The press made a lot of Dunne's comments that 'the pressure is on City' - largely to create the story they want: an anguished Dunne returning to wilfully dent City's hopes and, in the press's wildest dreams, scoring an injury time winner and celebrating madly in full view of Gary Cook. But to continue the tenuous link in my title, Dunne would've been welcomed back with open arms even if his words were a little stronger. And he had full reason to make them stronger.
It is pointless to regret these decisions now but City would've been better off with Dunne this season. Dunne suffered because of what he represented in the eyes of the new management. In a period of such vast transition and overhaul, much of the moves made were to forget the recent past - and Dunne was the last reminder of those times. I remember TLDORC, at the time, using a particularly insightful phrase: "Dunne was no longer the one man stopping City from going down, but was one man slowing down our going up." This was definitely how it was seen at the time, but he has gone on to the success he deserves - culminating in his inclusion in the PFA Premier League Team of the Season. Hughes was not exactly good for the careers of defenders at City - Dunne was one of many who struggled for form under him, but he remains one of the most highly respected players the club has had for years, and I'm sure he will get the welcome he deserves.
On Dunne's assertion that City are the team most under pressure, Norfstander has written a good article on the counter argument. He rightly says that with City only getting stronger, this season could represent the best chance Villa or Spurs have of getting Champions League - especially with not only a further reinforced City side but also a potentially less-dismal Liverpool next season. Despite appearances, City have the luxury of time, Villa and Spurs maybe don't.
The other main story this week regarding this game is the goalkeeping issue. Marton Fulop has come in from beyond Sunderland's bench to play an important part in the push for Champions League. In the mould of Daniel Van Buyten, he could claim an important place in the hearts of the City fans for only a short loan cameo. I imagine he has been brought in to play rather than to cover, and he should take Nielsen's fleeting place in the side.
The injury concerns for tomorrow are Gareth Barry and Emmanuel Adebayor - my Player of the Month for April and one of the strong contenders. These would be big losses and I think the latter would mean another go at the 4-5-1 we saw at Arsenal to so little attacking threat.
Both sides are renowned for their strength on the counter attack, so we could be looking at an unlikely end-to-end excitement feast or a gridlock of caution as two teams wait for the other to make the first move. I imagine it will be the latter and therefore patience and concentration will be the watch-words of the day.
In the event of Barry and Adebayor being ruled out, there could be the following team:
4-5-1:
Fulop; Zabaleta, Toure, Kompany, Bridge; Vieira, De Jong, Ireland; A. Johnson, Bellamy; Tevez.
Which could migrate into a 4-2-3-1 with Ireland playing in his favourite position. I have almost lost patience with Ireland this season, but this could be his sort of game - and besides the options would be limited without Ade and Barry, especially as Santa Cruz seems to have fallen onto the fringes of the bench.
City would qualify for the Champions League if they draw against Villa and win the remaining fixtures - the crunch game of all crunch games is Tottenham, of course - but a win would put City a little more at ease for that encounter, and we cannot really afford to lose.
*On a more personal note, if you are not bored of reading my views, I have had the honour of being asked to write an article for the official matchday programme tomorrow, under the regular feature "Blue Bloggers". So, if you want to know a bit more about the blog, my life as a City fan, see a few pictures, etc. then look out for me in the programme!
Friday, 30 April 2010
Thursday, 29 April 2010
Fifth is not a failure - Mancini. Why hasn't this been said earlier?
"No, I don't think I will have failed. We want to finish fourth and that is what we are working for. But we have improved a lot in the last five months and we must improve more if we want to be a good team. I think the owners can see that."
It is a bit late for it now but, when asked about not finishing fourth in today's press conference, this is what Mancini concluded. City could have taken some of the pressure off themselves by taking this media line earlier in the season. Yes, the goal is fourth, but a European place of any order would represent progress.
Of course, the main reason there is this fixation on fourth is because of the money City spent over the summer - money that the press decided represented the owner's ambition for Champions League football. But the pressure escalated upon the sacking of Mark Hughes. This was understandable: 'if Mark Hughes was not doing enough, what exactly were the owners after' was the general thinking. The sacking itself, which I think has benefited the team, set a precedent for impatient thinking - so that the initial displeasure at Hughes' sacking turned into an acceptance of it: 'Yes, Hughes wasn't doing enough, Mancini must do better.'
Fourth place started to be talked about at every press conference. It is fine to have this target and it has proved to be a realistic target, in so much that we are still fighting to achieve it, but the pressure to finish fourth has largely been self-created.
The benefits of finishing fourth are obviously huge enough for the club. Champions League football would be a great experience for a growing force in the Premier League and qualification would make City more attractive to the best players in the world. But, this is really only our first season with the full benefit of the money. Things are evidently looking up. If we don't get Champions League football this year, it is only a matter of time before we do. City are in a period of transition and, to use the old cliche, we cannot expect success over night - we can get it, but we shouldn't expect it. It takes time to build a team capable of challenging for top honours.
City are almost there this year - a fact which makes this a successful season regardless of how it ends - and obviously I hope, as much as any other City fan, that we can do it this season in the remaining three games, but it will be far from a failure if we don't. We are here faster than I would've expected and it is clear that we can look forward to further progress in years to come.
It is a bit late for it now but, when asked about not finishing fourth in today's press conference, this is what Mancini concluded. City could have taken some of the pressure off themselves by taking this media line earlier in the season. Yes, the goal is fourth, but a European place of any order would represent progress.
Of course, the main reason there is this fixation on fourth is because of the money City spent over the summer - money that the press decided represented the owner's ambition for Champions League football. But the pressure escalated upon the sacking of Mark Hughes. This was understandable: 'if Mark Hughes was not doing enough, what exactly were the owners after' was the general thinking. The sacking itself, which I think has benefited the team, set a precedent for impatient thinking - so that the initial displeasure at Hughes' sacking turned into an acceptance of it: 'Yes, Hughes wasn't doing enough, Mancini must do better.'
Fourth place started to be talked about at every press conference. It is fine to have this target and it has proved to be a realistic target, in so much that we are still fighting to achieve it, but the pressure to finish fourth has largely been self-created.
The benefits of finishing fourth are obviously huge enough for the club. Champions League football would be a great experience for a growing force in the Premier League and qualification would make City more attractive to the best players in the world. But, this is really only our first season with the full benefit of the money. Things are evidently looking up. If we don't get Champions League football this year, it is only a matter of time before we do. City are in a period of transition and, to use the old cliche, we cannot expect success over night - we can get it, but we shouldn't expect it. It takes time to build a team capable of challenging for top honours.
City are almost there this year - a fact which makes this a successful season regardless of how it ends - and obviously I hope, as much as any other City fan, that we can do it this season in the remaining three games, but it will be far from a failure if we don't. We are here faster than I would've expected and it is clear that we can look forward to further progress in years to come.
Base Comedy April Awards
PLAYER OF THE MONTH: GARETH BARRY
It has been a month of good team performances and possibly the first month in a while that we haven't been wondering how we would've done without Tevez. Gareth Barry is rejuvenated - producing the consistently high-level performances of his early season success at exactly the right time. He is not as spectacular as some of our players but he has been the heartbeat of the team this month - controlling all our central midfield battles and occasionally helping in the final third as well.
Another contender who is having something of a rejuvenation is Emmanuel Adebayor - excellent in the free-scoring games at the start of the month and our best attacking threat in both of our blanks. It has also been a good month for the defensive partnership of Kompany and Toure: Kompany continues to be one of our most consistent performers, whilst Toure has improved almost with every game this month - only three goals got past them this month.
GOAL OF THE MONTH: NEDUM ONUOHA (vs Birmingham)
Pure poetry. A one-two off an opposition player, a pass that was so bad it tricked everyone, and then an exquisite left-foot placement any striker would be happy with. Tevez couldn't take that one off him. There were eleven to choose from, but this was the most satisfying for me. Although Bellamy nicking the ball of Ade's toes against Burnley was nice too.
PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH: BURNLEY BEFORE THE RAIN
People will talk about the weakness of the opposition but a City of another time would not have been so ruthless in their demolition of a team. I shudder to think what the score may have been if the rain hadn't slowed things!
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE MONTH: SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN ADDED TIME
TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF: KIA JOORABCHIAN
It has been a good month for the team collectively and I think it would be unfair to rile at Ireland again for only a short cameo in the United game, so this month's award will go to my favourite conspiracy of the month. The conspiracy means that I can disconnect Tevez from his comments - it means that our star player is actually, probably, maybe rather happy at City. So the notion that it is Mr Joorabchian's fault - that he is using Tevez to gain employment for his other employer, Mark Hughes, and also gaining a bit of cash in the meantime, or from a possible transfer - is both appealing and terrifying. If Gary Cook can't stand the sight of him at Eastlands, he can't be very popular.
POINTS TOTAL: 7 from 12
FOURTHOMETER: The pressure is on.
It has been a month of good team performances and possibly the first month in a while that we haven't been wondering how we would've done without Tevez. Gareth Barry is rejuvenated - producing the consistently high-level performances of his early season success at exactly the right time. He is not as spectacular as some of our players but he has been the heartbeat of the team this month - controlling all our central midfield battles and occasionally helping in the final third as well.
Another contender who is having something of a rejuvenation is Emmanuel Adebayor - excellent in the free-scoring games at the start of the month and our best attacking threat in both of our blanks. It has also been a good month for the defensive partnership of Kompany and Toure: Kompany continues to be one of our most consistent performers, whilst Toure has improved almost with every game this month - only three goals got past them this month.
GOAL OF THE MONTH: NEDUM ONUOHA (vs Birmingham)
Pure poetry. A one-two off an opposition player, a pass that was so bad it tricked everyone, and then an exquisite left-foot placement any striker would be happy with. Tevez couldn't take that one off him. There were eleven to choose from, but this was the most satisfying for me. Although Bellamy nicking the ball of Ade's toes against Burnley was nice too.
PERFORMANCE OF THE MONTH: BURNLEY BEFORE THE RAIN
People will talk about the weakness of the opposition but a City of another time would not have been so ruthless in their demolition of a team. I shudder to think what the score may have been if the rain hadn't slowed things!
DISAPPOINTMENT OF THE MONTH: SOMETHING THAT HAPPENED IN ADDED TIME
TAKE A LOOK AT YOURSELF: KIA JOORABCHIAN
It has been a good month for the team collectively and I think it would be unfair to rile at Ireland again for only a short cameo in the United game, so this month's award will go to my favourite conspiracy of the month. The conspiracy means that I can disconnect Tevez from his comments - it means that our star player is actually, probably, maybe rather happy at City. So the notion that it is Mr Joorabchian's fault - that he is using Tevez to gain employment for his other employer, Mark Hughes, and also gaining a bit of cash in the meantime, or from a possible transfer - is both appealing and terrifying. If Gary Cook can't stand the sight of him at Eastlands, he can't be very popular.
POINTS TOTAL: 7 from 12
FOURTHOMETER: The pressure is on.
Monday, 26 April 2010
Marton Fulop to be the first signing of the summer?
Reports coming from the BBC and the Guardian suggest that we actually have a chance of securing the all-clear for an emergency loan deal. In the face of the uproar ("surely they've paid their way in!"), Oliver Kay of The Times, on his twitter feed, has rightly suggested there wouldn't be anything like the indignation if a Wolves, Blackburn or Wigan were the culprits. All the same, I was surprised to find that we could use this emergency option.
With Given, Taylor and Gonzalez injured, we are left with only Nielsen and Karius at the club. I believe Karius is only sixteen though and on a youth contract - therefore the only player that would come under the consideration of the Premier League's conditions would be Nielsen. The Premier League guidelines must consider this too little protection and if City are not allowed to get anyone in, then we are only one accident away from being keeper-less! Daniel Taylor in the Guardian has written:
"It is understood that the Premier League is likely to be sympathetic as they fit the criteria for an emergency deal."
He also suggests City have already made contact with Sunderland regarding Marton Fulop. Fulop played an impressive role in Sunderland's season before Craig Gordon came back to form - so he has some recent experience and is probably one of the best options we could feasibly acquire with such short notice.
The sentimental in me was going to suggest Nicky Weaver but it seems TLDORC and others have beaten me to it!
The only concern is that if City are not allowed to go through with the emergency deal, because the request has reached the public domain, Nielsen could be left very short on confidence should he have to play. He looked assured enough against Arsenal but the cry for help could have affected him.
With Given, Taylor and Gonzalez injured, we are left with only Nielsen and Karius at the club. I believe Karius is only sixteen though and on a youth contract - therefore the only player that would come under the consideration of the Premier League's conditions would be Nielsen. The Premier League guidelines must consider this too little protection and if City are not allowed to get anyone in, then we are only one accident away from being keeper-less! Daniel Taylor in the Guardian has written:
"It is understood that the Premier League is likely to be sympathetic as they fit the criteria for an emergency deal."
He also suggests City have already made contact with Sunderland regarding Marton Fulop. Fulop played an impressive role in Sunderland's season before Craig Gordon came back to form - so he has some recent experience and is probably one of the best options we could feasibly acquire with such short notice.
The sentimental in me was going to suggest Nicky Weaver but it seems TLDORC and others have beaten me to it!
The only concern is that if City are not allowed to go through with the emergency deal, because the request has reached the public domain, Nielsen could be left very short on confidence should he have to play. He looked assured enough against Arsenal but the cry for help could have affected him.
Sunday, 25 April 2010
Our record against the "top four" over the last 5 years
The key to success is to beat the teams below you, but as a marker of how strong your team is, it is interesting to see how it competes against the best teams in the league. Obviously the investment makes comparisons between previous seasons a little misleading, but it is reassuring to see how City have become a presence at the top of the league.
Below are our results against the established top four over the past five seasons:
05/06
Chelsea: 0-1, 0-2.
United: 1-1, 3-1.
Arsenal: 0-1, 1-3.
Liverpool: 0-1, 0-1.
Points total: 4
06/07
Chelsea: 0-3, 0-1.
United: 1-3, 0-1.
Arsenal: 1-0, 1-3.
Liverpool: 0-1, 0-0.
Points total: 4
07/08
Chelsea: 0-6, 0-2.
United: 1-0, 2-1.
Arsenal: 0-1, 1-3.
Liverpool: 0-0, 0-1.
Points total: 7
08/09
Chelsea: 1-3, 0-1.
United: 0-1, 0-2.
Arsenal: 3-0, 0-2.
Liverpool: 2-3, 1-1.
Points total: 4
09/10
Chelsea: 2-1, 4-2.
United: 3-4, 0-1.
Arsenal: 4-2, 0-0.
Liverpool: 2-2, 0-0.
Points total: 12
People will argue that the level of investment that went in last summer should yield these types of results, but as Real Madrid would testify this year, money isn't enough to do it on its own. Therefore, our increased competitiveness in these top fixtures is a clear sign of our development as a force in the Premier League - especially when you consider our only losses both came deep into injury time.
We didn't get so much as a point off Chelsea in the four seasons preceding this one, so to come away with maximum points is quite something. There are some excellent stand out results in the previous four seasons (the double over United under Sven, the 3-1 victory over United with Sinclair, Vassell and Fowler scoring, Robinho's lobbed goal in the 3-0 against Arsenal last season), but this season sees us competing consistently in every game and, as a measure of progress, I think this is pretty good.
Below are our results against the established top four over the past five seasons:
05/06
Chelsea: 0-1, 0-2.
United: 1-1, 3-1.
Arsenal: 0-1, 1-3.
Liverpool: 0-1, 0-1.
Points total: 4
06/07
Chelsea: 0-3, 0-1.
United: 1-3, 0-1.
Arsenal: 1-0, 1-3.
Liverpool: 0-1, 0-0.
Points total: 4
07/08
Chelsea: 0-6, 0-2.
United: 1-0, 2-1.
Arsenal: 0-1, 1-3.
Liverpool: 0-0, 0-1.
Points total: 7
08/09
Chelsea: 1-3, 0-1.
United: 0-1, 0-2.
Arsenal: 3-0, 0-2.
Liverpool: 2-3, 1-1.
Points total: 4
09/10
Chelsea: 2-1, 4-2.
United: 3-4, 0-1.
Arsenal: 4-2, 0-0.
Liverpool: 2-2, 0-0.
Points total: 12
People will argue that the level of investment that went in last summer should yield these types of results, but as Real Madrid would testify this year, money isn't enough to do it on its own. Therefore, our increased competitiveness in these top fixtures is a clear sign of our development as a force in the Premier League - especially when you consider our only losses both came deep into injury time.
We didn't get so much as a point off Chelsea in the four seasons preceding this one, so to come away with maximum points is quite something. There are some excellent stand out results in the previous four seasons (the double over United under Sven, the 3-1 victory over United with Sinclair, Vassell and Fowler scoring, Robinho's lobbed goal in the 3-0 against Arsenal last season), but this season sees us competing consistently in every game and, as a measure of progress, I think this is pretty good.
Arsenal player ratings
Given 7.
Relatively untested but made an important save from Diaby in dislocating his shoulder. A great shame for him and you could see how upset he was.
Zabaleta 7.
Prefered to Onuoha and was more measured in his display than usual. I was a little concerned when he was moved across to face Walcott, but he dealt with him excellently.
Toure 8.
Superb display from Toure. He is quick and intelligent when the ball is on the ground, so Arsenal's style of play suited him. He said in the week that we haven't seen the best of him yet, and his recent displays have shown a steady improvement. Looked comfortable with Van Persie.
Kompany 8.
Another impressive performance from Kompany. Is proving himself to be one of the squad's most important players at the moment. His reading of the game is excellent for such a young player and you would hope he is, and will be, the first choice central defender for years to come.
Bridge 6.
Disappointingly only lasted under half-an-hour. We cannot rely on his fitness and I would expect that left-back is an area we need strengthening for next season.
De Jong 7.
Typically hard tackling display. It is true that we need a creative option in midfield, but that is not what de Jong is there for.
Vieira 6.
Sadly behind the pace of the game, but played his part in breaking up play and is capable of picking a pass as well as "bursting" forward in support (if only his legs would support him more often!).
Barry 7.
Steady if unspectacular. People look to him as the creative option of the three, which is perhaps reflects badly on him as it isn't really his strength, but his defensive game was top class again.
Johnson 5.
Was as isolated as any of our attackers when going forward, but ran into a few dead ends. Has come up against two of the best left-backs in the league in the last two games and for the first time it has shown that he is still adapting from the Championship. By next season he will be ready for all of the top game I'm sure.
Bellamy 6.
Worked hard as you would expect but had little joy up against Sagna. His pace occasionally threatened to threaten but as with all of the strikers, he had little to work with.
Tevez 5.
Looked off the pace to me. Prefers the free-role but has shown earlier in 2010 that he can be effective in the lone striker role - just not yesterday. Never really got a grip on the game.
Substitutes:
Richards (on for Bridge, 27mins) 7.
Was very strong defensively but a bit blinkered going forward.
Adebayor (on for Vieira, 52mins) 8.
Played very well and the crowd's reaction seemed to spur him on. Exceptional skill and hold up play is what Mancini was looking for from Tevez. Probably the only forward who didn't have an off-day.
Nielsen (on for Given, 73mins) 7.
I'm sure Arsenal would've wanted to test him more, but he looked very assured for a young debutant.
My man of the match: Kolo Toure.
Relatively untested but made an important save from Diaby in dislocating his shoulder. A great shame for him and you could see how upset he was.
Zabaleta 7.
Prefered to Onuoha and was more measured in his display than usual. I was a little concerned when he was moved across to face Walcott, but he dealt with him excellently.
Toure 8.
Superb display from Toure. He is quick and intelligent when the ball is on the ground, so Arsenal's style of play suited him. He said in the week that we haven't seen the best of him yet, and his recent displays have shown a steady improvement. Looked comfortable with Van Persie.
Kompany 8.
Another impressive performance from Kompany. Is proving himself to be one of the squad's most important players at the moment. His reading of the game is excellent for such a young player and you would hope he is, and will be, the first choice central defender for years to come.
Bridge 6.
Disappointingly only lasted under half-an-hour. We cannot rely on his fitness and I would expect that left-back is an area we need strengthening for next season.
De Jong 7.
Typically hard tackling display. It is true that we need a creative option in midfield, but that is not what de Jong is there for.
Vieira 6.
Sadly behind the pace of the game, but played his part in breaking up play and is capable of picking a pass as well as "bursting" forward in support (if only his legs would support him more often!).
Barry 7.
Steady if unspectacular. People look to him as the creative option of the three, which is perhaps reflects badly on him as it isn't really his strength, but his defensive game was top class again.
Johnson 5.
Was as isolated as any of our attackers when going forward, but ran into a few dead ends. Has come up against two of the best left-backs in the league in the last two games and for the first time it has shown that he is still adapting from the Championship. By next season he will be ready for all of the top game I'm sure.
Bellamy 6.
Worked hard as you would expect but had little joy up against Sagna. His pace occasionally threatened to threaten but as with all of the strikers, he had little to work with.
Tevez 5.
Looked off the pace to me. Prefers the free-role but has shown earlier in 2010 that he can be effective in the lone striker role - just not yesterday. Never really got a grip on the game.
Substitutes:
Richards (on for Bridge, 27mins) 7.
Was very strong defensively but a bit blinkered going forward.
Adebayor (on for Vieira, 52mins) 8.
Played very well and the crowd's reaction seemed to spur him on. Exceptional skill and hold up play is what Mancini was looking for from Tevez. Probably the only forward who didn't have an off-day.
Nielsen (on for Given, 73mins) 7.
I'm sure Arsenal would've wanted to test him more, but he looked very assured for a young debutant.
My man of the match: Kolo Toure.
Arsenal 0 - 0 City
There has been a varied response to this game - some take issue with the less-than-adventurous tactics that Mancini kicked off with, whilst others are rightly happy with a point at 'Fortress Emirates.' These were the first league points Arsenal have dropped at home since United beat them in January and, whilst they are a greatly diminished team at the moment and on the back of a bad couple of results, a point keeps us in the running for fourth.
It was a game of little incident with both teams reluctant to concede ground in a tentative display. City set the stall out to defend with Mancini dropping the "injured" Adebayor to the bench in favour of the five-man midfield. This, combined with what Wenger admitted to be a reluctant Arsenal side, contributed to a game of very few chances.
I think the game-plan was always going to be to unleash Adebayor in the second half, but City may have had more success prior to that if Tevez had been on form. After apparently taking a few injections during the United game, he didn't look his normal self yesterday and looked a yard or two off the pace. Without his ordinary work-rate, his role as lone striker was completely ineffective and a rejuvenated Sol Campbell dealt with him without much trouble at all. It took the energy of Adebayor to set him free a little. I don't take the argument that Tevez cannot play in the lone striker role, because before Adebayor's return, people were suggesting he wouldn't be able to play with a partner, but he is certainly more effective in the free-role.
Despite Mancini's caution, City's midfield weren't having too much trouble nullifying Arsenal's patient probing in the first half and the extra man upfront helped to open the game up a bit. It is a shame we didn't test the potential weak-point of Fabianski, but to take a draw away from the Emirates still leaves us in pole position - despite being sixth at the time of writing.
The injury to Shay is a bit of a blow but, if our defence can defend like it did yesterday, Nielsen may have only a few tests to deal with - and yesterday he was strong when called upon.
It is one of the great paradoxes of football that you can be cursing a team one week, supporting them the next, and then returning to a slightly more sated hatred once more... But, for yesterday lunchtime only, I was glad United won.
It wouldn't be City if this didn't go right down to the wire, but West Ham's apparent safety yesterday will play into our hands.
It was a game of little incident with both teams reluctant to concede ground in a tentative display. City set the stall out to defend with Mancini dropping the "injured" Adebayor to the bench in favour of the five-man midfield. This, combined with what Wenger admitted to be a reluctant Arsenal side, contributed to a game of very few chances.
I think the game-plan was always going to be to unleash Adebayor in the second half, but City may have had more success prior to that if Tevez had been on form. After apparently taking a few injections during the United game, he didn't look his normal self yesterday and looked a yard or two off the pace. Without his ordinary work-rate, his role as lone striker was completely ineffective and a rejuvenated Sol Campbell dealt with him without much trouble at all. It took the energy of Adebayor to set him free a little. I don't take the argument that Tevez cannot play in the lone striker role, because before Adebayor's return, people were suggesting he wouldn't be able to play with a partner, but he is certainly more effective in the free-role.
Despite Mancini's caution, City's midfield weren't having too much trouble nullifying Arsenal's patient probing in the first half and the extra man upfront helped to open the game up a bit. It is a shame we didn't test the potential weak-point of Fabianski, but to take a draw away from the Emirates still leaves us in pole position - despite being sixth at the time of writing.
The injury to Shay is a bit of a blow but, if our defence can defend like it did yesterday, Nielsen may have only a few tests to deal with - and yesterday he was strong when called upon.
It is one of the great paradoxes of football that you can be cursing a team one week, supporting them the next, and then returning to a slightly more sated hatred once more... But, for yesterday lunchtime only, I was glad United won.
It wouldn't be City if this didn't go right down to the wire, but West Ham's apparent safety yesterday will play into our hands.
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