MAN CITY INFO VIA THE ALPS #21

Well, the wheels came off the cart not only at OT on Thursday but here in Zürich the following day. I was rushed off my feet and obviously mentally stunned as a result of the previous night's drubbing! I had to patch MCIVTA 20 together at the last minute, I erroneously titled it MCIVTA 19 (!) then sent it off only to get 'resend' messages back from various people 10 mins later, just when I didn't really have time to sort it out. Basically, some subscribers only got half of it. Paul Howarth thinks the problem lies with certain machines that the mail passes through. If a machine uses a line length one character less than my configuration, a line with a full stop at the end can wrap-around resulting in a single fullstop on a line. This may be misinterpreted by certain machines thus producing a truncated message. I will probably look through it by eye in future as it has, after all, only occurred once so far. Does anyone know a better way of preventing a repeat occurrence? Lastly, I wrote that the next game is on Saturday when it is in fact on Sunday 20th!

Keep your news and views coming, I will hopefully send MCIVTA 22 out on Friday, unless that is, we sign Baggio in between!

Next game Leicester City away Sunday 20th November

MATCH REPORT 'LIVE'

MANCHESTER UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY 10th November '94

I suppose we should all be philosopical about the finality of the result, because let's be fair, a good thrashing has been on the cards for the last several weeks, with City's current defensive play. It's just a pity/shame/nightmare that the thrashing came at the hands of the rags! It just goes to show how much City need Curle back, somebody that'll stop the rot.

As for the match itself. I was undecided about the outcome; even though City had been leaking goals at an alarming rate, United still weren't playing well so I thought maybe City might get a draw, or at least score with the free-scoring attack (how wrong I would be).

City and United played pretty well for the first 20(ish) minutes, with both teams causing problems to each others' defences. Right up until the first goal I thought City might stand a chance. Beagrie, Summerbee and Walsh with their surging runs were forcing the United back-four into some desperate defending. Then came the first goal which (IMHO) changed the course of the whole game. Kanchelskis and Keane worked a ball through to Cantona, who controlled the ball and ran towards goal unchallenged and shot past Tracey with ease. My initial response was one of disgust; he'd managed to score another goal in another derby. I thought City might realise they were now in a derby and decide to get their act together. City had one decent chance to square things when Lomas (Paul thought it was Flipper) met a through ball but his attempt to push the ball past Schmeichel was too weak and United cleared the danger. But from that point the game got steadily worse. United never looked in any real danger and it was left to long range shots to try to threaten the goal. City just couldn't get any penetration and the final ball went to a rag.

Just when it looked like City might go in only a goal down at half time up stepped Kanchelskis to make it 2-0 just before the break. Once again it was Cantona the provider; he was unchallenged on the edge of the box and managed to thread the ball through to an unmarked Kanchelskis, whose shot took a deflection off Phelan (the nearest he got to the ball all day!!!) and beat Tracey at the near post. So 2-0 at half-time; with the usual Horton boot up the backside awaiting, could City get back into the game?

The second half soon answered that when Kanchelskis made it 3-0 after a few minutes and basically that was that, City were dead and buried and it was just a matter of damage limitation. City just couldn't get into gear and couldn't break United down. The most frustrating thing was that City had managed to rattle United in the first 20 minutes. IMHO the reason City couldn't get anywhere was the withdrawn rôle Lippy (Ince) had taken up; he seemed quite prepared to sit deep in midfield and get stuck in.

City certainly had a lot of possesion and some pressure but it was left to Beagrie to try and get something out of the game with long range shots. No matter how much City tried they met a brick wall and the dreaded long ball to Quinn started to appear more and more; against the likes of Pallister it was futile.

Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse, United scored their fourth. The move started on United's right and the ball was played into the area where only Hughes was waiting. He was challenged by Vonk and as the City defence stood around waiting for someone to clear the ball Hughes got to his feet and beat Tracey.

How much more would we have to suffer? At 4-0 City fans were already leaving. My main hope was that United didn't get five. Hughes had already missed a glorious chance when he screwed his shot wide from 6 yards, so we had to wait until the final minute before Kanchelskis finally got the fifth. City had a corner and for some reason had decided to push most players up. Schmeichel cleared the ball upfield and left the City defence trailing. Kanchelskis got the ball and tried to beat Tracey who initially saved but he could do little about the rebound and the final humiliation was complete. United had thrashed City 5-0 to record their highest ever derby win. Walking out of the ground and waiting to get home was a desperate time. All around was a sea of happy smiling rags, who were gloating about the humiliating defeat they had just inflicted and were anxious to take the p*ss for the 5-1 drubbing they had suffered five years earlier at Maine Road.

The City performance has to be one of the worst I've ever seen in a derby. The defence was so naïve it was unbelievable, the midfield just couldn't control the game and the attack was non-existent. Some people say the scoreline was flattering; I'm not one of them, you have to create good chances to stand any chance of getting anything out of the game; City had just one real chance. So much for the possession - it didn't create anything. Let's face facts, the promised thrashing had been waiting for weeks and it came in, of all matches, a derby.

Certain players could have played themselves out of the first team. Phelan's performance should certainly have earned himself the chop; this one game would have been bad enough but he's been playing poorly for a while now. A 'rest' might do him the world of good. But who would replace him? Summerbee is another one; after the first 20 minutes he disappeared. What's happened to all the promise he showed? He's just not consistent enough. Why has he gone downhill? That's a mystery. Quinn looked tired and seemed to look like he had an injury. He just couldn't get any change out of Pallister and the return to the long ball can only damage the team.

So there's three who could be facing the chop, I know I shouldn't make harsh decisions after one game but I feel it's time to make changes. City desperately need Curle back, he gives the defence some stability at least.

Horton should be looking for a good centre-back to partner Curle at the heart of the defence, instead of looking for some midfielders. City need to get the defence sorted out before moving upfront. My suggestion would be to get a centre-back, release Brightwell (I) into a midfield position and drop Summerbee. Then at least we'd have three midfielders to help the defence.

MATCH REPORT 'LIVE'

MANCHESTER UNITED vs MANCHESTER CITY 10th November '94

VIEW FROM THE STRETFORD END

What's the world coming to? Here I am, a 25 year+ vintage Stretford Ender and I'm writing a Derby match report for City supporters! It would be easy, considering the result and the background, to make the agony unbearable for Blue readers. But that's not the intent, I hope I can give you as objective a point of view as is possible from this side of M/C.

Pre-match, it was clear that Horton planned to play Utd at their own game, perhaps intending to emulate the performance of a certain Spanish side. Coton and Curle out, but both wingers in and the sniff of an upset in the air perhaps. Many of the 'rabid' Blues were forecasting a 'stuffing' but circumspection largely prevailed with the rest.

My own expectations were a similar game to last year's, with more goals, perhaps resulting in a draw. But how do you sum up Utd in the last month... hardly consistent! Recent form certainly wasn't good enough to justify any bullishness for many Reds.

The first ten minutes were typical of a Manchester Derby. Lots of 50/50 challenges and no-one pulling out. It was clear that City had come for a result and wouldn't be giving Tracey 9 or 10 chums for company in the box. Mr. Cooper from Pontypridd made a few early decisions that drew little approval from the majority of OT. We felt we weren't getting the breaks from Cooper... and it didn't get better up to half-time. Three or four man kicking parties weren't unusual. During one, Hughes objected to some close attention and massaged someones leg with his boot. This prompted Flitcroft to attempt a nasal rearrangement job on him. Hughes booked, Flitcroft warned.

City certainly made full use of Summerbee and Beagrie early on, both sending crosses into a packed box. Their reward was a series of corners which had Utd pegged back for minutes at a time. Schmeichel, behind a packed defence had little serious work to do though. No-one found Quinn in space. At this stage, City's passing was reasonably accurate with Lomas and Flitcroft looking comfortable and making the most of room in front of the Utd box. More than once they gave Beagrie shooting opportunities outside the area. One of which, from 25 yards, Schmeichel tipped over the bar. However, neither winger got around the back of the Utd defence to cause real problems.

Up to 20-25 minutes, possession had been more or less evenly distributed. Utd probing, City being somewhat more direct. Although Walsh, Lomas and Flitcroft were tireless in making decent runs around the penalty area, they never really got the right killer ball. Ince, McClair and the full-backs all did a fair job in filling 'passing' space just inside Summerbee and Beagrie. Walsh, in particular, started to pull Bruce all over the show. For some incredible reason, Fergie had obviously wanted Walsh man-marked. If they played zonally for Romario, why the change for Walsh? Although Quinn often came deep to attempt lay-offs, he needed Hughes' touch rather than the one he currently possesses.

Going backwards, City kept their shape well with Phelan and Edgehill staying close to Kanchelskis and Giggs, denying them easy routes down the channels. Despite this Cantona still went close with a header from a Giggs cross, and Kanchelskis sent a couple of ominous balls across Tracey's box. Giggs' contributions were later somewhat restricted due to a shrewd Edgehill clog, which saw him substituted at HT. Some of the City passing was becoming scruffy, some of it was simply snapped up by quicker red shirts (notable exceptions being McClair and Giggs).

An upturn in Utd's overall penetration preceded the first goal. Kanchelskis, 40 yards out and standing off Phelan, lobbed a long ball into Cantona's path. Brightwell was some yards wide of Cantona and ball-watching when the cross was stuck. Cantona took it down with the outside of his right heel, ran into the centre of the box, just ahead of Brightwell and thumped it past Tracey. Although it was within reach, City's stand-in keeper hadn't a chance (just to damp down the 'If Coton had been playing' argument... think back to Cantona's second at OT last year; he doesn't often miss in these situations). Indeed, Tracey made one solid and one cracking finger-tip save in the first half. It was enough evidence to suggest he's no mug keeper.

The lead finally taken and Ince's commitment gave Utd the edge. Flitcroft and Lomas were getting naff all time on the ball now. One touch too many meant Utd possession and quick passes forward. Unless Giggs was involved, of course! By now both Keane and Irwin were pushing right up, making space doubly difficult to find.

The second goal again highlighted City's ball-watching tendencies. Cantona, just outside the D, was sending the 'I'm about to push off left and dart into the box' message to Brightwell. Thinking this hint was directed at him, Phelan went AWOL and moved over to the centre of the edge of the box to hold Brightwell's hand. Spotting Phelan on walkabout, Cantona dropped his left shoulder and flicked the ball right into acres of space for an unattended Kanchelskis to push further into the box. Kanchelskis pressed the fire button and the shot went in slightly deflected off Phelan's heel. Bad luck, Tracey. Immaculate stuff from Cantona, Div. 3 stuff from Phelan.

Apart from the Beagrie shots, City's only other solid first half chance was Flitcroft's run into the area past Schmeichel. With no defender on the line, he might have scored. A weak shot was calmly whipped away. If scored, it could have made for a totally different game.

On reflection, the first half was typical for recent OT Utd performances. Visitors come at them with plenty of endeavour, enjoy a good spell, Utd soak it up and finish the half strongly. City had already sown the seeds of defeat, they must already have been shagged out by their efforts to get an upper hand and perhaps an early goal. If you can bear it, consider many of Utd's wins at OT this year. Newcastle, for example, played to almost the same pattern as City. In the last 20 minutes, they were dead. City had played well, but had paid the penalty for losing concentration at the back. If Walsh had been found more frequently, City might have been able to get Bruce and Pallister to face the wrong way.....that's the key to stuffing Utd. Brightwell had let Cantona wander about at will... bad move. As a result, Horton obviously gave him 'what for' at HT.

City came out for the second half clearly determined to get back into the game ASAP. They pushed up too much, lost possession again, left Phelan alone to watch Kanchelskis and bang! An accurate ball to the right found Kanchelskis on the run with Phelan at his side. Shoulder to shoulder they went into the box, Kantchelskis shoots. Tracey goes down and saves, the ball comes off his chest, probably due to the close proximity of Phelan's head, and Kantchelskis taps in. That was it, with the game running away from them, how else could City have played it?

Utd knew exactly how to play it. Soak up the pressure, have a rest, make sure the passes stick and break! Admittedly, this period gave City a few chances and some hope of pegging back the deficit. With Scholes on for Giggs on the right hand side, things got somewhat tighter for Summerbee. IMO he lacks enough acceleration to get past full-backs off a short run, especially a canny old sod like Irwin. However, with Kanchelskis lurking up front, Beagrie prospered from less attention. He set up Phelan for a short run into the box, which resulted in a low cross and a 6 yard box carve-up. Red hearts fluttered. Walsh also went close from 8 yards, with just Schmeichel to beat; only for the ball to be cleared. Despite the pressure, City weren't incisive enough to cause sustained panic.

The Reds' back 4 had a few worrying moments, which were largely dissipated by midfielders getting in amongst attacking Blues on the edge of the area. Almost inevitably a red shirt was first to snatch a loose ball away. On a few occasions, Quinn tried to sneak through between Bruce and Keane but mistimed his runs. By now, Pallister had Walsh on a piece of string. Lomas and Flitcroft just weren't making the runs to exploit any spaces left by him. Any cross in the air was promptly despatched from the box by a generally unchallenged Utd head. Surprisingly, Beagrie never once hit Quinn with even a half decent ball. The fourth goal probably summed the night up. Ince, on the half way line, again made the ball his. He sent Keane haring off down the right, to deliver a good cross right to Hughes. Vonk arrived at the ball at exactly the same moment. Both players went down, the ball stunned to a stop nearby. Hughes was the quicker to get up, and from 10 yards calmly flicked the ball just inside Tracey's right hand post. It was undoubtedly a well constructed goal. But what would have happened had Flitcroft been there to challenge Ince? Where was Keane's marker, Beagrie? Why wasn't Vonk first to the ball?

City had shot their collective bolt... they couldn't help being pulled about all over the field, there weren't enough spare bodies and they were knackered! For the last 20 minutes, City could have been massacred. Hughes missed an open net when Irwin should have scored instead of crossing to him. In a chase downfield, Cantona crossed for an unmarked Kanchelskis to shoot to Tracey's left, the ball was parried... again he tapped in and that was five.

In many respects, this was not an untypical Utd performance. You come to OT, you think everything's going well and suddenly the Frenchman craps all over you, you're then chasing the game and having to worry about Kanchelskis, Giggs, Hughes et al. It hardly the ideal scenario for a visiting side. But it happens a lot.

To put things into perspective, when Newcastle were beaten 2-0 the other week, we had nearly 25 chances and scored 2. On Thursday, we had half that number and scored 5. Newcastle are probably a better all round side than City. Make your own conclusions.

There's a lot to be optimistic about for City... they'll virtually always score goals and plenty of 'em. But if you play 2 wingers you're often going to be outnumbered in midfield unless those wingers are Coppell, Steven or Houghton clones. It happens a lot to Utd, we get by because we've got several players who can do something extraordinary to pull games round. IMO Horton hasn't got it right yet but he's on the right track. He's just got to be given a chance.

Unfortunately, judging by some of the City fans on Piccadilly radio on Thursday night, Horton's office has already got Fat Ron's name on it! Some were happy to admit that they wanted Atkinson there because he knows how to beat United!!!! ... bloodly crazy! Wrong manager, wrong reason for wanting him! In my humble opinion, City will regain former glories, but I suspect it'll only happen when they stop worrying about how Utd are doing!

I'd be happy to hear whether you think this is totally biased crap...

Tell me what you think of FR's view and I'll pass them on to him.

NEWS & SPECULATION

• Steve McMahon has officially applied for the post of player-manager at Oldham. He reckon's he's still got 18 months left as a player.
• Luton manager David Pleat has rejected Alan Sugar's offer of the job of "Director for Football" at Spurs. Gerry Francis, whose resignation from QPR was confirmed on Friday is now considering the post of "Coach" at Spurs.
• Bolton are rumoured to be about to auction off Irish World Cup midfielder Jason McAteer, with the expected selling price being close to 4 million. City and Arsenal are expected to join the bidding.
• Another rumour in the weekend's papers is that City could be interested in Mark Hughes! A move that wouldn't go down too well with either set of fans I suspect. I think this rumour's about as credible as the one that United were going to sign Tony Coton during the summer when they were trying to get Peter Schmeichel to sign a new contract. Hughes is also currently in negotiations for a new contract.

NEWS

The BBC reports that David Platt will be staying in Italy for at least another couple of years. Apparently, his wife likes it there. It doesn't look like Ruben Sosa is going to Leeds either (Sunday People, 13/11/94).

OPINION

Woken up at 1.30 a.m. with a phone call. What can you say? One of the few things we have had going for us in the long history of games with United is that we had won a game 5-0 and they hadn't. Terrible feeling.

But you have to go on. Those of us old enough to either see or remember the large defeats of the early 60s thought we might have seen the last of such games.

Thanks for the reports. There does seem some glimmer of hope- but from all the reports one thing comes clear... there is real need of a team leader out there. Is there any progress on indentifying one?

A week off- perhaps it's needed to regroup. One point out of nine and we seem closer to the bottom than the top.

Is Bill Leivers still around- he'd be about 70 by now but what the heck.

HELP

Can anyone please tell me the best way to get in touch with the Man City fanclub?

I think the address you require is as follows, if it's incorrect can somebody please mail me?

Frank Horrocks,
Hon. General Secretary
MCFC Supporters'Club,
Maine Road,
Moss Side,
Manchester M14 7WN

DISCLAIMER

1. The views expressed here are entirely those of our subscribers and as such there is no intention to represent these as being those held by Manchester City Football Club. We are not in any way whatsoever connected to the club or any other related organisation but are merely a group of supporters using this medium as a means of disseminating news and exchanging opinions.
2. It is also stressed that the list is run solely by the individuals who subscribe to it and is in no way connected with any of the companies and universities that employ us.