MAN CITY INFO VIA THE ALPS #74

DATE Thursday 13th April '95

I'd like to encourage more people to vote in the 'Manager' and 'Player of the Year' votes. In the case of the latter, many people will understandably want to keep their options open to see if any one particular player shines brightly in the last few games (apparently it's called optimism!). The 'Manager' poll was rather intended to get a feeling about what all of you out there think about BH and any potential successors who may or may not come to Maine Road. To date, only about 20 people have voted which is only about 10% of total MCIVTA-ers.

The great thing about the Internet is the speed that it works and the communication avenues which it opens up. Such a poll is one way of getting feedback which in turn lets everyone see what everyone else thinks and also allows me to gauge the feeling amongst supporters. Although MCIVTA has been compared to a fanzine, the principles on which it operates are entirely different. A fanzine editor can, either through style or editorial stance, court a certain minority or indeed alienate the majority (within the bounds of financial necessity). MCIVTA differs in that it is meant to be a source of information on Man City, helping bring together Blues and exchange news and views. However, in theory, I could become (hypothetically) more partisan and make MCIVTA more like a fanzine. Indeed I have written what I hope is a quite well-reasoned piece on why Horton should resign (IMHO) but after thinking it over I am still undecided as to the wisdom of including it (I have included it) as I was unsure of how a controversial article by me (not editorial), which has a clear and perhaps unpopular stance would be received. Should I be constrained by a certain degree of impartiality? My answer to this is probably yes, at least in the editorial but does this mean that I am barred from making any controversial comment in the newsletter itself? Your comments please.

A very difficult Easter ahead though some heart may be taken from the comments of some on the Spurs list who think the team is basically a good one. Let's just hope someone up there can smile on us in at least one of these matches.

Thanks to Bruce Munro of the Spurs mailing List for swapping match reports.

Next game Liverpool at home, Friday 14th April 1995.

MATCH REPORT 'LIVE'

TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR vs. MANCHESTER CITY, Tuesday 11th April 1995

And so the much-rearranged match against Spurs was finally played, two days after their FA Cup semi-final defeat at the hands of Everton. How would this result affect them? Would they be despondent, having fallen at the last hurdle on the route to Wembley, or would they be fired up to claim the points that would edge them closer to a UEFA Cup spot for next season? Unfortunately for us it was the latter. Talking to some Spurs fans in the pub before the game, it was widely believed that their goalscoring hero Jürgen Klinsmann would leave if the club failed to qualify for Europe. I think it's very likely that our German duo, Gaudino and Rösler will also be on their way if (when?) we are relegated.

We were accommodated in the new South Stand at White Hart Lane, a vast improvement on the old version even though it's not quite finished yet. The new stand is a two-tier cantilever, curving round at the corners to meet the East and West Stands. I believe a similar structure will be erected at the opposite (Paxton Road) end next season.

City lined up with a pacy back four, Edghill and Phelan as full-backs and Curle and Foster in the centre. Andy Hill played in front of the back four but behind the midfield of Summerbee, Gaudino and Flitcroft. As usual, Rösler and Walsh were the striking partnership. Much to my relief, Tony Coton passed a fitness test and was to keep City in the game with some excellent saves.

The first half was virtually all Spurs, who found far more time and space in midfield than they had done on Sunday. The first chance came to Barmby, whose close-range flick from a low cross bobbled between Coton's legs before the goalkeeper managed to grab hold of it. Calderwood hit a powerful header virtually unchallenged from a corner but fortunately it was straight at TC.

Despite the amount of possession Spurs had, which wasn't helped by some shocking passing by City, they didn't create as many chances as might have been expected and couldn't get behind the City back four. At the other end there were half-chances for Walsh (who shot over the bar) and a Rösler header from a Summerbee cross flew wide. City's main outlet was Summerbee on the right wing but he wasn't having much joy against Spurs' left back Justin Edinburgh. Gaudino showed some good touches but once again there seemed to be nobody else on the same wavelength as him. So, at half time Spurs had had much more of the game but we went in level after a goalless first half; a point would do nicely if we could keep them out for another 45 minutes.

City came out for the second half attacking our end, which livened up the atmosphere a little. It livened up a lot more after 49 minutes when Mabbutt, Calderwood and Walker all left a Popescu back-pass to each other, allowing Rösler to sneak between them and poke the ball through Walker's legs, putting City into an unexpected lead. Maybe we'd stay up after all? It was sure to be a long 41 minutes to the final whistle - could we hold on? To nobody's great surprise, the answer was no. The lead lasted for four minutes, when a neat passing move at the edge of the City area let in Howells, who stroked the ball low into the corner, giving Coton no chance. We now had a match on our hands. Both sides were playing better than they had in the first half and both sides looked capable of scoring. Walker (who I think will succeed Tim Flowers as the England 'keeper) made a fine save to keep out a Flitcroft drive that was heading for the top corner, whilst at the other end TC kept out several close-range efforts.

Now I'm not normally one to moan about referees but I'll have to make an exception for Alan Wilkie after this performance. He was making some seemingly inexplicable decisions, particularly regarding the tussle between Summerbee and Edinburgh. With City attacking our end, I could now see why Buzzer was having so much difficulty getting past the left back. Edinburgh was constantly using his arm to hold the City player back and on the occasional time when this wasn't enough, a foul was given against Summerbee. Another point was his inconsistent attitude towards injuries; he insisted that Phelan left the pitch when he was injured, forcing City to play on with 10 men but did no such thing for two injured Spurs players. Admittedly, Phelan was much closer to the touchline when he got injured and the full amount of injury time was played but I thought that the attitude to injuries shown by referees in the World Cup finals was just about the only good thing to come out of FIFA's recent tinkering with the rules, and I was hoping to see it applied consistently in the Premier League this season. For us but not Spurs on this occasion. It wasn't just me either. It came to the point where there was loud ironic cheering whenever a decision went our way. That's life when you're at the bottom I suppose.

With about 20 minutes to go, Quinn replaced the ineffective Gaudino and immediately made an impression. Spurs couldn't handle him and he won virtually every ball flung towards him, including a number of near-post flick-ons from long throws. Unfortunately, nobody could take advantage as some desperate defending by Spurs managed to block all of our efforts. Quinn got in a good downward header from a corner that seemed destined for goal but once again Walker pulled off a fine save. There was much more threat from City's play now but then disaster struck. A free-kick near the corner flag was sent over to the far post, and Klinsmann rose above whoever was meant to be challenging him to head the ball in. There were 88 minutes on the scoreboard clock but another 5 minutes of injury time gave City a chance of getting an equaliser. No longer in a position of having a point to show for their efforts, City started to show some passion and piled on the pressure. The Spurs fans whistled for the referee to end the game, a blatantly time-wasting substitution was made (can't say I blame them though) and still City carved out a couple more half-chances. Rösler headed wide from one and then made a chance out of nothing just outside the six-yard box but his volley went over.

City need to show the passion with which they ended this game for a whole 90 minutes and on more than one occasion if we're to be returning to White Hart Lane next season. It's still possible but it's looking distinctly unlikely now. Although the late winner cruelly came during one of City's best periods of the game, when a point looked to be on the cards, it can't be denied that the home side were the better side and deserved the points. Come on City, pull your fingers out and save yourselves.

Final score: Spurs 2 City 1

SPURS VIEW I

Spurs Avenge Maine Road Massacre to Maintain European Goal

To be perfectly honest, I expected a subdued crowd watching a subdued performance. To my delight, neither surfaced. With the nightmare of two days ago still in everyone's mind it was vitally important that the players got back to not just winning ways but also produced a display that showed Spurs can still play to their strengths and style to grab the three points.

Right from early on in the game it was clear that Tottenham were going to play better than they did on Sunday. After all, how could they play any worse? Whoever wrote tonight's programme notes, by the way, reckons our players made a 'brave effort' on Sunday. 'Wilting' would be a more apt description. Anyway, Darren Anderton looked far more composed and happier than fifty-odd hours ago, and Teddy Sheringham too was passing better. Even Dean Austin was tackling far more than of late, and having Justin Edinburgh back at left back after suspension was a god-send. Our back four were suddenly decent again, and while Gica Popescu made two tackles he is happy to watch the ball bob about without actually realising that he is allowed to stick his foot in and win the damn thing. He even did his Vinny Samways impression tonight - gave away the ball deep inside his own half, near our penalty area for Uwe Rösler to come in like a flash and slide the ball past Ian Walker to put Man City one nil up.

The goal was probably against the run of play, Spurs having come closer to scoring than Man City. Although both teams produced chances, Tottenham's approach play looked more likely to result in a goal. Not to say that Man City didn't know what they were doing too. Some of their passing was excellent. On quite a few occasions they knew where their front men were and could have scored a couple of good goals of their own making.

It really amazes me; Brian Horton, the Man City manager has got the nucleus of a very fine team, yet they are in serious relegation trouble. If they had someone half as good as our own Gerry Francis then I'm quite sure they would not be languishing near the bottom of the table. They showed their class in October when they stuffed us five goals to two but tonight, especially in the second half, we really began to dominate.

Our forward line was beginning to gel for the first time in weeks, and we only had to wait three minutes after going one down for an equaliser. Darren Anderton played the ball in from his customary right wing position, Jürgen Klinsmann flicked it through a defender or two near the 'D' of the penalty area, and David Howells latched onto it. He controlled the ball, broke away and slipped his cool shot past Tony Coton for his first goal of the season. It was a really well made, well taken goal, and no more than Howells deserved for the way he has made his invaluable contribution this season.

We began to play some good stuff now, and more chances presented themselves. Goal hero David Howells unfortunately got injured and had to be replaced by Ronnie Rosenthal. Naturally, he was greeted with much enthusiasm from the crowd, and for once didn't try to do anything he wasn't capable of. Even the referee had a good game, the best I've seen for a very long time. He turned down a penalty appeal by the Spurs crowd when a Man City player chested the ball down in his area. I guess to members of the crowd in other parts of the ground it may have looked like hand ball, but I guarantee that he called just about everything right tonight.

We had to wait until five minutes before the end for Tottenham to take an eventual winning lead in a game since we beat Leicester City over three weeks ago. Spurs won a free kick just yards from the corner spot, which was disputed by Man City defender Terry Phelan and one of his mates. By the way, this guy was a bit of a donk at times. How he gets to play international footy I do not know. A bit like another donk up the road in Scumland, I guess. Anyway, Dazza Anderton floats a free kick into the area, past the keeper, dunno where he was, and Jürgen Klinsmann, lurking at the far post nods it in for his twenty-seventh goal of the season.

What was interesting was the way Jürgs celebrated. He ran off, arms waving in the air like he had just scored the most important goal ever. I was half expecting him to do his Excellent Diving Celebrations (TM) but alas not tonight, Jürgephine. It looked like he was really pleased to get this goal, not only for our European aspirations but also to begin the long process of burying the ghost of Sunday-past.

For the last few minutes plus about six minutes of injury time, Man City piled on the pressure and actually came close to scoring. We were happy to lob the ball out, anywhere, and eventually the ref decided he had left the gas on and called time.

A nice return to winning ways then, something that should go some way to restoring some pride to the fans and some confidence for the players. I'm not convinced we can qualify for Europe, but I really do hope I'm wrong, and that next season we'll all be traversing strange and wonderful parts of the EEC in our proud Lillywhite /lemon-yellow / navy blue purple Shirts.

SPURS VIEW II

Last night's performance was pretty high quality and the scoreline didn't do us justice. It was definitely one of those nights where little was going to go in for us. Why does this always happend against the lower placed sides?

City never really looked like scoring and it took a major mistake by one of our own players to gift them a goal. All night Colin Calderwood had Uwe Rösler wrapped up, gave him very little sight of the ball, so much so that he resorted to attempting to fake dives and earn himself an Oscar. Our defence looked a much more solid unit with Justin back. As for the City goal, well it took an inch perfect pass from Popescu who was not under a great deal of pressure to thread the ball between Calderwood and Mabbutt for Rösler to latch on to. If we didn't know better we might assume Gica had been paid to supply that one it was that good a pass!!

In midfield, Nicky was a dynamo, never stopped running at fast pace all evening, covering every blade of grass and performing defensive, midfield and attacking rôles. Darren seemd to have shaken off his injury from Sunday (even more surprising when you consider that teletext had Andy Turner down to play this one instead), and was running everywhere and creating merry hell with City's midfield. David Howells was a class act last night, and it's worrying that he went off with a knee injury. We really can't afford to lose him. As for Popescu, I just can't work this guy out. Some times he linked the play quite well, but most of the time he seemed either disinterested or lacking in ideas what to do. It seems like he doesn't really know what his rôle is for the team, and Gerry should address this pretty smartish. There's no doubt this guy's got class but we're not using it or getting the best out of it.

Up front Teddy seems to have struck a rich vein of form. I've not been as happy as everyone with his form this season, but the last 3 games he has been superb and last night topped it all. He worked relentlessly with Jürgen to create openings, lay off balls and bring the midfielders into the game.

Howells' goal was well taken. A beautiful dummy by Jürgen left Howells with space to run on to the ball and tuck it into the corner. In fact it was such a well executed move that I was convinced Nicky had scored and didn't realise it was Howells until I saw him celebrating. Jürgen's goal was a superb header on the far post, perfectly placed, just evading Coton's reach.

The refereeing wasn't the best that we have seen this season. He made a lot of errors, but for a change they mostly went in Spurs' favour, which I'm sure will make Spurs fans believe he reffed well. Overall, the refereeing wasn't too bad, but I've seen better. The call for a penalty for handball was way off-beam. Anyone behind the goal could see it was off the chest, and the other shout was more ball to hand.

Phelan was justifiably booked; he grabbed on to Darren's legs and wouldn't let him go. I was disappointed the ref let the elbow on Popescu go. Flitcroft had been quite dirty all evening. Man City are not a bad team, they are just lacking in confidence big time. They certainly have quality players, but Brian Horton is not getting them to gel. After all it's pretty well the same players that beat us 5-2 earlier in the season.

The atmosphere was very restrained and almost non-existant for much of the game. Indeed, it wasn't until we were 2-1 up that they got going.

We won, and it's a good start following Sunday's poor performance. If only we had played like this against Everton I think we may have reversed that scoreline.

SPURS VIEW III

This was a wierd game!!

So what was to happen after Sunday? Would we be depressed, sluggish and let City run all over us? Or would we come out fighting and show what we were really made of? Well, neither actually, it was in fact an all round good, solid performance. Not outstanding, but it didn't need to be as city weren't exactly brilliant.

We kicked off to start and within 20 seconds God ran onto a ball level with two defenders and would have had just the goalkeeper to beat if one of them hadn't brought him down. My instant reaction was to think "oh gawd, the ref's just going to let it play on isn't he?" - BUT! He actually gave a free kick to us which did actually set a precedent for most of the game i.e. we won most of the free kicks, 50/50 balls and the like. That was the first of the wierd things - it turned out to be a game when the run of the ball went our way.

In the first half, we had 10 shots on goal compared to City's 2 i.e. we were all over them. Ted had a crack, Anderton 2, Howells, Klinsmann all had a go, Barmby had a marvellous effort from about 5 yards out which Coton did a great job in saving. Only Popescu's very weak low drive could be criticized, as could his whole performance which was poor.

Their keeper Coton, continued to make good saves and certainly kept them in it for the first half. If it had been a lesser keeper we could have been up 2 or 3 nil.

On the chances that City did have, they seemed to keep forgetting about the offside rule. Four or five times they were held up by the linesman much to the annoyance of the City fans, and of course to the pleasure of us.

So nil nil at half time, but you just knew a Spurs goal was coming. If they continued to play as well in the first half in the second, you just knew we were going to score first.

Uh-uh, that's the other reason why it was such a wierd game. In most performances since Francis has taken over, we've played much better in the second half after Gerry has had a little talk at half time. It was not to be here. We came out and immediately City started playing well, whilst we were complacent. Five minutes go by and Popescu gives the ball away in his own half. Rösler latches onto it and we're 1-0 down. `Bugger' I thought. That really shouldn't have happened. Luckily though it made us buck our ideas up a bit, and we started to play more like we did in the first half.

More offences on their goal, more corners, and loads of crosses in from the right by Anderton. So many of our attacks happen this way and it almost gets a bit monotonous. Mind you, it paid off just 4 minutes after their goal, as Darren swings one in, Jürgen dummies and Howells gets it and yes! He actually manaaged not to send it over the bar this time. However, it's a goal he deserves for all his hard work this season. Anyway, Spurs roar, City goes quiet; 25 minutes, we'd like another please - c'mon God why don't you have a go? He does try; twice Anderton crosses (from the right as usual)- one JK couldn't get to, the other goes wide. Oops.

Bad luck for Howells 10 minutes later as he goes down in the centre of the pitch - didn't see why, but a stretcher comes on. Luckily it isn't needed as he hobbles off, but I hope it's not serious. R-R-R-R-Rocket Ronny comes on instead, and starts whizzing about all over the place, but isn't actually that amazing.

I must admit I'm not one of the people that sings, so I don't know if I heard right, but it did sound like there was a chorus of "There's only one Jürgen Klinsmann" coming mainly from the North Stand (Bruce? Can you confirm?) Anyway, no worries Mein Herr, as with 7 minutes to go, we get our 200th corner of the game. It mucks up but we get a free kick instead just outside their area. Anderton converts, Klinsmann at the far post and - oh yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes yes!!!

2-1. Ok boys, start time wasting please. City start pushing for the equaliser now, and Walker did his stuff in the last five minutes keeping us in it. Last five? Sorry - I meant the last 50 - As the ref had obviously forgotten to put his watch forward because he just refused to blow the whistle! The mass whistling noises that went up (including myself) was one of the loudest I have ever heard. GF helped waste a bit of time by bringing on Nethercott for Nicky, and eventully in about the 97th minute it was all over. 3 points, lovely-jubbly!!

One of the nice sights at the end was when Klinsmann ran up to Rösler and you could seem them chattering away (presumably in German) to each other and smiling. Good stuff.

One final note - Paul Walsh got a good reception on his return, but we couldn't help jeering him when he fluffed taking a ball on the West side in the second half giving us a throw in. I do wish he'd get a haircut though.

NEWS - VARIOUS

Former City and Everton coach Mick Heaton has been killed in a road accident in Oswaldtwistle, Lancashire.

Niall Quinn, Alan Kernaghan and Terry Phelan have been included in the Republic of Ireland squad for the European Championships qualifying match in Dublin on 26th April.

Contrary to my report in MCIVTA 65, Liverpool have not been allocated the whole of the Kippax. I was speaking to fellow MCIVTA-er Neil Adshead (over from Australia) at White Hart Lane last night and he has tickets for block BB, so the usual away fan allocation looks like being used. I wonder why we were told otherwise?

NEWS - KENDALL

It is alleged that Judas got the chop from Notts County on account of a fondness for the bottle. Certainly, he hasn't looked in great shape when I've seen him on the box.

TEMPER TANTRUMS

Roy Keane was sent of in last night's semi-final replay after suddenly thinking he was La Grande Erique. Old red nose tried to pull him off, but Keane gestured that he wanted to stay on for five more minutes; he then decided he did in fact want to come off, so stamped on Southgate. Naughty boy.

RAGS ON THE BOX

Terry Christian (of The Word, generally reviled Yoof programme on the box) was introduced onto Fantasy Football League last week; he managed to claim the title of most Raggish Rag of the year after a pathetic onslaught on City, including the claim (actually with a grain of truth in it :-) ) that City fans were obsessed with United's exploits). However, he then proceeded to shoot himself in the foot by exhibiting the same approach with regard to City.

Nick Hancock, broadcaster, occasional (excellent) 606 presenter, Stoke fan, and Rag hater was sat next to him, and looked to be having a problem with restraining himself from chinning Christian. Also, in a programme in which the studio audience will even raise a tolerant laugh for the likes of Jimmy Tarbuck, the silence that greeted his drivelling was noticeable. Righteous Reds out there - silence that man!

For those out of the country, FFL is an excellent weekly programme based on the Fantasy Football competitions, in which you choose a team, and they get points depending on position, e.g. points for goals and 'assists' (yeuchh) for one and all, points for clean sheets for defenders and minus points for goals conceded. The programme based on this has various celebs as managers, and is hosted by Frank Skinner (Baggy) and David Baddiel (Chelsea), of the later generation of (so called) 'alternative' comedians.

OPINION - HORTON

** This is a contribution and not an editorial **

Well, I'm afraid I just have to come off the fence (as a subscriber) and say my piece re-Horton. As the manager of an ostensibly ambitious and big name club he just has not got what it takes - period. Despite his undoubted qualities as a man and his astute playing of the transfer market, I can no longer accept that he has the requisite tactical and organisational ability to create success. He has a team which would be the envy of many other clubs above us yet the performance is consistently and unfathomably less than the sum of its component parts! His league record since December 3rd when we beat Ipswich away is nothing short of appalling with a meagre 13 points from 19 games. That's a lot of games and personally I feel the period is sufficient to judge the man. We all know from previous articles about his terrier-like qualities, hanging on in there when everyone and his cousin would have long since jumped ship. This 'no quitter', bulldog mentality is, to a certain extent admirable but there comes a time when sheer stubborness and an inability to tackle the onrushing disaster are a downright liability. Make no mistake, relegation this season will possibly be the biggest crisis City have ever faced! Gaudino will go and we'll be hard put to retain Uwe who I feel will only stay out of some sense of loyalty. Some others may even want away such as Flitcroft and Lomas. In addition, there will be a huge financial penalty to pay at a time when we are desperate for a cash injection. Finally, when we are down then how can we hope to attract quality players to the side even if money were available and most importantly of all, how can we attract a good manager who can do something with the remaining talent?

So, it's high time that Horton recognised the predicament that the club is in and the fact that he is unable to get us out of it. I wouldn't condone sacking him but I would like to see him do, what is in my opinion the best thing for the club, that is resign in the hope that a new face (McNab?) can get a couple of wins in the last 6 games. This was after all, exactly why John Deehan resigned this week from Norwich and I admire the reasoned explanation he gave.

RESULTS & LEAGUE TABLE

Apr 11, 1995    Ipswich - QPR               0 - 1
                Tottenham - Man City        2 - 1

Apr 12, 1995    Arsenal - Liverpool         1 - 0
                Chelsea - Southampton       0 - 2
                Norwich - Notts Forest      0 - 1

All results up to and including 11th April

                        P  W  D  L  F  A   W  D  L  F  A   Pts
Blackburn              36 15  2  1 49 17  10  5  3 24 13    82
Manchester United      36 14  3  1 39  3   8  5  5 27 21    74
Newcastle              36 13  5  0 39 13   6  5  7 21 24    67
Nottingham Forest      37 10  6  3 33 18   8  4  6 31 22    64
Liverpool              34 11  5  3 34 12   6  5  4 23 16    61
Leeds                  36 10  4  3 28 12   6  7  6 21 21    59
Tottenham              35  9  4  5 29 21   6  6  5 28 26    55
QPR                    36 10  3  6 34 24   5  5  7 21 28    53
Wimbledon              36  9  3  6 24 22   6  4  8 22 36    52
Sheffield Wednesday    37  6  6  7 22 25   6  4  8 23 28    46
Aston Villa            36  5  8  5 24 19   5  5  8 23 29    43
Arsenal                36  5  7  5 22 18   6  3 10 20 26    43
Coventry               36  6  6  6 19 22   4  7  7 18 32    43
Chelsea                35  4  7  6 21 19   6  5  7 21 29    42
Norwich                37  8  7  3 25 17   2  5 12  9 30    42
Manchester City        36  7  6  5 33 24   3  5 10 12 32    41
Southampton            34  6  7  4 26 23   2  8  7 23 34    39
Everton                35  7  6  4 26 20   2  6 10 12 28    39
Crystal Palace         34  5  5  8 13 20   4  6  6 12 15    38
West Ham               35  6  4  6 19 18   4  4 11 15 27    38
Leicester              37  4  5  9 25 32   1  4 14 15 39    24
Ipswich                36  4  2 12 21 32   2  3 13 10 49    23