterile 0-0 clubs in our sort of situation often get before turning things round properly. Or it couldbe a comedy turn 3-3.

I'm plumping for 1-1.

[Biddy]

2-0 to the Rovers. However I have no idea how or even who is going to score.

Will it be Dickov up front on his own or will Stead be given another chance from the start?

edit- what am I on about, we can't defend, 2-1.

Edited November 9, 2004 by Biddy

[SouthAussieRover]

City 1 Rovers 3

Keegan sacked.

[stegraham]

Well last seasons game was a a bit dour, if City had not of scored I don't think we would have either - if that makes sense! Hopefully we can contunue our unbeaten run of two games and get something out of this. I suppose a draw but be a decent result, but we really need to start winning a few games - for the points if nothing else! 1-2 to the mighty Rovers. Emerton and Ferguson to score.

[ABBEY]

0-4 ROVERS!!!STEAD 4...2 PENS!!!

and 6 gold medals at the wrestling comp our lads/lasses are competing in at robin park.......with one ear on radio lancs...gutted i cant go but us coaches have to attend

[joey_big_nose]

Team should definately be, IMHO:

                    Dickov       Stead

Emerton    Ferguson   Thompson   Reid

McEvely        Todd    Johansson    Niell

                       Friedel

Bench: Gallagher, Pedersen, Tugay,  Matteo, Enckleman 

Can't see how anybody can argue with that, unless Short is back from injury which I dont think he is. The only question mark is over Thompson who, although he had a good game in the reserves this week, combined with Barry in the middle could leave us very lightweight defensively. Still, when the other options are Tugay and Flitcroft I say give him a go!

Feeling reasonably confident, provided everybody can stay on the pitch.

2-1 Rovers

Edited November 9, 2004 by joey_big_nose

[cravenblue]

DRAW

[Paul]

Really enjoyed that preview, colin.

Prediction - not a clue but I shall travel in hope.

[Hughesy]

The first game for a long time were i have felt confident we can win away from home.

Stead to score, rovers to win by 1 goal. either 2-1 or 2-0

[Biddy]

rovers to win by 1 goal. either 2-1 or 2-0

eh?

[krislu]

ManC 2

Rovers 2

Btw, people who have Canal+ can watch the game (+4hrs delay) on saturday.

[Finch]

If we can't beat Norwich we can't beat anyone.

2-0 Citeh

[Hughesy]

rovers to win by 1 goal. either 2-1 or 2-0

eh?

Doh!! 2-1 i think

[jim mk2]

Lovely writing Colin. Do you want a job?

I'm feeling optimistic. City 2 Rovers 2.

[Keeley32]

MH appears to be developing a sense of 'team' within Rovers... although two consecutive draws is not a world-shattering series of results, it is a start and the grit & determination that has been being cried out for seems to be being nurtured.

I expect the post-Souness confidence rebuilding to continue on Saturday and to see Rovers hold out for the last 20 mins (for a change!) and take all three points!

Rovers 2

Ferguson 44

Neill 60

Citeh 1

SWP 50

[bellamy11]

rovers to win by 1 goal. either 2-1 or 2-0

eh?

Doh!! 2-1 i think

2-1 or 2-1?

[nolan9]

City 1 Rovers 1 - Emerton

[Ewood Dream]

Man.City usually have a bad result after a good one, so taking into account they earned a draw at Old Trafford.....means a victory for Rovers!

I'd have:

Friedel

Neill Todd Johansson McEveley

Emerton Ferguson Reid Gamst-Pedersen

Dickov Stead

Edited November 9, 2004 by Ewood Dream

[1864roverite]

I think there is a sure fire way of beating city on Saturday. The way they play means that Rovers have to crowd the midfield, IMO that means playing 4-5-1

friedel

Neill Todd or Short Johannson McEveley

Emerton Ferguson Flitcroft Reid Gallacher

Stead

subs

Jansen

Enckleman

Dickov

Todd or Short

Gresko or Thompson

This allows for a lot of different permutations should the need arise. Its quite clearly going to be the SRW show as City have to hope he is on good form. If Rovers can annul the threat of SRW and I mean putting Reid on him (speed wise he is probably only the Rovers player that can match him) then they are 3/4 of the way.

In the midfield battle zone, Fergie and Flitcroft can do the graft leaving Tugay to hopefully play the release ball to Gally and Stead

Having Gresko or Thommo on the bench gives us a lot more width or a different positional midfield.

The other thing is that Rovers have to score first for a change. Leaving city to chase the game could give Rovers the added allowance of the midfield being wide open.

mark hughes ? are you reading this ?

Edited November 9, 2004 by 1864roverite

[roversWASmylife]

Man City 2 - 3 Rovers

Anelka Dickov (2)

Wright-Philips Ferguson

Can see both teams going for it, open game. Big test for Jay, unless Keegan continues to play Wright-Philips upfront with Anelka or just behind him as he did at United on Sunday.

Friedel

Neill - Todd - Nissa - Jay

Emerton- Barry - Reid - MGP

Dickov - Stead

[colin]

Really enjoyed that preview, colin.

Lovely writing Colin.

Thank you both. A lot of that is owed to Pete for his co-operation and humour.

[oakdaleblue]

I think there is a sure fire way of beating city on Saturday. The way they play means that Rovers have to crowd the midfield, IMO that means playing 4-5-1

friedel

Neill Todd or Short Johannson McEveley

Emerton Ferguson Flitcroft Reid Gallacher

Stead

subs

Jansen

Enckleman

Dickov

Todd or Short

Gresko or Thompson

This allows for a lot of different permutations should the need arise. Its quite clearly going to be the SRW show as City have to hope he is on good form. If Rovers can annul the threat of SRW and I mean putting Reid on him (speed wise he is probably only the Rovers player that can match him) then they are 3/4 of the way.

In the midfield battle zone, Fergie and Flitcroft can do the graft leaving Tugay to hopefully play the release ball to Gally and Stead

Having Gresko or Thommo on the bench gives us a lot more width or a different positional midfield.

The other thing is that Rovers have to score first for a change. Leaving city to chase the game could give Rovers the added allowance of the midfield being wide open.

mark hughes ? are you reading this ?

I hope Mark Hughes is not reading it as there is a flaw in the masterplan.

You haven't picked Tugay in your squad.

Try plan B

[Chris_Roe]

we need a win desperately ... so an optimistic 1 - 0, don’t care who scores