King of the Kippax

Monday

2012-02-13T21:59:00.002Z

Villa – we had a good run down the M6, just a slight delay due to a burnt out car on the hard shoulder that everyone wanted to gawp at.
Parking restrictions don’t make it easy down there these days, but found a decent little car park for a fiver so we were all set. Snack at Tesco's with lots of familiar faces. Bloke on the next table was a Bristol Rovers fan who visited the Swamp when they beat the rags one tinme. So that was nice!
Got a text from Sean R as we parked up then looked up and there he was parking up in the same car park!
Apparently Fergie after the Suarez saga – (ironic that the monkey grunters of the 70’s, 80’s and 90’s are the ones to be up in arms – rightly after all this time) would like to also apologise in response to Suarez;s apology for :
Cantona’s kung fu kick
Ferdinand’s missed drug test
Giggs shagging his brothers wife
Rooney shagging granny prossis
Clayton Blackmore (unprintable)
Assault on Beckham with the flying boot
Keane purposely ending Haaland’s career and United fans giving Keane a standing ovation as he left the field.
Keane calling his own fans prawn sandwich munchers.
United fans pelting Craig Bellamy with objects with the score at 0-0 in the Carling Cup semi – aiding the rags to go on and win.
Bullying of referees and linesmen
Bringing the game into disrepute, continually.
So called mind games to intimidate other teams, managers and players.
All the insullting tweets that Rooney, Smalling and Ferdinand etc get up to.
He’d like to but he won’t.
Anyway it was quite pleasant at Villa – some young kids had a bit of a protest against McLeish presumably -Eck out?. Then we were into the match. 1-0 win, good enough I suppose but question marks again re team selection and the last ten dithery minutes, just like the rags v Liverpool.
Good getaway and a misty run home.
Tevez could be back and you have to say that time’s a great healer, or is it? Up to the squad and Roberto to decide but having slipped up not buying anyone up front in the window we may need him, fully fit of course.
Thursday it‘s Porto, here’s the It’s A Fix extract:
GAME 25A) THURSDAY FEBRUARY 16TH : FC PORTO (AWAY) EUROPA LEAGUE ROUND OF 32 FIRST LEG KO 8.05PM
Futebol Club de Porto, the Portistas, Dragoas (Dragons), blue and whites, were formed on September 28th 1893, as a Sporting club after a certain Jose Monteiro da Costa returned from England full of enthusiasm for the game.
The city of Oporto , is in the Northern region of Portugal on the Atlantic coast, the Duoro river estuary where the sea is cold, even in August. It has a population of around 250,000 but 1.3M in the urban area, and is famous for its wine making. It dates back to the 4th century under Roman occupation, then by the Moors, but was reconquered, before in 1387 John 1 of Portugal married Phillipa of Lancaster prompting a long standing military alliance and trading between Portugal and England.
In 1809 Napoleonic troops invaded but were eventually booted out by the Duke Of Wellington though the locals later ungratefully rebelled against the English.
It’s known as the city of bridges and residents are referred to as Tripeiros as tripe is a culturally important dish. It’s twinned with Bristol, and there will be many historic sites for Blues to see if we so wish! But no doubt the bars will be most frequented.
They were founder members of the Primeira Ligua in 1933, and, like Benfica and Sporting Club, have never been relegated, unlike City, who have, once or twice. They were, also founder members of the now disbanded G14.
Other lower league clubs in the city are Boavista and Salgueieus
European pedigree is good, from the 80’s – Cup Winners’ Cup runners up in 1984 losing to Juventus; European Cup winners in 1987 beating Bayern Munich, and Intercontinental and UEFA Super cup winners; 2003 UEFA Cup winners beating Celtic; 2004 European Champions League winners beating Monaco (and united on the way) and Intercontinental Cup winners; 2011 Europa league winners beating fellow countrymen Braga.
In the Champions League this season results were : Shakhtar Donetsk 2-1 home 2-0 away; Zenit St Petersberg 1-3 away, 0-0 home; Apoel Nicosia 1-1 home, 1-2 away; to go out on 8 points surprisingly.
Domestically they’ve won the title 25 times, the Cup 20 times and the Super Cup 18 times, and since 2003 they’ve won the title 8 times and finished 2nd once and 3rd once, though in 2004 had 6 points deducted for bribing referees. (but still won the title)
Current ground is the Estadio do Dragao which was opened in 2003 ready for the 2004 UEFA European finals, which replaced the existing Estadio das Antas.

Esatadio do Dragonoa : Capacity : 50,399 (tbc for City)
The ground cost 97M euros, 18M being paid by taxpayers, with EDP sponsoring the south stand, TMN and SAPO ADSL the East stand, PT and MEO the West stand and Coca-Cola the East stand. Away fans are housed in the left corner of the North stand. Porto supporters groups the Portistas or the Dragoes used to be housed in the south stand but are now in all stands.
A museum is to open shortly and the club has had a full colour monthly magazine since the 1980’s.
Coach is Vitor Pereira who replaced Andre Villas Boas at the end of last season.
They play in blue and white stripes with dark blue or black away shirts.
This season, so far after 18 games they’re in 2nd place with 43 points and 9 wins and 1 draw, 0 losses at home and 4 wins 3 draws and 1 loss away. They’re 5 points behind leaders Benfica.
Danger man, as his name implies is probably Hulk.
Comment : Probably the toughest draw of the lot, (united play a mid table Ajax) but results in the Chimps league, if not in the domestic, show that a win can be achieved. City fans will enjoy the camaraderie of the trip with fellow Blues, and Oporto ain’t a bad place to visit even if it is just in the Europa League. Strongest team? We’ll see!
We’ve never played them competitively but friendlies were played in 1980/81 away resulting in a 0-0 draw, and in the Thomas Cook Trophy in 2006/07 it was a 0-1 home loss, after which we dined Thailand style in Albert Square.

Tons of stuff coming in for KK 195 incidentally
Cheers
Dave

Saturday

2012-02-11T19:52:00.002Z

Saturday
Results didn’t go too well – Liverpool were rubbish, Spurs won, Arsenal won but Chelsea lost. We know what we have to do irrespective of everyone else, and it’s virtually win every game. Off we go to Villa tomorrow here’s the It’s A Fix extract from KK 194 :
GAME 25) SUNDAY FEBRUARY 12TH VILLA (AWAY) KO 4Pm
Premiership regulars, whose last pot was the League Cup in 1996. Most recent connections are Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland, Gareth Barry, James Milner, and this is the 144th League meeting.
At The Etihad in October it was the usual fairly comfortable win. Balotelli opened (28) Johnson added (47) Kompany confirmed (52) before Warnock pulled one back (65) but Milner against his old club made it 4 (71) for us to go top.
This season so far, they’re currently in 14th place with 28 points from 24 games and 3 wins 4 draws and 5 losses at home.
In the Carling Cup they beat Hereford away but lost at home to Bolton in the 4th round.
In the FA Cup they beat Bristol Rovers but lost at Arsenal in the 4th round.
Form at Villa : Last season in January at Villa Park it was a 1-0 loss with a recently transferred Bent inevitably scoring after 16 minutes although City did everything but score, Dzeko missing a late header which would have kick started his City career. Crowd was 37,615 (2634 Blues)
In the fourteen Prem. meetings there we’ve won 4 drawn 6 lost 4. It’s a ground where we often do well and holds happy semi-final memories from the distant past. Gareth Barry and James Milner will probably get booed, Dunney will be cheered, and Ireland probably won’t feature at his new happy home after his outburst against McLeish. We’ll expect a result, but as ever it won’t be easy, as they’ll be fighting for their lives, and have signed Robbie Keane, though the Villa Chosen Few are up in arms at the mo.
Wind ups? Well you can’t beat the old “Shit on the Villa”
Their crowds averaged 15,237 in 85/86, and current home average attendance is 34,201.
Comment : I quite like Villa and Villa Park. Nice colours, better than West Ham’s somehow and Villa Park holds fond semi-final memories. Hopefully we can revert back to winning ways here.
Chance to visit the Heavy Metal museum too!
Groundwise, no change to Villa Park, we’ll be down the side in the (Sir now) Doug Ellis stand again.
Tickets are up to £43 pretty steep.
It’s the West Midlands police plus often over efficious stewards, so be careful out there..

Villa Park : Capacity : 42,602 (3,000 for City)

Away day Zines ; Heroes and Villains, who we swap with, and have been going as long as KOTK.
Post Code : B6 6HE. Parking on industrial premises off A4040 Aston Lane (or on side streets) to North West of ground, then return via A38 to M6 jn 7
Pubs : The Yew Tree, The Cap and Gown on Witton island, The Harriers on Broadway, Barton Arms, High Street Aston.
See you there.
Dave

2012-02-10T21:09:00.001Z

Hey Fulham that was a stinker weatherwise. I met up with Gary Crate – club official and nice guy - before the game to look at the trip hazard on Commonwealth way where Blues fans go flying after the game so hopefully something can be done about it. Ok a soft penalty for our first but at least WE admit it.
“We wanna go home, it’s f*cking freezing, we wanna go home” - we all did with 3 points in the bag.
Handful of Fulham fans with their shirts off doing the Poznan after our goals!
Rags on the Sunday against a weakened Chelsea team, No Terry, no Cole, no Drogba, no Lampard and united went 3-0 down before 12th man Howard Webb stepped in. Not one, but two sofy penalties. No wonder everyone hates them. Rooney tweeted that we would be trembling after the way they came back. Who is this guy and what’s he on? It’s fine to keep coming back but shouldn’t the goals leaked be their major concern?
Surprise surprise ‘arry got off – had to laugh at his final statement “it’s been a nightmare to be honest….” Honest! Then surprise, surprise the FA have a meeting then it appears they tell Capello Terry can’t be captain no more so he quits cos he wasn’t involved in the discussion! Surprise, surprise.
Incidentally we’re getting stuff in for KK 195. So far we’ve got something from Neil Shaw, Bryan Duffy, Jim Whitworth, Tangled Up In Blue, and the Stuart Brennan interview so we’re well on the way. Deadline is next week, the sooner the better as it’s a busy one with the Porto trip etc. and first in best dressed.
Villa on Sunday but no game next weekend of course. Will Roberto take the boys out to Tenerife or somewhere for a bit of bonding, or stay on in Portugal to get better prepared than for the Everton game?
Dave

Rags

2012-02-06T17:21:00.000Z

Anyone notice how careful fergie was not to criticise Howard Webb for not giving the rags a third penalty but blamed the linesman?
Doing the rounds – Howard Webb’s children – Wayne, Patrice, Dimitrov, Cristiano and Bobby claim he’s not biased at all!

2012-02-03T15:39:00.001Z

Friday on my mind
Well Saturday actually. Going back to Tuesday ironic that a scouser handcuffed himself to the goalpost because his daughter COULDN’T get a job!
So there we were – after complaining about too many fixtures we have almost a week off and we’re admitting we didn’t prepare properly – or we’re now being told it was said to protect our players.
Went to the Warrington branch last night where Steve MacClean was talking about his book ‘35 years’ which is on Kindle. Optimism was at a low ebb though on City’s current situation and mixed thoughts on Mario and Tevez. Would have been worth swapping him with Carroll is my view.
Had to go to the main post office in Leigh and who pops up but the Golbourne gob who I haven’t seen or heard of since the 6-1. “Wheels are coming off” “What, just cos we’ve gone out of 3 cups just like united? We’ll be back soon” Tried to sound convincing, but he didn't want to buy it.
So tomorrow it’s Fulham. I don’t need to remind you that Martin Jol has a good record against us and we’ve always found Fulham difficult opponents at home. So we must be well prepared and it’s time to get back on track after recent massive disappointments. Here’s the it’s A Fix extract :
GAME 24) SATURDAY FEBRUARY 4TH FULHAM (HOME) KO 5.30PM
They’re in their 10th season in the Prem., have never won eff all, but were Europa Cup finalists recently. Recent connection Mark Hughes! 54th League meeting
At The Cottage in September we dropped our first points of the season annoyingly, as, after going two goals up through Aguero (18 and 46) we took our foot off the pedal and allowed them back in - Zamora (55) and then Murphy equalising (75) after Clattenburg failed to give a foul on Dzeko. Crowd was 24,750 with 1584 City
This season so far they’re in 13th place with 27 points from 23 games and 1 win 5 draws and 5 defeats away from home.
In the Carling Cup they went out 4-3 on pens at Chelsea after 0-0. in the 3rd round.
In the Europa league they started at the end of June, playing NES Soknar, MST Runavik, Crusaders, RNK Split, Dnipro, FC Twente, Odense BK, Wisla Krakow, going out in the group stage.*
In the F.A. Cup they beat Charlton at home and lost at Everton in the 4th round
At home to Fulham : Last season at Coms in February we went one up through Balotelli (26) but Duff equalised (48) and once again we couldn’t beat them after going ahead. Crowd was 43,077 with 482 Cottagers.
In the 9 Prem. home games we’ve won 2, drawn 4 and lost 3.
Comment : Poor away form again for Fulham this season but somehow they always seem to manage a result against us at COMS. Some quality in their squad and Murphy cannot be trusted, but surely we daren’t slip up against them today.

Crowds were down to an average of 4,057 in 90/91, and this season stand at 25.514

Tonight it’s the Charity ‘do’ for the Rozzi cancer appeal at the Embassy club (as advertised in KK 194)
Tomorrow there’s a City centre Blues meeting 1pm til 3.30 pm at the Macdonald Hotel, guests are Colin Hendry, Richard Edghill.
Dave

2012-02-01T20:39:00.001Z

Everton
Cold cold night. There was a stewards ring round the away fans entrances for some reason (but not at the end of the game).
Apparently the ref was Peter Walton. He was the one who helped the rags to the title last year when he failed to give Blackpool a stonewall penalty when they were 2-0 up from which there would have been no return for united, so we knew we’d get nothing from him tonight.
We were in the lower tier a couple of rows from the front so had a poor view of play.
Usual story - despite thuggery from Everton the first booking went to City and no foul on Joe Hart for a blatant mid-air barge. Someone tell me how stewards come down on fanzine sellers like a ton of bricks – we weren’t allowed to sell inside the stewards cordon – yet some pillock can wander onto the pitch and handcuff himself to the goalposts for 9 minutes (according to the Blue Vic not 5 as this would upset the TV schedule). I must admit to have been jealous of Everton’s new signing – a goalscorer. They went ahead after what looked like a foul on Dzeko’ or was he just being soft? How this guy needs another summer break.
Everton had a weakened and small defence out – just like Sunderland did – so how come we hardly won a header in their box?
Kolarov came on and he put one of his dreadful crosses over which hit Neville on the arm in the box, but no penalty.
Continued marginal decisions against us must eventually demoralise our boys. The rags gain confidence from marginal decisions – I can think of half a dozen last season off the top of my head. They don’t need any this season because they’re almost ALL going against us.
Sorry if I sound like Ted Knott!
Transfer deadline came and went – one signing – a midfielder when we’ve needed a striker to replace Tevez since he handed his notice in a year last Christmas and compounded it in the summer. And he’s still here. I like the suggestion that he should now help us to the title and as a bonus be offered a cut price sale. Will it happen?.
Very disappointed last night.
Perused the programme when I got home. Inside was a great photo from August 1970 showing a great shot of Joe plucking the ball out of the air against the backdrop of the half completed Goodison main stand. City won 1-0 that day, it should’ve been 3 or 4. Everton were Champs, City were League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup holders. I was in the paddock with my father in law, a latent red, we chatted with scousers about the wonderful football, we’d seen in the past twelve months . We walked back through Stanley Park on a hot sunny day past City fans who’d been slashed with Stanley knives and Joe Corrigan was signing autographs in the car park. We won the next two games at Goodison too. How come with this team we just can’t win there and they are nothing like as good as the early 70’s teams?
I don’t really know either.
Dave

Stu Brennan

2012-02-01T10:30:00.002Z

I am currently typing up a recent interview we've done with MEN City journalist Stuart Brennan which will make interesting reading and should dispel any thoughts of any allegiancies he may have had with manu in the past. It should go in the next issue of KK number 195
Dave

2012-02-01T00:32:00.000Z

I’ve just seen Roberto Mancini (looking like Keegan in his last days) on Sky Sports News agreeing with the interviewer that he underestimated Everton. I find that incomprehensible.
Dave
PS Glyn no threasts at Goodison!

Another Monday night

2012-01-30T22:23:00.002Z

Another Monday night
Great to see the blog up and running. We’ve been away for a few days but are now back in the groove as the farce of the Premier League hots up. No – one seems to have mentioned the Kuyt spat for the throw in at Anfield, why did Alf Grey mark 2 Phil Dowd not book him?
It was a weekend off with little interest in the 5th round – though good to see the rags go out – how much did they pay for that goalie – and did you see Smalling crumble to the ground at one point? No wonder……
One day to go before the window shuts and little action taking place for us so let’s hope the current squad is up to it. Tomorrow it’s bogey ground Goodison Park we’ve to contend with, in Everton's Cup final. Here’s the It’s A Fix update :
GAME 23) TUESDAY JANUARY 31ST EVERTON (AWAY) KO 8PM
Ever present in the top flight since 1954, millionaires of the 60’s (but no complaints) last pot the F. A. Cup in 1995, 156th Lg meeting, recent connection Joleon Lescott (oh dear, show em your medal Joles!).
At the Etihad in September we finally, as you would expect, laid the Everton bogey at home winning 2-0 with goals from Balotelli (68), and Milner (89). Crowd was 47,293, with 2826 Toffees.
This season so far they’re in 14th place with 26 points from 22 games with 3 wins 3 draws and 5 losses at home.
After beating Sheff U 3-1 and WBA 2-1 both at home they went out of the Carling Cup in the 4th round 2-1 at home to Chelsea aet.
In the FA Cup they beat Tamworth at home and have just beaten Fulham at home 2-1 in the 4th round. In the 5th they face Blackpool or Sheff Wed at home
Form at Goodison : Last season in May we went down 2-1 YaYa Toure (28) opening for us as we dominated but Distin (68) then Osman (71) pulled it round for them in an astonishing result on the day. Crowd was 37,351 with 2, 812 Blues. After that we didn’t lose again in the league and domestic cups until Chelsea in December.
We used to do really well over there but since the 3-1 in 1993, it’s been 8 losses, 4 draws, and only one win (2-1 in 2008/09).
Comment : Another mediocre season so far for the Toffees and recent supporter demos indicate that all the “we’d rather do it our way (ie dilapidated stadium, no investment) than the City way” was just wishful thinking. However they always give us a game but we really do need the points tonight. Fergie flops include Howard (surely better than De Gea and Lindegaard), Neville, Saha and they’ve just signed Gibson. Landon Donovan is back and they’re also about to sign Rangers’ centre forward with the unpronounceable name.
Tonight we must scrutinise every foul or non foul, every penalty or non penalty appeal, every offside or non offside and every card or non card.
Groundwise : Whilst atmosphere can be good the place is now well past its sell by date. However, the proposed ground move was knocked back, and the only answer is to share with Liverpool! We’ll be in the Bullens again, upper (maybe) and lower, restricted views, with nothing to recommend it in the 21st century.
Wwtwtwshite : Averaged 19,343 in 1983/84 season, and their current average home attendance is : 33,406

Goodison Park : Capacity : 40,260 (1800? for City)
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Away Day Zines : When Skies Are Grey - stopped swapping with KK for some reason. Satis; Speke From The Harbour
Sat Nav : L4 4EL
Dave

2012-01-25T23:22:00.001Z

WEDNESDAY
Beaten before we started. Last season at Anfield Mancini did the same and admitted he’d made a mistake. So what sort of a team was that he put out? Liverpool, at Anfield, are not Wolves or Birmingham or Arsenal’s 2nd team. We’ve missed a great chance to land a trophy and tonight proved we’re carrying too many passengers and the manager's team selection is suspect once again.
Dave

2012-01-24T22:33:00.001Z

Ps Cardiff's just made it - so another incentive as we always beat a City at Wembley - Birmingham, Leicester, Stoke, C'mon you Blues
Dave

2012-01-24T22:13:00.001Z

Tuesday
Agree that Neville’s punditry has been Ok but when the chips are down and he can give the rags a boost over us his bias comes out - "red card for Mario" – and seeds are sown. Who was first with “he could have had his eye out”? Couldn’t have been an ex Spurs player Mabbutt, could it?
Doesn’t look like the club are contesting, which limits the forward options and as for Tevez he could have helped us to the title this year. Infuriating.
So, two games away from another trophy, and a week before our next game, we should go all out. Here’s the it’s a Fix take on Liverpool : 22A) WEDNESDAY JANUARY 25TH CCCUP SF 2ND LEG LIVERPOOL (AWAY) KO 7.45PM
So far this season :we drew at Anfield 1-1 in November, going ahead through Vinny in the 31st minute after Reina could have gone for handling the ball outside the box. Liverpool equalised immediately through a flukey own goal by Lescott from Adam’s shot. Skirtel and co then got Mario sent off and Joe Hart saved us. Silva should have wrapped it up for us at the end. Crowd was 45,071 with 2964 Blues.
At The Etihad in early January it was a comfy 3-0 win. Sergio putting us ahead in the 10th minute when his shot went under Reina. YaYa made it two in the 33rd minute with a header from a corner. Barry was sent off for very little, then Jamie made it three from the penalty spot after a tackle from Skirtel who should have walked. Crowd was 47,131 with 2685 Scouse.
In the Carling Cup semi first leg we went down 1-0 to a Gerrard penalty in the 13th minute, Agger taking a spectacular dive over Savic. Referee Lee Mason was lenient with the cards which is the sensible approach but let’s have consistency from one game to another eh? Crowd was a disappointing 36,017 (City wanted to reduce prices but ‘Pool wouldn’t let us to ensure a smaller gate) with about 6,000 scousers.
So advantage Liverpool, just like in 80/81 when we went there and murdered them but couldn’t quit do it.
History (even though we have none) has not been kind to us at Anfield with only 6 wins in the League and Cup since the war, and that’s a lot of games (1-0 in 48/49; 2-1 in 51/52; 1-0 in 52/53; 2-1 in 55/56 F A Cup 5th rd; 3-1 in 81/82; 2-1 in 02/03) It does not augur well but if this is the new City then we must go all out for a win as another trophy is a distinct possibility with Palace or Cardiff as opponents at our second home - Wembley.
They’re currently 7th in the table with 35 points from 22 games with 4 wins and 7 draws at home, and they’re on a good run at present, tho just had a bad defeat at Bolton. Too many home draws gives us hope, so let’s do em. A bit of needle has crept in with the Gerrard/Mancini spat re the imaginary cards but that should only help to fire us up. We were cheated in ’81 it mustn’t happen again.

Anfield Capacity : 45,362 (6,000 for City, let’s fill it)

Tickets are priced at : £39/£45 – hope you’ve got the dear ones! Sat Nav is L4 0TH, and the Arkles pub is usually OK for Blues.
Dave

Monday, monday

2012-01-23T19:39:00.002Z

Monday Monday, can’t trust that day
The brilliant Bradley Walsh was on Soccer AM and admitted to being a Gooner. This didn’t surprise me but I’m sure I read in Buzzer’s programme column in a recent fixture v The Brummies that he was a Big Birmingham City supporter.
Blustery, rainy, day for Spurs. We had it won at 2 -0, but defensive mistakes – Dzeko, Savic and Joe boobing for their first. Lescott did a flailing arm and Mario a pirouette on that dirty little bastard Parker (who did Robinho a few years ago at West Ham) and has just been banned for, not one, not two, not three, but four games tho surely we’ll win the appeal – the FA can’t make it TOO obvious that they want the rags to win the title EVERY year. Is Bernstein on the panel?
Bugger, had to go out for a pee on 90 minutes. Me and this other guy heard the roar – “not loud enough for City” I said. The cheering Blues ran out – penalty - Joe must’ve saved it – “No it’s for us” came the word then the roar meant we’d won. Who’d be a bloody fanzine editor/seller eh? And it peed down. Typically Wenger made an astute tactical substitution at The Emirates and gifted the game to the rags. Nevill ragness came out when he said Lescott AND mario should have been sent off. Rag objectivity? No chance. No wonder everyone hates them..... Smalling‘s been tweeting “just waiting for City to crumble” – no wonder....... Do we continually slag off other teams or are we classy?
You got it.
Anyway, Wednesday looms…..
Dave

Saturday

2012-01-21T20:50:00.002Z

Saturday
The talk on my book Us and Them at Swinton supporters club branch on Wednesday at the Clifton Cricket club seemed to go down quite well and it was excellently chaired by Clair. I’m pleased to say that I sold quite a few books so the evening was an all round success so thanks to everyone.
Today I’ve been getting the subs sorted and in the mailboxes so they should arrive early next week. Norwich did well v Chelsea so we're pu lling clear. Big one tomorrow, of course, and here’s the It’s A fix extract from KK1 94 : GAME 22) SUNDAY JANUARY 22nd SPURS (HOME) KO 1.30PM
Last promotion was in 1978, since then they’ve been successful in the F. A., League and UEFA Cups, and their last pot was the League Cup in 2008. Most recent connection : Adebayor. 126TH League meeting
It’s the return game after the 5-1 win at WHL in August. It took us until the 34th minute to open the scoring through Dzeko, and he notched again in the 41st then the 55th to complete his hat-trick. Aguero made it 4-0 in the 60th, but Kaboul pulled one back for Spurs in the 68th minute, though Dzeko with his 4th put the icing on the cake with another beauty in the 90th minute to make it 5-1.
Crowd was 36,150 with 1757 Blues)
This season so far : They’re in 3rd place with 46 points from 21 games and 6 wins 2 draws and 2 losses away from home.
In the Carling Cup they went out at Stoke in the 3rd round 6-7 on pens after 0-0.
In the FA Cup they’ve beaten Cheltenham at home and face Watford away in the 4th round.
In the Europa League they went out despite a 4-0 away win at Shamrock Rovers.
Our form at home to Spurs : Last season in May it was City who took the spoils for a change with a 1-0 win courtesy of an ironic Peter Crouch own goal in the 30 th minute. Crowd was 47,069 with 2817 cocky Spuds.
Out of the 14 home games in the Prem we’ve only managed 3 wins, 5-2 in 94/95, 2-1 in 07/08, and 1-0 last season. Otherwise it’s been 9 losses and 2 draws.
Comment : Good season for Spurs again after that disappointing start with terrific performances in some games. They last won the league in 1961 (Cup too) with an expensively assembled squad which no one complained about. This season they can’t even afford Adebayor despite their exorbitant ticket prices and billionaire board members. Serious contenders for the title and it’s commendable that we’ve recently battled for 4th spot and here we both are contesting top spot. We did em here last year and battered them at The Lane (not Bridge!) so a humdinger is forecast and we must win.
No doubt they’ll trot out the “one Ricky Villa” song but always remember “3-0 up and they f*cked it up!”
Wwtwtw shite? Averaged 20,859 in 85/86, so not bad, and their current average is 36,070.
Hopefully Arsenal won’t capitulate again v the rags!
Watch out for the new KK number 194 which is on sale.
Cheers
Dave

This week

2012-01-19T20:34:00.002Z

This week
Wow what a week. Saturday night was the annual Merseyside supporters branch ‘do’ which was the usual daft fun night so thanks to all the gang and Tony Ralls for inviting us.
Monday night, after getting the zine to the printers was, of course, the Wigan game. It was perishin’ but at least you can grab a bite on the retail park. Police and stewards created a ‘sterile area’ for away fans, where no fanzine selling was allowed. Very strange. Well we won, should have got a few more and on the basis that our players are regularly sent off for next to nothing, their lad should have gone for the deliberate handball near the end when Sergio could have been through. Roberto’s imaginary card waving has been castigated so full marks to Derek McGovern in the manumirror saying it’s no different than Fergie’s watch watching, arms flapping and whatever other histrionics managers do on the touchline.
So, the 3 point margin is maintained.
And we are pleased to announce that King Of the Kippax fanzine number 194, should hit the outlet at Aleef (Corner of Cross Street/Market Street) on Friday January 20th and the selling points around the Etihad at the Spurs and subsequent games.
KK194 is a 48 page A4 issue with a front cover that suggests: ‘Keep Calm and Play Our Cards Right’ indeed this issue includes free imaginary red and yellow cards (remember the free air guitar in a recent rock magazine?)
This issue includes Quiz of the Year, If the Commons Were the Terraces, Half term report, Fergie’s Bottom part two (92/93 season), Adebayor, Winter Break, Us and Them book advert and letters, and all the usual regulars – Ged, Burf., Neil, Gene, Uncle Ryan, Shell, Paul, Tony David C ., Sean, Bryan, Tom, Richard, Simon etc…a magnificent effort all round.
It sells at just £2.50 (unbeatable value) and can also be purchased for £3.50 (inc P & P) from King Of The Kippax, 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL
Incidentally the Us and Them book is now available in Waterstones, Hale Book Shop, Simply Books Bramhall, Thackerays Denton, and on E-Bay and Amazon, but NOT the City stores, but go in and ask anyway to keep the pressure on! You can obtain it directly from KK at the above address for £18 including postage if you like.
Dave

2012-01-16T14:59:00.002Z

Monday
Hoping to get the zine to the printers today but struggling with the front cover. Rags have caught us up but Spurs slipped up against Wolves.
Tonight it’s Wigan at the JJB, here’s the it’s a fix up date

Game 21) MONDAY JANUARY 16TH WIGAN (AWAY) KO 8PM
Promoted in 2005, so in their 7th Prem season, and were League Cup runners up in 2006.
Most recent connection is Michael Brown and this is the 16th League meeting (plus the two play off semis).
It’s our second return game of the season further to the 3-0 win at the Etihad in September, courtesy of an Aguero hat-trick (13,63,69). Crowd was 46,509 with 1122 pie eaters.
Our form at Wigan : At the DW in September 2010 we managed a 2-0 win with goals from Tevez (43) and Ya Ya Toure (70). Crowd was 15,525 with 4,481 Blues.
This season so far they’re in 20th place with 15 points from 20 games and 1 win 4 draws and 5 losses at home.
In the Carling Cup they lost 2-1 at Crystal Palace in the 2nd round.
In the FA Cup they went out at Swindon.
Our form at Wigan, in the last 8 meetings we’ve won 2 (1-0 in 1998/99, 2-0 last) drawn 3 including the 2nd div play off, and lost 3.
Comment : It’s been a real struggle for the Latics and you wonder if Martinez now regrets not moving to Villa in the close season. Just when we finally start beating them they decide to take the drop, and so it will be a shame if they do as it’s also a local trip, allowing us big support even on a Monday night on TV. Don’t write em off yet though, a win would take them out of the relegation places, and they can pull off surprises, but we need to get back on track after two (cup) defeats .
Groundwise it’s still the same, and with tickets at a reasonable price (?) we should sell out in the south stand behind the goal, so home from home.
There are plenty of on site car parks, but it’s slow getting away. Pubs include The Red Robin near the away end, and there’s a Beer Keller type marquee under the North stand for about 400 so first in first served. Away day zine is The Mudhutter.
Post code is : WN5 0UZ
WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 2,758 in 1989/90, and current home average is a paltry 17,661.
DW Stadium Capacity : 25,000 (5,000 for City)

On Wednesday I’m doing a talk on the Us and Them book at Swinton Supporters club – at Clifton Cricket ground, on the A666 (I think) Manchester Road, Clifton, sat nav M27 6PD. Doors open at 7.30PM. Hope to see you there spesh if any contributors can make it at this short notice.
Cheers
Dave

Saturday

2012-01-14T13:37:00.002Z

Liverpool
Another drizzly night, and a poor show, not surprising after the superhuman effort on Sunday. Big talking point, apart from the lack of yellow cards to Liverpool players particularly the untouchable Gerrard, was the no foul decision on Johnson after the sending off of Kompany on Sunday. Gerrard called Mancini a hypocrite for waving an imaginary card but misses the point (as does Brian Reade in Saturday’s manumirror). That being we’ve had two players sent off against Liverpool whilst they get away with murder, and Johnson should have gone if Kompany’s really was a red. Mancini is right to be aggrieved. Dalglish, smirking, said he didn’t see it.
Alan McKinlay, also in the manumirror, said that Mancini wasn’t a tactical genius in the derby but played the second half for damage limitation. Funny that, most people thought we pushed them to the limit. Only Roy Keane agreed with him – Keane has been threatened by the manumafia of legal action if he is again critical of the club! There was also a cartoon suggesting City didn't have a legend to bring back - Arse with Henry and rags with Scholes Erm diddn't Vieira come back with us last season?
How much longer do we have to put up with this rubbish?
Dave

Are we being Targeted?

2012-01-12T12:08:00.002Z

On Sunday, Chris Foy sent Vincent Kompany off for what virtually everyone agrees was not a red card offence. Later in the match Aguero was almost decapitated by Giggs by a two footed tackle from behind that wasn't even penalised. The FA had the chance to clarify the situation by recinding Kompany's red card, but instead upheld it. Last night Glen Johnson went flying into Lescott , but fortunately didn't connect, yet again the player wasn't red or yellow carded. Today Talksport and thye newspapers are full of how it was Mancini who was in the wrong to complain and that he's losing it. This is going beyond incompetance by referees and the FA and is looking like a definite attempt at engineering by the authorities. Can we not ask for last night's tackle by Johnson to be judged in retrospect? The owners need to nip this in the bud even using legal threats if necessary, because what has happend to Kompany is a disgrace.

2012-01-11T13:46:00.000Z

GAME 20B) WEDNESDAY JANUARY 11TH LIVERPOOL (HOME) CCSF 1ST LEG KO 7.45PM
So we’re drawn out of the hat first and have the disadvantage of playing at home for the first leg. How does that work?
In the League Cup, there’s been meetings in three rounds:
1969/70 3rd rd 3-2 home
1980/81 SF 1st leg 0-1 home, 2nd leg 1-1 away
1995/96 3rd rd 0-4 away
Biggest game was the League Cup semi-final in 1980/81 when Kevin Reeves’ goal was inexplicably ruled out by referee Alf Grey and ‘Pool won the tie 2-1 on aggregate despite a tremendous performance by City at Anfield to draw 1-1.
We’ve already played em twice by now drawing 1-1 at Anfield and winning 3-0 last week so we, and they, know what to expect. Vinny’s 4 match ban has, naturally, been upheld and there’s doubts about Balotelli, Dzeko, and Silva – so will City’s derby second half team plus Barry , Hart, and Clichy be good enough? Let’s hope so, and also that Carroll doesn’t finally come good for them.
Revenge for 1981 please. Also c'mon Everton at Spurs!
Dave

Monday

2012-01-09T21:40:00.003Z

Monday
Just about got over yesterdays result. We had Ya Ya and Kolo Toure (African Nations Cup? Why every two years, and why not played in the summer?) Barry, Balotelli, Dzeko all out so why reduce the experience and competitiveness by not playing Joe and Clichy?
Pre match South stand area was cut off for Blues who had to circumnavigate to get to the East and West stands but I didn’t witness the shenanighans usual on the Ashton New Road though being an afternoon kick off (not night match) helped. Superb programme produced incidentally.
Rags scored with their first attack, against the run of play, Kompany sent off, our 5th player to be sent off this season whilst other teams barely get a card. What’s going on? What a difference from the Cup game in 1955 when City players pleaded with the ref not to send off Chilton – Rooney, later Welbeck, disgracefully trying to influence the ref. Conspiracy, Nigel Gregory, reckons to balance the fact we have loads a money. Some rules need a complete overhaul.
Second goal, as already pointed out, Nige (De Jong not Gregory) should’ve done better. Third goal came from a poor clearance from Pantillimon, and there were other decisions Foy got wrong – a 2nd pen for united and Jones has soon got into the rag lying mode when he tapped his chest after blatantly handling near the end. If I remember right Foy reffed at Notts County last year and gave us eff all. Bastard.
So a reverse of the 6-1 looked possible at half time, and whilst we all tried to console ourselves with thoughts of the 4-3 at Spurs, a drubbing looked on the cards. Thankfully Bob rallied the troops, and we nearly did it, with greatr response from City fans. Not THAT bothered to go out of the Cup, as we’ve bigger fish to fry, but would have preferred to go out to anyone but them.
Losing Kompany is a massive blow, and I can’t see us winning the appeal.
Dave

Saturday

2012-01-07T15:07:00.002Z

Saturday
Deadline for KK 194 is next Tuesday. Currently we’ve got David Mooney’s quiz, Tony’s second part of 92/93 season, Points Of Blue minutes, Uncle Ryan, Steve Bagley, and Bry Duffy’s come up with the half term players report.
Tomorrow it’s the rags in the 3rd round of the Cup. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract/update :
GAME 20A) SUNDAY JANUARY 8TH FA CUP RD 3 KO 1PM
We were the 5th club to be drawn out, so with all those other possibilities, the next ball, inevitably, was that of those lovable, rascally, rags.
A shit draw for both clubs meaning that we’ll both have to field full strength teams, though last year when we played our second eleven (Leicester, Notts County) we finished up with replays, and we can ill aford those this season.
In the F.A. Cup, there’s been meetings in seven rounds (+ a preliminary round which doesn’t really count, so not included!)
1926 SF 3-0 Bramall Lane
1955 4th rd h 2-0
1970 4th rd a 0-3
1986 3rd rd a 0-1
1996 5th rd a 1-2 (Alan Wilkie giving United an outrageous penalty)
2004 5th rd a 2-4
2011SF 1-0 at Wembley
So it’s 3 wins for City and 4 for united.
Since the O/T drubbing they’ve pulled off a few boring 1-0 wins, then a couple of 5 nillers when Fulham and Wigan laid down, although the ref helped them V Wigan with a disgraceful sending off of a Wigan player. They went out of the Carling at home to Palace, and have dropped out of the Chimps League into the Europa, to face Ajax.
They’re still in second place in the Prem. despite being shite but lost at home to Blackburn and away at Newcastle – text from a rag “worse game I’ve ever seen in my life united beat themselves didn’t need any help from Newcastle” Wow, I thought they were beaten by the better team! No wonder everyone hates them!
Can they lose three in a row? Yes! Means more to them than us but we must still do it, and as previously predicted, we go into this one as firm favourites, despite no Ya-Ya? Rooney and Fergie are coming out with the usual crap with City total class as usual.
Question is – will City sink to rag levels by repeating over the speakers time and time again “Welcome to Manchester, the home of the FA Cup Winners” like they did at the swamp before the Carling Cup semi second leg, then play a naff gloating victory song at the end of the game?
Just caught the end of Soccer AM this morning, Noel G doing well as usual plus the City lads kitted out by Kitbag and publicised in the MEN. Funny how Kitbag can snap to it when they want and the MEN always happy to pick up a story but no help from either for the Us and Them book.
Dave

2012-01-06T18:43:00.001Z

Just received this from Gene Laschuk in Oz, without any prompting, and no sour grapes considering that we couldn't fit his contribution in the book:

"Just wanted to quickly write and congratulate all the writers on the 'Us and Them' book which arrived in the post today. Having spent an hour or so reading it already it comes across as a must have for any serious City fan....I can't wait to delve further into it! Well done to all. Just an amazing resource really and can't imagine how long it must have taken to put together. "The Oracle" sounds like quite a piece of work, would love to set eyes on it!

In other news...big game Sunday and I was convinced we were set for victory till I heard YaYa was out....just don't understand why he can't stay for another two days. Seems a bit silly to me to say the least. But win we must, win we shall...I hope.

I've decided to give Twitter a proper run...having spent a little time trying to get my head around it, and then reading Joey Barton's....thoughts. It could be quite amusing. Have a look if interested. CTID>

Cheers

Scream in Blue (ScreaminBlueAUS)

Gene"

Friday

2012-01-06T18:35:00.001Z

Friday
Liverpool was a stinker of a night, the rain was swirling into the East stand second level – give me the old Kippax roof any day! Before the game we were confronted by a group of 9 or 10 year olds chanting united – they’re obviously brainwashed at an early age in the lack of respects stakes – no wonder everyone hates them. Brilliant performance from the lads, Barry a bit unlucky maybe – Liverpool fans chanted “There’s only one Gary Ablett” – another one taken too soon.
Roberto apologised for waving an imaginary card for Skirtel – one rule for one and another for us. The amount of cards we get as opposed to the opposition is getting out of hand.
Spurs beat WBA at home, Everton lost to Bolton – nearly 30,000 there (!), and rags lost to a marvellous Newcastle, with the new Duncan Edwards notching a fine own goal. Fergie, after his rant at the ref and the pitch after Blackburn at home must’ve been told to be diplomatic after this one, but he can’t fool us. What a contrast to Redknapp who always talks sense after a game even after the farce at Stoke.
Big Sunday looms. Just seen the superb film ‘Lady’, what a story, what a conflict, what a woman, and cops in Manc will be wearing riot gear for the Sunday derby – for a footy match and not a political rally – some perspective needed..
Incidentally great to have bloggers back – don’t know what’s happened but very pleasing.
Picked up a copy of A Love Supreme, Sunderland zine up there and noticed that they’re designing 0161 the new City zine for them, not seen it yet, any thoughts?
Dave

Monday

2012-01-02T14:24:00.002Z

Sunderland
Good run up as you’d expect in the Tom-mobile. Went past the A19 so we could stop at Leeming services for a cheap (£3.50 brekky)
Cold breeze at Sunderland but OK at the away end “how many are you going to put past us today?” the Sunderland fans asked. “West Brom fans said the same last Monday” I said “and look what happened there” Sky TV asked me about New Year resolutions and I told em “I want to lose a bit of weight, then watch City win the League, The Cup, The Carling Cup and the Europa Cup. I don’t think they showed the last bit – praps as well.
I thought Roberto’s team selection was fair enough – we played our strongest team at West Brom and couldn’t crack it, same again today. Robbie Savage thought that Sunderland deserved their win. Bollocks Robbie, they deserved a draw, but never a win.
“Where were you when you were shit” sang the Sunderland fans, well we’ve not heard that one before. “we were here……” but more importantly we always beat them when we were shit - from 03 to 09 it was 8 wins out of 8 – before the money came in!
Sombre journey home, crap punditry later on MOTD 2 - Dublin and Hartson - and another sleepless night – these 93rd minute losses do my head in. Still we know where the money needs spending in the January window.
So it puts extra pressure on tomorrow nights game. There’s talk about a mid season break every so often and instead we find ourselves with a heavy fixture list including 2 games in 2 days. Why didn’t the club protest?
So to Liverpool, here’s the It’s a fix extract :
GAME 20) TUESDAY JANUARY 3RD LIVERPOOL (HOME) KO 8Pm
Their last promotion was in 1962, since when they’ve won the lot but no title since 1990, and their last pot was the F A Cup in 2006. Most recent connection : Craig Bellamy. It’s the 152nd Lg meeting.
It’s the first return game of the season further to the recent 1-1 draw at Anfield. City went ahead through Kompany (31) and promptly gifted them an equaliser through a Lescott OG (33) but Silva should have clinched it before the end. Crowd was 45,071 with 2964 Blues.
This season so far : They’re in 6th place with 34 points from 19 games and 5 wins 1 draw and 3 defeats away from home.
In the Carling Cup they won away at Chelsea 2-0 in the quarter final after seeing off Exeter, Brighton and Stoke, all away, and face us next week in the semi-final 1st leg
In the FA Cup they’ve got Oldham at home, stuffy sods.
Our form at home v ‘Pool : Last season at COMS in August we battered them 3-0, with goals from Barry (14) and Tevez (52,68P) Crowd was 47,087 with 2698 scousers. Prior to that in the Prem it’s been 2 wins (94/95 2-1, 04/05 1-0), 8 draws, 3 losses.
Comment : Siege mentality is backfiring on them with the Suarez situation, but it looks like the ban won’t start until after tomorrow. Frankly I’d rather he played than Carroll who always gives us problems. They’ve improved steadily under Kenny, having ruined the game by spending millions, and they’re always difficult to play against, plus Bellers will be out to prove a point. A repeat of last season’s result wil do nicely, and is vital after the recent points losses.
Wwtwtwshite : Av’d 22,742 in 31/32, and this season it’s 44,963.

2011-12-31T18:48:00.000Z

New Year’s Eve
Don’t know about you but I found it to be a bit parky at West Brom. – “well it is the highest ground in the League” the Blue Vic said, so I don’t know how Stu Brennan reckoned it was a “barmy afternoon” in his report.
As usual I got moved on by the stewards before the game, but thanks to Phil B, and later another Blue I was able to pass a couple of tickets on to Sean R’s mate and Sir Howard Davies’s son George. So all set – we were on row ZZ right at the top (ZeeZeeTop – geddit?!)
Couple of early chances for Albion, some for us, Silva’s the easiest. Was Mario’s goal really offside? But it finished 0-0, these things happen but the worry was that the rags won 5-0, needless to say Wigan had a player sent off for nothing. Time refs learned the difference between a flailing arm and an elbow.
Not a bad day today – rags beat Blackburn 7-0 last year so we were worried they’d repeat it but no – 3-2 to the Rovers – ‘Kean in’ I say. Spurs drew at Swansea and Chelsea lost at home to a Stephen Ireland inspired (at last) Villa. Liverpool beat Newcastle last night with Gerrard returning and Carroll waiting to hit form. Tomorrow we’re up to Sunderland, here’s the It’s A Fix extract : GAME 19) SATURDAY JANUARY 1ST SUNDERLAND (AWAY) KO 3PM
Promoted in 2007, so this is their 5th season in the Prem. (this time!) Last Pot F A Cup 1973. Most recent connections : Niall Quinn, Marlon Fulop. 121st league meeting
Last season : At the SOL in August 2010 we battered them in the first half, Carlos missing a sitter, but faded in the second when Darren Bent scored a 93rd minute dodgy penalty to deny us a point at least. Crowd was 38, 610 with 2,629 Blues.
At COMS in April it was a 5-0 City win, goals coming thick and fast from Johnson (9),Tevez (15pen), Silva (63), Vieira (67), and Ya-Ya (73) Crowd was 44,197 with 1896 Mackems. You’d have thought that they’d sack Bruce their and then.
This season so far : They’re in 15th place with 18points from 18 games and 2 wins 3 draws and 3 losses at home.
In the Carling Cup they went out 1-0 at Brighton in the 2nd round aet.
In the FA Cup they’ve drawn Peterborough away.
Our form at Sunderland : Three wins, a draw and a loss in the last five visits.
Comment : Despite having a Blue as Chairman, how could you expect a club to succeed managed by (twice) and playing so many Fergie flops? We were hoping that they’d sack Bruce after we’ve given them a good hiding today but they’ve jumped the gun and appointed ex Blue O’Neill (in his book he reckoned City went down in the season he played for us – another myth I’m afraid) as a two fingers to Villa for nicking Bent no doubt. So they’re revitalised with new manager syndrome and form has improved but the points are there for us, surely.
Oh, and they’re sponsored by Tombola, those of the most annoying adverts in the middle of Emmerdale.
Groundwise: We opened up the S.O.L. in August ’97, in front of 38,827, the start of our relegation season to the third, losing 3-1 (Kinky pen). Since then they’ve increased the capacity and 47,475 watched the 2000 game. We’ll be in the Metro FM South Stand, tickets are £29.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Stadium Of Light

Capacity : 48,300 (3,000 for City)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
WTWTWShite : Avd 13,601 in 86/87, and this season their average home att. is 37,742.
Away Day Zines : A Love Supreme, The Wearside Roar.
Sat Nav : SR5 1SU
Pubs/Parking : Plenty of pubs near the ground, but parking, like most of these new grounds, and getting away not good.
Have a great new Year’s Eve and Day
Dave

Christmas Day

2011-12-25T19:02:00.002Z

Christmas Day then and no doubt we’ve all opened our presents. Jason Manford book for me plus Tony Iommi’s Iron Man, a jumper, miniature bottle of Bailey’s and a Cinephone card, with more to come, so quite good so far, nothing like dropping a few hints. Good excuse to play on grandson’s toy guitar too!
Forgot to mention that we dropped some Us and Them book’s off at Hale Bookshop too, and there’s a nice review in this months Programme Monthly though they’ve forgotten to put in the address from where to purchase it!
Also Amazon has it down as being temporarilily out of stock so we're trying to sort that one out as we've a few hundred here at KK Towers!
The Ad on this blog also needs updating!
Tomorrow we’re off to West Brom. where despite a bad Christmas against them in 1967 we went on to win the title. I listened to the Boxing Day game on the radio, which was torture – “it’s Manchester City on the ball, oops Albion have scored, where did that one come from?” Then “City on the attack, and the ball is in the back of the net, no it’s kicked off the line….” Heart atta ck stuff as we lost 3-2, then on the Saturday we lost 2-0 with Tony ‘Bomber' Brown’ scoring a belter for them. 44,897 at Albion and 45, 754 at Maine Road.
Here’s the It’s A Fix extract from KK193 :

18) MONDAY DECEMBER 26TH WEST BROM (AWAY) KO 3PM
The Baggies celebrate their second season in the Prem (this time) Trophyless now since winning the F A Cup in 1968, Recent connection none really since the days of Owen, Barnes, etc. 129th League meeting
Last season : We played them three times, twice at The Hawthorns. First in the Carling Cup third round in September when, with a very young team, and despite Jo putting us one up (19) we lost 2-1, to goals in the 55th and 57th minute. Crowd was 10,418 with 1380 Blues. We made amends though in November when two goals from Mario (20, 26) who was later sent off, clinched the win. They also finished with ten men. Crowd was 23,013 with 1880 Blues.
At COMS in February it was a 3-0 City win, Carlos getting a hat-trick with goals in the 17th pen, 22nd, and 36th pen minutes. Crowd was 46,846 with 2244 Baggies.
This season so far : They’re in 10th place with 21 points from 17 games and 2 wins 1 draw and 4 losses at home. They’re doing better away, winning their last two at Newcastle and Blackburn than at home, where they’ve lost the last two v Spurs and Wigan. So a tricky one as they try and get back to winning ways at home.
In the Carling Cup they won at Birmingham 4-1 but lost at Everton 2-1 in the 4th round.
In the FA Cup they’ve drawn Cardiff at home.
Our League form down there picked up with last season’s win, following three losses, 1-2, 0-2, 1-2. after the 2-1 win in 2002/03.
Comment : An indifferent season so far for Woy’s boys. Like most Prem clubs though, on their day they can give anyone a game especially at home in the tight, compact and atmospheric Hawthorns. Another win for our boys? Oh yes.
Ground is the same as on our last visit, plenty of local car parks and it’s dead handy to the M5 from the A41.
Past visits have been uncomfortable with over officious stewards, and long queues at the few opened turnstiles. City fans were still made to walk all round the ground to get back to the cars parked on the main stand side. Bit different from COMS, where away fans get priority.
Tickets are £40
Post code is : B71 4LF
WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 9,134 in 1986/87, this season they’re averaging 24,788.

The Hawthorns capacity: 28,003 (1500? For City)

Then later this week on Thursday night we’ve got a night at The Etihad for City’s FPA with Pete MaClaine and the Clan performing. Friday it’s a Programme Fair at the Cresta Court Hotel Alty from 11am, Hope to sell a few books, and pick up a few progs!
Enjoy the rest of Christmas and have a great day tomorrow
Dave

GFriday

2011-12-23T18:13:00.001Z

Friday
Busy week for us delivering the Us and Them book to Thackerays in Denton, Simply Books in Bramhall and another twenty to Waterstones in Stockport.
Wednesday night it was Stoke at home on a fine dry one and it was an unexpected stroll to win 3-0, we really are that good these days. Mince pies were handed round tonight and everyone was in jovial mood. Rags won 5-0 at Fulham though so hot on our tails.
Hansen is now in trouble with his references to coloureds, Terry awaits trial and Suarez is banned for 8 matches. Liverpool just don’t get it do they? Text from a Liverpool fan : Breaking News : The FA have handed Andy Carroll an eight game run in the Liverpool first team. The club are set to appeal. But before we start gloating about cheat Suarez missing the City games just remember that Carroll ALWAYS scores against us. OK he didn’t in the last game but came mighty close near the end.
Can we at KK wish everyone a Merry Christmas.
Cheers
Dave

Wednesday

2011-12-21T13:45:00.000Z

Wednesday
Fantastic game and result v Arsenal. Funniest moment was everyone joining in with the Gary Neville chant, even though he’s been fairly generous towards us in his punditry. Sammy Nasri, labelled a flop in the manumirror was named motmatch though one or two others had great games too, Zab particularly – model pro.

Tonight it’s Stoke at home, here’s the it’s A Fix extract :
17) WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21ST STOKE (HOME) KO 7.45PM
Stoke are now into their 4th Prem league season. Last, and only trophy was the League Cup in 1972. Recent connections are Carlo Nash and Glen Whelan, plus superb radio summariser Nigel Gleghorn, City one week, Stoke the next, won’t know who to support! It’s the 85th league meeting.
Last season : At The Britannia in November, with the snow all around it was a 1-1 draw. Micah scored in the 81st minute but with the game wrapped up we gifted them an equaliser in the 90th by Etherington. Joe’s hands being cold. Crowd was 27,405 with 2,836 perishin’ Blues.
Then it was, unforgettably, the FA Cup final in May. City ran out 1-0 winners with Ya-Ya’s goal in the 74th minute ending 35 years of hurt in front of 88,643.
Just a few days after the final we played them at COMS winning comfortably 3-0 with Carlos (14, 65) and Joleon (53) scoring the goals. The cup wasn’t paraded with respect to the Stokies, tho not many turned up understandably. Crowd was 45,103 as we eased into 3rd place.
This season so far : They’re currently in 8th place with 24 points from 16 games and 3 wins 1 draw and 4 losses away from home.
In the Carling Cup they beat Spurs at home 7-6 on pens after 0-0, but went out to Liverpool at home 2-1.
In Europa they’re doing well, seeing off Hadjuk Split, FC Thun, Macc tel Aviv, drawn twice 1-1 with Dynamo Kiev and have beaten Besiktas 2-1 at home.
In the FA Cup they’ve drawn Gillingham away.
Our form in Manc v Stoke : They’ve had only one win here in the last 8 league meetings, 1-0 in 97/98, whilst City have won the other 7, so it’s looking good.
Comment : They’ve added Peter Crouch to their squad so it looks like more of the same up and under. European adventures seems to have affected their form in the Prem but as seen against the rags and at Everton they’re quite capable of pulling off good results and they’ve a score to settle. Tony Pulis came out of last season’s fixtures with a lot of dignity and a few off the field bridges were built, but 3 points is another must have.
WWTWTWShite : Averaged 8,288 in 1985/86, and their current home average is 27,193.

Saturday thoughts

2011-12-18T01:04:00.002Z

Saturday Thoughts
On Thursday I gave a short chat to a smashing group of young BBC people at the swanky Media City followed by a Q and A session which went down quite well, on the subject of credibility. On arrival I was greeted by Cheadle Blue Tommy Muir who works there, and twas aken up to the seminar by Belfast girl Emma whose gran lived on the same street as my relative Sharon (married to BBC N. Ireland’s big cheese Noel – small world).
Friday it was the draw for the Europa League and we got the current holders FC Porto. This would be followed if we win by facing either Legia Warsaw or Sporting Lisbon. Don’t know about you but I dived into my Us and Them book. FC Porto first, never played competitively but friendlies played in 1980/81 away resulting in a 0-0 draw, and in the Thomas Cook Trophy in 2006/07 was a 0-1 home loss, after which we dined Thailand style in Albert Square.
Sporting Lisbon, referred to in Portugal as Sporting Club de Portugal, again just friendlies played 1980/81 won 2-1 away, 1993/94 (searching for the score) away, and 2010/11 in USA lost 2-0.
Legia Warsaw, Kazi Deyna’s old club we lost 2-1 away to in 1979/80 and 5-1 home in 1980/81. Allison’s City being given a footballing lesson, both friendlies.
Papers were full of the Micah/Mario training ground bust up, now smoothed over, then Sammy Nasri referred to as a flop in the manumirror. Not nice.
Today I arose at 7am to do an interview on 5Live at 7.50 and later found out it’s tomorrow so have to have another early start!
Then at lunchtime I met up with Blue Moon and Daisy Cutter contributor Andy Robinson for a chat on City and KOTK at a local hostelry which passed an enjoyable couple of hours.
Today Chelsea drew at Wigan, Sturridge starring again, City’s loss, couldn’t man manage him and sold on for a song, was it ever thus?
Tomorrow it Arsenal, here’s the It’s A Fix extract :
16) SUNDAY DECEMBER 18TH ARSENAL(HOME) KO 4PM
Ever present in the top flight since 1915, last pot the F. A. Cup in 2005, 7 seasons ago. Recent connections Clichy, Toure, Nasri and Adebayor, 167th league meeting.
Last season : At COMS in October it was a 3-0 Arsenal win, Nasri (20), Song (66), Bendtner (88). Boyata was sent off after 5 minutes by Clattenburg which virtually ruined the game as a spectacle. Crowd was 47,393 with 2819 Arses.
At The Emirates on my birthday last January, we ground out a 0-0 draw with Joe performing miracles in nets. Crowd was 60,085 with 1440 Blues
This season so far : They’re in 4th place with 29 points from 15 games and 3 wins 1 draw and 3 losses away from home.
In The Carling Cup it was a recent 1-0 win at The Emirates for the Blues in the quarter final, with Aguero’s late goal clinching it. Crowd was 60,028 with a magnificent 5,226 Blues.
In The Chimps League they’ve already qualified, being the first English club to do so, and now face AC Milan. In the FA Cup they’ve drawn Leeds at home.
At home to Arsenal there’s been 14 games in the Prem and 3 wins (1-0 in 06/07, 3-0 in 2008/09, 4-2 in 2009/10 season) one draw and ten losses.
Comment : Three wins out of the last five at COMS and two away draws plus the recent Carling Cup win means we’re picking up against them after years of heartache.
They’ve recovered from the O/T drubbing and are having the last laugh with progress in the Chimps league. Listen out for “Champions League you’re avin a laugh” or “Thursday nights Europa League (actually Tuesday afternoons!) whilst we regale them with feeder club stuff, and “you’ve never won f*ck all”. Future Blue Van Persie’s on fire, they’ve sorted the goalie problem and they’ve put together some impressive results to take the pressure off Wenger. Today, though, we must put the pressure on.
WWTWTWShite : Their crowds were down to an average of 23,824 in 1985, and this season it’s 59,989.
Don’t forget to pick up your brand new KK193, and pray it doesn’t rain!
Dave

Tuesday

2011-12-14T22:28:00.002Z

Chelsea - gave this one a miss – doing the fanzine, tickets too expensive, difficult to park, live on telly etc etc.
Guess you all saw it – early goal, tearing them apart, penalty not given, chances scorned, Chelsea gradually got back into it, cross to Sturridge not cut out, cross from Sturridge not cut out 1-1. Silly little fouls given away, Ya Ya not punished, crying out for changes, Clichy sent off, penalty for ball to hand, lost 2-1, Cole gloating in the tunnel after the game.
A few years ago they were beating us 6-0 and now they were relieved to hear the final whistle. So only two points clear at the top. A year or so ago you’d think the wheels might be falling off, but now we think we’ll bounce back quickly. Don’t we?
Bring on Arsenal.
Anyway I’m pleased to say that issue 193 is at the printers. Every new issue I wonder what everyone’s gonna find to say in the next one, and all the contributors inevitably come up trumps, which they’ve done yet again this time.
It’s A4 48 pages with a colour front and back cover showing what a wonderful year 2011 has been for us.
This issue includes stuff on the record debt and FFP, 92/83 season review, late goals, Gary Speed, Napoli, Max Woosnam story, tributes to Blues Dot Hill and Colin Brinkley RIP, Us and Them book advert, 35 year book advert (bigger than Us and Them advert, how magnanimous is that!) and all the usual magnificent regulars – Ged, Burf., Neil, Gene, Uncle Ryan, Shell, Paul, Tony, David, Sean, Bryan, Tom, Richard, Simon etc…
It sells at just £2.50 (unbeatable value) is on sale at Aleef (corner of Cross Street and Market Street from Friday afternoon, and can also be purchased for £3.50 (inc P & P) from King Of The Kippax, 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL.
Tomorrow I’m off to Media City to chat to a group of BBC people on credibility, so knees are quaking already – how credible is that?
As for the Us and Them book it’s going into Waterstones Stockport tomorrow afternoon all being well, otherwise you can send off to KOTK with a cheque for £18 inc P and P
Cheers
Dave

2011-12-12T15:57:00.001Z

Well we went out of the Champs league and now drop into Europa. Chance tonight to bounce back, here’s the It’s a fix update :
15) MONDAY DECEMBER 12TH CHELSEA AWAY KO 8 PM
Moved to the dreaded Monday night for TV.
Promoted in 1988/89 (with us) and despite being as daft a club as us until the Harding and Abramovich money came in they‘ve been ever present in the Prem and have picked up a host of trophies missing out only on the European Cup/Champions League. This is the 133rd League meeting. Most recent connection is Danny Sturridge, transferred for a pittance cos we couldn’t handle him.
Last season at COMS in September City registered a 1-0 win, Chelsea’s first defeat, King Carlos netting after 59 minutes. Crowd was 47,203 with 2,844 Chelski
At The Bridge in March it was a disappointing 2-0 loss. Luiz putting them ahead (79), and Ramires clinching it (90) at the death. Crowd was 41,741, with 1452 City.
This season so far they’re in 4th place with 28 points from 14 games.
In the Carling Cup they went out to Liverpool.
In the Chimps league they’re through to the knockout stage and in the FA Cup they’re at home to Pompey.
Our form at the Bridge : Only 2 wins (4-2 in 1992/93, and 2009/10) otherwise it’s been 9 defeats and 3 draws.
Stamford Bridge capacity : 42,420 (1,472 for City)
Comment : Another new manager for Chelsea, but despite playing well it’s been 4 defeats so far in the Prem and Torres hasn’t done much since he stopped dyeing his hair. Never to be underestimated though. Their move from the Bridge has been blocked so far by fans’ groups and Terry has got himself in a mess again with his alleged racist comment slur. All a bit of a pickle which we must take advantage of, though Drogba looks dangerous.
Groundwise: We’re in the Shed Stand behind the goal, ticket prices are hefty again.
WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 12,672 in 1992/93 and this season’s average home attendance is 41,611.
Away Day Zines: The Chelsea Independent, The Westander, Cockney Rebel, Curious Blue, Mathew Harding’s Blue and White Army, Carefree (all as far as we know)
Sat Nav is : SW6 1HS.
Parking is difficult and expensive so the best bet is probably to park up and come in by tube.

Pleased to say that KK 193 is at the printers, more on that shortly
Dave

2011-12-06T23:41:00.002Z

Tuesday
So to Norwich, and another minutes silence/applause for Gary Speed RIP, following the ones at Liverpool and Arsenal. I must admit to becoming uneasy about this. I don’t want to sound unsympathetic or callous as it is a great loss for someone so young and talented, but to put it into perspective we didn’t have a one for Bobby Johnstone, all those years ago, and he was our player, and didn’t take his own life.
Well, after the first half hour or so, it turned out to be the usual comfy win v The Canaries. Rags won 1-0 again and the papers were full of boring, boring united headlines or maybe not. Well not.
I took a few books to the game but the rain hampered proceedings. Currently I’m trying to get it into Waterstones and the City store but at the moment it’s direct sales from KK Towers or outside COMS, or from Karl’s stall behind the store I’m afraid. I’ve sent more copies out to contributors and subscribers and I’ve had a terrific response so far.
Tomorrow it is, of course, Bayern Munich, and here’s the it’s A Fix extract : GAME 14A) WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 7TH BAYERN MUNICH (HOME) EUROPEAN CHAMPS LEAGUE GROUP MATCH 6 KO 7.45 PM
(History reviewed in KK 190)
So far they’ve amassed 13 points to top the group and it’s a must win for City. We then need to hope for a miracle at Villarreal though you would expect them not to want to lose every game, show some pride, and get a result. Unlikely but you never know.
It’s the biggest game we’ve had at the Etihad/COMS and what an occasion. Away fans could be housed on the 3rd tier of the East stand experimentally again, so we’ll see how that works.
Over in Germany, of course we had that 2-0 loss, although we should have had two penalties early doors and that would have made a massive difference. Goals came from Gomez on 38 and 45 minutes and it could have been worse. Well it did get worse as Carlos refused to come on and his never ending saga drags on and on. Crowd was 66,000 with 2905 Blues high up in ye gods.
So far this season they’re still in top but only 1 point clear of Dortmund. Indeed they’ve had a couple of set backs losing to Dortmund and Muntz but bounced back 4-1 against Werder Bremen at weekend. Danger men are Gomez, Ribery and Robben plus they might have ex Blues Boateng and Van Basten in their line up. Let’s make it a great occasion and a vital 3 points or at the very least a prestigious win.
Dave
PS – KK 192 has virtually sold out.

Friday

2011-12-02T18:43:00.002Z

Friday
What a great result at The Emirates. They had a banner declaring “You can’t buy success” – well Aguero’s goal proved that - yes you can!
Tomorrow it’s Norwich, here’s the It’s a Fix extract :
GAME 14) SATURDAY DECEMBER 3RD NORWICH (HOME) KO 3PM
First season back in the Prem. Last trophies - the League Cup in 1962 and 1985. Recent connection : Lee Croft. 49th league meeting. Stephen Fry’s a director.
So they’re back for the first time since 2005 when they went down with Crystal Palace and Southampton. It’s been a rocky road but after losing their first home game 7-1 at home to Colchester in League One they poached manager Paul Lambert from ‘the U’s’ and gained back to back promotions to the Premiership.
Last league meetings were in season 2004/05, City drawing 1-1 at Coms, Flood (11) opening for City and Francis (46) equalising for Norwich. Crowd was 42,803 with 1888 Canaries, and winning 3-2 at Carrow Road after being 2 goals down and Delia doing her infamous “let’s be having you” speech after a drop too much cherry, presumably. Dean Ashton (12) and McKenzie (15) opened for Norwich and Sibierski (24) and Foweler (37, 90) clinched it for City. Crowd was 24,302 with 1159 Blues.
This season so far, they’re in 10th place with 16 points from 13 games and 1 win 2 draws and 3 losses away from home.
In the Carling Cup they got a bit of a spanking losing 4-0 at home to MK Dons.
Form at home to Norwich : they’ve only managed 2 league wins in Manc (2-0 in 1964/65 and 2-1 in 1997/98) Otherwise it’s been 17 wins and 6 draws in the 25 meetings for the Blues.
Comment : We’ve always enjoyed good results against the Canaries even when we were shite so you’d expect us to pick up the 3 points today and continue our winning ways. They’ve been playing open attractive football which should suit us too, but have a match winner in Pilkington, (ex Ath Colls?) but not today. We keep waiting for the banana skin but Norwich’s away form espesh at City don’t look likely that it’ll be today!
WWTWTWShite? Averaged 13,750 in 1968/69 so not bad, and this season it’s 26,276.

Pleased to say that I’ve posted out the first batch of ‘Us and Them’ books, and also a reminder to you all that the deadline for the next KOTK, number 193 is next Tuesday.

Cheers
Dave

2011-11-29T00:59:00.000Z

Monday
Yesterday’s game ended 1-1 to the referee. We thought the days of biased refs at Anfield had gone, but they were back on Sunday with a vengeance. Thank you Martin Atkinson.
Things paled into insignificance though with the shock news of Gary Speed. RIP.
Tomorrow it’s Arsenal in the Carling Cup, and I hear we’ve sold 5,000 tickets. Here’s the it’s A Fix extract : GAME 13A) TUESDAY NOVEMBER 29TH : ARSENAL AWAY CARLING CUP 5TH ROUND
Six meetings so far in the League Cup :
No joy at all until season 2009/10, with Arsenal going through in five, City just the once.
1977/78 5th rd : 0-0 home, replay 0-1 away
1985/86 3rd rd : 1-2 home
1986/87 3rd rd ; 1-3 away
1990/91 3rd rd : 1-2 home
2004/05 3rd rd : 1-2 home
2009/10 5th rd : 3-0 home (46,015, 4,787 Arses)
So far in the Carling Cup they’ve beaten Shrewsbury 3-1 at home, and Bolton 2-1 also at home.

The Emirates Capacity : 60,355 (5,000 or so for City?)

Our form at Arsenal is dreadful. Last 2 seasons we’ve managed 0-0 draws but haven’t scored for 4 games and haven’t won there since 1975 so by the law of averages we must be due a win?
Currently in the league they’ve recovered from that 8-2 mauling at the swamp and are now in 7th place with 23 points from 13 games with 5 wins 1 draw and 1 loss at home, having just drawn with Fulham.
In the Chimps league, they’ve beaten Udinese 3-1 on aggregate in the preliminary round, drawn 1-1 with Dortmund away, beaten Olympiacos 2-1 at home, and Marseille away 1-0 and drawn at home 0-0, and have just beaten B. Dortmund 2-1 at home to qialify with Olympiacos yet to play away.
Van Persie’s cracking em in and is the danger if he plays, and whilst we don’t know which team Wenger will put out surely we can win and progress?
Tickets are £10 and have been snapped up.
Parking’s crap and the City pub is normally The Drayton Arms
WWTWTWShite? Averaged 23,824 in 1985, and are at 59,930 this season, as they celebrate 125 tears of existance.
Away day zine is The Gooner, who swap with KK and is a very professional production.

Saturday night

2011-11-27T00:12:00.002Z

Saturday
It was an early Monday morning (up at 4am) for the 7.30am flight to Naples on Spike’s trip, which included, shall we say, plenty of seasoned City travellers, and we arrived late morning. After a short delay, (someone had lost their wallet) we were coached to Sorrento with a police escort. There followed an incredible piece of manouvring and driving by our driver. Three solid lanes of traffic were opened up miraculously by the police and the coaches steamed in and out and through as though it was a Sunday morning breeze down a leafy Cheshire lane.
We holed up in the majestic Hilton hotel and found our room was next to that of Barry and Yvonne who we last met up with in Portsmouth for the ill fated postponed game a few years ago.
We love Sorrento. Had a nice meal outside in one of the many cafes, then strolled through the town, chatting and nodding to fellow Blues, most of whom we’ve met over many years. “Better than that Tuesday night in Lincoln, eh?” The Sorrentorians specialise in inlay and marquetry and the display in the shops was breathtaking if you like that sort of thing, which we do. Then a further stroll took us to a cliff top area where we looked over the harbour towards Capri (where united fans shovel shit!). We met a couple of tremendous Blues, Steve, who now lives in Bristol, and Ian, who now lives in Edinburgh, and was in IT. We swapped tales of the modern way of team building, mission statements and flying geese and all that bollox. There was a group of American girls who asked us to take some photos of them which Ian duly did. Where are you from they asked “Manchester” I said “and the last time an American lady asked me that she thought I meant from New Hampshire” “No, when I think of Manchester I think of Manchester united” We nearly threw her over the cliff. I’d broken my rule of saying Manchester City when foreigners ask where I’m from!
Back to the hotel where we crashed out then had a snack before deciding to head off into town. However we were advised not to as there were reports of trouble between the local youths and, sadly, City fans on each other. Blues were herded back to the hotel where on police advice the bar was shut.
Got an early morning call from 5Live, then it was off to (Hiyo) Pompeii with Steve and Ian and fellow Blues all wearing their colours naturally.
It’s seen better days of course, but it was a fascinating place, and we entered the auditorium where Pink Floyd played that time. The outside architecture was similar to that of some modern day Italian footy grounds. We met some Americans and one of them said he liked Manchester City because of Oasis. Yes. (anyone see Ollie Murrs on Loose Women saying he’s a massive man u supporter, and he’s done a video on them? Soft twat. Sally Lindsay didn’t give the sad bastard enough stick. Disgraceful. No wonder….) Then it was back to Sorrento and the escorted coach trip to the stadium which was well organised.
Tremendous atmosphere in the ground despite the running track, but the place was crumbling and the amount of steelwork holding up the roof was completely OTT compared with modern designs. The ladies toilets, I’m told were a disgrace, and the City fan letting off fireworks was an embarrassment. Roberto’s team selection was a surprise, and we paid the penalty with a 2-1 loss (the same as at Lincoln!) Napoli fans booed our every touch and gave out those war time type rally chants. Blue Tony Dempsey told us he and his Yorkie mates had drank in the city bars and were subjected to confrontations with the mastiffs which they laughed off. One approached wearing shades and was told “what’s up with thee, is tha blind?” We await Tony’s after the match report. Then it was back to the airport without much bother and home for 4am in the morning. A great trip spoilt only by the result, and let’s face it, they could have had a couple more.

So we’ve had all the gutter press stories about £194M debt to go into the Europa league, and the Napoli President has spouted off a load of bollocks about City whilst ignoring the fact that he should put his own house in order. What an opportunity Naples had to earn some tourist money to help the poverty stricken place prosper, because they can’t control themselves.

Pleased to say that the Us and Them book arrived on Friday so a busy time ahead to send em all out.

Today Newcastle did us a favour, getting a pen at O/T when Rio took out the ball AND the man. Fergie’s nose was a joy to watch as the excuses came out, and it went from red to deep purple. Lovely. No wonder everyone hates them! Spurs won with Adebayor starring and they look like a real threat. So to tomorrow’s game, here is the It’s a fix extract : GAME 13) SUNDAY NOVEMBER 27TH LIVERPOOL AWAY KO 4PM
Their last promotion was in 1962, since when they’ve won the lot but no title since 1990, and their last pot was the F A Cup in 2006. Most recent connections : Craig Bellamy
It’s the 51st Lg meeting.
Last season At COMS in August we battered them 3-0, with goals from Barry (14) and Tevez (52,68P) Crowd was 47,087 with 2698 Scousers
At Anfield though in April, Roberto’s team selection surprised Blues fans and we crashed to two Carroll goals (13, 35) and one from Kuyt (34) for a 3-0 defeat. Crowd was 44,776 with 2841 Blues. This was just days before the FA Cup semi-final showdown with the rags, and we were despondent but after the Wembley win we’ve never looked back.
This season so far : They’re currently in 7th place with 22 points from 12 games, having won at Chelsea, with 2 wins 4 draws and 0 losses at home.
In the Carling Cup they’re away at Chelsea in the quarter final after seeing off Exeter, Brighton and Stoke, all away.
Form in Liverpool : Prior to last season’s loss, we drew 2-2 in 2009/10 and 1-1 in 2008/09, but after our rare 2-1 win in 2002/03 it was 5 straight losses.
Comment : After Kenny’s (why did he ever leave?) January spending spree further money was spent on Henderson, Adams and Downing but they’re not ruining the game oh no. They had a pop at our naming rights deal then MD Ian Ayre tried to persuade the big teams that they should strike their own TV deals, but met with much derision.
We’ve generally struggled at Liverpool, Carroll has always been a threat, and Suarez is a star, tho’ tainted by the Evra situation, (not proven). Roberto must have learned from last year’s debacle and it really is time we did the business here.
Justice for the 96.
Groundwise it’s just the same and we’re in our usual stand and ticket prices are £48.

Anfield Capacity : 45,362 (3,000 for City)

Wwtwtwshite : Av’d 22,742 in 31/32, and this season it's 44,932.
Parking is always a problem, but the Arkles pub is always welcoming provided we behave ourselves
Sat Nav L4 0TH

Sunday

2011-11-20T21:08:00.002Z

Sunday
Good result v Newcastle, as usual. A few scares, and Vinny a current worry. We played some exquisite stuff not reflected on MOTD needless to say. Nice day for it and great KK sales.
We’re off to Napoli next, here’s the It’s A fix extract :
Game 12A) TUESDAY NOVEMBER 22ND NAPOLI (AWAY) EUROPEAN CHAMPS LEAGUE GROUP MATCH 5 KO 7.45PM
(History reviewed in KK 190, and see Liverpool/Napoli article in KK 192)
So far they’ve drawn 1-1 with City, beaten Villarreal 2-0 at home, drawn 1-1 with Bayern Munich at home, and lost 3-2 away, to give them 5 points.
The game at home showed us what to expect. Napoli played some fast direct football and went one up in the 69th minute through Cavan. It looked curtains for the Blues until Kolarov foxed their goalie with a free kick in the 75th minute. Crowd was 44,026 with 2533 mean looking Naps.
Napoli is in the south west of Italy on the coast. The Eds visited there last year on holiday and were disappointed. After spending half a day in beautiful Sorrento we journeyed back to Napoli where we were told we must have a Pizza as it is the birthplace of the dish. We did and it was the worst one we’ve ever had, and couldn’t finish it! Then we strolled around the town, where people were friendly and helpful, but we couldn’t miss the beggers and tramps taking food out of the waste skips, and waste disposal is an issue.
So this is a tricky trip for Blues and we’re well aware we must be on our toes and have eyes in the back of our heads. Liverpool fans were stabbed last year and Bayern fans this so we are well aware of the dangers. So just be careful out there, strength in numbers and all that.
Napoli first played at the Stadio Georgio Ascarelli from 1926 but under Nazi influence changed it to Stadio Partenopeo owing to its Jewish connotations. It was destroyed in WW2 bombings and the club moved to the Stadio Collano in the Vomero district, but in 1943 the Neopolitans turned on their German allies and suffered many reprisals as a result.
In 1957 Stadio San Paulo was built, opened in 1959, in the outlying district of Fuorigrota, capacity 85,012 all seated but fans stood up on the upper levels.
They averaged crowds of 70,000 but due to riots and pitch invasions, fences and a moat were installed. It survived an earthquake in 1980 measuring 7 points on the Richter scale but noise from their supporters is reported to also get close. It did become an international venue, and aided by millionaire president Achille Lauro (not allowed now of course) Napoli won the double in 1987 with Maradona, Kun’s dad-in-law. Facilities were upgraded and capacity to 86,000 but was down to 74,000 for the 1990 World Cup. They’ve had a bloke throwing salt on the pitch for luck, one dressed as a Mexican walking round the pitch crashing cymbals, have wheeled out a donkey as a mascot and have a ceramic tile representing the Madonna in an inner sanctum for those who wish to pay respects.
Capacity is now 60,240 and they’re the 4th best supported team in Italy. This season they’re in 6th place with 15 points from 10 games, and 4 wins 3 draws and 3 losses.
Mario Balotelli did, of course, get involved innocently with the Camorra, but having observed a drug den is now reported to be a police witness. Bloody hell what next? If he escapes without being kidnapped or anything we’ll do well! So we’re in for an interesting visit, let’s hope we can return home, safe and sound, with the points we need.
Stadio San Paulo Capacity : 60,240 (2,800 for City?)
Tickets are £25
On the night you’d expect a comfortable win for Bayern at home to Villarreal.

Friday

2011-11-19T00:31:00.001Z

Something I missed a couple of weeks ago on Saturday AM. After the 6-1 they had a couple of pumpkins on the table with a 1 and a 6 on them. Mysteriously after the break they were turned around. A case of the manumafia striking again? No wonder everyone hates them!
Tomorrow it’s Newcastle. Can we burst their bubble? Here’s the It’s A fix extract :Game 12) SATURDAY NOVEMBER 19TH NEWCASTLE HOME KO 3PM
Second season back in the Prem. Last, and only pot since they beat us in the FA Cup final in 1955 is the 1969 Inter Cities Fairs Cup. Recent connection is Shay Given. This is the 151st League meeting.
Last season, in October at COMS it was a 2-1 home win for City with Tevez opening (18 p) Gutierrez equalising (24) and Johno clinching it (75). Game infamous for Nige’s tackle on Ben Arfa which put him out for a few months and sent the manumediamafia into overdrive. Crowd was 46.067 with 2,614 Geordies.
Up there in late December it was a 3-1 City win, Barry (2) and Tevez (5) giving us a good start but Carroll netting (72) giving us the jitters until Carlos made it 3-1 ( 81) Crowd was 51, 635 with 2,808 Blues.
This season so far, they’re doing incredibly well and are in 3rd place with 25 points from 11 games and 3 wins 2 draws and no losses away from home.
In the Carling Cup they lost a thriller at Blackburn 3-4 aet, after seeing off Scunthorpe and Forest away.
Form at home to Newcastle: We’ve lost only once (0-1 in 00/01) in the last 12 meetings.
Comment: The boys from the Sports Direct Arena (oh dear, and I bet Exeter City are pleased!) are the surprise team of the season, (despite Fergie flop Obertan), particularly after last season’s upheavals – Hughton going, Pardew coming in and starman Carroll going to Liverpool for £35M. Ba’s on fire but our strong home form against them usually sees us through and you wouldn’t expect anything different today.
Usual wind up which really gets up their (and our!) nose is “where were you….”
WWTWTWShite? Crowds averaged 16,001 in 1980/81 and are up to 46,111 this, the Ashley disgust still causing 5,000 or so to stay away, and who can blame them?
Dave

Wednesday

2011-11-16T18:26:00.001Z

Wednesday
England beat Sweden at Wembley for the first time in ages with a goal from Gareth Barry. Joe Hart and James Milner also appeared.
Anyway we are pleased to announce that King Of the Kippax fanzine number 192, should hit the outlet at Aleef (Corner of Cross Street/Market Street) on Friday November 18th and the selling points around the Etihad at the Newcastle and subsequent games.
KK192 is a 48 page A4 issue with a front cover showing, inevitably, Roberto celebrating the 6-1 with the caption : Bob On, and on, and on etc.
This issue includes stuff on the 6-1, A Liverpool fan’s experience at Napoli; Rise and fall of Manchester City 1894 to 1904, Andy Morrison and Dennis Tueart book reviews, Hillsborough, HWIFYou (we’ve won every game in this issue) Tevez (yawn), Adam and Micah, Alan Turing Way, Hughes, Us and Them book advert, and all the usual magnificent regulars – Ged, Burf., Neil, Gene, Uncle Ryan, Shell, Paul, Tony, David, Sean, Bryan, Tom, Richard, Simon etc…
It sells at just £2.50 (unbeatable value) and can also be purchased for £3.50 (inc P & P) from King Of The Kippax, 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL.
Next up Newcastle, preview shortly.
Dave

Friday

2011-11-11T15:36:00.002Z

Good performance and win at Villarreal. Gave it a miss as was getting the Us and Them book finalised, and managed to get it off to the printers before departing for QPR. 5.30pm kick off meant a lie in and late start and good road conditions meant arriving in plenty of time. Parking was surprisingly OK too. Entrance to the upper tier had its very own security fence round it. Merson at the end of last season said he thought that QPR would come straight back down as Loftus Road isn’t an intimidating place. Well they did their best, crowd booing our every touch, throwing the ball away from our players at throw ins, but generally giving their team good support, to no avail. A steward came up to me and asked me to sit down as the woman behind me had complained that she couldn’t see. “That’s my wife” I said, and off he toddled without a word to the hundreds of Blues stood up in front of me. We were wasteful in front of goal and were sweating at the end but hung on for a 3-2 win.
Rags beat Sunderland 1-0 and had a penalty decision against them reversed. Haven’t seen it so can’t comment.
So City remain 5 points clear, but not a “City upstage United” article anywhere. No wonder…..
Travelled over to South Wales after the game and went to Cardiff Bay on the Sunday. Now whilst it wasn’t the warmest day, I have to report not a single rag shirt spotted. Result!
We are currently on with KK 192, the 6-1 special, and it's coming on fine. We hope to be at the pr inters on Monday ,out on Friday, in the shop at Aleef and on the streets for Newcy at home next Saturday.
So it's international time again so let's hope we're clear of injuries by next week.
Enjoy the weekend off
Dave

Friday

2011-11-04T18:03:00.002Z

Friday
Good performance and win at Villarreal. Been busy getting the book finalised and it should be off to the printers this weekend, and back by the end of November.
Also a reminder to all that deadline for KK 192, the 6-1 special is next Tuesday, send us your pics, stories and jokes.
Tomorrow it’s QPR and another win is essential. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract :

Game11) SATURDAY NOVEMBER 5TH QPR (AWAY) KO 5.30 PM
They’re back in the Prem for the first time since season 1995/96 when they went down with our very own Manchester City, and Bolton Wanderers. It’s been a long haul back and they even had to sweat it out at the death to see if they would be allowed up by the FA owing to player registration complications. But here they are, and good to have them back.
Last, and only trophy was the League Cup in 1967, oh Rodney, Rodney….most recent connections are SWP and Joey Barton.
This season so far they’re in 12th place with 12 points from 10 games.
Form at QPR - after the 2-1 win in 1950/51 we went 9 league games without a win until the 3-1 in 1989/90. Since then it’s been 4 losses 3 draws and 2 wins (1-0 in 1993/94; 2-1 in 1994/95) We drew 1-1 in our last meeting in 1999/2000. It’s been a long time.
Comment : Welcome boardroom changes made, Tony Fernandez taking over, but not an easy start for Warnock’s men even though they’ve picked up a few points, and strengthened with the addition of SWP and Joey . They had a good win home to 9 man Chelsea, but lost at Spurs. C’mon it’s got to be another three points and some goals hasn’t it?
Groundwise looking a bit worse for wear now is Loftus Road. Tickets will be in short supply even at the high price they’re charging - £50 and £55 and we’ve got the upper AND lower tiers in the stand behind the goal with its diabolical views in the upper..
Loftus Road Capacity : 18,000 (1500 for City?)
WWTWTWShite : Averaged 5670 in 1964/65, and last season it was 15,635 (81.7% capacity) and this season it’s around 16,530.
Away day zine is still A Kick Up the R’s (Pete Doherty reputedly edited ‘All Quiet on The Western Avenue’) and celeb fans include Ian Gillan, Bill Bailey and Robert Smith amongst many others.
QPR is one of the more accessible London grounds. No doubt they’ll have cocked the street parking up though so that’s a lottery no doubt.
Sat Nav : W12 7PA
Pubs : Moon on Green, Walkabout bar in Shepherds Bush, also Springbok possibly.

Monday

2011-10-31T18:03:00.002Z

Monday, Monday
Wolves on a Saturday at 3pm nice. Carling cup draw has us paired with Arsenal away. Not nice. Rags got Palace at home. Surely a Fix? Could’ve been Cardiff I suppose?
Anyway, nice day for it just. Rags won at Everton, Arse at Chelsea (now in crisis?)
We made hard work of it but got there in the end. Two vital wins against Wolves after the 6-1, and discarding that Typical City tag. Let’s hope so.
So, still 5 points clear. You can never write off the rags especially as Anthony Clavane in the manumirror has the 6-1 down as a “blessing in disguise” so that should make all the rags feel better about it!? No “City upstage united” articles again, what’s going on?
Wednesday night it’s Villarreal, - here’s the It’s a Fix extract :
10A) WEDNESDAY NOVEMBER 2ND VILLARREAL (AWAY) EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP MATCH 4 KO 7.45PM
It’s the return match with Villarreal and nothing less than 3 points will do.
Groundwise it is one of the most interesting and colourful, we’ve ever played in, with blue and yellow seating. Named El Madrigal its capacity is only 25,000, tickets are £50 and we’ve sold out of our 1500 allocation.
Looking at the structure beneath the stands, doing the Poznan might be dodgy, and it’s quite open so remember the rain in Spain, falls mainly on the away fans. I think you’ve gottit!
Recap
They were founded in March 1923, just a few months before Maine Road opened to ‘promote all sports, especially football.’
They played in the regional and the lower leagues until 1998 when they reached the Primera Liga. They were immediately relegated but promoted again in 2000. In 2002 they were defeated in the final of the Intertoto cup to Malaga 2-1 but won it in 2003 defeating Heerenveen to enter the UEFA Cup reaching the semi-final being defeated by Valencia the eventual winners.
In 2004 they defended the Intertoto beating Atletico Madrid but lost in the quarter final of the UEFA cup to AZ Alkmaar, but finished 3rd in La Liga, Diego Forlan, yet another Fergie flop, being top scorer in the league with 25 goals.
In the Champions league in 2005/06 they defeated Everton in the play offs drew both games against united, and with good results v OSC Lille and Benfica advanced to the last 16. Again good results V Rangers and Inter took them to the semis where they lost out to Arsenal 0-1 and 0-0.
In 2006/07 they lost to Maribor in the Intertoto and in 2008 they finished 2nd to Real Madrid in La Liga and reached the last 32 of the UEFA cup losing to eventual winners Zenith St Petersburg.
The club are based in the east of Spain in the province of Castellon, just north of Valencia.
Club colours date back to 1947. White shirts and black shorts were unavailable when the son of the then president visited Valencia to purchase so he had to settle for yellow shirts and black shorts. The players didn’t like the shorts so white ones were purchased and dyed blue. Since 2003 however yellow shorts have been adopted.
Because of the all yellow kit the club’s nickname is El Submarino Amarillo (the yellow submarine) The mascot Groguet, Little Yellow is characterised as a submarine in human form!
The squad includes the usual Spanish names of Lopez, Sanchez, Rossi etc.
Last season they finished 4th but this season they’re in the bottom half of La Liga and have already lost to Bayern Munich, Napoli, ans narrowly to ourselves in the Champs League, when we scored that last minute winner, and Kun would them up - allegedly!
Current coach is Juan Carlos Garrido.
Enjoy the trip.
Dave

Dear King of the Kippax,Can you put the info below in the fanzine please. Might be a few who fancy a trip to Benidorm - as there are cheap flights and good beer.Benidorm Sports and Social are putting coaches on from the Union Jack sports bar at 40 Euro, all cash to be paid on the day.Dave is taking bookings from anyone interested.Thanks.---------------------Villareal v Man City - 2nd November 2011Organized return coaches from Benidorm Sports and Social are to leave the Union Jack bar in Benidorm at 2pm. 40 Euro return.13 years experience of organising tours and events on the Costa Blanca.Contact DaveTel :0034 626 270 860Email : benidormsportsandsocial@yahoo.co.uk

Friday/Saturday

2011-10-29T10:55:00.002+01:00

Friday night/Saturday morning
Wolves in the League Cup, and it looked a bit dodgy at 0-1, but we bounced back sensationally, banging in 5.
So, a fine night all round, and we look forward cautiously but confidently to playing them again today. Good articles on David Platt and Mario in the Guardian, by the way. Here we go with the It’s A Fix extract :

GAME 10) SATURDAY OCTOBER 29TH WOLVES (HOME) KO 3PM
Third season this time in the Prem, most recent connections are Keith Curle, Mark Kennedy, Joleon Lescott. Last pot was the Lg Cup in 1980. 111th Lg meeting
Last season in October at Molineux it was a 2-1 loss, City opening through Adebayor (23p), with Wolves equalising through Milljas (30) and going ahead through Edwards (57) Crowd was 25,971 with 2505 Blues, in a massively disappointing performance, with strange substitutions, and on the field spats between City players which gave the press a field day, another one.
At COMS in January it was a 4-3 win, Milijas opening for Wolves (12) with City going 4-1 up through K Toure (40), Tevez (49,66) and YY Toure (54) then letting Wolves back in frustratingly through Doyle (68p) and Zubar (86)
Crowd was 46,672 with 2843 Wolves, City going top with 45 points.
This season so far they’re in 16th place with 8 points from 7 games and 1 away win, 1 draw and 1 loss. We’ve just played them in the Carling and won 5-2 so let’s hope it’s not a revenge mission for them!
At home to Wolves, season’s 2001/02 1-0 reversed their three 1-0 wins against us at M/Rd. In 03/04 it was a 3-3 draw as they headed for the drop, and we’ve won the last two, 1-0 and 4-3.
Comment - after staying up by the skin of their teeth last season they had a flying start but then hit the skids. Hunt has always been a thorn in our side for some reason, but not on Wednesday night, and Jarvis did well against us at their place last year, but really, we need to keep up the momentum with another three points and a few goals.
Wind ups are Wanky, wanky wanky wanky Wanderers, Going down, going down, going down, small town in Walsall, You’re not famous anymore,
WWTWTWShite? Crowds averaged 4,020 in 1985/86, so don’t let them chant “Where were you when you were shit” and averaged 27,622 last (94.6% full) now stand at 22,657 this season whilst the new stand goes up.
The Tevez saga rumbles on, and the fact remains that he DID refuse to come on at Munich, so all that PFA stuff is bollox.
Dave

Wednesday

2011-10-26T13:24:00.002+01:00

Wednesday
How about that then? Was asked to go on 5Live on Sunday morning at the crack of dawn, and after agreeing was told it’d be with Micky Thomas. So I got geared up but strangely it wasn’t the usual rag brag situation and I sensed they really were worried. Quite rightly. Went with youngest son and grandson and it’s hard to express the feelings of pride we had. If ever a club and its fans deserved a day like this then it’s us. The rest of the world was jubilant too and QPR did us a favour beating Chelsea
Look forward to receiving all the stories for the next KK. Wasn’t it quiet on Warwick Road on the way out? Just 3 more points and a double whammy of + 5 for us and - 5 for them on the goal difference
Anyway it’s Wolves twice this week and the old typical City would lose both games. I don’t think this City will, these are important games and we need to win both to show that we really are the real deal this time.Here’s the It’s A fix extract : GAME 9A) WEDNESDAY OCTOBER 26TH WOLVES (AWAY) KO 7.45PM
In the League Cup there’s been three meetings so far. First was in 1971/72 when City came back from 3-1 down to win 4-3 at home in the 2nd round, but went out at Bolton in the next. Then it was the 1974 Final which Wolves somehow won 2-1, despite City’s forward line of Lee, Bell, Marsh, Law and Summerbee. Mike Bailey running it for Wolves and goalie Pearce having a blinder for them.
Then, after both City (1976) and Wolves (1980) had won it again it was then the two legged second round in 1987/88. Wolves won 2-1 at Maine Road, their fans supposedly being banned, (foxing Bernardo Halfordo) but City winning the second leg at Molineux 2-0 to go through, eventually being knocked out at Everton in the quarter final.
So far in the Carling Cup they’ve beaten Millwall 5-0 at home and Northampton 4-0 away, so they’re obviously taking it pretty seriously. With our stuttering start so far in the Champs League, City probably need to take it seriously too, and Roberto needs to put out a strong team.

Molineux Capacity : 30,000 ( 2,700 for City if required)

At Molineux since the 1-4 in 1999/2000 it’s been 2 wins (2-0 in 2001/02; 3-0 in 2009/10) and 2 losses (0-1 in 2003/04; and 1-2 last season – when they told us they’d prefer their team spirit to our wealth – yawn) Home form has been dodgy this season with one win, one draw and three losses. They were dreadful on Saturday v Swansea but Mick got them outta jail with crafty substitutions, sticking two fingers up to the vociferous doubters.
The ground was completely re-developed by 1993, but ambitious plans are in place to increase the capacity to 50,000. First phase is the replacement of the Stan Cullis stand with a new two tier 7,700 job complete with megastore, museum, café, hospitality facilities and video screen. It will extend into the north east corner to house the away fans and take the capacity up to 31,700. It will be ready for next season and is partly being utilised at present. MOTD cameras finally gave an overview but we’ll still wait until after our visit before updating the ground diagram. City fans are in the lower tier of the Steve Bull stand and we’re taking 2,700 despite only 1380 going to West Brom last year.
Tickets are £19.
(* Info from Groundtastic, 21, Tiptree Grove, Wickford, Essex, SS12 9AL)
There’s some handy car parks nearby and you can grab a bite at the local supermarket if you don’t fancy a pint at the Goalpost on RHS just before Wolves ground.
Away day zine A Load Of Bull, who swapped with KK, has now disappeared which is a shame.
Sat Nav is : WV1 4QR
Dave
PS Carlos why doesn't he just apologise and forget all this sueing shite?

aftermath

2011-10-24T23:05:00.000+01:00

At Ewood Park they announced that City were winning 3-0. Both sets of fans erupted (so much for City replacing United/Chelsea as the most hated team in the Premier League)

After the game I kept a low profile and made my way to the Cricket ground. I found myself on a bus to Piccadilly with a load of gloomy Rags, most of whom were from Northern Ireland.
One of them turned to me and said, “Strewth, I can’t remember the last time we let in five goals at home”
I didn’t have the heart to tell him.
Neil Shaw

6-1

2011-10-24T16:09:00.001+01:00

"united involved in seven goal thriller"
Dave

Ps

2011-10-23T01:28:00.002+01:00

Ps - some idea at the swamp of having bins to ditch our Tevez shirts in exchange for new ones. Can't really go along with this - OK for rags, but not for me, what about you?
Dave

Saturday

2011-10-22T20:34:00.002+01:00

Saturday
The papers are full of it – the biggest derby ever – and how we’ll never match united, that legend Darren Fletcher having a pop. We are City, super City….and we certainly don’t give a toss about the despicables, and their pathetic sordid history.
Here’s the it’s A Fix extract – GAME 9) SUNDAY OCTOBER 23RD uNITED (AWAY) KO 1.30 PM
Prem. division regulars, last pot Prem title 2011,
Recent connection Owen Hargreaves, this is the 145th league meeting.
Last season at COMS on a November Wednesday night it was a 0-0 bore draw in front of 47,228 with 2617 rags. Over at the swamp in February it was a 2-1 loss, Nani (41), Silva equalising (65) then Rooney 78) clinching it for them. Crowd was 75,322 with 2977 impeccables.To the big one then and in the FA Cup semi at Wembley in April, with no one giving City a prayer, Ya Ya popped in the winner in the 52nd minute with Scholes getting sent off for the real bitters and after taking the pee for 35 years (at least) the rags showed they couldn't take it by getting all mardy, mardy at the end. Diddums.
This season so far – they won the Community Shield beating us 3-2 at Wembley. Lescott (38) and Dzeko (45) opened the scoring but Smalling (52) Nani (58,90) clinched it for them. So they went 2 down, got the winner from a daft mistake in injury time but classed it as “giving us a footballing lesson!” No wonder everyone hates them. As for Stretford flags, where was the “Liverpool, trophy free zone “ one? Tossers.
They’re in second spot with 20 points from 8 games and 4 wins at home. Cleverley was injured at Bolton and rag fans bombarded Kevin Davies and his wife with nasty messages and threats. When Evans ‘did’ Holden last year at the swamp Bolton, classily, just accepted it. Sums the rags up really. no wonder everyone hates them …..
In the Carling Cup they’ve beaten Leeds away 3-0, their fans disgracing themselves in the process, and face the mighty Aldershot away in the 4th round.
In the Champs league they got the easiest group but haven’t yet set it alight by drawing 1-1 at Benfica, 3-3 at home to Basel, after being 2-0 up, and winning 2-0 away to some team no one’s ever heard of.
Our form at the Liverpool Warehouse in Trafford/swamp/cesspit/leper colony :
In our last 10 Prem visits we’ve won 1 drawn 4 lost 5.
Old Trafford Capacity ; 76,000 (3,000 for City)
Comment : Off the field - typical united again, Giggs, Rooney and now his dad disgracing themselves plus Rio’s lost his court case for having all his transgressions exposed. Still no full page spread anywhere of the Rooney/Fergie spat in the Champs final and not a “ruining football” story to be found re their sponsorship deal with DHL (don’t use em) for their tracksuits. Cover up continues of the Thailand/Robson farce. Fergie reckons Rooney’s matured after his sending off in Montenegro and that the FA treat them like shit, punishing them for all their misdemeanours. Diddums
On the field they strengthened by bringing in Jones, De Gea, and Young plus Cleverley and Welbeck returned from loan spells so have a big, big expensive squad and look capable of winning the title again, which they should with the money they’ve spent unless….feeling quietly confident c’mon City, tho ‘ the ref is Clattenburg who we’ve only lost once under (Arse at home last year)
Groundwise, the record attendance is still 76,962 for the Wolves v Grimsby semi-final in 1939. It’s uglyville, but we make it beautiful in our corner between the main and north stand with the sky blue. They don’t have spirals so it’ll be up the steps for us, how quaint is that?
They once proudly went 37 years without winning a trophy, remind them. Tickets are £52/£43/£42. Watch your backs you know how bitter they can be.
WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 11,685 in 1930/31, and the current average is 40,000 plus 35,473 tourists.
Away Day Zines ; united We Stand, Red Issue, Red News, Red Shite, Red Bollox, Red Lies, Red Cheats, Red Hypocrites, Red Bullies, Red Thugs, Red Drivel
Dave

Friday

2011-10-21T18:35:00.001+01:00

Friday
Villarreal. Champions League you’re avin a laugh? Big queues at entrance J, as G was handed over to the few Villarreal fans, so we all got in late and were surprised to find us one down. Not sure if the singing South stand worked – Blues spent more time chucking paper balls than supporting the team, and to throw them at the Villarreal player taking a corner was just plain daft. UEFA fine looms or worse.
However, my view is that away fans should always be out of the way and not in prime position behind the goal.
We looked less like getting a goal than at Wembley in 1999 and I’m ashamed to say that I missed it, but what a relief. Apparently there were a couple of stabbings in Napoli – what are UEFA doing about that?
I did an interview a few weeks ago about City/united rivalry saying how orrible the rags are for the Finnair Blue Wings magazine. Johnny cum lately,rag bandwagon jumper and Stockport resident Terry Christian confirmed this belief as you’d expect. Unfortunately the article fell into the rewriting City history by saying that one week after City’s cup win united won their 19th title. Sigh.
I’ve also done an interview with La Monde on the Blues, and today I did one to a podcast fella on the merits of City’s move to COMS compared to West Ham’s to the Olympic stadium. Shouldn’t the club pay me as unofficial spokeperson?
Met up with Gary James on Wednesday for a chat who’s volunteered to do the foreword for the book and attended a ‘Geeks’ meeting (I know what you’re thinking!) with Chris Nield (who does very well) and company. As soon as I get this blessed book off to the printers I’ll get onto Facebook, Twitter and all that and get the blog sorted hopefully.
In the MUEN James Robson, who I refused to talk to last season as he’s a biased red twat of the worst kind, tells us that Rooney is bang on goalscoring form. Apparently over in Disneyworld he beat ten men from inside his own half to score and then popped one in from the halfway line with a magnificent overhead kick running on to nod it in? Actually he scored two penalties. Wow.
So derby day looms. Bryan Robson sticks his two penneth in about Tevez. What the f is it to do with him? All that “in my day” shite when Whiteside and McGrath were booted out cos of the booze culture and Robbo somehow survived g;ossed over.
Just heard a 'sad rag slag' on Radio Manc saying we’ve played no one yet, wait til Sunday.
No wonder everyone hates them.
Some confusion re the Tevez situation, staff apparently not backing Mancini. Worrying. Why didn’t he come on then?
Dave

Napoli

2011-10-18T11:19:00.002+01:00

Further to City's game at Napoli next month and Liverpool fans problems last season we asked if any of their fans could give us the low down. Here's the response. Incidentally Spike has a trip planned including a stay in beautiful Sorrento, and we'll repeat the ad and the one for Villarreal shortly :

Hello Dave
Been given your email address via Ste Kelly. Funnily enough, I was going to put something on one of the City fanzine sites over the coming week or so anyway. Napoli - are you SURE you want to go? ;-)How much detail do you want?Our group did two nights there. The place is virtuallly lawless. Totally controlled by the Camorra and has been for many, many years. It shows. Graffiti and rubbish adorn every street - we're not talking 'looking untidy like it's bin day' - we're talking ROADS COMPLETELY BLOCKED by MOUNTAINS of rubbish. And we're not talking about a bit of tagging being the current 'street' thing to do - we're talking every wall of every building, every staircase, every fountain, every statue, every monument, everything that resembles class or culture virtually blotted out of existence with spray paints and rubbish. It's an absolute travesty, because if the place wasn't lawless from one decade to the next, it would be beautiful. Instead, it's at the other end of the spectrum.But that's not the biggest problem with going to Naples. Now your 'getting in the way of having a few bevvies and a giggle with your mates' is split into two different, yet instantly interchangeable, groups;1. The street gangs. I hope you've seen the Warriors and Escape from New York, because you'll be getting an idea of the kind of city and the 'after dark vibe' I'm trying to create here. There are little gangs of street urchins, bloody everywhere. They're there during the day and night - it's just that during the day, there are so many people around they're not immediately noticable, and the sheer hustle and bustle of the city provides an actual physical barrier to them getting 'in your face' as they seem so keen to do. But this isn't in an avuncular over-enthusiastic Istanbul type way, this is ‘ in a getting a kick out of seeing people as intimidated as possible’ sort of way. The later it gets, the more danger you're in if you're walking around. None of us in our group are particular shrinking violets, which probably saved us in a way. We were 'buzzed' by scooters, shouted at, had cars with 5/6 people in literally crawl alongside us all the way down certain streets late at night, staring at us, but there is something very distinctive that these 'street gangs' do and that's to try and amass numbers quick, because at the end of the day, like most gangs of little twats, they're cowards and want to vastly outnumber you. They do this in quite an effective way - like the old 'police whistle' system. If you get spotted, you'll get followed and they'll start doing their 'whistle', with fingers in mouths like they're trying to attract attention. You'll notice that other little shitbags will start gathering. It's almost like the pied piper. I'm sure there are enough rats in the city to create quite a scene..... That happened over both nights and we sort of fronted them out, got aggressive back (surprising how many languages 'fuck off' translates to isn't it) whilst sort of darting down a few side roads to get where we were going quicker than normal (think 'trying to look hard whilst going as quick as you can' speed). On the first night, whilst it was noticeable what they were trying to do and that they were trying to intimidate, we didn't exactly feel the need to start changing underwear - but what became apparent that other people had experienced made our little verbal exchanges a bit more sinister, upon reflection; Fella in his 60s getting slashed in the face, small groups of reds getting picked off and battered with weapons, somebody else stabbed. There are a few 'alfresco' bars around the city - a few of them were getting charged at by these gangs who were just running in with weapons and hitting or waving blades at anybody that looked slightly English (hence the fella in his 60s getting slashed). So that's two pieces of advice. a.) Try to minimise being on the streets too late, and if so, go in numbers - make your foot journeys as short as possible. b.) Don't sit alfresco in the early hours, because near enough all these slashings, batterings and stabbings happened after midnight, where these street urchins have got fuck all else to do. The whole city is FULL of them, so picture being in an outdoor cafe in Moss Side or Toxteth, as an out-of-towner, very late at night. You wouldn't do that would you? Yet when you're abroad on the ale, it feels safe and you relax. This city is like the worst areas in the worst English cities, all the time. If you keep that in mind, you'll be fine!2. I mentioned the other thing that'll get in the way of your general enjoyment. The Mastiffs (the Napoli hoolies - I'm not even going to call them Ultras because quite frankly, Real Madrid have Ultras and the latter would run away if you coughed). Whilst they are also c*nts, they do seem to have SOME sort of code of conduct, but that's not to say that they're not infiltrated by said street rats, and will intersperse with them where they see fit.The Mastiffs will gather in the Piazza Bellini (a small, quite charming square) in the middle of the city on VIA SANTA MARIA DI COSTANTINOPOLI from as early as midday on the day of the game. I know all this because guess where our bloody hotel was! The hotel manager explained in detail about the Mastiffs effectively considering themselves as 'owning' this specific part of the city. You can tell where it is because the pale blue and white graffiti is everywhere around there. It's mainly a student area. They were gathered the night before the game in the square as well - this is before we were brought up to speed by the locals and the manager about them. We turned the corner and instantly knew it was their 'boys' - about 100 of them all drinking together. Most of us have travelled a lot all over Europe following the reds and we're pretty clued up. We crossed the road (6 v 100 wasn't great odds) and they didn't give us any shit at all. It's a bit like the old 'top firm' mentality. We were a soft target so they didn't bother. The next day, we thought we'd be alright having lunch and a couple of beers in the square. We couldn't believe it when they were forming up at about 12.30. They were getting orders from their 'capitans' even at that time. After we'd been there about an hour, we were attracting a bit of attention from them. A fair few kept staring at us from across the square (we were the only three English looking people in the area!) and I think, in the end, they must have thought we were taking the piss because we didn't automatically leave their 'manor', so they started wandering over to us in ones and twos, walking past our table ridiculously slowly, staring at us. They might as well have just said 'fuck off out of our square', that would have done. We took the hint once the sixth person had virtually stood right at our table looking straight at us.Everywhere we went that day, the locals kept telling us there was going to be trouble. Looking at us like we were fucking mad going there in the first place, and even more mad considering going the match. We were beginning to think about jibbing the match, but considering that would be the first time in history we'd not gone 'out of fear' and the stick we'd get back home, quickly called each other names and accused somebody else of coming up with the idea first of staying in a bar, and that they're a softarse etc. etc. No, fuck you Mastiffs, we were going, end of. But we came up with the idea of going in taxis to avoid the buses which were obviously going to get bricked. Which brings me on to...Important point c.) Go on the official buses for fuck's sakeThe taxi drivers, because they are C*NTS, WILL drop you right in the middle of the home fans. Because of the layout of the ground, the roads around it and road closures etc., it's too much like hard work for them to drop you anywhere other than the wrong side of the away end, so you have to work your way through all the Napoli fans and most significantly, past the Ultras/Mastiffs gate, to get to the away end. Well that was mayhem. To actually have home fans visibly frightened ON YOUR BEHALF, and physically trying to usher you away from the worst Mastiffs purely out of wanting to avoid carnage, does heighten the senses somewhat. The ten of us end up pretty much separated, and instantly a big battle erupts between the Mastiffs, the Police and a few of us (plus one or two further straggler reds). There are baton charges, smoke grenades, stun grenades going off, bricks, bottles, signs flying through the air, the lot. I must admit that's the most scared I've been at a match (I was at Hillsborough but it's a long story) because I simply didn't know where to go and I ended up on my own in the middle of a riot, where loads of them didn't know whether to have a pop at me or at the police. Some fella ran after me with a lit flare in his hand, but luckily I'm quite quick so in the end he gave up and threw it at the riot police. I thought about twatting him but the 50 or so fellas behind him also running in my general direction had me thinking again. After running around like a single gazelle in a pack of lions for about 2/3 minutes, I decided that my best course of action was to run at the police shields and try and get behind their lines.......fortunately, I don't look Italian so they decided I wasn't worth battering. You should have seen the look on the stewards when I made it through the lines - given that the stun grenades were still going off, they couldn't have ushered me in behind their barrier with any more desperation - they were shitting it. I was bloody glad to get in there, I have to say :-D Everyone else turned up in the buses, encountered no problems whatsoever (from the opposite direction) and couldn't understand what the fuss was about. Thought we were making it up :-E Luckily all of our group came through pretty much unscathed. We got the buses back. They took us on a ridiculously convoluted route right out of the city and in again, which took a good hour, not including the 45 minutes or so between the end of the game and us getting on the buses. We were escorted by untold police. Just a quite beer after the game, but we had our second night of the street rats getting 'in our faces'. By that point, to be honest, we were sick of it and just wanted to twat them. We ended up getting an unofficial police escort back to our hotel. Day after the game, important point d.) Get out of Naples and go to Pompeii on the train. About half an hour away. No explanation needed.Well, good luck and that!I was on tripadvisor doing a review. I had to complete the sentence 'when in Naples, make sure you'.....wear a stab-proof vest. Not sure whether they published it or not.
Danny
So there you go. Hope it doesn't put you off but the message is, be careful, and be sensible. We'll repeat this in KK 192 which is out before the Napoli and Liverpool game
Cheers
Dave

Tuesday morning

2011-10-18T11:08:00.002+01:00

Tuesday morning
Villa and a lovely day for it. Rags scraped a draw at Anfield, Rio should, maybe have been sent off, so a win would put us top.
Traffic chaos in Manc – the ridiculous Crescent fiasco and the Manc way being shut meant many Blues arrived late, but after settling down we destroyed Villa again. Not too sure about that ole stuff, thought we should have gone for more goals and I don’t like us getting arrogant. However I did delight in Mario’s flicks – remind me of why that one was reported as being disrespectful by the rag media in the pre-season friendly at LA Galaxy? So 4-1 and top of the league. Game was marred by the south stand stewarding. I repeat my request for the club, and all clubs in fact, to stop burying their heads in the sand and campaign for safe standing otherwise these situations will escalate.
Manumirror has a positive article by David Anderson on the Blues – maybe our phone chats are paying dividends – and Derek McGovern has an hilarious pop at Fergie – check it out.
Tonight it’s Villarreal. Having been booted out of our normal seats next to each other for some unfathomable reason, I’m now in the third tier and Sue in the second – are they trying to tell us something?
After his good start to the season, Mario finishes his 3 match ban in Europe. Remember his sending off v Kiev? We all said what a daft sod he was. Rooney gets sent off v Montenegro and there’s outcry at HIS 3 match ban, and every excuse under the sun comes out. That’s the difference between the class of Manchester City and the drivel of united. No wonder everyone hates the f*ckers. I certainly do.
Here’s the it’s A Fix extract : GAME 8A) TUESDAY OCTOBER 18TH VILLARREAL (HOME)
EUROPEAN CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP MATCH 3 KO 7.45 PM
They were founded in March 1923, just a few months before Maine Road opened to ‘promote all sports, especially football.’
They played in the regional and the lower leagues until 1998 when they reached the Primera Liga. They were immediately relegated but promoted again in 2000. In 2002 they were defeated in the final of the Intertoto cup to Malaga 2-1 but won it in 2003 defeating Heerenveen to enter the UEFA Cup reaching the semi-final being defeated by Valencia the eventual winners.
In 2004 they defended the Intertoto beating Atletico Madrid but lost in the quarter final of the UEFA cup to AZ Alkmaar, but finished 3rd in La Liga, Diego Forlan, yet another Fergie flop, being top scorer in the league with 25 goals.
In the Champions league in 2005/06 they defeated Everton in the play offs drew both games against united, and with good results v OSC Lille and Benfica advanced to the last 16. Again good results V Rangers and Inter took them to the semis where they lost out to Arsenal 0-1 and 0-0.
In 2006/07 they lost to Maribor in the Intertoto and in 2008 they finished 2nd to Real Madrid in La Liga and reached the last 32 of the UEFA cup losing to eventual winners Zenith St Petersburg.
The club are based in the east of Spain in the province of Castellon, just north of Valencia.
Club colours date back to 1947. White shirts and black shorts were unavailable when the son of the then president visited Valencia to purchase so he had to settle for yellow shirts and black shorts. The players didn’t like the shorts so white ones were purchased and dyed blue. Since 2003 however yellow shorts have been adopted.
Because of the all yellow kit the club’s nickname is El Submarino Amarillo (the yellow submarine) The mascot Groguet, Little Yellow is characterised as a submarine in human form!
The squad includes the usual Spanish names of Lopez, Sanchez, Fergie flop Rossi etc.
Last season they finished 4th but this season they’re in the bottom half of La Liga, could only draw at (Colonel!) Getafe 0-0 at weekend, and have already lost to Bayern Munich and Napoli in the Champs Cup. It is vital that City pick up 3 points tonight.
Current coach is Juan Carlos Garrido.
Away fans will be in the third tier of the East stand which is sensible, on a trial basis, but will we miss not being able to observe their antics, often entertaining with European opposition? Don’t think so !?
Have a great night,
Dave

Thursday

2011-10-13T23:16:00.002+01:00

Well, a busy week at KK towers : KK191 is a 48 page A4 issue with a front cover showing Mancini booting Tevez to the MCFC exit with the caption “understand that!?”
It sells at just £2.50 and can also be purchased for £3.50 from King Of The Kippax, 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL.
This issue contains a review of Mark Ward’s book, Garry Cook and Carlos Tevez debate, Everton, Munich, KOTK review, match previews and reviews, cartoons, pics and comment on all things Blue, plus the odd pop at the dirty, filthy, despicable, nasty, cheating, bullying rags, who we play next week.
Thanks, as always, to all contributors, subscribers, and Blues for your continued support.
What a week it’s been. City players doing their stuff – Joe Hart in goal for England, Nasri scoring for France, Dzeko scoring for Bosnia, Silva notching 2 for Spain.
As for the rags – Rooney’s dad getting done. Rooney getting sent off for a vicious foul, Giggs’ missus having a row with her sis in law in Chinatown, Vidic missing a penalty. Fergie claiming that Rooney’s matured. Wow what united have done for England eh, and the FA treat em like shit. What did Ian Wright say? “the greatness of a club is measured by the quality of the people you employ”. Well that lets united out then. No wonder everyone hates them, they behave despicably and twats like Wright hold them up as being exemplary. Fuck off you cretin.
Anyway I’ve got some subscriptions off in tonight’s post and we should be in at Aleef – corner of Cross street and Market street tomorrow, so look out for it – please!
Carlos is back from his golfing holiday in Argentina – what’s wrong with Ellesmere Park? He’s still totally unfit and training on his own. Inquiry result expected tomorrow.
Called in at the club for some tickets today and found out that we get upper AND lower at QPR and OAP’s get a mere £5 reduction – meanies I’ll be writing to them.
Saturday it’s Villa to shit on with a bit of luck, here’s the it’s A Fix extract: GAME 8) SATURDAYOCTOBER 15TH VILLA (HOME) KO 3PM
They’ve been in the Prem ever since 1988. Last Pot, League Cup 1996. Most recent connections : Shay Given, Richard Dunne, Stephen Ireland, Gareth Barry, James Milner. 145th League meeting.
Last season in late December it was a 4-0 City win at COMS, Mario notching a hat trick (8p, 27, 55P) and Lescott (13) for a comfy win in front of 46,716 with 2033 Villans. A few weeks later in January at Villa Park it was a 1-0 loss with a recently transferred Bent inevitably scoring after 16 minutes although City did everything but score, Dzeko missing a late header which would have kick started his City career. Crowd was 37,615 (2634 Blues) There was also a 5th round cup tie at COMS in March with the Blues going through 3-0 Balotelli (25) Y Y Toure (5) Silva (70) Crowd was a disappointing 25, 570 with 2273 Villans, (upset that Houllier had put out a weakened team, though he disagreed) though it was our 4th home game out of 5 on the trot.
This season so far they’re in 7th place with 11 points after 7 games and 0 wins 3 draws and 0 losses away from home.
In the Carling Cup they beat Hereford 2-0 but then lost 2-0 to Bolton, both at home.
Form at home to Villa : In Manchester, results have favoured City at home in the Prem. Out of the last fourteen meetings Villa have won only 2, (2-0 in 06/07 and 3-1 in 00/01) City winning 10, including the last 4, with 2 draws, and long may it continue.
Comment : After the ridiculous appointment of Gerard Houllier, Roberto Martinez turned them down and they finished up with Ally McLeish from over the road at Brum which went down a treat! They lost Young to the rags but nicked N’Zogbia from Wigan. They’ve not had a bad start to the season though, being unbeaten so far. Dunney’s still popping in the OG’s (a bit unlucky at QPR) and Agboniahor, Heskey and Bent are doing the business up front, though Ireland is still out of sorts.
Our good home record against them would indicate nothing but a home win.
Wind Ups : You can’t beat the old “Shit on the Villa”
WWTWTWShite? Their crowds averaged 15,237 in 85/86, and current home average att. is 31,547
Final point - Joe H on Rooney, Micah on Phil Jones, cut it out lads you would never ever hear any united player praising a Blue. Secomd thoughts, maybe it shows our class!
Cheers
Dave

Blackburn

2011-10-05T23:39:00.002+01:00

Blackburn then and a chance to bounce back after the Munich debacle. What a fantastic sunny day it was. With no zines left to sell it was a leisurely trip through Lancashires finest (apart from the M61 Blackpool traffic - did they give out my warning on Radio Manc?) So time for a coffee at our favourite café, and a Cheesy type brekky for the Blue Vic whilst he and Tom Richie, editor of City Til I Cry compared heart problem notes. So it was an early entry into the ground where there was a heavy Police presence for some reason. Blackburn had nothing to offer, and City eventually got our just rewards. We were screaming for Adam, having a dosy one to come off, with the proviso “he’ll probably score now!” Which he did. Mario can still be annoying, once in particular staying down too long when if he’d jumped up could’ve retrieved possession, but he's getting there. Nasri should have passed to unmarked Adam for the third but hey let’s enjoy it while we can. Actually felt sorry for the Blackburn fans, Robinson, a good pro, looked totally demoralised for our 4th. Wonder what the blonde in the tight blue jeans leaving the ground looked like from the front? C’mon, you were all thinking the same weren’t you?
Rags beat the green and yellow scarves 2-0 and I looked forward to the Sunday's headlines of how we upstaged them with our 4-0 win. Funnily enough, not one paper……no wonder everyone hates them.
This week it’s Montenegro v England to qualify for the Euros., C’mon. Tevez has gone back to Argentina with his family whilst the inquiry’s concluded, presumably leaving his girlfriends behind. Aguero’s there too. Mario’s back from Italy, injured and Roberto is in Italy, presumably with his burglar battering missus in Sardinia. Funny old world. Loads in for KK 191, thanks to all, and so another slight delay on getting the book finished, but I can assure one and all that it’s nearly there.
Cheers
Dave

Saturday morning

2011-10-01T10:01:00.002+01:00

Saturday morning
Early rise for the Munich trip. I was told at the airport that I’d put Wednesday not Tuesday for the game. Doh!
All went smoothly. I was pleased to see that the club took up my suggestion of doing something for the 1958 victims at the old airport but wasn’t surprised that I wasn’t invited with the official party. Fanzine editors eh? OK they may have already had it in hand but those I spoke to at the club a few weeks ago expressed surprise and enthusiasm at my proposal.
So we took the tour bus and then repaired to the Augustinerkeller where we sat at a table away from Blues having fun and singing the songs. We joined in with the “if you hate man united….” You couldn’t not do it could you? But the German couples on an opposite table took great exception, admonishing us though we didn’t understand a word so it had no effect whatsoever. “When I asked what was that all about one of the guys said “I expected a bit more culture from the English, they were pissing in the middle of the tables over there. I asked a table of four German lads and they said that one Blue had gone up the slope behind the trees but they didn’t find it offensive and indeed it was quite amusing. After mingling with fellow Blues it was off to the match and we had a great sing song on coach 4 to the ground. Again as per Schalke and Hamburg we parked a good walk away and when we got to the stadium there were no signs for away support which meant a tramp all the way round before finding our entrance with a Newcastle type trek up the stairs to the top tier. Not daft these Germans, away fans in the top tier not in prime spot behind the goal like at Eastlands and home and away fans mixing on the concourse. As for the card system for drinks and food, it's a rip off , just don't work and doesn't speed things up.
As for the game, and what a great occasion. Should’ve had 2 pens apparently then Nasri lost the ball and it was 1-0. Dzeko did his daft foul and 2-0, game over, or was it? Not too worried about Edin’s reaction when brought off , understandable, and Nige shored things up. We were surprised that Carlos wasn’t brought on but were soon informed why. All very baffling. Overall bayern certainly showed up our limitations but it'll be different at The Etihad. Got to bed at 3 then was mithered to death by the media and finished up doing a midday interview for channel 4 (not seen it!) before picking the lad and his mates up at Manc Airport.
So what do we make of it? Presumably Roberto gives a team talk before the game and explains to his players the team selection who’s in, who’s out, and why, who’ll be brought on etc and what plan A and B is. So they’re all fully briefed and no excuse for Carlos misunderstanding – or is there?
“They should never play for City again” – remember that being said about Tiatto, Dunne, and Joey Barton – who we got £7M for in the end, so we leave the decision to those at the club to earn their £1.8M a year, even though Carlos can’t blame Garry Cook this time, and he’s been taking the piss for far too long. Cheerio, but we want £40M please.
Deadline for KK 191 is next Tuesday and there’s plenty of topics to discuss!
Anyway here’s the it’s A Fix extract for today’s game :
GAME 7) SATURDAY OCTOBER 1ST BLACKBURN (AWAY) KO 3PM
Promoted last in 2001 so currently in their 11th Prem season, winning their last pot, the League Cup in 2002. Recent connections are Santa Cruz and Benjani, and this is the 111th league meeting.
Last season they finished in 15th place with 43 points and 7 wins 7 draws and 5 losses at home.
At Coms in September it was a 1-1 draw, Kalinic for Blackburn (25) with Vieira (55) equalising for City in a disappointing display. Crowd was 44,246 with 1081 Rovers.
Different story at Ewood though in April just a few days after Ya-Ya had put the ball in the rags net at Wembley. Dzeko popping the winning goal in the 75th minute showing signs of things to come. Crowd was 23,529 with 4,364 ecstatic Blues.
This season so far, they’re currently third from bottom with 4 points after 6 games, but in their last home game they beat Arsenal.
In the Carling Cup they beat Sheff Wed 3-1 and Leyton Orient 3-2 both at home and face Newcastle at home in the 4th round.
Form at Ewood, two wins in the last two for us but prior to that since our 3-2 win in 2003/04, it was 2 draws and 3 losses.
Comment : Struggling again this season and Steve Kean’s days might be numbered, though they’ve sacked assistant manager John Jensen. Summer deals didn’t inspire and the loss of Phil Jones to the rags for a mere £16.5M has surely weakened them. This week’s events will surely fire up City fans and the team alike so it must be 3 points for the Blues.
Groundwise, no change since our last visit, and we should get, and fill the whole Darwen end again, whilst the Fernhurst should be rocking before and after the game.
Ewood Park Capacity : 31, 367 (7,500 for City)

WWTWTWShite? Their crowds were down to an average of 5,826 in 1985/86 before Jack Walker moved in and last season averaged 24,999
Sat Nav : BB2 4JF

Cheers Dave

Monday

2011-09-26T15:33:00.002+01:00

Monday
Quatar are now going to buy the rags. They’d better get rid of the devil on the badge then.
Olly Holt in the manumirror condemned united fans for their nasty response to Torres’s miss on Saturday, then blotted his copybook by saying he was ‘with’ Cantona and his kung fu kick at Palace. Olly conveniently forgets that the Frenchman was sent off for a dirty, snidy, sneaky foul and deserved to be given stick as he walked back to the dressing room in supposed disgrace.
Plans for the Etihad campus have now been unveiled and they do look fine on the face of it. Any signs of the museum being reinstated?
Picked up the latest Manc mag – superbly produced but there’s a pic of Bert talking to Frank Swift in 1962 which ain’t bad as Frank died at Munich in 1958. Proof read for f*cks sake.
So to Everton, and the usual claptrap about their superior spirit, and doing it the right way etc although I don’t think many of their fans will go along with it for much longer as the protests start in earnest, though the apologists are out for Kenwright.
We knew it would be tight and that Moyes’ Everton spirit would manifest in his team trying to kick us off the park, still it is a man’s game.
Couldn’t make out the chants but we got “you’re just a shit man united” which is a bit rich when they fielded three ex rags. What a bummer it was to see Neville go off before the end so we couldn’t give it him back for a change, all that usual strutting round kissing his badge etc.
“Empty seats” was another one, irony from scousers eh? Our attendance was about 12,000 more than their average. There was no “you’ve never won f*ck all” this time though!
Anyway good subs from Roberto, I didn’t agree with either of them to be honest – thought we should’ve brought Carlos on, but there you go. Both Mario and Milner scored, so Mancini was well vindicated. As for the Cahill foul and getting himself injured I couldn’t see how Moyes thought that Kompany “did him”. So lots of moaning from Everton but even my Everton supporting son in law who I took to the game accepted that the better team won.
In the programme there’s a pic of KOTK contributor Jim Whitworth looking as barmy as his articles and how appropriate appearing in today’s programme as his son’s a ‘bin dipper’. So a good day all round for Jim, and City.
We sold out of KK’s unless Aleef’s got any left. One home game to sell for KK 189, and 4 for 190 – even though it rained at all the games. So selling days off at Munich and Blackburn. I’m still busy editing the book, hope to finish it before embarking on the next zine which we’ll start next week, so copy required for KK191 by a week tomorrow please.
Packed the lad off with his mates to Manc Airport early this morning – they’re taking the Zurich route to Munich and we’re off tomorrow for the day. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract : Game 6A) WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 27TH BAYERN MUNICH (AWAY) CHAMPIONS LEAGUE GROUP STAGE MATCH 2 KO 7.45PM
Bayern, The FCB, The Bavarians, The Reds, or FC Hollywood are also a sports club, and the most successful football team in Germany with 22 titles, 15 Cups, 4 European Cups, I Cup Winners’ Cup and 1 Uefa Cup.
Don’t let that worry you though, as they finished 3rd in the Bundesliga last season and whilst winners in 2010, Wolfsburg and Borussia Dortmund have beaten them to the title in the last three seasons.
The club was founded by members of a gymnastics club and eleven footballers in 1900. They played in the regional leagues but the advent of Nazism put an abrupt end to their development. The president and the coach, were both Jewish and left the country. Many others in the club were also purged, and Bayern were taunted as the “Jew’s club”.
Post war they struggled and were saved from bankruptcy at the end of the 50’s by manufacturer Roland Endler when it was OK to have a rich benefactor and there was no FFP. In 1963 the Bundesliga was formed but Bayern were denied entry as Munich 1860 (famous for the 1965 European Cup Winners’ Cup defeat to West Ham at Wembley) went up from the Oberliga south as champions and two teams from the same city could not be allowed.
They were promoted two years later with the likes of Beckenbauer, Muller and Maier, and success continued throughout the decades to the present. They were once though defeated at home by Norwich City in 1993/94 in the Uefa Cup second round who remain the only English team to beat them in the Olympic Stadium. Bayern also let down the whole of world football by losing late on to united in the 1999 European Cup final, but gained revenge in 2010 by knocking the rags out in the quarter final.
They moved to the Allianz Arena, located on the northern outskirts of the city in 2005, and the ground is shared with Munich 1860. It has a capacity of 69, 901 with 3,000 standing. The outside of the stadium is lit red for Bayern games, (their colours are all red) Blue for 1860 games and white for international games.
They are a well supported club in Germany, home games are generally sold out as is their away allocation.
Bayern also have a well-organised ultra scene with no less than eight crews, one of which is called the Red Munichs ’89, make of that what you will.
TSV Munich 1860 were their main rivals and were the more successful club in the 1960’s with basically a working class support but are now in the second division. Just like we did for our now despicable neighbours Bayern have repeatedly supported 1860 in times of financial disarray.
SpVgg Unterhaching are the third club, based in the southern outskirts of Munich and play in the third Liga. In 2000 they played in the Bundesliga and helped Bayern win the title by beating Bayer Leverkusen in the final match.
Bayern Munich is run by a joint stock company but has many sponsors including Adidas and Audi who respectively paid approximately £150M towards the Allianz Arena, not yet investigated by FFP of course!
Current players include Neuer, Van Buyten, Boateng (both well known to City), Ribery (unhappy at being in the same group as City), Muller, Schweisteiger and Jupp Heynckes is the coach in his second stint.
Karl Heinz Rumenigge is an important figure at the club and he doesn’t like City! This season they’ve started impressively with 6 straight wins and beat Villarreal 2-0 away in the first Euro Champs League game.
The City of Munich has a rich and colourful history but was notorious for being the headquarters of Adolf Hitler’s Nazi party. Indeed Dachau the first concentration camp was built just ten miles north of the City. However there will be much to do and see for City fans who make the journey especially as it’s the Octoberfest and hopefully we’ll register a good result in what looks like one of our biggest challenges to date.
The teams have met just the once previously, in a friendly in Munich in 1953/54 which resulted in a 3-3 draw. Bert didn’t get a very good write up in the German press but he thought they were miffed that he hadn’t signed for Schalke at the time! Enjoy the day.
Dave

Friday

2011-09-23T23:54:00.000+01:00

Friday
Wow that was some rain on Wednesday night. Comfy win for the boys, good debut for Owen, and into the hat for tomorrow dinnertime’s draw. Then we’ve got Everton, here’s the It’s a Fix extract :
GAME 6) SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 24TH EVERTON (HOME) KO 12.45PM
Ever present in the top flight since 1954, last pot the F A Cup in 1995, 157th Lg meeting, recent connection Joleon Lescott (show em your medal, Joleon!).
Last season they finished in 7th place with 54 points and 4 wins 8 draws and 7 losses at home. At COMS it was a 2-1 loss on a freezing cold December night. Cahill opened the scoring (4) just for a change and Baines added a second (19) whilst we were down to ten men – Zab off the field for treatment. A Jagielka own goal looked to give us a chance of a result but despite a battering the score remained at 2-1 to the visitors. Ya-Ya Toure was also sent off. Crowd was 45,028 with 2815 Blue scouse.
Over at Goodison in May, City put on a scintillating performance, totally dominating and going ahead via Ya-Ya Toure (28) but missing chances. Somehow Everton responded with two goals from Distin (65) and Osman (71) to take the points again in a 2-1 win. Crowd was 37,351 with 2812 City
This season so far, they’re in 7th place with 7 points from 4 games.
In the Carling Cup they beat Sheff Utd 3-1, and WBA both at home – Albion 2-1 aet – let’s hope it burned them out a bit.
Our form at home to Everton : Since our promotion in 2002, at home to Everton we’ve won 4 and lost 5 including the last four. Time for a win again in what will no doubt be another grudge match.
Comment : Bloody Everton. We give em 6 points every season,£20 odd million for Lescott and they still win f*ck all. Not only that but they did us a favour by losing at home to Reading, our next opponents, in the FA Cup 5th round.
Nothing much happened in the summer with few signings and Arteta being the biggest transfer out, but they hung on to Ridgewell, Neville (!) and their new superkid Barkley.
Some of their fans reckon they prefer it that way as opposed to City spending millions but it’s wearing a bit thin now, and ironically they’re on the March for the first time since the Kendall out campaign in the early 80’s!
Anyway, whilst they usually beat us by the odd goal, when we DO win it’s usually by 4 or 5, so time for sweet revenge City.
WWTWTWShite? Always well supported, average crowds were down to a commendable low of 19,343 in 1983/84 season, and last season averaged 35,890

Tuesday

2011-09-20T23:16:00.002+01:00

Tuesday
After the wake up call v Napoli it was down to Fulham and what a friendly place it is. On the way down Owen Coyle was on the radio reflecting on incidents which just sum the rags up. Last season no fuss by Bolton re Stewart Holden being put out of the game for months by Johnny Evans' tackle, and no apology. This season merciless stick from rags on twitter/facebook etc to Kevin Davies and his missus after Kevin’s tackle on Cleverly, which he apologised for.
No wonder everyone hates ‘em.
Nice day in London and the steward (Number 032) on the megaphone welcomed us to the “exciting game at London’s oldest club between Fulham and Manchester City”. After I had a quiet chat in his ear he added “and you can buy your fanzines and programmes here too” Makes a change from being moved on!
We sold out of those we took and went into the ground just as the rain came down.
Total domination in the first half but only one goal – just like against Wigan. Mark Schwarzer, Fulham goalie, turned down by City on Bernard Halford’s advice when Mark was still in Oz, spent half time practising, but to no avail, as Edin’s brilliant headed knock down was stroked home by Aguero. So 2-0 up against bottom of the table, but no mugs Fulham and what did we do? Take notice of the previous couple of times we’ve been 2 up against them and either drawn or lost, or take our foot off the pedal and go into sloppy mode. You got it. Micah’s foul throw led to their first, and Dzeko who keeps telling us he doesn’t get fouls against him in England like he did in Germany, fell for it literally as they scored the equaliser. Worry is that when other teams are dominating – Everton second half last season, rags in Community Shield, Napoli and Fulham in the second half Roberto doesn’t change things. No plan B? So, our first points dropped or thrown away. These are the games we need to win as points against the tougher teams – Everton, united, Arsenal, Liverpool etc. will be harder to pick up. Another wake up call then, erm shouldn’t we take notice of wake up calls?. Tough guy Fulham fan after the game reckons we’ll win the title next year and wished us well for the rest of the season. Nice, and well done Blues for prompting this reaction from home fans. Over at the Lane Adebayor scored 2 to make it 3 in two games. Will he soon fade or will Harry get the best out of him? Bellamy lost the ball to gift Spurs a goal!
Listened to Blue Tuesday tonight, which was disappointing. Any City fan who is critical is labelled as a united fan. Sorry but Sunday’s performance WAS typical City, you can’t get away from it. Fanzine of the airwaves? Apologists for the club more like. Jim Melrose did add a touch of reality though.
Tomorrow it’s Brum in the Carling Cup. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract : GAME 5A) WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 21ST : BIRMINGHAM (HOME) CARLING CUP RD 3 KO 7.45 PM
It’s the FA Cup holders versus the Carling Cup holders, you can’t ask for a better tie than that. Birmingham won their first trophy since 1963 with that last gasp win over Arsenal in the final, and we followed up with our first trophy, the FA Cup in 35 years. The fortunes of both clubs differed dramatically after their respective finals with Brum hitting poor form and being relegated in 18th position with 39 points, whilst City hit top form and moved up to third place (joint second) with 71 points.
Worse was to come for Brum when their owner was arrested and is on bail, they lost their manager to arch rivals Villa, and some of their best players departed.
It still riles though that City couldn’t beat them last season with a 0-0 draw at home and a Desmond at St Andrews.
In the Carling Cup though there’s been just the two meetings. Birmingham won 6-0 at home in the 5th round of 1962/63 but City gained revenge by winning 6-0 in the 3rd rd of 2001/02 at home.
Generally City have been a bit of a bogey team to Brum at home and the Brummies haven’t won in Manc since 1997/98 1-0 since when it’s been 7 wins and 2 draws for us in the league.
Chris Hughton’s taken over as manager and in the league after 6 games they’re 14th but have just lost 4-1 at Southampton.
In the Europa cup they’re through to a group with Maribor, Brugge, and Braga, who they’ve just lost 3-1 to at home.
Whilst Roberto won’t put out his strongest team it surely won’t be as weak as last season at West Brom and we should win in a competition we should do well in again.
Dave

PS

2011-09-17T12:32:00.000+01:00

PS – Forgot to mention the EDS game versus Barca – a 2-1 loss in an interesting game at the elusive Hyde ground with impossible parking!
Also we’ll be taking some KK 189’s to Fulham for those southern based Blues who missed out at Spurs.
See you there
Dave

Friday

2011-09-17T01:31:00.002+01:00

Friday
Napoli, and our first entry into the Champions League, which is strange as united are still quoted as winning it 3 times and Liverpool 5, Neil Shaw told me outside the ground. So another episode in the media’s ‘no history’ campaign. Not much mention of us winning in Europe after just two seasons either, a feat Busby only achieved after twelve!
Picked up a ticket for grandson Joe in the day, did an interview with Mateus, a journo for the German ‘Stern (?) magazine ’ then it was off to the match. Quite a few Napoli ‘fans’ looking a bit sinister outside the ground were rounded up by the cops with dogs and herded into the away end enclosure.
We didn’t have our normal seats owing to ‘UEFA rules’ so it was a surprise to find ordinary City fans sat in them? Big queues at the ticket office for Blues who weren’t allowed in despite bona fide tickets that wouldn’t work on the night, so overall a bit of a cock up.
As for the game, well pretty exciting. Their fans were aggressively noisy as you’d expect and we were a little subdued, to be honest. A goal down and it didn’t look like we’d make the breakthrough and I thought Roberto should’ve changed it earlier. Anyway Kolarov’s free kick sprung us back into life but we just couldn’t finish it. So we had to settle for a draw, and in a way that was Ok. Return leg will be interesting and their Chairman is the latest to have a pop at us for spending money. What have Napoli won in the last twenty years?
Dave Billington was spot on by the way.
So to Fulham on Sunday, here’s the it’s a Fix extract :
5) SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 16TH FULHAM (AWAY) KO 3PM (Put back to Sunday owing to Europa game)
They were promoted in 1999 so are in their 13th season in the Prem., have never won eff all, but were Europa Cup finalists in 2010, 53rd Lg meeting, recent connection Mark Hughes!
Last season they finished up comfortably in 8th place with 49 points and 8 wins 7 draws and 4 losses at home.
At the Cottage in November City put on one of the best away displays in years winning 4-1. Goals coming from Tevez (6, 56) Zabaleta (32) and Ya-Ya Toure (35) Gera pulled one back for Fulham in the 70 th but the last 20 minutes were played out goalless. Crowd was 25,694 with 1715 Blues.
At COMS however, in February, it was the usual tale of City going a goal up through Balotelli (26) then conceding a Duff (literally) equaliser in the 48th minute and that’s how it stayed disappointingly. Crowd was 43,077 with 482 Cottagers.
This season so far : They’re in 16th place with 1 point from 3 games.
In the Carling Cup they play Chelsea away in the 3rd round.
In Europa, via the fair play situation, they won through to the group stage and drew 1-1 with Twente on Thursday night.
Our form at Fulham: We’ve generally done OK. Last season’s win made it just the one defeat (2-1 in 05/06) in the last nine visits, all in the Prem.
Groundwise: No change to The Cottage in its pleasant setting, and there’s also plenty of pubs, bars and eating places to savour, round and about
Again we get a good sized area in the temporary stand next to the neutral section – with its cute pillars, and squash coming out, but the street parking’s been cocked up and the £49 pricing will again put Blues off.

Craven Cottage Capacity : 26,000 (1800 for City)

Comment : Mark Hughes left for pastures new which didn’t materialise and nice guy Martin Jol took over as manager. They did a little bit of summer strengthening with Riise and Kasami amongst others coming in but lost Gera, Kamara, and Greening etc. Hopefully this can be another good performance for the Blues on the banks of the Thames. Look out for the Jacko statue!
WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 4,057 in 90/91, and last season averaged 25,007
There’s Only One F in Fulham (very good), is the main away day zine.
Sat. Nav : SW6 6HH

Tuesday

2011-09-14T00:14:00.001+01:00

Tuesday
Another great day on Saturday apart from you know what!
Tomorrow in the Champs League it’s Napoli and it’s really exciting to be in the big league after the silly Europa Cup competition. Here’s the It’s a Fix extract :
4A) WEDNESDAY SEPTEMBER 14TH : NAPOLI (HOME) CHAMPS LG GROUP STAGE MATCH 1
The sky blue shirts are not the only things we have in common as their history reads similar to ours (pre Sheik Mansour) They don’t, however, have such obnoxious neighbours as the rags, and the Quality Street Gang don’t come anywhere near to matching the Camorra.
Napoli were founded in 1904 by English sailors and a group of Neopolitans. The club name was shortened to Naples FC in 1906 and they played in sky blue and navy blue striped shirts with black shorts.
In 1926 the club name was changed to AC Napoli, and sky blue or azure shirts adopted. After a stint in Serie A they were relegated in 1942 and after promotion were involved in a bribery scandal and relegated. They moved to their third ground Stadio San Paulo in 1959 and had a further name change in 1964. They performed well, won the Anglo Italian League Cup in 1976, and in 1984 signed Maradona, Aguero’s father-in-law, from Barca going on to win not only the league in 1987, the first southern based team to do so, but also the Cup. the UEFA Cup in 1989 and clinched their second title in 1990. After Argentina lost in the Final to Italy, Maradona was banned for failing a drug test when he tested positively for use of cocaine. Napoli won the Italian Cup for the third time but then went into decline, being relegated to the third tier, losing players such as Gianfranco Zola, but with crowds of up to 50,000 then being declared bankrupt. They were reformed and made it back to Serie A where they now remain. In 2010/11 they finished third to enter the European Champions League directly.
Napoli are the 4th best supported club in Italy and have a worldwide fanbase of around 5/6M. Their fans have a fierce reputation and there were nasty incidents when
they played Liverpool last season in the Europa Cup.
More of that in a future issue when City play them in the
return leg which is on November 22nd. It’s our first test in the Chimps League, but against a team Roberto knows well, so you’d expect a decent result.
Only meeting of the teams previously was in a friendly at Napoli in 1978/79 which City lost 1-2.
Dave

Saturday

2011-09-10T10:33:00.002+01:00

Saturday
Wigan today after the Garry Cook bombshell, or not.
Better the devil you know and all that but anyway that is that, move on. Your views invited.
Typical City. Still the daftest club. Maybe the new CEO will improve the club’s relations with the press, and address some of the annoying issues – loyalty points anyone? Who knows?
Here’s the It’s a fix extract from KK 190 out today (already at Aleef in town)
4) SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 10TH : WIGAN (HOME) KO 3PM
Promoted in 2005, so in their 7th Prem season. This is the 15th League meeting.
Last season : They stayed up on the last day of the season with a win at demoralised Cup finalists Stoke City, finishing 16th with 42 points and 4 wins 7 draws and 8 losses away from home.
At the JD in September it was a 2-0 City win with goals from Tevez (43) and Ya-Ya Toure (70) in front of a crowd of only 15,525 with 4,481 Blues.
At COMS in March it was a 1-0 City win, David Silva netting after 38 minutes with a shot that squirmed under Al Habsi. Crowd was 44,864 with 654 pie-eaters. Cleverly did f*ck all, and Wigan nearly stole a draw near the end.
This season so far : They’ve drawn at home with Norwich, beaten QPR and drawn at Swansea so are currently in 8th place with 5 points from 3 games.
In the Carling Cup they play at Crystal Palace in the 2nd round, game being postponed at first due to the riots.
Our form at home to Wigan : After a couple of 1-0 defeats we’ve managed a draw and three wins in recent years so things have been picking up.
Comment : Nice guy Roberto Martinez showed tremendous loyalty to chairman Dave Whelan and Wigan by staying put in the summer and he gets the admiration of everyone for doing so. Main buys included Al Habsi, Albert Crusat, Patrick van Aanholt, and Shaun Moloney, but they lost Charles N’Zogbia and others to surely leave them weakened.
This really should be a home banker
WWTWTWShite? Crowds were down to an average of 2,758 in 1989/90, and last season averaged a paltry 16,812.

Thursday

2011-09-08T20:42:00.002+01:00

Thursday
Well the shit’s hit the fan again. Just as we got the latest zine off to the printers the story broke about Cook’s e-mail.
I’m, still trying to get my head round this one. Mrs Onuoha has always been brilliant with Sue and I, even giving us complimentary tickets which we’ve passed on to grateful Blues at various away games, Burnley in particular. We had a nice chat recently at a wedding where Nedum was best man, and she seemed to be coping as well as to be expected with her condition.
It’s very surprising that the e-mail has come to light now eleven months later than it was first sent, and the media are always ready to pounce on anything anti City whilst letting our rag neighbours off scot free with anything detrimental about them. Best recent example was that story about the rag bar in Thailand and Bryan Robson’s involvement. Seen any “sack him” articles? No, me neither. I don’t think Nedum, a true Blue through and through, who wants to stay at City, has been treated particularly well, (despite his outburst on Sky that time) but this won’t help his cause.
As for Garry Cook he’s well thought of by the supporters clubs, and despite a few gaffes has helped project the club into the 21st century. The issue seems to be whether he’s lied about the sending of the e-mail. If he has is it a sackable offence? Bill Clinton survived his “I never had sexual relations with that woman” statement, so I expect Cook to survive and continue his good work, but he’s got a bit of making up and apologising to do with the Onuoha’s, whether he sent the e-mail or not.
Having said all that it’s still baffling and I’ll try and find out the full story in the next couple of days.
I broke the habit of a lifetime yesterday and bought the Sun. Ian Wright has written the worst anti City article I’ve ever seen, on the subject, and whilst he’s obviously got an axe to grind regarding Shaun, he’s gone completely over the top in this instance, and should never show his face anywhere ever again. Contrast that with the Martin Samuel piece in the Mail.
Anyway we are pleased to announce that King Of the Kippax fanzine number 190, should hit the outlet at Aleef (Corner of Cross Street/Market Street) tomorrow (Friday, our 44th wedding anniversary) and the streets at the Wigan and subsequent games. Turns out that KK 189 sold out at Aleef a couple of weeks ago, and we weren’t informed, so we’ve a few left if anyone wants to pick any up from us on Saturday or by contacting us so we can post out.
KK190 is a 48 page A4 issue with a front cover showing the Etihad City plane and a crafty caption : They came, they saw, they sponsored.
It sells at just £2.50 and can also be purchased for £3.50 from King Of The Kiippax, 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL..
This issue contains a review of Lakey’s book, debut days, goodbye to SWP, comings and goings, City in Europe, City finances, match previews and reviews, cartoons, pics and comment on all things Blue, plus the odd pop at the dirty, filthy, despicable, nasty rags.
Thanks, as always, to all contributors, subscribers, and Blues for your continued support
Great turnout at Swinton /Clifton last night where the guests were Fred Eyre, who did an entertaining and informative Q and A session, de Niro (Bill) who recalled his participation in the trawler twelve trip to the Faroes, and Danny who does the fanzone on Sky and at City.
It was especially good to see Fred up and (almost) running again after his recent illness. He’ll be back on Radio Manc for the Fulham game.
Regards
Dave

KK KOmpetition

2011-09-05T19:34:00.001+01:00

KK Kompetition
YOUR PREDICTIONS FOR 2011/12

1) Final League Position…………………………………………
2) No. of points……………………………………………………..
3) No. of League wins…………………………………………….
4) No. of League draws…………………………………………..
5) No. of League Losses………………………………………….
6) League Goals FOR………………………………………………
7) League Goals AGAINST ………………………………………
8) Goal difference………………………………………………….
9) League Cup rund reached……………………………………
10) FA Cup round reached………………………………………..
11) Europena Cup round reached
12) Top scorer ……………………………………………
13) His total scored in all competitions………………………
14) Average League HOME attendance………………………..
15) Average League AWAY attendance…………………………
16) After how many games will we reach 40 points?........
17) After how many games will we resch 70 points?........
18) First unlucky City player to be sent off after Sept. 10th?..... ...................................................................
19) First dirty, filthy, Rag player to go after Sept 10th?............................... …………………………
20) Will R.M. still be manager?........................................
21) Will B.K. still be assist.manager?..............................
22) Will K.A.M. still be Chairman?....................................
23) City player with most appearances………………………..
24) EA Cup winners………………………………………………….
25) Lg Cup winners…………………………………………………
26) Premier Champions……………………………………………
27) Europa Champions…………………………………………
28) Champions League winners…………………………………
29) Relegated teams from Prem (3 @ 1 point each)……… ……………………………………………………………………
30) Promoted from Championship (3 teams @ 1 point each) ………………………………………………………………………
31) Anything else? ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..………………………………………………………………………
NAME:…………………………………………………………………….

ADDRESS:………………………………………………………………

……………………………………………………………………………
Complete this form, or copy, and return to us by SEPTEMBER 10TH ………… PRIZES AROUND £100!

2011-09-01T17:20:00.002+01:00

Napoli vs Manchester City FC -
One night stopover.1 Night Stopover.Outbound - Monday 21st November - 7am Approx.Direct flight to Naples On arrival we will transfer to Sorrento where we will stay at the 5* Hilton Palace you will have the remainder of the day and evening at your own leisure. Match Day, we will leave Sorrento and go direct to the Napoli Stadium, departure time TBA. After the game we will go direct to the Airport and take our flight back to Manchester arriving approx 02-00hrs. £349.00.00 per person based on twin shared accomadation inc. cont breakfastAll transfers included - Airport - Hotel - Stadium - Airport Single room supplement £45.00 per person per night Minimum of £150 non refundable deposit per person to secure your place. Balance due by 21st October. Available to book from 10:00am on Friday 2nd Septemberonline at http://www.sportoptions.com Call Manchester - 01925 755 222 London - 0207 935 6129 Please note that this package does not include a match ticket.
WHY NO DAY TRIP? AFTER RECENT EVENTS WITH FOOTBALL FANS IN NAPLES, WE ARE SURE THAT A DAY TRIP WILL BE TAKEN TO A HOLDING AREA OF THE AUTHORITIES CHOICE, WITH NO OPTION TO LEAVE THAT AREA.WHY NOT STAY IN NAPLES? LAST SEASON, SEVERAL SUPPORTERS WERE ATTACKED AND STABBED IN THE CENTRE OF NAPLES WHILST VISITING WATCHING THEIR TEAM, AND WE FEEL SORRENTO WILL BE A MORE RELAXED AND SAFER OPTION.

I might add that visiting Italy last year we found Sorrento to be beuatiful and Naples, quite frankly, a bit of a dump, though there are obviously nice areas.
Dave

Best Regards
Brian Campbell
Blue Chip CSL

Tel: +44(0)1925 755 222
Fax:+44(0)1925 758 467
info@bluechipcsl.com

Loyalty

2011-09-01T09:50:00.001+01:00

DEAR KK,
Loyalty, loaded, or both?
On the umpteenth of May, at the dawn of the day, seasoncard details came my way.
Had heard about changes via the networks and chats a few days before, on and around the Stoke Premiership game. I’d long expected that the bringing of success to City would understandably see some financial bars being raised, along with creeping corporatism, so was prepared to some extent, but still felt somewhat nauseous at the general tone of things and my immediate reactions may be summarised thus:
Bollocks to the attempts to create elitist categories of loyalty! As a Blue, you are loyal, to the extent that your lifestyle, employment, income, wealth, health and love for the club enables you to be. Each and every Blue believe they’re City’s number one fan. Now we’re classed, caste, ranked and shuffled, invited or excluded. The former egalitarian system of basically building on loyalty points – faults, but few - made sense. Now we’re encouraged to scramble over each other.
Not sure that I’m sorry that I don’t meet some ‘Super Blue’ category, nor that the club couldn’t delve and research to determine my loyalty as a season ticket holder since it was introduced for the Kippax in the early 1970’s. But then again, to paraphrase Groucho Marx I’m not necessarily inclined to join a ‘club’ that would want me as a member anyway!’
“Your loyalty counts double” is the platinum tag line but there’s something unsettling about being bribed or fast tracked into extra or add-on loyalty, possibly at odds with your actual fan history and commitments. As to the teasing temptations of privilege in the Superbia class – could it be a reflection of the intertwined corporate and political ideology of our times :- the cash-rich and time-rich get even more rewarded. (Admittedly the club’s invitation letter is at pains to points out increases are in line with inflation etc etc but in the absence of RPI/CPI research effort, I’m not sure they are in line with average income increase, whether one’s waged, unwaged or on a pension) “Like a peerage, Sir or Madam? Party bungs accepted” “Psst …tickle your loyalty glands? Ok – that’s £2,500 dearie!” “Direct debits? - That’ll do nicely sir”
No, the privilege is not that of loyalty in membership categories, but that of the owners, executives and administrators who’ve had the privilege in the first place to buy into a unique and special club long nurtured by such loyal fans.
Rob Dunford

Lakey signings

2011-08-30T22:39:00.002+01:00

I’m Not Really Here by the former Manchester City Player Paul Lake is the no.1 football book on Amazon and has had wonderful reviews. Paul has broadcast across National radio and of course the book has been reviewed in regional press like the Manchester Evening News. He will be signing copies of his books at several locations around Manchester in the coming weeks (please see below for dates).
Signing dates:

Saturday 3rd September
1400-1600 Formal signing at Waterstone’s Stockport
Saturday 15th October
1100 Formal signing at Simply Books, Bramhall, Stockport
Saturday 22nd October
1200 Formal signing at Costco Barton Dock, Manchester
Please see below for reviews of I’m Not Really Here:
"It's the best book I've read for a long time...beautifully, powerfully written...a must-read for any fan of football" - Oliver Holt, Daily Mirror
"A raw, sometimes unsparing and frequently moving account of how Lake's career was shipwrecked...an epic, harrowing and gripping story...an astounding football autobiography” - Daniel Taylor, The Guardian
"Lake's touching story isn't all doom and gloom - it's packed with humour and insight into the game. A superb read." - FourFourTwo magazine
"...a happy, sad, thought-provoking autobiography...a book that captures a time, a place and a club." - Michael Walker, Daily Mail
"I’m Not Really Here spares nothing in the raw details of what Lake endured. A football read even more harrowing than an England player’s World Cup diary" - Sport Magazine

‘my favourite player in those days was always Paul Lake. I used to love watching him. I don’t know what it was about him, but he was just a top footballer and cool as !**k, never any pressure on him, always knew what he was doing. He could play for us now, man’. Liam Gallagher

Paul will also be signing copies of his book at the Warrington Supporters club branch on Thursday September 1st at The Hawthorne, Orford Lane, Warrington, at 8.30 pm.
Paul has also corrected the KOTK Ed's previous post where the scout who spotted him was in fact Ted Davies not Len (both were City scouts!) - no mention of George Harrison though!
Dave

Weekend

2011-08-29T12:22:00.003+01:00

Weekend
Aw Fergie thinks that the FA have got it in for them by punishing every misdemeanour that the rags commit!
According to the press, no player has ever joined a bigger club for more money in the history of the game, except when they sign for City.
Isn’t it time that some of these hacks started to earn their money by doing sensible articles?
Spurs - Watched this one in the pub in Westhoughton with stalwarts Joe and Dolly and a few Blues plus the obligatory rag and a couple of Bolton fans. A couple of early scares for us then in went the first. “Lucky” said the rag. So we greeted the next four goals with “another lucky one, you’re just a bunch of mercenaries, only here for the money, you can’t buy success, a group of individuals not a team, boring, boring City, no history type stuff” Very adult, but satisfying!
I’ve missed two City games at Spurs in the last 30 years or so. Today’s, and the 4-3 Cup win! Bugger. All those other times I’ve had Spurs fans in my face, win or lose (mainly) whilst selling the zine. “Will you ever beat the Spurs” was one particular chant. Well this win makes up for all those losses, so well done to the boys, for a fantastic performance.
Today’s manumirror was true to type. Apparently the rags, who could only manage a 3-0 HOME win over Spurs upstaged our 5-1 away win.
Ollie Holt had us down as rivalling the rags for the first time since the 60’s, another of the usual ‘no history’ type calculated errors.
Check out the seventies Ollie – City League Cup winners twice, runners up once, Euro Cup Winners’ Cup winners once, runners up in the league in 1977. Rags FA Cup winners in 1977, humiliated in 1976 and 1979. City 7 lg wins to rags 6.
Pride of place goes to David McDonnell who replaces Michael Calvin as rag c*nt and arselicker of the season so far. As John Burfield more or less said in KK 189 – the rags can’t win, or lose, anything with grace, style and dignity, it always has to be accompanied with a sneer, dig, swipe and a snarl :
Anything you can do, we can do better. Blah, blah, blah then a totally unnecessary and incorrect swipe: When City ended their 35 year wait for a trophy with victory in last season’s F A Cup United upstaged them by claiming a record 19th title the same day (he didn’t mention by a dodgy penalty) It was in fact City who upstaged them by winning the Cup AFTER the rags win at Blackburn and the City parade far upstaged that of the rags damp squib. We won’t even mention Barcelona. Still, it's what Fergie wants rags fans to read.
No wonder everyone hates them.
Dave

Sunday

2011-08-28T00:19:00.002+01:00

Sunday
So much for signing up for the cup schemes as we won’t get our seats for the Napoli and future Euro games owing to UEFA rules. I’m flattered that we should be singled out but what are these rules? Must admit we thought there’d be a catch with our new comfy seats, looks like this is it.
News is that Ade’s off to Spurs.
We’re giving it a miss today for all sorts of reasons. First time I’ve missed a league game at the Lane for about 30 years so apologies to anyone hoping to pick up a KK 189 down there. We’ve got a few left if you want to get in touch by post at the usual address.
Missed the C Cup draw but note that we've got Brum at home, so the home games are piling up already. Not compla ining though!

Spurs, is of course the BIG test of all our opening fixtures, here’s the It’s A Fix extract :
3) SUNDAY AUGUST 28TH : SPURS (AWAY) KO 1.30PM – Put back for ESPN
Last promotion was in 1978, since then they’ve been successful in the F A, League and UEFA Cups, and their last pot was the League Cup in 2008. Most recent connection : Vedran Corluka. 125TH League meeting
Last season, after their European Champs League escapade concluded with defeat to Real Madrid, and joke goalie Gomes reverting to type, Spurs’ bid for a second Champs League place tailed off and they finished 5th with 9 wins 9 draws and 1 loss at home.
At COMS in May it was City who took the spoils for a change with a 1-0 win courtesy of an ironic Peter Crouch own goal in the 30 th minute. Crowd was 47,069 with 2817 cocky Spuds.
Our form at Spurs : At the Lane on the opening day of last season in sunny August we rode our luck to clinch a 0-0 draw. Crowd was 35,928 with 2,945 Blues.
WHL used to be one of our favourite away trips, but after our 1-0 win in 91/92 we went 5 games without a win until the 2-0 in ’03. Since then we’ve had 3 draws, five 2-1 defeats, a League Cup loss and an F. A. Cup win (4-3!!).
Comment : They’ll be smarting from last seasons 4 points we took off ‘em but it’s time we won here again. Signings are Brad Friedel, and Christian Ceballos. Woodgate’s gone and but Modric is not quite off to Chelsea. They lost 3-0 at united in their first game, and have just signed Adebayor on loan but he can’t play today.
Our turn to chant : Champions League, you’re having a laugh…..in Europa they’re through to the group stage after brushing aside Hearts…..
Groundwise: No change to the Lane. After their abortive attempt to move to the site of the Olympic stadium in East London, miles away, they’ve revived the plan to redevelop the whole ground to increase the capacity to 60,000 and local properties are being bought up to accommodate.

White Hart Lane Capacity ; 36,257 (Our club have only taken up about 1800 tickets)------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Where were they when they were shite? Averaged 20,859 in 85/86, so not bad.
Last seasons average home attendance : 35,680
Parking : Expensive but nearby parking at school on right, (ground on left) otherwise pot luck on side streets.
Sat Nav : N17 0AP
Pubs: The Antwerp in Church Road, The Park by the Station, The Three Compasses in Queen Street.
Good luck
Dave

This week

2011-08-25T19:53:00.002+01:00

This week
Bolton was interesting to say the least. We had a day in South Wales for grandson Isaac’s first birthday, and I was blackmailed by inadvertently drinking out of son-in-law’s Everton supporter’s mug. It was caught on camera! In defence though I was almost feeling a bit sorry for him after their home defeat to QPR. Good run back up, didn’t see any Blues and it was straight over to breezy Bolton for the top of the table clash with the Trotters. (Potters v Trotters in the F A Cup semi last season!)
Standing on my pitch I watched an entertaining group of drummers pass by with a risqué scantily clad lady gyrating riskily at the front. “I felt her arse” said one young Blue, inevitably I suppose. He wasn’t arrested. Spotted Tommy Booth in the exec bit behind us and eventually the “he’s here, he’s there” chant was boomed out.
We were in row Z but never touched the ball. You’d’ve thought we might at Bolton!
Good win for the boys and Bolton were fairly happy with a battling 3-2 defeat. “With a ref like that, Davies looks like a good player” we overheard some Bolton fans say! Honest!
Saw a Blue get manhandled and cuffed after the game by the Bolton over zealous Bobby’s. Completely over the top. Anyone else see it? Let us know.
Carling Cup time and Sunderland, QPR and Norwich crashed out. Draw’s on Saturday I hear.
Today’s Champs (not Chumps now!) League draw paired us with Bayern Munich (3-3 draw there in a friendly in 1953/54), Aston (!) Villareal we’ve never played, and Napoli (1-2 loss there in a friendly in 1978/79) . Could have been worse. Dates awaited before frantic bookings.
Plodding on with the editing of the Us and Them book and deadline for next zine is next Tuesday so trying to get finished before then. Stuff coming in already for KK 190 I’m pleased to say so please get cracking.
Sammy Nasri's joined us from the Arse which looks good.
Cheers
Dave

Weekend

2011-08-19T20:34:00.001+01:00

Sunday it’s off to the Horwich Wind Tunnel for the top of the table clash with the Trotters. Here’s the it’s a fix extract from KK 189 :

2) SUNDAY AUGUST 21ST BOLTON (AWAY) KO 4PM - Put back for Sky TV
Now in their 11th Prem season, last trophy the F. A. Cup in 1958 beating united comfortably 2-0. Recent connections : Martin Petrov, Danny Sturridge. 111TH LG meeting
Last season : After losing the F. A. Cup semi-final 5-0 to Stoke they recovered briefly, beating Arsenal at home, but then tailed off, losing their last 5 league games and dropped to 14th place, with 10 wins 5 draws and 4 losses at home.
At COMS in December it was a 1-0 City win with Tevez scoring after 4 minutes and Kolarov getting himself sent off. Crowd was 46,860 with 2431 Trotters turning out in force for a change.
Form at Bolton : Last season in May, goals from Lescott (43) and Dzecko (62) gave the Blues a 2-0 win on a blustery day in front of 26,285 as we clinched 3rd place. Daniel Sturridge being sent off for them late on.
Prior to that it was 3 losses, 2 draws and 2 wins in the previous 7 Prem. meetings.
Comment : Again, early season games don’t always go to form. City know they’re in for a tough match but it’s winnable we need to win this type of game. They had a great start last week beating QPR at the Bush last weekend but so did City with the Swansea win by the same score. We could have both Aguero AND Tevez up front so lick yer lips for a mouth waterer eh! Sergio, apparently, was sent off on his last appearance at the Reebok for spitting, but there won't be a repeat of that today.
Bolton’s new signing is Darren Pratley, and Elmander, Sturridge and Al Habsi have all gone.
Reebok Stadium Capacity : 28,723 (5,000 for City)

Groundwise : Can there be a better setting for a football club than the Reebok, Bolton fans Brian and Larraine Wilson tell us?! Well no, not really. Familiar territory to us by now. Ticket prices seem sensible again and we’ll fill both tiers as we’ve sold out.
WWTWTWShite : Their crowds were down to an average of 4,847 in 85/86.
Last season’s average home attendance was : 22,680
Parking/car parks: £3 here and there, £6 last year at the ground and we could have raced away afterwards if we hadn’t opted for a meal on the Middlebrook!
Sat. Nav : BL6 6JW
Pubs : Shut to City fans still, on police advice, before and after. Plenty in Horwich though - Beehive, Bromilow Arms, Horwich
Dave

Monday, Monday

2011-08-18T00:28:00.002+01:00

Monday, Monday…..
We went for an early one to make sure there would be no traffic hitches, for just the one home game selling for KK189 – and prayed for a fine night!
Pulled up at the lights on the Lancs next to a sort of white van vehicle. Driver, looking as rough and tough as old boots, gazed across at me sat in the passenger seat with my City shirt on as I wondered whether he was blue or red. He put his head down to reveal the City crest tattooed on his head no less and we had a good laugh.
Next stop was Asda, and we bumped into the usual Brian Hince crew and exchanged pleasantries. Bloke next to me in the grub queue said “don’t give us a hammering tonight!” I shrugged. Plenty of Blues in there and a few Swansea, but there were a couple of little shits running about aged about 4 and 7 shouting united repeatedly. Whilst it called for the Fawlty Towers accidental elbow crack “sorry sonny” to the head, they were generally ignored. No wonder everyone hates them. I blame the parents!
“I only hope it’s not 4-0!" I overheard a Swans fan say. All went well with lots of encouraging comments for KK. Into the ground and wow – padded seats – I almost felt guilty for not going Platinum. Maybe next year eh? Everyone was careful to treat em with respect – no ketchup or Bovril spillages - not yet anyway.
Game’s well documented and what a debut for Aguero, brought back memories of Trev at Stoke, Bobby Owen v WBA in the Charity Shield but Ali B made his debut v Brum then scored at Coventry and helped demolish Sheff Wed 6-2. Did I read Hince right when he said Mercer and Allison signed Alan Ogley?
So a great start to the season and more good stuff to come. Naturally it rained at the end of the game but we’d sold out of all the zines we’d took, to round off a great night.
Cheers
Dave

Weekend

2011-08-14T18:41:00.001+01:00

Weekend
The Prem. is back, apart from Spurs v Everton. Bolton had a good win at QPR to go top and it was good to see that Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea all dropped 2 points but the rags got all 3 at West Brom. Somehow. Tomorrow, of course, we’ve got Swansea at home – here’s the It’s a Fix extract from KK189, on sale tomorrow night :

1) MONDAY AUGUST 15TH : SWANSEA (HOME) KO 8PM - Put back to the Monday for SKY TV.
I hate these Monday night games and spare thoughts for Swansea fans who were looking forward to their first ever Premiership match and will now be totally inconvenienced. Also commiserations to KK subscriber Dave Handley who’d come over from Japan but will now miss the game. Sods
The Swans are back in the top flight for the first time since 1983, when they dropped out alongside our very own Manchester City. Since then they fell on really hard times but have bounced back up the divisions and finally made it into the Prem by beating Reading in the Play Off Final at our very own (2 out of 3 ain’t bad!) Wembley Stadium. What a game that was, the Swans or Jacks going 3 goals up in the first half then Reading pulling two back, having a goalbound shot deflected onto the post before conceding a late penalty for Swansea to win 4-2.
No trophies for Swansea and not so recent connections are The mighty Roy Paul, Vic Gomersall, Bobby Owen, Tommy Hutch and manager John Bond. Spencer Davis was born in Swansea but whether he supports them or manu is unclear, though as an Oxford Don you’d expect the former.
Last league meetings were in season 1983/84 in the Second Division when City doubled them 2-1 at Maine Road and 2-0 at the Vetch (sounds like someone’s throwing up) Field overlooked by the prison. The first goal was celebrated by Chappy and his mates who were being escorted to the City end who arrived just as the ball hit the back of Swansea’s net and joined in with the players’ celebrations on the pitch. Very funny.
Form at home to Swansea : Pretty good, actually, though we haven’t met since 1983/84. First meetings were in 1926/27 and there’s been ten meetings, all at Maine Road, with 8 City wins, one draw and one loss (2-1 in 1950/51)
Comment : Obviously they’re a bit of an unknown quantity and will be on a high for their Premiership debut, but you can’t see anything other than a City win. Summer signings are Danny Graham, Jose Moreira, and Steve Caulker. Their away form was poor last season with 11 losses.
WWTWTWshite : Averaged 3,367 in 1991/92.
Last season’s average home attendance : 15,507

us and them advert

2011-08-14T11:03:00.002+01:00

KOTK BOOK - US and THEM

It’s the new book - Manchester City versus every other club from season 1892/93 until 2010/11. This includes the A to Z of all the teams City have played against, including friendlies, F A Cup, League Cup, Texaco Cup, Anglo-Italian Cup, Full Members Cup, Auto Windscreen, European games, the lot. It’s more ‘story’ than statistics - though these are included in summary - there’s background info on each club, a fan’s tale for the vast majority of games, (90% new material), which are quirky, hairy, scary, funny, peculiar and, well, just interesting. There are ground diagrams, pics, caricatures and cartoons included. It looks like being hardback, about 224 pages, similar in style to the now sold out ‘Century City’ book and is in the process of final editing. It should be out probably in October and the price will probably be about £14.95 again. (contributors get a complimentary copy) If you wish to have your name in the book as a subscriber (thanks to all who’ve subscribed so far) and receive a copy at a reduced special rate (£2 off) just send in your name and address by the end of August to: ‘Us and Them’ subscription, c/o King Of the Kippax, 25, Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2 HL. Or a phone call or e-mail will do. We don’t need any monies yet so don’t worry about that just now! Thanks KOTK.

Tuesday already

2011-08-09T11:15:00.003+01:00

Tuesday already
Season tickets dropped through the door, in a smart gold coloured package which included sky blue bootlaces, a wrist band thing, a star pin badge, DVD, some photos and an impressive booklet including City songs – but excluding the arguably most famous one now picked up and used by most fans in the country. Know the one? Answers please, just teasing!
Saturday was on us and we headed down to the Smoke where the Blue Vic and myself took in the Brentford v Yeovil match, Uwe’s first game in charge of the Bees. The ground brought back memories of F. A. Cup and League Cup defeats, plus the abortive visit when it was called off at the last minute; seeing ex Blue, Stan the Man (Bowles) lurking in a seedy street where we parked next to a mattress on spare land, and the 1-0 F. A. Cup win when we thought that Frank Clark was our latest saviour. 1997.
Ground’s seated on two sides, with a double decker - seated top, standing bottom for the away fans behind one goal and standing for home fans on terracing behind the other, now roofed. We missed the kick off – London traffic, M25 an all that, but spotted a few Blues here and there in the ground. Brentford did well, playing decent stuff and going ahead via a penalty. Second half they scored a second in a fine move culminating in Shaleum Logan’s shot going in off the upright. So 2-0 to the Bees, Yeovil showed nothing much, and after a quick Uwe Rosler chant as he left the field in front of us, we were off to friend’s Raymond and Chrissie’s place for the evening.
Sunday morning we broke the previous routine and went for brekky to the Landmark hotel opposite Marylebone station. Very nice too. I had my City shirt on and enjoyed marching out of the hotel with the rag boys (manu were staying there!) as they walked the few yards to their coach and so I cocked up all the sycophants’ photos, snapping away as their (tainted) heroes boarded the coach.
Wembley was in sunshine, more rags than Blues (they only live round the corner) flogged a few zines, and took up our seats on the front row of the second tier again, but this time I’d remembered the KOTK flag. Reef performed their hit ‘Place your hands ’ from 1996 – I had a chat with their lead singer once when we were both in the green room before a Tony Wilson tv show in Liverpool. Disappointed that Bobby Johnstone’s disallowed goal wasn’t mentioned in Gary j in the review of the ’56 game. United’s goalie, Dave Gaskell, was 16 apparently, not 15 as I thought, and he was at todays game but didn’t drop his shorts!
Two nil up at half time, slightly fortunately perhaps and joy on the concourse. When was the last time we conceded three in the second half of a game? Erm League Cup semi at the Swamp was it? Defend like mad to prevent the first goal, control the game and lift the trophy. We were poor, looked unfit, and lethargic but held em at 2-2 somehow until our Achilles heel – the injury time goal struck. How many times? Our free kick cleared, two defenders, one to cover the other? No the dosy bastards let Nani in for the winner. Will we ever learn? Apparently not and why wasn’t Aguero brought on? Still, if Nani hadn’t scored then, we’d have had to wait for a further ten minutes or so until the rags actually got their winner.
Pretty obvious then that we need some more signings but Mancini’s record in this department has been poor so far for the money spent, and where are the young players coming through?
So a sombre journey home. Far more Blues than rags in the service station, and I was surprised to see even a few of em as far north as Oxford!
So another sleepless night (woke up at 4) nightmaring on Nani's winner. I’ve only just got over the Owen goal in the 3-4 and now this. Then I had to go on 5Live at 6.50 am – I’d agreed to cos I thought they meant ten to seven AT NIGHT! Dope. Still it was only a friendly (??!!) and we did win the big one AND our record 6-1 win in 1968 is still intact (not mentioned anywhere in the press) , though at 2-0 I thought we might beat it! Not really.
Dave

Friday

2011-08-05T18:44:00.002+01:00

Last Friday morning we had a 9am, quite reasonable start, and were chauffeured down to Holyhead by friends Joe and Dolly to catch the mid-day packed ferry over to Dublin’s fair city.
After settling in at the hotel, we ate then ambled over to the Temple bars and enjoyed some good music in the Thunder café. I’d braced myself for the Irish Rover, Wild Rover, Seven Drunken Nights etc. but we rocked along to Crowded House, Floyd, Neil Young etc.
Saturday it was the first game at The Arriva, an impressive stadium in a strange setting where it’s not possible to walk round the ground, being hemmed in by houses and the railway line.
The ground was far from full, which was annoying, the second tier almost completely empty. There was a smattering of Blues, but plenty of Celtic fans who congregated behind the goal and in the top tier, doing the Poznan and booing Vlad Weiss mercilessly. Sergio Aguero made an appearance but didn't play and is on the bench for Sunday.
City’s team was mainly a second eleven but included Gareth Barry, SWP and Adam Johnson. 0-0 at half time, we went down for a coffee and the goofy kid with glasses informed us that “manu are better, all you’ve got is money” so naturally he got a stern lecture.
City were too powerful for Airtricity in the second half and ran out 3-0 winners comfortably.
The second game, after an impressive display of drumming from the locals was Inter v Celtic, and Inter went 2-0 up before having a player sent off. I was wondering where Robinho was, but have since been put right by manclad in that he plays for AC not Inter! We decided to leave at half time and observed a rag/Celtic fan chanting “you’ll never win f*ck all” to a Blue who ignored him completely. Didn’t they chant that at us for the past 35 years? At the station we chatted to an Irish fella who informed us he was a big manu fan. “Never mind” I said. Do these people have to pass an exam to become a rag? Do we really want to know? Can’t they just keep quiet? The Irish astound me. For such a cussed nation, it’s surely against their nature to follow the flow, although we do have good and loyal support over there.
On the Sunday we did the Dublin bus tour and arrived at The Arriva just as Celtic, 2-0 up, banged in three goals in the last few minutes.
So to the Big One. Many more Blues at this one, and some old and welcome acquantancies were spotted, plus the usual braindeads in rag shirts. No wonder.....
X factor Mary, belted a couple of songs out and I’m told I was spotted in the crowd singing along!
Plenty of Celtic fans remained, booing every move City made. Two of our goals were disallowed before Mario notched a header on half time. This was loudly booed by a Celtic fan near me, and when I asked him why he couldn’t or wouldn’t answer.
Edin stroked in another after half time and Adam J finished em off in the last minute to gain revenge for last season’s 0-3 defeat in the USA. We were then presented with the Dublin Super Cup. Very nice.
Flogged a few zines at the end of the game and was accosted by a young rag singing “united, til I die….” Which isn’t even a rag song.
So all in all a couple of satisfying results. It’s a strange competition though, and it would have been nice to put Celtic in their place with a game. If the competition survives next season it will need some revamping. Two games (out of three) in two days doesn’t inspire and the ticketing arrangements need sorting.
We had a great time though and finished off with a couple of enjoyable days in Northern Ireland.
Next up it’s the rags at Wembley, here’s the It’s A Fix extract from KK189 :

SUNDAY AUGUST 7TH : MAN. UTD : COMMUNITY
SHIELD K.O. 2.30 or is it 3pm ? AT WEMBLEY
It’s bloody them, again. Well they won the ‘title’ last season with a – wait for it - dodgy penalty at Blackburn, where they took 250,000 fans apparently. Ironically, this was the final straw in a season where dubious refereeing decisions for and against, off the top of my head v Fulham, Stoke, West Brom, West Ham, Villa, Arsenal etc etc gifted them at least 10 points.
They also knocked Liverpool off their perch by beating Pool’s five Euro Cups by notching their 6th European Cup by beating Barcelona in the final. Oops, still stuck on three! Even Arsenal beat Barca this season.
Fergie, Ryan Giggs and Wayne Rooney in particular disgraced themselves last season followed closely by Camelgob’s antics. What a club. I don’t mind Giggsy to be honest, but he does sum up Manchester united. Poached deviously at an early age, claimed a goal on his debut which was actually an own goal, booed by his own fans, lauded in the media to be given a knighthood, then fell into disgrace for off the field misdemeanours of the lowest kind. Arise Sir Ryan!
JBurfield : And just to show that we’re really up to date, how about rags burning City scarves outside the City store in town. Seriously how utterly lame is that?!! If I wrote in this fanzine that I was going to go down to the united megastore with a few mates and set fire to a load of Ryan Giggs duvet covers (for an extra fiver you can get them with authentic stains now by the way) outside, I’d thoroughly deserve to be laughed off as an embarrassment. Self awareness and shame though are qualities lacking in your average rag numpty, eh?!
Whatever, form is temporary, class is permanent, right?

Latest additions to the plastics are David Hasselhoff, Brian Blessed, Bill Oddie, Neil bloody Diamond and sadly Robbie Williams who’s adopted them as his ‘fantasy team’. Twat.
In the Charity Shield it will be our 7th appearance. We lost to Arsenal 0-4 in 1935, and beat Sunderland 2-0 in 1938. We then lost 1-0 to united in 1956, Bobby Johnstone having his backheeled goal direct from a corner mysteriously disallowed. In this game, played at Maine Road as the forward thinking united didn’t have floodlights, part of which was televised, 15 year old David Gaskell came on in goal for the injured Ray Wood. In true rag tradition David disgraced himself and the club for baring his smelly, spotty, bare backside to the crowd in a later game. United fans sent death threats to Villa winger Peter MacParland prior to the 1957 Charity Shield game at O/T. No wonder everyone hates them. Moving on City recorded the highest ever score in this fixture beating West Brom 6-1 in 1968, then lost 2-1 to Leeds in 1969. Then came a couple of games where the Champs and the Cup winners couldn’t be bothered to help raise charity money and so City played and won 1-0 at Villa in 1972, but lost 1-0 at home to Burnley in 1973. So to today and the rags have spent a fortune on players this summer but are not ruining the game, oh no. Never mind, and don’t forget, “Let’s all wink at Rio, let ’s all wink at Rio….”
Hopefully today the police will have a more attentive presence on Wembley Way and in the car parks.

Wembley Stadium Capacity : 85,000 (27,500 for City)

Had a call from the manumirror re Joey Barton but didn’t give the answer they wanted so it wasn’t printed. Also had a call from the Mail on Sunday, told em I wasn’t bothered at all about the money our support and loyalty deserved, so whether that’s the angle they wanted we’ll see.
Cheers
Dave

Thursday night

2011-07-28T22:43:00.002+01:00

Thursday
I was hoping to get to see Iron Maiden tonight, but not to be so here’s tonight’s missive instead.
(Incidentally, if Pete Beard’s reading this, and I know he does, Daltry was great the other week but didn’t sing ‘Giving It All Away' – I’ve seen Bryan Adams who didn’t sing ‘Heaven’, Bon Jovi who didn’t sing ‘Bed Of Roses’ and Page and Plant who, of course didn’t sing ‘ Stairway to Heaven’ Bastards the lot of them. At least The Mooodies ALWAYS sing Nights in White Satin, but never ‘Go Now’ – understandable as it was pre Hayward and Lodge)

David Beckham caused a bit of a stir about there only being one team in Manchester. He didn’t say who that was but we guessed he meant the rags. Sure they’re a big club in all respects…except that which would identify them as a great club. They’re undignified, ungracious and Burfield sums em up nicely in the latest KK. No, we don’t want to be like them we’re quite happy being City.

Well it’s stalemate with Carlos, and it looks like he’ll be with us until January at least. New signing Aguero looks exciting and he’s saying all the right things about joining the mighty Blues, as you’d expect.

I’ve just read my complimentary copy of Lakey’s autobiography, which is a great read (I think though that the scout was LEN Davies and George Harrison sang Here Come The Sun!) and confirms my original thoughts in KK 189 :
LAKEY’S BOOK ‘I’m Not Really Here’ has just landed through the KK letterbox. A quick scan indicates that it’s a cracking read, well written, humorous where possible, self deprecating in parts and serious in others. It’s also informative with behind the scenes revelations. (wonder if he mentions the KK karaoke ‘do’ we held for him? No - Ed)
It should be out in all the shops soon and looks like a best seller to me. Full review in the next issue.
Published by Century of London it’s priced at £14.99

So the boys are back from the USA, and now it’s off to Dublin (expensive cos everything there’s Dublin! Old joke!) H ere’s a little bit off the KK 189 It’s A Fix :
After the tour of USA and Canada we kick off at the Dublin Super Cup in the Aviva Stadium against the Airtricity League X1 on Saturday July 30th kick off 2pm. The Airtricity team is managed by Damien Richardson, and contains players from both sides of the border.
Then, if we want to, we sit through the Inter v Celtic game which starts at 4.30PM.
Celtic’s manager is, of course, Neil Lennon. Who can forget his City debut as a 16 year old at Birmingham in April 1988 when the home crowd unsportingly booed the young lad? Neil’s been the subject of disgraceful sectarian nonsense during his career but I’m sure the City fans who stay will give Neil, Georgious and company a great reception. City beat Celtic 2-1 at COMS a couple of seasons ago when there was some trouble, and drew 1-1 at trouble free Celtic Park in 2008. Celtic are the Scottish Cup holders, and their fans have nicked the Poznan.
We lost 3-0 to Inter, the then European Champions last season in the USA, our only meeting, and it is of course Roberto and Patrick Vieira’s old club plus Robinho’s new club. They are the Italian Cup holders and also have Samuel Eto’o and (hopefully) Wes Sneijder in their squad.
On Sunday July 31st it’s Celtic v Aitricity at 2pm, then we face Internazionale kick off 4.30pm.

Aviva Stadium : Capacity : 51,700

See you there,
Dave

Dublin

2011-07-26T19:06:00.003+01:00

We've just drawn with LA Galaxy 1-1 but winning through on penalties 7-6. Much has been made of Mario's antics. We have a theory that he might be autistic. Any experts out there?
So whilst the press have had a field day not a peep about last week's TV programme on the skulduggery at the united shop in Thailand. Liverpool fan Brian Reade in the manumirror even trying to engraciate himself to the rags by protesting that Bryan Robson had done nothing wrong. Obviously the rag media mafia has been at it again. What a club no fu*king wonder....is it?

Anyway the Dublin Super Cup is nearing as is Aguera's signing. Here's a bit of info on the tournament. What's going 0n here I don't know as when we tried to book tickets a while ago there were hardly any left?

News Release

26 July 2011

Countdown to the Inaugural Dublin Super Cup

With four days remaining until the start of the inaugural Dublin Super Cup on the 30th and 31st July in the Aviva Stadium, Celtic, Inter Milan, Man City and an Airtricity XI are busy putting their final preparation for the tournament in place.
Airtricity XI begin their training this evening (Wednesday) at Richmond park while the other competing teams will arrive over the course of Friday to the capital city.
Not only will all three clubs have their full first teams in attendance but they have confirmed that they will be bringing along their silverware to the Aviva Stadium this weekend for the fans to see. Celtic will bring the Scottish Cup, Manchester City will have the FA Cup in attendance whilst Inter Milan will also be taking the World Club Cup in addition to the Italian Cup.
The Dublin Super Cup promises to offer Irish football fans the chance to see world class footballers competing on home soil and tickets will give fans the chance to see all four teams play on either day with two fixtures taking place on each.
Tickets offer excellent value for money, with prices starting at just €30 for adults and €10 for children. Fans should be aware that only one offer can be used at a time and a booking fee is applicable to all tickets purchased.

To purchase tickets, please visit www.dublinsupercup.com
Find the Dublin Super Cup on Facebook/Twitter by searching: dublinsupercup

-
· Tickets can be purchased through www.ticketmaster.ie/dsc and via Ticketmaster retail outlets – for store details please visit http://www.ticketmaster.ie/etc/
· Fans can also buy tickets at the Celtic stores in Dublin, Derry and Belfast – for store details please go to http://www.celticfc.net/shop_storefinder
· Hospitality Packages can be purchased via CSL Hospitality - please visit www.cslhospitality.ie
· *Booking fees apply to all online and telephone ticket sales

For media enquiries please contact:
Maeve Buckley or David McHugh – Line Up Sports Media Entertainment
E: maeve@lineupsme.com or dave@lineupsme.com
T: + 353 86 1582725 or +353 86 2713321

UK and international:
Gareth Field or Paul Stringer - Pitch PR
E: gareth.field@pitch.co.uk / paul.stringer@pitch.co.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7494 1616
Paul Stringer Senior Account ManagerPitch 39-43 Brewer Street London W1F 9UDT 020 7494 1616 M 07584 236 616 E paul.stringer@pitch.co.uk W www.pitch.co.uk

Finally we're getting one or two posters back on so do I presume that things are getting back to normal on the blog?

Pleased to say that all the subscriptions have now been posted out so you should receive your pristine KK 189's any day now.

Cheers
Dave

And there's more

2011-07-21T20:52:00.002+01:00

ALL I NEEED IS THE AIR THAT I BREATHE
I was invited to the Umbro shirt presentation along with other fine Blues last Tuesday, and I must say that the Blue Moon themed home shirt looks pretty good (despite the surreptitious and caustic comments from Mark E. Smith!) Everyone also enjoyed Liam’s Blue Moon and Beady Eye single, plus the meal, so thanks to Umbro and City for an entertaining evening.
Last season we had the new shirt, the Wembley shirt (which I bought) and the Cup winners shirt, so the depth of Blues’ pockets could reflect in the sales of this new one for 2011/12 season. The away shirts are back to the red ‘n black stripes we so love, but hated when they were first aired in 1968. Love the Sky blue plane by the way!

We’ve just beaten Club America 2-0 and Vancouver Whitecaps 2-1 over the pond, and face L A Galaxy next.
We’re just coming up for air after getting KK 189 to the printers, and as usual a big thanks to all our contributors for putting in the effort.

It is, of course, the F.A. Cup winners special, and it should be in the outlet at Aleef (Corner of Cross Street/Market Street) on Friday afternoon, followed by being on sale at the Dublin Super Cup, the Community Shield, Swansea home and Bolton and Spurs away.
As you’d rightly expect, it’s a bumper 52 page A4 issue with a colour front cover of Roberto (naturally) holding up the Cup with a clever caption (thanks to Sue). The back cover is also in colour and shows George Heslop (RIP) and the class of 1968 holding up the Charity Shield which we won with a record score of 6-1 against West Bromwich Albion. Fantastic, and wouldn't it be nice if................?!
It’s on sale for just £3, including p and p, and can also be purchased for £4 from (cheques to : King Of The Kippax, 25,Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL.
This issue contains, amongst other things: the fabled KK Kompetition, Class of 2010/11, My City World - diary of summer events, knobhead pundit of the year, Mike Doyle tributes, pre-season preview, Carlos Tevez views, lots of rag home truths, complete 2011 F. A. Cup run review, UEFA Financial Fair play update, match previews and reviews including the Final, cartoons, pics and comment on all things Blue, plus the odd pop at the dirty, filthy, despicable, nasty rags.

Wow that was a revelation the other night, the tv programme on the united bar in Thailand which is just used as cover for Bryan Robson, the united ambassador, and company being party to scurrilous goings on over there regarding buying up Championship clubs, building them up with loan deals, assisted by current and ex united managers (allegedly) and then selling them on for vast profits when they’re promoted to the Premiership “That’s good business…!?” Fergie is distancing himself from the goings on but he can’t fool us. What a club this is, and no wonder everyone hates them……Tell you what, I’m now glad I didn’t sell my shares to Thaksin! Nothing much condemning them in the papers though. Now if that had been City…..

Plans announced yesterday in the muen of City’s proposals for Etihad City, and they look mighty impressive.

Apparently Rooney has tweeted that the lad who turned up in Malaysia with a rag shirt on at the Liverpool game (and rightly had it ripped off him) is a legend. They just don’t get it do they? No wonder…..

Reserves with Bellamy (oh what might have been?) Bridge, Nedum and Michael Johnson have won at Alty 2-1 and Stalybridge Celtic 4-2. Mancini’s boy, and others, were taken to the States instead of the above and you have to question Roberto’s man management techniques? Jo’s gone back to Brazil, phew!

Corinthians have had since Christmas to sort out a deal for Carlos and now they’ve run out of time! What next? His agent reckons he’s not bothered? So he can’t be that desperate to get back to South America?

Regarding the blog, we do miss your postings and I’m desperately trying to get Chris to sort it. Please bear with us.
Cheers

KK 189

2011-07-21T20:32:00.002+01:00

We are pleased to annonunce that, after 23 years. KOTK fanzine number 189 is the proudest issue we've ever done

2011-07-07T16:39:00.000+01:00

Having not gone Platinum I picked up the latest City mag today – even though the lad gets it on line – hows that for loyalty – but no points!
First article – Mike Doyle tribute – 1944 to 2011. Criminal error.
Page 18 has the same fabulous team pic from 1957 but sadly with the same mistakes repeated that were in 442 mag recently. Here’s the letter I wrote to them which wasn’t printed : Congratulations on the excellent Bert Trautmann One to One feature in the May issue of 442. With regard to the 1957/58 team photograph it is in actual fact that of the players in the first public trial match (Blues v Maroons) who faced the reserves on Saturday August 17th, and may even have been printed the wrong way round. The black armbands were, however, not in honour of the Munich victims but for ex Chairnman Bob Smith who had died earlier in the week. A second trial match was played the week afterwards as the Sheffield Wednesday team withdrew from the scheduled fixture owing to the flu epidemic that month. This proved to be unfortunate for Jack Dyson (bottom row far left) who broke his leg in a collision with Bill Leivers (back row far right) as they were both on opposite sides that day. City players did wear black armbands, as did Spurs players, (and most other teams) and there is an iconic photograph of the teams lining up at White Hart Lane on February 8th 1958, just after the Munich disaster, and continued to do so on future anniversaries.
Incidentally the question from Mark Burgess of Oldham is more than likely that of City fan and lead singer of the rock group The Chameleons!
Regards
Dave Wallace (Editor of City zine King Of the Kippax, and author of Century City, the story of City's 1957/58 season, now sold out!).

I’ll be offering my services to the City mag as proof reader!
Dave
PS : I’m chasing Chris to get the blog sorted it’s getting serious now. Sorry for the inconvenience.

2011-06-25T12:28:00.000+01:00

And another thing
Have you renewed?
We went down to the ground and joined the queue outside the ticket office now the upstairs of the store has been converted to Virtual City. Temporary we hope. Store is much brighter with lots of good merchandise and books on display. Hot and sunny on the South side of COMS but perishin’ on the North where the queue was. We were served fairly quickly and joined in the queue by Swindon Paul who’s going Superbia as he goes to all the games anyway and if anyone deserves an extra 2000 points it’s Paul. Not sure about the principle of others jumping the loyalty points queue though and neither do many fans - Sean Riley and Bill Garnett in particular have taken this up with the club. We went for Gold. Platinum was a good marketing ploy by the club to sell the ailing programme and City mag, but we didn’t fall for it despite the attraction of the extra points. Still, compared with the rest of the Prem., good value overall.
Not much movement on the transfer targets that, according to Noel G, were to blow our minds this summer, not to mention the dead wood removal, but it’s early days yet I suppose.
Copy’s coming in for the next KK with articles by Tony P, Howard H’s season review, Burfield’s Class Of 2010/11, Jon C’s City World, and HWIFY in already. We should be putting it together in the next couple of weeks so please send your stuff and Cup Final pics in soon please.
We’re also in the throes of final editing of the US and Them book, and thanks to all who have sent in pledges so far. Contributors, and there’s over thirty, will get a free copy of course.
Cheers for now,
Dave

Nearly July

2011-06-25T12:01:00.002+01:00

Nearly July
We had a good couple of weeks on the Gower. Came back up for a day for Peter and Siobhan’s wedding reception – you could say they’re now Tangled up In Blue!
So good luck to them, and best man Nedum Onuoha, who’s also just married.
I picked up Mel Nurse’s Mr. Swansea book whilst down there. Mel was a Swans player in the 60’s and 70’s then a Director. He virtually saved the Swans from extinction. Plenty of Blues mentioned – Vic Gomersall, Roy Paul, manager John Bond, and Tommy Hutch. Mel went to a game at Fulham in 1956 from his army base and headed for the floodlights. He did well finding the ground as lights weren’t erected at Fulham until 1962!
I sussed out the Liberty (bodice!) Stadium but it, and the club shop was shut, owing to refurbishment! It’s on a big retail park so plenty to do when we visit in March, and if you get chance to spend time on the Mumbles and the (David!) Gower I’d recommend it. Take your brolly and your mack!
Dave
PS _ This post's gone on OK but looks like everyone else is still having trouble. I'll have another go at Chris and see if we can sort it.

Jine

2011-06-04T00:07:00.002+01:00

June’s busting out….
Well the Swans did it so well done to them. It should be a happy place when we visit The Gower in the next couple of weeks.
Bank Holiday Monday saw the damp squid of the rags parade with more stewards and police following the bus than the number of fans assembled en route. Of course the muen tried to put a brave face on it and convince us there were thousands of local rags there but from what we saw on telly it was pretty sparse. They didn’t even go into the stadium. Whilst we had our gliches at COMS our celebration knocked spots off theirs. No wonder......
Picked up the latest 4-4-2 (July) today. Bugger me they’ve printed a daft letter saying that Paddy Fagan in the 57/58 photo looks like the actor William Defoe. Thought they might’ve put my beautifully constructed letter in on that subject, but no. still, a great photo!
No history? Not a mention of the cup final (we won it) Then they’ve got Vidic (who should've been sent off every other game) as their player of the season. No photo of Ya-Ya striding past him to score the winner in the semi-final. Then on the inside back page there’s a full page advert on rags’ merchandise. Trouble with ads is you finish up dancing to their tune or they withdraw the ad costs. That’s one of the reasons why we don’t do em at KK. Anyway did you know that we’re joint second in the trophy span years. Blackburn first then us and Spurs. Ours is 1904 to 2011 that’s 107 years. Not a lot of people know that!
Subscribers are coming in for the Us and Them book, so thanks to all so far. Keep em coming. All contributors (36) get a free copy of course
Here’s hoping that Chris can sort out the blog problems
Cheers
Dave

Weekend

2011-05-29T13:30:00.001+01:00

Weekend
Friday’s manumirror sunk to new depths again. Take a bow David McDonnell with his article – saved by the boss – Valencia feared for his career after horror injury….unitil Fergie worked his magic again.
Do you know what magic was worked? You won’t believe it. Ferguson actually visited Valencia in hospital. Wow, how magical was that!!!
On another page McDonnell reckons Kolo’s ban will cause outrage at City’s neighbours Manchester United who had Ferdinand banned for 8 months. One - united actually haven’t yet been outraged (but wait for it) Two – Ferdinand was banned for deliberately forgetting to take his drugs test. No wonder everyone hates them and their sycophantic journos.
Hopefully we’ll try and review the journo pricks of the year in the next KK. Off the top of my head the frontrunner is Michael Calvin.
Friday night in the pub (and I never mention football) I was subjected to the usual rag crap about what they were gonna do to Barca. You have to hand it to rag fans. No matter how much they rely on refereeing decisions to win them games they always think they can win without them, even against the very best. So to Barca. Frankly I was disappointed. On that performance it should have been 5 or 6 nil. Even united’s goal came from a foul, handball and offside. How do they do it? As for Giggsy he’ll never pull another woman if he can’t get a shave. Haven’t seen much on the Fergie /Rooney spat – imagine if that had been City – a player remonstrating with the manager – they’d all be at it. Clive T only mentioned “that night in Barcelona” once. I’ll let him know, don’t you worry.
Here’s a few texts I got –
* Catalan 3 Matalan 1
* Rumour has it that Barca fans are going to sneak into O/T and unfurl a banner with 19 on it to show how many times united touched the ball last night.
* After their practice at the semi, united cleared their end even quicker this time.
*U-N-I-T-E-D, not much luck at Wember-ley
With Ya-Ya’s goal and Messi’s class
Stick your treble up your arse!

Tomorrow it’s Swansea v Reading in the play offs for promotion to the Prem. Ged will be rooting for the Swans so he can visit a new ground.
Dave

Test

2011-05-27T15:20:00.002+01:00

Testing Ryan Giggs loves his missus

Possible issue with new Blogger Template

2011-05-27T15:18:00.003+01:00

Hi All
Tony P. is experiencing issues logging on to Blogger. The only changes we have made recently is to the design, using a new template. In theory this shouldn't affect the blogger account.

However, please can all blog authors check to see if their login is affected. If so, please contact Dave straight away so that we can get it rectified dw001e8104@blueyonder.co.uk

Please also see if you can comment on this post... ta

cheers

Bolton

2011-05-26T20:44:00.003+01:00

Bolton
How pleasant was that? Finishing off with a win and confirmed 3rd place. It was a gusty day and I said to Steve P that the goal would probably come from a fluke, and it did! Thankfully for us, then Edin finished em off, and Sturridge was sent off though I didn’t really share in the glee.
On to Monday and I was asked to go on Granada so had to turn down Look North. Thought it’d make a nice change to be in a positive situation after the trials of the last twenty or thirty years or so.
Had to be there at 4.30, then was taken to Albert Square with Lucy Meacock, though wasn’t being interviewed til the players came out round about six! Finally did the interview with the music booming out but was told it was fine but just a ‘run through!’
Then just about to do the real thing when Lucy spotted Mike Summerbee, called him over (not Rover!) and asked him all the questions she’d previously asked me!
Then made my way to COMS for the long arranged Former Players Association dinner. James H hosted brilliantly, and after the meal we all filed out into the ground to watch the celebrations. Brilliant. Then went and stood next to Jim, and we had a big tearful hug! Back in the Citizens suite the F A Cup was brought in by Micah and photos were taken by one and all (I’d forgot my camera!)
Sue and the kids didn’t have such a good time though. They got in the ground about 6, little food available and no entertainment, little kids getting very cold and hungry apparently, waiting for the celebrations which started about 8.20Pm. OK Badly Drawn Boy came on but that was just as things livened up and slow melodic music tempered the mood somewhat.
Anyway, practice for next time eh?
Giggsy’s buggered up his chances of being knighted. Erm, weren’t the O/T faithful booing him a couple of years ago?
I see the rag hoodies smashed up journo’s cars outside his home too. Nice.
Haven’t see any articles saying how had it will be for football if the beautiful play of Barca doesn’t ensure they win the Euro Cup. Has anybody? And the rags are at it already, wanting a referee who won’t fall for Barca players diving. Don’t remember them diving in 2009 do you, but I spotted a few rag players at it. No wonder everyone hates ‘em
Dave

Media

2011-05-25T12:43:00.002+01:00

Just under one week ago, I viewed the interview with the Chairman on the City site. In his interview he stressed that for the coming season fans should not expect the kind of incoming transfers that we have made in the previous two years. He added that we have the nucleus of a good squad and that perhaps four quality players will be targeted but stressed that it will be quality rather than quantity. If you were to ask 1000 City fans, 999 will more or less give the same answer on who should be shipped out of the squad to make room. So why then did today's copies of the Sun and Daily Mail both have stories indicating a break down between Mancini, Cooke and Marwood over transfer policy and that Mancini was off to Abu Dhabi for showdown talks with the owner.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/3599040/Roberto-Mancini-has-flown-to-Abu-Dhabi-to-speak-to-chairman-Khaldoon-Al-Mubarak-amid-a-breakdown-in-relations-at-Manchester-City.html

The fact is that the Chairman told us this one week ago, the manager has also indicated in interviews that he knows they have to be careful of the Fair Play rules and can't go on a spending spree. The MEN has subsequently rubbished the story, but I would ban both these papers until they can learn to behave themselves. Don't tell me it can't be done. Yesterday at a press conference prior to Gargoyle's testimonial, a reporter cheekily asked Ferguson if Giggs was an important player. He answered that all the players are important. Unbeknown to him, the microphone was still on and you could hear Fergie telling a lackey "Who was that?. Make sure he doesn't come in again."

New Red and Black away Kit Unveiled

2011-05-24T13:21:00.001+01:00

The new Manchester City away kit for the 2011/2012 season was revealed at Monday night’s FA Cup homecoming event at the City of Manchester Stadium.
The inspiration for the Umbro kit is taken from the most famous shirt in the club’s history – the black and red shirt worn in 1969 and 1970 during which time City won the FA Cup, League Cup and European Cup Winners Cup.
To achieve the ‘tailored’ look for the 2011/2012 away shirt, the Umbro kit designers draped black and red fabric over the silhouette of the modern day ‘arms out’ goal celebration.
The shirt is designed so that when a player celebrates a goal or links arms with team mates, the black and red stripe remains consistent. For this reason, there is no seam on the underarm as traditionally stitching can distort the shape and flow of a stripe. The stripe width on the shirt was inspired by the old 1969 kit. The long sleeve version features an all-black forearm so that there is a unified stripe-look when the players link arms in goal celebrations.
The club crest and sponsor detail is key-lined in gold in order to give standout against the black and red.

Saturday

2011-05-21T20:51:00.002+01:00

Stoke
Well that was easy peasy wasn’t it? Good win for City, Carlos back to form, (is he staying or going?) and finally a headed goal from Lescott.
The rain didn’t quite come and we sold out of KK188, though Sue found some in the back of her car that she forgot about so a few to sell at Bolton tomorrow.
We had our Superbia package from City, but too many questions and £2500 the same price for an OAP as everyone else, no thanks.
Usually get a request from Wigan re a season ticket but a leaflet from Bolton dropped through the door. Tickets available from £285 for adults, no mention of prices for owd codgers but hypothetical anyway.
I see the rags Youth team are following in the footsteps of their seniors with a goal given at Sheff U which didn’t cross the line.
Got the season ticket renewals today – Gold or Platinum? Gold for me and it seems pretty reasonable to be honest.
Renewal date is between June 7th to the 26th, no good for the lad who’ll have to renew a few days before his holiday when he’ll be strapped for cash. I’m sure he’ll manage something.
Picked up Manc the City mag. Over a week since the Final but not a mention?
Fergie’s got the Manager Of The Year, despite being in disgrace for most of it. Still, he can always do the right thing and pass it on to the refs at Stoke, West Brom, Blackpool, Chelsea, West Ham, Arsenal and Blackburn, he appointed or bullied – that’s 21 points they were gifted. No wonder everyone hates ‘em…….
Mike wally Walters in the manumirror reckons “ none of Mancini’s team will ever be loved like Hartford in his two spells under the Blue Moon” They never give up do they? F A Cup winners, possible 3rd place. Fuck off Walters and take Calvin and the rest with you. We’re very happy with the current team, heroes all. Tomorrow it’s Bolton away. Here’s the It’s A Fix extract from KK 188 : GAME 38) SUNDAY MAY 22ND : BOLTON (AWAY) KO 3PM as per the Sunderland prog but actually 4PM!
Now in their tenth Prem season, last trophy the F. A. Cup in 1958 beating united comfortably 2-0. Recent connections Martin Petrov, Danny Sturridge. 110th LG meeting

This season so far : They’re in 10th place with 46 points from 37 games and 10 wins 5 draws and 3 losses at home.
At COMS in December it was a 1-0 City win with Tevez scoring after 4 minutes and Kolarov getting sent off. Crowd was 46,860 with 2431 Trotters turning out in force for a change.
In the Carling Cup they went out 1-0 at Burnley in the 3rd round. In the F. A. Cup they lost in the semi-final to the tune of 5-0 to Stoke, the score that most pundits thought The Nasties would beat City by, to scupper a repeat of the 1904 and 1926, encounters.

Form at Bolton : Last season in December, goals from Tevez (28,77) and Richards (45) gave us a 3-3 draw, Bolton’s goals coming from Klasnic (11, 53) and Cahill (43). Clattenburke was responsible for the most ridiculous sending off ever seen on a football pitch since Kevin Horlock at Bournemouth, when he dismissed Craig Bellamy for supposedly diving, when it should have been a penalty. Crowd was 22,735 with 4,634 Blues.
Prior to that it was two losses, 2 draws and 2 wins in the last 6 Prem meetings but our last win was 1-0 in 2004/05.

Comment : Overall not a bad season for them and they’ve stayed up fairly comfortably. They’re always capable of a result though, having beaten Spurs and Arsenal at the Reebok. Some decent players in nice guy Owen Coyle’s squad include Jaaskelainen, Cahill, Lee, Davies etc but they should be no match. Hopefully it’ll be party time for us.

Reebok Stadium capacity : 28,723 (5,000 for City)

Groundwise : Familiar territory to us by now. Ticket prices are reasonable at £35 upper, and we’ve sold out. Hopefully it’ll be a warm one and we can fill both tiers in summer attire, and wave the flags, banners and scarves joyously, after a great end to the season. Matching the Arse’s result at Fulham will see us in 3rd place. Go for it Blues!

WWTWTWShite : Their crowds were down to an average of 4,847 in 85/86, and currently stand at 22,193.

Parking/car parks: £3 here and there, £6 last year at the ground and we raced away afterwards!
Sat. Nav : BL6 6JW
Pubs : Shut to City fans still, on police advice, before and after. Plenty in Horwich though- Beehive, Bromilow Arms, etc.

Dave

We did it

2011-05-17T10:48:00.002+01:00

We did it!
First for Tony – I was just making the point that my letters don’t often get printed either. Perhaps we should assume a non-de-plume like Leslie Holt or Harry Singleton or something!
Anyway we did it didn’t we. Talk about relief a nd euphoria.
More or less the same routine as for the semi for us even though the kick off was the earlier time of 3pm. Stoke fans were confident that they could beat anyone at the moment, and thought they had the Indian sign over us until I pointed out the 3-0 and 2-0 City wins at COMS to them!City fans not quite as up for it but still a brilliant day and result. I didn’t see any of the game on TV afterwards but have just seen the highlights and that save by Joe was really something. I wasn’t happy with the pre match singing of “We are the Champions” – just after the rags had clinched the title with a surprise, surprise – dubious penalty. It has got to stop. No wonder….and I hear they took 250,000 to Blackburn….
So it was another great day for us, and I’m pleased that we’ve wiped out the 35 years AND beaten the rags’ 37 years they went without a trophy. Well done to everyone concerned, a proud, proud day to be a Blue.
Note that if we'd lost it meant more to the rags than them winning the title.
My brother’s rag next door neighbour said “you only won cos Stoke didn’t turn up”. Anyone got anymore bitter rag tales?
So tonight it’s the league match with Stoke, here’s the It’s A Fix update : 37) TUESDAY MAY 17TH : STOKE (HOME)
Well, well, we face em again but I don’t think there’ll be much taunting going on by Blues. Respect to Stokies, they were fine on Saturday and supported their team to the end and beyond, unlike the rags in the semi.

Stoke are now into their third Prem season, last, and only trophy was the League Cup in 1972, (I'm pleased to say) recent connections are Carlo Nash and Glen Whelan, plus summariser Nigel Gleghorn, City one week, Stoke the next who won’t know who to support again. It’s the 84th league meeting.
Big name supporter : Nick Hancock.

Our form in Manc v Stoke : Last season it was a 2-0 City win, with goals from Petrov (28) and Tevez (45) and the crowd was 47,325 with 2844 Stokies. There was also the 1-1 draw in the F. A. Cup 5th round, SWP (11) for City, with Fuller equalising (57) from a Delap throw, in front of 28,019 with 3295 Stokies.. They’ve had only one win here in the last 7 league meetings, 1-0 in 97/98, whilst City have won the other 6, so it’s looking good.

Comment : Hopefully we can make it a double over them in three days to help clinch that third spot, which after the Arse’s loss at weekend is a distinct possibility.

WWTWTWShite : they averaged 8,288 in 1985/86, and their current home average is 26,611

Dave

What's Going On?

2011-05-12T19:19:00.000+01:00

What’s going on?
This is for Tony’s benefit! First my piece for The Guardian wasn’t printed, but it was put on their blog. Second my piece on Angela Epstein picking on Bridge’s so called childishness instead of Rio and co after the semi wasn’t printed in the Muen. Third my letter to 4-4-2 regarding our 1957 team’s black arm bands being for Chairman Joe Smith dying and NOT for the Munich victims (the f*cking Munich card again) was ignored. Incidentally there’s a piece on Mario Balotelli in this issue. Fourth, the Telegraph looking for an angle on the O/T 35 year banner didn’t print my comment that it just shows the rags up to be a small minded club. Fifth there was a feature in this months Loaded mag including KOTK covers and cartoons, but we didn’t make the top ten!

Anyway, we did the biz v Spurs, what a difference a year makes, and we’re in the Chimps League prelims. Can’t see us overtaking the Arse as they’ve got easier fixtures than us to finish with.

So to the big one. I’ve got a new baseball cap, have changed my sky blue Wembley replica shirt to a bigger size, and polished my marquetry plaque to wear round my neck - City logo one side, Maine Road on the other. It’s a masterpiece, even if I say so myself! Look out for me/it if you want to buy a zine at Wembley, surreptitiously of course! Sue is not amused.

I’ve just read a united zine that we swap with that reckons the refs are against em. It also accepts that there was much mayhem from their ‘boys’ at Wembley, but no condemnation (and certainly no national press reporting)
F*ck me they play the Munich card as a cover and all and sundry fall for it. I’m not saying we shouldn’t condemn the songs with that word in them, certainly the runway song, but let’s get a bit of perspective on it eh?

So the Final is nearly upon us. Here’s the It’s A Fix update : GAME 36A) SATURDAY MAY 14TH : F. A. CUP FINAL : STOKE CITY KO 3PM
We should have been playing Stoke in the Prem today but I’m sure both clubs will be more than happy to have the game switched due to a prior appointment at Wembley!

‘The Potters’ were formed in the 1860’s when a couple of Old Carthusians, apprentices at the North Staffordshire Railway Company, formed Stoke Ramblers, the second oldest English football club. They played at Sweeting’s Fields from 1875 moving to the Athletic Club Ground re-named the Victoria Ground in 1878 or 1883, then to The Britannia Stadium in 1997.
They were founder members of The Football League in 1888 but after relegation folded in 1908 due to financial difficulties.
The new club was elected to Division Two in 1919 and changed its name to Stoke City in 1925.

The teams first met in season 1899/1900 in the First Division playing 14 games until 1907 when Stoke were relegated. City won 5, and drew 4, with 5 losses, all away. In the 1st round of the Cup in 1911, City won 2-1 at home, and by then City had won their first trophy, the F. A. Cup in 1904 beating Bolton 1-0.

Hostilities were resumed in 1923, and 14 games were played until 1938, City winning 6, drawing 3 and losing 5.
City reached Wembley in 1926, losing 1-0 to Bolton, and the teams met again in the 5th round in 1928, City losing 1-0 at home in front of a massive 73,668.
City reached the Cup Final again in 1933 losing 3-0 to Everton, and then came the big one, the 6th round of the Cup in March 1934, 84,569, a record provincial crowd, including plenty of Stokies, in England and Wales for any club outside London and Glasgow, turned up to watch Eric Brook win it for the Blues 1-0. City then went on to win the Cup 2-1 against Portsmouth. This was also before the Platt Lane end was extended and covered. Take a bow, you Blues and Stokies, for your ancestors.

City won their first title in 1937, went down in 1938, and then ten games were played in the 40’s and 50’s with 3 City wins 2 draws and 5 defeats. Stoke were involved in a cup tie at Bolton where 33 fans were killed and 520 injured in what became known as The Burnden Park Disaster. In 1947 they transferred Stanley Matthews to Blackpool.

The years between 1954 and 1966 were barren with regard to league encounters. City reached Wembley in 1955 losing 3-1 to Newcastle with ten men but returned the next year to win it against the ‘Iron Men of the Midlands’, Birmingham, 3-1. So the next meetings came in the League Cup semi-final of 1964, Second Division City losing the first leg at the Victoria Ground 2-0 to First Division Stoke, (after Matthews’ return) but winning the second leg at Maine Road 1-0, going out on aggregate 2-1. Stoke lost the two legged final 4-3 to Leicester and were left still searching for their first trophy.

First Division encounters resumed in 1966 until 1977, with 22 games and honours were pretty even with 9 City wins 5 draws and 8 losses. Most significant encounter was in 1972 when a magnificent Gordon Banks display in Stoke’s 2-1 Easter Maine Road win put a huge dent in City’s Title aspirations. Stoke had won their first, and to date, only major trophy, the League Cup that year beating Chelsea 2-1, but by then City had added a further League title in 1968, the Cup in ’69, League Cup and Cup Winners’ Cup in 1970.

City also recorded a 3-2 home win over Stoke in the 3rd round of 1973, and should have won it that year but went out to eventual winners Sunderland in a 5th round replay. Stoke won the Watney Cup in 1973! City lost the League Cup Final 2-1 to Wolves in 1974, then in 1976 it was a 1-0 loss for the Blues in the 4th round at Stoke, but consolation was attained by winning the League Cup 2-1 against Newcastle, our last major trophy.

Into the 80’s and 8 games were played between 1979 and 1983 with 2 City wins, the 3-1 at Stoke with the stunning Trevor Francis debut, and the 1-0 at Maine Road in 1982 which heralded the opening of the new main stand roof, but, after the departure of Trev for a pitiful £800K to Sampdoria, the attendance of 27,847 showed a significant 7K drop from the previous season’s average. This was consistent throughout the season and relegation at the end of that term signalled City’s demise as a big club. There were also 3 draws and 3 losses
In this period, however, City lost the Cup Final in a replay to Spurs in 1981 3-2 and Stoke and City met twice in the League Cup, City winning through on both occasions, 4-1 on aggregate in the second round of 1980/81 and 2-2 on aggregate then 9-8 on penalties in the 2nd round of 1981/82.

After a lull the teams met again from 1987 until 1999, City winning 7, and losing 3 of the ten encounters. Boxing Day 1988 saw around 10,000 Blues in a 24,056 crowd descend on the Victoria Ground most in fancy dress when the banana craze peaked, City losing 3-1 after going a goal up. In the return fixture Stokies filled the Platt Lane end brandishing Pink Panthers as City won 2-1 and managed promotion that year. Stoke won the Football League Trophy (whatever that was) in 1992, and again in 2000.
In 1998 however, both teams found themselves in the Second, (old Third Division). Stoke won 1-0 at Maine Road but City won the final game of the season at the Britannia Stadium 5-2, both teams being relegated owing to results elsewhere. City fans were bottled and bricked by angry Stokies, gaining a hooligan reputation as the naughty forty, after the final whistle.
Christmas 1998 saw City take the points at Wrexham then beat high flying Stoke at Maine Road with a 2-1 win, which marked a turning point in City’s fortunes, ending in promotion in the play off Final v Tony Pulis's Gillingham. Stoke had to wait a few seasons longer before salvation, though they did win the Auto Windshields Trophy in 2002 and were owned by an Icelandic consortium.

So it came to pass, after all the trials and tribulations of both clubs that Stoke Chairman Peter Coates took over in 2006 (for the second time) from the Icelandic owners appointing Tony Pulis to his second spell as manager, who guided them back to the top flight - the Premiership in 2008.
At COMS City have had the upper hand, winning the two games comfortably 3-0 and 2-0, the latter being Mancini’s first game in charge as a supposedly ‘easy fixture’. At Stoke however, there’s been a 1-0 loss and two 1-1 draws.
The teams also met in the 5th round of the Cup in 2010. It was a 1-1 draw at COMS but Stoke won the replay 3-1 after extra time, making it three wins and three losses in the competition.
Recent games have been marred by players of both clubs being sent off, in City’s case retrospective bans being also dished out to SWP and Vieira.

This season so far they’re in 8th place with 46 points from 36 games, have just tonked Arsenal 3-1, and, thanks to us, are in the Europa Cup next season whatever happens.
At Stoke in November it was a 1-1 draw with Richards netting for City after 81 minutes and then we got silly to allow a last minute equaliser by Etherington. Crowd was 27,405 with 2836 Blues
In the Carling Cup they lost 3-1 at West Ham in the 4th round.
They’ve reached the Cup Final for the first time in their history, by beating Cardiff away 2-0 in the 3rd; Wolves away 1-0 in the 4th; Brighton 3-0 at home in the 5th ;West Ham 2-1 at home in the 6th; then Bolton 5-0 at Wembley in the semi-final, the highest score since Wolves beat Grimsby by the same score in 1939. (Nervous Wolves lost in the Final to Portsmouth!)

Fred Eyre gives KOTK his views on Stoke : “ I was quietly confident that we’d beat united in the semi-final as we’d run them close recently, and I predicted a 1-0 win on various radio programmes. Stoke, however will be very tough for us. Tony Pulis has a game plan which we’re all aware of, though I must say that every goal scored against Bolton in the semi was what you might call a footballing goal. Tony looks at, and signs players to fit in with the usual Stoke plan though. He’s got wingers and defenders who get forward and pump the crosses in. They work hard at set pieces in training and everyone knows their role, and we all know how good they are at it. So they will be formidable opponents. I feel sorry for Danny Higginbotham, who’s injured and is a solid pro who deserves a Cup Final. Fuller is also out and Etherington will be sorely missed if he doesn’t make it, but they’ve still got the likes of Pennant, Walters, Huth (maybe), Shawcross, Whelan, Carew, and Jones who on his day is top class. However Roberto Mancini has played them enough times to know what to expect, and even without Tevez, we won the semi and at Blackburn without him, and we’ve got quality players who are made of sterner stuff these days so it should be an enthralling encounter, and hopefully City will come out on top.

Comment : So there you have it – it’s a tough one and no mistake. Hopefully they peaked in the semi-final and we won’t be resting on the united result being the b all and end all. That’s not enough. We need to win this by hook or by crook and need to fight tooth and nail to make sure we do. It must be “Bye, bye bye Delilah” and the Blue Moon must boom out again in a Poznan type of way. Don’t forget there’s only one City - us, but Stoke must no longer be treated as a joke, and we mustn’t let them sing “2-0 up and you f*cked it up” to us!.
Winning the Cup would be a fitting tribute to Big Mal and Neil Young. All we ask for is 100%, nothing silly, like sendings off and bad mistakes, plus a little win. We must support our team right to the end and beyond. C’mon City

Groundwise : We’ve got the West End again so know all about it. It’s a shitty place in London, we thought we’d never see, and now we’ll have been there twice, in a matter of weeks!
Wembley was originally built in 1923, and lasted until 2000. So where did all the money go from 77 years of Cup Finals and Internationals?
Capacity is 90,000 and each club gets only 25,000 tickets, the majority of the rest falling into the hands of the touts. Get it sorted F.A. once and for all
Sat Nav : HA9 0WS

Wembley Stadium Capacity : 90,000 (25,000 for City)

Dave

Mark Radcliffe

2011-05-12T17:46:00.000+01:00

Mark Radcliffe – Reelin’ In The Years

Wednesday May 11th. Off we toddled to Waterstones on Deansgate, where, at 7pm, Mark was hosting, nay, headlining, a reading session on his latest book ‘Reelin’ in the Years’. (Pleased to say that Steely Dan’s ‘Can’t Buy a Thrill’ nestles snugly in my vinyl collection). He‘d already been to Leeds and Bradford for similar sessions earlier in the day but drew the line at popping over to Hull (southern based publishers thinking it was just round the corner!) before arriving back in Mancunia.
There was a very polite gathering of about fifty people, of mixed gender, with plenty of Blues, including Paul Lake. The writer Stuart Maconie (Sue’s read his book, but I haven’t yet) was present but I’m told he supports Wigan.
Mark, in his own inimitable style, read passages from his book which included his observations on Cliff’s ‘Move It’ the first real British rock n ‘roll record (spot on there) his lust for Sandie Shaw, fascination for Thunderbirds, and observations on space travel for all.
This was interspersed with wit and humour, a little genteel heckling here and there, with particular emphasis on whether it should be reelin’ or reeling, and Cliff Richard Junior in Thunderbirds.
Mark can’t understand why anyone should want a personalised number plate (we got off lightly on this one!) and picked on various other annoyances.
Any questions? Of course we all went into freeze frame. Afterwards I wanted to ask if he’d read Bill Bruford’s autobiography (I never knew there was so much to drumming) and when he touched on 1967 if he thought that the Moody Blues had been short changed publicity wise for their concept album ‘Days Of future Passed’.
Anyway, we picked up a signed copy of the book, and as soon as we got home I started reading it which is very annoying because I’ve the grass to mow and have to go to Wembley, so little time.
Basically Mark has covered every chapter of his life from 1958 to 2011 with a significant song title and relevant tales for each year. Personally I did pretty well up to 1997, not bad I think as many of my peers (including the trendiest kids from school) are still stuck in the sixties. Maybe songs in the noughties are not good Karaoke numbers, though The Calling, Kaiser Chiefs, and Oasis are not included which would have brought me nicely up to modern times.
It’s a cracking read and I can’t wait to get back to it. Hopefully we’ll have a chat to Mark about his book, and City, who do get a mention here and there, in the summer. With a bit of luck he’ll do the foreword for the ‘Us and Them’ book, if he doesn’t think that chapter G (Grimsby, Gornik etc) I left with him as a sample isn’t too boring. I was, incidentally, particularly pleased that he features ‘Dark Side Of The Moon’ which includes this track, as the 1973 feature on page 111.
‘Reelin In The Years, published by Simon and Schuster, autobiography by Mark Radcliffe, £12.99 from all good bookshops, is a must read.
Dave

Tonight

2011-05-09T18:06:00.001+01:00

It’s Fulham v Liverpool tonight, and a ‘Pool win will put them on 58 points, 4 behind us, with 2 games left, one of them against Spurs. who we play tomorrow, here’s the It’s a Fix extract from KK 188 :
GAME 36) WEDNESDAY MAY 10Th : SPURS (HOME)
Last promotion was in 1978, since then they’ve been successful in the F. A., League and UEFA Cups, and their last pot was the League Cup in 2008. Most recent connection : Vedran Corluka. 124TH League meeting

This season so far : They’re in 5th place with 56 points from 35 games and 6 wins 5 draws and 6 losses away from home.
At the Lane on the opening day of the season in sunny August we rode our luck to clinch a 0-0 draw. Crowd was 35,928 with 2,945 Blues.
They went out of the Carling Cup 1-4 at home to Arsenal aet in the 3rd round, the F. A. Cup 4-0 at Fulham in the 4th round and the Chimps League 5-0 on aggregate to Real Madrid in the quarter final.

Our form at home to Spurs : Last season they took the last Champions League place, clinching it with the 1-0 win at COMS, in May, courtesy of Crouch’s goal in the 82nd minute. Crowd was 47,370.
How did they do it? Good manager, good players, shrewd buying and selling i.e. Crouch, Defoe, Van de Vaart etc and we boosted their fee for Berbatov by £5M! They charge a fortune for season tickets and just by the way have a billionaire on their board.
Out of the 13 home games in the Prem we’ve only managed 2 wins, 5-2 in 94/95 and 2-1 in 07/08. Otherwise it’s been 9 losses and 2 draws. Woeful.

Comment : Good season for Spurs again with terrific performances in some games and particularly in the Chimps League with Gareth Bale starring ( though he’s out tonight). This seems to have affected League and Cup form though, but they’re still neck and neck with City for 4th place. It’s a shame that the game was re-arranged a few days before Wembley but a win would give us a massive boost before the final - no doubt they’ll trot out the “one Ricky Villa” song but always remember “3-0 up and they f*cked it up!” Also it’ll be nice to chant back at them “Champions League, you’re ‘avin a laugh!”

Wwtwtw shite? Averaged 20,859 in 85/86, so not bad, and their current average is 35,833.

Obviously a win tonight would put us on 65 points, out of reach of both Spurs and Liverpool, C’mon you Blues….
Dave

men in black

2011-05-09T14:20:00.002+01:00

Ouch Glyn - 20 years after all other 'football firms' deceased, the 'men in black' are united's self appointed 21st century firm. No wonder.......

avin a moan

2011-05-08T22:42:00.002+01:00

Everton – I chatted with Phil Hamnet/Shakespeare before the game who’d read the blog. Apparently united fans in the semi hummed the runway song enticing City fans to pick it up, which sadly they did. After the semi the 'men in black' were indiscriminately smacking innocent City fans saying “that’s for singing songs about munich” and Phil concluded by saying “why don’t we just cut it out”? I agree, but how do we get that point over to those who do sing those songs? Surely then you’d still get the ‘men in black’ using violence against Blues for whatever reason?
What a splendid performance that was in the first half at Goodison, though we didn't take all our chances. We knew it would change in the second so why didn’t Mancini?
I found it really worrying that we wimped out again just like at Liverpool. Joe’s sack of spuds for their first goal was a joke, and we let in two headers – as many as we’ve scored all season. Why can’t Kolarov cross the ball? What have we done to Milner – he was a absolutely dreadful again – Dzeko? Balotelli? Jo? FFS. How many goals did Lescott score for Everton in the past? Bloody hell. Pulis was there taking it all in and he’ll use a similar game plan, maybe better, than Everton did in the second half, next week.
Blackpool did us a bit of a favour at Spurs, Fulham play Liverpool Monday night. Sunday Supplement were unanimous that we’ll be too good for Stoke next week. Do they know something we don’t? Today Stoke beat Arsenal comprehensively without Fuller and Etherington. Mancini needs to sort it out, like he did for the semi, before next Saturday.
KK 188 DID hit the streets, despite the initial downpour, and they’ve all been posted out to subscribers/contributors. Three stamps needed to make up 92p. Why does the Post Office have a 92p charge when they haven’t got a 92p stamp? Ridiculous. The country is going to the dogs!
Garry Cook was at the Swinton branch last week, and put on an honest and polished performance as you’d expect from someone earning probably a million a year. However he reckoned that the FA justify giving only 25,000 tickets to fans for the Cup Final as “most clubs outside the top four have average crowds less than 25,000”. That’ll be
Blackburn (24,479), Blackpool (15,754, Bolton (22,685), WBA (24,544) and Wigan 16,490). The most recent Cup Final appearance of any of ‘em was WBA in 1968, 43 years ago!
Gissa job!
Dave (avin a moan)

Whio's the bitter?

2011-05-06T18:14:00.002+01:00

Who’s the bitter?
Went out for a warble at the local last night. I never really mention football as time on the mic is my release from our trials and tribulations. Mark who does the karaoke reckons he’s a red, but can’t go as he weighs about 25 stone having lost about 5 stone due to having a gastric band fitted. He knows I’m a Blue and has tried to gently, in a smirky kinda way, take the piss for the last ten years or so. Goes right over my head. So there I was, halfway through the Walker Bros ‘ No Regrets’ when he pulls the plug “that’s enough of that “ he said “I’m pulling it cos you’re a City fan” (he likes country shite music)
So, come on, what’s the most insulting offensive thing I can call him?
Having walked out I popped up to another pub where I’ve been a regular for the past nine years, and the karaoke bloke, a lapsed red, greets me with “hello, they’re all coming out of the woodwork now” However, I was allowed a couple of songs, Spencer Davis’s ‘Keep On Running’ and Echo’s ‘Seven Seas’ so he wasn’t that bitter.
So there you go. Send in your bitter rag stories to the blog…no wonder everyone hates them.

Anyway it’s Everton tomorrow, here’s the ‘It’s A Fix’ extract :
GAME : 35) SATURDAY MAY 7Th : EVERTON (AWAY) KO 3PM
Ever present in the top flight since 1954, last pot the F. A. Cup in 1995, 156th Lg meeting, recent connection Joleon Lescott (oh dear!).

This season so far they’re in 7th place with 48 points from 35 games with 7 wins 7 draws and 3 losses at home.
At COMS on a perishin’ Monday December night it was a 2-1 loss for City, Cahill, surprise, surprise scoring after 4 minutes and Baines after 19 whilst we were down to ten men, Zab getting lengthy treatment off the pitch. Our consolation was a Jagielka own goal after 72 mins and Ya Ya Toure was sent off
They went out of the Carling Cup in the third round
at Brentford 4-3 on pens after drawing 1-1 aet. In the F. A. Cup they went out at home to Reading, thank you, thank you, 1-0 to a goal by ex Blue Matt Mills.

Form at Goodison : Last season we went down 2-0 Pienaar (36) and Saha (pen 45) doing the damage before 37, 378 rabid Evertonians and 2,626 unhappy Blues.
We used to do really well over there but since the 3-1 in 1993, it’s been 7 losses, 4 draws, and only one win (2-1 in 2008/09).

Comment : They had a poor start to the season, lifted only by their 2-0 win in their Cup Final at Eastlands.
Off we go down the ASBO (A580, thanks to son-in-law Brian, Everton fan!?) where the millionaires of the sixties meet the billionaires of 2011. Their results are mixed and having laid the united bogey, it’s time to do it again here and get a result to boost our 4th place aspirations. All the usual suspects are there – ex rags Howard, Saha,and Neville. Cahill’s back, no Fellaini but Heitinga might try and crock a few of our boys.
Seen their car stickers, “You’re in my heart, you’re in my soul”? A bit odd that, as words in the song include Celtic/united!
No doubt Joleon Lescott will get a hot reception if he plays. No doubt their fans will show their class and dignity as Moyes once said!

Groundwise : Always a favourite ground with its double decker stands, but the newish Park End stand spoiled that, and whilst atmosphere can be good the place is now well past its sell by date. However, the proposed ground move was knocked back, though they’re developing the land behind the Park End. Only answer is to share with Liverpool! We’ll be in the Bullens again, upper and lower, restricted views, with nothing to recommend it in the 21st century.
Don’t think we’ve sold out either – it’s getting too expensive.

Wwtwtwshite : Averaged 19,343 in 1983/84 season, and their current average home attendance is : 35,679
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Goodison Park : Capacity : 40,260 (1800? for City)
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Away Day Zines : When Skies Are Grey - stopped swapping with KK for some reason. Satis; Speke From The Harbour
King Of the Kippax limited edition Wembley Special should be on sale outside, and it's £3 minimum! Donations welcome!
Cheers
Dave
Sat Nav : L4 4EL
Can anyone recommend any pubs?

Cup final Tickets - sold out

2011-05-06T13:13:00.003+01:00

No surprise really, that our meagre 25,000 allocation for the FA Cup final has already sold out. The club announced that they had sold out by Wednesday morning.

Tickets for the final have not even reached the "open sale" stage. They sold out halfway through the seasoncard holders stage.

The annoying thing is that there are seasoncard holders, like myself who will end up missing out on the final. Some, like myself, have attended every home game in the cup, including the semi-final, whilst more "loyal" supporters have chosen to stay at home and watch on the box.

I understand the loyalty points system and actually quite agree with having one. Annoying though that some seasoncard holders are off to wem-ber-lee having not attended any cup ties at all this year.

I'd be interested to hear what other supporters feel about this. Maybe you were one of the lucky ones. Maybe you think the system is wrong, or maybe you think I'm just being a bitter blue! :-(

Chris D

m word

2011-05-05T19:56:00.002+01:00

I must say that I am extremely disappointed that MCFC have fallen for the latest Manchester united ‘mind game’ – which they’re infamous for - namely the so called munich chants which supposedly mock the victims of the tragedy in 1958. The disgraceful ‘runway’ song does this and should be outlawed and criticised at every opportunity when aired.
However with regard to the chants:
Who put the ball in the * net?
Who’s the * in the black?
*Oh Terry Cooke is not a * anymore
Carlos Tevez is a Blue, he hates*
I’m not so sure. It is just a name which scans and winds em up.
How come after all this time it is suddenly a problem and all over the papers?

Because they lost the biggest ever derby, can’t stand it and need a diversion.
At school in Salford in 1958 we used to take the piss out of ‘united lads’ who’d say “I’ve been to every united home game “ then add “since Munich”. I don’t remember us calling them munichs at the time but maybe Tony (Petrie) has a point that the vast majority of the 35,000 they’ve amassed since then are in part due to the tragedy, hence the ‘m’ reference.
What if it had happened in Gelsenkirchen or Monchengladbach eh?

However, I accept that this is one we can’t win, just like one of our players viciously and maliciously winking at theirs, or kissing our badge, or us putting up a poster in town. We mustn't upset the suddenly sensitive dears must we?
Any thoughts?
Dave

new issue

2011-05-05T09:50:00.001+01:00

We are pleased to announce that after nearly 23 years, King Of the Kippax number 188, the fanzine we always hoped to, but never thought we'd ever have to do - the Cup Final special - should hit the outlet at Aleef (Corner of Cross Street/Market Street) and the streets at the Everton and subsequent games.
It's, naturally, a bumper 52 page A4 issue with a colour front (Manchester City 1 united 0) and back (City Cup Final programmes) cover selling at just £3. It can also be purchased for £4 (bloody postage up yet again!) from King Of The Kiippax, 25,Holdenbrook Close, Leigh, Lancs, WN 7 2HL..
This issue contains fan's stories from the semi-final, Cup Final preview, UEFA Financial Fair play regs, 1980/81 Cup Final, Who'd be a referee?, Clive Tyldesley chat part 2, match previews and reviews, cartoons, pics and comment on all things Blue, plus the odd pop at the dirty, filthy, despicable, nasty rags.
Dave

'We'

2011-05-03T18:14:00.003+01:00

Just back from the dentist, but no instant cure. Strangely, no mention by him of how 'we' lost the semi-final to City. But it has been a long day and he did fit me in. Zine's practically all done, but the designer's gone off to play cricket so whether we'll make Everton on Saturday is in the balance!
Dave