Perhaps the only news more sensational than Kevin Keegan’s appointment these past few days is Manchester City’s signing of Iraqi superstar, Nashat Akram. The announcement was made on Akram’s website, only to be removed a few days later. Presumably due to letters from the club who made no announcement whatsoever of this big signing; one that Sven has been talking about it seems with a week away to the closing of the January window.
Well, there’s Akramgate and Subside Sport’s take on the transfer window circus. RIP Marc Foe. City came into the West Ham game having won by the odd goal against the same team on the same pitch some four days earlier. It was an FA Cup tie and like any other ties, albeit the drama of plumbers playing against megastars, the entertainment level is always a hit or miss. Sad to say, this one was a drab. Yet winning the trip to play the mighty Sheffield United team in the next round was all that matters. The ghost of City’s six-goal trashing into the hands of the billionaires at Chelsea seems to be haunting our league position, and will continue doing so all year long. As much as I would like to see us as sharing the fourth spot with Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa, we had number ‘7’ beside our name all week long. A position that would lead me to showering Stuart Pearce with praises though if we’re in 2006. A headline on the Manchester Evening News a few days ago read ‘Arrivederci Bianchi’. It’s a pity that the speculation of City’s second ever priciest signing leaving Eastlands is getting stronger. I’ve always liked Bianchi and credits to him for the few praises I’ve gotten off the ladies for my Bianchi-burn. The few goals he’d scored for us have been gorgeous. His performance last night however, portrayed the very reasoning behind Sven’s preference to start him at the bench most of the time. The £8m that Frank forked out for him seemed a bit like the £90m our neighbor splashed for Djemba² (wish my name was squared). He was ineffective, as was the whole team bar Joe Hart. We looked a bit tired against a very average West Ham team I should say. Nevertheless, hats off to the Curbs Clan (sorry) for a very spirited performance. Even Uncle Hamann cited the Hammers as unlucky to not get away with all three points . City, on the other hand, was lucky to get away with a point. The Association of FA Referees seemed to have made up for their error during the Blackburn game and awarded a goal to an offside Vassell. If it wasn’t for the glorious archetypal Titus Bramble backpass at the Everton - Wigan game, we would’ve been leveled with the Toffees at the fourth spot. City however, is a bit ‘typical’. All the Liverpool - Aston Villa game on Tuesday would do is bring us to either sixth or seventh. Alas in Sven, we trust.
Photos from Shaiful & Shahrin Bangkok trip in '05 and Ajim's trip to the COMS are up on our Flickr page: http://www.flickr.com/eastofcoms
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East of COMS Malaysia is the website of Manchester City supporters in Malaysia. It is currently under construction.
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