From: seanb@cs.man.ac.uk (Sean Bechhofer)
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer
Subject: Man City Festive News
Date: 6 Jan 93 12:22:37 GMT

City had varying success over the Christmas period. Although remaining
unbeaten in the three holiday games, with a win and two draws, they failed
to take advantage of chances, and didn't really perform too well. 

	CITY 1		VILLA 1
	Flitcroft	Parker

The Saturday before Christmas saw a visit from Aston Villa. I didn't make
this game myself, but from reports, it was well contested, and ended in a
1-1 draw. The Villa goal was hotly disputed, with the City players furious
that an offside decision hadn't been made. The referee decided that a
player was not seeking an advantage through being in an offside position,
despite him later being involved in the play, and in the defensive
confusion that followed, Parker scored. Garry Flitcroft claimed his first
goal (excepting an own goal earlier in the season :-) to share the points.

	CITY 2		SHEFFIELD UTD 0
	White 2

On Boxing Day, Sheffield Utd visited Maine Road, bringing a large support,
and contributing to City's biggest crowd of the season at 27,455. The
Blades fans were in fine voice, although there was some confusion when the
teams came out on the pitch. City were first out, and the away supporters
mistook Coton's yellow shirt for their own colours, and released hundreds
of yellow balloons. Their team finally appeared a minute or so later, much
to the amusement of the City fans. The game wasn't much to smile about,
though. Utd were fairly dreadful, and didn't really offer much, showing why
they're in the possible relegation zone. City won through two goals from
the previously out-of-form White. The first was very standard City fare - a
long kick from Coton was flicked on by Quinn, and White beat the offside to
race through and finish well with a neat lob over the 'keeper.  The second
was of much higher class, with Holden working well on the left and whipping
in a near post corner for White to head home. Utd's hope of attack
disappeared in the second half when Deane was stretchered off after a clash
of heads with Hill. A fair result, but the game had long periods where not
much happened.

	LIVERPOOL 1	CITY 1
	Rush		Quinn

City's trip over to Anfield on the holiday Monday was significant in that
two players who've had difficulty finding the net were finally on the score
sheet. Quinn has been going through a real lean spell recently, but scored
with a powerful header. Rush also ended a bad patch with a goal, although
he managed another on Sunday against Bolton Wanderers in the FA cup.
Again, I'm afraid I didn't see any of this game, so not much to say,
although City had a goal disallowed for what was said to be a rather
dubious offside decision. Reports were that there was quite a lot of "up
and under" in this game, but this may have been due to the frosty
conditions making close control difficult. Then again, it may just be
tactical ineptitude from Reid and Ellis....

	CITY 1		READING 1
	Sheron		??

The Blues' cup form has not been too good lately, and only a late equaliser
from Sheron kept them in this years FA competition. At first, it looked
like Second Division Reading were going to be overwhelmed, with City
rampant in the first few minutes, forcing corners, and even getting the
ball in the net. The attempt was ruled out, correctly, though, as the ball
had crossed the bye-line before being crossed in. The Reading keeper was
kept busy, making a terrific save from a Niall Quinn shot from fifteen
yards, and tipping away a Rick Holden effort. Reading seemed very nervous,
and kept making silly mistakes. However, as the game went on, their
confidence grew, and the home crowd inevitably began to get on the backs of
the City team, frustrated that their side hadn't turned domination into
goals. Just before half time, Reading got, and took, their chance. A move
broke down the left, and from the resulting cross, and thanks to some poor
marking, the ball was volleyed in from the right hand side of the penalty
area. Their only real chance of the game, and taken well. Gutted. The team
left the park to the sound of boos and whistles.  The second half was much
the same, although by now, Reading had their heads up, and their large
contingent of supporters behind them. City desperately fought for the
equaliser, and Flitcroft was unlucky to see his shot come back off a post
into the arms of the previously beaten keeper.  Finally, with fifteen
minutes to go, City got the break they needed.  Flitcroft pushed the ball
out to Sheron, who scored. Reading then hung on despite a fierce onslaught,
and at the final whistle deserved their chance at the replay.

  This was overall a very poor City performance, though. White played
abysmally, without hitting a single decent cross, and disappeared from the
game for long periods. The only player who did perform well was Flitcroft,
who was excellent. He's certainly improved a great deal over the last few
months.  Too often, though, City, and in particular Keith Curle, hit the
long ball up to Quinn. He made many knock downs, but there was never anyone
there to to capitalise on them. A tactical shake up is required (how many
times have you seen me write that? Is there a pattern here? Peter Reid
please take note).

  More worrying though, is the injury situation at Maine Road. Ian
Brightwell left the pitch with a calf injury in the second half, to be
replaced by his brother David.  It also transpires that Andy Hill has
been playing with a nagging injury for the last few games, and will now be
out for four to six weeks for a hernia operation. With Vonk still out,
this leaves the Blues without defensive cover, and possibly in the
positition of having to buy quickly, or "blood" reserve team players with
no first team experience. Moves are still afoot to sign Kare Ingebretson, a
"free scoring midfielder", but that won't solve the defensive problems (or
those with the current strikers...). All in all, not a great start to the
year in Manchester 14......

Cheers,

	Sean B
Newsgroups: rec.sport.soccer