MATCH REPORTS 1997/98

OCT 4 IPSWICH - MANCHESTER CITY 1-0 (0-0)

Report by: Paul Howarth

After last week's trouncing of second placed Swindon Town, this was the first of a run of games against struggling opposition which should have seen the Blues build up a good winning run. However, it seemed that most of the team thought that they just had to turn up to collect the three points judging by the way they played.

After the long cross-country journey, we arrived in sunny Ipswich to find the pubs full of Blues in confident mood. I met up with a few on-line fans in the Station Hotel before venturing into the ground (those seats are as cramped as ever) to hear about an unchanged City line-up (with the exception of Rösler for Conlon on the bench). On the other hand, Ipswich were decimated by injuries and flu, and were fielding some players who weren't fully match fit.

There was an early scare for City when a deep cross came in and Margetson couldn't claim it, but Brightwell managed to hook the ball away before Gregory could take advantage. After that, City totally dominated the first half and could have won it at a canter against a very poor looking Ipswich side. Unfortunately the Blues were struggling to reach walking pace, let alone a canter. Even so, there were several chances for City to take the lead, mostly falling to Bradbury. A couple of headers went wide and one goal-bound effort was deflected onto the bar by Dozzell but the best chance was a one-on- one with the Ipswich 'keeper Richard Wright. Bradbury knocked the ball past Wright and as the fans stood in anticipation of the goal, the ball passed the wrong side of the near post. At the other end, Margetson tipped over a free kick from Bobby Petta, the only remotely dangerous-looking player in the Ipswich side.

The second half was worse. It was difficult to believe that these were the same 11 players that played as if their lives depended on the result last week (OK, 10 - the injured Symons was replaced by Scully early in the second half). Edghill didn't want to get forward closer than 40 yards from the Ipswich goal, Wiekens had a very quiet game, Beesley looked clumsy, nobody other than Dickov seemed to be working hard at all. Kinkladze had a couple of runs but was picking up the ball too deep and usually released the ball before getting into the danger area. With just over an hour played though, there was a golden opportunity - a free kick on the edge of the area. Before anyone knew what was going on though, Dickov tried to play a quick free kick into Bradbury's path whilst Ipswich organised their defensive wall. The ball struck a defender and found its way to Petta, who raced up-field and placed a great ball into Alex Mathie's path. Mathie turned and shot in one movement, and despite Margetson getting a hand to the ball, it sneaked in at the far post.

Not even this blow against the run of play could spark City out of their lethargy though. In fact, it was Ipswich that had the best of the rest of the game. Gregory put a free header well wide and Margetson had to make several saves to keep City in the game. Rösler came on in place of Dickov but was unable to make any impact. City's last chance fell to Kinkladze a few minutes from time, but on reaching the edge of the penalty area, he tried curling the ball in at the far post and the ball flew a couple of feet wide.

This was a miserable performance from the Blues and one which clearly annoyed Frank Clark: "This was our worst performance of the season. That goal summed up our performance. We get a free kick in an area where we have one of the best players in the world - Georgi Kinkladze - to exploit and instead of waiting, our two strikers try to play like Pele and Maradona, and the ball ends up in OUR net. With all the possession that we had we should have created more. We should have

had the game won. We were poor all round. Collectively we didn't play as a team and therefore didn't go on to win it. We must now go away, think hard and start all over again, and with no game for two weeks we'll have to use plenty of that spare time on the training ground trying to sort out plenty of problems."

Final score: Ipswich 1 City 0

OCT 18 MANCHESTER CITY - READING 0-0 (0-0)

Report by: Ashley Birch

The day started off nicely, brilliant sunshine and unpleasantly warm - in a long-sleeved shirt anyway! Steve, Paul and I met up with several MCIVTA-ers at the Old Abbey and after a couple of pints and a natter, we made our way down to Maine Road in balmy conditions.

The crowd was just over 26,000 and the new scoreboard was up, perversely filling only about half the area of the immense framework erected to carry it - perhaps we're branching out into satellite launching?

The first disappointment for me was the team; it was the same old slow, shaky, and clueless centre-back pairing, but perhaps most bizarre of all, was Heaney playing as a striker instead of the injured Bradbury. City basically bombarded Reading for 20 minutes and then seemd to lose their way for the rest of the half. The second half started as badly as the first but another laughable refereeing decision seemed to annoy the crowd enough to actually get behind the team. The team seemed buoyed up by this and strung together a few moves, with Heaney blasting over twice. City had a penalty awarded with 5 minutes to go which Gio struck hard and low against the post! It was justice really, as I was right above it and it was an appalling decision as Dickov had virtually played the ball into touch by the time the goalie caught him.

Overall, City had little up front; bring back Bradbury, at least we get chances when he's on the pitch! We looked shaky at the back and we would have almost certainly conceded a goal against a better team than Reading, who were very ordinary indeed. We seem to have slipped back to the team of a season ago with a huge void between the midfield and attack, the formation would have to be 4-4---------2!

Ratings:

Margetson 7: Absolutely nothing to do really.
Edghill 6: Made some awful passes and some panicky hoofs up field - is this the same player who excelled against Swindon?
van Blerk 7: Played well, got forward and forced a good save with a 30-yard grass-cutter.
Bob 5: Maybe I've got it in for him, but he is simply awful; we desperately need someone calm at the back and neither Bob nor Symons fit the bill.
Symons 5: Spent the entire proceedings with Asaba's shirt almost supernaturally glued to his hand; other limbs were used in abundance to foul the awkward forward from start to finish - the ref seemd to think all was in order!
Horlock 7: Played well and had a glorious 40-yard chip/shot which just missed. Put in some flying tackles.
Wiekens 6: Quite dependable but he really is a defender and we desperately need attacking midfielders.
Brannan 5: Totally anonymous.
Gio 5: One excellent run was ruined by him wanting to finish it off, there were two City players inside him who could have easily scored if he had bothered to pass.
Heaney 5: Had a couple of chances but generally looked as dangerous as something, er, not very dangerous at all!
Dickov 7: Ran and ran and ran, had a good old tussle with several defenders and won the penalty with the aid of some theatrical deck-hitting.

Subs:
McGoldrick 6: On for Wiekens and certainly livened up the attack, but looks very rusty.
Buzzer 6: On for the last 14 minutes and put in some good crosses.

The Ref 4: Looked good for 30 minutes but then made a series of bizarre decisions including bottling a clear yellow card incident when Edghill and a Reading player all but started fighting. The oddest decision was the penner, I just knew he would give it, despite letting numerous pushes, shoves and tackles from behind go all the game!

OCT 22 MANCHESTER CITY - STOKE 0-1 (0-0)

Report by: Ken Foster

'Death or Glory' was a phrase often associated with the great Mike Doyle when City were a force to be reckoned with. Paul Dickov was the only player to come close to this sort of spirit tonight.

Our problems will no doubt be dissected elsewhere in MCIVTA and I do acknowledge that we have a few. My answer to the doom and gloom merchants is that we can only react in a positive manner from this performance because the alternative is unthinkable.

On the positive side I can only report what I see. Apart from the first 5 mins. which I missed (due to there being another game on somewhere), City completely dominated the first half, creating chance after chance. Brannan had a header cleared off the line, Horlock had one shot turned onto the post and missed another sitter and Heaney missed 2 sitters including an open goal. I know it's an 'if' or a 'but' to speculate on what might have been BUT we should have been 4-0 up at half -time, and IF we had, then we would have cruised to victory. We also had another golden opportunity wasted by Horlock (who was again one of our better performers) in the second half and Conlon narrowly missed putting us level with a drive from distance.

On the negative side, FC must be criticised for playing Heaney at centre forward. He is never a goalscorer and it is debatable if he is actually a footballer. We must have somebody (ignoring Uwe's injury/suitability) who could cover in Bradbury's absence (Conlon or Creaney spring to mind). The way we capitulated after Stoke's goal was spectacular in it's customary inevitability. This time we really collapsed. The last 20 minutes were the worst I have ever seen at City. We completely gave in to what is surely one of the worst teams in the division.

I think FC must also take the blame for not motivating the team and also for not signing a combative midfielder which I have advocated since the first game of the season. If we have no money (and Bury are surviving nicely on a team costing stlg 450,000) then why not throw in a youth player. At least we may see some commitment (something sadly lacking in at least half a dozen players when we went behind tonight). The substitution of crap for crap i.e Brannan for Summerbee was an insult to anyone who had rushed to the match after work and fought through the red tide to get there.

I also think the AGM and revelations that we are still millions in debt does nothing for the overall confidence or atmosphere around the club. I take the total opposite stance to FHL's claim that things are right off the field but not on. City are far and away the best team in the division and with confidence and a string of 2 or more wins we would be walking away with it. However, off the pitch things are far from rosy. We are carrying a full team of fringe professional staff who have become a liability. Burnley want to buy Creaney but can't afford his wages (surely a joke?), Summerbee Snr and Jnr are taking the club for a ride and should have been shown the door instead of Bell, Farrell and McNab, and FHL keeps making brainless and outrageous remarks. Frank Clarks column in the programme usually informs us of team news and prospects. Tonight, virtually the whole column was devoted to an attempt (unsuccessful in my view) to justify the sackings of Bell and Farrell. So it's alright to waste the club's money on compensating them is it then Frank?. As for FHL's claim that we are well structured off the pitch. Try asking the several hundred people (that I walked past 5 minutes into last nights match) who were still outside Maine Rd. attempting to collect Tickets pre-booked by credit card from 2 measly windows. Will any of them come again? I seriously doubt it.

My plan of action would be:

1. Give Frank Clark at least another 12 months.
2. Keep Franny until someone with more money/ambition shows an interest.
3. Half the wages of all the players noone wants to buy then release them at the end of the contracts which some idiot has given them.
4. Sell Gio to get some money in short term.
5. Buy a quality midfielder with the money.--
6. Get someone in who can motivate the team.

OCT 26 Q.P.R. - MANCHESTER CITY 2-0 (2-0)

Report by: Tim Edmondson

"We're off to see the Wizard"

With an average height of 5ft 6" and all dressed in yellow the Munchkins of Manchester City took the pitch on Saturday with a changed line up to face the wicked witch of the South - QPR.

Well in short we showed a lot of commitment but the fire power of the Italian army. In the first half a couple of chances came the way of Micheal Brown but he drilled them at the keeper.

QPR won a free kick and Peter Stringfellow, deputising for Karl Ready, left our traditionally static defence standing to nod home. Then came that incident that makes you hate football and demand a third referee to adjudicate on close calls.

Bobby B was lured into a clumsy looking challenge and that cheating get Spencer did a pike with a triple tuck before hitting the deck. The ref was abysmal all game and he bought this like a cut price rolex from Harrods.

Have you noticed not only do we miss loads of penners, we never save any either (Dibs at Swindon last one ?)

Two down half an hour gone. Well we've come back before but not today. On the stroke of half time GIO did that world class run that only he can do but curled the shot inches wide "We needed that to go in" was muttered all around but the writing was on the wall.

Second half a few changes of personnel to add height ! Jeff Whitley and Chris "honestly I'm a big centre forward at 5ft 10" Greenacre.

Actually both played ok. The team in general were ok as follows

Margetson - not at fault for either goal
Bobby     - clumsy fool
Weikens   - looked the part at the back - missing for the headed goal
Kit       - no howlers this week cept   - missing for the headed goal
Edgehill  - wasted as left back - tactics !
Brannan   - anonymous
Horlock   - ditto
God       - worked hard for 70 mins heart was in it, good to see
Brown     - ran, kicked, tackled, and managed a couple of shots
McGoldrick- shouted a lot did nothing worthwhile
Dickov    - ran, tried, had a couple of chances - gave it his all

Subs:
Whitley   - several good challenges but did get forward enough but good
            to see him back in the plans
Greenacre - tried hard but doesn't seem to have the physical presence.

Fans      - fantastic, vocal, relentless and bloody funny. The match
            reports in the national papers paid tribute to our support 
	    so we shouldn't be looking for a boycott or simply barrack. 
	    We kept going and to some extent so did the team.

Betrayal  - the half time penalty competition was accompanied by those
            old favourites of ours Stan Bowles and Rodney Marsh. Now 
	    never mind losing us the league (not really) but Rod could 
	    have responded to the City fans and come over to our end for 
	    a spell but he totally ignored us. For me that is it. I was 
	    in the audience when he was on the panel for 'Do I not like 
	    that' and he gave the impression then that City meant nothing 
	    to him.

Next stop the emerald city otherwise know as Oxford.

OCT 29 MANCHESTER CITY - CREWE 1-0 (1-0)

Report by: Sharon Bennett

Another large crowd of over 27000 turned out at Maine Road to City finally record a victory against a Crewe team who had started the season better than we had! Crewe sold out most of their tickets in the North Stand, and for the first time there were people in the temporary stand between the Kippax and the North Stand for those Crewe fans who turned up on the night. Kinky's accident had meant that some changes were necessary, so Whitley and Greenacre both started, Greenacre making his full debut. Vaughan also replaced Bob who had a hamstring problem, and Wright came in for Margetson for the first time. The full team was Wright, Vaughan, Wiekens, Symons, Edghill, Whitley, Brannan, Horlock, Brown, Greenacre and Dickov.

City as usual started with all the pressure going forward, with Crewe hardly touching the ball in the first 15 minutes, yet as usual we never really looked like scoring. Brown put a couple of wicked crosses over from the right which no-one could get on the end of and Dickov had a lovely dipping shot from outside the area tipped just over the bar by the keeper, but I was the same old story with no real chances falling to us in the penalty area. Greenacre ran around a lot and it did make a difference seeing two people up front, but it just didn't look as if we were going to score. After 15 minutes Crewe suddenly came into the game and really should have scored when a shot from one of their strikers flashed just past the post. Not long after that they hit the post, then the game settled down into the normal pattern. City had a lot of pressure, forced several corners and throws in dangerous positions, but just couldn't convert any of them. Dickov got caught offside about 3000 times (or so it seemed). Finally, just before half time, Horlock swung a corner over from the right which Wiekens met with a powerful header. The Crewe keeper, Jason Kearton, managed to parry it but in the scramble it fell to Greenacre who scored City's first goal in October. Phew.

The team were cheered off at half time for the first time I can remember this season and the half time mood amongst the supporters was happier than for a while! We were entertained at half time by the City ladies team beating the Crewe ladies team in a mini 5-a-side type game, quite exciting and almost worth missing the half time pint for! My mum refused to share her chocolate digestives with any of the people sitting around us unless they stopped moaning, fat chance of that ever happening.

Crewe were definitely more of a threat in the second half. City could have had another two or three if they'd been able to convert chances, but haven't we always said that? Scully and Van Blerk came on for Greenacre and Brown, who received a standing ovation for their hard work and determination throughout the game. Brannan had the best game I've seen from him for a while, he was actually running and tackling occasionally although he still managed to make his usual howlers, giving the ball away completely unnecessarily in midfield. Horlock looked as if he wanted to be anywhere but hanging around on the right. Edghill's defending was okayish, but his passing again was woeful.Symons managed to stifle the 9-foot tall Adebola (seriously, the man is HUGE) so effectively that he was taken off towards the end as Crewe pushed forwards in a last attempt to score. Conlon replaced Whitley near the end to a resounding chant of "BARRY BARRY BARRY BARRY" and received a huge cheer when he got his first touch. Scully ran well up the wing once he came on, but Dickov will never be a 6-foot striker who thrives on crosses into the box, so why bother putting them in for him? The last 5 minutes were extremely nervy as City began to panic and gave away needless throw ins and free kicks in their own half. The ref from somewhere managed to find over 5 minutes of stoppage time in which Crewe really did look as if they were going to score but somehow City held out for the much needed win.

So what was the difference from Sunday and all the other recent games? It has to be the work rate from the kids who have been brought in and are now trying to keep their places. Brown, Whitley and Greenacre were like a breath of fresh air last night. Whitley was given man of the match thanks to his dogged performance in midfield where he was fighting for everything, Brown seemed to be everywhere at once and Greenacre really did deserve a goal for working so hard. I haven't seen as many City tackles being made in a game all season.

As Clark said afterwards, it wasn't pretty but it was the result that was vital. I don't care if the games aren't pretty - this one was actually quite exciting to watch and was never like watching paint dry!! - but we need to win, and if we can scrap out results like that then we might recover from the horrendous start and move back up towards where we belong.

A couple of quotes from around us that amused me:

"Dickov wake up you just never put any effort in" (he was serious)
"Brown you may as well get back to Darlington or wherever you were, you're doing nothing in this game"
"Greenacre just isn't big enough to take any chances and score" (thirty seconds later the ball was in the net)
"I think it's time to bring in a new manager, have a clearout and start again"

and finally

"If you lot don't get a move on and do something Frank will make you get a lift home with Gio"

On to Oxford on Sunday,

by Svenn A. Hanssen, svenn@hanssen.priv.no