City go into international week ahead of United in the Premier League but Manchester's big two have it all to do to take the title from champions Chelsea.
The Blues last finished higher than the Reds back in 1991 when City were managed by Peter Reid and Sir Alex Ferguson was masterminding the early stages of the United revolution.
Bookie Fred Done now has City at 5/4 to finish above United.
The Salford-based millionaire, who is an avid Red told MEN Sport: “I hope that United are not in some kind of slow decline with an ageing team and no money like Liverpool.
“Our only hope is with the greatest manager in the world.”
Here our City reporter Stuart Brennan speaks to Glyn Pardoe to see if he thinks the league situation will last.
ONE of City’s heroes of ’68 has a powerful message for today’s Blues stars: “Go for it!”
Glyn Pardoe was a stalwart left back in the Swinging Sixties, and he would love to see the 2010 pedigree match the achievements of Joe Mercer’s great team.
“We have nothing to fear in the Premier League this season,” said Pardoe, who was the youngest player ever to turn out for City, making his debut at 15.
“Chelsea are top, and not a bad team, but I believe it’s there for the taking. We have a great chance, perhaps one of the best chances we will ever have to win the title.
“The boys have to be positive and strong and just go for it!
“We probably have the strongest squad in the Premier League, and the way the game is played today means it is a squad game.
“I would play the best team in every game, personally, but managers don’t do that these days.”
Pardoe is delighted that those heady days, when Manchester hit English football with the old one-two– and briefly ruled European football, too – are seemingly on their way back.
Evidence
He well recalls a time when players like Colin Bell, George Best, Mike Summerbee and Denis Law lit up the nation on the field, and Manchester was buzzing off it as well.
“It’s magic to have that rivalry back again – you can’t beat having two clubs in one city battling it out,” said the Winsford lad.
“Manchester was the capital of English football.
“Of course, we want to get one over on United, but to have both teams doing well means everyone is talking about the city.”
There are pundits who believe United are on the slide just as City are on the rise, but Pardoe sees no evidence of that.
“We have thought that about United before! I wouldn’t say they are on the way down but they are not as potent as they once were,” he said.
“They will still be there or thereabouts at the end of the season – but so will we.”
Many United fans dismiss City as a credible threat, while Reds boss Sir Alex Ferguson wrote the Blues off as “noisy neighbours” last season.
But Pardoe believes there is an underlying concern at Old Trafford about City’s steady improvement: “They have to be worried about us.
The money we have spent, the squad we have, and the way in which we have started the season would make anyone anxious about us. If they aren’t at least a little worried, they must be living in Cloud Cuckoo Land!”
Pardoe’s only concern is City’s lack of goals.
“Chelsea have already scored 14 more goals than us, and at the moment you sometimes wonder where the goals are coming from,” he said.
“Adam Johnson came off the bench to score a great goal against Newcastle, and that has been happening for us so far.
“But it won’t happen all the time. It has to be there from the start, and we need to start dominating and scoring when we dominate.
“Sunday wasn’t a good performance but we got the three points – you can’t win every game at the top of your form but I would like us to look like we will score more goals.”
Will City stay above United? Have your say.
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Have just returned from holiday where I watched most of the games.What contrasting performances the Chelsea and Newcastle games were.I could not believe how ordinary we looked against a very average Newcastle who had we attacked them would have been dead and buried.
No wonder Carlos is becoming so frustrated playing in this ultra defensive set up, if Mancini does not change his tactics then Carlos could be off in the January window.
It is difficult to make an accurate assessment of players when watching in a crowded pub,but both Boateng and Lescot looked really poor on the day.
On this showing Boyata is head and shoulders a better player than Boateng!
Spot on Glyn. Just like you used to play!.. A great reader of the game in his playing days - and no doubt still as aware in his watching years!
Saw his debut as a 15 year old forward and couldn't see the logic of Allison & Mercer subsequently trying to turn him into a left back...What do I know? He became one of the best left backs to ever play for us, totally unflappable and one of the few who could keep George Best quiet, without resorting to Chopper Harris type tactics!
I love the fact that so many of my City playing heroes of that era are still to be seen round and about the Club, and all of them can't wait for a new City era, with a team capable of equalling, then hopefully bettering, those great 60's & 70's performances.
Mancini has got us on track - and I have belief that he could very well be the man to get us to that pot of gold .....and in the very near future!
TTFN
I'm getting this strange sensation of déjà vu...
Pardoe is right to identify the shortage of goals. We are relying a lot on the continuation of clean sheets - and Sunderland showed what can happen to a clean sheet. By comparison Utd have let a lot more in but have scored a lot more. Commentator Waddle on Sunday's game v Newcastle kept on saying 'there is no-one in the box for city, Tevez has no support etc etc'. He was right. Until Johnson's individual effort it was hard to see where a goal was comong from. We can't know what was said in the half time bust-up (reported elsewhere) but it is easy to understand why Tevez might be very very frustrated. He runs his heart out every game but is terribly isolated. It is obvious that Barry, Silva and Milner are scared of getting caught forward because (I assume) Mancini is constantly drumming in 'keep your shape'.. Keeping your shape doesn't score goals - play has to be fast and fluid which it was against Newcastle only for a few moments. Mancini appears to have a ruthless streak about him and I doubt it being productive. Capello tried it and it didn't work. Sven was the opposite who constantly showed respect for his players - and was successful until he was undermined by Thaksin.
It's true that the opportunity to "go for it" in terms of winning trophies this season is definitely there. Players bedding in can take a bit of time and that is where the manager really earns his keep in terms of getting this lot to gel together and start playing with real fluidity. The chance to take the country by storm and surprise everybody with great football should be what pulls these players together in that way.
We've also had our fair share of injury disruption so far this season. Korolov coming back will give us the opportunity to get a first choice back four firmly established. Most likely that will be (left to right) Korolov, Toure, Kompany and Boateng, although I think Zabaleta has been playing very well and should push for that right back slot. Richards and Lescott both need to dramatically up their games.
As for goals, we are too reliant on Tevez at the moment. Perhaps Mancini needs to go a little against the grain for him and go for it a bit more himself in his team selection against the teams that will come and just sit back against us. Dropping perhaps one of Yaya Toure or Barry in midfield and either playing Milner, Silva and Johnson from the start or putting a player of greater presence up front with Carlos. Adebayor showed some signs of improvement when he came on against Newcastle and if he gets games and maybe Mancini can achieve the impossible and get him to give 100% every time he plays. A lot rests on just how good Balotelli proves to be when he's back.
Just to be talking about most of these names as Man City players is pretty awesome. Get them all playing together for each other and the results should be awesome too.
I think you will see a diffrent approach when Balotelli is fit. I agree with Mancini at the moment - Keep it solid until we have TWO world class strikers fit to play. I wouldn't risk the solidity to have Adebayor up front - Would you??? Yes, we'd like to be winning and scoring lots but whats important is that we stay on the tails (hook or by crook) and then unleash Super Mario!!!!!!!!!
Easy Peasy
Last season we had 16 points from the first 7 games. From than on we drew too many for Hughes to save his head. The rest is history. I say let's try and keep both feet on the ground. We are not playing like we can win the title and would be pleased to see us finish in the top 4 as things stand now. But Im sure we will improve, so lets see from than on.
Good comments by Pardoe. We do need more men in the box and are crying out for a hit man up front to partner Tevez. Dzeko would be ideal!!! Ballotelli is needed to and Ade needs to get his form back asap. Once Ade and Ballotelli are back and in form, then I can see a lot more threat, but I think we need to buy in January to keep Tev happy. He definitely needs to play off a target man.
On the subject of those banging on about how poor Ade and Boateng were on Sunday, you need to take a step back and understand that Ade has been out with an injury for the best part of a month and there is nothing harder than getting up to speed with the Prem league at the start of the Season....ask Tevez! Boateng had his first prem start on sunday after a long injury lay off and it will take him time to settle, but he will be great in a few more games time. He became better in the second half and just needs to get used to the Prem league pace and work with his team mates more.
So Blues, get the f**k off the players backs so early in the season and support them like I and many others do. They need confidence an time to get up to speed after injury. If they aren't performing by November, I have every confidence Mancini will sort it.
2nd in the League and we are no where near up to full strength and speed yet. Oh happy days!
CTID
I work with Utd fans and they are seriosuly concerned about City as cocnerned as they are amused about Liverpool's predicament.
I think it is fair to say that Utd are not as good as they have been, their best players are ageing and Rooney is off form so they cant be as good as they were however, its not that they are on the slide so much as that Cioty and others have caught and passed them, they have no money so have to shop around to an extent for players whereas City just go and buy who they want as much as they can, clearly with the financial disparity this will happen.
If Utd were full of cash they and Chelsea would still be running away with it but they aren't and the playing field has been levelled, not just with them but accorss the Prem as a result of Uts slippage.
It si great for English football to have a number of teams who can realistically challenge for the title, not just two as it has been for so long.
Similarly, altough I have nothing against Liverpool per se, it is good to have them struggle, it opens the door for other sides to battle for the top four. I beleive this season will prove to be one of the best premier league seasons ever as it is a pretty even division, the bottom three are all compettive sides and you have the likes of blackpool and bolton doing well, newcastle are not a bad side, stoke are showing they are a decent outfir, wba too,.
As for it being there for the taking, I think not for city this season, just a little too far behind Chelsea, 2nd spot is very achievable though and that position will mean that we can attarct even better players and push on to the title next season.
Please no more talk of winning the premiership. It's only the start of October FFS! Lets see where we are in March!
Pardoe Pardoe its off to Mexixo, with Bell n Lee and Summerbee,Pardoe Pardoe Pardoe Pardoe (and he would of gone if he hadn't been injured).
First things first ............... BEAT Blackpool ! !
Roberto has said that he needs the squad fit and together and that they should be judged in December.....if we consider that three of our six purchases have not been used because of injuries,and that Silva has needed some extra time to settle in and that Adebayor has been injured and disappointing,and that we have only conceded 4 goals in 11 games without our first choice wing backs and even our second choice LB,then I have to be ecstatic at our results because we have already played Spurs/Liverpool and Chelsea and we have not yet gelled......I do believe that we had more than enough chances to win by three goals on Sunday and reckon that King Carlito/Silva and Ade have to be more ruthless....but if we had played the teams that Chelsea have played perhaps we would have had a further five goals to the good-not bad considering that top 4 is our goal......
Consistency is the key now. We have played well in only 3 games in the PL (Liverpool, wigan and Chelsea). We were poor against Blackburn, Spurs, and the Mackems, and avareage at best on Sunday.
We need to improve and kick-on, starting at Blackpool, which is no gimme by any means.
Looking forward to my fish & chips on the front!
Top bloke Glyn & he often used to sit with us in the old Social Club run by Roy & Kath Clark where his down to earth views on the game were a joy to share. He did a great job bringing on the youth team & when he was replaced, the whole club went into reverse for many years as our top young players (some famous names in there) were poached & the club entered a period of darkness that thankfully is now behind us. His work on local radio was also of the highest quality with thoughts & opinions that were always pragmatic & constructive but never afraid to be critical of those who deserved it. Oh & he was also a fabulous player who helped us climb out of the depression all the way to the top in seemingly no time at all so his views on the game carry great weight make no mistake.
While I'm on my journey through yesteryear, does anyone recall that hilarious half time routine that the late great Sir Norman Wisdom thrilled us with at Maine Road some time ago? After tripping up & falling into the mud a number of times while failing to get any contact on the ball the whole place was in raptures at the comic genius, or should that be all round genius. After his clowning around he took a bow to huge applause & then turned & hit what I honestly believe to be the greatest penalty I have ever witnessed. I can't recall any penalty that was so tightly squeezed between the angle of post & crossbar! Absolutely priceless!
“Our only hope is with the greatest manager in the world.” If he's available the rags had better appoint him quick.
Wise thoughts from a "Legend". As a little lad in the Kippax, it was joy to watch GP.
I've always been a strong supporter of Mancini, and still am, but he needs to find a way to play more than one striker at home, at least.
The continuing problem with Tevez is a real worry. Incredible player and leader, but he is way too full of himself. Either the Chairman (or even the owner) steps in and sorts this out, or the club, down the road, will have to choose between the manager and its star player. Any idea of bringing in Pastore, a known mate of Tevez, should be dropped immediately with a public statement disavowing any interest in the Palermo star. This is also what is needed to bring Tevez into line.
Mancini needs to make a decision about Adebayor - either fully integrate him back into the starting eleven, now, or cement plans to sell him on in January and to bring Dzeko in. If these issues are not sorted now, post-haste, they will grow and fester and torpedo our now-promising season. Very interesting comments today from Mark Hughes about the constant non-football distractions he faced during his time at City. He was poor in his handling of most of these matters, but it is clear that both he and now Mancini have been up against serious obstacles not always related to happenings on the pitch. This speaks to a weakness in the City organization - Marwood is a behind the scenes shadow, Cook is a non-footy guy who cannot speak to the press or influence former Hughes signings, and Chairman Khaldoon is beginning to look like an empty suit who is loath to referee the incessant internal conflicts that demand his attention. I think the time may have come for the good Sheik to make another visit to Manchester to personally supervise these issues. Anything less is probably not going to get this mess sorted.
An absolutely cracking kind person and a stalwart and legend for Manchester City. He is my favourite ever player with Colin Bell. Glyn has never uttered a bad word about anyone. I have met and spoken to Glyn many times he has never changed in personality and he is still so knowledgable on Football. I have never asked him personally, but I am bewildered why he is not in both City's and England's "Halls of Fame". Never had a bad game and had wingers in his back pocket, ask Stan Lubida ( could not spell Stan's surname but fellow Citizens and Glyn will know who I am talking about)who before the game said he was going to take Glyn to the cleaners but he never came close.
Sincere best wishes Glyn...brian.
Mancini is waiting to get his team together. He still dosen't have his team but we are getting close. When Balotelli and Kolorov will be fit than we will see his team. He bought Silva, Yaya, Milner, Boateng, Kolorov and Balotelli. That is 6 players they have never played together. The other 5 Mancini players are: Hart, Kompany, De Jong, Tevez (despite everything - Carlos is a player that Mancini loves, that why he made him the captain), Adam Johnson (Mancini bought him), Than add Barry and Kolo, I also think they are Mancini players. With Balotelli firing on all and hopefully he turns out to be a EPL player, we will have a fantastic team. The best 11 for every game will always be better than the opposition we have 2 world class players in every position other than we need one more world class striker a another world class right back and left back. I think the team that Mancini and Sheik Mansour has put together is a fantastic team but the fact is we have never seen this team play. While we are waiting for this team we are playing defencive. City has given away 4 goals in 11 games in EPL and EL. When was the last time we managed this? I don't remember and I have been supporting City for 40 years. OK I agree it would be more fun if we had scored 39 goals and conceded 12 but that does not happen in football anymore. You win football games by not giving goals away. You also win championships the same way. City can be the champions of England this season if we want to be. The question is: Do we want it? I DO!!! CITY YES WE CAN
Yes I can't see them ever rising above us again EVER.
The draws were our letdown last season. We only lost 7 and Chelsea lost 6 and won the title. We had 13 draws to their 5. tottenham and Arsenal a who finished above us lost 10 and 9 respectively. CITY can do it or come close by taking second place. Chelsea's bubble could pop whereas CITY'S is going from strength to strength. We have got the defence right and midfield so all we need is the attacks firing on all cylinders. We need maybe the defence and midfield to chip in with a goal or two. I want to see Nigel De Jong score a goal this season.