Slipperduke
The Camden Cad
Home is where the points are. After two successive defeats on the road, Manchester City returned to form at The Eastlands, picking up a much needed 3-2 victory over FC Twente, but they were really made to work for it by Steve McClaren's new team.
England, under the former Middlesbrough manager's regime, were a fairly abject, very limited long ball outfit, so watching his players stroke the ball about the pitch, always playing the simple pass, was rather like going to the cinema to see Vinnie Jones in a period costume drama. Somehow, it didn't feel quite right. Nevertheless, for all of their fanciness, they can't be accused of lacking bottle. Twice they came back at City, refusing to buckle under heavy pressure and never sacrificing their ideals. Up until this match, McClaren had led Twente to eight wins in ten games, guiding his side to within two points of the top of the Eredivisie and this after the sale of key player Robert Engelaar. How things change.
There may be change at The Eastlands soon if Mark Hughes can't get some consistency out of his squad. Brand new multi-billionaire owners aren't known for their patience, especially when it comes to inheirited managers, and consecutive defeats to Bolton and Middlesbrough have not helped Hughes' cause. There is something curiously disjointed about Manchester City this season. All the components are in place, but it isn't clicking and a return of just four wins in 11 league games tells its own story.
Up front, everything seems to be fine. It was Shaun Wright-Phillips who opened the scoring latching on to a clever pass from Jo and firing home after just two minutes. City should have run riot after that, but more failings at the back allowed Twente to equalise. Micah Richards, once England's bright new hope, has looked hesitant and shaky recently and it's interesting to note that he hasn't played for England since McClaren was managing them.
Robinho curled in a spectacular second half strike before Benjani, just back from injury, made it three shortly afterwards. But Twente just wouldn't give up, heading home a second goal that signalled a frantic and entertaining final half-hour. There was a real buzz about the Dutch side, encapsulated by McClaren on the touchline who roared his team on throughout. It is an astonishing transformation for a man who, almost a year ago, stood forlornly under an umbrella as his England side crashed out of the qualification places for Euro08. Clearly the footballing education that he has spoken of receiving is not limited to the tactics board.
Twente deserved to take something from the game,but it was Manchester City who survived a number of late scares to pick up the points. It will be a big boost to Hughes to start the UEFA Cup group stage with a win, but on a night where good, attacking football reigned supreme from the most unlikely of sources, it was McClaren, the wally with the brolly, who will leave with his reputation most enhanced.
England, under the former Middlesbrough manager's regime, were a fairly abject, very limited long ball outfit, so watching his players stroke the ball about the pitch, always playing the simple pass, was rather like going to the cinema to see Vinnie Jones in a period costume drama. Somehow, it didn't feel quite right. Nevertheless, for all of their fanciness, they can't be accused of lacking bottle. Twice they came back at City, refusing to buckle under heavy pressure and never sacrificing their ideals. Up until this match, McClaren had led Twente to eight wins in ten games, guiding his side to within two points of the top of the Eredivisie and this after the sale of key player Robert Engelaar. How things change.
There may be change at The Eastlands soon if Mark Hughes can't get some consistency out of his squad. Brand new multi-billionaire owners aren't known for their patience, especially when it comes to inheirited managers, and consecutive defeats to Bolton and Middlesbrough have not helped Hughes' cause. There is something curiously disjointed about Manchester City this season. All the components are in place, but it isn't clicking and a return of just four wins in 11 league games tells its own story.
Up front, everything seems to be fine. It was Shaun Wright-Phillips who opened the scoring latching on to a clever pass from Jo and firing home after just two minutes. City should have run riot after that, but more failings at the back allowed Twente to equalise. Micah Richards, once England's bright new hope, has looked hesitant and shaky recently and it's interesting to note that he hasn't played for England since McClaren was managing them.
Robinho curled in a spectacular second half strike before Benjani, just back from injury, made it three shortly afterwards. But Twente just wouldn't give up, heading home a second goal that signalled a frantic and entertaining final half-hour. There was a real buzz about the Dutch side, encapsulated by McClaren on the touchline who roared his team on throughout. It is an astonishing transformation for a man who, almost a year ago, stood forlornly under an umbrella as his England side crashed out of the qualification places for Euro08. Clearly the footballing education that he has spoken of receiving is not limited to the tactics board.
Twente deserved to take something from the game,but it was Manchester City who survived a number of late scares to pick up the points. It will be a big boost to Hughes to start the UEFA Cup group stage with a win, but on a night where good, attacking football reigned supreme from the most unlikely of sources, it was McClaren, the wally with the brolly, who will leave with his reputation most enhanced.
