BS: Manchester ...

Subject: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 May 11 - 12:09 PM

Need I say more?

Hard luck, Blackburn.

Hard luck, Stoke.

Dave the Gnome

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: gnu
Date: 14 May 11 - 12:14 PM

I suppose Rooney's goal will piss off a lot of people.

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 May 11 - 12:16 PM

Now I suppose all us other football supporters can hate the whole of Manchester now. puke puke :-)

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 May 11 - 12:23 PM

Indeed Gnu, it pissed me off. It's funny that, but I can never see a penalty goal as being anywhere as good as a normal goal.

Will Micah Richards and Mario Balotelli get fined for swearing in front of the BBC cameras?

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 14 May 11 - 12:35 PM

Wonder if City's manager will change his name to Roberto Manciti..?

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 14 May 11 - 01:48 PM

:-)

Mike must have gone to the match.

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Arnie
Date: 14 May 11 - 02:05 PM

Stoke weren't really in it - looked like Kenwyne Jones was stranded up front with no real support. Surprised that Balotelli kept his cool despite all the needle, and look at what he achieved! A great goal by Toure and although it's the wrong side of the Pennines for me, I would not begrudge City their first trophy for for 35-odd years - they were the better team.

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: gnu
Date: 14 May 11 - 02:35 PM

Arnie... City? I do not understand.

Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: alanabit
Date: 14 May 11 - 05:44 PM

Well I am rather pleased about it all actually. Robert Huth might have had one of the shortest FA Cup Final appearances ever had the referee spotted his disgusting off the ball foul on Balotelli after a quarter of an hour. However, it made a change to watch Balotelli complete ninety minutes without even a booking for once and as a Man City fan, of course, I think we just about edged it! I can imagine that the bars in Manchester will do pretty good business tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Brakn
Date: 15 May 11 - 11:28 AM

I don't think they've got anything to do with Manchester anymore. Most lads I know gave up going years ago. Foreign players, an Italian and a Scot for managers, foreign owned and too dear to watch these days. Toure is on £220,000 a week, yes a WEEK!! crazy.

The FA Cup final has been devalued by having premiership games on the same day. Cup final day used to be the end of the season; now the most important day is next Sunday. Football is all about screwing the last penny out of the punters pocket.

It's FC Utd or Altrincham for me.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: gnu
Date: 15 May 11 - 01:58 PM

I must say I don't like the system in the premiership. Would playoffs, say between the top four teams, at the end of the season would be better? Is that against "tradition"?

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 15 May 11 - 03:08 PM

Good day for me as my team Aston Villa beat Arsenal at the Emirates :-) Plus when I lived in Scotland and Holland I followed Glasgow Rangers and Ajax. Used to go to all the matches. They both won their respective leagues today. They say it comes in three's and it did today.

Looks like Aston Villa have helped Man City to get that third place now.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: alanabit
Date: 15 May 11 - 04:44 PM

They certainly have. If City win their last two games, Arsenal slip back to fourth place. I bet Stoke will have a go on Tuesday though and Blackburn have nothing to lose in the final match of the season. They should be lively fixtures.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 15 May 11 - 05:11 PM

Do you think Barry & Milner will be part of City's plans for next year? I think they have made a mistake by joning Man City. However money talks and they have to learn the lesson of being greedy.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: alanabit
Date: 16 May 11 - 05:53 AM

That will be a close call. I wondered why Milner - a tough and industrious player admittedly - got so many games while Adam Johnson was sat on the bench and Sean Wright-Phillips was not always in the squad. They are both faster, shoot better and are more skillful. Still, Milner can and does work hard anywhere he is told to. Maybe he is seen as the hod carrier, but he certainly does not seem to have the vision or explosiveness of his other midfield colleagues Silva and Ya Ya Touré. Barry may well get another season, although Nigel de Jong is the more important midfield ball winner. Some of Barry's long balls are better, but with his age in mind, Mancini may well look out for a younger player with an eye to the future. It is obvious that several players will go at the end of the season, but I think the former Aston Villa players should be there for at least another season. Barry at least has an FA Cup medal for his sideboard now.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 May 11 - 06:33 AM

Yes, I always thought that Barry & Milner were great for the Villa, but never thought thye would be good enough for a club like City with so much clout and money.

I think the same will apply to Ashley Young if he leaves.

Money isn't everything. Most players who love the game, cannot stand not being picked each week, and should think very carefully about going to the top 3 or 4 clubs IMHO.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:06 AM

Hi Arthur and gang

<"Subject: RE: BS: MANCHESTER ...
From: Arthur_itus - PM
Date: 14 May 11 - 01:48 PM

:-)

Mike must have gone to the match. ">

I have been away in Wales for a few days.

I went to the United v Chelsea game and to be honest there was only one team in it - it wasn't Chelsea !! Great game for the united fans but a little demoralising for Chelsea.

I got back from Wales in time to go to Blackburn. Though the result suited us it wasn't the best of games but I guess at this time of the Season the ends justify the means.

Whatever people say about Rooney you can't argue about that he is a great player and has more than one depth to his game. Some of his passing and movement in the past few games has been sublime and his goalscoring touch is returning.

The penalty on Saturday was huge in the sense that he knew that scoring it would almost certainly win the leugue for a record 19th time. There was a lot of messing about and waiting to take the kick but it was a fine penalty kick. After that Blackburn conceded the play to protect their point that that deserved. But I think it could have been a shortsighted decision. It is so close at the relegation end that they could regret not trying to score again against a clearly off-form United.

Now for the big one against Barcelona. barcelone must be strong favourites but this team this year have won several matches purely on spirit and belief......and Fergie !!!

So don't write them off yet.

Well done to City .....there is clearly more to come from them !!

Finally - Arthur, I watched the highlights of Villa v Arsenal. Bent's first goal was a "belter" - not a bad buy eh ??

Regards

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:24 AM

Bent's goal was top notch Mike and exactly what the Villa needed. All good players make goals look easy.
I think personally that it was possibly the goal of the weekend. The way he took it on his chest and then how he so skillfully put it past the goalkeeper was sublime. He knows his job and he does it.

Are Man U going to give the game to Blackpool this weekend Mike?

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:25 AM

Yes, Arsenal blew it right enuff! & respect to Bent to be sure. & I speak as one who has returned to Goonerism after a spell in the wilderness when I could see no point in supporting an entirely foreign team playing in a brand-new stadium under a French manager*. But now that Gibbs, Walcott, Ramsey, Wilshere, Henderson et al are beginning to figure, I can return to a loyalty that has lasted 75 years....



~Michael~

*As to that, I still long for the 6&5 rule to come into force.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 May 11 - 10:34 AM

Hi Arthur

I don't think that United will "give" the game to Blackpool but for sure Fergie will not pick his strongest team.

There will probably be some howls from some of the teams in danger of relegation but we have had all those before haven't we.??

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 16 May 11 - 11:04 AM

Hi Brakn

Altricham just got relegated didn't they?? As a boy I used to climb over the fences to watch The Robins.

But since the days of Noel White and Peter Swales the money ran out and they have struggled to stay in the league.

Sad to see them disappear from the top flight of non-league football. Like near neighbours - Northwich - they will find it difficult to get back.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: greg stephens
Date: 16 May 11 - 11:20 AM

Well, as an inhabitant of Stoke looking at the Britannia Stadium as I type now, I can tell you that our boys done very good. It was just that Man City have pricier players

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 May 11 - 11:26 AM

Stoke have done very well Greg.

I was dispointed to see my nearest local football club disappear from N Power league 2.

Lincoln just amazingly collapsed and had a terrible time when the young rookie goalkeeper on loan from Aston Villa joined them. They have a nice ground and its just sad to see them do so badly.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 16 May 11 - 11:37 AM

May be time to re-write "Wonderwall" as the old words no longer ring true:

Here is the Man City version of Wonderwall in full...


Today will be another day, I wish I'd never been a Blue
I'm sure we saw it all before when we went down to division 2
I don't believe that any team has played the way we do,
apart from Slough.

Last week we had a bad defeat that we really could have done without
Felt sure that we were gonna score, but again we left the field with
nowt
I don't believe that Bill Shank-er-ley could stop us going down,
Nor could Don Howe

And all the roads to Wemb-er-ley are winding
We ain't got any silverware for shining
We haven't won a single thing for over 20 years
and we wont do now
Cos maybe, we should have got Liam Brady
But after all we got Alan Ball

Today was gonna be the day when I thought we'd sign someone new
But the deal crashed, not enough cash, and he'd only ever played for
Crewe
I don't beleive that anybody would sign in their right mind anyhow

And all the shots we have on goal go wider
No one ever seems to play a blinder
There are many teams that I would love to see us beat
But I can't see how
Cos maybe, we should have got Richard Madeley
But after all we got Alan Ball.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 16 May 11 - 11:45 AM

Arthur ~ Sorry about Lincoln, Do not blame the goalkeeper too much, however: I am sure he did his best, and, as an ex-goalkeeper myself {Hendon County School 1st XI 2 seasons 1949-50}... I always used to say to my team-mates that a really good team shouldn't need a goalkeeper.

~M~

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 16 May 11 - 01:19 PM

M
I don't support them, but it is a shame that Lincoln do not have a team in the football league. They were bloddy good when Turnip head was manager.
What amazes me is the sad demise of Brian Little.
Brian as manager of Villa in 1995–96 he had a the most successful season at Villa Park in years. The club finished fourth in the Premiership, reached the FA Cup semi-finals and won the Coca-Cola Cup with a 3–0 win over Leeds at Wembley. Trinidad and Tobago striker Dwight Yorke had now firmly established himself as a world-class goalscorer. Villa qualified for the 1996–97 UEFA Cup and although they were knocked out at the first stage by Swedish part-timers Helsingborg, they qualified for the 1997–98 competition after finishing fifth in the Premiership.
He is now manager of Gainsborough Trinty in Lincolnshire.
Hard to imagine.

Anyway, there is only one club for me Villa :-)

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: alanabit
Date: 16 May 11 - 01:32 PM

A disgraceful ditty there from Nigel Parsons. I would probably fight him if I were not giggling so much!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: HuwG
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:05 PM

As part of their FA cup-winning celebrations, Manchester City are to exhume Peter Swales, their controversial former chairman who died in 1996.

He had the key to the trophy room in his top pocket.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: alanabit
Date: 17 May 11 - 02:32 AM

One piece of news I did like was that City do not plan to parade the FA Cup tonight at their final home fixture of the season against Stoke. I hope they stick to that and show a rare bit of respect and good manners towards their opponents tonight. Sport all round could use a bit more of that.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 May 11 - 03:43 AM

The club may decide that, Alan - But I am not so sure the fans will be able to conatain themselves!

DtG

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: alanabit
Date: 17 May 11 - 04:29 AM

Let's just see what happens. You never really know what to expect. There have been those horrible "Munich" chants, which make us look cheap and brutish. However, on the actual anniversary of the crash at Old Trafford three years ago, the City fans observed the minute's silence with impeccable decorum and dignity. I hope we see the better side of them tonight.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 17 May 11 - 04:53 AM

I do too - and Good luck on both counts:-)

D.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 May 11 - 06:47 AM

<"Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: HuwG - PM
Date: 16 May 11 - 07:05 PM

As part of their FA cup-winning celebrations, Manchester City are to exhume Peter Swales, their controversial former chairman who died in 1996.

He had the key to the trophy room in his top pocket. ">

Hi HuwG

....ha ha ha...Oh and when they do ask them to look if their is an old Lonnie Donnegan record there that I bought at his shop and forgot to pick it up....lol

I used to work with his partner in crime Noel White; but Noel did rather better than me !!!

MikeL2

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 May 11 - 10:48 AM

I dunno what football's coming to these days, when an England captain can marry a bleedin' pop singer. Anyway, in spite of everything, I hope Billy and Joy will be very happy...

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 May 11 - 11:13 AM

hi Will

I know you are getting on a bit but I think you have been asleep for 100 years !!

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 May 11 - 11:34 AM

That made me laugh Will. You have to be old enough to understand that one LOL

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: GUEST,Jim Knowledge
Date: 17 May 11 - 11:34 AM

I `d that Abu Ben `adj in my cab the other day. `im from the Arabian oil fields with in-exhaustible piles of serious dosh.
I said, " Morning Sheik. Which bank you buying today?".
`e said, "Nah Jim, I gotta-nuff banks. We`re `aving a meeting about our foray into the sports business".
I said, "What, you gonna buy NIKE or REEBOK then?".
`e said, "Nah, we`re in the early stages of buying next year`s FA cup!!".

Whaddam I Like??

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 May 11 - 12:10 PM

I used to support the Trotters but gave up when Nat Lofthouse retired.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 May 11 - 01:02 PM

Absolutely right, Will. Why have England dropped Cliff Bastin, do you think?

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 May 11 - 01:08 PM

Well perhaps World War II had a hand in it somewhere.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 17 May 11 - 02:49 PM

Hi Will & Michael

I love this nostalgia.

As for me, it may be fitting to recall that Manchester United played Blackpool in the Cup Final in 1948.

United won 4-2. We went as a family, my grandfather, father and myself.
Obviously as a 10 year old I was excited and thrilled.

Do you know; though I sometimes forget my Pin Number I can still recite the team.

Crompton,Carey,Aston,Anderson,Chilton,Cockburn,Delaney,Morris,Rowley ,Pearson,Mitten.

No foreign players in this team !! Though I suppose in those days we would consider Carey and Delaney as "outsiders".

My father's name was jack so my favourite was Jack Rowley who scored two goals in this game. Stan Pearson & John Anderson scored the others.

It will be an entirely different experience for me going to watch United v Blackpool on Saturday. I have no doubts that Blackpool will go for it. Could be an entertaining afternoon.

Regards

Mikel2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Will Fly
Date: 17 May 11 - 03:12 PM

The names from my youth... Tom Finney... Stan Mortensen... Bert Trautmann... Stanley Matthews... Nat Lofthouse... Johnny Haynes... Jackie Milburn... Len Shackleton... Billy Wright... Duncan Edwards...

And so many others!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 17 May 11 - 03:48 PM

Tommy Lawton, Ted Drake, Raish Carter, Ted Ditchburn, Ted Burgess, Joe Mercer ...

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Arthur_itus
Date: 17 May 11 - 04:20 PM

I can still recite the team that beat the Busby babes in 1957 in the FA Cup Final :-) Sims, Lynn, Aldis, Crowther, Dugdale, Seward, Smith, Sewell, Myerscoff, Dixon, Macparland

The names from my youth who I saw live.

Peter MacParland, Johnny Dixon, Gerry Hitchens, Stanley Matthews, The Busby Babes, Ray Barlow, Ronnie Allen, Don Howe, Bert Williams, Billy Wright, Ron Flowers, Bill Slater and more and more...

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: alanabit
Date: 17 May 11 - 04:38 PM

Alf Ramsey must have been playing then, wasn't he? Man City have just come off the Eastlands pitch with a 3-0 win. That means they have to get the same result as Arsenal on Sunday to get third place.
Arsenal will be away at Fulham and City at Bolton (not Blackburn as I thought earlier). It is going to be exciting!

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 18 May 11 - 05:46 AM

Hi Michael

Yes indeed....Raich Carter. he is the best player that I have ever seen.
A wonderful controller of a football and a brilliant thinker.

As I was living in Hull for some time I saw him play often.

But my outstanding recollection of him was when he came to Old Trafford and totally ran the game for Hull. He was here there and every where. He took all the corners,throw-ins and even some of the goal kicks.

He was also a good manager with Hull where he "discovered" Don Revie and Leeds United.

An outstanding player, Manager and person.

Thanks for the memory.

Regards

Mikel2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Brakn
Date: 18 May 11 - 05:52 AM

So Mr Mancini.... disregarding the £300,000,000 that City have spent on players (1 billion if you count wages).... how do you think you beat Stoke?

Out of 18 teams in the Premiership, 12 of them haven't got a hope. What a waste of time.

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 18 May 11 - 06:13 AM

Probably just as well that Cardiff won't now be joining them then?

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: MikeL2
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:06 AM

Hi Brakn

You are of course correct. Money speaks volumes and in the end the teams with the most money will end up highest in the competitions.

However this is true in almost all sports not just football and not all in the same degree of millions.

Cheers

MikeL2

Subject: RE: BS: Manchester ...
From: Brakn
Date: 18 May 11 - 07:24 AM

You learn something everyday.

Raich Carter (Raich was short for Horatio) played cricket for Derbyshire.