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City v Middlesbrough: Player ratings


2/ 4/2006

JAMES: Got hand to goal and made three decent stops at start of second half. Handling was good in poor conditions - 7

D. MILLS: Downing deceived him to cross for the Boro opener but otherwise largely untroubled. Passing awry - 4

DUNNE: Yakubu not the easiest of customers to mark and the City skipper would no doubt concur- 5

RICHARDS: Third different position in as many weeks but continues to impress in all of them - 6

THATCHER: Cattermole and Morrison gave him a hard time though he did make one goal-saving block - 4

SINCLAIR: Not quite as sharp as he was when he was flying in the middle of the season. Tired after interval - 4

SIBIERSKI: His double for second team got him place but he struggled like the rest. No need for fans' reaction though - 4

IRELAND: His second half withdrawal brought cascade of boos from stands. No worse than anyone else - 4

RIERA: One bright spark in attack went close with two decent shots but needed more of the ball. Crosses were promising - 6

SAMARAS: Won the odd header but didn't look fully fit and never really tested a rookie keeper - 4

VASSELL: Sven not likely to call on this evidence though there is no doubting his effort and heart - 5

Subs:

MUSAMPA (for Ireland 60mins) - unlucky to be left out in the first place - 5

CROFT (for Sinclair 67mins) - saw precious little of the ball - 5

FLOOD (for Sibierski 72mins) - Stiffened up a flimsy midfield - 5

Not used: Sommeil and Wright-Phillips.

BORO: Jones, Parnaby, Riggott, Ehiogu, Boateng, Cattermole, Rochemback, Morrison (Davies 89), Yakubu, Downing, Queudrue (Taylor 8). Not used: Knight, Viduka, Mendieta.

GOAL: BORO - Cattermole (42)

BOOKINGS: none

ATTENDANCE: 40,256

REFEREE: M Riley (Leeds) - unusually quiet day with the cards - 6
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Most recent 2 of 39 user comments

   Dear Mr Banner,

I actually wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of the general state of football and how fans are often exploited. I hate the power of the G14, the oligopoly of the Champions league and football matches not starting at 3pm on a Saturday (the M6 on a Sunday night is hell). However, I have renewed even though, for various reasons, I'll end up watching on Sky from my rocking chair. No pipe though; don't drink, don't smoke: my drug is MCFC. A sad addiction but I can think of worse. Let's just hope the gutless wonders make you change your mind next year.
OB1, Oxford
6/04/2006 at 09:26

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   OB1, the force in you is strong I feel. I admit I did bite but you must be able to see my point. Football in this country is a bubble that will no doubt burst in the near future as the majority of clubs cannot cope with the wage bills that they possess. The greed of the players will come back to bite, if not the current crop but the ones of the future, as clubs start to go bust. We as a club have an astronomical wage bill but have not been involved in a cup quarter final until this year since the Spurs at Maine Rd debacle. It is not that I am obsessed with winning something because football is a lot more that just that ( note to our neighbours) but for me the passion has gone. As much as Sky helped lift the game initially, I feel that it has pushed it to saturation point now and the only people to miss out are us. How many times have you been put out by the fact a game has been moved to some stupid time on a Sun or any other day of the week to suit the TV. Due to the shifts I have to work, I end up missing possibly 25% of the games that I pay for. I will not be renewing my ticket this forthcoming season, and deep down it does sadden me, as I sit near some great people and will miss their company on those godforsaken days such as last Sunday, but life is all about change. I will be purchasing a Citycard so I can pick and choose games, hopefully the better ones, but I cannot justify to myself spending so much money on a season ticket for something that I am not enjoying as much as I used to. I genuinely hope you enjoy your ticket next year and heres looking forward to a better season. P.S. I am sorry about calling you a teenager and being clad all in Citywear. Judging by the length of time you have been a ticket holder it is probably more like pipe and slippers adorned with the City crest. :)
David Banner, Raleigh, North Carolina. USA.
4/04/2006 at 17:46

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