City Burn(ed)ly Late

In a match where City should have pulled out 3 points, yet another draw.   Falling behind 2-0 you would think a draw as a relieving result, but when City scored 3 goals to take the lead the Blues should have been home free with 3 points.  However, yet another moment of defensive slackness led to a goal by Kevin McDonald in the 87'.

City started off poorly when Jolean Lescott was rightly penalized for a hand ball in the area.  Graham Alexander stepped up and put the ball into the side netting - giving Burnley a 1-0 lead.

It got worse when Gareth Barry inexplicably gave away to ball in his own half leading to an odd man advantage for Burnley.  Steven Fletcher buried the ball past Given to advance the lead to 2-0.  Gareth Barry made no effort to come back and help out in the situation he caused, merely jogging back.  Something which is unacceptable.

City would finally wake up when a lucky deflection of a Shaun Wright-Phillips shot curled around Brian Jensen to get City back within a goal.

After the break City looked more energetic as a great build up by City allowed Kolo Toure to get lose and bury a shot into the low corner.

With the score level at 2 the Blues could smell the blood in the water, and Bellamy was all too happy to get his name in the score sheet.  A great run by Shaun Wright-Phillips and a smooth cross set up Craig Bellamy for a smash inside the post for the 3-2 advantage.

However, in the 86th minute, City looked more likely to add a fourth late on rather than Burnley equalise, but out of nothing substitute David Nugent picked out Fletcher and his cross was tucked away by McDonald.

So yet, another draw.  5 in a row for City who only have 1 loss.  But that's 10 lost points.

Man of the Match:  Steven Fletcher - Burnley

Never Forget

As we approach the 11th of November, we must all take a moment to salute the men and women who have made the sacrifice for our countries.

I appeal to all, whether you are American or British to take a momemt to thank a serviceman or to remember those who have fallen in service of our countries.

Lest We Forget

Wembley Memories!

A new feature here is that we want your stories of the most dramatic day in recent history for Blues.  The day we felt the ultimate low and like a lightning strike we felt the ultimate high of victory at Wembley.

Our first story comes from "felix.the.cat".

"i was 8, we'd driven down the night before, got the tube to Wembley. Remember just singing on the tube with other blues and the Gillingham fans staying very quiet.

Got the ground, had an ice cream then went into the stadium where there were pools of piss everywhere and people just pissing in the middle of the concourse because the toilets were hopeless. Amazing atmosphere, even at the beginning where they had them huge wierd inflatable men that were in city kits.

Cant remember much of the match except when we went 2-0 down i was distraught ... wanted to go home ... Horlock scored ... Dickov scored ... absolute pandemonium (SP). My dad ended up about 12 rows down. After that we all knew there was no way we were going to lose, and just had a party after we clinched it .

After the game i stayed around, went back to some hotel and met all the players (Bishop was wrecked). Got my photo taken, got a lift back to our hotel from someone and then got pizza and went to bed

THE END"

Thanks Felix for you story!  Come on everyone let's hear yours!

Our next story comes from OB who tells us of the 1981 FA Cup Final.

I was 18 at 1981 Cup Final, the excitement building up to it was unbelievable after having been to the semi final at Villa Park.

Mate made a banner and we hadn't missed a cup game that year.

Still have the Final ticket stub somewhere, bought the official Centenary Cup Final Shirt and 4 of us left Northern Ireland on our 15 hour journey to Manchester (only 2 having tickets) other 2 picking theirs up in Manchester from a tout.

Then went to get National Express coach from Manchester to London, driver a was a real jobs worth no beer and wouldn't let us take banner on to put in window. Got to Victoria a few pints and then jumped in black cab to Wembley.

When it had £40 on the clock we asked him to stop and we would walk (f**k knows how far we had gone). Got tube rest of the way. Remeber all of the game was beside the tunnel and saw Tommy Hutch's OG so clear going wide then oppps.

Had to head straight back to Victoria and get coach back to Manchester where had hotel booked on Saturday night. Ended up fighting with some Utd fans in hotel bar after drinking it out of Pernod and blackcurrent.

Spent all day Sunday in toilet with basin on my knee. Travelled 15 hours home Sun night/Mon morning.

What a day/weekend. Happy Days

A top story, Thanks OB for the momories!

More info

Manchester City - Mid-Term Report Card

Ten matches down, 19 points and City are in fourth.  While the goals are still fewer that last season, the changes are becoming evident that Manchester City is a different club.

The transformation began on 1 September of last year.  Over the summer it came to fruition with the spending of £150,000,000.

City is a club with a new identity but, even though the team is in 4th, there are still issues.

Now we grade by each position.  I will be using the American style of grading the team.

A - Outstanding

B - Very Good

C - Fair

D - Needs Improvement

F - Failed

Goalkeeping - Shay Given was bought back in January of 2009 and is quickly showing why he is the top purchase of Mark Hughes' reign as manager.  There have been countless times in which he has rescued City from the abyss.  Most recently his penalty save against Birmingham.

His performances against Salford United (a match in which he had no chance on any goal), Birmingham and Blackburn have been the stuff of legend.

He has consistently given the Blues a last line of defense of which they can depend on.

My early pick for Player of the Year.

Grade - A. I can't give him a lower grade.  He has been superb.

Defense - The Achilles heel of City last season start off the season very well.  However, over the past few matches, City's back 4 have taken the heat for a lot of the misfortune.

Kolo Toure and, Jolean Lescott were brought in over the summer to help fix the problem.  They have brought some mental toughness.  But, City have been giving away too many points at the moment.  It is a leak that must be fixed and soon.

I believe Lescott will prove to be a superb defender tfor City.  The player who concerns me the most is Micah Richards.  Richards was beaten like a rented mule against United.  At times he has looked lost and at times he has shown some attacking sense.  More is needed though.

Grade - C

Midfielders - Another department of inconsistency.  City going forward are actually sound from the midfield, yet at times they have been shaky in support of the defense.  The emergence of Nigel DeJong this season has been a positive as City have welcomed his hard-nosed presence.

Gareth Barry has proven to be a good addition for City even if it was simply for the reason that Liverpool is in desperate need of a player like him.  He distributes well and his calmness on the ball in exceptional

Injuries to Robinho and uncertainty over Stephen Ireland's health have clouded issues in the midfield.

Grade - B

Forwards - Emmanual Adebayor and Carlos Tevez have shown us glimpses of why Mark Hughes brought them here.  But, have yet to show their full wrath on the Premier League.

Craig Bellamy has been a beast for City.  He has played as an up front striker of a left wing in attack, yet he has been consistent in his performances. He has given defenses fits and made Rio
Ferdinand look foolish.

One consistent striker is not enough.  Ade and Tevez have to pick up their end of the load quickly before City lose more points.

Grade - B-

Manager - With the pressure firmly on him to perform and deliver now, Mark Hughes has led the club to a 4th place start.  His signings for the most part have been good buys.

Some of his decisions have baffled me this season especially with the lack of playing time for Vladimir Weiss and his insistence on having Shaun Wright-Phillips in matches.  SWP is still a good player, but its time for the youth to shine!

There are other issues that I have with Hughes, but we are sitting in 4th and in the quarter finals of the League Cup.  If we win silverware, all sins are forgiven.

Grade - B

I know its not totally in depth.  Just a summary of each area.  Please feel free to post your feedback and write your own Mid-Term reports!