Where can i begin???? Ok me and a couple of the lads set off for Manchester at about 9:30 arriving at about 11. We went to this pub called the Sherwood to find about 1000 mags singing and shouting, it was tremendous. As kick off time approached we were surrounded by police who had camera's on us therefore chants of Harry Roberts etc. started and there was a bit of bother but not too much. Funniest part of the day was when we sang u fat bastard to this 30 stone city fan, it was hilarious. Ok now for the match, well we dominated from start to finish in my view. Wanchope missed 1 sitter but we had so many chances it was unreal. Hughes again excellent and the young lad caldwell did well when he came on. Rob lee excellent in midfield and Shearer, well we always doubt it but he just keeps on doing it doesnt he?. Lua-Lua was fantastic when he came on and give us just the lift we needed at the right time. Atmosphere was fantastic and we thoroughly deserved the win in my opinion. On a sour note there was hell on after the match. As we were walking out of the turnstile there was about 100 blokes without strips on standing on the street corner all with skin heads and Hackett tops on. You could just feel something was about to kick off any minute. Just as we arrived back at the car there was an almighty roar and everyone started running up the street. There was fights all over the place and fans of both colours were coming back to the car park with blood all over their strips. There was absolute hell on, I'm not kidding. The police were straight there and it stopped after about 10 mins. When waiting to leave the car park a city fan approached us and said " You geordies are all the fucking same, you are all fucking mouth and you start trouble everywhere you go". I can assure you it wasn't like that at all. City have got this reputation of being the nice guys from Manchester but thats shite, they were and always will be the same. They were the ones who started all the trouble but saying that it was probably the other lot from down the road who werent playing until today so they thought they'd cause a bit of bother. But who gives a shit!!! We beat the bastards and we're on our way back up!!!!! Howay the lads!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Answers

Indulge me Tony - what`s a Hackett top?(:o)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Pre-match build up

For me, this match was a "must", being in my own back yard (we,, not quite litterally, but ye knaa what aah mean) in Manchester. "Real" Manchester. Tickets were acquired well in advance this time, and I went into the week feeling remarkably confidednt, despite poor performances againsy Soton and Charlton in the PL and Orient in the Worthy Thingy.

As the week went on, the BBS "posse" detailed to attend this game became more apparent. Josh was having my spare, and Sting was coming up with "She Who Must Be Obeyed". Would Caz come to the match? Only time would tell.

A phone call from a frantic Susie Brown Ale on Wednesday meant that more tickets were required, and Stu B was also looking having been turned down by the club. Mungo Fixit" Mag came up with the goods and SBA and Stu were sorted. This was particularly important for SBA as her brothers were going, one of whom was just in from Oz and a family reunion was a must.

Then, a change of last minute plans saw Alan (aka Fifties Fan) jetting in from Hong Kong on Saturday morning, and "can I have a ticket please?" Well, having asked so nicely, who could turn him down? Not wor Sting, and he graciously offered to send Caz on yet another shopping spree, beauty treatment in The Midland Hotel, and no doubt other promises he wasn't prepared to divulge in order for Fifties to go to the match. That's what I call dedication - not Fifties but Sting. I think Caz managed to hide her disappointment very well indeed.

Match Day

Match day dawned bright. Indeed I almost saw the dawn, being woken at the ungodly hour of 7:30 by a phone call from Hong Kong. Well, not actually Hong Kong, but the caller display number was a Hong Kong number. Fifties Fan had arrived in UK and was in the Virgin lounge at Heathrow. Hell, I know the airlines do a lot these days for their passengers, but a lounge full of virgins? That Richard Branson certainly knows a lot about customer satisfaction.

Isn't technology wonderful? How did we ever get to football matches without the internet and mobile phones? A word of praise to Val who had stayed behind in HK to listen to the webcast while hubby went to the game. Mebbes Sting should ask how he does it.

It was pay-back day for me - or rather to me and #1 son "volunteered" to drive me into Manchester. You may remember that he went with me to see "the other Manchester team" on the first day of the season, but this time it was his Mum's birthday and he went for brownie points, taking her out for lunch rather than go to the match (getting the idea Sting??). However, there was still time to spare, and SBA was arriving on the train so BBS-power went into action and she was wisked off (ooh er missus) to The Sherwood, where we found Mungo looking ever-so-much like a ticket tout on the pavement doling out tickets. Then it was off to meet SBA's two brothers in Chorlton while I went off to The Rain Bar in town to meet the lads. After a few bevvies, we hailed a cab, and it was off to Maine Road. So, there we were in the black cab - Josh, Sting, Fifties and Screach. But wait - there was another BBSer in there as well. There was Galaxy 105 shamelessly displayed the back window. I didn't realise wor Gal had a radio station named after her!

.......end of Part I

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Part II.............

The Match

A quick check of the line up showed another 11 points for me in the Teampick competition - I told you I was feeling quietly confident and that phone call to YBR saw him put the right team out today. To be honest, the first half was pretty turgid. City had more early posession, but a combination of a poor final ball and poor finishing kept Shay's goal intact. At the other end, a Speed freekick was clawed out down by the post and Shearer came close to breaking his outfield duck but Tommy Wright made a good save from Al's header. A short while later, a corner from the right was met by Gary Speed, but again Wrighty made a good save. We were beginning to wonder if the curse of the ex-Mags was going to haunt us again.

Second half saw the introduction of Steve Caldwell to make his debut (?) replacing Andy Griffin who had taken a heavy knock in the first half. This moved Charvet out to the right back slot (one where I think he performs better and certainly makes me feel more comfortable). This of course left a centre back paoring of Caldwell and Hughes. Come on - who honestly would have ever considered this as our CB Partnership at the beginning of the season? If it wasn't for the laws of libel, I'd call yo a liar if you'd said "yes". However, Caldwell slotted in straight away and looked very comfortable and assured. On this performance, we can feel confident for the future of our central defence in the years to come.

LKD was having another one of those games. He made some great jinky runs, but all too often delayed his final pass, trying to beat yet another man (or was it the same man yet another time?). I wish he was more direct, as I think he is at his most dangerous when running straight at a defence. On one occasion, he was clear down the right, and (from where we sat in the far corner) it appeared that he failed to pick out a colleague in the middle. However, with the benefit of the MotD replay, it was actually a delicate little chip which Wrighty did well to tip over. But maybe he still should have crossed??

A short while later saw the introduction of Lua x2, replacing a rather ineffectual Cordone. For the second PL match in a row, this lad took the game by the scruff of the neck and made quiet a few folks sit up and take notice. For you teampickers, he'll be in the starting lineup against the Smog Monsters. LKD took a knock and was replaced by Nobby. Whether it was because he was fighting for his place, but I felt he had a far better game than of late.

............end of Part II

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Part III.............

Perhaps Clarky is right - maybe we can't afford to have both LKD and Nobby in the same side? Of course, this also raises the question about Gavilan. When will he get a game? Surley the time is right to let him have his chance soon. And where does Lua x2 play? Up front with Shearer, or in the middle four? Probably up front, but then what about Cort? It's nice to have a squad of players challenging for a place in the starting line up, but a bit of a nightmare selecting the right ones and keeping them all happy. I mean, with Shearer still not able to score from open play, maybe YBR will do the unthinkable (unless your name is Ruud Gullit) when Big Yin Mk II is fit.

What was that I said? A fabulous bit of interplay in midfield brought the ball out of defence and out wide on the right and a great exchange between Lua x2 and Nobby saw Nobby in open space. But not as much space as Shearer, who was all alone at the back post, and Nobby found him perfectly with his cross. Now, Shearer might have made Tommy Wright make a great save in the first half, but this time there was no mistake and Alan was reeling off towards the corner with his hand raised aloft.

I can tell you, it wasn't only him who must have let out a sigh of relief. There were 3000 more of us in the corner doing the same! The man is back in business. Whoever doubted it? Ahem. I found the fact that MotD dwelled so long on the slo-mos doubting whether he was onside, was a bit churlish. If it was offside (and it was bliddy hard to tell) it was surely only compensation for the free kick given against LKD for hand ball when he was thru clear on goal. Replays of that confirmed what 3000 Geordies knew at the time. He'd brought it down on his chest, with his hands and arms behind his back. A poor decision, but one which didn't matter in the end.

It could have been an even bigger margin. In the dying minutes, Nobby was clear down the right, and instead of sliding the ball across the area into the path of the unmarked Lua x2, he elected to shoot. The ball struck the post and went out for a goal kick. It would have been icing on the cake if the ball had gone to Lua and he'd scored - a fact recognised by Nobby with an apologetic wave to the young 'un.

So, another clean sheet for Shay and to be honest, he wasn't called upon to make a hard save. This was partly down to good defensive work in front of him and poor finishing from City. A better header of the ball than Wanchope would surely have threatened more than they did.

............end of Part III

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Part IV.............

Post Match Blues

We were kept in the ground for 15 mins or so after the game. Sting, Fifties and I met up and started an uneventful walk back to the city centre. However, things weren't so simple for SBA, and another frantic call explained that here and her sibblings had been caught up in crowd trouble after the game. Apparently, on their wasy back to the Sherwood, they were among a group of B&Ws who were ambushed by some disgruntled City fans. Susie managed to get away, but was split up from the rest of the party. Riots squads and horses were in attendance, but the final outcome is unknown. Fortunately, SBA made it back to the station and was safely on the train last I heard. Sadly, this put a dampner on proceedings of what should have been a great day. Let's hope it was no more than a skirmish and nobody was injured.

Back in the city centre, Fifties Fan was despatched towards the station to make his onward journey from Hong Kong to Newcastle while Sting and I headed for the "posh bar" in The Midland Hotel to find out what Caz had been doing. Well, I have to say, first impressions and aal that, but I found her to be a lovely lass, despite (or maybe because of) her upbringing in "the flat bit on the east coast". Anyway, I hope I got the story right and didn't drop Sting in any more bother. Nah, she's a fine lass and I'm sure it's only a matter of time before she sees the light and comes to SJP for a match. The Mackems was suggested - what better introduction to Newcastle than that? A final word aboot the posh bar. Beer at a pound a pint in a city centre bar on a Saturday? Sting couldn't believe it. A round for less than a fiver. Crikey - almost worth leaving Lahndaan for. Happy Hour, eh? More like Happy Day for the Geordie faithful.

And Finally

I can't let this report go without mentioning those who were absent. Shame on you Gav - fancy going to Newcastle when you could have been at Maine Road. And Bobby - thanks for not turning up. Now we know who is the bad luck influence from the BBS. Still, just think of aal those luverly shopping sprees you can take your missus on on match days.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Excellent report Screacher - thanks. I'm envious, although reports of the violence are disturbing.
I sincerely hope we aren't returning to the dark days when going to away games was reserved for the very brave or the very foolish. Maine Road is not exactly in a smart part of town (in fact, are there any in M/C?) so perhaps it's not entirely surprising.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Thanks for the report Screacher - so much more in there than simply a disection of the match! Hope the `incident` after the match is an isolated one - I really hate thuggery in any form.(:o)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

According to Teamtalk, YKD has damaged knee ligaments and BR says he looks like being our for while.
When will it ever end.................

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Why haven't there been any mention of the trouble in the papers?

If the NUFC fans were kept inside for 15 minutes after the game and there were 100 Skinheads waiting for them outside the ground, why didn't the police disperse them before they let the Newcastle fans out?

Were the Police annoyed at the chants by Newcastle fans towards them before the game and let the skinheads attack the Newcastle fans as punishment for their remarks?

Can any one who was there clarify the situation?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

We walked out of the away end and straight down towards town. A couple of left and rights took us straight down Maine Road itself and then onto Upper Cambridge St. We saw absolutely no trouble whatsoever, until Sting's missus planted him one for being late back (OK, I lied about that very last bit). She was charning aal the time. It must be summat to do with me, eh?

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Clarky, I saw YKD in Legends on Saturday night/ Sunday morning and he didn't look that bad...well he wasn't limping by any means. So fingers crossed it's not too bad an injury.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Top stuff Marty - that's just the kind of inside information we need.
Glad to see he's cuttting down on the night-life.

;-{)

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

No doubt YBR will FAX KK to tell him LKD is KO'd. Or mebbes OK? I suppose it's a bit too much to expect him to live in a monastery, even if they do wear B&W.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

I left Screach straight at the end as i had a Blue lift waiting - tee hee - I never gloated once.

The comment re the gates being closed was bollocks - the female on the PA kept saying stay where you are yet when I got to the steps the doors were open. To be fair the exit was pretty narrow and if everybody had left together there may have been a bit of a squeeze.

As to the trouble I reckon that City are still in the Nationwide mode - anybodt remebr Stoke a few years ago - just like the old days. They'll sort themselves if they stay up.

As to the match - I reckon we were always in control yet Wanchope had 3 clear headers.

Players marks/comments Given - nowt to but has drastically improved his kicking Griffin - solid until injured Charvet - carrying a knock yet coped well - especially when Mark Kennedy came on in the 2nd half Hughes - goes from strength to strength - he's just saved YBR a few bob Domi - reasonable going forwards but exposed at times YKD - needs to start going in straight lines and learn when to release the ball. Lee/Speed - superb combination - pity Bobby isn't 5 years younger Gallacher - works hard but has lost the edge - did well Cordone - going thru a rough patch but he'll pull thru - it all looked a bit fast for him at times. Al - works extremely hard - takes so much stick yet gets on with - got the goal he deserved - superb moment when he wound up 2 City players and then a trash load of their fans. Subs - Caldwell - he'll do - blood him slowly - did the simple things that C/Halves should do. Lua Lua - so raw its unbelievable - so much talent - the ball seemed to be tied to his laces - nearly scored except for a superb save from young Tommy.

overall - encouraging win against a keen City team.

-- Anonymous, October 01, 2000

Tony...gotta say mate that that was possibly the most bitter comment that I've heard on this here BBS. Yer actually blaming United fans for trouble at City..."but saying that it was probably the other lot from down the road who werent playing until today so they thought they'd cause a bit of bother"

I've heard comments from different sources who were at the MUFC v's NUFC game at the start of the season where your fans were taking the piss as they left the stadium. I've seen NUFC fans in action mate...and I've heard 'em....get yerself a bloody big mirror.

BTW...just what would United fans be doing in Manchester anyway...if we're to believe the myth?

-- Anonymous, October 02, 2000

From the blueview site ...

Geordie Shocker! By: Burnage Blue Date: 29/09/2000

Thousand upon thousand of misguided geordies descended on Moss Side this weekend. The religous zealots in the bar-code shirts had heard a rumour to the effect that the new messiah was here, and that the "weah", or way to the rest of the world's english speaking community, was visible at Maine Road.

Spokesman of the travelling group, Mr. R. Robson aged 84, a former sheep shearer from Ipswich told me excitedly, " huwhy-eye-man, I've seen some Kevin Beatt-ees in mah taime, but, the Weah - the true Weah, well arh,arh've gott-a seah...well, it's just...its just....Lua- Lua man ....ahm thrilled ta bits like...down the gully channels an' me bo-hats cum in !!"

Mr. Robson, his thick grey mane astonishingly free of grecian, then went on at length about how Alan Shearer could still score a goal at anytime, was worth his weight in gold, and that Duncan Ferguson was nothing but an injured length of "tartan shee-ite , unfit to lee-ace Robb Lee-ah's boots, man".

Unfortunately, by the time I'd located my pocket geordie dictionary to translate these gems of wisdom from one of the north east's finest, sadly Mr. Robson had nodded off.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000

Seems like Bondage Blue forgot to mention the result. Now, please, somebody remind me.

-- Anonymous, October 03, 2000