franksinatra
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 25 Nov 2008
- Messages
- 11,147
For a few reasons I have been taking a trip down City memory lane of late and just thought about some of the games from the 90s which were memorable for a number of reasons.
I have tried to avoid the Gilinghams, Derbies, promotion deciders and concentrate on the less well remembered games and provoke an exchange relating to these games and others. As I went for only one game Niall Quinns penalty save, Alan Harpers ridiculously bad penalty and many others did not make the cut. Be interesting to hear other blues memories of those games and others during that turbulent decade.
1990/91
Sunderland last home game. 3-2
For the first time in many a year (probably since the late 70s) a win on the last day would enable us to finish above United in Fifth Place. For Sunderland they had to win to retain their place in the top flight.
The game, like many in that era, was swamped with supporters from both clubs and yet Peter Swales official attendance was just above 39,000. I can vividly remember making my way to the corner of the Kippax,nearest the Platt Lane, believing this would allow some breathing space only for it to be packed with a few thousand boisterous Mackems.
As well as finishing above United the game was memorable for the atmosphere and the preceding five minutes before half time when Sunderland scored twice. Marco Gabbiadini (I think) with a flying header only for Niall to equaliser literally seconds later and on the stroke of half time to burst the Sunderland bubble. It was probably the most frenetic period of football I had ever witnessed.
91/92 Liverpool 2-1
Under the Maine Road floodlights a very good Liverpool arrived for the first home game of the season. Buoyed by an away victory at Coventry and the performance of our new 2.5 million pound centre half Keith Curle, City put in a fantastic performance and David White playing upfront scored two cracking goals, including a shot that thundered down of the crossbar, and a wait, which seemed like a lifetime, until the linesmen confirmed it had crossed the line. From that point on Liverpool hammered us with Mike Marsh? running things in midfield.
Leeds 92/93 4-0
The second 4-0 and one of the best team goals when Ian Brightwell (of all people) rounded off a flowing move from defence to attack. Particularly poignant as the team was being heavily criticised for the type of football Peter Reid had us playing.
Ipswich 93/94 2-1
The return of Franny Lee and one of the best bits of skill I have ever seen live at a game of football. With a double drag back Rocky Rocastle bamboozled two defenders and set up Carl Griffiths??? for a tap in. It really felt like the start of a new beginning and in a sense it was...The start of an even more miserable era.
Spurs 94/95 5-2
Probably the best game of football I have ever seen. It chucked it down from the first whistle to the last which was more of an issue due to the uncovered City stand. City went with a mere 'two strikers' and two wingers as opposed to playing three out and out strikers of previous weeks due to Roslers injury.
City were magnificent but so was ille dumitrescu who put in the best performance by an opposition player I had ever seen prior to Thierry Henry and Arsenals 4-0 & 5-1 demolition.
Newcastle 95/96 3-3
Kevin Keegan's Newcastle team, chasing the title with an all out attacking style against Georgiou Kinkladze and ten others. He was just incredible this day, his assist for Quinn, shot and run against the bar, being surrounded by four players and still emerging with possession. The game was an absolute classic and even after the final whistle the drama did not end with Tino Asprilla head butting Keith Curle. I am sure Keegan as a manager could have chosen to man-mark Kinkladze and rely on his other players to win the game but I think he wanted to watch him, in full flow, as much the City fans. A real football purist he could not compromise his beliefs.
1996/97 Stoke 2-0
Really only memorable for a Dalian Atkinson debut goal and the North Stand being evacuated due to a fire in one of the shops. Honourable mention to the last game of the season against Reading which was titled 'Kinkladze day' with a constant singing of his name and 100s of fans, including myself, waiting outside afterwards to beg him to stay.
1997/98 West Ham 1-2 FA Cup
Memorable for the Kinkladze goal which included beating the likes of Ferdinand and Lampard on a mazy run and the following ten minutes.
The crowd was galvanised and Kinkladze was literally launching attack after attack, beating men, taking shots. Never have I seen a crowd react to one player like they did to Kinkladze that day. He had us eating out of the palm of his hand.
Stoke 1998/99 2-1
Marooned in midtable the last thing we needed was promotion chasing Stoke to arrive just after Christmas. As predicted Stoke took the lead with the only action being City fans leaving the Kippax to engage in Christmas pleasantries with Stoke fans who were ripping down the fencing separating the North stand from the Kippax. Then the second half started, the crowd and the players came together and even Gareth Taylor had a good 45 minutes. The atmosphere was electric and not like every match supportive of the players. Gillingham will always be the most poignant match but this was the game when things really changed.
I have tried to avoid the Gilinghams, Derbies, promotion deciders and concentrate on the less well remembered games and provoke an exchange relating to these games and others. As I went for only one game Niall Quinns penalty save, Alan Harpers ridiculously bad penalty and many others did not make the cut. Be interesting to hear other blues memories of those games and others during that turbulent decade.
1990/91
Sunderland last home game. 3-2
For the first time in many a year (probably since the late 70s) a win on the last day would enable us to finish above United in Fifth Place. For Sunderland they had to win to retain their place in the top flight.
The game, like many in that era, was swamped with supporters from both clubs and yet Peter Swales official attendance was just above 39,000. I can vividly remember making my way to the corner of the Kippax,nearest the Platt Lane, believing this would allow some breathing space only for it to be packed with a few thousand boisterous Mackems.
As well as finishing above United the game was memorable for the atmosphere and the preceding five minutes before half time when Sunderland scored twice. Marco Gabbiadini (I think) with a flying header only for Niall to equaliser literally seconds later and on the stroke of half time to burst the Sunderland bubble. It was probably the most frenetic period of football I had ever witnessed.
91/92 Liverpool 2-1
Under the Maine Road floodlights a very good Liverpool arrived for the first home game of the season. Buoyed by an away victory at Coventry and the performance of our new 2.5 million pound centre half Keith Curle, City put in a fantastic performance and David White playing upfront scored two cracking goals, including a shot that thundered down of the crossbar, and a wait, which seemed like a lifetime, until the linesmen confirmed it had crossed the line. From that point on Liverpool hammered us with Mike Marsh? running things in midfield.
Leeds 92/93 4-0
The second 4-0 and one of the best team goals when Ian Brightwell (of all people) rounded off a flowing move from defence to attack. Particularly poignant as the team was being heavily criticised for the type of football Peter Reid had us playing.
Ipswich 93/94 2-1
The return of Franny Lee and one of the best bits of skill I have ever seen live at a game of football. With a double drag back Rocky Rocastle bamboozled two defenders and set up Carl Griffiths??? for a tap in. It really felt like the start of a new beginning and in a sense it was...The start of an even more miserable era.
Spurs 94/95 5-2
Probably the best game of football I have ever seen. It chucked it down from the first whistle to the last which was more of an issue due to the uncovered City stand. City went with a mere 'two strikers' and two wingers as opposed to playing three out and out strikers of previous weeks due to Roslers injury.
City were magnificent but so was ille dumitrescu who put in the best performance by an opposition player I had ever seen prior to Thierry Henry and Arsenals 4-0 & 5-1 demolition.
Newcastle 95/96 3-3
Kevin Keegan's Newcastle team, chasing the title with an all out attacking style against Georgiou Kinkladze and ten others. He was just incredible this day, his assist for Quinn, shot and run against the bar, being surrounded by four players and still emerging with possession. The game was an absolute classic and even after the final whistle the drama did not end with Tino Asprilla head butting Keith Curle. I am sure Keegan as a manager could have chosen to man-mark Kinkladze and rely on his other players to win the game but I think he wanted to watch him, in full flow, as much the City fans. A real football purist he could not compromise his beliefs.
1996/97 Stoke 2-0
Really only memorable for a Dalian Atkinson debut goal and the North Stand being evacuated due to a fire in one of the shops. Honourable mention to the last game of the season against Reading which was titled 'Kinkladze day' with a constant singing of his name and 100s of fans, including myself, waiting outside afterwards to beg him to stay.
1997/98 West Ham 1-2 FA Cup
Memorable for the Kinkladze goal which included beating the likes of Ferdinand and Lampard on a mazy run and the following ten minutes.
The crowd was galvanised and Kinkladze was literally launching attack after attack, beating men, taking shots. Never have I seen a crowd react to one player like they did to Kinkladze that day. He had us eating out of the palm of his hand.
Stoke 1998/99 2-1
Marooned in midtable the last thing we needed was promotion chasing Stoke to arrive just after Christmas. As predicted Stoke took the lead with the only action being City fans leaving the Kippax to engage in Christmas pleasantries with Stoke fans who were ripping down the fencing separating the North stand from the Kippax. Then the second half started, the crowd and the players came together and even Gareth Taylor had a good 45 minutes. The atmosphere was electric and not like every match supportive of the players. Gillingham will always be the most poignant match but this was the game when things really changed.
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