Sunday 29 November 2009

Feeling fed up? Have a giggle! *Video*

So I was watching City videos on YouTube as per usual and I came across a video that made me laugh, me being someone who tries not to stay upset for to long I thought it might help to cheer you up to if your feeling a little fed up with our results of late.

Saturday 28 November 2009

Man City 1 - 1 Hull City ( Wright-Phillips 45', Bullard 82' pen ) *Video*

Well I don't know, we should have been out of sight in this game but were not able to see Hull off.

We went ahead when SWP fired home just before half time, unfortunately Hull were awarded a penalty which Jimmy Bullard converted. Goals and highlights below.

I just can't believe that we didn't win this game, we scored and then just went through the motions. We were pressing forward a lot but on a whole didn't seem to bothered about finishing Hull off. Hull were not even trying to play football their game plan was obviously to kick us at every opportunity and see how it went.

I have to blame Mark Hughes for this result I'm afraid, he did nothing to change the way we were playing and seemingly handed Hull the opportunity to snatch something from the game. Hughes dropped Bellamy today for Robinho and although Robinho looked alright, how can you drop a player in Bellamy's form? He also did nothing about our midfield, well I say midfield not that there actually was one on the pitch. SWP and Robinho were playing to far forward to be considered as midfielders and it left us exposed again.

Hughes also should have made more effective changes, SWP had one of those days again where he scored but did not much more apart from a few decent runs that came to nothing as per usual, I felt Weiss should have replaced him at some point in the second half. He also should have yet again tried to see the game out and brought Kompany on to give the defence more support along side de Jong. To be honest there was so many options available to Hughes that could have changed the game and he just refused to use them.

I know a lot of City fans are now crying out for Hughes to be sacked, I myself am still 50/50. If he was to get sacked I would not be bothered, but I am not quite ready to call for his head as I have a burning desire to see us have some continuity. The way it is going he will get sacked shortly if our poor run continues and if I am honest the only way that we can get out of this rut is if Hughes were to some how miraculously learn how to be tactically aware.

Goals and highlights.

Friday 27 November 2009

Man City vs Hull City - Sat 28Th Nov 15:00 pm









I am really looking forward to the game tomorrow, I think we are improving and hopefully we will be able to finally win a game rather than draw again!

I have not got a lot to say about the game tomorrow, basically I just can't see us losing. That sounds very arrogant but it is how I feel, we should be way to strong for Hull and bag all three points.

Hull just don't have a player that I think can trouble us if I am honest, I am not saying that they don't have players that cause problems for teams but I think we should be able to handle them no problem.

We played well against Liverpool and if we play in the same way tomorrow we should be able to give Hull a football lesson. I think that de Jong and Bellamy will be our key players tomorrow, de Jong should be able to shut Hull down when they try to come forward and Bellamy should be able to rip a weak defence apart.

I am going to be bitterly disappointed if we don't win tomorrow, we should be comfortably turning sides like Hull over. If we don't win then I am afraid that we are going to have to start questioning Hughes, it's OK saying he needs time to build and I agree but with the team we have now not beating Hull on the back of all those draws would be a few steps back, let's hope that doesn't happen!

Man City Team News:
Robinho is expected to return to the squad tomorrow after recovering from a knee injury, Martin Petrov is ruled out with a knee injury. Benjani should be fit for selection.

Hull City Team News:
Craig Fagan has recovered from a chest injury and may return to the squad, Bernard Mendy is back after suspension and Jimmy Bullard is expected to return after being rested in midweek. Seyi Olofinjana is likely to miss out with a hamstring injury.

Possible Man City Line Up:
Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Tevez, Bellamy, Adebayor.

Possible Hull City Line up:
Duke, Mendy, Gardner, Zayatte, Dawson, Garcia, Marney, Bullard, Hunt, Geovanni, Altidore.

My Prediction: Man City 4 - 0 Hull City.

Worth A Bet: Stephen Ireland scores in a 4 - 0 Man City win.

Saturday 21 November 2009

Liverpool 2 - 2 Man City ( Skrtel 50', Adebayor 69', Ireland 76', Benayoun 77') *Video*

I feel bitterly disappointed, we played well today and in my opinion deserved to win. I am sure we will gain confidence from this performance but not as much as we would have if we won.

Our first goal was scored by Adebayor, he was left unmarked on a corner and did well to get behind the ball and head home. Our second goal was scored by Ireland, he finished off a good move. Goals Below!

We really deserved a victory today, but it wasn't to be. In the first half we played alright although we did give the ball away to much. In the second half we were great, we took control and attacked Liverpool with determination.

Hughes even managed to be tactically aware today, bringing Tevez on for Barry was absolutely the right decision, Tevez changed the game with his movement up top.

I think the main negative for me today was Adebayor's performance, yes he scored but did nothing else. He was lazy and didn't cause any problems for Liverpool's defence I hope a goal can now bring back his early season form.

I also have to single someone out for praise, Nigel de Jong was brilliant today and was the main reason for our good display. He was all over the place and controlled the midfield, Steven Gerrard was not allowed to come into the game and totally went missing in the second half, that was down to de Jong. I would like to see Hughes build our midfield around de Jong, he should focus on maximising de Jong's ability, he is top class.

All in all we should have won today, we should take some confidence from the game and go on to batter Hull next week.

Goals.

Friday 20 November 2009

Liverpool vs Man City - Sat 21st Nov 12:45 pm








An early kick off tomorrow gives us longer to drown our sorrows or celebrate over the weekend. A trip to Anfield is always tough for any team and it will be no different for us tomorrow.

We go to Anfield tomorrow to play a Liverpool team that a lot of people are saying are weak, I personally don't buy into that, I don't think we will see a Liverpool side that you could describe as weak for a long time if ever.

There is no doubt that Liverpool are not playing at the top of their game so far this season but their squad is not weak, it is only a matter of time before they come good again in my eyes. Saying that we are strong now and can go to Anfield with the belief that we can win, the Liverpool players will also be very aware of the threat that we carry.

It is time that we started playing well again and considering our 'typical City' tag it would be just like us to go and beat Liverpool at Anfield, lets hope so! I think we are good enough to go and get something at Anfield, it just depends what team turns up as usual. If someone could guarantee me that our impressive City side are going to turn up I would put my house on a victory, unfortunately we just do not know what they will play like due to their lack of inconsistency.

I am going to take a gamble and say that we will play well tomorrow and come away from Anfield with something, I suppose I am one of many hopeless City fan's but I do believe we will come good! CTID

Man City Team News:
Robinho (ankle) and Nedum Onuoha (thigh) are closer to fitness and may be included in the squad, Benjani is also back on the road to full fitness. Martin Petrov is expected to be out with a knee injury.

Liverpool Team News:
Fernando Torres is looking certain to miss out with a groin injury although Steven Gerrard is expected to start after recovering from his own groin problem.
Daniel Agger and Glen Johnson should both play after sitting out their countries games during the International break, David Ngog has a broken nose but may play in place of Torres. Alberto Aquilani may make his first start and Jamie Carragher is back from a ban.

Possible Man City Line Up: Given, Zabaleta, Lescott, Toure, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.

Possible Liverpool Line Up:
Reina, Johnson, Carragher, Agger, Insua, Kuyt, Mascherano, Lucas, Aurelio, Gerrard, Torres.

My Prediction: Liverpool 1 - 2 Man City.

Worth A Bet: Tevez scores in a 2 - 1 City win. Tevez scores anytime.

Wednesday 18 November 2009

Apology to my readers

I just wanted to apologise about the lack of articles recently, I have just started a new job in the past two weeks and my hours have changed which means I am not able to post as much if at all in the day.

I have also not posted after work because I have been really tired, my body clock is adjusting from when I used to work at 3am in the morning.

Normal service will resume shortly.

Once again please accept my sincere apology, I didn't forget or get bored of providing articles for my readers, it was simply because of my change in circumstances lately.

Saturday 7 November 2009

Man City 3 - 3 Burnley *Video* (Alexander 19(pen), Fletcher 32, Wright-Phillips 43, Toure 55, Bellamy 58, McDonald 87)

Well I am fed up, it is all going wrong for us at the moment. A poor first half showing and then Hughes's naivety in the second stopped us from getting all three points.

I am really going to try and not rant on about this result because I have been saying the same thing for the last few weeks.

My disappointment started before the match had kicked off today when I saw that Nigel de Jong had been dropped, how can anybody in the right mind drop a player who has been one of our best players since he came back in to the team. Barry is the man that should have been dropped for Ireland, he has been playing terrible for weeks now and was also at fault for one of Burnley's goals today.

When the game did start we were slow out of the blocks, our back four throughout the first half was all over the place and both midfielders Barry and Ireland were non existent. Our other two midfielders were not providing much width and kept coming inside and slotting in behind the strikers. I suppose we weren't as bad as I have seen us lately in the first half, but still we were no where near good enough.

When the players came out for the second half I turned to my Father and said that by the looks on the players faces they have been read the riot act and by the way they played for most of the second half they took it on board. We were much better in the second half, the anonymous Stephen Ireland was much more involved for the first 25 minutes and was making a real difference, although SWP wasn't particularly bad in the first half he was also much better in the second and was key to us getting back on top of the game. The back four played more flat and looked all the better for it and the forwards were running the line better.

Overall though it didn't help that the players booked their ideas up because Hughes was in the background ready to make some amazingly stupid tactically decisions. 3 - 2 up with 17 minutes to go Hughes thought it would be a good idea top bring on Martin Petrov, when what he should have done is brought de Jong on to help us see the game out. On top of bringing Petrov on he thought it would be a good idea to make him and SWP swap wings, SWP had been terrorising Stephen Jordan all of the second half but for some reason that wasn't what Hughes wanted to keep happening.

Hughes just baffles me at times, it is unbelievable how wrong he gets it at times and today were some of the worst tactics I have ever seen. I don't know why he does it, I would be surprised if he could give a sensible reason as to why he does it. To be honest I wanted Hughes to be the man that takes us forward, I thought he had it in him but at the moment I couldn't care less if he was sacked.

We have just got to hope that it gets better for us now and I do think it can get better with just a few simple changes, but whether Hughes will sort it out or not is a different question.

Goals and Highlights.

Friday 6 November 2009

Man City vs Burnley - Sat 7Th Nov 15:00 pm








Let me just start by saying I am happy to be welcoming Burnley to Eastlands tomorrow, I was delighted for them when they were promoted, those kind of things happening is what makes football special and on top of that the more northern teams the better!

So I am delighted to welcome Burnley and I will be more than delighted to send them home a beaten team. I am not going to go in to detail today, I seem to be saying the same thing every week recently and it is beginning to get boring, we are not playing well, it needs to be better and so on.

I think that there will be a huge sense of relief tomorrow simply because we are at home, we are good against anyone at home. Saying that the old typical City tag might return with a bang tomorrow, Burnley are poor away from home so surely they will beat us? Hopefully not!

I am really hoping that we can perform well tomorrow and win this match, of course I hope for that every week but particularly now to stop our confidence from dropping further. Our stars need to start performing again and I think they can, lets hope is starts with a hammering of Burnley tomorrow.

Man City Team News:
Kolo Toure (heel) and Emmanuel Adebayor (ankle) both look set to give us a welcome boost as they return from injury. Wayne Bridge and striker Roque Santa Cruz are dobutful but at least one of them may feature in the squad, Benjani Mwaruwari is uncertain after aggrovating his thigh injury. Robinho (ankle) and Nedum Onuoha (thigh) are still out.

Burnley Team News:
Ex City boy Stephen Jordan is set to beat a thigh injury and make a return to Eastlands tomorrow, there is some bad injury news for the visitors though, with
Martin Paterson (knee), Chris McCann (knee) and Jay Rodriguez (ankle) all expected to miss out.

Possible Man City Line Up:
Given, Zabaleta, Lescott, Toure, Sylvinho, Ireland, Barry, de Jong, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.

Possible Burnley Line Up:
Jensen, Mears, Bikey, Caldwell, Carlisle, Jordan, Elliott, Alexander, Eagles, Fletcher, Blake.

My Prediction: Man City 4 - 1 Burnley.

Worth A Bet: Nigel de Jong and Tevez score in a 4 - 1 City win.

Sunday 1 November 2009

Birmingham City 0 - 0 Man City - Disgrace!

Today's performance was an absolute disgrace, what were they doing and I do not just mean the players I include Mark Hughes in that.

I am really struggling to find some kind of proper analysis for how bad we were because it would be so easy to just say that we were rubbish! How on earth can International footballers play like that, I have honestly seen better defending in Sunday League games.

I am furious with our performance and this time I am going to go through every player on the pitch and tell you what I think of them.

Given - Was in great form and stopped us from losing, a penalty save amongst his best moments today.

Zabaleta - Lucky he was there at times, he mopped things up and made some important interceptions.

Kompany - I didn't think he could play so bad, he was garbage and made loads of mistakes.

Lescott - At the moment he looks like the worst defender City have had since Lauren Charvet, useless.

Bridge - Defended well but caught the bug from the rest of the team and his passing went awful.

Bellamy - Didn't see the best of him today, the rest of the teams bad vision did not help.

De Jong - His usual feisty self, I did think as captain he should have been controlling the rest of the team better though.

Barry - Has gone off the boil recently and there was nothing different with him today, his passing was terrible and he should have been replaced.

Wright -Phillips - Absolute rubbish, he is on the pitch to take people on and create, he did neither.

Santa Cruz - Well this guy looks like a waste of money at the moment, he was also poor and did not look fit.

Tevez - He didn't do much but he had no service what so ever.

Subs: Ireland - finally Hughes brought him on but did nothing with our formation, so he had no impact.

Petrov - A couple of nice cross field passes and nothing more, he also made no impact.

I have no idea how Hughes cannot see that we have no formation, no shape and no midfield. The way we set up is ridiculous at times, he really needs to act fast. We cannot go on like this, it has gone beyond all the money we have spent, our team can not perform the basics of football at the moment.

The table does not look to bad for us at the moment, we are sitting in fourth but all that is doing is masking our poor performances.The frustrating thing is that we could be pushing for first if we hadn't messed up so many times lately.

I really hopes this sorts itself out and if it doesn't Hughes has to go!

Man City vs Birmingham City - Sun 1st Nov 16:00 pm







Results have gone for us again! Can we capitalise on it? I hope so, a trip to Birmingham for us tomorrow and we should be coming away with a win, we don't know what City will turn up yet though!

We have to be prepared for a battle tomorrow because what Birmingham lack for in skill they will make up for with hard work and fight, we have to show everybody that we are not a soft touch.

I haven't seen a lot of Birmingham so far this season but when I have seen them they do not look a terrible side, on the other hand they don't look a good side. Birmingham's danger men? Well certainly Benitez, he is a player I have seen a great deal of from both International games and from watching Santos Laguna when I have been keeping my eye on Vuoso. Benitez is a very talented player and someone who I thought would reach a high level, he is a goal machine and can also link up play, he is due a goal so we will have to watch out for him. We should also keep our eyes on McFadden, he isn't the best player in the world but he certainly knows how to score a goal.

Overall I am not really worried about Birmingham and I don't think I should be, we should be able to beat them with whatever team we put out. Then again it all comes back to what City will turn up at St Andrews tomorrow, if fluent City turns up we will hammer them, if decent City plays then we should beat them, but if poor no shape City turns up then who knows!

I am hoping Ireland will play tomorrow, I think it is time he came back in to try and regain his place. Against Scunthorpe he seemed to have more of a free roll again and looked all the better for it, hopefully he is returning to form. Another player I am desperate to see get a run of games is Vladimir Weiss, he has looked explosive in his cameo appearances for us and in his performances for his country, he has got to be worth giving a chance to in place of the poor SWP.

Anything but a win will be disappointing for us tomorrow especially seems as the results have gone our way again, this game will actually give us a good idea on how far we have come, the old City never took advantage of anything going their way!

Man City Team News:
Kolo Toure and Martin Petrov are both set to return to the squad after recovering from injury as are Wayne Bridge and Craig Bellamy who were rested in mid week. Benjani Mwaruwari may have had a set back with his thigh injury after appearing in our mid week cup win, Robinho (ankle) and Nedum Onuoha (thigh) are still out.

Birmingham City Team News:
Joe Hart is ineligible to play against the club that owns him, Maik Taylor is expected to start in net. Giovanny Espinoza (foot), Martin Taylor (foot) and David Murphy (knee) are all pushing to be available, Damien Johnson (hamstring), Keith Fahey (foot) and Marcus Bent (hamstring) could also be in contention after nearing full fitness.

Possible Man City Line Up: Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, De Jong, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Adebayor.

Possible Birmingham Line Up:
Taylor, Carr, R. Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Bowyer, Larsson, Ferguson, McFadden, Jerome, Benitez.

My Prediction: Birmingham City 1 - 4 Man City.

Worth A Bet: Gareth Barry scores in a 4 - 1 Man City win.