Having little time to prepare this Blog-posting ahead of our final home game of the season and with some things that I just wanted to say; there won’t be time also for the usual pre-match write-up with predicted line-up etc.
Just enough time for my waffle…
Soured…
I couldn’t help feeling, as I made my way
home from the Huddersfield game in the
glaring sun & heat last Sunday, that our glorious trophy day felt more like
a deflated & sad-looking balloon.
It wasn’t so much the hard fought, 0-0 draw
our visitors earned themselves – a result that wasn’t a complete shock to me –
but it was other stuff too.
It started off really well, for me and my
mates at least, as I managed to first meet up right on time with one in a local
bar and then after an hour met the other one just a few minutes late. From
there, we went straight into the ground about 50 minutes before KO no probs at
all. Lovely sunny day too!
The service at the bar was a LITTLE slow as
we ‘doubled up’ before the game expecting the bar inside to get packed within
15 minutes or so and along with getting lost in conversation; the delay meant
that we missed the ‘guard of honour’ as our players entered the field.
Other fans around us actually missed the
first 10, 15 and, in some cases, 20-odd minutes of the start of the first half!
So, with 8 minutes of the first half
remaining and needing the loo, I offered to go to the bar at half time for the
two of us. Got down there and it was only 2-deep. Nipped to the loo and got
back to find that there was “only” 4 in front of me and then…MY GOD!
Utter carnage & disorganisation behind the stadium bar on a scale that - even considering all their many failings
over the years and this season also on occasions - I’ve never seen
before.
We had some people making jokes about it to
try to keep the mood light; other were huffing and tutting whereas some
resorted to vent their frustrations with various outbursts of, “COME ON FOR F…”. One young girl behind the bar disappeared twice; once to take a
moment of “time out”, I think and on the second occasion was followed by a team
leader-looking “fella” who looked about 14-years of age.
Over 20 minutes it took me to get 2 beers
and as I wriggled myself free from the massed fans behind me, my mate said that
he’d been looking for me for most of that time but just couldn’t spot me in the
jam-packed area. Then, like a cork being released from a Champaign bottle, we
popped outside for a breather and to begin our refreshments. Of course, by this
time, it wasn’t long before the players came out and, this time, it was we who
also missed the start of a half.
The game, as I say, was as frustrating as I
suspected it might; with the Yorkshire side
working very hard, defending like their lives depended on it (it did) and even
carved out some chances themselves. For all the changes Pep made and for the huge pressure we mounted on them, we just
couldn’t crack ‘em and it felt like it had taken the wind out of the sails of
our party boat.
For the record, I thought the Huddersfield fans were
excellent in their vocal and coordinated support!
Then came the real farce…
First came the morons in all shapes &
sizes who ignored the club instructions and wishes of the majority to stay off
the pitch (at least 2 didn’t even wait until the final whistle!). Feckin
YouTube wannabees! After several minutes of having to stare at their antics, I decided
to use the toilet facilities yet again in the hope, also, that they would have
disappeared by then only to return and find them still arsing around for quite
a few more minutes.
Well-done to the City fans with the
well-wishing for Sir Alex, though; a banner
I must admit I didn’t see but was told about later.
Have I ever ran onto a pitch in my time following the
Blues? Yes, twice. It was in the late 80s & early 90s away at Bradford City and CrystalPalace. Was there an announcement
asking us not to? To be honest I don’t recall and were we all 'fenced in' back
then and, so, with the surge from so many fans wanting to encroach, a decision was made
on both occasions to just open the gates and so I joined in (both with no presentations / cup
& medals to hand out).
 |
| Trevor Morley scoring against Bradford City |
Anyway…fans off the pitch, it then took for
EVER for the players to come out and although I’ve since learnt that Fernandinho got ‘the curly finger’ for an
immediate drugs test after the match, which took ages because he was
dehydrated; it felt like the longest time. Over and over and over again we had
to stand there listening to the same ol’ tunes being pumped out, while we stood
there staring at equipment being tinkered with and fans batting around large
balls & inflatable banana. And here’s
another thing…
The forgotten Kippax.
Now, I might sound like a sulking child who
wasn’t given the present he asked Father Christmas for and the chances of one
of those over-sized inflatables reaching where we sit are very, very slim
indeed.
And I KNOW that the trophy-receiving podium
has to face one SIDE of the stadium for the camera crews and that-that should
be the main, Colin Bell (West) Stand.
HOWEVER…
…not that I wanted to pat around a large
inflatable but these things were handed out to the Colin Bell Stand and both
the North (Family) & South Stand but NOT the East Stand side. And, when a
ball & banana eventually reached our stand via the fans from the South
Stand two sad officials came straight over, took the flippin’ things off the
fans on our side and threw ‘em back into the South Stand! WTF?! Why?!
The main trophy podium was also facing the
Colin Bell Stand (fair enough) but they also had a mini podium, which was
largely ignored by most of the players anyway but, which, was ALSO facing the
Colin Bell Stand!
Then we had the full catalogue of expected songs
(some repeated or very much extended) and, I
dunno…it just all felt a little “whatever” and underwhelming to me.
I parted company with my friend and began the
long, dusty-hot walk home; not even bothering to call in my local and, instead,
just flopped in the garden on my own listening to the radio (even all talk of
City had finished by then to). Day over.
BUT…
…I don’t want to sound all dour after such
a terrific season and so will end this waffle on a positive note.
I began to think of other seasons that I
fully enjoyed and, forgetting some I’m sure, there was a time in the late 80s /
early 90s under a manager that I can’t recall without looking it up; where we
seemed to win 4-something most games. Then there was at least one season under Kevin Keegan where we were hammering teams 3-0,
4-0 or 4-1 most games and playing such fast, attacking football.
We had one brilliant season at least under Roberto Mancini where we were so organised,
efficient and lethal too and one fantastic season until Manuel Pellegrini where we were devastating also.
But this season has been by FAR the most breath-taking
football I’ve ever seen week in, week out! Jaw-droppingly awesome in fact.
I’ll do another article post-season, I’m
sure, about “records” but for now and despite dropping 2 points last Sunday,
100 points is ‘still on’ to go with already having scored over 100 league goals
alone along with many other broken records.
We’ve got Yaya
to thank and say goodbye to tonight also; a player who has been not only fantastic
for us in many seasons but who has most certainly played a crucial part
in us winning several trophies.
Great time to be a Manchester City fan – particularly
for those who have seen some very barren times – and I’m already looking
forward to more of the same in the future!
No comments:
Post a Comment