Little Book of Man City: Independent and Unofficial

by David Clayton (Editor)

'The Little Book of Man City' is a classic collection of words of wit and wisdom by and about the famous managers, great players and celebrity fans who have ridden the roller-coaster of emotions that go with following the city of Manchester's club. Now England's top team - three Premier League titles in six seasons prove that - here are more than 170 quotes from Malcolm Allison, Francis Lee, Carlos Treves, Roberto Mancini, Sergio Aguero,, Pep Guardiola and Vincent Kompany, as well as many others who have been integral to the incredible story of Manchester City FC.

"My team is extraordinary. My team is not comparable to many others, It is top.."
- Pep Guardiol

192 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Gerry · Rating 3 out of 5]

I am not particularly a Manchester City fan, although I don't dislike them, but this book just looked interesting to see what managers, players and celebrity fans were saying about the light blue team from Manchester.

City have had their ups and downs over the years but in recent times they match manager Pep Guardiola comment of 'My team is extraordinary. My team is not comparable to many others. It is top.' What a change from February 1998 when former player Joe Royle took over as manager and said, 'It's a massive club. It's just a bit sickly.'

Joe Royle also made an amusing comment that reminded me of an incident in my football watching days. He said after City's September 1998 visit to Millwall, 'I can't believe what I've seen tonight. It was a disgrace. If we had scored another goal in that atmosphere I don't think we would have got out alive.'

Well, more than 30 years earlier I experienced a similar feeling. It was 24 October 1967, a miserable Tuesday night, as I went down to Millwall's old ground The Den to see my hometown club Blackpool take on Millwall. At the time the Millwall fans were known for marauding all over the country putting fear into every opposing supporter and as I had Linda with me, I told her that if anyone spoke to us she was to answer as I was not opening my mouth to let them know I was a northerner! Linda was a London girl so she would be treated as one of them. Anyway we drew 1-1 and like Joe Royle says, when our goal went in I was happy to remain silent otherwise I would probably have been lynched!

The City celebrity fans include the Gallaghers, Noel and Liam, independently of course, and Noel was quite funny when he remarked after City had been taken over by an Abu Dhabi oil magnate, 'It'll be nice to know that [the money for] every gallon of petrol a Manchester United fan buys is going into our transfer kitty.' And Liam was philosophical when he said, 'When Oasis were doing well City were doing badly [a euphemism for his word used]. But now we've split, City are doing good. Maybe there are some good times ahead with City, and that'll take the pain off the band splitting up a bit.'

Roberto Mancini is oft quoted and he liked his Mancunian nickname 'Bobby Manc' and when former player, and cult hero, Francis Lee took over as chairman in February 1994 he said diplomatically, 'I see myself as a friendly advisor not a dictator.' Wise thoughts indeed.

City chaplain Tony Porter was amusing when he remarked, 'If I wasn't praying for City, just think where we might be.' Amusing is probably also the description of Sergio Aguero comment, 'I am the Che Guevara of modern soccer.' Whereas player Ian Brightwell when explaining a long distance strike at Old Trafford in February 1990 commented, 'I just wellied it!' I wish I could have been more honest on one occasion when I scored with a shot from within my own half of the field. The local press reporter collared me after the game and asked if I had intended the shot. I said with a straight face, 'Of course I did' when I should have said 'I just wellied it!'

It's nice to see so many of the players praising the club's fans; Gio Kinkladze for instance remarked, 'The fans are absolutely unbelievable at this club, and I owe them so much.' And we could not end without some comment from the flamboyant Malcolm Allison who assisted Joe Mercer as manager and then took over himself. In his usual modest way he commented, 'Before we won the Championship, I told the lads exactly how many goals we would score and how many points. I was exactly right. I'm brilliant!' And if that was not noted he also commented, 'I am a scientist. My training is brilliant and, like all scientists, I can make things work.' Oh well, that was Malcolm.

But his mentor Joe Mercer, on being replaced by him as manager in 1972, knew his place when he commented, 'I must stay in football or I'll die and now it's just a case of adapting. Malcolm will call me Joe instead of boss but I'll still advise him from time to time.' Well, most people need somebody sometime, even the brilliant ones!

[Dei Mur · Rating 3 out of 5]

Anrheg perffaith i bob cefnogwr City.

Ideal present for the City fan in your life.