Bernardo meets Paul Lake

Bantamgaz said:
Any of you lot who aint read his Autobiography regardless of if you saw him play or not is in for one brilliant emotional read ............the guy is a fooking legend with coping with his demons for a start
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Read Lakeys then Robert Enke was recommended to read after it

So Glad Lakey never let the demons take him like it did with Enke

Both suffered mental health which needed addressing at the time but never were
 
bluedanza said:
I accept Swales was a tight git but I could never quite understand why he didn’t pay to be upgraded on the flight back from surgery himself.
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Read the book bud and you get a real insight into how bsdly he was fooked over ........ two other high profile footballers at the time suffered ACL .......Shearer and John Solako????? You think either of those would have gone through the shit Lake endured ????
The guy as soon as he hit the floor against Villa should have had the best treatment but was very badly let down
 
I'm not really here said:
What's that about £50-60M in today's transfer money?
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Apparently only about £12m according to the website I just checked, which doesn't feel right. But you have to take it in context, Chris Waddle, an established international and true flair attacker had just gone to Marseille from Spuds for £4.5m, a record for any British player ever. So, a more fair comparison would be the £100m we paid for Grealish or Arsenal for Rice, minus around 12%, so the Liverpool offer would comparatively be around £88m. Although I've also heard the bid was slightly less, around £3m, so £60m would be about right in that case. The fact swales turned it down shows both the value we attributed to him, and maybe even a hint of ambition. He should have had every expense provided to get him back fit and playing.

One of my favourite players of all time and I have no doubt he could play in the modern game, Pep would have loved him. Probably most reminds me of Rodri now, although maybe slightly less physical but more mobile giving him a bigger goal threat.

But let's face it, if he hadn't got injured he'd have very likely been sold if the next bid was close to a British record fee. Either that or we'd have put together a serious title push and qualified for European competition, given that the European ban was lifted shortly thereafter. That team with those youth players was seriously talented. Just needed a couple more to get us in the mix and I really think Kendall leaving set us back years. If he'd brought in Beardsley even at 30 to us, as he did for Everton after he left us for them, and a couple more shrewd signings, I think we'd have been right up there by the time sky came along. But that was very much the problem, we had great young talent and end of career experience, and not much in-between, and probably not the money to go out and get players to replace and improve on the likes of Heath, Megson and Reid, for example.

As for Bernardo, liked the look of him since I saw him play against us for Monaco. Unless he's asked to go I'd be wanting him around the place next season easily. But what should stick out more than anything about this interview, aside from both of thek showing such love for our club, is how thoroughly decent they both are. I genuinely think it's a trait we now scout for as much as anything else, and the fact that despite our years of success now you rarely see a player causing grief or splashing the cash, shows that a sense of respect is present both ways between club and player.
 
Lake was truly a special talent. In my opinion, Kendall had finally found his best position just prior to his injury - a ball playing centre half - fast, decent in the air, great range of passing, two-footed and impeccable reading of the game.

After his injury, on his comeback, Reid (who had played with him) played Lakey off Quinn just behind the big fella after a brilliant preseason in Italy.
Imagine that - it’d be like John Stones being played off Haaland because he was that good in any position he played!
I was always a bit miffed that Lake didn’t take the captaincy off Curle when he returned, albeit the comeback didn’t last long as we know.

Pep would have adored Lake - imagine he was around today, he’d be perfect in this City side.

Had the very good fortune of having Paul come into my classroom when I was teaching Y5/6 kids and he was an absolute joy to listen to - incredibly inspiring for the kids (and me!).

An absolute top blue - fabulous player and all round great guy. It was a good clip with Bernardo - really enjoyed it.
 
eastmanc said:
Bernardo was brilliant that match as was Fern.
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I'm going to see later this week if I can find the highlights on YouTube. It was a crackling Tuesday evening iirc. That victory over them won us the league, my nerves were raw for the first 5 months of 2019. I never wanted to go through that again, fast forward 3 years on to 2022 and it was a last day repeat again with them. Last season v Arse to final day was a worry but not quite the same level of jeopardy.

Fancy pining for a night 6 years ago!! What am I like.... I so miss that team.
 
Enjoyed that. Mr Lake comes across as very accepting now of what happened, and clearly loves the club and what it’s become
Will get the book out of the loft and give it a second read.

That was like watching two completely different City’s. Privileged to have witnessed both.
 
butlerkb said:
Watching this, makes me feel bad when I read in the recent match forums , how we denegrate brilliant players like Bernardo, KDB, John Stones Gundo, Ederson, who have all been stalwarts and brought massive success to our club.Now they are either ageing and slowing down( which is normal) or else susceptible to injuries( also normal) and we can’t wait to get rid of them.Instead they should be thanked and revered, yes they have to be replaced, but let’s not slag them off when they are City, through and through.Let’s thank them for taking us to such great heights.
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+10

These players are still trying, still care for the club and want to win. But a combination of injuries, age, loss of confidence and other clubs stepping up means it isn't working as well as it did.

They are all still legends, have given us memories that money can't buy and deserve our support.
 
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As someone said, Pep would have loved Lake. He made it look as though he found it easy playing. Due to our circumstances at the time I don't think he would have stayed with us
Bernardo at his best made it look as though there were 2 of him on the pitch
 
Bantamgaz said:
Any of you lot who aint read his Autobiography regardless of if you saw him play or not is in for one brilliant emotional read ............the guy is a fooking legend with coping with his demons for a start
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The story of the guy he bumps into at the Chinese restaurant explaining why he couldn't attend the testimonial had me welling up when I first read it years back
 
BringBackSwales said:
Great post, and no bigger example of the deterioration in class of our fanbase. What cunts we have become
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Not all of us have become cunts!
Social media allows 'invisible' arseoles to post any old shite without repercussions.
FFS, on some City forums, there's a 'Pep, should he go' topic.
Fookin insane!
All we have won since he took over.
My first City match was 1964, and in my wildest dreams did I ever think I would witness us win everything, albeit whilst living over here in the US.
I truly believe the vast (silent) majority of City fans have reasonable, realistic thoughts about how we are currently playing.
And, know (hope!!) it's just a matter of time before we are back playing well
 
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