Sunday 24 May 2009

City 1 - 0 Bolton

  • I didn't see the game, so if you did please tell us all about it. How good was it to see Berti play?
  • What a contrast to the 8-1 this time last year. It goes to underline the fact that the most important resource at a football club is managerial authority. Last May City were in chaos, with Eriksson undermined by Shinawatra and just days from the sack. And we went to Middlesbrough and conceded eight. This season could have gone the same way; as big money imports failed to pull City beyond mid-table mediocrity again. But the chairman's announcement last week confirming Hughes' job security restored confidence and fixed everyone's sights on the future.
  • We finish the season with thirteen home league wins - the second most in the Premier League - and thirty nine points - the third most, behind only Manchester United and Liverpool. If we can maintain this next year and take another ten or twelve points on the road - we'll be doing well.
  • Season review etc to come some point late next week, but can't promise anything.

3 comments:

newsoftheblues said...

cheers for the seasons work JPB, very enjoyable.

Nice day today, lots of fans, decent atmosphere. decent football.

Caicedo is getting better and better, his link up play was exactly what we needed today and did well again to get on the score sheet, with an extremely well worked goal.

Robinho was sublime, flicks and tricks, wonderful flick when he had fallen over...Two cracking shots, he was very unlucky.

Ireland started brightly, but took a kick and carried it until subbed for weiss who was hughley impressive.

SWP worked extremely hard, for someone who wasnt meant to play. Little rusty, but impressive.

Bolton were not great, but had alot of corners, too many, we failed to kill the game off, but we looked pretty good.

Nice to see Glauber, did ok, he can pass and tackle thats what i expected.

Bridge still looks poor at the back, but decent going forward.

Unknown said...

"can't promise anything"?

As we say in Kentucky, US; gitcher priorities straight!

menino azul said...

a carnival atmosphere as expected. i hoped this wouldn't distract our players like it did last season vs fulham, when we capitulated to a 2-3 defeat. we won easily though i sensed a little frustration that we didn't finish them off with a flurry of goals.

instead we passed and moved elegantly, at times without making it count properly with the killer finish.

outstanding performance again from the ned-marauding forward and almost scoring at one point.
he deserved the m o t m accolade.

micah and superman combined neatly for the much improving caciedo to score easily (i cheered before he'd even struck the ball in the net!). hopefully sparky will keep hold of him, then he can use his muscle like he did a bit more in mid-air encounters.

other highlights was the introduction of the missing brasilian berti, to cult status roar (his every touch cheered, even de jong was chuckling at the attention he got apparently).

wiess looks a promising addition, with a good touch and much pace. i can see him worrying a few defenders.

the match wasn't a corker but the occasional touch of flair from robi, swp's dinking runs and shots added to the party vibe.

it was with relief to hear the final whistle.

questions: where was elano? who will still be with us next season? is dunnie worried about his role as captain? does anyone, besides me, hanker for the stealth like influence of the ghost of michael johnson? what does etihad really mean in arabic?

answers: sturridge must stay, kompany should be captain with ned as vice, give ireland the deal he deserves.