Happy Birthday To Our 1st Algerian Magician

[TinFoilHat]

An absolute genius. What a midfield pairing, him and Berkovic.

Typical city being able to create a positive Arab/Jewish partnership

:)

 

[TinFoilHat]

Makes you wonder how exciting we would have been under KK with the money we have now.

We now have the Catalan Keegan. No need to wonder.

:)

Ali B was a beauty. A shining light in our WWYWWS time

 

[Sky Blue Thinking]

Didnt know much about Ali B when he signed for us but what a season he had in KK's promtion year. Remember reading about him signing in M E.N. on the Friday before an impressive debut on the sat. Seem to remember he'd had an unsuccessful trial with Sunderland before signing for us.. their loss, our gain.
The first promotion I remember that we coasted and didnt have a nail biting final day.

 

[Macca3]

Still one of the best players I’ve seen in a City shirt & that’s including our recent fantastic players!

 

[city5189]

Not a bad team that day!

GK Peter Schmeichel
LB Danny Tiatto
CB Steve Howey
CB Silvain Distin
CB Richard Dunne
CB Kevin Hurlock!
M Eyal Berkovic
M Marc-Vivien Foé
W Shaun Wright-Phillips
CF Shaun Goater
CF Nicolas Anelka

Substitutes​

LB Niclas Jensen
M Ali Benarbia
W Darren Huckerby
GK Carlo Nash
CB Gerard Wiekens

That team would wipe the floor against the utd team we see now. I'm sure of it.

 

[Eebo]

Still not sure how he flicked the ball up with his heel.

I must have watched that clip more than 100 times over the years and it still amazes me every time, and I can’t see how he does it!
I don’t think I have seen it done since.

 

[Ribble73]

I don’t believe any City player had a better debut than his v Birmingham -utterly unbelievable given our status at the time -certainly in my days on this Earth

 

[Vienna_70]

I was lucky to be at Maine Road for Ali's debut against Birmingham City.

And though he was clearly not match-fit, you could see that he oozed class.

He played about an hour, IIRC, and received a standing ovation as he left the pitch.

I believe the game ended 3-0.

 

[billblu]

Was it Wanchope who said He knows where you are when you don’t know yourself?

He sees you when you dont see yourself ( weird can't remember what I did yesterday but remember that quote )

 

[Lovebitesandeveryfing]

I've said before that I occasionally hear him on French radio, where he has a gig with the sports station, RMC. When he refers to his time at City it is always completely positive.
And he never fails to mention how impressed he was with the Kippax when he arrived…

 

[.db.]

Won the French league’s Player of the Season the previous season to the one we signed him. To think Zidane won it three years earlier.

 

[DenisLawBackHeel74]

I don’t believe any City player had a better debut than his v Birmingham -utterly unbelievable given our status at the time -certainly in my days on this Earth

Aguero says ‘hold my beer’…