Ali Benarbia - Still one of my all time Favourites

I didn't really see him play, because I simply wasn't around in the UK. But I've understood from here that he was a great favourite with the Maine Road faithful. As it happens, I quite often listen to him on RMC (Radio Monte Carlo) as a pundit, and for once, the title is earned. He's an articulate guy, and his analyses are usually illuminating. I've thought of phoning in to surprise him with the fact that I'm a City fan, and to tell him how much the faithful remember him, and hold him in great affection (but I supposed I'd be on hold for about half an hour, and I'm a lazy bugger). The respect is mutual, by the way. On occasions, he refers to his time with us, and it's always with great affection. I've also heard him refer with awe to the atmosphere that the Kippax was capable of generating.
So there you are, that's my tuppence worth.
 
Wonderful, wonderful player. That was a great period, Eyal and Ali were magnificent together.
 
He built such a good side with limited funds, Richard Dunne, Marc Vivien Foe, Benarbia, Berkovic, Anelka, Jensen ect we had a really good stable side in the Premier League especially the 2002/2003 season. Taking 4 points off the Rags too was nice, Should of been 6 points only for we got shafted at the Swamp with the Anelka handball.
I remember we played Birmingham in the league cup think we won 6-0 I was with my dad at Maine Road, The ball came to Benarbia bobbling he flicked it over a brummy head then flicked it over another, chested it and away he went, Football porn ha
I remember the players saying how crazy those final Keegan days were. City raised £50m based on future ticket revenue for KK to build that side. After that initial first phase, he wanted more, but we didn't have it, so apparently KK effectively went on strike.

He spent equal amounts of time tending to his horses, as he did coaching the first team. I remember Sylvain Distin complaining about it in the media. KK didn't want to be seen walking away from yet another club, & City didn't want to be seen sacking yet another manager. Stuck somewhere in the middle were a suffering first team.

It's just a pity the pretty clueless Pierce aided and abetted by Beeny the Donkey took over, heralding the worst football I've ever seen City play. Wasn't it 28 league goals scored in one season under Pearce, & relegation was only avoided because we had the best defence outside the top six?

Just imagine what a proper manager could have done with that squad.
 
I remember the players saying how crazy those final Keegan days were. City raised £50m based on future ticket revenue for KK to build that side. After that initial first phase, he wanted more, but we didn't have it, so apparently KK effectively went on strike.

He spent equal amounts of time tending to his horses, as he did coaching the first team. I remember Sylvain Distin complaining about it in the media. KK didn't want to be seen walking away from yet another club, & City didn't want to be seen sacking yet another manager. Stuck somewhere in the middle were a suffering first team.

It's just a pity the pretty clueless Pierce aided and abetted by Beeny the Donkey took over, heralding the worst football I've ever seen City play. Wasn't it 28 league goals scored in one season under Pearce, & relegation was only avoided because we had the best defence outside the top six?

Just imagine what a proper manager could have done with that squad.
Yeah; pity the Keegan era didn't end that well. But that promotion season. Given the calibre of player we had back then compared to now, it was almost as entertaining as what we're having to put up with under Fraudiola.
 
Anyone remember when he got Lescott sent off for Wolves at Maine Road? Lescott caught him late and Ali rolled over about 10 times, almost all the way to the dressing room!
 

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