You Ain’t Going Nowhere, I Shall Be Released, and obligatory fixtures reaction
By: Thad | June 17th, 2009Manchester City have acted quickly to squash Robinho-to-Barca rumours, insisting on the official website that he’s going nowhere.
No official word yet from the club, but it is widely thought that the departure of several senior players is imminent. Darius Vassell surely will be on his way, possibly to Hull City. It’s hard to believe that at one point City fans were genuinely excited about his partnership with Andy Cole, but it’s true. Vassell, often mocked on City message boards, is nonetheless respected for his work rate, and will be fondly remembered primarily for a pair of excellent goals against Manchester United in derby victories in 2006 and 2008. (Like most everything else about the 2006-07 season, most City fans have long forgotten Vassell’s penalty miss late in a derby defeat in the final home game that season.)
As to the fixtures list–amazingly, it turns out that City is to play each of the other 19 teams in the Premier League home and away. Okay, perhaps it’s bad form to exhibit such complacency about the annual release, and there’s always genuine excitement attached to the event for newly promoted (and perhaps narrowly surviving) clubs. In City’s case, there’s nothing particularly remarkable about the way the games have been organized.
Still, in the interest of manufacturing a talking point or two, two items stand out. First is an eleven match stretch in December and January of games without playing any of the “Big Four.” Included in that stretch is a quite favorable Christmas programme from which City will be seeking maximum points (Sunderland and Stoke home, Wolves away). Getting a lot of points on the board during that long stretch will be vital.
The second talking point is the run-in–quite difficult. The final four matches are home to United, away at Arsenal, home to Villa, and at West Ham. Potentially very difficult matches–but potentially very exciting as well, if City are still in the chase for a Champions League spot at that point.
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Comments
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Could someone direct CITY’S management team to take a look at some extraordinary talent thats been on display in THE CONFEDERATION CUP and theUNDER 21 championship. We dont want greedy players with overblown egos,who demand the G.N.P. of JAPAN.!! Messrs.Hughes & co, please take a look at 2 players in particular,;TEKO MODISE(SOUTH AFRICA) and MESUT OZIL(GERMANY UNDER 21′S & WERDER BREMEN). Both are classy attacking midfield players who show they have great football brains and who can really look after themselves on the pitch .
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Australia
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What would you call an acceptable final league position for City next season Thad?
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United States -
5th or 6th acceptable–the chairman has stated 6th is the minimum. Though I expect 7th along with European qualification would be enough for Hughes to keep the job.
Getting to 4th would be a massive achievement and may yet be out of reach, but there’s a sense that if all goes exceedingly well and one of the big clubs slip up a little, that might be attainable.
Fans are also hungry for a proper cup run–at least make a semi-final.
Of course this being City you cannot rule out it all going awry, either.
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DYLAN REIGNS
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United States
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