Spyin' Kop Liverpool v Man City

Posted by Hinesy on November 10, 2009, 11:10:26 am

ROLL UP ROLL UP GET YER HAMSTRING INJURIES, EVERY PLAYER WANTS ONE, WE DO GROINS AND HAMSTRINGS AND KNEES AND YOU NAME IT....


It may be easier to name the players not injured in the Liverpool Squad at the moment, 'Agger' being short for "Aggrevated injuries everyday", Daniel now resembling the patient in the Operation (tm) game, Yossi being out, Gerrard having his seasonally affected disorder.. every season he gets ill and there is disorder in the camp and Torres not even appearing on the bench v Brum... Never mind we're so sorry uncle Albert, but Riera's back ill too, and Aquilani (surely a toothpaste brand: SEE HOW IT SHINES!) is slowly finding his feet. Is it me, or does he look 12? Jaques Coustn'gog meanwhile divides the nation about his dive, and the papers are smelling the blood of Benitez...

I'm writing this the weekend before and so have no idea how the squad are feeling but if other fans are like me, the sense of frustration is papable. And some of that has spilled over into being frustrated with Benitez and sense of a season already lost. Not only that, but it makes the anguish of not doing better last season all the more poignant.

Man City on the other hand to outsiders, seem to be on the up... Lots of cash, stabilty and a unique ability to wind Man Utd up... have we swapped places?

LIVERPOOL V MANCHESTER CITY
     

They play in blue, and if you don't know what their shirt looks like, you ain't a footy fan, think I've got nothing better to do than post the shirt image up here? yes I'm still hurting from the Birmingham draw....



Honours:
Best at winding Alex up apart from us.
Football League First Division (first tier)
Winners (2): 1936–37, 1967–68
Runners-up (3): 1903–04, 1920–21, 1976–77
Football League Second Division / Football League First Division (second tier)
Winners (7, record): 1898–99, 1902–03, 1909–10, 1927–28, 1946–47, 1965–66, 2001–02
Runners-up (4): 1895–96, 1950–51, 1936–37, 1999–2000
Football League Second Division (third tier)
Play-off winners: 1998–99
FA Cup
Winners (4): 1904, 1934, 1956, 1969
Runners-up (4): 1926, 1933, 1955, 1981
League Cup
Winners (2): 1970, 1976
Runners-up (1): 1974
Charity Shield
Winners (3): 1937, 1968, 1972
Runners-up (4): 1934, 1956, 1969, 1973
Full Members Cup
Runners-up (1): 1986
European Cup Winners' Cup
Winners (1): 1970
Team most likely to inflict heart burn, 1993- present date.
Team most likely to piss Gillingham fans off.


Club records
Record League victory — 11–3 v. Lincoln City (23 March 1895, most goals scored)
10–0 v. Darwen (18 February 1899, widest margin of victory)
Record FA Cup victory — 12–0 v. Liverpool Stanley (4 October 1890)
Record League defeat — 0–8 v. Burton Wanderers (26 December 1894),
Highest home attendance — 84,569 v. Stoke City (3 March 1934)
Most League appearances — 561 + 3 sub, Alan Oakes 1958–76
Most appearances overall — 676 + 4 sub, Alan Oakes 1958–76
Most goals scored overall — 177, Eric Brook 1928–40
Most goals scored in a season — 38, Tommy Johnson 1928–29
Record transfer fee paid — £32.5 million to Real Madrid for Robinho, September 2008 (also current British record)
Record transfer fee received — £23 million from Chelsea for Shaun Wright-Phillips, July 2005
Ugliest celebrity rock band fans award, 1997-present date.




As ever a big big thanks to Ric at bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk, with the full set of answers here:
http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=147456

I've always had a softer spot for City (clearly as opposed to the shit up the road from them) from the days of Dennis Tueart and the fans are mostly decent in their answers.
I thought I'd ask a couple of cheeky questions and some regular ones: Enjoy.



1.Abu Dhabi Boo… What do you make of the long trip round the world for a show off freebie – City fans like to see the club doing that, or not or do you not give a flying camel?
sam221985
It's basically glorified warm weather training, I don't really care about it.


Thanx4Knives
It normal now for club to do this, Hull and Villa to name just two did it last year.

Richard
Given the fact that it is mainly our fringe players that are going over there, it doesnt really bother me. Warm weather training in Abu Dhabi or a cold wet morning in Manchester? Its a small price to pay for having the best owners in the world.

BingoBango
Given what our owners have done for the club, the odd exhibition match during the international break is fairly insignificant. I expect it will be a nice occasion, and will give a few fringe players and youngsters the chance of a game.

blu4life
Seeing as though it's the international break, it's a good opportunity for the players not playing for their countries to stay on their toes, the reserves to show what they can do and to show ourselves off to the new huge market in the UAE.



2.Mark Hughes: Is he doing a good job and will you ever love him given his past, or does that not matter so long as you’re winning?

sam221985
His past doesn't matter (to me personally), but I'm still very much on the fence about him as a manager at the level we are aiming to be. Whether he can command the respect of the bigger names we now have in the squad and those we ill need to attract in future, along with his tactical acumen, are both in question. On the other hand, you look at all the top teams and one thing they have in common is stability under their manager. What would have happened if our neighbours from Stretford had sacked Ferguson in the first few frustrating years of his tenure? I'm willing to suspend a verdict on Hughes at least to the end of the season, at least.

Thanx4Knives
Couldnt give a shit about his past.

SuperKevinHorlock
I think he isn't the man and needs to go and its nothing to do with his past just his limitations.

blu4life
In my opinion, he's not doing as well as he should be. I know we've only lost one game all season (and we shouldn't) and he's signed some quality players but he isn't getting the best out of those players and is so tactically naive it's ridiculous.

BingoBango
I'm one of the folk who has been really impressed by Hughes, particularly in instilling a far more professional ethos around the club. The past few games - Fulham, Birmingham, Burnley - have been incredibly frustrating and have seen us throw away points when we could have kicked on. However, I'm not going to turn on him for that; fingers crossed he reverts to the 4-3-3 that gave us more success earlier in the season.


Richard
Off the pitch Mark Hughes is the best possible manager we could have for our 'project' On the pitch however is a different matter. His inability to make tactical decisions that change the game for the better and the fact that despite £50million spent on our defence it is ropey at best. As long as he does the best for Manchester City, then we dont really care about his past, plus he seems to be growing a hatred towards United.



 
3. It seems like your team could play 1-9 formation with the amount of strikers you’ve got, a) can we borrow a couple and b)what’s the best striking combination you’ve got?


sam221985
It's actually a bit of a misconception about us having a huge amount of strikers. We nearly didn't have enough to field in the derby, which goes to show you need a large squad at this level really. By all means you can have Benjani ;) I'm not sure about our best combination as yet and I don't think the manager is either. I'd try playing Bellamy and Adebayor up there in a 4-4-2 with Petrov taking the place that Bellamy would then free up on the left wing.

Thanx4Knives
Very old Joke. We have Santa, Ade, Tevez, Bellamy and Robinho are used as wingers.

blu4life
You can have Benjani. The best combo for me is Adebayor as the main striker with two wide players (4-3-3) from Bellamy, SWP, Petrov and Robinho.






4.Who’s getting an island in Dubai for best player so far this season?

sam221985
It's got to be Craig Bellamy, he's surprised everyone since coming to this club and has been a revelation.

Bluforlife
Given and Bellamy. Given because he's the best keeper in the Prem and has saved us loads this season and Bellamy because he's the most passionate, is the top scorer and has been the all-round best player.

Thanx4Knives
As said before Dubai and Abu Dhabi are completely different places. So no one.

BingoBango
Bellamy has been fantastic during the early part of the season but has tailed off recently, ditto Adebayor. Both are due big games very soon. Bridge has improved exponentially the last few matches, and we seem to be particularly vulnerable when de Jong doesn't play. Given has been a saviour upon several occasions, and is superb.

Richard
A tough one as quite a few players have gone off the pace after a blistering start. Gareth Barry looked to be our best signing of the summer untill he got booed at Aston Villa and went into a corner that he has stayed in for the past month. Adabayor was on fire untill a FA witch hunt etc etc. I think you have to give it to Craig Bellamy. Always gives his all, scored vital goals this year and scored twice against the scum. What more do you want. He may be a little shit, but he is our little shit.




5.And who should be marooned on one?

sam221985
A lot of us myself included are running out of patience with Richards.

Thanx4Knives
Benjani

SuperKevinHorlock
Carlos Tevez

blu4life
Lescott and Richards because they haven't had a good game yet and Richards cost us the derby.

BingoBango
I can't really single anyone out at the moment, though the boo boys have been sticking it to Lescott, Bridge, Barry, Richards and Robinho - even though the latter has been injured for all but three games.





6. Any new chants we should expect to hear apart from Blue Moon? Have the new owners got a song? Has Hughes got one? And were there any made up after the 4hours extra time at the Old Trafford Time Warp Stadium?


sam221985
I like the recently suggested chant about Rooney

THE BABY'S NOT YOURS
THE BABY'S NOT YOURS
FUCK KAI ROONEY
HE'S KAI ADEBAYOR

I can't take credit for that one though!

blu4life
'Cheese on toast for Christmas dinner' is usually sung at Anfield. As for the owners, there's a 'Build an Empire' one but that hasn't been sung a lot. And only the 'we want seven' chant from the south stand during the fulham game after.

Richard
The lastest one is : The babys not yours, the babys not yours, oh Wayne Rooney, its Adabayors. We came to expect the extra 4 hours at Old Trafford so no real songs have come about from that.




7.What sort of line-up do you expect Hughes will set up against us?

sam221985
Against a top four side I'd be surprised if he went for anything other than the arguably way-too-negative two holding midfield combo of Barry and De Jong. Tevez seems to undroppable so I suspect he'll play up front with Ade.

it will probably be something like

Given

Zabaleta Toure Lescott Bridge

SWP De Jong Barry Bellamy

Tevez Adebayor


SuperKevinHorlock
Given
Zab, Toure, Lescott, Bridge
SWP, Barry, De Jong, Bellamy
Adebayor, RSC


blu4life
Hopefully it will be a 4-3-3. Given, Bridge, Lescott, Toure, Zabaleta, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, SWP, Bellamy, Adebayor.
Subs: Taylor, Kompany, Onouha, Ireland, Tevez, Petrov, Santa Cruz


BingoBango
I would hope a reversion to 4-3-3, as we always look a little more dangerous then. Midfield is where it might be won and lost - Barry has been ever present with de Jong recently. While this makes us more solid, we then lack the creativity in midfield to do more damage. Ireland and de Jong in the centre of the park might be a better option, but we'll see.

If it's 442, expect something pretty similar to Burnley. Hopefully, we'll look something like:

Given
Zabaleta - Toure - Lescott - Bridge
De Jong Barry
Ireland
Tevez Bellamy
Adebayor


Richard
If this isnt the team (barring injuries) I will be shocked : Given, Zabaleta, Toure, Lescott, Bridge, SWP, De Jong, Barry, Bellamy, Tevez, Robinho. Hughes is one of the most predictable managers around, he wont drop his favourite players no matter how poor they have been.



8.Everytime we chat, City continue to be that rollercoaster club of emotions. There was a fan on 606 recently who said, “Look we’re City, we’re not a big club nor a small club, every day’s an adventure” (well it was a bit like that, but I was making the tea at the time): Can City fans relax and think, we’re here to stay, stability’s on its way or are you still a little fatalistic?

sam221985
I can relax personally, I think all these people who suggest that owners might 'get bored' or 'pull out' have clearly not taken the time to research the personality and values of the ADUG. Giving up is a totally foreign concept to them.

I kind of take the view that the worst that can happen, long-term, is that the owners' resources gives us the stability to consistantly be a top 5/6 side and challenge the top four, and break our trophy duck at least once. For me - anything over and above that is a bonus, not an expectation. Opinions on this vary hugely among city fans though and there are a few who'd no doubt have a pop at me for 'lacking ambition' and saying we should aim to become the next Barca or something. They're entitled to their opinion though and at the end of day we should be absolutely elated that we are even able to have this debate.

Thanx4Knives
What makes City unique is the fact that the club has been seriously mis-managed since the Swales area and become a YoYo club but City fan's have always managed it with a great sense of humour. Though it is nice to have stability for once.


blu4life
We've settled (if thats the right word) in the Prem (7 years straight now) and now the money has finally given us the resources to turn us into one of Europe's top elite clubs and win some long-awaited silverware.

BingoBango
After supporting City for about 20 years, only the most foolish fan could sit back relax and think we've made it. However, the new owners' investment and sheer professionalism should give us much-needed stability for some time to come.

Richard
I dont think City would be the same if it was any other way. At the moment, despite recent draws, the majority of City fans are in wonderland. Just remember it wasnt long ago that we were in Division 2. We appear to have owners that are filthy rich, care about the club, dont interfere and want to continue the traditions of the club. What else could we want? City fans however are pessimists by nature and Im sure that in the back of everyones minds there is a small part which thinks ' What if these guys get bored?!' We are just enjoying the ride.



9.I asked this last time around but its still sadly true: How do you think Liverpool have fared this season – what's the away fans' thinking about the unrest and twats who run our club? Has it been schaudenfreude – laughing at another's misfortune, or "There but for the grace of god, go we…"

sam221985
It's been both of those things, to be honest. Of course we want to see a top four club fall from grace, at the end of the day we have to take one of their place! But we know exactly what it is like to have our club run by imcompetant morons, and for me personally I'm never happy to see football fans being ridden roughshod over by disingenuous owners - even if I'm pleased that our team is able to reap the short-term benefits of others struggling.

Thanx4Knives
You are very unlucky with your owners but I think Rafa has to shoulder some blame for certain things like Alonso leaving and certain signings. Your form offers us a chance to compete for the top4 (with a few others) plus its also good entertainment (no offense).

SuperKevinHorlock
A complete and utter mess and a classic example of a club that hasn't moved with the times off the pitch

blu4life
Liverpool have been suprisingly poor this year considering last season and seem to be missing Alonso more than expected. They seem to be a club in deep turmoil as well even though it looked like they were going to be took over a few weeks ago. Is it funny? As long as it doesn't get much more serious. Just long enough for us to take your place in the top 4 :P

BingoBango
It's a bad time for football fans with the number of shady owners around at the moment, and it makes me quite sad that supporters can't have more sympathy for those whose owners are far less exemplary than ours. Sheikh Mansour, Khaldoon and Cook have instilled much-needed professionalism into the club, regularly engage with the fans to find out what we think, and the club is much quicker to act in helping out anyone who's having bother.

Of course, your current misfortune makes our life much easier in our quest for a top four place, but it's not great to see the incompetence of some doing over clubs left, right and centre. As long as folk like Hicks and Gillette, Mike Ashley, Ken Bates, Vaughan at Chester and numerous others are screwing things up around the country, then supporters should have a bit more self-awareness. Particularly from we at City, where I just thank my lucky stars that Sheikh Mansour stepped in and rescued us from the clusterfuck Thaksin had created, when we didn't have enough money to pay the players and were weeks away from slipping into some deep, deep shit.


Richard
For me Rafeal Benitez should win a prize for pulling the wool over everybodys eyes and shifting it all towards the owners. Yes your owners arent ideal, far from it, but Benitez has to take some flack. I tend to watch alot of your matches with a couple of scouse mates, and Benitez has made some very poor decisions IMO. Playing Lucas and Mascherno in midfield in a game you need to win? or signing a player that isnt fit untill November. Poor choices in my book, just a shame you cant afford to sack him.

 

10.Where do you expect yourselves and Liverpool to finish come the end of the season?

sam221985
Hugely dependant on form, and for how much of the season you can keep Torres and Gerrard fit, really. Both teams have shown an inability to win consistantly in recent weeks. This is the closest ever premier league season and nothing would honestly surprise me.


Thanx4Knives
It could be anywhere really between say 4th and 8th. I think we'll have our own mini-league with villa and spurs

SuperKevinHorlock
Unfortunately the corrupt Premier League will ensure that we finish below you.
I see Liverpool in 4th and city in 7th unfortunately.

blu4life
City 4th, Liverpool 5th

BingoBango
4th is still more than doable, but I'm not going to be arrogant enough to presume that we are due it by
right because of the money we spent. Top 6 was the target at the start of the season, and I think we'll make that.

Liverpool is a tricky one, and looking in from the outside much of it seems to be down to injuries and whether you can keep Gerrard and Torres fit most of the time. Your defence doesn't seem as mean as usual, lack of cash means I doubt you'll be able to pull anyone of significance in at the next transfer window, and Benitez's ability to alienate the odd player might hamper you too. I'll wait until January before making concrete predictions!


Richard . Its between ourselves and Spurs for the final top four place. Without Torres you are appear to be ordinary and Rafa needs to strenghthen in January - ie another striker. Thats what ourselves and Spurs to an extent have as an advantage over you, we can spend in January if we need to. I think that if we are still above you come January, then it will be hard for you to finish above us a get a champions league place. City - 4th, Liverpool - 5th.




11.Which Liverpool player(s) do you fear the most?

sam221985
Torres and Gerrard obviously are world class, and I rate Benayoun highly.

SuperKevinHorlock
Torres and Gerrard oh and the ref.

blu4life
Torres and Gerrard obviously. Apart from that I think Benayoun has been your best player so far this season.

BingoBango
The usual suspects - Gerrard and Torres. Benayoun is a wonderful player, despite looking like a malnourished orphan; his being taken off in recent games is just baffling. I think Babel could be great too, but doesn't seem to have been deployed properly and/or is terrifyingly inconsistent. I hope Riera doesn't play, as the Former Player Scoring Against His Old Club rule applies to us like no-one else. I expect Voronin to have the game of his life against us as well.




12. What did you lot make of the Tevez poster campaign and how else have you been winding up grumpyarse Ferguson? Tell us cos we fucking love it.

sam221985
I loved the Tevez poster thing, a sense of humour is integral to the identity of this club and it's good to see we've not lost that despite the radical change of mentality that has gone on/is still underway at the club


SuperKevinHorlock
It was great and I can't wait till Taggart dies.

blu4life
I was on holiday at the time in a town with a population of 2000 in the middle of Canada and even I caught wind of it! I thought it was bloody brilliant! It got right up Mr Alex Ferguson's nose and hopefully there will be more to come.

BingoBango
The poster was rather amusing and clearly got under Ferguson's skin, but we really do need to start doing it on the pitch to meaningfully piss him off. At the home QF against Hamburg last year, one Bluemoon regular turned up with a huge inflatable penis with Ferguson's face stuck to the tip - that went down well!

Richard
Best marketing campaign in years :@) Baconfaces face went even redder than it normally is, he was fuming. We dont really need to do anything to annoy them anymore, the mere fact that we are there and getting more attention is an annoyance to them. They say they dont care about 'little old city' it didnt appear that way in the derby. The twats.



13. “Double your money with City!!” go the ads in Footballer Weekly….What do you make of accusations that you’re just like Chelsea, play in blue and trying to buy the title –

sam221985
Everyone's a football purist until their own team spends big. That's why I tend to roll my eyes at this argument about clubs 'buying the league'. Football and money go hand in hand these days, City aren't the first club to be prepared to spend big in order to bring a radical increase in quality to the squad and I'v an ominous feeling we will neither be the last nor have done it to the greatest extent.

Thanx4Knives
Football is a money game. While the top teams have spent hundreds of millions over the last loads of seasons we've simply caught them up buy spending what they've spent in a shorter space if time.

SuperKevinHorlock
Sad and jealous.

blu4life
Money was the only way it was going to be done. If people don't think it's right, then they should ask themselves if they would be saying the same things if it was their club who had the money. We're still the same club on the inside, just a bit glossier on the outside. We still have a loyal fan base and proud history that won't be forgotten.


BingoBango
Again, after 20 years of pretty much solid shite, I can only hope these accusations hold some substance. I can think of very few title-winning sides who haven't spent more than their rivals. I'm heartened that a number of home-grown lads are still around and coming through - Richards, Ireland, Onuoha, for example. The slow return of Michael Johnson, who's suffered from rumour and innuendo about his fitness and Gerrard-like growing pains, is a great boost. Watch out for Vlad Weiss in the coming years too.


Richard
Thats the way football is going. If you cant beat them join them. There is nothing more I would love than having 7 or 8 teams competing for the title all with lots of home grown players. However, footballs moved on and money is everything. If it means being able to compete then its something you have to relish.




14.And to finish, what's the score? Care to risk a guess?

sam221985
2-2 and the papers will make it out to be a disappoingting result for both of us.

Thanx4Knives
We seem to get motivated for the big games and cant against the so called smaller teams. I think we'll win 2-1. Im hoping Gerard and Torres dont play though.

SuperKevinHorlock
2-1 to the ref

blu4life
Depends on whose playing. If Torres and Gerrard are playing, I'll honestly go 3-1 Liverpool. If only one of em- 2-2, and if neither of em- 2-1 City.

BingoBango
I suspect a draw, again. However, as you and I both know, too many draws get you nowhere.

Richard
Can see lots of goals in this one. 2-2.


thanks guys for your answers, who know's by next weekend, we could have 3 players fit...

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