Gio Kinkladze Documentary

[GOULDYBOBS]

Absolutely loved him as a kid. Named a cat after him

 

[BringBackSwales]

Just looked at his goal scoring record, was amazing at Dinamo Tbilisi before he played for us, 41 goals in 65 games

 

[Keeper!]

Saw himself as a singer did he?

Spent a lot of time at a certain notorious hotel at the back of the airport.

 

[franksinatra]

Not sure if this helps the debate, but here goes.

I was at Maine Road,in the lower seated kippax(still can't get my head around that) for Gio, s debut v Tottenham
It was a nil nil draw...not a dull nil nil...but very different to the Brilliant nil nil draw at white Hart lane,1st game under Mancini..I digress..

Gio from Georgia played centre mid.alongside Gary Flitcroft,our young home grown England u21 player from Bolton.

Kinkladze basically spread magic around the pitch wherever he went.

It was a thing of beauty.it was the 86th minute before he actually gave the ball away....a stray pass.....thats how good he was as a Footballer....he was absolute dynamite, all short passes..,one twos/ wall passes,intricate. , .playing with a group of players he barely knew.
Spurs did not know what to make of him.they could not touch him.
He was class.pure and simple.....Quality.
That was his 1st game for City.nil nil.

I remember that game as well. Everyone was excited to see what Gio was like after Ball (they will be hanging from the rafters to watch him) and Lee built him up. Not sure at what point in the game it was, but near the centre circle he stepped over the ball, changed direction, a couple of Spurs players went the wrong way and you could hear a collective gasp from the crowd. Magical moment.

Think it was a month later and Paul
McGrath’s dodgy knees never recovered after he was turned inside out for 90mins.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

I remember that game as well. Everyone was excited to see what Gio was like after Ball (they will be hanging from the rafters to watch him) and Lee built him up. Not sure at what point in the game it was, but near the centre circle he stepped over the ball, changed direction, a couple of Spurs players went the wrong way and you could hear a collective gasp from the crowd. Magical moment.

Think it was a month later and Paul
McGrath’s dodgy knees recovered after he was turned inside out for 90mins.

That first game v Spurs was 1-1. Use scored. I still maintain that Gio is certainly the best dribbler I’ve ever seen aside from Messi. Probably the most talented player I’ve seen in 50 years watching City. Football was different 25 years ago though and we didn’t face the packed defences we do now. I still think now he would easily fit into our team - I’ve rarely seen anyone able to beat not only 1 man but several from a standing start.
Thought the documentary didn’t show enough clips of him and played the same ones too often. It’s a sad loss to football how his career dived after leaving City, no doubt a lot of it due to himself.
But it was the greatest live affair of my football watching life.

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

That first game v Spurs was 1-1. Use scored. I still maintain that Gio is certainly the best dribbler I’ve ever seen aside from Messi. Probably the most talented player I’ve seen in 50 years watching City. Football was different 25 years ago though and we didn’t face the packed defences we do now. I still think now he would easily fit into our team - I’ve rarely seen anyone able to beat not only 1 man but several from a standing start.
Thought the documentary didn’t show enough clips of him and played the same ones too often. It’s a sad loss to football how his career dived after leaving City, no doubt a lot of it due to himself.
But it was the greatest live affair of my football watching life.

Really good post mate and sums up how I feel about it as well. Kinkladze didn't have the career that his talents deserved, but in terms of ability he's one of the best I've ever seen. His direct dribbling style and the ease with which he could beat players is rare (there are similarities in his dribbling style to Messi).

I was at Platt Lane for his first training session. In those days anyone could just wander in (still amazes me that they didn't restrict access) and Joe Royle later described it as a crèche when he arrived! But there was a real buzz around the place watching Kinkladze. Francis Lee was walking round like a kid with a new toy. Then came his debut against Spurs and the first time he got on the ball you could just tell he was a special talent.

His time at City coincided with us going through a horrible spell as a club, but that doesn't detract from his ability or some of the moments of magic he produced.

I enjoyed the documentary, but I agree with your point that it would have been nice if they'd trawled the archives and unearthed some forgotten footage, they just showed the same old clips you can find on YouTube and repeated them throughout. That aside it's a great doc and a nice trip down memory lane, from a dark time that Kinkladze lit up.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Really good post mate and sums up how I feel about it as well. Kinkladze didn't have the career that his talents deserved, but in terms of ability he's one of the best I've ever seen. His direct dribbling style and the ease with which he could beat players is rare (there are similarities in his dribbling style to Messi).

I was at Platt Lane for his first training session. In those days anyone could just wander in (still amazes me that they didn't restrict access) and Joe Royle later described it as a crèche when he arrived! But there was a real buzz around the place watching Kinkladze. Francis Lee was walking round like a kid with a new toy. Then came his debut against Spurs and the first time he got on the ball you could just tell he was a special talent.

His time at City coincided with us going through a horrible spell as a club, but that doesn't detract from his ability or some of the moments of magic he produced.

I enjoyed the documentary, but I agree with your point that it would have been nice if they'd trawled the archives and unearthed some forgotten footage, they just showed the same old clips you can find on YouTube and repeated them throughout. That aside it's a great doc and a nice trip down memory lane, from a dark time that Kinkladze lit up.

Very well summed up. “Dark time that Kinkladze lit up” - looking back it was a period possibly unique just to us? We had an incredible support (in those days of being youngish, free and single, I went to so many games home and away). We weren’t a cult like the Dippers because we laughed at ourselves.
But in our own city, what did we have to throw at the Rags in terms of football? In the past when they were a better team we always had the lure of a cup run or win but that wasn’t going to happen - all we had was the fact that we loved our club more than they did theirs and we had Gio.
I know he had his weaknesses when compared to the “perfect all round player” but I loved him. The only 3 memories I have of being at a 1-1 draw at Gigg lane were
what the fuck are we doing here?
We chucking his boots into the crowd
and the incredible run Gio made to win the penalty which I think he missed (ha ha) . It’s on You Tube and just amazing.
Those were the days eh?Now we have to put up with Phil, KDB, Bernardo, Jacky Boy, Riyadh etc - that’ll do me!!!!

 

[WNRH]

I quite frankly get bored of the "would get in our side now" that gets brought up every year. It's impossible to know and by doing so you diminish how good he actually was.

He's my hero and is a huge reason why a certain generation of City fans are still City fans.

As someone who was outnumbered at school by 25-1 by United fans, they could all have the glory of winning leagues and FA Cups and playing in europe, but they didn't have Kinkladze.

I remember when he left and how distraught i was. I also remember his Ajax debut in a friendly which i think was on Channel 5? That shows you how much people loved to watch him. A national broadcaster buying the rights to a Ajax friendly game.

 

[Stuuuuuu]

Absolutely loved him as a kid.

He was a much better player in his adult years though.

 

[Bellamy's Caddy]

Very well summed up. “Dark time that Kinkladze lit up” - looking back it was a period possibly unique just to us? We had an incredible support (in those days of being youngish, free and single, I went to so many games home and away). We weren’t a cult like the Dippers because we laughed at ourselves.
But in our own city, what did we have to throw at the Rags in terms of football? In the past when they were a better team we always had the lure of a cup run or win but that wasn’t going to happen - all we had was the fact that we loved our club more than they did theirs and we had Gio.
I know he had his weaknesses when compared to the “perfect all round player” but I loved him. The only 3 memories I have of being at a 1-1 draw at Gigg lane were
what the fuck are we doing here?
We chucking his boots into the crowd
and the incredible run Gio made to win the penalty which I think he missed (ha ha) . It’s on You Tube and just amazing.
Those were the days eh?Now we have to put up with Phil, KDB, Bernardo, Jacky Boy, Riyadh etc - that’ll do me!!!!

Definitely mate, there can't be many (any?) other fans that have been through the same journey as City fans over the last 25+ years. I still look back on those days with fondness, probably for the reasons you've mentioned but what we're experiencing at the moment is incredible. I know it won't last forever, but I'm enjoying every minute!

 

[franksinatra]

Really good post mate and sums up how I feel about it as well. Kinkladze didn't have the career that his talents deserved, but in terms of ability he's one of the best I've ever seen. His direct dribbling style and the ease with which he could beat players is rare (there are similarities in his dribbling style to Messi).

I was at Platt Lane for his first training session. In those days anyone could just wander in (still amazes me that they didn't restrict access) and Joe Royle later described it as a crèche when he arrived! But there was a real buzz around the place watching Kinkladze. Francis Lee was walking round like a kid with a new toy. Then came his debut against Spurs and the first time he got on the ball you could just tell he was a special talent.

His time at City coincided with us going through a horrible spell as a club, but that doesn't detract from his ability or some of the moments of magic he produced.

I enjoyed the documentary, but I agree with your point that it would have been nice if they'd trawled the archives and unearthed some forgotten footage, they just showed the same old clips you can find on YouTube and repeated them throughout. That aside it's a great doc and a nice trip down memory lane, from a dark time that Kinkladze lit up.

That first game v Spurs was 1-1. Use scored. I still maintain that Gio is certainly the best dribbler I’ve ever seen aside from Messi. Probably the most talented player I’ve seen in 50 years watching City. Football was different 25 years ago though and we didn’t face the packed defences we do now. I still think now he would easily fit into our team - I’ve rarely seen anyone able to beat not only 1 man but several from a standing start.
Thought the documentary didn’t show enough clips of him and played the same ones too often. It’s a sad loss to football how his career dived after leaving City, no doubt a lot of it due to himself.
But it was the greatest live affair of my football watching life.

Could not agree more with these posts. Same with me, he will always be my favourite City player and I recently got a dog and named her after him.

I would concur about his dribbling and the Messi comparison.No doubt some will deride the comparison but were not saying he can score 60 goals a season or his careers are comparable but I have never watched a player as exciting and for periods he could have you spellbound as he took the fight to the opposition, his tail was up and he was beating defenders for fun.

Just writhing this post takes me back to the West Ham cup match. He scored a wonderful solo goal and then for the twenty minutes after it was like the ball was glued to his foot, the whole crowd captivated and he did everything but score another. Its worth watching the footage back, people were literally jumping out of their seats in the North Stand, when he picked up the ball, some would not even do that for a goal these days.

I was very fortunate, that I got passed a video of Gio’s time at City produced by a Uni student with Mcr music as a background.

There were some unbelievable bits of skill but a couple in particular spring to mind.

One was an away match at, I think, Bolton. Kinkladze was stood with his foot on the ball near the touchline, with the crowd shouting verbals in the stand behind. A defender was jockeying him and then suddenly charged directly at him, full speed, Kinkladze just turned his body glided past him and the defender fell to the floor, to the cheers of the City fans st the other end of the ground.

The other was at Maine Road. We all remember how fast he was but on this occasion he picked up the ball on the halfway line, and turned this defender inside out about 4/5 times, then on reaching the edge of the box, beat him for a final time, nutmegged his mate and then, depressingly, shot wide. If it had gone in it would have knocked spots of the Southampton goal.

Great player, great memories. No doubt some will have to come on here to try and desecrate the memories to other blues but to many he was a truly bright light in a dark period in our history. Not sure what they get out of it to be honest.

 

[Stiff Little Wingers]

Could not agree more with these posts. Same with me, he will always be my favourite City player and I recently got a dog and named her after him.

I would concur about his dribbling and the Messi comparison.No doubt some will deride the comparison but were not saying he can score 60 goals a season or his careers are comparable but I have never watched a player as exciting and for periods he could have you spellbound as he took the fight to the opposition, his tail was up and he was beating defenders for fun.

Just writhing this post takes me back to the West Ham cup match. He scored a wonderful solo goal and then for the twenty minutes after it was like the ball was glued to his foot, the whole crowd captivated and he did everything but score another. Its worth watching the footage back, people were literally jumping out of their seats in the North Stand, when he picked up the ball, some would not even do that for a goal these days.

I was very fortunate, that I got passed a video of Gio’s time at City produced by a Uni student with Mcr music as a background.

There were some unbelievable bits of skill but a couple in particular spring to mind.

One was an away match at, I think, Bolton. Kinkladze was stood with his foot on the ball near the touchline, with the crowd shouting verbals in the stand behind. A defender was jockeying him and then suddenly charged directly at him, full speed, Kinkladze just turned his body glided past him and the defender fell to the floor, to the cheers of the City fans st the other end of the ground.

The other was at Maine Road. We all remember how fast he was but on this occasion he picked up the ball on the halfway line, and turned this defender inside out about 4/5 times, then on reaching the edge of the box, beat him for a final time, nutmegged his mate and then, depressingly, shot wide. If it had gone in it would have knocked spots of the Southampton goal.

Great player, great memories. No doubt some will have to come on here to try and desecrate the memories to other blues but to many he was a truly bright light in a dark period in our history. Not sure what they get out of it to be honest.

Lovely post

 

[dennishasdoneit]

I quite frankly get bored of the "would get in our side now" that gets brought up every year. It's impossible to know and by doing so you diminish how good he actually was.

He's my hero and is a huge reason why a certain generation of City fans are still City fans.

As someone who was outnumbered at school by 25-1 by United fans, they could all have the glory of winning leagues and FA Cups and playing in europe, but they didn't have Kinkladze.

I remember when he left and how distraught i was. I also remember his Ajax debut in a friendly which i think was on Channel 5? That shows you how much people loved to watch him. A national broadcaster buying the rights to a Ajax friendly game.

Well said Blue.

 

[dennishasdoneit]

Could not agree more with these posts. Same with me, he will always be my favourite City player and I recently got a dog and named her after him.

I would concur about his dribbling and the Messi comparison.No doubt some will deride the comparison but were not saying he can score 60 goals a season or his careers are comparable but I have never watched a player as exciting and for periods he could have you spellbound as he took the fight to the opposition, his tail was up and he was beating defenders for fun.

Just writhing this post takes me back to the West Ham cup match. He scored a wonderful solo goal and then for the twenty minutes after it was like the ball was glued to his foot, the whole crowd captivated and he did everything but score another. Its worth watching the footage back, people were literally jumping out of their seats in the North Stand, when he picked up the ball, some would not even do that for a goal these days.

I was very fortunate, that I got passed a video of Gio’s time at City produced by a Uni student with Mcr music as a background.

There were some unbelievable bits of skill but a couple in particular spring to mind.

One was an away match at, I think, Bolton. Kinkladze was stood with his foot on the ball near the touchline, with the crowd shouting verbals in the stand behind. A defender was jockeying him and then suddenly charged directly at him, full speed, Kinkladze just turned his body glided past him and the defender fell to the floor, to the cheers of the City fans st the other end of the ground.

The other was at Maine Road. We all remember how fast he was but on this occasion he picked up the ball on the halfway line, and turned this defender inside out about 4/5 times, then on reaching the edge of the box, beat him for a final time, nutmegged his mate and then, depressingly, shot wide. If it had gone in it would have knocked spots of the Southampton goal.

Great player, great memories. No doubt some will have to come on here to try and desecrate the memories to other blues but to many he was a truly bright light in a dark period in our history. Not sure what they get out of it to be honest.

Brilliant Post.

 

[Petetheblu]

Loved him.

Gutted that time waits for no one!!


If only there was a time machine.

 

[Jack74]

Still love him the best

 

[Yankunian]

You slagged off the only two players from the shit times who are blue to the bone and gave everything for the club when we was down amongst the dead men.
Like i said previously, you don't get it.
No city fan would say that about them two, absolutely none.

You're a wum from another club is my only conclusion to your posts.

blue to the bone! both deserted us when they both played a huge part in us being relegated, i get it mate cos i was and am still there home & away, no coincidence after they both left we got back to back promotions why because we actually got players in who weren't as technically gifted but gave everything for the club, i don't think you get it!

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Could not agree more with these posts. Same with me, he will always be my favourite City player and I recently got a dog and named her after him.

I would concur about his dribbling and the Messi comparison.No doubt some will deride the comparison but were not saying he can score 60 goals a season or his careers are comparable but I have never watched a player as exciting and for periods he could have you spellbound as he took the fight to the opposition, his tail was up and he was beating defenders for fun.

Just writhing this post takes me back to the West Ham cup match. He scored a wonderful solo goal and then for the twenty minutes after it was like the ball was glued to his foot, the whole crowd captivated and he did everything but score another. Its worth watching the footage back, people were literally jumping out of their seats in the North Stand, when he picked up the ball, some would not even do that for a goal these days.

I was very fortunate, that I got passed a video of Gio’s time at City produced by a Uni student with Mcr music as a background.

There were some unbelievable bits of skill but a couple in particular spring to mind.

One was an away match at, I think, Bolton. Kinkladze was stood with his foot on the ball near the touchline, with the crowd shouting verbals in the stand behind. A defender was jockeying him and then suddenly charged directly at him, full speed, Kinkladze just turned his body glided past him and the defender fell to the floor, to the cheers of the City fans st the other end of the ground.

The other was at Maine Road. We all remember how fast he was but on this occasion he picked up the ball on the halfway line, and turned this defender inside out about 4/5 times, then on reaching the edge of the box, beat him for a final time, nutmegged his mate and then, depressingly, shot wide. If it had gone in it would have knocked spots of the Southampton goal.

Great player, great memories. No doubt some will have to come on here to try and desecrate the memories to other blues but to many he was a truly bright light in a dark period in our history. Not sure what they get out of it to be honest.

May have been Andy Morrison at MR? Seem to recall Gio teasing him with the ball a few times v Hudds

 

[Trevor Morley's Tache]

He's put some beef on since I saw him outside Top Shop in Shrewsbury in 1997.

 

[SPIDERBOY]

Seen him a few times having a cheeky pint in The Windmill,in Denton.