Two headlines – 13 months apart – crystallise the hideous hypocrisy and blatantly biased agenda constantly directed against Manchester City.
Rewind to March 3rd 2021 and, ‘Manchester City might win the quadruple – and this is not good for English football’ – it’s not exactly catchy and certainly not balanced.
Fast forward to April 29th 2022 and feast your eyes on, ‘Neutrals should be cheering on Liverpool’s quadruple hunt – they are one of the greatest teams ever’ – certainly not catchy and not exactly balanced.
I won’t name check the lobotomised individual masquerading as a journalist – why give the imbecile any extra oxygen – but suffice to say it’s typical of the gut churning garbage being trotted out by the half brained lovers of Liverpool (lyrics not quite in tune with little Jimmy Osmond’s horrific, Long Haired Lover from Liverpool, number one hit in December 1972).
Before regularly crashing out of FA Cup semi finals, any talk of City achieving a quadruple was purely to set us up before a fall. Having routinely won the League Cup in late February/early March, it was always on the radar.
As City finally relinquished their hold on that particular trophy after five years and the Scousers snaffled it up, suddenly it was Liverpool’s turn. The only difference being, well, everything – tone, sentiment, content and the overriding wish for it to come true.
The fact I’m writing about this shouldn’t be misconstrued as being overly bothered by the nauseous numbnuts who trot out such tripe. It’s an observational fact, seeking to shed a perspective on City, who are seven games away from what would be dumbed down as a paltry ‘double’.
The scale of City’s ambition is reflected in their April fixtures and the perceived wisdom that a 3-2 FA Cup semi final loss to Liverpool, is the lesser of the evils. If they had to lose any game, that was the most ‘palatable’. Premier and Champions League titles are Pep’s priorities.
City could have already booked their place to Paris, courtesy of a resounding win over Real Madrid in the first leg of the Champions League semi final. It’s no exaggeration to say they should have been four goals up, before Karim Benzema guided his shot past Ederson to reduce the lead to 2-1.
City’s eventual 4-3 victory was a modern day classic, a spellbinding delight for any neutral and yet, as ridiculous as it sounds, it left the majority of City’s supporters disappointed, rueing missed opportunities.
A chorus of, ‘It should’ve been 10’, might have been pushing it, but six, maybe even eight City goals, would’ve been hard to argue against. As it is, it’s ‘game on’ in the Battle of the Bernabeu next Wednesday night, but the Spanish capital should hold no fears for Pep’s troops, after the veritable war zone in the Wanda Metropolitano Stadium a fortnight ago.
The composure, concentration, character, class and collective courage City displayed for well over 100 minutes against the thugs of Atletico, will serve them well as they go for a fourth win on the bounce over Real.
Paradoxically, Diego Simeone’s rabid rabble were key to Real staying in the contest. Had it not been for an injury to Kyle Walker and a yellow card, harshly meted out to Joao Cancello in the 0-0 quarter final, Guardiola’s first choice full backs would’ve been available to form a much tighter City rear guard.
Gambling on John Stones’ fitness as a makeshift right back, backfired as the stellar centre back was incapacitated in the pre-amble to Benzema’s first goal.
His 36th minute departure meant even more defensive disruption with Fernandinho (let’s hope he’s celebrating his 37th birthday on Wednesday with an aggregate win) coming on and going one-on-one with Vinicius Junior – 16 years Dinho’s junior and one of world football’s speed merchants.
It’s not apportioning any blame to the club’s veteran skipper and inspirational dressing room leader, but it does highlight the profound influence Walker has on City’s play. His lightning quick pace and physicality is virtually irreplaceable, and yet City still edged Real Madrid and fought – warrior like – to hold off a late Atletico assault and battery in Spain.
Despite Pep’s positive and defiant words about Walker’s possibly prolonged absence, it does weaken the team. Both he and fellow Yorkshire man, Stones, will be absent when City enter the feral surroundings of Elland Road this evening, in search of three priceless points.
Having dispatched Marco Bielsa’s hapless Leeds United 7-0 in the reverse fixture, it will be a much more structured and resilient opponent under new boss, Jesse Marsch. Yes, City did give his RB Leipzig side a 6-3 Champions League pasting last September, but it promises to be an altogether closer affair.
You only need to cast your mind back a week, to City’s youngsters clinching the Premier League Two title with a 3-1 win at Leeds, to know what awaits. A record crowd in excess of 21,300 made the EDS lads decidedly unwelcome, but still the Blues came through. A re-run with the senior team will do just fine. After all, what can be worse than the antics deployed by Atletico, both on and off the field?
It was alleged – and obviously not confirmed or commented upon by City – that Jack Grealish wasn’t involved away at Atletico (apart from quite rightly and correctly calling Stefan Savic a c*nt) because Messrs Savic, Felipe, Vrsalijko et al were out to ‘do him’ in the second leg.
‘Peaky Jack’ had played a blinder, during his ten minute cameo appearance in the 1-0 win at the Etihad, wickedly winding up Simeone’s Neanderthals.
City kept their cool in the face of some of the worst provocation and lamentable refereeing ever witnessed. It wasn’t nice and it certainly wasn’t pretty, but it means trips to the likes of Leeds and Real Madrid, are nothing in comparison.
Whereas City have, thus far, come out on top in tussles with the two Spanish giants, things haven’t gone to plan with gurning Jurgen’s quadruple chasing media darlings.
Having been by far the better side at the Etihad, City had to settle for a share of a 2-2 draw, with Raheem Sterling’s ‘goal’ disallowed, courtesy of VAR and the width of a gnat’s chuff.
A depleted, bruised and battered City were always going to be Wembley underdogs after the Atletico affair. Liverpool had enjoyed the luxury of resting seven first choice players during their 3-3 Champions League draw with Benfica.
It would be churlish to suggest City were unlucky when losing their fourth out of five FA Cup semi finals under Guardiola. They’d produced an utterly abysmal first half showing, shipping three goals amidst a calamitous collective no show. That said, second half goals from Grealish and Bernardo had Liverpool on the ropes and mightily relieved at the final whistle.
Customary wins and goals galore against Brighton and Watford see City still a point clear at the summit of the Premier League, but with little or no margin for error.
With five league matches and potentially two Champions League games to go, a full strength City would be odds on to crown their greatest ever season.
Sadly that isn’t the case, but to Guardiola’s eternal credit he never seeks excuses.
He doesn’t moan about injuries, the length of the grass, the width of the goal lines, the snow, the wind or the wrong kind of rain. He doesn’t whinge about fixture congestion nor report bizarre multiple, unsubstantiated positive Covid tests to have games postponed.
He conducts himself with dignity and decorum, seeking solutions and strategies as, what he refers to as, ‘Cup Finals’ come along every three days. He has faith in his squad players – the likes of Zinchenko, Ake, Fernandinho and even the Academy kids – a firm belief they have the ability and mentality to cope.
Bernardo – one of the standout players of the season – encapsulated the mood when he said: “I like this pressure – look, it’s better to be here than to be fighting against relegation or for fourth place or the Europa League.”
Of course Bernardo is right. Long gone are the days when the height of City’s ambition was 40 points and maybe the odd win over United, but as the media constantly complain, you can’t have ‘moneybags and oil c*nts’ ruining football with quadruples. No that would never do.
City aren’t bothered about quadruples, they don’t need the grief, they’ll happily settle for a double and a redefining of Sky Blue Heaven.
Dedicated to the memory of a man who I never had the privilege of meeting, Jimmy Riley, a staunch Manchester City supporter over many decades, and Dad to one of the nicest and most dedicated of Blues, Sean. If we’re talking about the proverbial ‘chip off the old block’, the Riley family specialise in chips and blocks of the highest calibre. Empathy, sympathy and deepest condolences to Sean, his family and friends, and here’s hoping there’s a Sky Blue Heaven beyond the football served up by Pep Guardiola’s team.
By David Walker
www.readbutneverred.com @ReadButNeverRed @djwskyblu
Absolutely agree ,for once someone tells it as it is .instead of the brookside media or brookside sky sports .
The Liverpool media luvvies are rather tiresome aren't they? Thanks for your feedback.
Fantastic read. 💙💙
Thanks MP.
You have an amazing way with words …. and always make the point that needs to be said
Great read and great sentiment
Thank you 🙏🏻
💙🙏🏻💙 to the Riley family
Much appreciated feedback and thank you for your sentiments for Sean and his family.
Fantastic as always, the biased cnuts won’t stop the mighty blues from doing what we do best “Boil Piss”
Gratitude fella, you're not wrong - bring to the boil and simmer for years and years to come.
Truthful excellence.
Gratitude 'son' ;-)
Brilliant article, David. The hypocrisy and bias is simply astonishing. The Scouse love in on Sky is sickening, and it baffles me that they allow CC (CNUT CARRAGHER) to co commentate. He brings bias and one sidedness to totally new levels. The double would be incredible, bring it on 💙
As City fans all we ask for is balanced and unbiased coverage. We're not likely to get it anytime soon, so we just have to keep doing things the Pep way and let the haters choke on their own bile and venom. Thanks Fred.
Enjoyed that DJW. A smashing read 👍
Always the objective - thanks Carl.
Excellent as always David, it would be an interesting battle to line you up in competition - truth and facts vs utter nonsense - week in, week out - against the quadruple idiot at The Daily Telegraph. Four articles a week from each of you, now that could be fun!
It'd be unfair - Luke would have far more crayons than I could ever even dream of possessing. That said, challenge accepted. Thanks for the great feedback.
Excellent article. Will share widely
Cheers PG!
Excellent read as always David. I tend to ignore the tabloid ramblings knowing that since Mancini we have been on a super roller coaster !
We still have a potential double on offer and however this season pans out we know we have been watching a special team with a special and respected manager.
The point is RC it's not just the tatty tabloid, red top tw@ts. The imbecile in question works for the Daily Telegraph and the Liverpool w@nkfest infests every dark, damp recess across the media divide. There are two standout exceptions, albeit from a usually repugnant source - Martin Samuel and Jack Gaughan, excellent and fair minded journalists - but strangely working for the Daily Mail.
Bravo!
And he's just won the Copa del Rey with Manuel Pellegrini at Real Betis :-) Thanks as ever.
Excellent read as always David. I am so tired of all these tabloid ramblings hyping Liverpool and kloop like they never spends money . and also like it's their God's divine rights to win every cups and titles.
We still have a potential double on offer and however this season pans out we know we have been watching a special team with a special and respected manager.
We have enjoyed unprecedented success under Pep - he's in his 6th season with City and has won 3 PL titles - possibly a 4th by May 22nd, 4 League Cups and an FA Cup, and who knows, maybe the Holy Grail of the Champions League on May 28th. Klopp in 7 seasons has thus far won 1 CL, 1 PL and 1 League Cup. Yes he could scoop the lot this year, but as things stand, there's no comparison - Guardiola is infinitely superior, as too are his City team. Thanks for your comment.
Brilliant article as usual David, if only the Scouse loving media would write as fairly as you do about City. Instead we get the same crap all the time the idiot that calls himself a journalist should be ashamed but he won't be what a t**t he is. If we should pull the double or even just one of the trophy's they will do there best to pull it down as though it was nothing. Here's hoping I'm reading an article by you about our double triumph at the end of the season.
It'll be my pleasure and privilege to do an RBNR on a sensational City double, but there's a long way to go yet. As City fans we just have to shut out the media noise and enjoy the play and achievements of this remarkable City era. I appreciate the feedback - thanks.
Thank you David for your brilliant journalism and incomparable insight!
And thank you for your most generous comments.
Brilliant article. The dippers think it’s their right to win everything this season and the red tops are telling all and sundry to support them ( and cheat) in their quest. Pep says it as it is to the receiving audience without excuses. Spit the dog Carragher is so biased in his red spectacles too.
Sadly it is what it is with the media and pundits forever pandering to Liverpool, but with Pep at the helm we'll always rise to the challenge. The clever money is on Guardiola extending his contract at City until the summer of 2025 - great news for City and the hell with all the bias and hypocrisy. Thanks for your comment.