Unlike some of his peers, Pep Guardiola does not indulge in what the media like to call ‘Mind Games’ when, in reality, they amount to nothing more than pernicious, petulant, posturing from those who can’t match the sheer genius of the Manchester City manager. Guardiola is the very personification of integrity in a game – an industry – riddled by corruption, deceit and an all-encompassing sense of self-serving. So, when […]

With eight wins and one draw from nine games, 29 goals scored and just three conceded, it seems the football Gods decided it was all going a bit too well for Manchester City. 48 hours after motoring to the top of Group F with their first ever 100% start following two opening Champions League games, an errant taxi driver somehow managed to drive Sergio Aguero round the bend and straight into […]

Media coverage of Manchester City’s £120m spend on flying wing backs is a joke – one as lame as the old chestnut that has a dodgy defender selected at  ‘left back…in the changing room’. The £45m acquisition of Kyle Walker from Spurs is readily ridiculed and used as a negative benchmark for this summer’s crazy transfer market. Pundits and media outlets alike are quick to quote: “Well if Kyle Walker’s […]

Here’s the deal.  You’re Pep Guardiola and you’re looking to buy a brand new car. Your existing motor has too many miles on the clock and isn’t up to the job of taking you where you want to go.   You need to trade up, but even though you’re aiming high, you still have to work within a budget – what do you do? It’s always nice to have a speedy […]

You have to laugh at the coverage of Manchester City’s transfer dealings this summer – the insidious negativity, the not-so subtle nuances, the never ending inconsistencies and contradictions – blimey, you’d be forgiven for thinking the media didn’t like the men from the Etihad Stadium. Perish the thought! This article isn’t a whinge about the omnipresent anti-City bias, it’s merely some observations on the general reporting of Sky, the BBC and the […]