Manchester City are inviting buskers to showcase their talents before the Arsenal game on September 12th - and why not? When it comes to music, Manchester is the cradle of civilisation and there should be several talented minstrels out there who are willing to serenade the arriving hordes.
Busking in England normally conjures up an image of a badly groomed desperado singing 'Streets of London', whilst plucking the basic chords on a worn out guitar and those who give money do so out of sympathy for the accompanying dog, rather than in recognition of musical talent. This may seem a bit harsh coming from someone who regards the triangle as a challenging piece of musical apparatus, but at least I know my limitations.
If you say the words 'busking' and 'Man City' in the same sentence or even the same room, the first name that would spring to mind would be Damon Gough, aka Badly Drawn Boy, vocal City fan and all-round good sort. This gig has his name written all over it. On a more wishful note, the vision of Johnny Marr strumming 'How Soon Is Now' on an acoustic guitar somewhere near the hot-dog stands would mean I would be a happy and fulfilled man when I go to heaven, or wherever else us ageing Smiths fans are destined.
Whilst Johnny Marr has been defending City's transfer policy on obscure Radio 4 programmes, the Gallagher Brothers have decided that City are worth watching again. In their current thirst for publicity, a few favourites from the Burnage mopheads is a possibility. A duet seems out of the question but maybe a couple of solo stanzas from opposite ends of the stadium might get them on our screens again.
So, if you’re an acoustic act, guitarist, singer, violinist... anything musical, get in touch by emailing an mp3 of you playing or a link to a MySpace page etc to mcfc@mcfc.co.uk with ‘MCFC Buskers’ as the subject.
Any money collected through busking will be given to one of the clubs’ associated charities.
Thursday, 27 August 2009
Wednesday, 26 August 2009
Sparky Goes To Hollinwood
City are inviting fans to be part of a new film about the club. Should be good...
The MCFC Film
We are looking for a number of fans to take part in a film about City. We want to hear from all kinds of fans, old and young, male and female.
If you want to take part, can spare some time during the ups and downs of this big year and are willing to be open, passionate and interesting, we like to hear from you with details of:
Your interest and love of the club.
The great City stories you can tell.
What you do outside your City life.
What are your rituals on match day?
Is anything big happening to you this year?
If you fancy getting involved, email Mcfc@endemoluk.com with your details.
The MCFC Film
We are looking for a number of fans to take part in a film about City. We want to hear from all kinds of fans, old and young, male and female.
If you want to take part, can spare some time during the ups and downs of this big year and are willing to be open, passionate and interesting, we like to hear from you with details of:
Your interest and love of the club.
The great City stories you can tell.
What you do outside your City life.
What are your rituals on match day?
Is anything big happening to you this year?
If you fancy getting involved, email Mcfc@endemoluk.com with your details.
Let The Party Begin
The invitations were sent out some time ago, most guests were quick to RVSP, a couple of others decided they had other engagements, but finally after 12 months of planning, the party is about to begin.
When Joleon Lescott is presented to the worlds media, Mark Hughes will have completed a somewhat unique spending extravaganza, to call it a spree would actually undermine what our owners and manager have actually achieved. We now have a squad with 2 good players competing for every place and a group of promising youngsters only too willing to grab their chance.
In the space of 12 months the squad has been totally rebuilt. The pick of our existing players have been nurtured and their game has improved dramatically. Players who have no future with the club have been released and the disruptive elements have been shipped out. Richard Dunne and Martin Petrov may still leave but there have been no indications that they have been frozen out.
It would be fairly safe to say that the cheque book has been put back in the drawer for now, maybe there might be some fine tuning in January or maybe we'll all be glued to the TV next Monday evening speechless again, as some unexpected superstar joins the revolution.
Anyway, the party's started and I doubt if any unexpected guests are going to be fashionably late, but in the true traditions of 'Typical City' anything can happen and it probably will.
When Joleon Lescott is presented to the worlds media, Mark Hughes will have completed a somewhat unique spending extravaganza, to call it a spree would actually undermine what our owners and manager have actually achieved. We now have a squad with 2 good players competing for every place and a group of promising youngsters only too willing to grab their chance.
In the space of 12 months the squad has been totally rebuilt. The pick of our existing players have been nurtured and their game has improved dramatically. Players who have no future with the club have been released and the disruptive elements have been shipped out. Richard Dunne and Martin Petrov may still leave but there have been no indications that they have been frozen out.
It would be fairly safe to say that the cheque book has been put back in the drawer for now, maybe there might be some fine tuning in January or maybe we'll all be glued to the TV next Monday evening speechless again, as some unexpected superstar joins the revolution.
Anyway, the party's started and I doubt if any unexpected guests are going to be fashionably late, but in the true traditions of 'Typical City' anything can happen and it probably will.
Monday, 24 August 2009
City Fans Know The Meaning of History
When I was at school, history was a far from popular subject - the only students that seemed to make any headway were those with a photographic memory or a freakish love of numbers and statistics. Only after Year 8 (or the 3rd year, in old money) were you were actually taught the significance behind the lists of dates and figures, that's when it became more interesting.
At present, City and Everton fans seem to be at odds over several issues, ranging from the Merseysiders treatment of Robinho in last years league clash, to the Joleon Lescott transfer. The somewhat riled Evertonians keep quoting the word 'History' as if it should be the ultimate argument stopper.
A quick look at the stats will confirm that The Toffees have indeed won the league on 7 more occasions than City and have 5 FA Cup triumphs to our 4. Both clubs have had equal success in Europe with one trophy each and City have won the League Cup twice with Evertons tally standing at never. It would be fair to say that Everton have a more impressive list of achievments than City, but do they have more history?
On March 3rd, 1934 a crowd of 84,569 watched City play Stoke in an FA Cup match at Maine Road. The fact that it is still a record crowd for an English game played outside of Wembley makes it a point of historical significance, winning the league in 1906 is nothing more than a worthwhile statistic. Everton's cup victory in 1966 will best be remembered for an errant fan being chased across Wembley's hallowed turf by less energetic members of the Metropolitan Police. A decade earlier City legend, Bert Trautmann had helped the Citizens secure the FA Cup in one of the most historic finals ever, when he played on with a broken neck. Eddie Kavanagh's antics might have raised a smile in '66 but Trautmann's bravery will be as synonimous with Wembley history as Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy or the White Horse Final of 1923.
Everton haven't won a trophy since 1995, City have been bereft of success since 1976, records that neither club will take comfort from. In the last 15 years, Everton have had a brief flirtation with the threat of relegation and an even briefer fling with Champions League football. During the same period, City have been relegated 3 times and promoted 3 times, 7 consecutive seasons of never playing a game that wasn't crucial in deciding in which division the club would ply it's trade the following season.
Off the field events were equally momentous, or historic if you will. Since 1995, Everton have had their share of boardroom wranglings along with most other clubs. City, on the other hand have endured boardroom coups, a move to a new stadium, resignations of key administrive figures and takeovers involving an international fugitive and an oil trillionaire.
The shennanagins at City have not lead to the immediate appointment of a sign-writer to update the honours board, but 50 years from now, 'The History Of Football' could well be a valid academic subject. The course reading on Manchester City F.C. will run into several volumes, studying the subject will be time consumming, but never boring.
At present, City and Everton fans seem to be at odds over several issues, ranging from the Merseysiders treatment of Robinho in last years league clash, to the Joleon Lescott transfer. The somewhat riled Evertonians keep quoting the word 'History' as if it should be the ultimate argument stopper.
A quick look at the stats will confirm that The Toffees have indeed won the league on 7 more occasions than City and have 5 FA Cup triumphs to our 4. Both clubs have had equal success in Europe with one trophy each and City have won the League Cup twice with Evertons tally standing at never. It would be fair to say that Everton have a more impressive list of achievments than City, but do they have more history?
On March 3rd, 1934 a crowd of 84,569 watched City play Stoke in an FA Cup match at Maine Road. The fact that it is still a record crowd for an English game played outside of Wembley makes it a point of historical significance, winning the league in 1906 is nothing more than a worthwhile statistic. Everton's cup victory in 1966 will best be remembered for an errant fan being chased across Wembley's hallowed turf by less energetic members of the Metropolitan Police. A decade earlier City legend, Bert Trautmann had helped the Citizens secure the FA Cup in one of the most historic finals ever, when he played on with a broken neck. Eddie Kavanagh's antics might have raised a smile in '66 but Trautmann's bravery will be as synonimous with Wembley history as Bobby Moore lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy or the White Horse Final of 1923.
Everton haven't won a trophy since 1995, City have been bereft of success since 1976, records that neither club will take comfort from. In the last 15 years, Everton have had a brief flirtation with the threat of relegation and an even briefer fling with Champions League football. During the same period, City have been relegated 3 times and promoted 3 times, 7 consecutive seasons of never playing a game that wasn't crucial in deciding in which division the club would ply it's trade the following season.
Off the field events were equally momentous, or historic if you will. Since 1995, Everton have had their share of boardroom wranglings along with most other clubs. City, on the other hand have endured boardroom coups, a move to a new stadium, resignations of key administrive figures and takeovers involving an international fugitive and an oil trillionaire.
The shennanagins at City have not lead to the immediate appointment of a sign-writer to update the honours board, but 50 years from now, 'The History Of Football' could well be a valid academic subject. The course reading on Manchester City F.C. will run into several volumes, studying the subject will be time consumming, but never boring.
Sunday, 23 August 2009
Moyes Loses More Than Lescott.
Everton fans like to tell everyone about their history, not the details, just the fact they have 'History'. When Evertonians wake up on Monday morning, they should jot down August 23rd, 2009 in their journals with an entry proclaiming that the club has hit an all time low.
Having just been defeated by Premier League newcomers Burnley, they find themselves bottom of the table with no points from a possible 6. A goal difference of -6, after just two games doesn't sweeten the pill either. This is hardly a reason for mass panic, Tottenham Hotspur showed us that a team can go several months without a win, yet still obtain a respectable league position. What should be of genuine concern to the Everton faithful is the deteriorating behaviour of their manager.
If you read articles about David Moyes, the words 'bright' and 'young' are never far away. This earnest young Scotsman (who's actually older than Mark Hughes) commanded a great deal of respect for his stewardship of Everton with a limited budget, but lost a great deal of credibility once Manchester City decided that Joleon Lescott would be better suited to life in East Manchester.
City made a formal bid of £15 Million for Lescott, purely an opening gambit that was rejected out of hand. By the time a second bid of £18 Million was lodged, City fans realised that the best place to track the progress of their clubs pursuit of Lescott was the official Everton website. Moyes wasn't happy and began a series of diatribes against City that bordered on the fanatical. He started with the standard "He's not for sale" tag, just as he had with Wayne Rooney. He then accused City of being disrespectful and demanded an inquiry into alleged tapping-up. He might be 'bright' and 'young' but even the most casual of fans know that you can't 'tap-up' a player who has handed in a written transfer request.
Everton were thumped 1-6 by Arsenal because of City, The Toffees beat Czech village team, Sigma Olomouc despite of City and the latest humiliation at Burnley was because City 'Haggled' over the price of Lescott. The man who said Joleon Lescott wasn't for sale at any price was now saying City were at fault for not making a ridiculous bid in June. The confirmation of David Moyes's failing grip on reality was confirmed when he added that Ronaldo's move from United to Real Madrid was transfer business as it should be. Sorry Davy boy, but the world and his wife knows that, that particular deal was sorted out 12 months earlier.
Everton promote themselves as 'The Peoples Club' despite the fact that one man, Bill Kenwright, is very much in charge. He has left his manager out to dry on this occasion but will doubtless be pleased with the £17 Million profit his club have made on the deal. People will scoff at the price City paid for Lescott - let them. We have secured the youngest of England's 4 recognised centre backs, playing as a competant stand-in left back for both club and country is not a bad attribute either. The World Cup is only 10 months away and Lescott not only wants to be on that plane, he wants to be in that starting line up. He needs City, City need him, Everton need the money - everyone should be happy. Evertonians should hope David Moyes now concentrates on managing his players rather than entering into PR wars he is never going to win.
Having just been defeated by Premier League newcomers Burnley, they find themselves bottom of the table with no points from a possible 6. A goal difference of -6, after just two games doesn't sweeten the pill either. This is hardly a reason for mass panic, Tottenham Hotspur showed us that a team can go several months without a win, yet still obtain a respectable league position. What should be of genuine concern to the Everton faithful is the deteriorating behaviour of their manager.
If you read articles about David Moyes, the words 'bright' and 'young' are never far away. This earnest young Scotsman (who's actually older than Mark Hughes) commanded a great deal of respect for his stewardship of Everton with a limited budget, but lost a great deal of credibility once Manchester City decided that Joleon Lescott would be better suited to life in East Manchester.
City made a formal bid of £15 Million for Lescott, purely an opening gambit that was rejected out of hand. By the time a second bid of £18 Million was lodged, City fans realised that the best place to track the progress of their clubs pursuit of Lescott was the official Everton website. Moyes wasn't happy and began a series of diatribes against City that bordered on the fanatical. He started with the standard "He's not for sale" tag, just as he had with Wayne Rooney. He then accused City of being disrespectful and demanded an inquiry into alleged tapping-up. He might be 'bright' and 'young' but even the most casual of fans know that you can't 'tap-up' a player who has handed in a written transfer request.
Everton were thumped 1-6 by Arsenal because of City, The Toffees beat Czech village team, Sigma Olomouc despite of City and the latest humiliation at Burnley was because City 'Haggled' over the price of Lescott. The man who said Joleon Lescott wasn't for sale at any price was now saying City were at fault for not making a ridiculous bid in June. The confirmation of David Moyes's failing grip on reality was confirmed when he added that Ronaldo's move from United to Real Madrid was transfer business as it should be. Sorry Davy boy, but the world and his wife knows that, that particular deal was sorted out 12 months earlier.
Everton promote themselves as 'The Peoples Club' despite the fact that one man, Bill Kenwright, is very much in charge. He has left his manager out to dry on this occasion but will doubtless be pleased with the £17 Million profit his club have made on the deal. People will scoff at the price City paid for Lescott - let them. We have secured the youngest of England's 4 recognised centre backs, playing as a competant stand-in left back for both club and country is not a bad attribute either. The World Cup is only 10 months away and Lescott not only wants to be on that plane, he wants to be in that starting line up. He needs City, City need him, Everton need the money - everyone should be happy. Evertonians should hope David Moyes now concentrates on managing his players rather than entering into PR wars he is never going to win.
Thursday, 20 August 2009
We've Come A Long Way Baby
Cast your mind back 12 months and you'll remember that being a City fan mean't you were living in a very difficult place. Our chairman, Thaskin Shinawtra was using his financial resources to side-step extradition procedures, Vedran Corluka was in the process of being sold to Spurs so there would be some cash in the biscuit tin and someone was having a quiet word with John Wardle about a £3 Million sub to pay the workers. On the pitch, a sparse crowd left the City of Manchester Stadium shell-shocked after we had gone down 1-0 to FC Midtjylland.
As intrepid fans consulted their AA Roadmaps, Google Earth and various other geographical tools to find out exactly where Midtjylland was, few - if any of us were trying to locate the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This pleasant, if somewhat hot Middle Eastern trading post was just about to catapult itself into the media spotlight with the most talked about takeover in football history and none of us knew a thing.
A year later, City are bereft of meaningful European competition. With no midweek fixture they accept the invitation to compete in the prestigious Juan Gamper Tournament. A few eyebrows are raised and questions are murmured about the advantages of travelling to Spain for a mid-week kickabout with the season already underway. Most eyebrows were probably lowered and the critics were hushed when City walked on to the pitch in front of 95,000 people to face the European Champions.
The game was entertaining, both teams held some of their better players back. Martin Petrov scored and the travelling City fans sang "were not really here" with the same sense of irony they had sung it at Lincoln, a decade earlier. As the game went on it took on a surreal quality, was that really 19 year old Vladi Weiss skipping past Barca legend Puyol, the man who had neutralised Christiano Ronaldo barely 3 months ago. As the Catalans brought on Messi and Ibrahimovic, Hughes introduced Trippier and Etuhu. Sepp Blatter would be horrified at the thought of 'classless City' blooding a young lad from Bury against Europe's elite - what happened to the 'Respect' campaign?
A thoroughly enjoyable evening all round, no injuries and City were introduced to the posh people without disgracing themselves or nicking the cutlery. We've come a long way since that night against Midtjylland and the journeys only just started.
As intrepid fans consulted their AA Roadmaps, Google Earth and various other geographical tools to find out exactly where Midtjylland was, few - if any of us were trying to locate the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This pleasant, if somewhat hot Middle Eastern trading post was just about to catapult itself into the media spotlight with the most talked about takeover in football history and none of us knew a thing.
A year later, City are bereft of meaningful European competition. With no midweek fixture they accept the invitation to compete in the prestigious Juan Gamper Tournament. A few eyebrows are raised and questions are murmured about the advantages of travelling to Spain for a mid-week kickabout with the season already underway. Most eyebrows were probably lowered and the critics were hushed when City walked on to the pitch in front of 95,000 people to face the European Champions.
The game was entertaining, both teams held some of their better players back. Martin Petrov scored and the travelling City fans sang "were not really here" with the same sense of irony they had sung it at Lincoln, a decade earlier. As the game went on it took on a surreal quality, was that really 19 year old Vladi Weiss skipping past Barca legend Puyol, the man who had neutralised Christiano Ronaldo barely 3 months ago. As the Catalans brought on Messi and Ibrahimovic, Hughes introduced Trippier and Etuhu. Sepp Blatter would be horrified at the thought of 'classless City' blooding a young lad from Bury against Europe's elite - what happened to the 'Respect' campaign?
A thoroughly enjoyable evening all round, no injuries and City were introduced to the posh people without disgracing themselves or nicking the cutlery. We've come a long way since that night against Midtjylland and the journeys only just started.
Tuesday, 18 August 2009
Are Manchester City 'Right To Buy'
There have been whispers for a while now that City's owners are considering a bid for The City of Manchester Stadium and today's Guardian has given us a hint of what plans may be afoot.
Apparently ADUG, the company that owns City are going to have a dabble in what they do best, property development. There is talk of a 60,000+ capacity redevelopment of the stadium, the relocation of the training complex and a general makeover for that corner of M11. The idea of luxury hotels and health spas is sure to draw a smirk from polite quarters and a torrent of derision from others, but is the idea so ludicrous?
Real Madrids' Bernabau Stadium was built on a inexpensive piece of land, in a dreary part of the city just after the second world war. Real estate was cheap in Francos' post-war capital and there was enough space to build a training ground more or less next door. As Real Madrid rose to be the biggest club on the planet, real estate around the stadium became highly desirable and today the whole district is a forest of high rise office blocks and luxury apartments, with views of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu commanding a high premium. The nearby training ground was sold off some years ago for a reputed £80 Million - not bad for what was once a piece of unwanted wasteland.
Nearer to home, the area around Old Trafford has been transformed from an industrial estate to an upmarket area catering to young singles and childless couples, it's no coincidence that all the towering apartment blocks on the other side of the water are designed so their balconies are pointed firmly at the 'Theatre of Debt'.
So Khaldoon and his associates have a couple of models to work with. If people are willing to pay £1 Million for a penthouse facing the swamp, which is really an old terrace with a loft conversion, conservatory and a lean-to shed tagged on. Then imagine what a similar property facing what could be one of the worlds most striking sports arenas could command.
Apparently ADUG, the company that owns City are going to have a dabble in what they do best, property development. There is talk of a 60,000+ capacity redevelopment of the stadium, the relocation of the training complex and a general makeover for that corner of M11. The idea of luxury hotels and health spas is sure to draw a smirk from polite quarters and a torrent of derision from others, but is the idea so ludicrous?
Real Madrids' Bernabau Stadium was built on a inexpensive piece of land, in a dreary part of the city just after the second world war. Real estate was cheap in Francos' post-war capital and there was enough space to build a training ground more or less next door. As Real Madrid rose to be the biggest club on the planet, real estate around the stadium became highly desirable and today the whole district is a forest of high rise office blocks and luxury apartments, with views of the Estadio Santiago Bernabéu commanding a high premium. The nearby training ground was sold off some years ago for a reputed £80 Million - not bad for what was once a piece of unwanted wasteland.
Nearer to home, the area around Old Trafford has been transformed from an industrial estate to an upmarket area catering to young singles and childless couples, it's no coincidence that all the towering apartment blocks on the other side of the water are designed so their balconies are pointed firmly at the 'Theatre of Debt'.
So Khaldoon and his associates have a couple of models to work with. If people are willing to pay £1 Million for a penthouse facing the swamp, which is really an old terrace with a loft conversion, conservatory and a lean-to shed tagged on. Then imagine what a similar property facing what could be one of the worlds most striking sports arenas could command.
Friday, 14 August 2009
Mark Hughes Right To Chase Lescott
Just over 35 years ago, Everton broke the English transfer record when they secured the services of Bob Latchford from Birmingham City. The fee was the princely sum of £350,000 and it set a record that was to stand for the next 5 years. Was this a solid investment that would catapult the Toffees on to a successful run to rival Liverpool, Manchester City or Nottingham Forest? No, that period produced a solitary League Cup final appearence against Aston Villa in a 0-0 game deemed so boring that ITV declined to show highlights the day after.
Fast forward to 2009 and City covet a player on the books of another club, a player the management feel could be key to advancement in their quest for success. Bids have been lodged and turned down and the actual player has publicly stated that he would like to move on, much as Bob Latchford did more than 3 decades ago. David Moyes has criticised this perfectly legal approach for a member of his staff but let himself down badly by claiming that Everton did business in a more honourable Fashion.
Let's go back to 1990. Howard Kendall had just taken over the reins at City. One of his first managerial decisions was to sell England U21 full back Andy Hinchcliffe for a less than flattering fee to Everton. Kendall implied that Hinchcliffe wasn't good enough for City but the fans were dismayed. A few months later Everton poached Mr Kendall off City in mid-season, a move that left the club in some disarray. One of the few glimmers of hope was the thought that Kendall might sell Hinchcliffe back to City, where he was still highly thought of.
Of course, he didn't. Andy Hinchcliffe became a mainstay of Kendall's Everton as well as becoming an England regular before being sold on to Sheffield Wednesday for a huge profit. Conspiracy theorists of the day claimed that Kendall sold Hinchcliffe to Everton knowing full well that he would be shortly following him and saw the player as key player in his future Everton defence. I'm not one to comment on conspiracies but please don't try and tell me that Everton are an honourable club when it comes to doing business.
If Mark Hughes wishes to continue his dogged pursuit of Joleon Lescott, then he should do so with the full backing of our fans and without the pious protests of a club with a less than perfect past.
For more comment visit www.cityshout.co.uk
Fast forward to 2009 and City covet a player on the books of another club, a player the management feel could be key to advancement in their quest for success. Bids have been lodged and turned down and the actual player has publicly stated that he would like to move on, much as Bob Latchford did more than 3 decades ago. David Moyes has criticised this perfectly legal approach for a member of his staff but let himself down badly by claiming that Everton did business in a more honourable Fashion.
Let's go back to 1990. Howard Kendall had just taken over the reins at City. One of his first managerial decisions was to sell England U21 full back Andy Hinchcliffe for a less than flattering fee to Everton. Kendall implied that Hinchcliffe wasn't good enough for City but the fans were dismayed. A few months later Everton poached Mr Kendall off City in mid-season, a move that left the club in some disarray. One of the few glimmers of hope was the thought that Kendall might sell Hinchcliffe back to City, where he was still highly thought of.
Of course, he didn't. Andy Hinchcliffe became a mainstay of Kendall's Everton as well as becoming an England regular before being sold on to Sheffield Wednesday for a huge profit. Conspiracy theorists of the day claimed that Kendall sold Hinchcliffe to Everton knowing full well that he would be shortly following him and saw the player as key player in his future Everton defence. I'm not one to comment on conspiracies but please don't try and tell me that Everton are an honourable club when it comes to doing business.
If Mark Hughes wishes to continue his dogged pursuit of Joleon Lescott, then he should do so with the full backing of our fans and without the pious protests of a club with a less than perfect past.
For more comment visit www.cityshout.co.uk
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