Source: Man_City
Gary Owen column
| Submit Comments| Comments (5)| Printable Version1/1Play SlideshowClose MapI?ve never been much of a goalkeeper, but I just might have a tip for Joe Hart which could save City a point or two over the course of the season. I was horrified to read in the M.E.N. that Joe felt his frozen hands might have contributed to the fact he couldn?t keep out Matthew Etherington?s late shot at Stoke on Saturday. My first thought was about the hand-warmers which I use for golfing on cold days, and whether a couple of them slipped inside his gloves might have meant the difference between one point and three. I?ve seen the goal a couple of times and thought he might wish he had done better, but Joe has hardly got anything wrong this season so he shouldn?t dwell on it. I was lucky because I got to see the game from a toasty warm executive box courtesy of a pal of mine who happens to be a chef at both City and Stoke. But from my comfortable viewpoint, it was a typically uncomfortable welcome from Stoke. The good thing was that we didn?t fold, as we might have done in previous years. In fact, after weathering the storm, I felt we were the only side that was going to win it in the second half. We defended from the halfway line rather than 30 yards from our own goal in the second half, which meant we were winning the ball in their half and putting them under pressure a lot more. Even though we didn?t win, it wasn?t the worst point in the world, especially in this season?s Premier League, when points are being dropped left, right and centre. United, Arsenal and Spurs all won, but Chelsea also dropped points at Newcastle, somewhere they would normally expect to win. It all makes for a better Premier League, with the gap between first and seventh narrowing considerably, and City can cash in when United, Chelsea, Arsenal and Spurs all start playing each other in the next few weeks. Salzburg are next up, but it is Saturday?s visit of Bolton which is more intriguing. A lot of people have made out that Owen Coyle has transformed Bolton from a long-ball side into a real football team, but that is unfair. Going back at least as far as Sam Allardyce?s days, I think they have combined some good footballers like Jay Jay Okocha and Youri Djorkaeff, with big strong lads like Kevin Davies. They have been doing brilliantly this season, and it could be a cracker at Eastlands, as they will fancy their chances of winning it, something which always suits City. Should Hart have saved the goal against Stoke? Have your say.| Submit Comments| Comments (5)| Printable VersionAdd A CommentEnter your comments:Sending
