From: svenn@stud.cs.uit.no (Svenn Hanssen)
Subject: Hodge-Brightwell (was Re: Man City vs Leeds)
Organization: University of Troms
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 1992 13:31:16 GMT

In article <seanb.721503334@cs.man.ac.uk>, seanb@cs.man.ac.uk (Sean Bechhofer) writes:
|> 
|> 	MANCHESTER CITY 4	LEEDS UTD 0
|> 
|>   After a fairly dire show in the last couple of home games, the crowd at
|> Maine Road were looking for a similar performance to that which earned the
|> Blues a 3-1 victory at Goodison last Saturday, but no-one was expecting the
|> display they were treated to. The scoring touch is back, with four players
|> getting their names on the score sheet, a reflection of the way that City
|> played as a complete team. 

And what a cracking display it was from the blues. You may say that the 
dozen or so of City-fans coming down from Norway picked the right match..
If the blues continues to play like this for the rest of the season, we
might get some new silver to Main Road! But it's still early and only
8 points difference both to the top and to relegation......

|> Strachan became more and more frustrated, and was eventually booked for
|> throwing the ball at Terry Phelan's head after conceding a free kick. Other

Perhaps it had something to do with him getting the thumb down by Kippax 
during the match :-{}

|> The Leeds midfield were below par, and Cantona and Wallace couldn't come up
|> with the goods. Wallace threatened with his pace occasionally, but Curle
|> was up to the challenge.  Hodge was ineffective and clearly not match fit.
|> Reid has been considering a bid for Hodge, and it'll be interesting to see
|> what happens after this game.  Wilkinson is rumoured to be looking at Ian
|> Brigthwell, and there is talk of a swap deal with Hodge, but based on
|> Saturday, Reid would have to stupid to take up such an offer. However, we
|> all know what his transfer negotiating skills are like :-(.

Hodge proved to be crap. At least in this match. I cannot imagine Reid
swapping young Ian with the old 'horse'. Hodge has not been doing well
at all in the 'Yorkshire shirt' while Ian Brightwell is a player with
a future to come. You might say that City has a record selling off
promising youngsters (and Kippax favourites), buying old 'last a year'
players in return. But at least we have some of the 'faboulus five' intact,
and the selling of Redmond and Hinchcliffe perhaps proving to be the right 
thing after all (look at Everton and Oldham). The back-four looks like
solid rock to me. It's amazing how well Andy Hill is doing as a central
defender. Spending 5M on two Wimbledon defenders will be forgotten 
if Reid can snatch a trophy for the first time in n years ('76). But he 
won't get it by selling the likes of Ian Brightwell!

What Reid really should be doing was to get Neil Webb to Main Road. Webb
and McMahon in midfield sure sounds like music to my ears. But it looks 
as if Reid has lost some pace off-field as well as on-field. Or maybe
's4b' Ferguson wants White in return. In that case I don't blame Reid for
looking the other way.......

As for Michael Hughes: It was a real blow to see him go! And Holden isn't
filling the gap after the busy Hughes, yet! But then Hughes was a Kippax
favourite, and Holden's not.

|> 
|>   No game next week due to internationals, and the week after sees City
|> away at Coventry, where hopefully the good form will continue. Watch this
|> space.... 
|> 
|> Cheers,
|> 
|> 	Sean B

Let's all hope for another good show from the blues! 
and keep up the good work Sean!


Svenn
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