Stay Focused, Raise The Roof

Everybody connected with Manchester City Football Club must put the media circus surrounding the Thailand military regime's pursuit of Frank Shinawatra out of sight and out of mind. There is a job to do.

Disliked or welcomed, Frank has given us an opportunity to compete at Premier League level as opposed to clinging to our status and we can all do our part in getting behind SGE and his squad by siezing the day, match in, match out with total support. One thing our club has right now is momentum and a rousing reception at Eastlands tonight will give the players and management a vital lift as they set about Derby County. It will then be down to the players to build on the impressive display at West Ham United.

Some of City's passing and movement at Upton Park was exceptional and there is no reason why that can not continue against a visiting team who are likely to adopt the safety first then strike approach that so many teams employed against Stuart Pearce's hapless tactics with so much success last season.

The difference now is that we have players with the ability to unlock defences, options all over the park and players unafraid to have a crack from all angles. With the right backing their confidence can only soar and the football will flow if the London victory was anything to go by. The players gave the impression that they are hungry to win and have a point to prove. It would be priceless indeed for City to again give so many of the sports hacks who have been queuing up to pontificate over our club's new direction another defiant result to contend with.

Raise the roof, Blues.

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