Webmaster Spike from mancityblues.com has kindly taken time out to talk exclusively to Vital Manchester City.
In a frank and honest question and answer session Spike tells City fans why he follows Manchester City, what he thinks of new manager Mark Hughes and more.
If you are a City webmaster and want to answer the following questions, contact me via the sites front page and I’ll be more than happy to publish.
I support Manchester City because…
‘Like many, I was taken to Maine Road as a boy and at once, I was smitten. From then on, it was an easy choice. Once a blue always a blue.’
Who is your all time favourite City player?
‘There have been so many over the years. The players during the last golden era at City were amazing. Obviously, the likes of Bell, Lee and Summerbee are up there in my mental hall of fame. Tony Coleman was also a particular boyhood favourite.’
‘In the subsequent leaner years, the images that stand out are of the likes of Trevor Francis for that all too brief spell and Ali Benarbia who I wish we’d signed when he was younger.’
‘Other big favourites have been Denis Tueart, Peter Barnes, Tony Coton, Paul Stewart, SWP and Nicolas Anelka.’
‘For the player I have most looked forward to watching though, I`m going for Ali Benarbia.’
On average, how many times per season do you visit the City of Manchester Stadium?
‘I usually get to all the home games in a season.’
Do you go to away games and if so, how often?
‘I used to follow City all over for many years but no, I don’t get to many away games these days.’
Mark Hughes – yes or no?
‘Yes. It did take a bit of getting used to hearing him described as ‘our’ manager though I must admit. But now I’m right behind him and looking forward to seeing what he can do for us.’
If anyone can break into the so-called top four this season, who will it be?
‘Probably Everton. Not because I think they’ve got the best squad, but simply because they’ve done it before in recent times.’
How far to you think City will go in this years UEFA Cup?
‘If we can get through the potential banana skins of these early rounds, I think we could do very well. Quarter-finals maybe? Or even the semi’s with a bit of luck!’
In no more than one paragraph, tell me how long you’ve been involved in mancityblues.com and why?’
‘Well, although mancityblues.com has not actually been around very long, (only a couple of months,) I myself and a lot of the members have been doing the various boards for many years. Many of us go back to the old Planet Football sites.’
Most of us like to have a laugh and a joke as well as discuss and debate issues surrounding City and other everyday life stuff, so I was asked by one or two of our current members to start a board where we could do this in a warm and friendly atmosphere.’
‘I really had no idea that it would take off as well as it has done. It’s going really well, which is a testament to all the time and effort put in by the members.’
Do you ever visit other City websites and if so, which ones?
‘I’m too busy running my own these days but yes, as I said, I’ve been on most sites in the past.’
Out of 10, how would you rate the official Manchester City website?
‘6/10. It’s good in many ways, but ideally, I would like it to be more ‘interactive’ with the fans.’
Many thanks go out to Spike for taking time out from his busy schedule.
To visit mancityblues.com, click here.
