MAN CITY INFO VIA THE ALPS "McVittee!" #923

DATE Thursday 12 June 2003

News tonight of potential new sponsors, player comings and goings, the UEFA draw, and plenty more.

This one goes out to 3,254.

NEWS SUMMARY

General News

In Memorium: As reported in MCIVTA on Monday, the club organised a memorial service at Maine Road for the families of City fans whose loved ones' ashes have been scattered or buried at Maine Road. Over 1,000 people attended the service, which was presided over by Club Chaplain, the Reverend Tony Porter. The service included a number of hymns and readings, as well as an opportunity for prayer and reflection. Floral tributes were laid at the side of the pitch and visitors visited the parts of the ground where their loved ones were laid to rest. The Club has promised each family who attended Saturday's service a plot of turf from the Maine Road pitch to keep as a remembrance.

The Problems of Youth: City's Youth Academy is facing a threat to its elite status, say reports this week. The FA has warned City that they could lose Academy status for the Platt Lane training complex unless they provide a full-size indoor pitch. Plans were put forward to cover a pitch with some kind of inflatable tent, but this scheme faces opposition from local residents. If this impasse remains, the club will have to consider severing its last link with the community in the vicinity of Maine Road. A City spokesperson said this week: "We very much want to stay in Moss Side, but if the council won't accept our request to build this structure we will have to look into alternative potential sites".

China in Their Hands? City MD Alistair Mackintosh has revealed that five companies including one from China have expressed an interest in sponsoring City. He has also said that First Advice's sponsorship of the club may continue in some form. "We need to put what is happening with the sponsorship in context," explained Mackintosh. "We don't know what will happen with the First Advice brand, which I believe is likely to keep going in some form or other. I certainly hope so for those people whose jobs have been affected. At the moment it is very much in the hands of the administrator as to what extent First Advice will continue. I certainly don't think they will continue in the same form as before and therefore we will increase our family of sponsors. We have already been approached by five people who would love to sponsor the club and now of course we are negotiating from a different position. We are in the top half of the Premiership, we are moving to a new stadium and we are in Europe. So it is a great opportunity. And it may be that these people we are talking to if we do not come to an agreement on shirt sponsorship we might come to an agreement on something else. We have approximately half a million supporters here at home and a massive overseas appeal and one of the people who have approached us is from China where our match against Everton was beamed to three hundred and fifty million people." The Mackintosh Man says that it's impossible to quantify the financial benefits of City's UEFA Cup participation, although the potential for high revenues exists. "We are all very excited about being in Europe just because it is such a massive opportunity," stressed the MD. "But from a financial point of view we really don't know what it will mean for us. It depends on many things, for instance how far we progress in the competition, as the prize money is only there towards the end. It depends on who we draw in each round as we hopefully progress in the competition. I feel we will sell out games at the City of Manchester Stadium. People are so excited about seeing us in Europe again I feel we will take a massive away support as well. But as I say financially it depends on many things. From a television perspective the big fees are only further on in the competition where you can get the big draws or if we drew someone from the British Isles."

Going, Going, Gone: Those of you who harboured thoughts about liberating your seats from Maine Road (you know who you are), may now have a chance to do so legitimately. City are planning an auction from 10.00am on Sunday 13 July, with a viewing day will be held on Saturday 12 July, from 10.30am to 4.30pm. Items available include; the penalty and centre circle spots, doors from the manager's office, a mahogany players' treatment table from the 1930's (I have a horrible feeling that may have been in use up to the present day!), a white tactics boards from the home dressing room and the physio's room, and much, much more. Individual stadium seats are being offered to season ticket holders on an application basis before 30 June; thereafter a limited number of seats will be available for purchase by other fans.

Case Dismissed: Assistant manager and former player Asa Hartford has escaped punishment this week after his case in the magistrates' courts was dismissed. I'll let the M.E.N. give you more details. Under the headline "Hartford Drink Case Collapses", the paper stated that "Manchester City legend Asa Hartford has walked free on a drinking-driving charge after police lost all vital papers showing results of a breath test. The assistant manager at City was charged with driving with excess alcohol and driving an uninsured vehicle after being arrested in December last year. But the trial collapsed yesterday because prosecutors could not produce evidence that the machine used to carry out a breath test at Blackburn police station had been properly prepared."

International Blues: The only City boy who saw full-on Euro 2004 action this week was Niclas Jensen. Nic played in both of Denmark's fixtures, a 1-0 victory over Norway on Saturday, followed by a 2-0 defeat of Luxembourg on Wednesday. Jensen can claim an assist on the Danes' second goal, which Thomas Gravesen of Everton cracked home from a pass from City's left-back. The Republic of Ireland also won twice this week (2-1 versus Albania, 2-0 against Georgia), but did so without the considerable presence of Richard Dunne. Dunnie was an unused substitute against Albania, and was not in the squad after an Achilles injury had ruled him out of contention for the Georgia game. Eyal Berkovic meanwhile is still recuperating from surgery so didn't feature in Israel's 0-0 draw with Slovenia last week. Elsewhere, Stephen Paisley played in the first half, while Brian Murphy sat on the bench as the Republic of Ireland's under-21 team beat Albania 2-1 last Friday.

Transfer News and Gossip

Howey's Fox Trot: [Headline c/o 'The Sun' - why try to improve on tabloid perfection?] Steve Howey has agreed to join newly-promoted Leicester City. Howey arrived at The Walkers Stadium on Thursday to agree personal terms after the two clubs had agreed a fee thought to be £300,000. The 31-year-old central defender has signed a one-year deal, subject to a medical, after making 103 appearances for the Blues. Leicester manager Micky Adams told the club's website: "We are delighted to be getting Steve on board. I've been looking for players with Premiership experience and Steve undoubtedly fits the bill. He's a former England player and I am confident he can still do a very good job at this level. It is pleasing to get the first signing out of the way and at such a good price." Howey will be able to enjoy the company of a former City team-mate - Paul Dickov recently signed an extended deal with the Foxes.

Dear Prudence: Chairman John Wardle is obviously keen to show what a prudent chap he is. He has been at pains to stress this week that funds for transfers are limited, and that some players will inevitably have to leave to balance the books. Speaking after last week's double signings of David Seaman and Michael Tarnat, Wardle said "They are good deals for us. That is the way that football seems to be going now. There are very few fees out there and the days of the big heavy fees are gone. It is all now down to wages. We can cope with that a lot easier. Kevin and I had a meeting a few weeks ago about what can be done in the summer. He knows exactly where we are with things and he will pursue them accordingly. Kevin knows what is left. There is very little money in football and I don't think there are going to be any massive transfer fees this summer, with the possible exception of one or two. I think most clubs are looking at Bosmans. Apart from being a great footballer and manager, Kevin is also a good businessman. He knows the financial situation and I'm sure that he will be working with the idea of moving players out. I think some will have to move on. I feel some players will have to go as it will be to everyone's benefit so the players can get regular football and we can lower the wage bill. We have not prioritised as to the number of players who will go but the board of directors have a wage ceiling and then it is down to myself and the manager to make sure we stay to that level." Media reports suggest that Paul Ritchie, Gerard Wiekens, Shaun Goater and Kevin Horlock are set to follow Steve Howey and leave this summer.

Dog Lover Mike: Michael Tarnat has admitted he is relishing the prospect of playing in the Premiership next term, saying it was Kevin Keegan that prompted him to quit Die Bundeslegia. "My main reason to opt for Manchester City was Kevin Keegan," said Tarnat on German TV. "Keegan knows me and he wanted me and, due to his time in Die Bundeslegia with Hamburg, he still speaks some words of German - this matched perfectly. I also talked a lot about the Premiership with [former Bayern team-mate] Markus Babbel and he encouraged me to move to England. I am not leaving Bayern on bad terms, but, given my age, it was clear that my time there was over, but my heart will always belong to them," declared the 33-year-old. Revealing the speed of his transfer, Tarnat said "They asked me if I'd be interested on Saturday and, on Monday, I flew over to England. We had a chat and I took a look at their facilities and, after passing the medical, the deal was done. Everything fitted so well and now I am able to realise my dream of playing in England." And just to prove what a good guy Tarnat is, it's been revealed that when finalising the deal, the player had concerns about transporting his two dogs to England. The club were prepared to pay for the dogs to fly over to England, but Tarnat refused as one of the dogs has a heart condition. He's prepared to drive the animals over to England himself.

Goldenballs at The Citadel? All the domestic media reckon that D.Beckham Esq. could be signing for Barcelona this week. Just a thought - bearing in mind City's pre-season fixture in August, it could be that Old Goldenballs makes his début for his new club at the COMS. Won't that be a nice "homecoming" for Leytonstone's favourite Red son?

Cameroon Capers: Two "English club wants to sign over-priced Cameroonian midfielder" stories neatly dovetailed this week. On Sunday KK was reported to have opened talks with Real Madrid over the purchase of Geremi, who has spent a successful year on loan down by the Riverside with Middlesbrough. Boro would like to buy the player, but feel that Real's valuation is too high (sound familiar?). The Spanish giants want £10 million, while Boro are offering only £3 million. City would presumably need to bid more than Middlesbrough, which seems odd considering KK's refusal to meet Lyon's fee for Marc Vivien Foe. If this report was meant to jolt the French club into accepting a lower offer for MVF, it seems to have worked. On Monday came news that KK was going to bring back Marc-Vivien Foe for a bargain £2.5 million after being offered a deal by Lyon. It the got even better for City's finances - Foe's agent Willie McKay has revealed today that the fee for Foe could be a very round figure - zero! Mackay said: "I have more or less reached an agreement that Marc Vivien Foe maybe allowed to go on a free transfer. I am in negotiations with Lyon financial director Marino Faccioli to see if he can go on a free. Manchester City are still very much keen on him and there are a few other clubs interested in him." Which just goes to show - KK does know what to do in this current transfer market!

Mentioned in Dispatches: Could the Goat be about to become a Black Cat? No, it's not some bizarre genetic experiment, but reports from the North East suggesting that Sunderland's Mick McCarthy wants a new strike force in place by pairing Shaun Goater with Wimbledon's David Connelly. John Wardle has said, however, that "Shaun is available for transfer, but at this stage nobody has come to us with any offer for his services." Crewe Alexandra's young striker Rob Hulse has been placed on the transfer list by his club after refusing the offer of a contract extension. Hulse, an alleged target of City, WBA, Norwich and Cardiff earlier in the year, scored 27 goals for the Alex last season during their promotion from Division Two. Speaking of Cardiff City, the Bluebirds have been mentioned as a possible destination for our disgruntled midfielder Eyal Berkovic, now that Portsmouth stated that they will not be purchasing the Israeli international. It's unclear whether this move would appeal to Eyal, as it's reported that he'd have to take a pay cut.

Ex-Blues' News

Brighty's Back: A month ago, Ian Brightwell's career as a player seemed to be over. After an injury hit season, Brighty had been given a free transfer by Second Division Port Vale. Now he's a player coach - back at Port Vale. The 35-year-old will assist ex-City boss Brian Horton, who first worked with the defender at Maine Road some ten years ago. "I have known him a long time and he wants to get into the coaching side of things," said Horton. "I am the aggressor without a doubt and it is good to have someone who can react with the players and perhaps, act as a buffer. This is a good opportunity for him and is something I have done before with Steve McLaren and David Moss, who is now Macclesfield manager." Moss was also Horton's assistant at City.

McNab-a-Nation Waits: Thanks to James Walsh for keeping us up to date with the procrastinating world of Neil McNab. New Weymouth boss Steve Claridge is still waiting for City's former midfield maestro to commit to the position of Assistant Manager at the non-league club. "Neil needs a little bit more time to make his mind up because it is a big decision for him. I'm hoping to hear from him sometime this week," said Claridge. "Neil remains my number one choice and I'm hoping he chooses Weymouth."

Old Folks' Home: Blackpool are making a bid for Rochdale's position as the Third Division's rest home for former Blues. It's been reported that manager Steve McMahon (played for City between 1991 and 1994) is talking to Bolton's Colin Hendry (Blue from 1989 to 1991) and Barnsley's Mike Sheron (1988 - 1994) with a view to taking the veteran pair to Bloomfield Road. McMahon is striving to improve on the Seasiders' mid-table finish of last season.

Squad News

Weaving Back: Nicky Weaver is hoping this week to be given permission to begin light exercise once pre-season training begins in July. Weaver's injured knee has made impressive progress recently, so the goalkeeper is flying to the USA next month to see his surgeon. "I am keeping my fingers crossed that I will be able to do some sort of training during the pre-season but we will have to see," he explained. "I am due back in America later in the summer and hopefully it will be good news, but you cannot take anything for granted with this kind of injury. Everything was going well, I came back around Christmas time and played for the reserves but a problem flared up in training one day after I saved a shot with my toes, which opened up the knee. It didn't really settle down. I tried training on it but it just kept swelling up. That is why I ended up in America and had the same kind of micro-surgery that Paulo Wanchope had. I suppose if there is a positive it is that I am still relatively young, especially in goalkeeping terms. It is sometimes hard to stay upbeat because every time I think I am over the worst it comes back again but I am trying my best."

OPINION: UEFA DRAW

Here's a list of all the teams in the draw:

KS Vllaznia (ALB);
KS Dinamo Tirana (ALB) or KS Teuta (ALB);
UE Santa Coloma (AND);
FC MIKA (ARM);
FC Shirak (ARM);
SV Austria Salzburg (AUT);
Sporting Lokeren St-Niklaas Waaslan (BEL);
FK Zeljeznicar (BHZ);
FK Sarajevo (BHZ);
FC Dinamo Minsk (BLS);
FC Neman Grodno (BLS);
PFC Levski Sofia (BUL);
PFC Litex Lovech (BUL);
HNK Hajduk Split or NK Uljanik (CRO);
Two more teams from Croatia;
Anorthosis Famagusta FC (CYP);
APOEL Nicosia FC (CYP);
FC Slovan Liberec (CZE);
FC Midtjylland or Brøndby IF (DEN);
Two more teams from Denmark;
FC TVMK Tallinn (EST);
FC Levadia Maardu (EST);
NSÍ Runav'k (FAR);
KÍ Klaksv'k (FAR);
FC Haka (FIN);
Myllykosken Pallo-47 (FIN);
FC Sioni Bolnisi (GEO);
FC Torpedo Kutaisi (GEO);
Ferencvárosi TC (HUN);
Debreceni VSC (HUN);
Derry City FC (IRL);
Shamrock Rovers FC (IRL);
Fylkir (ISL);
Grindav'k (ISL);
Hapoel Ramat Gan (ISL);
Maccabi Haifa FC (ISL);
Hapoel Tel-Aviv (ISL);
FC Zhenis Astana (KZK);
FK Atyrau (KZK);
FHK Liepajas Metalurgs (LAT);
FK Ventspils (LAT);
FK Atlantas (LIT);
FK Ekranas (LIT);
CS Grevenmacher (LUX);
FK Cementarnica 55 (MKD);
FK Belasica GS (MKD);
Birkirkara FC (MLT);
Valletta FC (MLT);
FC Zimbru Chisinau (MOL);
FC Nistru Otaci (MOL);
Coleraine FC (NIR);
Glentoran FC (NIR);
SFK Lyn (NOR);
Wisla Plock (POL);
Two more teams from Poland;
Sporting Clube de Portugal (POR);
FC Dinamo Bucuresti (ROM);
FC Steaua Bucuresti (ROM);
FC Spartak Moskva or FC Torpedo Moskva (RUS);
FK Sartid (SAM);
FK Crvena Zvezda (SAM);
Heart of Midlothian FC (SCO);
NK Ljubljana (SLO);
Another team from Slovenia;
SP Domagnano (SMR);
FC Basel (SUI);
Neuchâtel Xamax FC (SUI);
BSC Young Boys (SUI);
KM Púchov (SVK);
AIK Solna (SWE);
Malmö FF (SWE);
Two teams from the Ukraine;
Cwmbran Town FC (WAL);
TNS Llansantffraid FC (WAL)

OPINION: BARGAIN HUNTERS?

Marc Vivien Foe could now have a free transfer from Lyon. Where are all these so called clubs that were keen to sign him? Now there might be a few clubs who could be interested in him for free. All this does not change the player, City need to move forward and I am sorry if I say this and upset some fans.

This goes to prove how other clubs rate this player, no one came up with the cash, and Lyon are prepared to let him go for free; the way some clubs are strapped for cash, no doubt someone will sign him.

And I wish Marc Vivien Foe good luck, with another club please!

OPINION: NEW STADIUM, MEDIA AND REFEREES

In the last issue Lance posed a question about the placement of the TV gantry at our new stadium. Whilst I would assume this has already been determined, I feel that the corresponding gantry at Highbury is altogether too low. Whilst you do feel closer to the "action" at Arsenal's ground, it does not afford a good view of the various "patterns" of play. For whatever it may be worth: in my view the angle as provided at Cardiff's Millennium Stadium is just about right - not too high, not too low.

I was wondering: due to the fast pace of today's game... have "the powers that be" ever considered using two referees per match (i.e. one for each half of the pitch) simultaneously, instead of expecting just the one official to continue to monitor, as best he can, the whole field of play? If not - do our readers feel this may be an idea worth any merit?

OPINION: MIDFIELD DEBATE I

I'd like to pick up on the debate brought about by Sarah Ferguson concerning Berkovic and Foe.

In an earlier edition of MCIVTA I mentioned how I felt Eyal is too slow for the Premier League and although I liked him as a player I didn't think he would cut it. I'm happy to say he proved me to be totally wrong with some excellent performances that surely make him a candidate for player of the season. Granted, he is injury prone but his dominance of midfield against the likes of Veron and Keane at Old Trafford was fantastic considering he wasn't fully fit. OK, if he wants to go I agree we should not keep a player who is not committed to the cause but I would like to think he will stay as there is no doubt he was a consistent performer in the side up to February this year; his absence was clearly felt when the team's form became indifferent. As for the links with Portsmouth, this has been rubbished at their end because they have a limited budget for transfers and cannot necessarily afford his wages.

As for Foe, I'm with Sarah. Yes he can be slow and sometimes he looks to be lazy but he is not the type of midfielder that covers every yard of the pitch and you cannot argue with his goal tally although arguably it should have been better. I think we should sign him but only at the right price in a depressed market because he his speciality is to get amongst the play and break it up. He would have a part to play in the squad next season, particularly in Europe where the game is slower anyway. Like other players I feel he has been more a victim at times of the system (i.e. 3-5-2), which has often exposed players when the opposing team breaks. We certainly looked a more solid unit when we switched to 4-4-2 and I'm sure with the right balance we can progress next season.

As for the Rags and their shouts of 27 years, who cares? Let's face it we'd give it to them big style if the situations were reversed - I know I would. At the end of the day they're a sad bunch of individuals whose antics require most of them to evaluate their lives because I know I have much better things to do! As for fat Tyrone and his gormless mate, well what an advert they are! And they slag us off for Curly Watts! Even their terrace songs sound like they've come off the back of a school bus, so leave them to it. 27 years maybe, but they hate the fact our crowds keep going up and up!

OPINION: MIDFIELD DEBATE II

Sarah, 300,000 people can watch the same football match and have a completely different view of the game and of the players taking part; if you read the match reports in the papers I bet you always think, have they been to the same game as me? How did he get 7 out 10, he wasn't even 4? That is the beauty of the game that we all love so much, it is about opinions and long may it last.

How would you have your pre-match conversations about what the team will be today in the pub or the after match debates as to who was at fault when we have lost and who was the Man of the Match when hopefully we have won. Take that away from the game and we don't have a game, we might as well go shopping with our partners (not meant as a sexist remark).

By the way don't rate Foe but my mate does but that is what it is about, surely we can't all agree?

Here's to next season and long live the friendly debate and good humoured banter.

OPINION: PESKY RAGS

I must confess that I've always been a bit puzzled when reading MCIVTA and other excellent publications dedicated to our heroes in laser/sky blue at the amount of vitriol levelled at our neighbours across - but just outside of - the city. This might be a result of being an ex-pat of many years standing or just an overdeveloped natural sense of generosity. Whatever. Indifference would probably best describe my feelings. Until now...

On a recent trip to Indochina I found myself in a bar in Vientiane, Lao PDR on the Sunday evening of the last Premiership games of the season. It was too much to hope that whoever decides these things had recognised the importance of events unfolding at MR that day; the last ever game at the Holy of Holies. No, of course not, but I could understand this. The only Premiership game that some might think really mattered that day was Brum vs. West Ham and it was no real surprise that this was the game on in the bar. Everyone got comfy, got a fresh round in etc. and settled down to watch. Not for long. The game had barely started when in walked Rabbit Face and her cronies. At first RF was only mildly puzzled at the choice of game. Why would anyone in the world want to watch any game that didn't feature Trafford Rangers? Can we switch channels to the MU game she asked? No - that's all there is, we get the feed from Thailand and that's that. At this point RF lost it and embarked on what I can only describe as a crusade. She toured the whole place screaming for management/the owners/God/anyone who would switch to a meaningless game from Goodison Park. A right spectacle I can tell you. I bet the locals are still talking about it. Anyway after most of the first half she finally gave up. The locals have a great way of smiling and nodding while doing absolutely nothing that finally got through to her. Anyway her ranting finally subsided to the point where I was able to ask a few questions. It emerged that RF was from London, had never been to OT, didn't know we called them the Rags, certainly couldn't understand why. Had never heard of Denis Law, Alex Stepney, Lou Macari, Duncan Edwards. Quite a litany but one that fellow Blues have seen many times before in these pages. It was just that I'd never seen such an attitude before live, as it were, and needed to have my eyes opened. Thank you Rabbit Face.

I have to confess that I wasn't as calm as all that during the events described above and was moved at one point to bet RF's boyfriend $50 we'd finish above them in the Premiership 3 seasons' hence. And somehow it all eased the shock several weeks later of having to get into a cab in Bangkok with so many MUFC stickers you couldn't see out of the windows properly. The cabbie, however, had not only heard of Denis Law, he was even acquainted with a certain back-heeled goal...

OPINION: RAG OBSESSION I

Last week, on the official Man United website, there was an editorial feature encouraging their fans to 'laugh at City' by sending in photographs of the number 27. It could be the number on a bus, a door or even better, homemade. All the best would be published on their site. Naturally, many Blues found this offensive and the feature was removed shortly after it was posted. I wrote to the FA regarding this matter. This was their reply.

From: Jonathan Arana <Jonathan.Arana@TheFA.com>
Date: Tue Jun 10, 2003  15:46:26 Europe/London
Subject: Man Utd

Dear Kevin,

Thanks for the e-mail you sent to David Davies regarding Manchester Utd's
website.

To be honest this kind of thing goes on up and down the country between rival
clubs, and has done since football started.  I think if we started taking
action against clubs for this kind of thing we'd probably have to discipline
every club in the country.

Thank you for writing with your concerns.

Regards

Jonathan

So: it looks like it's open season with the FA seal of approval then.

OPINION: RAG OBSESSION II

They may have removed the link from its original site but it is still being advertised on the MUFC Website Newsletter:

http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?iNewsid=36918&itype=466&icategoryid0

We should all write to the FA at info@thefa.com and complain and ask for an apology from MUFC.

I personally think that it is quite funny and I love banter between fans but it is a disgrace that an official website should be promoting a wind up against another club and another community.

Will http://www.mcfc.co.uk be promoting a campaign where you have a picture taken with a town in Germany? I don't think so.

I personally hate City fans calling the reds 'M's and I wish we would stop it as it is so totally disrespectful to the dead and their families, but their attitude towards City and winding up their fans is not going to help at all.

I thought I would repeat this from the anonymous poster from last issue because the editor is out of the office till next Monday:

"The editor (MUFC WEBSITE)s called Adam Bostock and he is, a little bird tells me, extremely concerned that he might have gone too far. Blues can remonstrate with him or his bosses at 0161 868 8000. Mobile 07780 956074. I think it is fair to say that such a gesture does not help create good relations between the two sets of fans and, as such, should not be endorsed by the official club site. It could, potentially, lead to all kinds of unnecessary ill-feeling. Perhaps an official apology"

I think that this is a very serious matter. Write to the FA now! Phone Adam Bostock now!

OPINION: RAG OBSESSION III

I was interested (although perhaps not surprised) to read about the Un**ed '27' campaign.

As people have pointed out, this is a particularly mean-spirited jibe. But I don't think there's much point in letting them think they have wound us up with it. It is, after all, the kind of thing you would expect from them. That is why they are RAGs.

It would be quite nice to be sitting here is a year's time with a European trophy in the cabinet at the Blue Camp, whilst the cupboard is bare over in Trafford...

OPINION: RAG OBSESSION IV

I just had to smile at the '27' feature as it is something we Blues take in our stride anyway! As one subscriber mentioned, it isn't even correct any more. But Rags now say to me '27 years without a MAJOR trophy' as they can't now say without a trophy! The funny thing is, for Rags what was the 'Worthless' became the 'Worthy' towards the end of the season as they started panicking about winning a trophy of any sort! For 'the worlds biggest club(tm)' to only win one of the last 8 trophies they have played for perhaps explains their latest obsession with us! The blue moon continues to rise...

OPINION: RAG OBSESSION V

In response to two items: firstly the Michael Brown piece by Chris Ffelan in MCIVTA 921 and, secondly, two contributions in MCIVTA 922 relating to the abortive 27 Campaign.

With regard to Brown's departure, my recollection is that some time before allowing him to leave, Royle famously stated that he might be better off concentrating on playing football rather than going around kicking people.

Having seen him spitefully rake his studs down the back of Patrick Vieira's calf in the FA Cup Semi-Final and, arguably, handed the Premier League to United it would appear that little has changed.

I visited the United website following the link provided by contributors to 922 and found nothing relating to a 27 Campaign. Having hastily shut the curtains in case passers-by should see the red glow from my monitor I tried a search and found that the item had been move to http://www.manutd.com/news/fullstory.sps?inewsid=36918

These people really are as sad as the characters they portray.

OPINION: THANKS

I would like to thank everyone who replied to my enquiry about Barcelona tickets. It was easy to get tickets; got them from the bank (la caixa), did the tourist thing and went along but never saw any locals, just English, Dutch Germans etc. The real highlight was the week before when my son and I went to see Espanyol play Alaves at the Olympic Stadium. We went in our City shirts and the locals were shaking hands with us and one lad in particular sat with us and said how much they empified with us and just to make us feel at home it p****d down in the second half!

So if you see a fat man and a small boy wearing Espanyol shirts when we play Barça it will my good self.

REQUEST: LONDON BLUES FC

I recently has the pleasure of playing against the Bolton Wanderers supporters' club in a work related friendly 11 aside down in SE18!

It occurred to me whether there might be a City supporters' club that played in a London Sunday league - do you know of any?

REQUEST: END OF SEASON VIEWING

Regarding the end of season video and DVD, the cheapest place I've come across is play.com, £14.99 for the DVD (post free):

http://www.playserver2.com/play247.asp?page=title&r=R2&title=120184

This may be a pre-release offer, in which case the price may go up on 16th June.

Choices Direct have the VHS for £12.74 and the DVD for £16.99 (again, post free).

VHS: http://www.choicesdirect.com/templates/product.asp?ProductGuid=23060
DVD: http://www.choicesdirect.com/templates/product.asp?ProductGuid=660225

I have personally ordered goods from both of these companies before and have had no problems.

MCIVTA FAQ [v0203.10]

[0] MCIVTA Addresses

Articles (Heidi Pickup)          : editor@mcivta.city-fan.org
News/rumour (Don Barrie)         : news@mcivta.city-fan.org
Subscriptions (Madeleine Hawkins): subscriptions@mcivta.city-fan.org
Technical problems (Paul)        : paul@city-fan.org
FAQ (David Warburton)            : faq@mcivta.city-fan.org

[1] What are MCIVTA's publishing deadlines?

Deadlines for issues are nominally 6pm, Monday and Thursday evenings.

[2] MCIVTA Back Issues and Manchester City Supporters' home page

http://www.uit.no/mancity/ is the unofficial Manchester City Supporters' home page. Created in 1994, it is the longest running of the Manchester City related web sites. Back issues of MCIVTA are also hosted on the site.

[3] What is the club's official web site?

The official club web site can be found at http://www.mcfc.co.uk/

[4] What supporters' clubs are there?

Manchester City FC recognises three supporters' clubs: The "Official Supporters Club" (http://www.mancity.net/osc/index.html); the "Centenary Supporters' Association" (http://www.callnetuk.com/home/sef/) and "The International Supporters' Club" (http://www.mcfc.co.uk/extra/fanzone/isc.asp)

[5] Where can I find out about the fans' committee?

The Fans' Committee operates as an interface between supporters and the club. It has its own website, http://www.mcfc-fans.com/ containing info about forthcoming meetings as well as minutes from previous gatherings.

[6] Where can I find information about our new stadium?

The latest information regarding the progress of our new home can be found at www.mcfc.co.uk/article.asp?article=111916&Title=Introduction&lid=New+Stadium

[7] What match day broadcasts are available on the web?

Live match commentaries and archives of games, reports and interviews can be found here: http://www.mcfc.co.uk/comment.asp. An alternate live commentary service, hosted by Yahoo, is located at: http://uk.sports.yahoo.com/foot/audio/live/schedule/index.html.

[8] Where can I find out if City are live on satellite TV?

http://www.satfootball.com/pl.html provides a listing of Premiership games being shown on UK domestic and foreign satellite channels. A good site for North American viewers is http://canadatvsoccer.tripod.com/Fixtures.htm.

[9] What's the music the teams run out to?

The music we run out to at Maine Road is "Nightmare" by Brainbug and is available on the Positiva label.

[10] Do we have a Usenet newsgroup?

Yes we do: uk.sport.football.clubs.man-city is our home on usenet. If you are not familiar with usenet, a basic explanation is available here: http://whatis.techtarget.com/definition/0,289893,sid9_gci213262,00.html

[11] Do any squad members have their own web pages?

There are a number available and direct links can be found at http://www.uit.no/mancity/players/

[12] Acknowledgements

Thanks go to John Arnold for providing the match day music information, to Ian Bell for pointing out the alternate live match commentary service and to Damian Quinn, Stephen Webb and Roger Haigh for the Satellite TV info.

Heidi Pickup, heidi@mcivta.freeserve.co.uk