I’m writing this in London, just before Manchester City travel to the Emirates Stadium to play Arsenal on August 25. (A regrettable postscript is that we were robbed 1:0, but that’s another story). I’m writing it now because we are in the unprecedented position of sitting on top of the English Premier League. A 30 year first. I’m also writing it now because I know it won’t last (and it didn’t!), so time to “Carpe Diem”.
It’s been three games, three wins, and a successful season already guaranteed since we thrashed the Red Hordes from Salford (Manchester United) last Saturday. We spent the entire first half defending, had one shot on goal, scored and spent the entire second half defending with no need to score a second goal. Magic!
I entered the season with some trepidation, given Man City’s appointment of the world’s most boring manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson. Three games in and it feels more like Sven Genius Eriksson. Sic Transit Gloria Mundi.
Two Brazilians, two Bulgarians, a Swiss, a Croat, a Spaniard, and an Italian who have never played in the Premier League before are leading the charge for us, alongside four home-grown academy players. One of these, Micah Richards, has got to be the best English defender since Bobby Moore. Somehow, Sven (aka “the Genius”), has put these players into a team capable of holding the line; defending and then scoring. The result? We are seven points ahead of the Reds, and their supporters, like my good friend Richard Hytner, have been very quiet this week. In fact, they’ve almost disappeared from sight.
Over the years we’ve been at the top, and much more frequently, we’ve been at the bottom. I have to tell you, it is so much better at the top.
