Category Archives: 2023-24

Manchester City’s All-Time Best FA Cup Winning Eleven

So far I’ve told you about the eleven players selected for my all-time best Manchester City FA Cup final winning team and today it’s the time for the manager.

I was asked to select an all-time City eleven and had two rules – they had to actually play in a winning final (so, unused substitutes were not allowed) and they could not be a member of the current playing squad. I also tried to focus on the fact that this eleven would also be facing an all time Manchester United eleven. Therefore victories over United in key games were always in the back of my mind.

For the manager I could select anyone who had managed the Blues in a FA Cup winning final. It was tough because of the wonderfully talented and inspirational leaders the club has had, starting with Tom Maley in 1904. In the end I went for:

Manager Pep Guardiola (since 2016)

Imagine this talented team being guided by this inspirational coach! A tactical innovator he would love the versatility of this team with attack-minded defenders, a hugely talented midfield and some of the best goalscorers the FA Cup has ever seen. Forward-thinking 1960s coach Malcolm Allison would be enthralled watching him in action.

I have no idea how many of you read the article in the FA Cup final but another writer picked the United all-time FAC eleven. When comparing the two I’m convinced my 11 would easily defeat United’s. Maybe I should post that and see what you all think?

Manchester City’s All-Time Best FA Cup Winning Eleven

So far I’ve told you about Bert Trautmann, Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe, Vincent Kompany, İlkay Gündoğan, David Silva and Billy Meredith in my all-time best Manchester City FA Cup final winning team and today it’s the time for another couple of names.

I was asked to select an all-time City eleven and had two rules – they had to actually play in a winning final (so, unused substitutes were not allowed) and they could not be a member of the current playing squad. I also tried to focus on the fact that this eleven would also be facing an all time Manchester United eleven. Therefore victories over United in key games were always in the back of my mind.

The next two players selected are (and the first one will be no surprise but the second may be!):

Colin Bell (1966-1979)

The King and first name on this team sheet. 1969 FA Cup winner whose courage, stamina, speed, skill, enthusiasm and strength all combined to make him one of the game’s biggest legends. Bobby Charlton called him: ‘One of my great heroes… He was an outstanding player.’ Who would argue with that?

There are lots of articles on Colin Bell on this site. You can read some here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/category/colin-bell/

Fred Tilson (1928-1938)

This England international’s best performances often came in the Cup, scoring more goals (22) in the competition than any other City player. In 1934 he netted 9 goals in 8 games, including two at Wembley, meaning he edges Francis Lee for selection. This centre-forward was a key contributor when City won the 1937 League Championship too.

You can read more about 1934 here:

The 1934 FA Cup Final

More on the all-time Manchester City FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow. It was a tough selection and over the next few days I’ll post the rest of the starting eleven.

You can read about the significance of 2011 in this feature here:

2011 – What It Meant Historically

More on the all-time FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow.

Manchester City’s All-Time Best FA Cup Winning Eleven

So far I’ve told you about Bert Trautmann, Tony Book, Glyn Pardoe, Vincent Kompany and İlkay Gündoğan in my all-time best Manchester City FA Cup final winning team and today it’s the time for another couple of names.

I was asked to select an all-time City eleven and had two rules – they had to actually play in a winning final (so, unused substitutes were not allowed) and they could not be a member of the current playing squad. I also tried to focus on the fact that this eleven would also be facing an all time Manchester United eleven. Therefore victories over United in key games were always in the back of my mind.

The next two players selected are:

David Silva (2010-2020)

This World Cup winner joined City in 2010 and immediately impressed. ‘El Mago’ (the magician) was a member of both the 2011 and 2019 FA Cup successes, but was also the star man time and time again as the Blues won eleven major trophies in his decade.

Billy Meredith (1894-1906 & 1921-1924)

A Welsh international and Manchester’s first superstar who was idolised by both Blues and Reds. Captain and goalscorer in City’s first FA Cup success in 1904. This talented right-winger narrowly pipped 60s & 70s legend Mike Summerbee to this spot. Imagine either man playing in a side managed by Pep!

Meredith is the earliest name in my list and you can read more about 1904 here:

Manchester City – FA Cup Winners Since 1904

More on the all-time Manchester City FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow. It was a tough selection and over the next few days I’ll post the rest of the starting eleven.

You can read about the significance of 2011 in this feature here:

2011 – What It Meant Historically

More on the all-time FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow.

Manchester City’s All-Time Best FA Cup Winning Eleven

So far I’ve told you about Bert Trautmann, Tony Book and Glyn Pardoe in my all-time best Manchester City FA Cup final winning team and today it’s the time for another couple of names.

I was asked to select an all-time City eleven and had two rules – they had to actually play in a winning final (so, unused substitutes were not allowed) and they could not be a member of the current playing squad. I also tried to focus on the fact that this eleven would also be facing an all time Manchester United eleven. Therefore victories over United in key games were always in the back of my mind.

The next two players selected are:

Vincent Kompany (2008-2019)

Captained City to a record 6-0 victory in the 2019 final and played in the 2011 success over Stoke. This determined Belgian led by example through many glorious trophy-winning seasons and had a knack of scoring crucial goals at important moments. Solid, reliable and a great motivator. My captain.

İlkay Gündoğan (2017-2023)

The hero of the 2023 final. Selected here to get City off to a great start and, if the game is in the balance, to pop up with a second goal! This German international is another true leader, captaining City to a remarkable treble. He was also a member of the 2019 FA Cup winning team.

More on the all-time Manchester City FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow. It was a tough selection and over the next few days I’ll post the rest of the starting eleven.

You can read about the significance of 2011 in this feature here:

2011 – What It Meant Historically

More on the all-time FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow.

Manchester City’s All-Time Best FA Cup Winning Eleven

Yesterday I posted the goalkeeper of my all-time best Manchester City FA Cup final winning team and so today it’s the time for another couple of names.

I was asked to select an all-time City eleven and had two rules – they had to actually play in a winning final (so, unused substitutes were not allowed) and they could not be a member of the current playing squad. I also tried to focus on the fact that this eleven would also be facing an all time Manchester United eleven. Therefore victories over United in key games were always in the back of my mind.

The next two players selected are:

Tony Book (1966-1974)

As FWA Player of the Year in 1969 Book captained City to FA Cup success and led the Blues through a glorious era when derby games tended to end in a City victory. Still revered, this humble legend was also a trophy winning manager and coached City to FA Youth Cup success over United in 1986.

Glyn Pardoe (1962-1976)

A versatile right footer who typically played on the left, City’s youngest ever debutant was exceptionally good in the air. A vital and dependable member of the 1968 League championship and the 1969 FA Cup winning teams, Pardoe’s instincts, passing ability and tackling expertise made him a cultured defender.

Janice Monk (former City Store), Glyn Pardoe and Steve Mackenzie at the launch of Manchester The City Years in 2012

Both Book and Pardoe played in the 1969 FA Cup final. You can read all about that here:

City 1 Leicester 0, the FA Cup Final

More on the all-time Manchester City FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow. It was a tough selection and over the next few days I’ll post the rest of the starting eleven.

Manchester City’s All-Time Best FA Cup Winning Eleven

For the 2024 FA Cup final match programme I was asked to select my all-time best Manchester City FA Cup final team. I set two rules – they had to actually play in a winning final (so, unused substitutes were not allowed) and they could not be a member of the current playing squad. I also tried to focus on the fact that this eleven would also be facing an all time Manchester United eleven. Therefore victories over United in key games were always in the back of my mind.

It was a tough job and so over the next few days I’ll post the names of the starting eleven I chose with some basic information why. I’ll start with the obvious one – the goalkeeper (although those who attended finals prior to 1956 may disagree!):

Bert Trautmann (1949-1964)

As far as FA Cup goalkeepers go 1956 FWA Player of the Year Trautmann is the ultimate selection. The ‘keeper who played on with a broken neck in the 1956 FA Cup final! Starting attacks with a long throw, he also starred throughout the 1955 cup run which included City’s 2-0 defeat of the Busby Babes.

I’ve written a lot about Trautmann over the years and was lucky to chat with him often over the decades. I was also the Manchester football historical consultant for the film The Keeper, about his life. Here’s a brief video of me talking about Trautmann for Dutch TV a while ago:

More on the all-time Manchester City FA Cup winning eleven tomorrow.

Glyn Pardoe

Glyn Pardoe was born on this day (1 June) in 1946. He rightfully made it into my all time MCFC FA Cup winning 11, published in last week’s FA Cup final match programme.

Janice Monk (former City Store), Glyn Pardoe and Steve Mackenzie at the launch of Manchester The City Years

The Span of Success: Updated for 2024

As usual, once the domestic season ends I update the table showing the English clubs’ span of success – i.e. the number of years between a club’s first major success (FA Cup, League, League Cup, European trophy) and their most recent. There’s actually not much difference between last year’s final table and this:

Okay, the span of success does not show how many trophies each club has won or how frequently that club has experienced great eras of success, but it does demonstrate how wrong those people are who believe certain clubs were unsuccessful until recent years, or those who think certain clubs have always been giants. The column on first major success helps to show when some clubs first became trophy-winning significant (often after transformational investment too!).

There’s not much difference between 2023 and 2024 – numbers have changed but not positions. In 2023 West Ham proved that if you’re a club that hasn’t won a major trophy for a while putting your focus on achieving trophy success ahead of the odd Premier League position can bring significant reward. In future decades no one will remember who finished seventh, tenth or fifteenth but they will remember the trophies. Here’s last year’s table for comparison purposes:

I know clubs focus on their financials but winning a trophy has longevity, gaining the odd Premier League place provides a bit of extra cash now but no long term kudos. Winning a trophy attracts new fans and brings money-spinning opportunities too.

If I was a supporter of any of the major clubs who have not found significant success in recent decades then I would absolutely want my team to go for whichever cup competition seems the most likely to win. That’s what I always wanted from City before they were able to compete for the League again. Winning the FA Cup in 2011 helped everything that followed happen – it gave confidence and a trophy winning mentality.

While you’re here why not take a look at the wide range of articles available on this site? Such as last summer’s 100 day series of features on Maine Road:

Maine Road 100 – Day 10
Maine Road 100 – Day 3
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Another All-Manchester FA Cup Final

Good luck to all those interested in, attending and watching the second all-Manchester FA Cup final today. Let’s make sure it’s another that makes the world see the quality of Manchester’s football and fans.

Four Major Trophies This Season?

Tomorrow will see Manchester City and Manchester United face each other in the second All-Manchester FA Cup final. This promises to be another dramatic day in the history of Manchester football (we are so blessed being able to see days like these).

Obviously, the game could go either way and I don’t want to make predictions as derby days are often difficult to predict. I well remember arriving at Maine Road in September 1989 when Alex Ferguson’s United were most expensive squad ever assembled in British football at the time. That day City fans feared the worst and by full-time the Blues had defeated the Reds 5-1 with chants of Fergie Out coming from the fans left in the away section of the Platt Lane Stand. Who would have thought that night that he would keep his job and bring so much success to the Reds?

Whatever happens enjoy the day and game. Clearly, if United win then that will help their development and if City win then that will mean four major trophies have been won this season – the other three are of course the Premier League, the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup. Not bad hey? Add to that the FA Youth Cup and it’s been another great season.