It is now time to switch to a new Money AM football blog as the world cup is now over and we all look to the future.....World cup 2010 is over, Bravo Espana, and Forlan, once again and bring on the new season !.....I never expected the last thread to be such a success...thanks all.... so this new one might go on for years without the need to edit the title...we shall see...

God knows. Just seen the starting 11 on twitter.

Goal UK‏@GoalUK30m
TEAM NEWS: Man Utd team to face Shakhtar: De Gea; Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Valencia, Carrick, Fellaini, Cleverley Welbeck; Van Persie.

Wonder if hes injured ............if not.............the shit may indeed hit the fan.

I keep looking at it to see if Ive missed him but no.

Calf injury. Got a double on City And United to win @ 10/1 think I must have been pissed :O)

Ohhhhh thank god.

Hope U win.

Off to watch now. Stress time.

Thank God for Bet in Play, bet on a draw which covered the double and made a few bob. Lucky goal for United but draw a good result.

Chris good result yep in the end.

Bad night for City though played off park from pieces I have seen. Bayern like Barca but with a lot more power.

Spurs and Swansea on tomorrow freeview. Entertaining teams, should be worth watching.

Spurs looking good this season, Swansea good to watch though.

Chris youl like this one, just pulled it off twitter......

TheSPORTBible‏@TSBible1h
David Moyes told a reporter, "The fans are behind me."

He's right.

Liverpool fans, Chelsea fans, Arsenal fans, City fans, Spurs fans...

Not forgetting Everton fans :O)

Ohh indeed indeeed. Chris Spurs match on at 4.45pm should be a good watch. Markets shit so Im going to shut down and watch.

Fantastic Swansea match., Spurs walk over.

Burnley striker picked for England http://www.thefa.com/england/All-Teams/Players/I/danny-ings

I expected to see Ralph Coates when I clicked! :-)

Martin Dobson came into my mind skinny, great player :O)

What was so good about the gypo's match gf .... their opponents or did they pick up 11 long term injuries ?

From my seat: Man City (A)
By Ken Buckley :: 05/10/2013
Comments (15) jump to end
We went up by train, coach and car and some had their very own police escort. Unbeaten and in fine fettle, we took our stand in the corner allocated to the Royal Blues and invited City to a battle of the top teams. So far so good... and it would get better as we began in stylish fashion and took the game to City. The midfield of Barkley, Naismith and McCarthy were bossing that area and the sheer presence of Lukaku caused City many a problem.
With Joe Hart being described as a 'dodgy keeper' by the faithful, it wasn’t long before Lukaku tested him and he looked none too sure...

We were now seeing a good open first half with the Blues of Everton being the more incisive; after that unsure stop, the keeper succumbed on the quarter-hour mark when Lukaku used his pace, power and strength to come in from the right, leaving Lescott for dead, and his shot across the keeper went in. Replays showed it was off the dodgy keeper's hand. The faithful even from a field’s length could appreciate that and much celebrating took place to be followed quickly by a ‘Song for Lukaku’.

"Here we go again!" thought many... yet, with only a minute or so of celebrating, City attacked our end and a YaYa pass through our rearguard saw Negredo in. Coleman seemed to be ball-watching and found it a complete surprise that Negredo was behind him, then passed him and slotting home via the body of Howard who made a good attempt to thwart him. We were not amused.

The act of relinquishing the lead so quickly seemed to take a lot of wind from our sails and the quick snappy passing and swift interchange of positions to create opportunities in the final third became more laboured. City, sensing this, became more confident and threatening. I heard some say we were missing the influence and know-how of Barry in front of the back four yet this didn’t seem to explain how players who had been so confident were now that little bit behind play and passes just a little bit under-hit from players who seemed to need more time than they did just minutes previously.

The fact they lost a big player in Kompany to injury and looked that much weaker at the back didn’t last long... City were now the more likely and from yet another questionable free kick given against us by ref Moss, a training ground move took place that completely bamboozled our entire team and after a swift interchange of incise passes, the fourth of which found Aguero free, luckily he planted his shot just wide of the far post when, if we are truthful, we really thought that would nestle. Although I was mightily relieved to see him miss, I have to confess I did give that passage a little clap. It was so well thought-out and almost successfully completed, I think any fan could appreciate that.

The Argentine was again put through and into our box with the simple task of stabbing home but somehow he let the ball go under his foot and Jags hacked clear. We attacked when we could and now the best ball seemed to be a long one for Lukaku to use his strengths; just before half time, he careered into the City box and, from my seat, he seemed to be deliberately pushed to the ground but our ref would have none of it, a very poor decision in my book.

Just when I was thinking, "Well, at least we will go in all-square," right on the 45, Coleman and Negrado had a coming together and had a bout of handbags with Jags and Distin involved; unfortunately, play was going on with us attacking. The attack broke down and City came forward and – with our rearguard out of position due to the fracas – Silva fed the unmarked Aguero who shot across Howard and home. Very unprofessional by Coleman.

Right on the whistle, Milner put in a knee high tackle on McCarthy that was worthy of a red but our dear Mr Moss seemed sheepish in producing yellow. The faithful brushed up on their Anglo-Saxon as they berated the silly little fellow. 2-1 down at the break; after a very bright and purposeful star, we have a very frustrating end. We may have been a bit unlucky to go in behind but the score is the score...

Half-time and the chat seemed to centre on how we could not defend properly and more carefully after getting the lead which to be fair is no mean feat at the Etihad. I was reminded of Brian Clough who not only said that a goal only takes a second but also teams are at their most vulnerable after scoring. I hope Roberto has read his book!

Second half and sadly we seemed to have been badly affected by losing the lead and were but a shadow of our former selves. City, on the other hand, were buoyed and it started to show as the half wore on. Players seemed to tire quickly, a trait I noted in the Newcastle game, and what we know to be good players became little more than average. One exception being McCarthy who ran his socks off all match for the cause. Distin also should not be tarred with the tiredness brush.

The half wore on and it was a bit boring as time after time we would put a good spell together that got us to the final third where all creativity seemed to vanish. It was hard for fans to put their finger on what was going wrong. We also had the now recurring theme of players putting each other under pressure to the point of panic whilst trying to pass it about at the back; a little more work on this could well be needed.

Barkley, who I thought had been quite poor in this half, suddenly showed what he can do when he came forward and delivered an exquisitely threaded ball to the running Mirallas who must have scored if only he could control a ball instantly instead of letting it run away... and the chance was gone. Coleman, Naismith and Osman were not at their best and City were finding it easier and easier to cut through us and create chances. McCarthy, Distin and to a lesser extent Jags did sterling work in the scrambling departments.

The manager made changes, Gibson and Deulofeu replaced the underperforming Mirallas and Osman. Not a lot changed but Deulofeu looked lively with no end product whilst Gibson looked decidedly rusty. For a bit of excitement, we saw Naismith push two city players into each other as they challenged for an aerial ball and both City players hit the deck whilst Naismith, arms out and shrugging, left the ref non-plussed and he did nothing.

We attacked without conviction and City sensed this; they allowed us on and then won the ball and broke on us to good effect time after time. On 70 mins the ever-raiding Zabaleta powered into our box and went down under a challenge from Coleman. The ref gave a penalty; from my seat, the only thing I could fault Coleman for was being wrong side but Zabaleta’s crumble persuaded the ref, and penalty it was, the decision was made more galling by the fact that he had waved away our claims when Lukaku was blatantly pushed to the deck in their area; consistency of decisions? I think not.

Aguero took it; Howard went the right way, got hands to it but the replay showed the ball hit his head or neck and went in... anyhow 3-1 down and game over.

As the clock ticked, Negredo became an ever-present threat and took some marshalling, Zabaleta was booked for felling Baines in full flight. Baines took the kick and Distin was up but headed into the keeper's arms. I think that is the first time I have mentioned Baines who – although not having a bad game – was certainly nothing to write home about. Kone came on for Lukaku but too late to give any indication of where he is at in match fitness. The half just sort of came to an end and at the whistle there was an air of resignation about.

We came in hope but today was just not our day. Considering the high hopes we have for this squad of players, there seems much work yet to do. Consistency over 90 mins at a reasonable pace would be a start. Why do so many of our players seem to tire early this term? That’s one for the manager and coaches to work on but we now have this international break where most of the players needing working on will be absent until just before we kick off against Hull.

My MotM today – McCarthy

Overall, a good trip out, some great stuff to start and an opening goal; then, a switch-off that allowed the opposition back in and also gave them confidence where really, with care in protecting the lead, we would have drained some. So we are sad at the outcome but there were enough flashes of excellent joined-up stuff to give this fan the hope that players and manager can get it put together over 90 minutes and a successful season can be had.

The players today may have had off-days but the travelling faithful were first class and gave it some wellie throughout in song and chant. The twelfth man was there alright — it’s just the first nine we missed!

I hate to criticise refs who have a difficult time in making correct calls, especially at the speed the modern game is played, but today I have to say that Mr Moss was not biased in any way but was just quite simply incompetent at this level. I have since found out that this was his first game back after demotion to the lower leagues for less than competent displays — and we had to get him! I bear him no malice but I do hope he improves if just for his own sake.

See you in a fortnight
UP THE BLUES

Reader Comments
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Paul Ferry
958 Posted 06/10/2013 at 00:32:37 A wonderful report KB, one of your best and that's saying something! You get the subtleties of where we now stand and how we did today spot on. There have been some daft posts here and there giving MacCarthy grief but as you call he was the man of the match for us by some.
It was nice to be top for a minute and I felt post-goal-haze that we would seal this one but then .........

We're fine, we'll be fine, I don't usually like to take cheap pot-shots at refs and write off defeats as learning curves and just one of those blinking days, but I feel both of these things this minute.

Thanks for a great report.

Peter Creer
963 Posted 06/10/2013 at 00:45:15 Thanks for another great report. I watched the game live in Canada and thought we started really well. Your comment about the wind being taken out of our sails was so true with not much going right for us after that goal.
I thought that Deulofeu was going to add some impetus to our attack but found him giving the ball away and not tracking back. We missed Barry in the middle.

Looking forward to getting back home against Hull. Let's hope our international players make it back in one piece.

Dennis Stevens
964 Posted 06/10/2013 at 00:59:11 Thanks for the excellent report - as ever, Ken. It seems we were outclassed by a better team on the day, but I can't help wondering how the match would have developed if both the referee & some of our players had been a little more on song. The next match should present a rather different set of challenges, I think.
Jimmy Sørheim
965 Posted 06/10/2013 at 01:09:52 If nothing else, this shows there is a long way to go for RM too, he will have to get another winger as we are short in that area with Pienaar getting past it and Naismith being as poor as he is, besides Naismith is not a winger. Anti-climax, this. I saw it coming.
Everton right now without Barry and Lukaku is an illusion, that is how good BK has fooled all of us. Behind the illusion, Baines is getting ready to leave Everton, and we will have an even poorer squad then ever before, just based on what is left. To not try everything to sign Baines on a new long-term contract is just insane.

The permanent building blocks will soon be gone, Lukaku back to Chelsea and Barry back to Man City or another club. In one season, we could stand to lose 3 major players, we have already lost one, the next is Baines and in the summer we might lose Barkley as well because he too has not been offered a long term contract!

Jimmy Sørheim
967 Posted 06/10/2013 at 01:23:27 Not trying to be overly negative but I think we are in a critical time right now, RM needs to tie up our top sales objects to long term contracts.
If he does that we can withstand the heat, but if he does not we will be left with average players.

To lose Baines Barkley and Fellaini in one season would crush my moral, I just fear for the future if RM does not take action and sign these guys up right now!!!

Andy McNabb
968 Posted 06/10/2013 at 01:30:31 Thanks Ken. I was a serial coward last night. Expected us to get the backlash from City and couldn't watch properly. Strange – I can watch 'in the flesh' but TV makes everything seem worse somehow. Maybe it is due to my being on my own, whilst when at the match, I'm surrounded by others of like mind.
Seriously, both times I flicked from another channel in the first half, I watched the replay of a City goal.

I agree about players putting each other under pressure. I was concerned about the absence of Barry but it doesn't explain how in the last 10 mins of the first half, every pass seemed about a yard short.

Never want to see us lose but would have loved to be in amongst the faithful yesterday, rather than standing (can anyone sit down to watch Everton play?) in front of the TV on my own!

Paul Ferry
970 Posted 06/10/2013 at 03:07:45 "Can anyone sit down to watch Everton play?"
NO, Andy mate.

Paul Ferry
972 Posted 06/10/2013 at 03:12:03 And Jimmy - 965 - your reading of what is happening at EFC right now is wafer-thin and so wide off the mark, lacking real feel and understanding.
Kevin Thompson
977 Posted 06/10/2013 at 05:00:51 It seem to me, the game's outcome was decided on four contact/pushing incidents,fouling by Man City when we were threatening on the break and lack of concentration.
Naismith incident and their "penalty" were as much a soft penalty to give as each other. Lukaku incident was more of a push and deliberate foul. The assistant referee should have alerted the referee to Coleman pushing/ confrontation incident with Negredo and play should have been stopped.

The referee allowed several incidents, when Everton were about to break, to go unpunished with a yellow early on. If he had given the yellows, some of the Man City players would either have been sent off or if they were clever enough, would not foul again. Either way our counter attacks would not have been stifled.

Finally our concentration defensively was poor, conceding just after we scored ourselves, Coleman concentrating more on the man than the game.

Looking forward to the Hull match, hopefully we get back on track with 3 pts. Barry will be back to help protect the back four.Hopefully all our players will return unscathed. I am hoping Barkley does not play too many minutes for England and gets a rest.
James McCarthy was MOTM for me. Distin played well also. Howard was unlucky, Lukaku played well first half. The two subs never got into the game.

Jim Lloyd
979 Posted 06/10/2013 at 06:34:53 A really smashing report Ken, thanks. You're confirming what Ronnie Goodlass on radio Merseyside was saying abouth our performance and the standard of decisions from the ref.
I don't think Ronnie has come nearer to giving a few well chosen Saxon words himself and his frustration with the ref's poor decisions came over loud and clear.

Quite possibly, if we had been awarded the penalty we ought to have been given, we would have seen City collapse. As it is, they have a galaxy of great players and, having a lot of help from the ref and a fair bit from our players, they grew in confidence and the result wasn't a surprise.

It looks like it was a case of so near yet so far. For whatever reason, our confidence and cool seemed to just seep away, the longer the match went on.

A similar thing happened in the Newcastle game, we lost our concentration and discipline and were lucky that we only had one goal scored against us.

I like the way we are playing though and I guess it's going to take time for our players to become comfortable and disciplined at the back.

Ronnie Goodlass also gave MoM to James McCarthy. I could only tell from the commentary on the wireless but he seemed to be doing a prodigious amount of work, making fine interceptions and bringing the ball out.

Jimmy states that there is a potential disaster looming at the club but I'm not sure that's the case. I can't see Barkley going and if Bainsey's going to go, I'm sure that Robbie has already made provision for the transfer window.

We can't help but miss Fellaini but we will miss him less as McCarthy, Barry and Barkley get more and more understanding.

We need new players I think but we can't just go out and buy who we would like. At least until we get a Board who have either got money, or spend ome of what they already have.

We're more exciting than I can remember us being for years (maybe decades!) but we still have a small squad and, imo, we're not going to just become a side with few weaknesses in just one season.

We're doing alright so far and to take on City in their own backyard and give them a good fight in the first half, bodes well.

Phil Sammon
982 Posted 06/10/2013 at 07:37:24 7 games gone, fifth in the table. You wouldn't know it reading Jimmy's (967) post. What a pile of steaming shite.
We are in the middle of a transition here and still picking up points whilst doing it. We're also playing some very exciting football in my opinion. Yesterday was a bad result and one we'll learn from. I don't think there's any need to be tying the nooses just yet.

Lads, lads lads, weve found the SAVIOUR.......the new GEORGE BEST.........wow what a player.

Champions again now for sure.

He's a good lad GF, especially if England get him. United Champions again LOL, both City and Everton fans chanting in unison "David Moyes, football genius" yesterday :O)

My money is on City1st Arsenal 2nd Chelsea 3rd and a fight between Liverpool and Everton for 4th then I woke up :O)

United, united united united united united united.


United cha cha cha, united cha cha cha. united cha cha cha.

Champions.champions champions, champions , champions.

We are the Busby boys do da do da, we are the Busby boys do da do da.

As Cardiff City continue to sink towards their rightful position in the league, their squad of players look to be visibly aging as seen in this shocking picture.



Where is he then -):

Shite about to hit the fan at Cardiff ???

Malkays odds of next PL manager to leave/sacked have fallen from 25/1 to 10/1 to 7/1 in last 12 hours.

Owner Tan is p*ssing around with football matters and has replaced one of the back room staff with one of his sons friend who admits he knows nothing about football and this and other meddling is really peeing off the players and manager.

I've seen us in the PL now so Tan and his money men can feck back off to the sweat shops of Malaysia where they made their money and take their crappy red kits with them imo.

If Malkay resigns/sacked there is going to be uproar !