28/04/07: City 0 Villa 2Updated: October 3rd, 2007
I’m getting tired of writing this intro but this was, yet again, another truly dire performance which, yet again, was overshadowed by events off the pitch.
As I’m reluctant to waste any bandwidth talking about the display I’ll direct you to Bluesology and Johnny Baguette at Vitalfootball for two excellent heartfelt assessments of the game.
And now to the business of Allardyce and Thaksin.
On Saturday night I heard from a contact on a broadsheet that Allardyce was going to become City’s next manager. I’ve also been told that the City board made the decision to sack Pearce at the end of the season after the Charlton game on April 6th, so the news that Allardyce made his decision to quit two weeks ago (dating it to around the 14th) does make the speculation more plausible.
But stories linking Allardyce to Newcastle persist and a reliable source tells me that one Newcastle player believes they will have a new manager soon. Certainly, a move to Newcastle would make more sense than cash-strapped City, though The Times today reports that Allardyce is interested in both jobs.
If the thought of Big Sam at City gives us hope, the fresh speculation about a bid from billionaire Thaksin Shinawatra makes us positively dreamy. Yesterday’s News of the World story claimed that Thaksin has submitted a £100m offer which was discussed at an emergency City board meeting over the weekend.
The bulk of the story is not available online, so I’ll summarise the main points here. It quotes a “friend” of Thaksin, who claims the former Thai PM would spend “at least £50m” on the very best players and wants to bring in a world-renowned coach. Thaksin sees City as the “perfect club for him” and “sees this as a perfect opportunity to take Manchester City to another stratosphere.”
In fact it’s all so perfect it makes you wonder if it will ever happen.
The story is written by James Fletcher, who attended Saturday’s game. Fletcher used to be the designated Man United correspondent at the Daily Mirror and broke the story about United’s marketing deal with the New York Yankees in 2001. Although that story claimed the deal was potentially worth billions, it was later revealed to be little more that hype from United’s marketing department and was dismissed by one analyst as “mutual back-slapping” by the two clubs.
Certainly, his quote that “Shinawatra thinks the current board and management team have done a fine job,” might strike some as tad suspicious, and the lack of further comment from Thaksin’s people should make us cautious. So far the only official reaction has come from Thaksin’s lawyer Noppadol Pattama, who last week told Reuters: “I talked to my boss and he said it’s just a rumour. There’s no substance in it.”
That said, it certainly looks like some approach has now been made, with the Daily Mail claiming that “funds have already been lodged with an investment bank”.
Although the figures being quoted seem implausible, an Abramovich-style takeover can’t be ruled out. According to Wikipedia, Thaksin is not currently welcome in his own country and has twice narrowly avoided bomb attacks on his life, so it is possible that spending silly money on a Premiership club and setting up residence in Britain may suit his present circumstances.
Let’s face it, after narrowly escaping a 147lb car bomb eight months ago, putting up with us bitter City fans will be something of a breeze for him.
~ Pearce’s post-match interview
~ Rtfract match photos Getty Images
~ Latest Premiership table.
Match stats
The stats (below) are compiled from a live commentary. You can find more comprehensive match stats, including details of who each player passed to and who tackled whom, at Eurosport.com.
The BBC’s stats are here and Sky’s here.
Match reports
City 0 Villa 2
Manchester City had one striker back from injury, recalled another to the first XI and were awarded a penalty but they could still not find the net as Aston Villa ran out 2-0 winners.
City, who have not scored at home in the league since New Year’s Day and have done so just 10 times this season, are now perilously close to claiming an unwanted record by ‘beating’ the 11 scored by Sunderland in front of their own fans in 2003.
Barton pays penalty as Villa achieve goal (Peter Keeling)
City, quite frankly, need a rethink on tactics and team selection, and Pearce’s programme notes envisaging a top-10 Premiership placing this season could not have been wider off the mark.
Villa pile on Pearce woe (Paul Rowan)
City have a home game against Manchester United next Saturday to rescue some pride, but yesterday they trooped off with their heads bowed and boos ringing in their ears.
Pearce closer to exit as Carew puts City to sword (Dan Murphy)
By the start of next season, City may well have new owners and perhaps a different manager. The playing staff will surely also be radically overhauled, regardless of who is in charge, as another underachieving campaign drifts to an insipid end.
Defiant Pearce vows to stay at the helm (Les Ward)
Pearce, whose side’s run of Premiership home games without a goal now stretches back to New Year’s Day, said: “I’m very confident I’ll still be here next season because I honestly don’t think there is a better man to do my job. No one at board level has suggested to me that I won’t be here and the chairman thinks I’m the best man for the job.”
Manchester City 0 - Aston Villa 2 (Mark Ogden)
Those millionaires, tycoons and former idols scrambling to buy City might just want to keep their powder dry for a few more weeks.
Because if City continue to perform like this, the asking price for the controlling stake in the club will plunge through the floor and leave it available from a car boot sale complete with knockdown price tag.
Player ratings
It’s the first time this season that no player has managed a rating of 6 or higher, which probably tells you a lot about the uniform awfulness of the display.
Ratings come from (in order): Richard Tucker (rtfract.com) MEN, The People, NOTW, Sky, Sky Your Rating, BBC.
Isaksson: 6, 5, 4, 3, 6, 5.2, 5.8 (av: 5.0)
Hardly overworked and certainly not done any favours for first goal but second one was soft. (MEN)
Onuoha (Jihai 45): 5, 4, 5, 5, 5, 4.9, 4.7 (av: 4.8)
Seemed off the pace and was slack in letting the cross come in from Young for Carew. (MEN)
Dunne: 6.5, 6, 6, 6, 6, 5.3, 5.1 (av: 5.8)
Often appeared to be fighting a lone battle at the back as city’s midfield was overrun. (MEN)
Distin: 6.5, 6, 3, 4, 5, 4.6, 5.0 (av: 4.9)
Not his finest hour when Carew scored although did tighten up after that. (MEN)
Ball: 6, 6, 7, 7, 5, 5.3, 5.0 (av: 5.9)
Had a decent enough game and continues to give impression he’s worth a longer deal. (MEN)
Hamann (Sinclair 68): 6, 5, 4, 4, 5, 5.0, 4.0 (av: 4.7)
Never really an influence on the game with the pace of Villa’s midfield too much. (MEN)
Barton: 6.5, 5, 6, 6, 7, 5.1, 4.4 (av: 5.7)
Appalling penalty was his worst shot of an afternoon when Gareth Barry had his measure. (MEN)
Ireland: 5.5, 5, 7, 7, 6, 5.1, 5.2 (av: 5.8)
Glorious and frustrating. Intuitive on some occasions but blinkered on others. (MEN)
Vassell: 6, 5, 6, 6, 6, 5.7, 5.1 (av: 5.7)
Began in bright enough fashion against his former club but faded out of it late on. (MEN)
Samaras: 6, 6, 5, 5, 5, 5.0, 4.7 (av: 5.2)
Not the worst by any means but still doesn’t punch his weight or look like scoring. (MEN)
Mpenza: 6, 5, 4, 3, 6, 5.5, 5.7 (av: 5.0)
Failed with second half one on one and not as productive as he has been in other games. (MEN)
Subs:
Jihai (Onuoha 45): 6, 6, 5, 5, 6, 5.5, 4.9 (av: 5.5)
His energy tightened up right side. (MEN)
Sinclair ( Hamann 68): 5, 5, 5, 5, 6, 5.2, 4.5 (av: 5.1)
Not able to change the flow. (MEN)
Subs not used:
Weaver, Dabo, Trabelsi