BOXING Day relegation clashes! Has a footballing world that has been losing its marbles for quite some time now finally gone mad?
Not quite. It may be true that those who play, pay for and administer the game at the highest level have lost touch with reality, but there was nothing fake about this end-of-December contest that both sides needed to win to give themselves a little Christmas cheer.
And City's much-deserved second away success of the campaign may have made the turkey leftovers stick in the throats of the growing number of naysayers surrounding the team.
While City and Sheffield began this first return fixture of the season on the same number of points - separated only by goal difference - the mood of the two clubs' fans couldn't have been more different.
Blades supporters are delighted with the eccentric, outspoken Neil Warnock, who not only guided them into the Premiership but has proceeded to spend very little in the bid for safety.
Defiant
But defiant City boss Stuart Pearce arrived at Bramall Lane with a growing number of his club's fans questioning his future. Interestingly, though, the loyalists who travelled across the Pennines to sing his name were not among them.
It seems that a miserable end to last season has not been forgotten or forgiven, his summer signings, added to last January's capture of Georgios Samaras, have yet to bring full reward, and the general muttering after the previous three consecutive defeats has been: "Great guy, love his character but . . ."
Make no mistake: this game, barely halfway through a season that has already seen Charlton change their manager twice and West Ham jettison theirs, was a litmus test on a grand scale for the Blues manager.
It was an examination of his motivational ability, of his tactical nous and of the players' communal desire to help him as much as they possibly could.
Happily, all three of those tests were passed with flying colours in Sheffield.
The meek surrendering of three points to Bolton on Saturday was met with swift action from the City chief, who steadfastly refused to blame the players for the kind of festive pickle that no one relishes.
Out went Ben Thatcher, Ishmael Miller and Paul Dickov, and in their places returned Micah Richards, Ousmane Dabo and Bernardo Corradi in a 3-5-2 formation that employed an entirely right-footed back three and deployed former skipper Sylvain Distin as a left wing- back.
Attacking
It was a more attacking role, to which Distin had proved himself well-suited with an excellent display and goal at Aston Villa in City's only previous away win of the season.
At least Pearce showed he is willing to shuffle the pack in a bid to come up with an ace, and it was a lively enough start from the Blues, with Stephen Ireland showing some elegant touches and decent vision in the centre that earned him some space in which to play.
It was, though, Dabo who came closest to opening the scoring with an 11th-minute effort that bounced horribly off a divot in front of Paddy Kenny but rebounded off the former Bury keeper's face to safety.
Both six-yard boxes were churned up, and Nick Weaver decided caution was the best option when helping Stephen Quinn's 15th-minute effort around the post.
From the subsequent corner, United thought they should have had a penalty as Micah Richards appeared to handle Claude Davis' shot.
Weaver, not the most well-liked visitor to this part of his home city given his Wednesday connections, then made himself even less popular when he plunged full length to his right to push away Phil Jagielka's drive from the edge of the area.
If the Blades felt aggrieved that they hadn't been awarded a penalty, then City were doubly distressed after home captain Chris Morgan blocked Joey Barton's cross for a corner with his hand, and then Rob Kozluk deceived the eye of the referee and linesman by slapping Micah Richards' far post header off the line just as Darius Vassell seemed sure to score.
It ought to have been a penalty and a red card for the Blades man.
Frustrating
Still, apart from Corradi's frustrating inability to hold the ball up or lay it off to a man in the same coloured shirt, the opening period was better from the Blues, who played the more ordered and tidier football.
Pearce was similarly unimpressed by the Italian, who was replaced by Samaras at the break, though the Greek striker hardly set the south of Yorkshire on fire with an eight-yard shot sliced so terribly that it went out for a throw in.
Still, he has set one record this season as the first City player since Frank Swift - I am assured by Fred Eyre, who is old enough to know - to wear a roll neck sweater while playing for the Blues.
Sheffield had the better of things for a while, with Quinn blazing their best chance over the bar and then Dabo and Weaver both having to be sharp to clear viciously inswinging Keith Gillespie corners.
Ireland, though - the most cultured player on the pitch - was not to be outdone, and provided the perfect tonic for Pearce and his previously beleaguered troops when crashing home a left-foot drive from the edge of the box after Samaras had chested down a Hatem Trabelsi cross from the right.
What did you think of the formation? Have your say.
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If he was gonna play 3-5-2 I would have preferred to see Distin at the back and Jordan as a wing back. Bit early to tell if the system works as they have only played 1 game. I pewrsonally prefere the old fashioned 4-4-2. Also, wing backs are supposed to whip crosses in so we need someone up ther that can head the ball in. Happy shopping Psycho!!!
Time for the fans to get behind the club - especially those on the Internet Message boards - many of whom I suspect don't even go to the game
Well Done Pearce
3 points is 3 points. end of
Agree with Mike N below. Where are the so called loyal fans at home games? I know its not pretty but we have been in far worse positions. Get to the game and get behind the team. The Sheff Utd fans showed how its done yesterday.
What a load....
Just because we scrap to a 1-0-victory, a corner has been turned?? Pearce was up for motivating his players when it really mattered?? And passed with flying colours?
I dont think so!
As far as I have read, it was a fairly even game which could have gone either way, especially had the ref had a better day. Nothing that I have read or seen, suggested that Citys performance was anywhere near impressive.
We won a game against a fellow relegation struggler, but does that really tell us that Pearce is the man to bring this club forward, as the article suggests? I really dont think so. Beating one of the weakest sides in the PL is hardly impressive, and I cant believe some City fans find any comfort or renewed faith in Pearce in the win.
Looking at the two sides it was a game City had to win, regardless of form, and we only just did that. Looking at our season record so far, I'll bet my bottom dollar that we will lose the next game against The Hammers, and then how will Pearces so-called motivation skills look?
Finally, what is with that "the fans who critizise the team, are not among the faithfull, who travel to matches."? I dont think people have to be in the stands to see how poorly this team is performing at the moment, and have been for the past 1-and a half year.
CTID-
How come 90 percent of articles turn out to be nothing more than another match report with a different title?
Well said Mike N. The management merry-go-round is a joke. Pardew out, Curbs. in. Reed out Pardew in. Sounds like a sad dance routine. let's not go there yet again. The only thing that should go is... the yellow shirts. Where DID they come from? Pearce should be applauded. Get behind the team!!!!
The new formation makes the most of the talent in the club. Richards, Dunne and Onouha are a hard tackling, fast and at times creative back three. Trabelsi and Distin are good wing-backs who can both defend and attack and allow the formation to be changed if necessary once the game is underway. Dabo looks as though he can become the central anchor we need, given a run of games. With Barton and Ireland as 'inside forwards' we have two really talented and creative players with good engines. Vassell playing off Corradi or Samaras will threaten most defences but I reckon these last two have only three more games to prove they can do the job or they will just be subs for the new striker we need. With a few training days to get used to the new formation it may well work against the Hammers and the Toffees. I hope SP has the confidence in himself and trust in these players to give the new approach a good try - at least three games.
The win over Sheffield United has brought a lot of relief rather than delight. Lets be honest, the performance was awful, but for once they managed to win a game playing badly. The goal came at a perfect time when City were under the cosh and looking like conceding at any time. However the team don't have the capabilty to move up the league as long as the strilkers continually fail to put the ball in the net, and most of the others continue to lose possession in midfield.
Hope this quells the dissenting faction, including Webby from my own home town. Never 'eard of him never mind seen him at the game! Probably a COMS newcomer judging by his half-baked opinions. File under Ted Knott category.
Performance against Bolton was admittedly poor, but I expected nowt in this game and was pleasantly surprised. Now need to build on it with a back to back win please.
CTID
I thought 3-5-2 left us too vulnerable at the back and listening on mcfctv there where a few hair-raising moments where a better team would have maybe capitolised. I would a prefer 4-5-1 until a proper striker is brought in with Ned at RB and Micah in midfeild with Joey (Dabo while banned) and Stevie Wonder as I think our midfeild would have more chance of scoring than any of our forewards. I'd keep Vass on the wing, until a viable solution is found, (Thomert?) as he has the speed to get back and help the fullback (Thatcher for me) and offer's more than an inexperienced Miller and a lightweight Beasley going foreward. I'd keep faith with Corradi upfront as he can get on the end of Trabelsis/Vassels crosses and is capable of decent hold up play in order to bring the midfeild into the attack. Finally I would like to see Isaccson given a chance as the one time he DID play this season, he looked very classy and Weaver still looks a little shakey with crosses or anytime he has to come off his line and on Saturday it sounded like his kicking was well lacking. There ya go, peice of the proverbial.
I thought City supporters was some of the best fans in England. Where are they? I havent seen them at CoMS this year. Stand up for your team!! Nevermind the prices!!! Everyone to Bolton and no more rubbish!!
One thing that sticks in my throat mor ethan any other is this notion that the "Players helped Pearce keep his job" as though they actually gave an ounce of effort JUST so Pearce wouldn't get sacked - Its basically saying we have a heartless passionless squad who don't give a damn and are actually happy to lose lots of games as long as they are comfortable and only when the managers future is on the line do they actually try and win. For ¿¿20,000 - ¿¿50,000 a week I would play like that every game - I would spend 12 hours a day in the gym getting to peak fitness, I would battle in training and risk serious injury for the cause..... this lot prefer to concentrate on their contracts running down so that they can get more money elsewhere or hold the club to ransom, they care more about stubbing cigars in their teammates eyes and giving the club an overall poor reputation than actually attepting to achive perfection.... that is why we will always be a squad built on the cheap that delivers poor inconsistent results.
The scienist,Winsford. I suggest you take a look at your periodical table again if you think everything in the garden is rosy!
Edski, stop talking so much drivel. If that's the best you can come up with I suggest you spend more time watching Notts County.
Why is Corradi still here????