Reyna after a solid performance vs Leeds should be starting...but who know with Keegan... There also MIGHT be a Kirovski sighting on the bench for Birmingham with Dugarry out and Morrison with a knock...doubtful though...
Text updates from the likes of Soccernet, the BBC, sportinglife.com, etc., the best way to stay in touch for this match. Not aware of any TV plans to air this game in the USA, and the live streaming audio webcasts are of the pay-subscription variety. And now, the news round-up-- with at least a couple of Claudio-related stories included among this lot... [*]Match preview, plus form guides -- Soccernet [*]Reyna's test -- Soccernet As mentioned on another thread [*]Team news -- sportinglife.com Reyna on City's squad list, no Kirovski listed for Brum [*]Reyna ready for Savage test -- sportinglife.com [*]Reyna rewarded for patience -- sportinglife.com [*]Keegan hoping to end winless streak -- sportinglife.com [*]Keegan: I won't quit City -- sportinglife.com More to come later, with any luck at all...
* * *I'm William, and I'm back with more news* * * [*]Match preview -- skysports.com [*]Match preview -- premierleague.com [*]Hard work for Boxing Day -- Man City's official site, mcfc.co.uk [*]Reyna rewarded for patience -- Yahoo's UK site, via TeamTalk [*]Match preview, complete with facts & figures -- The BBC [*]Match preview -- 4thegame.com [*]Match preview -- Manchester Evening News [*]Fowler fee limits City's options -- Manchester Evening News [*]Now Reyna faces the Savage truth -- Manchester Evening News Sounds like the same story previously linked in a couple of other syndicated sources, but you've gotta love the headline [*]Reyna backs rotation policy -- Manchester Evening News That's it for the round-up...
One more related story before I try and secure the lineups-- and man, this is a good article... City slackers' lack of passion casts doubt over Keegan future (James Lawton column) -- The Independent
well well well... can we get a mod to change to thread title? Kirovski has made the subs bench Claudio starts Birmingham City Taylor Kenna Cunningham Upson Lazaridis Johnson Savage Dunn Clemence Forssell Morrison Subs: Bennett John Cisse Kirovski Purse Manchester City Seaman Jihai Dunne Sommeil Distin Wright-Phillips Barton Reyna McManaman Fowler Anelka Subs: Sibierski Macken Tarnat Sinclair Stuhr-Ellegaard
Claudio starts, as per the lineups at sportinglife.com-- and Jovan's on the bench, too (surprise, of all surprises)... <snip, lineups above... see Tree's post> I'll take the PbP on this one... even with the two lots of text updates that I have.
You know what, I didn't think he would, either. At least not based on what I read and posted in the various previews. Maybe Steve Bruce's team had another late scratch or something of the sort?
Will...don't you hate when you prepare a long post, and then see that someone else has beaten you to the exact same thing 2 minutes prior? yeah? me too...
With Dugarry out, it was almost certain Kirovski would be on the bench. Figueroa is gone, to Cruz Azul, leaving Kirovski as the automatic 4th choice striker.
Still, anytime Jovan gets a game that isn't in the ressies, it's always a bit of a pleasant surprise.
1-0 Man City, just before the quarter-hour... Fowler scores... From sportinglife.com's matchtracker: 14th min. -- Cross by Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City), headed goal by Robbie Fowler (Man City) (bottom-left of goal) from centre of penalty area (18 yards).Birmingham 0-1 Man City. Assist (cross) by Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City) from right side of penalty area. Reyna's taken a few free kicks-- actually, just about all of them-- for Man City so far as well...
24th min. -- Good chance for Man City to double the lead, apparently... Shot by Nicolas Anelka (Man City) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Maik Taylor (Birmingham).
Halftime, 1-0 to Man City, although it could easily have been a bigger lead. From all assumptions, Man City have had the run of play. Reyna's had his share of touches, from what I've been able to gather, and taking all the free kicks.
Couple of updates here-- and Jovan's been introduced... 61st min. -- Shot by Shaun Wright-Phillips (Man City) right-footed from right channel (30 yards), over the bar. 61st min. -- Two subs for the Brummies... Birmingham substitution: Clinton Morrison replaced by Stern John (tactical). Birmingham substitution: David Dunn replaced by Jovan Kirovski (tactical).
68th min. -- Cross by Damien Johnson (Birmingham), foul by Matthew Upson (Birmingham) on Joey Barton (Man City). Matthew Upson (Birmingham) booked for unsporting behaviour. Man City substitution: Steve McManaman replaced by Trevor Sinclair (tactical). Man City substitution: Robbie Fowler replaced by Antoine Sibierski (tactical). Free kick taken right-footed by David Seaman (Man City) from own half, resulting in open play. A lot going on there... perhaps the addtion of Sibierski will inspire Man City just that much further...
A couple of Claudio mentions on the match-tracker... 74th min. -- Outswinging corner from right by-line taken right-footed by Claudio Reyna (Man City) to centre, clearance by Matthew Upson (Birmingham). 75th min. -- Shot by Nicolas Anelka (Man City) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), save (caught) by Maik Taylor (Birmingham). 76th min. -- Shot by Claudio Reyna (Man City) right-footed from right channel (25 yards), missed right.[/i]
That they did, Willydonc... 79th min. -- Foul by Sun Jihai (Man City) on Mikael Forssell (Birmingham). Sun Jihai (Man City) booked for unsporting behaviour. Free kick taken left-footed by Stan Lazaridis (Birmingham) from left wing, resulting in open play. Cross by Jeff Kenna (Birmingham), resulting in open play. Foul by Richard Dunne (Man City) on Robbie Savage (Birmingham). Free kick taken right-footed by Robbie Savage (Birmingham) from left channel (25 yards), hit woodwork. Headed goal by Jeff Kenna (Birmingham) (low centre of goal) from centre of penalty area (18 yards).Birmingham 1-1 Man City. Assist by Robbie Savage (Birmingham) from centre of penalty area. Man City had their chances to increase their lead, let's see if they can recover now...