Newest blog – The City Collapse, have read lads at http://the-beautiful-game.org/
It was spring 96′ when the infamous words ‘I would love it if we beat them’ left Kevin Keegan’s determined yet nerve-racked mouth. That year Newcastle had amassed a 12-point lead of Manchester United, with the league championship seemingly headed to St James’ Park. But it didn’t – and it will always remain a mystery how ‘the entertainers’ had fell by the wayside watching a resilient Alex Ferguson squad grind out result after result. It truly was heartbreak in black and white.
Fast forward the best part of 15 years, and the scene is the Etihad Stadium. Swap the black and white stripes with sky blue and the story is almost the same. Manchester City started the season like a house on fire, disposing teams with ultimate ease and a footballing swagger that had led some to say the title race was over in October. A 7-point lead in the early season with City showing no signs of letting up led many to believe this was their season.
But when had a disadvantage ever ruled United out of a title race?
It’s now mid way through April, with City almost imploding – with rumours of dressing room bust-ups, being outplayed by seemingly inferior opposition, and ultimately not getting the results. United by contrast, are doing what they do best. Winning.
A lot is similar to the story of 96′. But one similarity is in the personnel at the clubs’ disposal. Back then; we had a centre forward by the name of Faustino Asprilla. A mercurial Columbian who seemingly had the world at his feet, signed for £7million. But his inclusion disrupted a usual fluency of play, and a side that were previously winning games in comfort, had to now accommodate a player that just didn’t fit. Square pegs round holes.
Asprilla was then sold to Parma and his career diminished into nothingness, being one of those players that ‘could have been’. Since, he has been involved in shootings in his own country, and been affiliated with Columbian adult films.
Skip back to the present, and we have another attention-seeker, in the shape of Mario Balotelli. Last week, Roberto Mancini was quoted in saying that if Balotelli could curb his behaviour; he could be one of the best players on the globe. ‘If’ – a measly word with two letters withholds so much power in that sentence, and opinion is (and backed by this weekends events), he is a liability to Manchester City’s failings this season. A catalogue of errors (including throwing darts at a youth player, and setting his house on fire via indoor fireworks) have led to Mancini saying he will probably sell him in the summer, this coming after his idiotic actions in the weekends match at Arsenal.
The truth is Alex Ferguson would have never taken the risk with him in the first place – the first sign of mis-behaviour he would have been sold. That might be why City aren’t going to win the league. They will one day, but the similarities to the class of 96′ are almost seamless. Faltering players, with the success getting to their head in the pressure-cooker scenario that is the Premier League title race. Keegan couldn’t handle it, and Mancini is showing signs of following suit.
So close, yet so far. Déjà vu anyone?
Comments welcome.
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The City Collapse
posted on 12/4/12
i take it you weren't one of the fifty or so saddo's who were waiting for our train to arrive back at victoria?
posted on 12/4/12
Boris be honest, City performed of old tonight because the pressure was off them and Mancini's comments is trying to keep it that way. If the points are slashed to 2 between us then we'll see
posted on 12/4/12
No, I was on my way home.
posted on 12/4/12
jesus they were cringeworthy. fully grown men as well, shouting "wigan" over and over again. our lads simply responded with "united, united top of the league" and that was that. his was at quarter past eleven, nearly two hours after city's game had finished, imaging waiting all that time for that...the police however were made up and wasted no time 'wading' in just in case.
posted on 12/4/12
Seems I missed out there, as a responsible adult I took the unusual option of going straight home as I was tired and hungry.
posted on 12/4/12
i'm starving now. on reflection it was a decent day out, wigan aways alaways is, spoiled only by an abject performance from us and a great one from wigan. i hope they stay up.
posted on 12/4/12
I always have a pie from that stall outside the away end at Wigan.
posted on 12/4/12
Randy, I disagree. It can't be compared with Newcastle's collapse back in 1996.
On 20th January 1996, both Newcastle and United had played 23 games, with Newcastle 12 points in front.
The biggest lead City have had over United this season when both clubs have played the same amount of games? 5 points.
City have never once been 7 points in front of United this season.
posted on 12/4/12
Apologies RipleysCat, sorry for the mistake, i think i used another source so just used that info. But you get my point.
posted on 12/4/12
But you get my point
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Not really. Not in terms of City collapsing anyway. The last time we were 5 points ahead of United with both teams having played the same amount of games was at the start of December. It's actually been more nip and tuck since then. More than people seem to realise - in the main the lead being by 2 points, but also including both teams being level on points in early January.
Consider the following:
After 23 games in 1995/96, Newcastle had 54 points, United had 42. This season after 23 games, City had 54 points, and so too did United.
Also, the Balotelli-Asprilla comparison falls short considering that Asprilla was signed in February 1996 (a few weeks after Newcastle opened up their infamous 12-point lead). Balotelli on the other hand has been with us for two seasons now (including this season). Thus, whereas Asprilla never played any part in helping Newcastle obtain their 12 point lead, Balotelli had played a part in enabling City to open up a 5 point lead earlier this season. The guy has scored 13 goals in 22 league appearances. Compared to Asprilla - 3 goals in 14.
Some people may want to blame Balotelli should City end up not winning the title (people always want a scapegoat). I however won't be one of them. I do however wonder where we'd be had Tevez been available all season...