“Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! “IT WAS LONG” Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee “IT WAS LOUD” Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! “IT WAS MARADONA” Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! “IT WAS THAKSIN SHINAWATRA” Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! “IT WAS 47,000 ECSTATIC CITY FANS, , RAISING THEIR BACKSIDES FROM THEIR SEATS, RAISING THIER VOICES, FULL VOLUME TO THE NIGHT SKY AND RAISING THE ROOF OF THE ETIHAD STADIUM, IN JOYOUS CHORUS” Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! “IT WAS THE EMOTIONAL RELEASE OF YEARS OF TORMENT, YEARS OF SUFFERING” “Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! “IT WAS OUTPOURING OF RELIEF, OF JOY, OF SHEER ECSTACY, OF CITY FANS AT THEIR SUPERLATIVE AND CELEBRATORY BEST” Naaa naaa na nanananaaa nanananaaa Ciii-teeee! ”THE RAGS LAY DEAD AT OUR FEET, DEFEATED, VANQUISHED”…
….Now all that lies between City and becoming the Champions of England are the final two games, the first being;-
- NEWCASTLE UNITED versus MANCHESTER CITY
Sunday 6th May 2012
St James’ Park
Dateline…1968…The rags tripped over their own feet and in doing so had fallen into the door and nudged it open. Manchester City took full advantage and strode through it. Equal on points, ahead by goal average, City had only to win the last two games and we would be CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND.
Dateline…2012…The rags tripped over their own feet and in doing so had fallen into the door and nudged it open. Manchester City took full advantage and strode through it. Equal on points, ahead by goal difference, City had only to win the last two games and we would be CHAMPIONS OF ENGLAND.
MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee; HOWARD WEBB, Ass Refs: CHILD, MULLARKEY: 4TH Official; HALSEY.
SEASON 2012
M.C.F.C; Reffed: 4, Won; 3, Drew; 1, Lost; 0, Yellows Cards: City; 4 Yaya (2), Glichy, Barry. Opps; 8. Penalties for City: 1.
N.U.F.C: Reffed: 4, Won 3, Drew 1, Lost 0. Yellow Cards: Magpies; 8, Opps; 8. Red Cards: Opps; 1.
FORM
M.C.F.C. (Away): Played; 18, Won; 9, Drew; 4, Lost; 5, For; 36, Against; 17, GD; 19, 31Pts.
N.U.F.C. (Home): Played; 18, Won; 11, Drew; 5, Lost; 2, For; 29, Against; 15, GD; 14, 38Pts.
LEAGUE TABLE
M.C.F.C: Played; 36, Won; 26, Drew; 5, Lost; 5, For; 88, Against; 27, GD; 61, 83Pts
N.U.F.C: Played; 36, Won; 19, Drew; 8, Lost; 9, For; 55, Against; 46, GD; 9, 65Pts.
“Ah me lads, ye shud only seen us gannin’,
We pass’d the foaks upon the road just as they wor stannin’,
Thor wes lots o’ lads an’ lasses there, all wi’ smilin’ faces,
Gannin’ alang the Scotswood Road….TO SEE THE CITY ACES.”
THA’ TALK A’ THA’ TOON
From Music Hall joke to possible candidates for a Champions League place, Newcastle United are without doubt the surprise package of the season. It was not that long ago that their fans’ disgust and hatred for the ruling “Cockney Mafia”, made them the Premier League’s “Demonstration Capital”. Manager Alan Pardew set his target at the beginning of the season as a top ten finish and the Magpies have far surpassed that.
They remained unbeaten in the League for their first eleven games, until their visit to the Etihad, where City ran out 3-1 winners. Though it was their first loss, their previous fixtures showed they had not beaten any team of note and most of their points had come from teams around the bottom.
It is only latterly that they have dragged themselves back into contention for a Champions League place. Seven wins from the last eight games has pushed them only a single point behind 3rd place (Arsenal) and only goal difference behind Tottenham.
THA’ MAN TA’ WATCH
Whilst it would be unfair to label Neeuwcassell as a one man team and grossly inaccurate but should a certain Mr Cisse continue, he will undoubtedly be added to the Geordie Nation’s “Messiah” list alongside the likes of ‘Wor Jackie, Malcolm McDonald, Alan Sheerah’ and King Kev. A cursory look at the latest game stats show the following since his arrival last February: A late winner v Villa (2pts), 1 goal in the Wolves draw (3pts), the winner v Norwich (5pts), 2 goals v West Brom (7pts), both goals v Liverpool (9pts), both goals v Swansea (11pts) and both goals the other night v Chelsea (13pts). I have only mentioned the goals that have proved crucial to the result, as Cisse has scored more. A snip at £9,000,000, considering his record, he has scored 13 goals in only 12 appearances and his 2nd goal at Stamford Bridge is a contender for goal of the season. Whether fluke or not, he had the confidence to try it. Kompany and Lescott beware.
TEAMS AND TACTICS
HART, ZABALETA, KOMPANY, LESCOTT, GLICHY, YAYA, BARRY, NASRI, SILVA, AGUERO AND TEVEZ.
They served City so well with a magnificent display that saw them overpower the rags in the derby. So well in fact, that the rags never even managed a single shot on target throughout the whole game. The only question mark after such an emotionally and mentally draining performance will be whether the energy levels left in the tank are sufficient to rise to this occasion. The answer to that particular question will be already known to Mancini and his backroom staff and he will cut his cloth accordingly. With a bench of Pantilimon, Richards, de Jong, Balotelli, Milner and, Johnson, as in the derby, City have enough options to be tactically flexible.
It would be wrong to disrespect the Magpies, who, backed by a packed and what should be a noisy crowd to drive “tha’ lads” onwards, will be as dangerous as dangerous gets. Like City, they are an emotional club and City will have to silence them. Starving Cisse may not be the whole answer but it will certainly help.
Like City, Newcastle are an emotional club and with a packed house driving them on, could be “ADRENALINE DANGEROUS”. Control of the midfield and a high tempo passing game should hopefully quieten them. Neither team has the luxury Taggart had in the derby of a draw, so we should expect blood and thunder. Both teams HAVE TO WIN. For the Magpies it is Champions League qualification, for City, the right to become Champions.
But, we must not forget, though this fixture and battle is against Newcastle, the war is against the rags and the aim is to remove the trophy they believe is theirs by divine right, from its resting place at the swamp, to a far safer location at the Etihad Stadium. Given a polish and some sky blue ribbons, that trophy would look quite good on the City sideboard.
Another MASSIVE thanks to John68 from www.mancityfans.net for this excellent match preview.