Wednesday City dine at Europe's top table!

Manchester City fans have been known for gallows humour.  the infamous "Alan Balls a football genius" at 6-0 down when playing Liverpool, to replying to taunts of "going down going down going down" with "so are we so are we so are we"

The arrival of Shiekh Mansour City fans dared to dream as big money signings came and the club went from mid table in 08-09 to narrowly missing out on a Champions League spot in 09-10.  Last season the thing many fans had dreamed of but dared not think could happen did, not only did City win the FA Cup they also finished 3rd in the Premier League ensuring automatic qualification for the Champions League group stages.

The draw could have been kinder but Bayern Munich Villarreal and firstly Napoli face tough games when they arrive at the Etihad Stadium.  Just to hear that Champions League Anthem been belted out of the PA at 7:40pm will ensure win lose or draw City are amongst Europe's elite I like many others simply cannot wait!

BLUE MOON! not blue moon

We all know and love the song, there is nothing better the 40 odd thousand belting it out at a match.  The club even sometimes slam an animation of the moon on the screens as it's sung.

There have been many versions played over the PA from the Marcels through to Supra's "Ricky Hatton".  The Supra version has for a while been used pre kick off to get the crowd cheering along and it never failed  To mark the launch of City's new kit celeb Blue Liam Gallagher recorded a version with his band Beady Eye that was used in the video to promote it.

The Beady Eye version has been used the first two home games this season and it simply hasn't worked it is too slow a few sat round me in the family stand tried but it just died down and the noise went up after it finally finished.  It was noticable the South Stand and "Kippax" fans also seemed to not get into it.

It's one of  those classic if it aint broke don't fix it moments the Supra version never fails to get the crowd going, and if anyone at the club reads this or sees the thread on bluemoon  I would hope we return to the Supra version as it would seem the majority of blues agree.  Some on twitter have even tweeted the hash tag #bringbacksupra  me included!

Come on MCFC you know it makes sense, it really should be BLUE MOON not blue moon at the Etihad!

David White

Watching City in the 80's was a roller coaster of ups and downs but the one thing they always did was play fast attacking football with wingers.  Being a regular at youth and reserve games I had seen David White develop and really couldn't wait for him to make his bow in the first team.  He broke into the first team in 1986 and quickly became a regular and was soon a firm favourite of the Kippax.

Early in his career he showed signs of just what he was about scoring a hat trick in the famous 10-1 win V Huddersfield he also set up many goals with his bombing runs down the right wing.

After two years out of the top flight City returned to Division One and White really began to show he was a talent many blues remember "that" pass as White swung in a ball for Andy Hinchcliffe to bury a header into the top corner as City beat neighbours United 5-1.  It was the introduction of Howard Kendall as manager that in the end saved City from relegation but White held his own as Kendall brought in many players whom he knew from his days at Everton.

The following season despite Kendall quitting Peter Reid guided City to a creditable 5th 1 place above United.  The highlight for White had to be the 5-1 win away to Aston Villa where he scored 4 and even set up the other for Mark Brennan.

City fans knew White was worthy of an England cap but at the time there was a clear bias towards certain teams within the league.  Indeed as he moved into a more central role the goals were really flowing 16 in 91-92 and 18 in 92-93 (the first of which was Citys first in the new Premier League and the first on Skys Monday night football).  Finally White did get the call up his form had deserved probably 1 year earlier when he played for England away in Spain.  At the time I remembered thinking he deserved to be called up for a serious game and that seemed to be the views of many blues I knew.  Sadly England lost 1-0 and White got the lions share of the blame as he wasted a clear chance.  It seemed to affect him as he lost form and eventually in 1993 he was swapped for David Rocastle.  Things didn't perhaps work out for him at Leeds and two years later he was on the move again this time to Sheffield United and whilst at Bramhall Lane there was the odd performance that showed signs he still had it.  Sadly just 3 years later aged just 30 a persistant ankle injury forced him to retire.

David White is a player I will always remeber fondly and to be honest despite the vast number of talents City do have in their 11 now White will always be my number one favourite i've seen wearing the blue of City.

Goodbye and good luck to SWP

Shaun Wright Phillips returning to Manchester City from Chelsea seemed a real statement of intent by then owner Thaksin Shinawatra in a move that was universally welcomed by all.  Indeed he got off to a dream start scoring twice at Sunderland's Stadium Of Light.

In his original spell he had endeared himself to the Maine Road then City Of Manchester City Stadium faithful playing over 150 times and even breaking into the England squad.   Many fans were upset when he moved to Chelsea for £21 million in 2005 though given City's financial state it was a deal that made sense.  Not bad for a player that was released by Nottingham Forest for being "to small to make it".

His return saw him shine in some key games like the Carling Cup Quarter Final V Arsenal .  There were also some games where it almost seemed like something was missing the old Shaun would drop a shoulder and dance round a defender the new Shaun just seemed to run straight into the defender. That loss of form and the odd injury meant he was more and more a bit part player.  This was questioned by many fans feeling that with a run of games we would see the good old "Sweep".  It did seem he wasn't going to break back into the squad. Then during the Summer he played in most of the pre season games scoring some brilliant goals all seemed to be pointing to a surprise return to the fold. 

Then on transfer deadline day after weeks of rumours and counter rumours it was confirmed Shaun was at QPR.  The deal has since gone through once again breaking many blues fans hearts.  One thing I know for a fact when QPR play City at the Etihad Stadium Shaun will be warmly welcomed  a special player loved by a lot of fans.

Edin Dzeko an apology

I must admit I have been quite a vocal critic of Edin Dzeko.  I wasn't impressed by what I had seen in his first few months.  Play the ball into him with players around him he would lose it very easily as his first touch was always heavy.  The press was just as unimpressed similar comments were made that City had wasted £27 million.

Fast forward to the start of the season he ran the show against Swansea yes sometimes that dodgy first touch was still there but when he ran with the ball he caused panic he scored a goal which needed split second reactions. He played a part with the ball into the box that lead to Aguero flicking back for Silva  Then against Bolton he scored again running through drawing an experienced keeper in Jussi Jaaskelainen out to create the space to score.

Then today V Tottenham we saw the "perfect hattrick" one with his left one with his right and one with his head.  He even followed that up with a thunder bolt for his 4th proving despite some dodgy goalkeeping his goal V United in the Community Shield was no fluke.

Yes I finally do see what he can bring to the team he is a poacher (something City haven't had for a while) He is a link up man he can head and can shoot.  He was labelled a "pony" by Danny Simpson on twitter something which he today took back with "As for Dzeko, gotta swallow what I said, he's come good n showin he's class! He's now not #pony haha!" 

It's amazing what a pre season can do for a player   He has comeback the player we had heard about really hope he continues to make the critics and me eat their words

Opposition Myths

After a typical discussion with a rival teams fan I decided to answer a few of these myths that seem to have weight with a lot of fans from other clubs.

1  Your defence is suspect.

I look at the fact we were equal best in the Premier League along with Chelsea for fewest goals against and think yeah we must be poor!.

2 20,000 empty seats.

That's simply because we don't force seasoncard holders to buy tickets for all cup games.  In fact when a certain club relaxed their rule for one game they didn't sell out either.   We averaged around 46,000 and were 4th overall in the Premier League

3 Buying Trophies.

This is the one that makes so little sense.  All teams buy players that's a fact they also bring through youth players. This dig could be levelled at all teams in England, all City have done is spent over a compressed timescale compared to say United.  Chelsea won the league two seasons ago with a lot of players bought over a similar small timescale but a few years before.

4 You've got no history.

History is a record of the past not a measure of anything, that said historical fact City won the FA Cup before Liverpool, Everton and United.

5 Only a matter of time before you implode.

Still waiting for it to happen.  Yes with the influx of players there are bound to be unhappy players getting dropped etc..  That said for a team about to implode we still managed to deliver very real progress and success.

Long and short of it whatever the myth there is an answer.  A lot of it is envy of the fact we have an owner willing to spend and get things right.  People have got so used to the same old "Sky big 4" that the fact we are even trying to break it up is treated to a tirade of abuse mainly from the clubs who's position near the top we are challenging. 

My all time City 11 and subs!!

This is based on players I've seen since I first started attending games on a regular basis since the mid 80's!

Goal Keeper :
Torn a little on this but have gone with Tony Coton.  He was always consistent and but for the likes of Seaman would have been England's number 1.  I realise people may say Joe Hart etc... But for me TC was at his peak Hart is still young learning his trade and makes the odd silly mistake.

Defence :
So many to choose from in every position but I personally think
Right Back Paul Lake  Centre Half Vincent Kompany Centre Half  Keith Curle Left back Andy Hinchcliffe.


Midfield :
Grew up seeing wingers and loved that system so for me it's got to be..
Right Wing David White  Centre Mid Nigel De Jong  Centre Mid Neil McNab Left Wing David Silva..I realise Sliva isn't naturally a winger but just for his grace and style he has to be in.

Centre Forwards :
Possibly what's took me the longest to think through a fair few options all equally deserving of selection but I've gone with
Uwe Rosler Carlos Tevez.

Subs : Joe Hart, Pablo Zabaleta, Niall Quinn, Paul Simpson, Peter Beagrie, Terry Phelan, Michel Vonk.

so as a 4-4-2
Coton

Lake Kompany Curle Hinchcliffe

White De Jong McNab Silva 

Rosler Tevez.