Manchester City #2: Met Oliesjeiks en samba Brazilianen

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Manchester City is geblesseerde Petrov tot februari kwijt
22/10/2008 09:49

Martin Petrov zal waarschijnlijk in februari 2009 pas weer kunnen voetballen. De middenvelder van Manchester City kampt met een knieblessure.

Petrov keerde vorige week terug van interlandverplichtingen met Bulgarije en meldde zich in Manchester met een pijnlijke knie. Uit onderzoek blijkt dat een meniscus hem parten speelt. 'Hij heeft een scheurtje in een meniscus', legde coach Mark Hughes uit. 'Het is een slechte blessure en hij zal drie tot vier maanden uitgeschakeld zijn.'

Dit seizoen kwam Petrov pas drie competitieduels in actie. De 29-jarige international kampte eerder met een hamstringblessure, waardoor hij in september moest revalideren en pas begin oktober terugkeerde op het veld.

Petrov zal door zijn knieblessure ook niet in actie kunnen komen tegen FC Twente in het toernooi om de UEFA Cup.

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Op maandag 27 oktober 2008 13:59 schreef Blight het volgende:
Jo valt tot dusver nog tegen trouwens, inderdaad. Had meer van hem verwacht. Maar goed, misschien komt het nog..!

Kan zijn dat ik nu iets doms zeg

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Hughes unhappy with crucial penalty decision 29/10/2008 23:03



Mark Hughes has reacted with disappointment to the crucial penalty decision that helped swing Wednesday night's game at the Riverside Stadium against City.
Referee Lee Mason pointed to the spot after Danny Sturridge had tangled with Boro's David Wheater on the very edge of the penalty area. Alves stepped up to score, and the incident came straight after City had seen two great chances saved by home keeper Ross Turnbull.

Gary O'Neil's stoppage time goal sealed the win for the hosts, and speaking afterwards Hughes said:

"Obviously we are disappointed, we did not take the chances we had at good times of the game. We came out of the traps quickly in the second half, created two real openings but did not convert them. Lo and behold, they go up the other end of the pitch, and the referee has made a decision that I am sure he feels is the correct one.

"I have seen it again after the game and I don't feel initially that their guy had full control of the ball anyway. I think it is outside the box, then he wraps his trailing leg behind Daniel and that's what has taken him over. It's more a consequence of his actions, not Daniel's.

"The linesman does not give it, he is in the best position, the referee comes over, has a long hard think and decides to make a decision that changes the shape of the game and the outcome of the result. As soon as they get a lead, they are going to protect it and get people behind the ball. The second goal was a consequence of us throwing people forward. The manner of the defeat is hard to take because we had chances ourselves."

Tim Oscroft

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Blues record tense win over McClaren's men 06/11/2008 21:30

Manchester City v FC Twente

Thursday November 6, 2008, 7.45pm
City of Manchester Stadium - Att: ...

Teams

City:
Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne (c), Richards, Garrido, Fernandes, Wright-Phillips, Ireland, Vassell (Elano 65), Robinho, Jo (Benjani 59).

unused subs: Schmeichel (GK), Ben-Haim, Onuoha, Hamann, Evans.

FC Twente:
Boschker, Wielaert (c), Braafheid, Douglas, Hersi, Tiote (Janssen 79), Stam, Brama (Wellenberg 64), Arnautovic (Huysegems 32), Nkufo, Elia.

unused subs: Perez, Heubach, Paauwe (GK), Gerritsen.

Goals: 1-0 Wright-Phillips 2, 1-1 Elia 17, 2-1 Robinho 57, 3-1 Benjani 62, 3-2 Wielaert 65

Bookings:

City: Zabaleta 28

FC Twente: Elia 41

Pre-match

Mark Hughes will be a relieved man to finally be able to call on Darius Vassell and Benjani for tonight's game in addition to the returning Jo from illness.

Vassell starts for the Blues in his first appearance since the UEFA Cup qualifier against EB/Streymur at the end of August. Meanwhile, the Zimbabwean striker is fit enough for a place on the City bench.

There are starts too for Javi Garrido and Gelson Fernandes as FC Twente are dealt a blow by having to make do without their Matchday 1 match winner, Romano Denneboom.

The match

All the talk before the match was for City to open their participation in the UEFA Cup group stages with a win and with the game's first meaningful attack the Blues stuck to the script and took the lead.

Gelson Fernandes, back in the starting XI, found Shaun Wright-Phillips inside the Twente half and a quick one-two with Jo later the rapid winger was cutting into the area from the right and firing City in front after just two minutes.

The goal instantly settled Mark Hughes' men and they carried threat without creating any further chances but on 17 minutes the visitors shocked the home crowd with a breakaway goal to level the scores.

Surprisingly, a foot up offence on Zabaleta, normally clamped down on in European competition was let go and much to the horror of the City defence Eljero Elia ran through on goal and calmly beat Joe Hart down to his right.

City persisted but couldn't find that final ball to break through again while Twente looked dangerous on the counter attack. And it was from a break down the right that the referee produced the first yellow card.

Pablo Zabaleta was booked for innocuous pull on Hersi from which he took an age to go down...clearly the City faithful did not agree and let it be known.

The game's first substitution came just minutes later as Arnautovic picked up a knock and was replaced by Huysegems. Back to the bookings and Elia talked his way into the book on 41 minutes after disputing a foul.

Jo then had a good chance after beating two defenders inside the area his right footed shot went through the keeper's legs but he seemed to get enough on it to keep it out.

In first half stoppage time SWP injected a bit of pace and raced around the back of the Twente defence before putting a fine ball in which Jo's clever flick brought a simple save from the veteran Boschker in goal.

HALF TIME: City 1-1 FC Twente

There were no changes at the break and City set about the task of retaking the lead by winning an early corner which came to nothing.

Robinho drifted in from the left to release Jo inside the box, but he could only poke it towards goal, as he was always stretching to reach the ball and make a clean contact.

On 53 minutes most of the crowd thought Wright-Phillips had grabbed his second of the night but his 20-yard shot had fizzed behind and the rebound caused the net to ripple.

Four minutes later City did get the second their attacking play deserved and what a strike from Robinho.

Stephen Ireland marched forward with purpose from midfield before laying the ball off to Robinho on the left corner edge of the box. The Brazilian took one touch to steady himself before curling a beautiful right footer into the top corner and give City the advantage.

Two minutes later, Jo made way for Benjani, and the returning striker made his mark straight away as he broke the offside trap to fire a shot in from just outside the box - a helpful deflection from the defender took it away from the keeper to make it 3-1.

But no sooner had the crowd settled down and a Twente substitute been made then the score became 3-2 as captain Robbie Wielaert headed home a left wing corner with 25 minutes to go.

The game became an edgy encounter with both teams breaking at will looking for their next vital goal.

On 75 minutes City hit the post after Robinho had led the Twente defence on a merry dance and the crowd ooh'd as the ball rebounded to safety for McClaren's men.

Benjani then stung the keeper's palms on 79 minutes with a rasping drive from distance as City pressed for a fourth.

After a patient move involving Benjani, Robinho and Zabaleta, Robinho cracked the post again with an effort, and in the final minute Huysegems should have made it 3-3 but could only blaze over the pull back from eight-yards out to the complete despair of an animated Steve McClaren.

But despite that miss and a tense end to the match, the Blues held on to their slender lead and deservedly won the game to register a first group stage win.

In the night's other group game Schalke drew 1-1 with Real Racing Club.

FULL TIME: City 3-2 FC Twente

Leon Collins

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Hughes wary of Harry's Tottenham revival 09/11/2008 08:44


Mark Hughes is expecting a tough test from a Spurs side rejuvenated after the recent arrival of Harry Redknapp.
The recently-installed Spurs boss has guided the previously underperforming squad into a run of four unbeaten games, although such was their poor start to the season that they remain at the bottom of the Premier League table.

Looking at Harry's impact, Mark tells us: "Everybody understood that they’ve got an exceptionally gifted group of players and for whatever reason they weren’t performing for the previous manager.

"Harry’s obviously recognised that certain things were wrong. He’s addressed them and the good players that should have being playing well before Harry’s arrival are just starting to play how everybody expected them to. They’re a very good side and it’s another big test, but at home, I think we can cause anybody problems."

Today's game sees Harry return to the City of Manchester Stadium seven weeks after his Portsmouth side were hammered 6-0, as City's boss is happy to recall.

"He'll be looking for something a bit more positive after the mauling his team had at our stadium a few weeks ago, let's hope we can replicate that! If we play as well as we know we can in our home games this weekend, then why not?"

A face familiar to Harry could be set to feature against him today, with Benjani vying for a place after making a goalscoring return to action against FC Twente on Thursday.

"I thought he looked really strong," Marks says of the big striker. "It’s always difficult when you’ve had a period out like he has to come back and make an impact. But it’s credit to him and how professional he’s been trying to get back to a level that would enable him to make an impact as soon as he was introduced. That was the case and we’re really pleased."

City will be without Vincent Kompany today, the Belgian midfielder having already reached five bookings for the season so far, and he is now suspended for one match.

"I haven't shouted at him, I thought that the booking last weekend was a ridiculous one. Because of his position he's going to liable to picking up more bookings than others, but he's been excellent since he came to the club. I've been really pleased with what he's done and he'll be a loss, as we don't have a great deal of players with that kind of physical presence in midfield. So he'll be missed but we'll find a way to work around it," Hughes concludes.

Tim Oscroft

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Op zondag 9 november 2008 23:11 schreef Manu82 het volgende:
Kon het dus niet zien via schotel
Was het wat?

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My First City Game 11/11/2008 06:30



Manchester City FC is proud to announce it has launched a campaign to fill the City of Manchester Stadium with fans’ memories of their very first City game.

My First City Game will put the supporters at the very centre of the City of Manchester Stadium, and celebrate the history of the club through the eyes of the fans.

Fans of all ages are encouraged to submit their memories, where they will permanently reside in a specially developed interactive forum on this site www.mcfc.co.uk/myfirstcitygame. Whether this was in the 1960s or at last weekend’s game; at Maine Road, the City of Manchester Stadium or anywhere – we want to know about that particular day in your life. Where it was, who you were with, how you got there and maybe even what you ate; we’re looking for whatever it is that made that day unforgettable for you.

The club will review all submissions and select the most compelling memories to develop into a bright and vibrant collage that will fill the concourses throughout the entire stadium. My First City Game has also been developed to encourage new fans to submit their experiences following their first visit to City of Manchester Stadium, or another ground to see Manchester City. It is hoped that submissions from first time supporters will be made for every home game, through which fans continue to write the club’s history in coming years.

Garry Cook, MCFC Executive Chairman, says, “As our fans, you have always been the heartbeat of our club, and your support makes Manchester City the most special club in the world. We want to look to the future without ever forgetting the past, and it’s only right that we do this using the memories of those most important to the club. The City of Manchester Stadium is a fantastic facility; My First City Game will introduce even more personality and life to it, and help make it feel like the spiritual home of our club.”

City's Chairman, Khaldoon Al Mubarak has sent us his first City memory already, and we’re really looking forward to seeing some of yours on this site and in our magnificent stadium. To enter your memory, simply visit www.mcfc.co.uk/myfirstcitygame, and if you have a relevant digital image please upload it too.

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Hull 2-2 City 16/11/2008 18:01

Hull City v Manchester City

Sunday November 16, 2008, 4.00pm
KC Stadium - Att: 24,902

Teams:

Hull: Myhill, Ashbee (c), Turner, Geovanni, McShane, Boateng (Halmosi 80), Ricketts, Marney, King, Zayatte, Cousin (Barmby 75).

unused subs: Duke, Doyle, Garcia, Folan, Stelios.

City: Hart (Schmeichel 18), Zabaleta, Richards, Ben Haim, Garrido, Kompany, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Vassell, Robinho (c), Benjani (Jo 75).

unused subs: Ball, Onuoha, Elano, Hamann, Evans.

Goals: 1-0 (Cousin 14), 1-1 (Ireland 38), 1-2 (Ireland 44), 2-2 (Geovanni 60)

Bookings:

Hull: McShane (25), Marney (88)

City: Ben Haim (11), SWP (81), Ireland (82)

Referee: P Dowd

Pre-match: There were two changes to the City starting line-up from last Sunday, with Ben Haim & Kompany replacing the suspended Dunne & Fernandes. Robinho took the captain’s armband. There was a warm ovation for Geovanni from the City fans.

The Match

Both sets of fans generated a huge amount of noise at kick off, but it was Robinho who had the chance to quieten the home fans after just two minutes with a free kick from around 30 yards out. This time there was to be no blockbusting screamer, his effort going a long way to the right of Myhill’s post. Hull skipper Ian Ashbee wasted a good shooting opportunity on 10 minutes, placing his shot harmlessly past Hart’s right-hand upright.

The last thing City needed was to gift a chance to the hosts, but unfortunately on 14 minutes a mistake by Tal Ben Haim did just that. The defender, who had been booked a couple of minutes earlier, under hit a back-pass towards Hart and rolled the ball straight into the path of Daniel Cousin, who took a couple of strides forward to touch it past the onrushing Joe Hart and into the net.

To make matters worse for City, Hart hurt his left ankle in the collision with the goal scorer, and although he tried to carry on the Blues keeper was substituted a couple of minutes after the restart, receiving a sympathetic hand from the home fans.

The next phase of the game saw the home side dominate as they looked to take advantage of City’s nervousness at the back. Errors were the order of the day on both sides, with the Blues’ only real threatening moments coming to nothing when Benjani was caught offside on a couple of occasions. Ben Haim looked to have conceded a corner on 35 minutes after a good headed interception, but King’s offside position negated it anyway.

The error-strewn-nature of the half led to another goal just two minutes later – but this time it was a howler by the home side, and City were level! Kamil Zayatte looked to have ended a decent City move, but he rolled the ball straight across the face of the goal in the area and into the path of Stephen Ireland, who slotted it home for his fourth league goal of the season.

The goal gave City the lift they badly needed, and three minutes before the break they should have had the chance to level from the spot. Robinho’s shot clearly hit Turner on the arm inside the area but referee Phil Dowd, just yards away, waved play on to Robinho’s astonishment.

But it did not matter as seconds later City were ahead through a piece of genuine skill. Garrido burst down the left, found Stephen Ireland in acres of space just outside the box and the midfielder took his time to curl a beautiful strike past Myhill and just inside the post! Cue choruses of ‘Ireland is Superman’ from our fans!

No changes at the break, but two minutes into the second half, after two City corners had led to nothing, Geovanni made a chance from nothing when a spectacular scissors kick went over Schmeichel’s bar. Marlon King had another chance shortly after but Kasper was down well to his right to keep us ahead.

A free kick on 56 minutes had Geovanni lining up from long-range, around 35 yards out, but the former City man’s effort lacked venom or direction, and Schmeichel watched it drift a long way wide.

But Geovanni did not have too long to wait to get the goal he must have craved, and once again it was from a free kick. This time he was five yards from the box and dead centre, but his shot took a big deflection off the wall to leave Schmeichel wrong-footed.

Cousin’s diving header brought a good save out of Schmeichel seconds later, and down at the other end Robinho looked to take a touch too many before driving a shot straight at a defender.

Fine work by Robinho and Benjani on 68 minutes set up Darius Vassell for a great chance inside the box, but he missed his first kick, and the Hull defence had time to close him down at the second.

A brace of substitutions on 75 were quickly followed by the sight of Ben Haim striding through the Hull midfield to possibly set something up, but his final ball was found wanting and he was soon sprinting back into position.

More free kick mayhem followed around the 80 minute mark as Geovanni lined up from the edge of the ‘D’ outside the box. He got three bites at the cherry, because Phil Dowd ruled that first SWP and then Ireland had encroached. The final effort deflected wide, and the Blues fans breathed again.

Four minutes were to be added, and as the board was flashing the stoppage allowance, Darius Vassell was denied by a fine save from Myhill. A superb ball across the pitch from Garrido set him up to loop it over the Hull keeper, but at full stretch he fingertipped it to safety.

A breathless last few seconds saw City earn two corners, Micah Richards coming closest with a header that went just wide in the 95th minute. The full time whistle went just afterwards, and the Blues left Humberside with a point that had at one stage looked unlikely, then looked like becoming three before almost inevitably Geovanni came back to haunt them.

Tim Oscroft

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'City biedt megabedrag voor Buffon'

MANCHESTER - Manchester City heeft volgens de Italiaanse sportkrant La Gazzetta dello Sport vrijdag een bod van 75 miljoen euro uitgebracht op doelman Gianluigi Buffon van Juventus. Voor de 30-jarige Italiaan zou in Manchester een vijfjarig contract klaarliggen, met een jaarsalaris van 15 miljoen euro.

De club uit de Engelse Premier League werd in de zomer opgekocht door de Abu Dhabi United Group, een investeerdersgroep uit het Midden-Oosten met een vermogen van miljarden euro's. Manchester City slaagde er al in om de Braziliaanse spits Robinho voor ruim 40 miljoen euro los te weken bij Real Madrid.

telegraaf

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City 3-0 Arsenal 22/11/2008 16:50



Manchester City v Arsenal

Saturday November 22, 2008, 3.00pm
City of Manchester Stadium - Att: 44, 878

Teams:

City: Hart, Zabaleta, Dunne (c), Richards, Garrido, Kompany, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Vassell (Elano 70), Robinho (Hamann 82), Benjani (Sturridge 88).

unused subs: Schmeichel, Onuoha, Ben Haim, Evans.

Arsenal: Almunia (c), Hoyte (Ramsey 60), Silvestre, Djourou, Clichy, Diaby (Vela 69), Song, Denilson, Nasri, Van Persie, Bendtner.

unused subs: Fabianski, Wilshere, Gibbs, Lansbury, Simpson.

Goals:1-0 (Ireland 45 +1), 2-0 (Robinho 56), 3-0 (Sturridge pen 90+1)

Bookings:

City:

Arsenal: Song (87)

Referee: A Wiley

Pre-match: There’s a distinct chill in the air as we head for our first 3.00pm kick off on a Saturday this season. Arsenal’s off-field troubles are dominating the headlines, and the Gunners are without Walcott, Gallas, Toure & Adebayor for a variety of reasons.

There was a major surprise with Joe Hart named in the starting line-up, the keeper having made a quicker than expected recovery from his sprained ankle sustained at Hull. Richard Dunne is back from suspension and wearing the captain’s armband once more. Following Gallas' outburst, Manuel Almunia was named as Gunners' skipper.

The Match

A mistake in front of Arsenal’s area in just the second minute allowed Ireland to nudge the ball to Vassell, but with the crowd urging him to shoot he delayed and laid it off to Zabaleta, but the Argentinean could not open his City account and he put his shot a long way wide of Almunia’s left post.

Neither side created anything of note until 16 minutes, when Hoyte hacked Robinho down on the left flank. City took the free kick quickly and Almunia had to be alert to block the Brazilian’s effort, drilled in low from the edge of the box.

Another quiet phase followed but it was City with the next half-chance when a move involving SWP & Vassell on the right ended with Benjani just short from getting a touch on the edge of the six yard box, the striker being well-marshalled by Mikael Silvestre.

It was hearts-in-mouths time on 33 minutes after van Persie won a free kick around 30 yards out, dead centre. A long delay for treatment to the Dutchman allowed Nasri to line up his effort, which Joe Hart did well to parry away to his left. The ball was quickly back in the danger zone, but Song fluffed a great chance and shot wide.

This seemed to liven everyone up, and three minutes later Benjani was one-on-one with Almunia from an Ireland through-ball – only for the linesman to correctly flag the striker offside – but only just. Stephen Ireland displayed his fine form twice in the last few minutes of the half, breaking down the left but was unable to get a decent cross in. Shortly after another good pass split the defence but was just too far ahead of Benjani, and Almunia collected.

The Zimbabwean should have scored as we entered stoppage time, heading wide from a chipped cross from SWP, but thankfully he did not have too long to regret it as we took the lead seconds later! Silvestre & Clichy got in each other’s way on the edge of the box, and the ball sat up nicely for Stephen Ireland, who delicately popped it over Almunia and into the net. It was Stephen's sixth league goal of 08/09, his seventh in all and perfect proof of his improvement this year. Now the question was, would we be able to hang on to the lead?

The visitors were into their stride straight away in the second half, Diaby breaking into the box and firing a yard wide. Seconds later Bendtner looked to be in position to get onto the end of a cross, but Dunne hustled and prevented any chance to threaten Hart’s goal. The bombardment continued with van Persie winning another free kick on 50 minutes, and the Dutchman stepped up to bend it around the wall – but thankfully just wide of the right hand post.

But City broke the shackles in the best possible way on 56 minutes, and they doubled the lead thanks to a moment of sublime artistry. SWP won the ball in his own half and strode forward, delaying his pass perfectly to find Robinho, who flipped the ball over Almunia for a magical moment that had the crowd and the City bench off their feet – and rightly so.

The Gunners nearly hit back on the hour when Bendtner broke into the box, but the Dane’s low shot brought a good save from Hart with his legs. The ball was quickly back with the striker, but his follow-up effort was wide. Back at the other end, a clever ball from Kompany across the face of the box allowed Robinho to stoop for a header that went just wide.

The Brazilian had the ball in the net seconds later after good work from Vassell and Ireland – but the flag was up for offside. Arsenal broke away and Song fired in a shot that was safely collected by Hart.

There was huge acclaim for Elano when the little Brazilian replaced Vassell with 20 minutes left. Just afterwards his clever corner out to Ireland allowed his team mate to fire in a rasping shot that hit Denilson on the arm in the area. No penalty came, the fact that Arsenal’s Brazilian midfielder was turning away must have helped the referee make his decision.

Robinho was inches away from a second with 12 minutes on the clock, going one-on-one with Almunia after breaking through the middle, but his touch took him wider than he wanted and his rolled effort was cleared off the line by Clichy. The star striker went over on his ankle making the shot and he hobbled off, receiving a big round of applause from his adoring fans.

City wound the clock down well, but Arsenal did get the ball in the net on 88 when van Persie robbed Hart as the keeper swung his leg back to kick downfield. Referee Wiley did not allow the goal and looked to be close to booking the Arsenal striker.

The Blues made it three in stoppage time from the penalty spot. Danny Sturridge, on a substitute, was hauled down by Djourou and took the spot kick himself, despite the presence of Elano, who looked to be wanting to take it. It did not matter though, with the young striker sending Almunia the wrong way and slotting home with his left foot.

A fine day’s work ended just afterwards, the perfect start to an important week.

Tim Oscroft