As it says in the title, what are our favourite games not involving City whatsoever?
One big rule: these games should have no direct bearing on City at all. So United 0-1 West Brom, Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool, United 1-2 Leicester, Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea, etc. to win us the league, they don't count.
These games have got to be as separate from City's fortunes as they can be. Two teams who aren't City playing in a game that had next zero bearing on City's fortunes at the time. Games from abroad, internationals, European Cup games, etc.
Some examples.
Boro's unbelievable UEFA Cup run in 2006 remains one of my favourite things to revisit years later. Terrific entertainment at the time and fantastic to look back at 18 years on. Ali Brownlee's (RIP) commentary for these games is superb.
World Cup final 2022. My fiancée's not really into football. She gets interested in World Cups and Euros but not to the point where she actually cares. Well she was just as breathless as me when Martinez saved from Kolo Muani and Lautaro nearly won it for Argentina nearly 30 seconds later.
Germany 0-2 Italy. World Cup 2006. Probably the greatest 0-0 draw (after 90 minutes) of all time. High quality end-to-end stuff throughout from two sides boasting the world's best players, with two of the world's best keepers at the time (Lehmann and Buffon) only just keeping things level. And then Grosso struck to knock out the hosts.
The (first) Miracle of Istanbul. Yep, I know it's them lot, but they were massive, massive underdogs going into the final against that Milan side - arguably the greatest of its era - three finals (two European Cups) in five years - Dida, Cafu, Stam, Nesta, Maldini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Pirlo, Kaka, Crespo, Shevchenko. 3-0 down and buried. It took something huge to drag their way back under that kind of pressure and they managed it with Djimi Traore on the pitch.
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal. Obviously just for the second half. But it remains the biggest comeback in Premier League history - no other team has come all the way back from being 4-0 down. Sealed by Tioté (RIP), one of the greatest volleys I've ever seen - on his weaker foot and first time. Couldn't have done it again if he'd tried.
One big rule: these games should have no direct bearing on City at all. So United 0-1 West Brom, Crystal Palace 3-3 Liverpool, United 1-2 Leicester, Liverpool 0-2 Chelsea, etc. to win us the league, they don't count.
These games have got to be as separate from City's fortunes as they can be. Two teams who aren't City playing in a game that had next zero bearing on City's fortunes at the time. Games from abroad, internationals, European Cup games, etc.
Some examples.
Boro's unbelievable UEFA Cup run in 2006 remains one of my favourite things to revisit years later. Terrific entertainment at the time and fantastic to look back at 18 years on. Ali Brownlee's (RIP) commentary for these games is superb.
World Cup final 2022. My fiancée's not really into football. She gets interested in World Cups and Euros but not to the point where she actually cares. Well she was just as breathless as me when Martinez saved from Kolo Muani and Lautaro nearly won it for Argentina nearly 30 seconds later.
Germany 0-2 Italy. World Cup 2006. Probably the greatest 0-0 draw (after 90 minutes) of all time. High quality end-to-end stuff throughout from two sides boasting the world's best players, with two of the world's best keepers at the time (Lehmann and Buffon) only just keeping things level. And then Grosso struck to knock out the hosts.
The (first) Miracle of Istanbul. Yep, I know it's them lot, but they were massive, massive underdogs going into the final against that Milan side - arguably the greatest of its era - three finals (two European Cups) in five years - Dida, Cafu, Stam, Nesta, Maldini, Gattuso, Seedorf, Pirlo, Kaka, Crespo, Shevchenko. 3-0 down and buried. It took something huge to drag their way back under that kind of pressure and they managed it with Djimi Traore on the pitch.
Newcastle 4-4 Arsenal. Obviously just for the second half. But it remains the biggest comeback in Premier League history - no other team has come all the way back from being 4-0 down. Sealed by Tioté (RIP), one of the greatest volleys I've ever seen - on his weaker foot and first time. Couldn't have done it again if he'd tried.