Sunday 09 May 2010: Kick Off 1600
It was tempting to write this preview as a post-mortem on City’s failed Champions League quest, but really it all boiled down to the fact we were not quite good enough. The draws, the cagey approach to big games, the supposed rifts between Mancini and some of the playing staff – it is all so much dust right now. What matters is that MCFC and its supporters, players and staff have had, to younger generations at least, a season of unprecedented success. Our highest ever premiership points tally. In the top six for the vast majority of the season, Semi-finals of a cup competition for the first time in this writer’s lifetime, doubling the champions-elect, fourteen goals in a three-game run, Carlitos Tevez. The list goes on.
Then there is the obvious disappointments, but to be honest they can go and whistle – the last thing the club and the fans need is to brood over our shortcomings. Mistakes can be useful, and City need to make sure the mistakes that have been made this season, at all levels, are learnt from and eradicated. The club is in an extremely healthy state, and the scope for further improvement is heartening. We are not in around eight hundred million pounds (looks even bigger writing it out like that eh?) of debt; we are not crippled by the cost of a new stadium, nor are we the subject of some shady boardroom power struggle. Our manager has the full support of the board and the majority of fans and as an aside is unlikely to be charged with tax evasion. We are also not facing the prospect of our best players being sold to service debt.
The critics, upstanding paragons of integrity to a man, will point to the money. “You spent all that money and look where it got you”. These people would have been the same hacks spouting the “You bought it” line had we managed to qualify for the Champions League. Let them write their bile – they are as insignificant to MCFC as say, the opinions of a few thousand Norwich fans are to a certain American family. Make no mistake, City are back among the big boys now and we will only get better.
Three hundred and sixty words in and no mention of the game itself! It may have the feeling of a dead-rubber game, but fifth place is still up for grabs and Villa will obviously do their best to take it from us. A win may not be technically imperative (a draw secures fifth place), but it would be good for everyone connected to the club to end the season on a positive note.
West Ham have had a rough old time of it this season, only securing their premier league status last weekend, so should be right up for this game as the pressure is off. The Boleyn Ground will be packed out and the team should be aiming to pay their fans back for some pathetic performances earlier in the season. The City players will have to have put Wednesday night out of their minds, as for all their struggles West Ham have players that can hurt us, including an Egyptian striker who the Blues are rumoured to be interested in.
Speculation as to Mancini’s team selection and tactics feel somewhat pointless at this stage – whatever team he puts out on Sunday should be, with the greatest respect to a great club, well able to beat West Ham. So let’s get out there, put in a good performance to secure our best-ever premier league finish, and head into what promises to be an interesting football-and-transfer-speculation filled summer with our heads held high.
Thanks to The Man In Blue of ManCityFans.Net for writing this preview.