Take Us Higher Blues

Nice image, eh?

Rarely has Stuart Pearce appeared so focused. As one of his fiercest critics in recent weeks I am delighted for him right now. There is no doubt that we want him to succeed at MCFC. The tactical doubts, the question marks over his Under 21 commitment and the poor statistics remain against him and his management team but credit where it is due for turning around the utterly hopeless cause that we faced after defeats at Wigan and Blackburn.

The takeover talk and all the uncertain baggage that brings is up and running again and we all, especially the squad must strive to forget it for now.

We can all take heart from the solidity and new found intelligent passing and movement in the side across the last five outings.

Before I go any further, Richard Dunne: Legend.

The bold move to bring in Emile Mpenza after talks at Wigan broke down has been key to the City revival. With a point to prove across Europe he is getting sharper with every game. Strong and not afraid to get stuck right in, he is linking up attack and midfield where a link previously never existed this season. Joey Barton and Darius Vassell are thriving on Mpenza's workrate and confidence is beginning to flow through the side. We can look ahead to the top four challenges we now face with momentum behind us and a will to win we could only have dreamed of last month. City fans will always reward maximum effort and if that is maintained for the rest of this season, we will all be able to hold our heads up high again. For that to happen, Emile Mpenza must stay fit. How I would like to see him knocking the rags about next month.

Familiar doubts of course creep in when you consider what SP has selected to sit on our bench or play bit part roles for us recently. He is either attempting to highlight the lack of reliable experience in our squad or worryingly believes that well paid rubbish such as Sinclair, Dabo, Hamman or Corradi still have something to give to Manchester City. Samaras meanwhile maybe, just maybe with the confidence of a goal out of some other space-time continuum could maybe one day come good.

Ishmael Miller, Djamel Abdoun and Daniel Sturridge need to chain themselves to SP's office door in an attempt to get recognised again. That said, Michael Johnson has been oustanding and surely warrants a place in the side against the real tests to come.

I'll ignore cheap jibes against Scousers and give credit to a Liverpool side which has been in ruthless form. If City give it another go however there is no reason why we cannot realistically target catching up the likes of Andy Andrew Cole's dream team Portsmouth before too long.

Oh, go on then. Definition of a Scousers lap top? A takeaway pizza box.

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