Check out Absolute Radio for all the Premiership action.
We at The Man City Blog are proud to introduce Absolute Radio.
Absolute Radio has won the rights to exclusive Barclays Premiership commentaries for the next
three seasons the show is called Rock ‘N’ Roll Football Live and you can
tune in every Saturday on Absolute Radio Extra – on DAB Digital Radio.
12.15AM and online in the UK from 1.30pm as programming kicks off with Russ Williams for pre-match build up, followed by full live commentary from Jim Proudfoot.
While Arsenal and England legend Ian Wright takes care of post
match analysis featuring player and manager interviews, fan phone ins and
a healthy supply of banter. This week Nick Hancock, best known for hosting
hit TV quiz show ‘They Think it’s all over’ will be filling in for Ian
Wright while he is on holiday.
Listen to Wolves vs Man City this Saturday 30th October only on Absolute
Radio extra – on DAB Digital Radio, 12.15AM and online in the UK from
1.30pm.
For more go to www.absoluteradio.co.uk
Thoughts On Arsenal Game
There will be a lot of jubilation from other teams in the Premiership, not just from Arsenal fans this evening following City’s defeat. In the Newcastle and Blackpool games, we were on the receiving end of some dodgy refereeing decisions that played a part in those victories.
But I don’t for one minute blame Mark Clattenburg for any decisions on Sunday. We were beaten outright by a team who were better than us on the day. I don’t think there are any City fans who could say the opposite.
Okay, so we made it a little easier for them by having Dedryck Boyata sent off after five minutes and, while it could be questionable whether the Arsenal man was in a goalscoring position or not, the fact is, when a situation like that arises, it’s usually going to end in a red card for the defender. Boyata was caught out and he paid the price for that. He will learn.
But what really annoys me are these so called ‘professionals’ who wave cards in an effort to get a player booked or sent off. The referee is in charge of the game, not the players. If he deems it necessary to produce a card, he will do it. It must have happened but I’ve never seen a City player acting like this. I don’t think it changed the ref’s mind as I thought Boyata would go the second the foul was given, but it is incredible how many players still beg for a card.
Given last season’s fixture between the two sides, refereeing this game was always going to be difficult so I can’t blame Clattenburg for anything today, even if some can. He did seem a little card happy but sometimes you get that in a ref. It happens.
For the penalty, I think Kompany had to make the challenge. It was 50-50 and if he hadn’t stepped in, Fabregas could have scored or at least set a goal up so Kompany had to get in there. Luckily, Joe Hart was equal to Fabregas and turned it away.
I’ve come in for a bit of stick from Arsenal fans over my match report but this is how I saw the game from a supporter’s point of view, without the aid of replays. At first glance, Nasri looked to have taken the ball out of play for the third goal but by that stage, City had switched off and Arsenal deserved their third goal and the win.
But it’s quite worrying how we can’t handle losing a man. We lost Boyata and then we lost our shape. We lost Tevez as well as all hope of scoring. We can’t rely on Tevez all the time and Bobby needs to change a few things and have a back up plan should this happen again.
I’m gutted about the result, but we had 90 minutes to swing the game in our favour. We didn’t take it and Arsenal did so fair play to them. But one bad result doesn’t end a season and I’m sure we’ll bounce back against Wolves.
Best Chant In The World
I love it when opposite supporters sing ‘where were you when you were s**t’. They’re chanting that to supporters who followed the team through thick and thin and were still getting big attendances while playing the likes of Northampton and Wycombe in the third tier.
But what I love most is that the chant itself is actually a compliment to us. Just that the opposite supporters actually think we are a good side or are too thick to realise what they’re saying.
Arsenal Fans
I’ve had a little stick about my match report from Arsenal fans. Check them out, there are some amusing ones. I watched the match from a supporters point of view, not from the comfort of my armchair with the benefit of replays and reported accordingly. It may be a little biased but it is from a true supporter.
Anyway, rant over.
CTID
Don’t forget to find us on Facebook. www.facebook.com/mancityblog. You can also Man City Blog follow us on Twitter.
10 Men City Lose To Arsenal
A sending off, Carlos Tevez and Yaya Toure injured and three goals conceded wasn’t what City wanted as they lost at Eastlands for the first time this season.
The blues sat in second place in the table prior to the fixture and were hoping for three points against the Gunners that would keep the pressure on Chelsea. The blues have won this fixture for the last two seasons, as well as beating the Gunners in the League Cup Quarter Final last season and named Mario Balotelli on the bench, alongside Europa League hat-trick hero Emmanuel Adebayor, as Carlos Tevez was returned to the starting line-up.
Before the game, Bobby Mancini justified his decision by explaining the importance of having a good bench. “When we play a game every three days, players who start on the bench can be important, it’s very important we have a good bench. Mario Balotelli is not ready to play a whole game or 45 minutes but it’s important that he’s now available and he can maybe play 10 or 15 minutes.”
The blues started well and with barely a minute played, Tevez ran along the right wing and his low cross into the area was met by David Silva, whose shot was saved by Arsenal keeper Fabianski. City could have had another chance in the third minute when Micah Richards burst into the box but couldn’t find the pass.
A minute later came the game’s first talking point. Dedryck Boyata brought down Marouane Chamakh and, despite it not being a clear goal scoring opportunity, referee Mark Clattenburg produced a red card for the youngster. Clattenburg was probably going to send him off anyway, but the situation wasn’t helped by Cesc Fabregas, who disgraced himself by waving an imaginary card to get the City man sent off.
After that, Fabregas got a bit of attention from the City midfield. First Nigel de Jong, who was heavily criticised in City’s last home league game against Newcastle, Made a good challenge on Fabregas but Gareth Barry was booked for what looked like a fair challenge on Spaniard.
The game threatened to become a bad tempered affair and Clattenburg angered the City faithful by not booking Song for a rash challenge on Silva after just thirteen minutes played.
Carlos Tevez had a chance to give City the lead but his scuffed shot was saved while at the other end, Chamakh headed over from six yards when he really should have scored. However Arsenal did score moment later when Samir Nasri was neatly played through and beat Joe Hart at his near post.
City 0-1 Arsenal
On 26 minutes, Fabregas saw his name in the book for foul tackle on de Jong and from the free kick, City played it among themselves before Micah Richards made a dash for the penalty area, turned in the box and unleashed a left foot shot that went agonisingly wide.
In the 40th minute, Vincent Kompany seemed to get to the ball ahead of Fabregas but the Spaniard went to ground and Clattenburg awarded the visitors a penalty. To a chorus of boos, Fabregas dusted himself off and took the spot kick himself, only to see it brilliantly saved by England’s number one keeper Joe Hart. Kompany had a chance to level the scores a minute later but headed over from a corner.
Clattenburg continued to annoy the home support by not awarding a penalty for handball, but the ball found its way through to Silva, who was onside but couldn’t control it. Kompany then made a great block from to keep the score at 1-0, as he got his body in the way of Denilson’s fierce drive.
The last chance of the half fell to Arsenal, but a free kick, conceded by de Jong on Fabregas on edge of box, came to nothing as ref blew for half time. A goal and a man down, City had a mountain to climb in the second half.
Half Time: City 0-1 Arsenal
Wayne Bridge replaced Yaya Toure at half time after the midfielder picked up a knock in the first half, which meant Barry could return to his usual midfield role. Within six minutes of the start of the second half, Tevez went off with a presumed injury and was replaced by Emmanuel Adebayor.
The Togolese striker was the catalyst for a near riot last season from the Arsenal fans and his introduction again produced jeers from the away end. But the striker was not given the service he needed to follow up his midweek European hat-trick.
City’s problems increased on 66 minutes after another Arsenal move ended with Alex Song sweeping the ball into the back of the net and giving the visitors breathing space. City pressed but they looked a beaten side and didn’t look like scoring even after Italian striker Mario Balotello was introduced five minutes after the goal, replacing the ineffective and disappointing Gareth Barry.
City gave a brief rally, with Adebayor just failing to reach Silva’s pass and Jerome Boateng’s drive was tipped away by Fabianski.
Arsenal made the game safe with two minutes left and there was more than a little controversy over the goal. The ball seemed to go out of play for a City throw in but none of the officials seemed to notice and the ball found its way to Nicklas Bendner, who looked marginally offside, who raced into the area and finished neatly into the back of the net.
Final Score: City 0-3 Arsenal
The defeat was City’s heaviest at home since being beaten by Blackburn in January 2007 by the same scoreline, but it is Arsenal’s first clean sheet on the road in 16 attempts.
City now lie in fourth place, five points behind leaders Chelsea and the next game at Wolves will be of utmost importance to the blues if they are to keep up their dreams of Champions League qualification.
What do you think? Did City deserve to lose today? Let us know your thoughts.
Don’t forget to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
City v Arsenal
Emmanuel Adebayor could find himself relegated to the bench for Sunday’s visit of former club Arsenal.
The striker, who scored his first City hat-trick against Lech Poznan on Thursday, may have to again play second fiddle to Carlos Tevez as Roberto Mancini is expected to bring back a whole host of stars that missed Thursday’s win.
Mancini will also be aware of the scenes which marred City’s 4-2 win over he Gunners last season, when Ade ran the length of the pitch to celebrate City’s third goal in front of the visiting supporters, which led to some unsightly scenes from the Arsenal fans.
A win for City will consolidate the blues in second place and keep the pressure on Chelsea, who beat Wolves 2-0 on Saturday at Stamford Bridge. A win for the Gunners could see them overtaking the blues, while a defeat of two goals or more will push the North Londoners into sixth place.
Team News
Mario Balotelli could be included amongst the substitutes. The £23m striker has only managed 33 minutes of action in a blue shirt, which came in August at Timisoara in the Europa League qualifiers. Jo made an appearance against Poznan on Thursday but suffered an ankle injury, while Kolo Toure is struggling with a hamstring injury. Aleksander Kolarov is still out.
Arsenal have a few selection problems going into the match. Last season’s villain, Robin van Persie, is spared from the City crowd after suffering an ankle injury, while Aaron Ramsey, Laurent Koscielny, Thomas Vermaelen and goalkeeper Manuel Almunia are also injured. Jack Wilshere starts a three match ban but Bacary Sagna, Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner all return.
Teams
City (from): Hart, Given, Boateng, Richards, Zabaleta, K Toure, Kompany, Lescott, Bridge, Milner, Barry, De Jong, Y Toure, Vieira, Wright-Phillips, Silva, A Johnson, Tevez, Balotelli, Adebayor, Jo.
Arsenal (from): Fabianski, Clichy, Squillaci, Djourou, Eboue, Nasri, Song, Fabregas, Arshavin, Walcott, Chamakh, Szczesny, Denilson, Rosicky, Bendtner, Diaby, Gibbs, Lansbury.
League Form:
City (Last five): DWWWW
Arsenal (Last five): WDLLW
Prediction – City 2-0
I think the battle will be won or lost in midfield and, despite Fabregas, I think City will have the edge.
Agree with this prediction? Have your say on how you think the game will go.
Don’t forget to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter
Gaggle Of Morons Loiter Outside Millionaires House
Article by Real Mancs Are Blue
In the latest of a series of embarrassing moves by Stretford United fans, a number of hooded gawps have been spotted loitering outside the home of multi millionaire and former Stretford United hero Wayne Rooney. The motive is unclear although it appears some thought Rooney’s home had been converted into a job centre.
The group, who are rumoured to be all working towards a single GCSE in idiocy, pottered around in the middle of the night dressed as Primarks version of trappist monks. The Daily Mail reports one of this gang of mongoloids had scrawled ‘Joyn Citty n’ Dye’ on the back of his sick note in crayon.
Wayne ‘United are sinking’Rooney was said to be highly amused as he looked on from the third floor of his mansion, sipping Tizer from a champagne flute as the monks froze in the cold October air.
Over the coming months ‘Our Wayne’ will have his choice of top flight clubs, be it Real Madrid, Chelsea or Manchester, Wayne is looking for a club that is going to contend at the very top for years to come and who can blame him. It seems some of the plastic arm of M.U.S.T are not happy about his departure from Stretford and wanted to make their feelings clear with a series of neanderthal grunts. It is thought some of the gaggle had already signed Sky contracts for the next twelve months in the belief they would be watching a top club, giro money they now feel could have been better spent on Nike Air and ‘man bags’.
Quite how these ‘fans’ will react in the coming years as Stretford slowly decline is unclear although there is rumours some are going to don a multicoloured scarf on top of their official replica shirt in protest. Others are going to stand around at night outside the mansions of players that don’t want to be treated like children by an alcoholic old man.
Tick tock tick tock.
Ade 3-1 Lech. Who Needs Rooney?
Emmanuel Adebayor scored his first hat-trick for City that sent a big message to Roberto Mancini regarding the rumours surrounding Wayne Rooney.
The Togolese striker was preferred to Carlos Tevez and he became the first City player ever to score a European hat-trick as his three goals sent City back to the top of the group.
With all the hype surrounding Rooney’s apparently imminent departure from Old Trafford, speculation has been rife that City are favourites to sign the out of form England man. But Adebayor’s performance on Thursday may well have Mancini wondering if he should persevere with Ade and forget Rooney all together.
Adebayor scored two goals in the first 24 minutes of the game to put City firmly in control. His first coming when he superbly turned and fired a shot past the visiting keeper Buric, before heading home David Silva’s cross to double City’s lead.
Silva himself played an impressive part in City’s performance and is rapidly establishing himself in the side. The Spaniard could have grabbed a goal himself in the second half but was denied by Buric after another weaving run and shot inside the area.
That came after Lech had pulled a goal back and were threatening to draw level. Joleon Lescott, who was lucky not to concede a penalty in their last home game against Newcastle, seemed to bring down Slawomir Peszko in the same penalty area. The referee waved to play on and City’s dallying in the area was compounded as the ball fell to Joel Tshimbamba, who hammered home to reduce the deficit.
Adebayor had a chance to complete his hat-trick but was let down by an awful first touch and was nearly made to rue that miss when Tshimbamba had a golden chance to level but somehow blazed his shot over.
That was enough to force City to stop messing around and finish the game and Adebayor duly obliged in the 73rd minute. It was Silva again who provided an inch perfect cross for Adebayor to steer home and send his name into the City history books.
City were hungry for more goals and Adam Johnson, who seems to get better with every game, almost provided the fourth. The tricky winger waltzed his way into the area and curled a shot which bounced off the crossbar and out of play.
Lech still pressed and a dreadful backpass by Dedryck Boyata almost allowed the Poles back in the game but thankfully it came to nothing.
So a second group win for City sent them back to the top of the group and, with Juventus only managing a third draw from three, qualification is looking good for the blues. However, looking at Lech tonight, the return in Poland is not going to be easy but if the blues will probably field a few more of their big names for that one.
As for Adebayor, he has been criticised over the last few weeks over his work rate, but if he continues to perform in such a manner, surely it will be enough to persuade Mancini that he is the best strike partner for Tevez.
What did you think of the game? Will City qualify for the knock out stage? Do we need Rooney? Let us know your thoughts.
Don’t forget to find us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter.
A Football Manager’s Dream
Ever wondered what it would be like to have some of the world’s top players at your club? To manage them and take them to the top of their game? Well the wait is almost over.
The latest edition of Football Manager 2011 will be out in the shops from November 5th and it’s going to be better than ever. Football Manager 2011 will be jam-packed full of new features such as real-time contract negotiations for more realistic dealings with agents, a new set-piece creator, and a completely overhauled training system.
With all the recent hype about Wayne Rooney being a possible target for City, Football Manager 11 will give managers the opportunity to again link up the striker with former red Carlos Tevez and see how they perform on paper, or rather computer, before Mancini decides whether or not to make a bid for the striker in January.
So what makes this version different to the other versions previously released? Well a new contracts negotiation system will allow managers to make deals with different styles of agents in order to make the next big signing to make their team stronger and even more unbeatable.
Interaction with the board is now even more possible than ever and a new match view sees games being played at night under the floodlights for the first time. This feature also includes new goal celebrations and more stadiums, enhancing the games reputation as the best match simulation around.
Could this get any better? Well yes, in fact it could. The official demo launch is on Friday 22nd October but Mirror Football readers will have access to the game from Thursday 21st October, a day earlier than everyone else. So if Football Manager 11 is your thing, you should get online as soon as possible on Thursday. So if you’re a Mirror Reader, you can claim your free download code by clicking here.
MCB’s Football Manager 11 feature is a sponsored post and it seems only fair that we should give Mirror Football Goals a mention. If you are unfamiliar with Mirror Football Goals, it is a free, Facebook based fantasy five-a-side football game built in association with Renault. Pick your team, set up your mini-league and invite your mates. To play along, just click here:
Republik Of Mancunia Does It Again!
Article by Real Mancs Are Blue
As an avid Manchester City fan I have to confess ‘Republik Of Mancunia’ is my favourite comedy site.
For those of you that don’t know it’s written by a little Irish fellow by the name of ‘Scott the red’; a boy who has perhaps the greatest grasp of irony and satire in football.
Scott pretends to be a United fan while at the same time posting hilarious satirical articles mocking other teams, you really should take a look.
A recent classic was ‘This is how it feels to be City’ where he went about mocking Carlos ’28 in 30′ Tevez, Manchester City captain. One of the best lines was
With the Argentinian bordering on depression since joining the blue side of Manchester, repeatedly talking about giving up football and slagging off his manager in the press, he has even given up on his dream of returning to Argentina to play football. When at United, just over a year ago, he looked forward to years with us before settling back in Argentina.
I’m sure I need to point out the irony. I wouldn’t get ‘Shrek’ on your shirt next season Scotty 
.
A few days later our little Irish buddy seemed to be ahead of the pack when the rumours transpired that Stretford’s talisman and granny bummer Wayne Rooney didn’t want to play with average players. Sadly he has now deleted the article where he claimed to have ‘insider knowledge’ of the situation and that it was ‘complete and utter bollocks’. It seems Scotty knew about the deal, knew that Slur Alex’s ‘huge wage offer’ wasnt enough and decided to to stick the knife in while the story was hot. Brilliant. stuff
Once again our Scott has hit the nail on the head. We should give this character a place on the official City website, not since Paul Calf have we seen such comedic timing and subtle humour about the only premiership club in Manchester
Keep up the great work Scotty babes !
CTID
Wayne Rooney To Manchester? No Thanks.
Article by Real Mancs Are Blue
Reports are rife that Wayne ‘Once a blue always a blue’ Rooney is unhappy at the theatre of debt and is looking to peddle his unique brand of average football and referee haranguing elsewhere. Further reports suggest that the richest club in the world are looking to sign up the ugly little bleeder. The simple fact is he wouldn’t be welcome in Manchester.
He is an immoral, half baked twunt who isn’t even a tenth of the player Andy Grays tries to tell us he is. He is a one season wonder who doesn’t have the brains to take himself to the toilet and isn’t a ‘big game’ player. In all honesty I’d rather we signed Park Ji Sun, a player who consistently performs when thrown in at the deep end.
Real Madrid took Stretford’s best player, we took their second best.
Wayne ‘granny fiddler’ Rooney is an overweight clogger whose best bet would be to go back to Everton, his so called beloved team where there would be no pressure and he could carry on bumming anything that moved , behind his pregnant wife’s back.
The sad fact for Stretford and in particular Ocean Finance is that Shrek won’t be going anywhere this January. Bacon face will slap a ridiculous price tag on him hoping to service some of their massive debts as they once again sell off the family jewels. The trouble is Shrekky babes is worth nothing like the £50million Gazer will be wanting, he is a £15-£20 million player whose price will skyrocket because he’s played in a rag shirt.
If Shrek is worth £50million Carlos ’28 in 31′ Tevez must be worth at least £70mill.
Anyway, the Stretford Red Sox can keep him for now but if they develop any decent youth in the future we might just crack the cheque book open and do our debt riddled neighbours a favour. ‘Manchester’ United – Feeder club, who’d have thunk it.
Tick tock tick tock
Don’t forget to find us on Facebook under Man City Blog and follow us on Twitter
This Is How It Feels To Be Stretford – Part 1
Article by Real Mancs Are Blue
Welcome to part 1 of ‘This is how it feels to be Stretford’, a look at Manchester’s neighbours and their decline into mediocrity. In part one we look at the armchair fans and how their perception and expectation of their mighty club is shifting.
Stretford Red Sox are a club in trouble. Their current fourth place position flatters to deceive, their bank balance is critical, season tickets are unsold and their ‘Star’ player, Wayne ‘Once a blue always a blue’ is itching for a move. They are a team of aged quality players, overrated ‘stars’ such as Rooney and poor youth players. The number of goals they have conceded already this season is testament to their lack of quality throughout.
Berbaflop, perhaps one of the most mocked transfers in recent memory has become a talisman for the self proclaimed ‘biggest club in the world’. He has had one good game, two average ones and a handful of invisible ones this season and the Stretford fans were out in the street doing the Lambeth walk. To myself and others looking down on the Red Sox ‘this shows how the ‘fans’ are settling for second best.
Recently I ventured to the red side of ‘Newsnow’ following another draw for the Sox. I wanted to gauge the reaction of the Armchairs, the supposed fans who write Stretford blogs that appear moments after a match has finished. I happened upon a site named ‘Trulyreds’ which had the hilarious article ‘Draw at Sunderland is a point gained NOT two lost’, I thought it was going to be some kind of ironic statement but no, it was a deadly serious article by a young ‘fan’ who thinks the Sox are doing well this season picking up a single point against possible relegation fodder. My heart sank a little as I pictured kids across Asia and Ireland tearing Ryan Giggs quorn burger posters off their walls, weeping onto their ‘Stretford United’ water bottles. Is this truly how the ‘fans’ see the once mighty Sox? Is the fight for fourth going to be enough to keep these trophy hungry little fellas happy? Only time will tell.
Then there is the unsold season tickets. For as long as we can remember, the Sox have prided themselves on having an alleged ‘ten year waiting list’ for the privilege of sitting outside Manchester on a red plastic seat watching a load of cloggers kick the shit out of the opposition. Now it seems they cant fill the mighty theatre of debt, not the kind of news Mr Glazer will wanting to be hearing given the current mire the clubs finances are in. Still, that’s a story for another time.
In part two we will look at the debt of the club and what happens if they don’t qualify for the Champions league. I will be talking with ‘Cockney Dave’, a Sox fan since 92′ on why he wont be renewing his Sky Sports subscription if they don’t and discussing what colour scarf he will be sporting next season.
Part three will be focusing on the ‘new bitters’ tag line the rags have been given and how their pitiful attempts at trying to laugh at a team that is on the rise has embarrassed their legions of fans, we will take a look at ‘Republik of Mancunia’. A comedy site written by a City fan/Satirical genius.
Until then, chin up boys, it might never happen 
Man City News 24/7Partners
-