Reaction: Everton 5 -1 City

Mikel Arteta celebrates after opening the floodgates at Goodison Park with his first of the season. It was not to be his last.

Yesterday was rotten, wasn't it? A horrible 90 minutes with few bright spots for the travelling City fans. Tucked into the ramshackle away section at Goodison Park, a section of the ground offering only the very worst of views, we were subjected to a performance the likes of which have become all too frequent since December 2008. We travelled to Merseyside buoyed by Manchester United's scrappy win over Wolves as well as the images of Sam Vokes skying a possible season changing chance. We knew that even a point against Everton would be enough to lift us out of the relegation zone. We also knew that City had gone a full calendar year without an away win, and would be hard pressed to end that run against an Everton side that has really just started to get into its stride.

City's line up held a few surprises. Gone was Andy Dawson for Kevin Kilbane, fitting reward we thought considering Dawson's white booted Upton Park nightmare. We later learned that Dawson had actually suffered from a bad asthma attack and was unfit to play, with Brown hinting that he would've played had he been available. Jimmy Bullard made his long anticipated return to Premier League action in the middle of a five man midfield that also included Nick Barmby and Richard Garcia and Amr Zaki started on his own up front. Everton, meanwhile, boasted a wealth of talent in their line up. Yakubu, Osman, Arteta, Jagielka, and Pienaar as well as Landon Donovan, Diniyar Bilyatedinov, Dan Gosling and Jack Rodwell amongst the substitutes. We'd've snatched your right arm off, never mind your hand, if you'd offered us a point before kick off. The opening minutes of the game were watched by a strangely muted crowd, but it was hardly stirring stuff. Even when Arteta put the Toffees ahead, the Goodison crowd's response was swift, half interested. We knew it was coming and, apparently, so did they. Yakubu had already hit the post, after Osman had robbed Boateng to feed the Yak. The men in amber and black did not heed the warning though, as only minutes later it was 1-0. Yakubu, given far too much time by Paul McShane, floated a lovely ball to the back post with Mikel Arteta arriving on cue to guide the ball past Myhill. Arteta motored past Barmby in the midfield to find himself in a prime position. Tracking runners from deep has long been a problem for us, and so it would prove again as the game wore on. Yakubu again showed himself to be unusually profligate in front of goal when he missed a penalty. Having been brought down by Zayatte, the Nigerian dusted himself off and took the resultant spot kick himself only for it to be turned away by Myhill. This was the start of City's best period in the game. We hardly had time to draw breath and City were level. Tom Cairney, a revelation in recent weeks, but understandably struggling to convince in this particular game popped up with an absolute worldie of strike. Waiting on the edge of the area to pick up any scraps from a set piece, Cairney unleashed a beautifully struck left foot volley past the desparing dive of Tim Howard. A sweet moment for Cairney, and probably a satisfactory one for the men who brought him through to first time level; Billy Russel and Neil Mann Mann Mann. Having clawed level against the run of play, City could count themselves lucky and you always felt that Everton would score again. That feeling proved correct when just six minutes later, Arteta bagged his second of the match. Running onto Steven Pienaar's cute drag back, the Spaniard passed the ball low into the net. City's midfield again failed to give adequate protection the goal, as Cairney, Bullard and Boateng were all bypassed easily. There were no further incidents of note in the first half and City went in behind knowing it would be a huge task to find a second equaliser.

As the second hlaf began, it was clear to all watching that Arteta was enjoying his afternoon and wasn't ready to stop playing the role of the Tigers' tormentor-in-chief. Six minutes after the break and the game was dead and buried, and there was to be no pet cemetary style comebacks. Arteta dinked a cross towards the back post from the left hand side of the area, having again been given too much room to play the ball. Myhill inexplicably failed to deal with it, and the ball crossed the line having hit Richard Garcia's head. Garcia had every reason to be surprised at having to deal with the cross as to all watching Myhill should've done so himself. Everton had squeezed the life out of the game with more than a third of it to go. Bullard was withdrawn on the hour for Altidore, possibly to save him exerting himself in a game that was lost, with Nick Barmby preceding him, Goodison's least popular man being replaced by Geovanni. With City defending so poorly, there were always likely to be more goals and Everton did not let their fans down, with substitues Donovan and Rodwell providing the final goals. And so ended another painful afternoon watching City away from home. The Tigers' performance has been branded 'pathetic', 'unacceptable', 'tame' and 'tepid' by various media outlets. All fair comment. It was an afternoon never likely to see us gain any reward from our efforts, even before kick off, but it was the manner of defeat that really sticks in the throat. Much had been made in the run up to the game of City needing to go back to basics and make things more difficult for their oppenents but they did anything but. Our five man midfield was always wide open, with Everton running rampant down the middle and out wide. The central midfielders did not protect that centre backs and the keeper well enough and Garcia and Barmby did not offer enough help to their full backs. Amr Zaki was a largely frustrated figure. A willing runner, the Egyptian had to feed on scraps all afternoon and was given little support by his team mates. Much had been made of Jimmy Bullard's comeback, but in his first Premier League game since December, he appeared to be struggling to keep up with the pace of the game and rarely got himself in the kind of positions he needed to to affect the game.

So where next for City? Arsenal come to the KC next week in front of the ESPN cameras. The Gunners form of late has been frightening and a repeat of this performance will surely see us on the hand of another thrashing. Phil Brown has much work to do between now and Saturday, but the games all City fans have their eyes on come after this coming weekend. An inviting run of fixtures could see the Tigers push themselves out of the drop zone. Coming to the KC in the weeks to come are Fulham, Burnley and Sunderland. Three winnable fixtures. Burnley's away day woes extend back nearly as far as our own, Fulham have struggled for consistency away from Craven Cottage since time immemorial and Sunderland are busy performing a passable impression of City's 2008-09 collapse. But we really need to start picking up points away from East Yorkshire to complement our decent home form. Trips to Portsmouth, Stoke, Birmingham and Wigan must yield points if we are to avoid a return to the Championship.

Gulp.

Further reading:
Brown Going Down - Sky Sports.com
Second Half Collapse Unacceptable - Hull City OWS
Liverpool Echo match report


Soundtrack to this post:

'Sigh No More' - Mumford & Sons
(Island)(2009) Rating 9/10

and


'The Draft - Digital EP' - The Draft
(Epitaph) (2007) Rating 7/10

Blackburn Rovers vs Hull City

Sam Allardyce during his pre-match press conference

So after the unbridled pessimism that was my last post comes optimism! Having taken just a point when three were expected against Wolves, City went into fixtures against Chelsea, top of the league and Champions elect and the richest club in the world, Manchester City. Many, including myself, expected City to gain no points from the Chelsea fixture and perhaps scrape a point against Abu Dhabi Citeh. How wrong can you be? Confident attacking displays coupled with stout defending brought four points from those two games and so we can now look towards tonight's trip to Ewood Park with a degree of confidence and hopes of claiming a first away win of the season. Sam Allardyce and Phil Brown, as we all know by now, spent many years working alongside each other at Blackpool and Bolton Wanderers and both men have been in the media recently with cautionary words for their teams. (Phil Brown: Sky Sports. Sam Allardyce: Also Sky Sports.) Blackburn's home form this season has been solid, losing just once in their last eleven home games and twice all season. These defeats were at the hands of Manchester City and Tottenham though, so it would appear that they are no slouches on home soil. The statistics back this up. Of twelve league home games this season, Blackburn have won six, drawn four and lost the aforementioned two. When you take into account that the Tigers have claimed only four points on the road this season, the prospects of claiming anything tonight look bleak. Or do they? Examining their home record further shows a goalless draws with West Ham, Stoke and Liverpool as well as a 2-2 draw with Sunderland. Added to this narrow victories over Wigan, Burnley and Aston Villa are hardly convincing. In all, Blackburn have scored a respectable 17 goals at Ewood Park this season and conceded 12, so it would seem that the first goal tonight will be key. City don't net much on their travels, just 7 all season, and have conceded 30 goals in that time.

But statistics can only tell you so much. This last week has seen City look revived, thanks in no small part to strength of the spine of the side. Stephen Mouyokolo and Tony Gardner have quickly formed a very good centre half pairing, so much so that cult hero Kamil Zayatte is having to play back up. Up front, Jan Venegoor of Hesselink and Jozy Altidore look to be developing an understanding that has seen each man lay the other on for superb goals in recent games. Altidore provided the assist for big Jan's superb goal against Wolves and the Dutchman happily returned the favour against Man City on Saturday, holding the ball up before passing into Altidore's path, then standing to admire the American's lovely finish. You always have to save the best for last. don't you? And so in that spirit, we come to the midfield. How good have George Boateng and Tom Cairney been? I criticised Boateng last week for his rash challenge on Anelka that led to Didier Drogba's goal, but to write his general performance off for that daft mistake would've been stupid. He carried on in this rich vein of form against Man City, and scored an absolute worldie of a goal, his first for City and well deserved. The news that he's facing a fight to make the game is a blow. Suffering with cramp, if Boateng does miss out expect Seyi Olofinjana to deputise. Alongside The Boat, Tom Cairney has played three Premier League games in a week and looks like he's played another 200 more. City fans must remember though that Cairney is still only a young lad and his form will have peaks and troughs but if Brown and the backroom staff can nurture his talent over the coming months, we look to have a player who can play a vital role in our survival fight. Assuming he starts, tonight will be another big test for him. His only league games have come at the KC and a trip to Ewood Park will be another rite of passage for the youngster.

Other team news reports that Andy Dawson may miss out too. I'm always quick to criticise Dawson when I think he's made a mistake or had a poor game, but credit where it's due, Dawson has been magnificent in recent games. He was excellent against Chelsea, coping with Drogba's constant sojourns out to his wing for Chelsea goal kicks and with the marauding threat of Ivanovic. Against Manchester City he also dealt capably with first Stephen Ireland and then the changing threats of Adam Johnson and Martin Petrov, as well as Zabaleta's runs from right back. Expect Kevin Kilbane to fill in if Dawson does miss out. Kilbane should slot straight in, especially as he bags of experience in this position for the Republic of Ireland.

All in all, I'm confident of coming away with something. I had predicted earlier in the week on KCFM that CITY would win 2-0 but truth be told I'd be delighted with a point. Enjoy the game.

Don't forget to leave a comment below!

Soundtrack to this post:
This Is Not The World by The Futureheads

(Nul Records) (2008)
Rating: 9/10

Wolves reaction

So with the transfer window securely shut for another few months, City can reflect on decent work off the pitch but definitely not on it. The visit of Wolves to the KC was a chance for the Tigers to pick up a much needed win a propel themselves above our visitors from the Black Country. Unfortunately City were twice pegged back and squandered a great chance to make some headway in the relegation tussle. It was a poor game in truth and although City did look to have more quality, it was Wolves who finished the game the stronger side with Bo Myhill called into action a few times to preserve a point. Brown made 5 changes from the side who lost to Wayne Rooney a week ago, with Mendy, Mouyoklo, Cairney, Venegoor of Hesselink and Altidore all being restored to the lineup. Cairney was making his Premier League debut and put in a performance that belied his relative lack of experience, looking much closer to being a complete player than his crab like youth counterpart Nicky Featherstone (crab-like in that he appears able to only move sideways and he's a little irritant who is difficult to get rid of and you're not particularly proud of telling anyone that you have him). Things started well for us when Big Jan fired City into the lead after great work from Altidore, who held off his marker's attention strongly and laid the Dutchman on for a well taken goal. City looked fairly comfortable for the remainder of the first half, although former Man United youngster David Jones troubled the defence with his delivery from corners on several occasions. When the sides emerged fro the second half, Wolves quickly restored parity. Actually that's not true. Anthony Gardner restored parity by parodying Kamil Zayatte and slicing grotesquely into his own net. A horrible error from a normally resolute and classy centre half. Gardner was quickly redeemed though when Wolves right back Zubar mistook Jozy Altidore for a ladder in the penalty area. Mike Dean didn't hesitate in awarding the penalty, which man of the moment Hunt dispatched with consumate ease. I'll confess that at this point I thought it was job done, City would go on to close out the game and seal a vital victory. Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, WRONG! Wolves equalised after yet more slack defending, as player after player was allowed too much time to pick out a pass and the Old Gold (disguised for the afternoon in White) creaked towards a goal with Matt Jarvis applying the finishing touch to a move that seemed to be going nowhere. The rest of the game was played out as if in a dream, with both teams appearing to settle for a point. Disappointing to say the least, and definitely two points dropped. Our lack of care when in the lead against Wolves this season may cost us dear, as we have been in winning positions 3 times over the 2 games and have claimed only a point from each. How vital would another 4 be?

Transfer Deadline Day

City fans celebrate the news that Stephen Hunt isn't going anywhere!

12.46
It's difficult to avoid the cloud of hyperbole, hype, disappointment and wasted time that is transfer deadline day. Thanks to Sky Sports News we know all about every deal that might be about to happen, has happened, won't happen, they want to happen and we love it don't we? I couldn't tell you why, but it's ace. Managers hate it, agents love it and the fans, starved of transfer activity for most of the season can't get enough of it. City have so far only done one piece of business of note, with Zaki joining the ranks and their only involvement on deadline day so far has been to allow Will Atkinson to extend his loan at Rochdale (link) and to tell Wolves to stick their £5 million offer for Stephen Hunt up their arse (link). Great news for the Tiger Nation. Selling Hunt would've been a hammer blow to our chances of survival, with the diminutive Irish winger scoring 6 goals and providing assists for a further 4. City have scored only 22 league goals this season, with Hunt critically involved in nearly half of them. The facts speak for themselves don't they?

I'll be posting throughout the day on any City related news or just on stories that catch my eye. Reaction to the frustrating draw with Wolves and a preview of tomorrow's game at Chelsea will follow later on tonight.

Spurs vs City reaction/ Amr Zaki/ 6 a Side

Tottenham Hotspur 0 - 0 Hull City.

Anyone who predicted that result ahead of the weekend's game was probably just taking a wild guess. City hadn't kept a clean sheet away from the KC all season and Spurs had scored 11 in their last 5 games. They probably would've added at least another 3 or 4 to that total had it been for Boaz Myhill. Now, to the Tiger Nation, Myhill has always been highly regarded and we've known for a long time that he is a top shot stopper, but his performance at White Hart Lane on Saturday was something else. 7 times Spurs tried to breach his goal. 7 times Myhill stood firm, Gandalf-like between the sticks, his every save crying out "YOU SHALL NOT PASS!" Spurs, like the Balrog in Tolkien's 'Lord Of The Rings' had met their match and City's figurative sheet remained clean, pristine and unsullied. Myhill deserved nothing less after what was a truly fantastic display. He'll never play better again in his life, and I, for one, feel privileged to have witnessed such a display from a man who has been a great servant to our football club. Thanks Bo.

Whilst Myhill deservedly took the plaudits the rest of the side should be congratulated too. Let us not forget that this was only City's third point on the road this season and, as I mentioned before, the first clean sheet the Tigers have kept away from home this term. That City took anything from this game is testament to the work rate and commitment shown by each and every player wearing City's blue away strip. Craig Fagan led from the front, as always. His desire to chase lost causes was as great as ever and he worked Tottenham's centre backs whenever he could, tirelessly chasing down lost causes and hassling Bassong and the excellent Michael Dawson. Nick Barmby and Stephen Hunt provided the quality in midfield, linking up in the second half to provide City with their only real chance of note, which Barmby lashed into the side netting. Much of City's travelling contingent, myself included, leapt to celebrate an unlikely lead as soon as the ball left Barmby's boot. Unfortunately we had been deceived and quietly sat back down as the home fans hooted derision. George Boateng did an important job in front of the back four, breaking up countless attacks but when asked to produce with the ball at his feet often fell short. 'The Boat' looked knackered with half an hour to play and that he remained on the field for the remainder of the game highlights his character and desire. Geovanni didn't have his best day creatively either but the diminutive Brazilian worked tirelessly, playing a sort of game that must be entirely foreign to him. This was good to see, as it makes a case for including him in the side when he is not at his attacking best. The back four must take credit too, particularly the centre backs. Kamil Zayatte and former Spur Anthony Gardner were outstanding, displaying a willingness to put their bodies on the line in support of Myhill's quest to keep Spurs' glittering attack at bay. Anthony Gardner has always looked a classy player, but now that he has managed a run of games he is really beginning to look the part and is, in my opinion, the equal of former defensive partner Michael Turner. He'll be off to Sunderland in cut price deal soon then. Well, either that or he'll suffer a freak injury whilst tieing his shoelaces.
Spurs will feel hard done by not to have claimed more than a point from this fixture, and with the chances they created, you would really have expected them to have won comfortably but anything but a clean sheet and point would've been equally hard on Bo Myhill. A draw was a fair result in the end, and it temporarily lifted City out of the drop zone until West Ham's goalless draw at Villa Park the following day dragged them back in. But if this sort of fight and defensive discipline can be shown on a regular basis, City have every chance of pulling themselves clear. We just need a touch more quality up front.


Which is where this bloke comes in. Hull City confirmed this week the signing of powerhouse Egyptian striker Amr Zaki on loan for the remainder of the season. Voices within the media have been quick to condemn the decision to sign the challenging striker but to most City fans, it looks a good decision. What the media have failed to realise is that with the club sitting in the relegation zone and suffering financial troubles, we will not be able to bring in players without baggage. Beggars can't be choosers, after all. This is a deal that could benefit both club and player though. After impressing in the first few months of his loan spell at Wigan last season and being linked with a host of top clubs, including Chelsea and Real Madrid, things went sour for Zaki. After repeatedly arriving back to Wigan late from international duty, leading to Steve Bruce, the man who must be every rhinoplastic surgeon's wet dream, branding him the most "unprofessional player" he had ever worked with. Bruce seemed perfectly happy with Zaki when he was banging in goals for the Latics, and bang them in he did. Who can forget his magnificent volley at Anfield? So having seen his star rise and fall so quickly, Zaki went back to the wilderness with Zamalek and must now see the next few months at City as a chance to redeem himself. If he is able to score the goals that help to push City out of relegation trouble, he may get the move to a top club that he desires. If this deal proves to be a success, it can only be good for both club and player.

Finally, I'd like to end this post by wishing my good friend Ian a speedy recovery. Ian fractured his fibula last night in a freak accident after going in for a tackle during one of our 6-a-side football matches and will be in plaster for the next 6 weeks. Hopefully we'll be able to get Ian back in our line up soon, and as league champions as our team, West Hull United, is currently gunning for the league title. Whilst Ian waited for an ambulance, we were forced to carry on with the game a man light, with the game deadlocked 0-0. We demolished our opponents 5-1 in a fantastic display of counter attacking football and quality possession play. Ian's injury was not the only disappointing thing about the game though, as our opponent's goal keeper shouted a disgusting comment to his team mate during the 2nd half. In our league, slide tackling is forbidden as the astro turf is unforgiving and sliding in is dangerous to yourself and your opponent. During the second half, one of our opponent's defenders slid instinctively in an honest attempt at winning the ball but, realising his error, pulled out and missed both ball and man. A free kick was awarded anyway, prompting their keeper to shout "If you're going to slide, at least fucking hit him." Why, in a Monday night game of 6-a-side do some people feel compelled to inflict injury on people who are just trying to get some exercise and play a bit of honest competitive football with their friends? Idiotic, childish and utterly deplorable, especially as he'd seen Ian helped to the side of the pitch in the first half where he sat, awaiting an ambulance. Anyway, following our fifth goal, I reminded him of his fuckwitted comment, saying "If you're going to dive, at least fucking save it."

Thanks for reading, and if you feel you have anything to contribute please leave a comment!

Soundtrack for this post:
Gold Country by Chuck Ragan

(SideOneDummy) (2009)
Rating: 8/10

and

Build & Burn by The Loved Ones

(Fat Wreck Chords) (2008)
Rating: 8/10

Brian Laws Is A Wan.... Premier League Manger?!

Anyone for chicken?

The football world was stunned today when Brian Laws was appointed Burnley mangager. It looks a baffling appointment to the outsider and to most Burnley fans too, I'd imagine. A BBC poll taken today shows that 65% of those polled felt that Laws was the wrong man to preserve the Clarets' Premier League status, with only 16% backing the former Scunny boss. Having taken Shefield Wednesday into a releagtion fight Laws was sacked on the 13th of December last year, but a month later finds himself in the hotseat at Turf Moor. This is definitely a leftfield appointment but perhaps, when looked at a little closer. it's not as confusing as first appears. Laws did a fantastic job at Scunthorpe United, leading them to promotion from the Football League's basement division twice, with relegation in between. He left the Iron in a good position in League One to manage Wednesday and although Laws tenure saw the club slide back towards the Championship relegation zone this season, he was hampered by massive debts. Having proved himself able to work within the constraints of a small budget at Scunthorpe, Laws has been asked to do the same at Burnley. It's also a prudent appointment on Burnley's part. Clearly, Laws impressed their board otherwise he would not have been given the job but it's a low risk appointment as Laws will not command the same wages as other big name managers linked with the job. Having signed a two and a half year deal, should the need arise to sack Laws, Burnley will not be worried about the financial implications of his departure. But the Premier League is a whole different animal to the lower leagues and it remains to be seen whether or not he will be successful. Personally, I think it's only a matter of time before the man not-so-affectionately referred to as Pissy Pants by some City fans leads Burnley back to the Championship. Needless to say I can't wait to see how many food fights he instigates between now and May, and of course the chance to chant "BRIAN LAWS IS A WANKER" at the KC again is something I'm looking forward to greatly.

Incidentally, the BBC's Paul Fletcher has posted a blog concerning Laws's appointment that is well worth your time. You can read it here.

African Cup Of Nations Roundup
So the first round of group fixtures in the ACN has come and gone and it's time to look at how the City contingent has fared in their nation's opening games.
Seyi Olofinjana was an unused substitute as Nigeria limped to a 3-1 defeat to defending champions Egypt and outcast striker Daniel Cousin scored Gabon's winner in an unlikely victory against highly rated Cameroon, in an entertaining and open game. Cousin's goal brought Gabon only their second ever victory in the tournament's finals and guarantees Cousin hero status in his homeland. Unless of course he follows up his heroics with a year's worth of lazy display and only showing occasional flashes of his undoubted talent a la last season, post Arsenal. Then his international repution might be a bit more like the one he has at the KC.

That's it today. I wasn't panning on blogging until after the Tottenham game so it might be that I'm back unexpectedly tomorrow or it might be next week. It just depends on what stories break between now and the weekend! Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment if you feel that you have anything to add. It'd be nice to get a discussion going on some of the stories I've written about so far!

Soundtrack for this post:
'New Brains for Everyone' by The Brokedowns

(THICK Records) (2007)
Rating: 7/10