In an amazing chain of events all coming together during the closing hours of the European transfer
window, Real Madrid's Robinho has agreed to be transferred to Manchester City. According to the
folks over at the BBC a deal was struck between the two clubs for an amount over $50 million.
Everything in the last week is almost too much for this City supporter.
Welcome back to a new season of Manchester City football!
Yes, I understand that two league matches, and a round and a half of UEFA Cup matches, have already
been played. But, there hasn't been anything worth remembering until the Citizens 3-0 dismantling
of West Ham this past Sunday. A friend of mine, who is a Hammers supporter, informed me that City
was lucky that they were able to play most of the match a man up as West Ham midfielder Mark Noble
was sent off in the 39th minute with his second yellow card of the day.
The results of this season continue to be on par for a typical Manchester City side. The year
started out well, with three straight victories, including one at home of over their crimson clad
neighbors - Manchester United. However, beating United may come at a greater price than it is
worth.
Switching focus to the red rivals for only a moment, United has only suffered defeat at the hands
of three Premiership teams this season loosing both contests with Manchester City and then dropping
results against West Ham and Bolton.
Watch the City-Bolton goal-fest exhausted me during the early hours of this morning. City are
certainly proving to pull out some exhilarating results this season, while playing at home.
It's quite late, so my thoughts may not be coherent. Please let me know if I confuse you.
It was good to see Bianchi score in the first five minutes or so, but disheartening to see him out
of position because of his lack of willingness to recover from the previous play.
Last week, Stephen Ireland make my two year-old daughter cry. Err, more accurately, my reaction to
his last minute rocket-volley from the top of the penalty area to get the win against Reading was
more likely what scared her. But, how could any City supporter contain themselves in such a
moment?
Winning in that fashion reminded me of why I first fell in with the Blues.
It wasn't pretty, and I never got the warm fuzzy feeling that the Blues were dominating, but it was
still a win. And after the embarrassment; of last week, it was nice getting back into the win
column.
A week after bleeding six goals to Chelsea Manchester City were able to keep a clean sheet against
newly promoted Sunderland, who have yet to win on the road this season.
Embarrassing.
I've never seen a team react so poorly to falling behind than Manchester City looked today against
Chelsea. Not ever have I even seen my local MLS side, Real Salt Lake, look so incredibly
shellshocked!
Although, there were a lot of similarities between City and RSL today. The goalkeeping looked
pretty good behind a weak defense.
You know, I can relate with Stephen Ireland. I'm guessing his rationale for lying to the Irish
national team and the press about his grandmothers passing to get out of national team duty was
similar to mine this morning.
I got to the gym a few minutes late this morning, which made my workout carry over past the time I
was supposed to leave to give my wife sufficient time to get herself to a class at the same gym.
I was totally embarrassed last night. Not for being a supporter of Manchester City, but for not
being up to snuff as a supporter.
It's rare to find people to talk about Premiership football with in the area where I live, so when
you do find them you be sure to get as much football conversation out as possible.
On this particular occasion last night I was chatting with a pair of friends, one a West Ham
supporter and the other a Man United supporter.
Living under someone elses shadow is never easy. Just ask Kasper Schmeichel, the 20-year old Danish
goalkeeper for Manchester City. Even while in the midst of an amazing start of conceding a single
goal in his first four games with City, the first point mentioned out of everyone's mouth is his
father.
Kasper happened to be born to one of the - if not the - best goalkeepers in soccer history, Peter
Schmeichel.
Blue Moon! You saw me standing alone, without a dream in my heart, with out a love of my own!
I heard it! I had always been told that the City faithful belted these lyrics in support of the
Blues, but in the few years that I have followed the team I had never heard it. Until today. It was
a treat for the ears to hear the words loud and clear, even away from the City of Manchester
Stadium.
Everyone has their own reasons for the clubs that they support. And each one of us relates to our
team in our individual way. As an American, I can't fault those from over here who's first thought
of a English football club is linked to the other Manchester side. Growing up, I was able to find
one game on the television a week, and it almost always involved that other Manchester side.
