This week
Well we soon got over the Pompey postponement with the youth team winning 1-0 on Wednesday. They face Newcastle or QPR in the next round which is at home for the first time in yonks. Portsmouth won their FA Cup replay at Bristol City and face Swansea at home in the next round so the re-arranged game won’t be on 4th round cup day and probably not 5th round cup day either.
After the news that Hamann is out for the season, then the perfectly worded Benitez response to Fergie’s rantings, the week’s been dominated with the Ka Ka story, for which we await the outcome. If nothing else it’s enraged the rest of football, which is very funny, even if it doesn’t come off, and it’s livened things up so we look forward to seeing if this fantastic deal comes off – plus whoever else comes in. Enjoy the ride.
Wigan then and a shuffled formation looked more balanced. We worked hard to get ahead and then Dunney retaliated to Zaki’s foul (free kick given their way?), getting himself sent off for the joint record 8th time in the Prem. Doh. Still we hung on for a precious 3 points in an entertaining game. Bruce thought we got every decision after the sending off so which game was he at? OK they should have had a pen but so should we in the first half and that evens up the one they got and we didn’t at the JJB. So a happy ending to lift the spirits.
Just a reminder that the next POB meeting is on Tuesday night at half six, meet at COMS main entrance.
Finally, sad to hear that Dave Dee’s died and also actor Patrick Mc(Googly) Goohan, who reputedly lived in Worsley for a while. Here’s a little tribute to Paddy, from memory :
Woe to you oh earth and sea
For the devil sends the beast with wrath
Because he knows that time is short
Let him who hath understanding
reckon the number of the beast
For it is a human number
It’s number is……six hundred and sixty six….
Paddy’s introduction to Iron Maiden’s the Number Of The Beast, as if you didn't know!.
Oh and if you think that Slumdog Millionaire is a ‘feelgood factor’ film’ you’ll get a surprise, and well done Mickey for his part in The Wrestler, both films superb!
Have a good week and weekend, and keep the blog as lively as it's been this week!
Dave
Best atmosphere at Eastlands all Season, but what on earth was Dunne thinking?
ReplyDeletePredictably, the Match of the Day version bore no relation to the game that I watched from the South Stand. Of course Wigan were a trifle unlucky, but what about our penalty claim for handball in the first half?
One day in the near future, a Manchester City player will commit a blatant red card offence in front of the referee. Bizarrely, the referee will only brandish a yellow card.
That will be the day that Manchester City finally arrive as a Top Four Club.
Well will we EVER arrive as a top four club? OK Kaka's decision was out of our control (and if I'm honest, quite refreshing from a moral viewpoint) but the reports about Robinho, coming on top of the Kaka collapse, are extremely worrying.
ReplyDeleteWe've become even more of a laughing stock, and it seems supporting City is getting harder rather than easier. It's becoming unbearable to surf the net for news as the mocking comments attached to every article from dickheads the length & breadth of Britain just raise my BP! Did Chelsea really invoke such bile and venom when Abramovich took over?
Probably a good thing that we have no match this weekend.
Even though I've said we should try to lure Wenger, I really do feel sorry for Hughes right now. He doesn't deserve this lot.
Well said Glyn although I wouldn't take the reported rift between Robinho and Hughes too seriously. It seems the newspapers can print what they like about us knowing that it will never be challenged. Perhaps the new owners should use some of their financial muscle to sue one or two tabloids (if they lose the case they can afford it) I seem to recall that when Chelsea came on the scene, it was United fans who were bemoaning the fact that Chelsea were going to spoil football with their millions. But with us it is an alliance of the big four, their media friends and some of the smaller fish that have a grudge against us such as Allardyce (and I don't care if that's spelt wrong) Even the big fish on the continent such as AC Milan and Real Madrid are frightened that we can muscle in on their territory. I am disappointed we didn't get Kaka as one journalist pointed out last week, if we get him, we could have lured anybody to the club. As it is we will just have to make do with Craig Bellamy.
ReplyDeleteQuite agree.
ReplyDeleteWe were slagged off for signing Kaka and now we're slagged off for not signig Kaka.
Heard Gary Cook on the radio this morning. I always think he sounds better than the articles written about him. According to Cook, Milan were far fom innocent in all the dealings.
De Jong will be a good signing and whilst Bellamys brings plenty of baggage, he's also better than our existing forward line. There's still plenty of time for another forward and a centre half to arrive.
If we beat Newcastle next week, the rest of the Season should prove more relaxing. A Top Eight finish is nearer than most people think and we're still in the UEFA Cup.
what are the odds on City playing Milan in Istanbul?
The report of a rift between Hughes and Robinho was in the Sun but no other daily that I read. The MEN published a similar story stating that Cook was unsure of his whereabouts, but the comments page is full of supporting posts from fans and suchlike saying stuff such as it was an already pre arranged visit home with the full blessing of the club. Which is it? If Cook knows of his wherabouts and has authorised the trip, why not take the newspaper to town for falsely reporting that Cook didn't know where Robinho was. I know who I believe, after all we have no game this week, so what better time to take a trip home.
ReplyDeleteHope you're right.
ReplyDeleteOn a similar theme, it's Rio Carnival in a couple of weeks and Ronaldinho always went AWOL from Barcelona at this time of year.
Just read the M(U)EN and there is a fantastic article by Chris Bailey wherein he criticises the rest of football for picking on City simply because they have hit lucky with their new owners. He points out that it is jealousy and tantamount to discrimination by the rest of football simply because City have the nerve to try and break into the top four and the G14. Very Good article Chris, shame you had to spoil it by on the same page writing the story about Robinho's "disappearance"
ReplyDeleteWell that is some good news, Tony -about time someone redressed the balance. Believe it or not I thought the Sun's Neil Custis stood up for us well on Sky's 'Sunday supplement' the other day too.
ReplyDeleteI do feel that as a club, we've mis-managed the Kaka saga from a PR viewpoint. In his interview for Sky today, Cook has stated that the club had chosen not to comment until today. I know he's supposed to be the expert, but I do struggle to see how this has helped us when there has clearly been so much mischief making and mis-reporting.
In actual fact Hughes did have something of a go back after the Wigan match, and thereby went right up in my estimation.
It has to be hoped that the whole experience brings about the same 'seige mentality' in our players that reputedly serves ManU so well.
This is a niaive thought but one day, when maybe we are dining at the top table, I hope the club remembers who its friends were!
Who are the current holders of the FA Youth Cup?
ReplyDeletea/ Arsenal
b/ Manchester United
c/ Chelsea
d/ The Club who are supposedly ruining football by attempting to buy history, heritage and tradition.
Which of these Clubs was the first to win a major honour?
a/ Arsenal
b/ Manchester United
c/ Chelsea
d/ The Club who are supposedly ruining football by attempting to buy history, heritage and tradition.
Which of these Clubs had the most English players in their starting line up last Saturday?
a/ Arsenal
b/ Manchester United
c/ Chelsea
d/ The Club who are supposedly ruining football by attempting to buy history, heritage and tradition
Which of these Clubs have produced more goals from Academy players this Season than the Academy players of the other three Clubs combined?
1/ Arsenal
2/ Manchester United
3/ Chelsea
4/ The Club who are supposedly ruining football by attempting to buy history, heritage and tradition.
Exellent points Neil and I agree with Glyn, in principle, City may have been doing the right thing by not speaking to the press, but that only works if all other parties agree to do the same. According to City, negotiations with Kaka were at such an early stage, they haven't even talked to the player yet. If that's true and again I think I will take City's word for it over some of the hacks that run our media, all the press reports about his wages which went up from £200.000pw to £500.000 pw in the space of a week, must have been fabrication and pretend journalism
ReplyDeleteJust a thought, but do you think that the signing of Bellamy was bait to convince Kaka to come and play for us? - Joke!!
ReplyDeleteBellamy has always stuck me as one of those players who everyone hates unless he plays for their team.
ReplyDeleteHis talent is unquestionable and he scores plenty of goals. He's also a bad mouthing, ref baiting pain in the arse.
In short, he's a Paul Dickov with skill.
Well, Joe royle nicknamed Dickov "The Wasp" Anyone have any thoughts on what nickname we could give to Belamy. I was going to suggest "The Dragon" as he's Welsh but that suggests he is a bit like er indoors and a battle axe. Joe Royle seemed to have a fascination with animals and insects, didn't he also refer to one of the Whitley brothers as "The Ratter"
ReplyDeleteHe's agressive, yet stangely popular in a chirpy, cheeky chappy sort of way. He never shuts up and certainly knows all the swear words.
ReplyDeleteLook no further than "The Parrott".
Heh-Heh, Good but "The Parrott" doesn't sound like it will scare many 6'6" centre halfs. Hasn't quite got the same terror value as the damage a ratter or a wasp can do. Oh well, no doubt the new Kippax will think of a few names for him before long. The Robinho is missing stories are continuing today as the other daily's have picked up on the story from the M(U)EN. Still think it's a load of tosh and the clue is to look at the wording in the story. You get sentances that start "IF" Robinho has gone to South America without permission, he "COULD" be fined two weeks wages. Also "A spokesman from the club stated, he had no idea where the player was". What they don't say is that the reporter phoned up and spoke to the switchboard girl and asked her if she knew where he was. When she replies, No! they can justify having a quote from "someone within the club" Let's hope my confidence is justified and that he hasn't really one a runner.
ReplyDeleteWhen Alan Brazil asked Gary Cook about Robinho on Talksport, he replied:
ReplyDelete" I don't know, as I'm still in Milan". Perhaps Cook is the mysterious Club spokesman.
According to Gary Owen this morning, it was common knowlege that Robinho would be returning to Brazil, between the Wigan and Newcastle games.
Still, never let the facts get in the way of a good story.
Wouldn't you just love it, if City reached the UEFA Cup Final in Istanbul and both the players and fans refused to have any communication with the Sun and Daily Mirror?