Good News and Bad News – City Preview

Coach
By Boris Mellor
May 3 2006

Which do you want first? Well the good news is we are guaranteed a place in Europe. The bad news is that it’s in the UEFA vase. That means that anything but a win tonight would condemn Arsenal to the byways and backwoods of Europe,unless they win the Vase with the Big Ears.

Even a win Thursday night will not guarantee a CL place, but anything less and it’s certain that St Totterringham’s day is cancelled.

Man City have lost seven of their last eight fixtures, including a defeat by the hapless Fulham. But what looks like a walkover could be undermined by the fact that City will be desperate not to lose the last game of the season at home.

Pearce has called on his players to give the fans something to cheer about. “They know they have to put in a top performance to compete with the likes of Arsenal”.

I just hope that doesn’t include more of the “they don’t like it up em” stuff provided by Pompey and the Black Cats. Apparently Arsenal doesn’t like the rough stuff – it’s a man’s game so they should love it. After all other teams love having broken noses, and broken ankles. It’s only Wenger and his fancy dan foreigners, who insist on playing brilliant football, then complain about such trifles.

How hard will Arsenal play? Will the fact that winning 3-0 is repaid with assault and battery, and missing the CL final undermine their determination to win? By the way Alan Smith I have had enough of your arse licking performances on Sky (got that off my chest). Diaby was a very important part of Arsene’s final run up plans. Also he was just beginning to look quite good.

I have no idea who is the squad – but quite a few players should, or could return, including Reyes, Flamini, Walcott and Senderos. Once again Wenger will juggle the team, and take players off early. It is also to be hoped that RvP can start finding the net again.

If Arsenal win it will be their first victory in the North West this season. What’s the chances of that happening?