Sunday, September 7, 2008

MCFC Vs Chelsea - The Players' Lounge Saturday 13th Sept K.O. 8.30pm

Arrest warrants, emergency bank loans, an opening-day thrashing, rumours of pending administration, the return of the prodigal son, injury-time equaliser, UEFA Cup penalty shootout, eight goals in three games, billionaire takeover and new British transfer record. All-in-all, it's been a disappointingly dull few weeks to be a Manchester City supporter!

Following the infuriating international break, which saw most of our first-team squad reunited with their families in Brazil (!!), it is now time for the posturing to stop and for City to get back to the task in hand; playing and, hopefully, winning football matches.

Zabaleta, Jo, Elano and Robinho have all been in South America this week and will not return to Manchester until Friday morning at the earliest, so it remains unclear how big a part they will play in Saturday's amusingly monikered "Clash of the Cash" against Chelsea at Middle Eastlands. But it is likely that they will all feature to some extent as Mark Hughes attempts to put down a marker that matches our new sugar-daddy's ambitions.

Perhaps more important than all this talk of billionaire takeovers and record-breaking transfers is the fact that MCFC Dubai will be making its long-awaited return to its spiritual home at The Players' Lounge for this fixture, which conveniently kicks off after sundown at 8.30pm (Dubai time).

Liverpool get the day started as they entertain United at 3.45pm, followed by Blackburn Vs Arsenal and Newcastle Vs Hull (amongst others) at 6pm.

We are currently in Ramadan, so while The Players' Lounge will be open and serving food/soft drinks all day, alcohol will not be on sale until 7.00pm. I'll hazard a guess that that will coincide with the arrival of most of MCFC Dubai's members!

Given the recent surge of interest in our club, I suspect there may be some press in attendance for this one, so please make the effort to come down to cheer the lads on and wear your clours if you've got them.

Dave

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