Resolute, resurgent and resourceful, Manchester City are 90 minutes away from becoming record-breakers as they go seeking a 10th consecutive win in all competitions. Injury ravaged and stripped bare of strikers, Manuel Pellegrini has steered City through a remarkable renaissance over the past 48 days, a period that has seen the points pile up, both home and away in domestic and European competition. Having weathered the winter storms of West […]

A City team led by Mark Hughes could see the blue half of Manchester top of the Premier League table just in time for Christmas. In a bizarre twist of fate, the ex-Manchester City manager could help put his former employers in pole position to retain their title – five years and three days after he was unceremoniously sacked by the Etihad outfit. If Hughes’ Stoke City can repeat last […]

A certain ‘F’ word was prominent in the vocabulary ringing around the Etihad Stadium less than 48 hours ago. The Champions of England had huffed and puffed but failed to penetrate a wall of well marshalled red and white stripes, succumbing to a shock home defeat to Mark Hughes’ Stoke City. Another ‘F’ word was on the lips of Manchester City fans as it appeared that Colombia’s finest, high grade export would have […]

Manchester City’s meteoric evolution comes into sharp perspective today when Manuel Pellegrini’s side face Stoke, managed by Mark Hughes, the City boss when ‘the money’ first swept in from Abu Dhabi. The speed of change since September 2008 at the then named, City of Manchester Stadium, means it’s more apt to describe the Sky Blues’ transformation, as revolutionary, but like many historical revolts, things didn’t always go to plan. Hughes […]

It was frustrating and laboured, it lacked inspiration and flair, it wasn’t pretty it touched upon ugly…but it was winning and sometimes that’s all that matters. It was huff and puff instead of zip and zest, one goal not five, six or seven, but whichever way it was packaged it was a means to an end and a route to three invaluable points that could see Manchester City crowned Premier League champions […]

Manchester City’s much anticipated midweek gastronomic delight at European football’s top table left a nasty bout of lingering indigestion. What should have been a taste bud tingling excursion into haute cuisine was ruined by a decidedly sour swede and news that the caviar and champagne had been cancelled. So-called experts of football fayre claim the menu was a little too rich for City, that Manuel Pellegrini and his team were […]

Unconventional beginning to a match report follows: Kneejerk adj (of a reply or reaction, automatic & predictable) AND, after City’s fifth consecutive Premier League draw at the Britannia, there’s a whole lot of ridiculous reactionary ranting going on by so-called fans of Manchester City. Hell, I don’t care about upsetting some folk who seem to revel in throwing scorn and derision around like confetti at a wedding, just because Manuel […]

Manchester City’s ‘Ministry of Defence’ is creaking under the stresses and strains caused by an ailing department of health and the continuing absence of leader Vincent Kompany. The team which has boasted the least goals conceded for the last three seasons, is facing a shortage of manpower across the backline as they square up to the annual rigours of the Battle of Britannia. It’s vital that Manuel Pellegrini’s company of […]