Articles tagged ‘pre season’

Player ratings: Kaizer Chiefs 1 City 0

31st July 2009

Given – A spectator for much of the match. Produced one decent save that resulted in the corner for the goal. 6

Vidal – Over eager to chase a ball into the box that lead to an unfortunate injury. 5

Dunne – Skipper looked comfortable prior to leaving the field for what has proved the briefest of tours. 6

Onuoha – Good to see him back and looking solid as ever. 6

Bridge – Got forward well and good …

Report: Kaizer Chiefs 1 City 0

31st July 2009

Tuesday 25 July, 2.00pm (BST)
Goals: Ntuka 45

City missed out on their latest chance of silverware in the final of the Vodacom Challenge with a narrow defeat to the Kaizer Chiefs.

Hughes reverted to a 4-4-2 formation and for the second time it resulted in defeat. The midfield began with Barry and De Jong making a solid pairing in the middle with Wright-Phillips and Petrov supplying the width.

Adebayor made his debut alongside Craig Bellamy and unsurprisingly they weren’t on the same wavelength. …

Player ratings: Kaizer Chiefs 0 City 1

31st July 2009

Taylor – Kicking was more erratic than Saturday, but demonstrated his abilities with a low fingertip save in the second half. 7

Zabaleta – Competitive at right back though he was done for pace a couple of times. 7

Mee – An improvement on Saturday’s showing and no silly penalty conceded. 7

McGivern – Strong and assured. It was good to see him in the first team. 8

Bridge – Bombed forward when he could and linked up with Petrov in …

Report: Kaizer Chiefs 0 City 1

31st July 2009

Tuesday 21 July, 7.00pm (BST)
Goals: Ireland 45

The second game in South Africa saw City put out a stronger side and reap the rewards with a deserved victory courtesy of a goal from captain Stephen Ireland on the stroke of half time.

Hughes ditched the 4-4-2 and reverted to last season’s formation with first Ireland and then Wright-Phillips in the hole behind a lone striker.  Everybody looked more comfortable with this.  There was never the sense of being overrun which we had …

Player ratings: Orlando Pirates 2 City 0

30th July 2009

Taylor – To get beat from so far out for the second goal initially looked embarrassing, but in truth there wasn’t anything he could do about it.  Otherwise capable without looking exceptional.  6

Zabaleta – Half time switch to midfield reminded us of his flexibility.  Competitive and capable in midfield without ever dominating.  5

Ben Haim – Must have been as surprised as the rest of us to see him starting a game.  5

Mee – Wholehearted, but let down by giving away …

Report: Orlando Pirates 2 City 0

30th July 2009

Saturday 18 July, 2.00pm (BST)
Goals: Thwala 35, Thwala 55.

And so the 2009/10 pre-season began.  Sunshine and unparallelled optimism giving way to defeat and a dispiriting display.  Then who should pop up at Eastlands but another £25m striker to lift our spirits.  Welcome to Manchester indeed.

I took advantage of the club’s offer to watch our heroes show off their tans and tattoos on the big screen at Eastlands.  City took a chance on the weather with the open air seating outside …