The week after (after three attempts!)

The week after

Momentum was maintained with the ‘Former Players Association Dinner’ on the Thursday at the Etihad. Went with big bro Frank and met James H Reeve and Franny outside who were most welcoming, as you’d expect on such a joyous occasion.
Special guests of honour were City’s top goalies including Eric Nixon, Alex Williams, Alan Ogley, Ken Mulhearn and, of courses, the great Bert Trautmann, now 89. Bert had a few words to say about letting 8 in at Leicester (in 1958) and equalling Frank Swift’s 8 v Bradford PA.
He also compared Matt Busby’s congratulations to Joe Mercer in 1968 to Fergie’s mealy mouthed effort this year and lamented on the state of the modern game in this respect. Fuck me, the rags have won everything in recent years and they can’t even be gracious when someone else picks up a trophy. No wonder everyone hates the fuckers. There was a table with united old boys on it so fair do’s to them and Paddy Crerand even, turned up later on. I couldn’t shame Wilf McGuiness into paying me the fiver for our bet about ten years ago! No wonder.
On our table was Steve (from the Euro trips) his dad and son plus ex Manc 60’s rocker Johnny Peters and John Donahue who writes to the Muen when they can squeeze a letter in between those of Harry Singleton and Leslie Holt! Always great to meet up with ex City players and thanks to Roy Cheetham for arranging our tickets – and the food was superb.
On the same night though our reserves lost to the rags in the manc senior cup Final and just like a few years a go invaded the pitch. No wonder.........
What else? New England manager Woy has named his squad – omtting Micah and Adam J who’ve not featured much for City recently, but has included the likes of Downing and Ruddy, so we’ll see how that all pans out. Both should get a run out in the Olympics team though as compensation.
Elsewhere Villa have sacked McLeish, surprise, surprise, Wolves have a new manager that no one’s heard of, and Liverpool (the new City) have fired King Kenny.
Over at the Swamp the relocation of away fans to the north stand where no-one can hear them is on hold. According to Andy Mitten’s article in the MUEN they should be “out of sight so out of mind” instead of in a 'prime position', and the disabled rags in front won’t be subjected to being pelted with coins and stuff” First time I’ve heard of this, and what other club would put disabled fans in front of away fans, who are taunted with distasteful banners by the former. No wonder…. And where would Rooney run to then to goad away fans when he’s scored a goal, if they’re removed from sight? If they do create a singing section perhaps they’ll get Ian Brown to lead it – singing flat and out of tune!
Otherwise great coverage of City’s title winning exploits all week, and a superb special publishhed.
Saturday it was the Swinton Branch’s end of season bash at Clifton cricket club with pasty and peas plus live viewing of the Munich v Chelsea clash. I have no sympathy with Bayern Munich after they cheated us out of a win at the Allianz when, after outplaying them for the first half hour and having two penalties turned down we lost 2-0 and it caused the Tevez saga to commence. A big roar went up in the other room (rags?) when Munich scored, and an even bigger one in ours when Chelsea equalised and went on to win. So congratulations are in order, to complete a shit week for the rags. Sturridge didn’t feature, and if Roberto is thinking of signing him he should talk to Jim Cassell first.
West Ham won the play off v Blackpool so we’ve lost Bolton, Blackburn (can’t stand up now when they chant “stand up if you’ve won the league!” ) Wolves and Blackpool – short nice trips – replaced with Saints, Reading and the ‘ammers – all long ones, plus Norwich and Swansea who stayed up last year.
York (shudder!) are back in the Footy league.
What else? Patrick Knowles has asked me to put the following on the blog – A new City fans song, On on on with City, can be heard and downloaded by going on to : www.parrothouse.co.uk and just follow the link on the first page displayed.
Pat’s also got a great new idea for a song based on what was sung by City fans at the end of the QPR game “we won the league in Fergy time.
Transfer targets make interesting reading but we’ll wait and see what transpires. New City books are David Conn’s, part of which was seen in the Observer magazine, and Colin Shindler’s, both out soon. Incidentally you’ll find Us and Them on the very bottom shelf in the City store FFS.
Spurs, I’m told, have now beaten the long held Everton record for the shortest stay in the Champions League! Also it’s rumoured that John Terry will lift the trophy if Engelbert wins the Eurovision Song Contest!
Dave