mrbojangles

From skysports:-

Lee the hero as Hornets draw

By Tom Adams - Created on 04 Dec 06

Premiership strugglers Watford survived a late penalty scare to restrict Manchester City to a 0-0 draw at Eastlands.

Given City's unbeaten home record, and Watford's winless away campaign, the writing was on the wall for a frustrating night for The Hornets, but they went closest in a first half severely lacking in quality when Danny Shittu rattled the crossbar.

After the break, only some superb goalkeeping from Richard Lee, and a late penalty decision in their favour, prevented the Hertfordshire side from suffering their eighth defeat of the campaign as City missed a great chance to claim three points.

Going in search of their first victory on their travels, Watford were inches away from taking the lead after eight minutes when Nicky Weaver did fantastically well to claw Damien Francis's looping header from under the bar after a cross from Tommy Smith.

With summer signing Andreas Isaksson sitting attentively on the bench after shaking off an injury, the City number one was in need of a good performance and produced another impressive save on 16 minutes when he stuck a foot out to deny Darius Henderson's goal-bound header on the line.

City, however, also threatened in a busy first quarter of an hour, with talented young England international Micah Richards having a fierce snapshot pushed round the post after Gavin Mahon's header clear.

Hornets keeper Lee also had to be alert when a Joey Barton corner was headed into the box, but with Richard Dunne, Georgios Samaras and Richards all bustling for the ball, the shot stopper managed to palm clear, despite being off balance.

A bright start to the game soon gave way to an entrenched physical conflict, and Watford saw Francis booked for leading with his arm in an aerial challenge with Barton, whilst Mahon should have joined him in the book with another hefty collision with the same player.

Darius Vassell was also cautioned for a crude foul on Ashley Young - one of the few players capable of producing something memorable - as the first half drifted away, but just moments before the break, Shittu rattled the crossbar with a strong header from the last of the 12 corners in the first 45 minutes.

The scrappy nature of the contest continued in the second half, and a lacklustre City side were struggling to get a clear shot on goal, with Vassell and Claudio Reyna denied by timely interceptions from Shittu and Jay DeMerit.

With the ball spending more time in the air than the Wright Brothers, Pearce opted to introduce Ishmael Miller for the lightweight Samaras, and another thumping aerial challenge from Mahon gave City a set-piece in a dangerous area and earned the midfielder a booking.

Barton curled his free-kick round the static wall on 65 minutes, but Lee produced an outstanding one-handed stop, as he dived full to his left and then bundled the rebound out for a corner.

Disappointingly, the chance failed to ignite the game, despite Barton again testing Lee with a low drive from outside the box, until the last five minutes when Francis threatened with a weak shot.

The warning was a spur for City to redouble their efforts, and, after Richards saw his effort deflected over, Corradi produced another stunning stop from Lee, as the Hornets keeper somehow got a hand to his snapshot volley.

Just 60 seconds later, the Italian striker was furious after being denied a penalty, but if Corradi's fall had been slightly less dramatic then DeMerit may have been penalised for a tug on his opponent's shirt.

Watford, however, held on to move into double figures for the season, with City's point moving them into the top half of the table.

Second half was a big improvement and indeed when Reyna was replaced by Hamann they actually started playing football.Methinks Reynas place is in jeopardy.

Yep

Also ive given Samaras a long time to sort himself out,he aint,hes not cutting it and i dont think hes going to!!Need a decent strike partner fpr Corradi who is impressing me now.

Yep

What do you reckon for the Derby then Mr Bo??I hate to be negative but im going for 3-1 to the scum.

And yep again. I'm very worried about the derby. At our current form and the current form of the scum we could be in for a record, all time drubbing

Well, just got off the phone to Learn Direct. She didn't know that it was for ILR and kept telling me the mrs couldn't apply for citizenship until she'd been in UK for 3 years. I reitterated, it will be in force for ILR and the mrs will have to have ESOL Entry 3.

OK got that through to her, now this course will take 6-12 months part-time but the mrs has to apply for ILR in August (september in post above is wrong due to applying 28 days before SV runs out). Also, the nearest one is in Manchester (about a 30mins to an hour away, depending on traffic) How the <deleted> do i hold a full time job down, yet still try to get the mrs to Manchester

I have to agree with the gents original post. I too think its a farce , making an already difficult process even harder for genuine wifes/civil partners etc. I took a mock test on line and failed , took another random one and failed that. So what does that prove ....seemingly that i don't know enough about Britain to be allowed to live here.

Me too

So, my mrs applies for her ILR in September. She hasn't studued for the test yet (we thinking it was just for citizenship). What happens if she fails?

I'm getting fciking tired of this country!! Surely they could have put a date on it, that Settlement visas issued after April 2007 would have to do the test. Say someone hasn't studied it yet, theyv'e only got 5 months.

EDIT// P.S. thanks Angrit for bringing this to our attention

City0-Watford0-Normal service resumed then eh?I really dont know why i bother anymore!!!

Yep In fairness to Watford though. They needed the point and just stifled the game. IMO

My Thai fiancee loves to clean. she cleans both bathrooms twice a week, vacuums, cooks and washes the dishes. And she generally loves it

My last aussie gf had to go because she wouldnt do her job properly, never cleans and starts getting lippy when i tell her the house is a mess.

One of Donz first posts on TV. Quality, pure quality

Dietmar Hamann

Squad no: 21

Date of birth: 27/08/1973

Place of Birth: Waldasson, Germany

Position: Midfielder

Height (ft): 6.03

Weight (st): 13.01

International Caps: 57

The former Liverpool midfielder joined City on a free transfer from Bolton in July 2006, and signed a two-year contract with the Blues.

After transferring from Bayern Munich to Newcastle United in 1998, Hamann spent one season in the north-east, where he was a team-mate of Pearce's, before moving to Liverpool.

In his seven years there, Hamann played a major part in the club capturing a string of honours, and scored from the penalty spot in the 2005 Champions League and 2006 FA Cup final shoot-outs.

Capped 57 times by his country, 'Didi' also holds the distinction of being the last player to score at the old Wembley, his free-kick being the only goal of the game when Germany played England in October 2000.

A foot injury picked up during the summer trip to China saw Didi make a slow start to his City career with his league debut coming in September's 4-2 loss at Blackburn.

Carry on Mr Bo, its informative.

Cheers Jack

Ah now I understand, please feel free to carry on Mr.B. its your forum after all I am certainly not going to suggest you don't post whatever you want to post I merely questioned why you did it and know I understand completely

Carry on Seargent Major

Will do sir

Midfielders

Claudio Reyna

Squad no: 6

Date of birth: 20/07/1973

Place of Birth: Livingston, USA

Position: Midfielder

Height (ft): 5.09

Weight (st): 11.11

International Caps: 112

International Goals: 8

Claudio Reyna joined Sunderland in a £4.5m deal from Rangers in December 2001, having previously plied his trade in Germany for Bayer Leverkusen and Wolfsburg.

He quickly made his mark at the Stadium of Light with some polished midfield displays. The New Jersey-born player had an outstanding World Cup in 2002 in Japan and Korea, helping the U.S. reach the quarter-finals.

He was named in the FIFA World Cup All-star team alongside Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Michael Ballack in midfield - the first American to be given that honour.

In August 2003, wanting to remain in the Premiership he looked set to sign for Fulham but when the deal hit a snag Kevin Keegan moved for the midfielder. The boss believed that the American could play in a number of midfield postions so increasing his options.

Made his debut as a second half substitute in City's win over Aston Villa in September 2003 and was in the starting line up in the Uefa Cup victory over Lokeren. He made his first start in the Premiership at Molineux when City went down 1-0.

Looked impressive in the early part of the 2005/06 season, but a couple of leg injuries saw him sit out long stretches in the autumn and in the new year.

After his return another slight injury picked up against Wigan in March 2006 kept him out for three games, but on his return he was as steady as ever, earning his place in the USA World Cup squad as captain. Following his country's exit from the tournament, Claudio announced his retirement from international football

Well done Reading. Up to 6th place now, with a game in hand over quite a few of the other teams

Aaaahh <deleted>....

And to think that if there were the benefits of instant replays it would have been 0-0

No we deserved to lose , absolutely crap at times.

I agree, but the goal was offside. First penalty wasnt, 2nd penalty Van Persie handballed it first

Spurs were still s#ite though

The good news is, City moved up to 11th and Tottenham moved down to 12th because of goal difference. And we didn't even play yesterday. Wish every week was like that

No offence intended whatsover Mr.B...but have you not got something better to do than post all these profiles of players that the majority of us have never heard of?

But you are definatley on a loser with the lst one...he's from SWINDON

Warmest regards

TP

No offence taken TP. I just didn't understand what you were talking about

As for the players, that's why i am posting them. Cos many of you don't know them. But i'll stop if you like

This Vinny, is still a mystery and I am soon to lodge my second appeal.

I wonder where that will end up.

Bruddy h3ll Moss, is that saga stilll going on

Last of the defenders

Matthew Mills

Squad no: 26

Date of birth: 14/07/1986

Place of Birth: Swindon

Position: Defender

Height (ft): 6.03

Weight (st): 13.07

International Caps: 0

International Goals: 0

Matthew Mills joined City from Southampton in the January 2006 transfer window. With his Saints contract due up at the end of season, Stuart Pearce stole in for a real bargain, paying just £250,000 for the England Under 19 player.

After loan spells at Coventry and Bournermouth, Mills returned to Southampton and after being sparing used by Harry Redknapp, new boss George Burley handed Mills a run of impressive games which ultimately led to Matt's departure.

The signing of the Swindon-born centre back is definitely a sign of Stuart Pearce's intent to build a young and talented Manchester City squad.

After steady performances for the reserves Mills earnt his first senior appearance coming off the bench with five minutes remaining of the away trip to Chelsea in March.

To cap a fine month for the young defender, he was awarded the Thomas Cook Reserve Team Player of the Month for March 2006.

Matthew has continued to make progress in the reserves, and he made his first start for the senior side against Wigan in October 2006.

Jihai Sun

Squad no: 17

Date of birth: 30/09/1977

Place of Birth: Dalian, China

Position: Defender

Height (ft): 5.09

Weight (st): 12.08

International Caps: 61

International Goals: 0

Defender Sun Jihai, though in his native China his name is reversed his surname being Sun, had been a target of City's for several months before the Chinese international spent a week training with the City squad before agreeing the switch from his home club of Dalian Wanda in February 2002.

This is Sun's second spell in English football having previously spent a couple of seasons at Crystal Palace before returning to China.

He made eight appearances for the Blues in his first season and was a member of the China squad in the 2002 World Cup. But the defender had little chance to impress on the world stage after he picked up an ankle injury in the first game and had to sit out the rest of China's campaign which ended at the group stages.

Jihai then became the first Chinese player to score in the Premiership when he headed home the first City goal in their 2-0 win over Birmingham in October 2002. It was the first match in which he had played right wing back for the club. He continued with impressive displays in that role denying Shaun Wright-Phillips a place in the side.

He scored his second of the season for the Blues at Sunderland in early December during the 3-0 win.

With the arrival of Danny Mills at the start of the 2004/05 season the China international found himself acting as a utility player with roles in midfield. But in the 1-0 win over Chelsea in October 2004 his season was cruelly cut short.

Playing for the first time in a central midfield role due to injuries to Claudio Reyna and Joey Barton he was injured in a tackle with Eidur Gudjohnsen that damaged his cruciate and medial ligaments in his left knee.

Completed his rehab and returned to training by the end of the season without mishap. Went home to China in the close season and followed a specially designed training programme to build his fitness before returning for the start of the 2005/06 season.

After a steady season for the popular utility man was rewarded with a two-year extension on his City deal at the start of May 2006.

Unfortunately for Jihai he was unable to play on City's pre-season visit to his homeland after picking up a hamstring injury, but this did not stop him being mobbed at the airport on arrival or from being the focus of much local media scrutiny.

Micah Richards

Squad no: 2

Date of birth: 24/06/1988

Place of Birth: Birmingham

Position: Defender

Height (ft): 5.11

Weight (st): 13.08

International Caps: 0

International Goals: 0

Micah Richards joined City from Oldham Athletic as a 14-year-old and has since progressed through the Club's successful Academy.

The 2005/06 season has brought good things for young Micah. He featured in many of the senior side's pre-season fixtures, even making the trip to Thailand and playing against Bolton and Everton.

On his first game back from Thailand, Micah went out and scored a hat-trick in the reserves 4-3 win at Stalybridge. His goalscoring form has continued into the season, scoring vital goals away at Wigan in a 3-2 win and Liverpool in November's 1-1.

Such as been his form, Micah was voted the Club's Reserve Player of the Month for October 2005.

Made his first team debut as a substitute in the 1-0 defeat at Highbury in October, and came close to scoring after being pushed forward as City sought an equalizer.

Called into the starting XI for the 3-2 win over Charlton as a right-back and made a great impression in an unfamiliar position. Followed that up by scoring in stoppage time in the very next match, a 5th round cup tie at Villa Park. He capped that by jumping into the City fans to celebrate, then swore live on national television when asked to describe how it felt!

Other fine performances followed as Micah remained in the City senior side until the end of the season.

Micah took the City number two shirt during the close season and made his England Under 21 debut against Moldova in August 2006.

Maybe you could try and find a report written in Thai, that explains how dangerous it is. Also, i think i've seen many poor people collecting plastic to earn money. If they knew they could get money for it they might not burn it. Not sure

Intersting that you point out that only 5% of people think that Shrewsbury will win the Bodgit and Scarper Vans Trophy MR B

I really can't believe that

mâi kâo jai

Why do City fans want this JUDAS back?! (Absolutly no chance of it happening btw)

I presume your'e talking about SWP.

I don't think he was a Judas. He didn't want to leave and didn't ask to leave. He kept on refusing the bids until it just got too high. We all have aprice.

If we get him back for say £10m, he will have made us £13m. If i went to City and said i'll give you £13m, i'd expect a place on the Board

TP

Edited due to smelling pisstakes

I nearly missed that one

Hi Cromarty,

Welcome to the thread, for the only Team in Manchester Back off Redrus

I'm for it, especially in cases of murder. The jury in my own mind, is still out, if related to a drugs crime.

Sorry about my last post above. Cut and pasted and din't check

See Trabelsi is City's player of the month - think i'm right that he's on a paid for play deal, sign up SP, quick, the man is a footballer.

Agreed Bred, the lad looks good.

Haven't seen you about for a while?

Why is she wearing a black bra under a light blue shirt?

Why do you care

30/11/2006 - http://www.croquet.org.uk/

Just thought you guys might like to know. Great Britain are currently stuffing Australia 6-0 at Croquet

GB swept the doubles again at Shepparton to take a commanding 6-0 lead against hosts Australia in the deciding test for the 2006 MacRobertson Shield.

Pride of place goes to The Beast as he and Mark Avery beat Ian Demergue and Harley Watts +1otp in the decider. Dave ran two long angled hoops to start the winning three ball break from hoop 2 after Ian Demergue, with Australia for peg and peg, had inexplicably laid up in corners III and IV with a lift pending, rather than peg one ball out. Dave pegging one opponent ball out at the end for good measure.

A sublime goal from Sylvain Distin sealed a great victory for Manchester City over Aston Villa at Villa Park to end their dreadful run of away form.

Prior to Wednesday's contest, Stuart Pearce's side had lost 14 of the their last 16 away games and were without a win on the road this season.

But Distin's goal from a move that began when he picked the ball up inside his own half was enough to confirm a 3-1 victory after ex-Villa man Darius Vassell and Joey Barton had given City the lead.

Gavin McCann had scored to make it 2-1 with 25 minutes remaining, but Villa were unable to maintain their unbeaten home record after a distinctly poor showing.

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Who will win the Football League Trophy?

Brighton

19%

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20%

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6%

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10%

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23%

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9%

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8%

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5%

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Sky Sports Match ReportAston Villa 1 - 3 Manchester City

Barclays Premiership | Wed, 29 Nov 2006 19:45

Match Report Rate the players (?) Distin wonder goal seals win

By Robin Hackett - Created on 29 Nov 06

A sublime goal from Sylvain Distin sealed a great victory for Manchester City over Aston Villa at Villa Park to end their dreadful run of away form.

Prior to Wednesday's contest, Stuart Pearce's side had lost 14 of the their last 16 away games and were without a win on the road this season.

But Distin's goal from a move that began when he picked the ball up inside his own half was enough to confirm a 3-1 victory after ex-Villa man Darius Vassell and Joey Barton had given City the lead.

Gavin McCann had scored to make it 2-1 with 25 minutes remaining, but Villa were unable to maintain their unbeaten home record after a distinctly poor showing.

City started much the brighter of the two teams, utilising their pace down the flanks as their three-pronged attack of Darius Vassell, Bernardo Corradi and Georgios Samaras looked to stretch Villa's defence.

Villa, in turn, looked unusually languid, and a tame long-range effort from Stilian Petrov after 11 minutes represented their best early attempt.

Vassell in particular looked sharp for the visitors, causing frequent problems down the left-hand side and coming close to opening the scoring with a decent curling effort after 15 minutes, which Stuart Taylor palmed away nicely.

Their passing, too, looked the more incisive as they intelligently shifted the ball around with some nice one-touch moves.

And City were able to make that pressure count after 18 minutes when Vassell ably smashed the ball past Taylor from close range following a Hatem Trabelsi cross that was helped on by Corradi.

In the aftermath, Martin O'Neill's men still failed to find any spark, and Vassell nearly added a second on 22 minutes with a fierce header, again from Trabelsi's cross.

After 32 minutes, they did make it 2-0 through Barton when he found the net with a near-post drive after a clever through-ball from Distin allowed Samaras to knock the ball back to him inside the area.

Although Villa could have done better defensively, it was no more than City deserved for their fine efforts against an uninspired team.

It was not until one minute before the break that the home team threatened at all, when a stunning 25-yard free-kick from Petrov struck the underside of the bar and bounced off the line before City could clear.

After the restart, Villa looked to have improved slightly as Juan Pablo Angel and later Petrov had chances, but the first was off-target and second caused few problems for Nicky Weaver.

And it was again City who created the clearest opportunity just before the hour mark as Samaras played in Corradi to test Taylor from close range.

And when Vassell looked likely to claim his second on the rebound, the stand-in keeper again reacted well.

But, despite looking unable to get beyond the visitors' defence, Villa did find a way back into the match with another spectacular strike, this time from McCann, who drilled in after 66 minutes from a similar distance to Petrov's first-half effort.

It was tough on City in some ways, but the quality of both efforts was indisputable and deserved to be rewarded.

Villa were able to find some form after the strike, too, and Gareth Barry tried to curl an effort beyond Weaver, who saved well.

But, with just 15 minutes remaining, centre-back Distin punished them with what should go down as a candidate for goal of the season when he took the ball from the edge of his own area, played a one-two with Samaras, and knocked the ball beyond Liam Ridgewell before placing it beyond the helpless Taylor.

With the score at 3-1, Villa failed to find any kind of response and Manchester City were able to halt their dreadful run of results on the road.