YNWA12

From Rafa's interview with Tony Evans, November 17, 2009

Van Marwijk has said that he also doesn't want the media distraction De Jong would cause right now. I think his decision is a lot more about that than taking a moral stand.

Come on Rafa, leave well enough alone. I was actually remembering you in a nice way these last couple of weeks, but these are nothing but self-congratulating statements of no use to anyone but your own ego.

Maybe Roy realised how much the fans all still loved Rafa and thus he's trying to do things the way Rafa did them? You know, playing Lucas + a DM, waxing lyrical about Dirk Kuyt, dismissing Aquilani's possibilities, isolating Torres, not trusting our flair players for anything more than a cameo appearance, if that, et cetera, et cetera. Not really working for him though.

I don't think City will be as good without Bellamy. If we have a good start this time, then we can definitely win.

I never really pay attention to any of our opening games. Especially with the World Cup, this was just like a pre-season game for many of them. The red card also made it impossible to see how we would have reacted 11 against 11 after that dreadful first half performance. In which we were just as disappointingly defensive as we were last season. Same story in the second half, but then at least it was justified to put 10 behind the ball. That tackle from Cole was shite and worst of all completely unecessary. Reminded me of that brainless one from Joey Barton on Xabi a couple of seasons ago. Stevie could have been a bit more careful with his challenges as well. Could have had three yellow cards, but luckily only got one. Some nice passes and free-kicks though. Thought nobody played really well. Jovanovic was like a left-sided version of Kuyt. Maybe Masch played ok, but he was probably just putting himself in the shop window. If he stays I hope he will not be as disappointed as he was last year when his transfer didn't go through. Last season made me so tired of having to praise players like Kuyt, Carra, Masch and Lucas for their hard work and attitude and after this game I'm dreading the same. Can't we just start playing some good football again? And not just against small time opposition? I really hope (and believe) that, that are Hodgson's intentions and we will see the effects of his management in a couple of games time. I've surprisingly seen a lot of praise for our performance today, but maybe my lack of enthousiasm just stems from the ownership situation which is tiring me out.

I would be fine with us drawing, neither team wants to lose their first match of the season. Interesting that Roy is resting Lucas and Aurelio/Insua though, or do they have knocks?

Iniesta got a yellow for taking off his shirt in celebration and Xavi got a yellow for kicking the ball away in the final stages of the game. They should probably pay for this.

1. Reina 2. Aurelio Those two are the only ones in our team who owe their success mostly to their superior technique. Johnson, Gerrard, Torres and Aquilani have very good technique as well, but with them it seems more by chance than at will. I think they try stuff and hope it works. I think Cole is a very technical player as well, that's why I've always liked him.

Rory Smith is a child who tries to write like that twat James Lawton, but without any of Lawton's redeeming footballing insight and Tony Evans is a blubbering fool without any journalism education. Did you hear him on TalkSport the other week? He sounded like he was about to burst into tears, very professional that. Every journalist has his own agenda and I won't blame them for that. These 'good reds' wanted Rafa to stay, they think the club has made a mistake, so everything they see (and report on), they'll see in light of this mistake. They will make a comparison in their head and everytime Roy comes up short against Rafa, they'll happily highlight it. In this case they can point out that the situation at the club has even managed to get wise, old Roy all worked up (, so what did chance did Rafa have?) Just human nature of wanting your own judgement to be proved right. The journalists who've been calling for an English Manager for a while, will still be reporting things in favour of Roy. Journo's like Henry Winter, Martin Lipton etc. are going to report positively about us for a while. And I bet you anything that when things do go badly, then those journalists will finally start to focus more on the malign influence of our ownership.

Didi, because he's a much more intelligent player. Simple.

- The Europa League will feel like an unecessary distraction. - Kuyt won't play as much as before. - We'll have a very easy draw in the FA cup and we will go far. - The league will be open for a very long time. - Torres will have a slow start, but come good. - Inter will play an English team. - We'll smash at least one top 3 team.

I think it will largely depend on how well he and Joe Cole will work together. Stevie's always that bit more willing to push himself if he believes and trusts in the players around him.

He looked utterly miserable at the world cup. Not like it was just the injury recovery that was causing his form problems. Hopefully he will be refreshed after his holiday.

It really thought that was how Rafa was going to turn Johnson into a top player, by improving his defending. In the end it seemed to constitute 'just don't go forward anymore'. It would be too soon to let Maxi go imo, he needs more chances to show what he can do.