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I’ll do my best to lift all Blues fans spirits by wishing every one of you a very Merry Christmas as this festive season is tempered by the worry over City’s terrible form and subsequent Premier League survival.
So many games at this time of year prove decisive at both ends of the table and we have to see whether City have the stomach for what at the moment looks like being an unexpected battle to remain clear of the relegation places.
January should bring welcome additions to help the cause and by next May we may all look back at this period and wonder what we were all so worried about…you do have to admire my sense of unbridled optimism!
The league is so tight at the moment that two consecutive wins can send you flying into the top half but something has to radically change for the Blues to attain back-to back victories in coming matches.
There was little Christmas cheer on show at the Hawthorns on Sunday as West Brom capitalised on City’s dreadful defending for both their goals with Roman Bednar’s winner comfortably the worst.
Taking a point from the game looked a certainty as the clock ticked toward 90 minutes but as we saw against Everton, if you stand and watch a cross land in your penalty area, any centre-forward worth his salt will punish you.
For a variety of reasons Mark Hughes played a more conservative team and even without Elano and Robinho, I thought City still had the beating of a very ordinary home side.
Whether through nerves or more probably a lack of confidence, City failed to inject the required urgency into their game which would have seen them grab the opening goal, win the game and save the Club from more damaging headlines from a frenzied media pack.
One Premier league win in nine attempts is an awful record and the Manager knows he ultimately carries the can, but in an age when footballers wield enormous power within the game, now is the time for the City players who truly care about their Manager, Club and profession to stand up and change events out there on the pitch.
Mark Hughes has talked of how significant time is needed to change attitudes within this Club and that point has been brought home recently with too many players settling for second best.
The intense Christmas fixture list brings the chance of instant redemption and City can alleviate some of the pressure by beating Hull on Boxing Day.
Phil Brown’s away-day specialists should serve up a clash full of drama, attacking football and plenty of goals as in 9 away League games, Hull have scored 17.
Their swash-buckling style has caught many a home team off-guard and having played the Tigers as recently as last month, City know exactly what to expect from Geovanni and Co.
Along with virtually every City fan in the ground, I will be looking for whoever dons the Blue shirt to respond to recent criticism with a display of passion and pride.
Realising how privileged they are to play for this Club should be inspiration enough to drive you on a to a morale-boosting win.
On behalf of everyone at TOTAL FOOTBALL, I hope you have a cracking Christmas and let’s get behind the Blues right through to the end of what could be one of City’s most dramatic Premier League seasons.
All Chinch wants for Christmas is: City 2-1 Hull
TOTAL FOOTBALL on Key 103 and Magic 1152 Manchester brings you EVERY City game this season.
Join me next on BOXING DAY from 2 O’CLOCK, LIVE from THE CITY OF MANCHESTER STADIUM as the Blues face HULL CITY.
Then have YOUR say on my after-match phone-in by calling 0161-288-0103.
TOTAL FOOTBALL…the place to be for every City game this season.
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