Bradley Wright-Phillips’ Debut

On this day (6 December) in 2004 Bradley Wright-Phillips marks his first League appearance for Manchester Cuty with an 80th minute goal against Middlesbrough. The game ended in a 3-2 defeat for City (Robbie Fowler scored the other City goal) but, if you fancy a flashback, you can watch highlights here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IYEYZF118Ao

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Haaland Goals Per Game Comparison

It doesn’t feel that long ago since I did something like this for Sergio Aguero and I honestly felt it would be some time before the opportunity came again but then Erling Haaland arrived at Manchester City. So much was rightly made of Erling scoring his 100th Premier League goal last night that I thought I’d post a comparison between him and all other players who have netted 100 Premier League goals. Instead of totals though I decided to focus on the goals per game ratio and so here is a list of the top 25 goals per game ratios of PL players who have netted 100 goals or more. There are some amazing players on this list but significantly Haaland tops that list by some distance. It’s also gratifying to see that Aguero is third on the list.

The top 25 goals per game ratios for all PL players who have scored 100 goals or more… (note: some sources incorrectly put Kane above Aguero)

GoalsFirst NameSurnameGoals Per GameTotal PL Appearances
100ErlingHaaland0.9009111
175ThierryHenry0.6783258
184SergioAguero0.6691275
213HarryKane0.6656320
190MoSalah0.6070313
260AlanShearer0.5896441
113IanWright0.5305213
144Robinvan Persie0.5143280
127JimmyFloyd Hasselbank0.4739268
150MichaelOwen0.4601326
187AndyCole0.4517414
103CristianoRonaldo0.4364236
121RomeluLukaku0.4353278
163RobbieFowler0.4301379
149LesFerdinand0.4245351
145JamieVardy0.4240342
208WayneRooney0.4236491
111SadioMane0.4221263
104DidierDrogba0.4094254
106DarrenBent0.3841276
127SonHeung-min0.3814333
100MattLe Tissier0.3704270
126RobbieKeane0.3610349
111DionDublin0.3558312
146TeddySheringham0.3493418

Watch this space for other comparisons over the coming weeks.

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The 2000s: Wanchope Double

On 15 May 2004 Paulo Wanchope netted twice as Manchester City defeated Everton 5-1 on the last day of the 2003-04 season. The other goals were netted by Antoine Sibierski and Shaun Wright-Phillips.

If you want to read all about that season then here’s a 4,200 word article on it (below). This was City’s first at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad).

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Foe Scored in Maine Road’s last MCFC victory

On this day (April 21) in 2003 a goal from Robbie Fowler and two from Marc-Vivien Foe brought a 3-0 Manchester City win over Sunderland.  The game became significant as it was to be the last City victory at the old stadium and Foe’s 80th minute goal was the last scored there by a City man. 

Understandably, during 2002-03 the focus for many Manchester City fans was Maine Road’s final season, especially the final month or so of the season. With every game at the stadium a sell-out – only the size of the away support varied – supporters were desperate for the final season to see the old venue at its best.  They also wanted a few memorable results in those final weeks.  

Ultimately, the Sunderland game was the best Maine Road match of the final weeks.

Pre-match Sunderland presented the Blues with a rose bowl commemorating their final visit to the stadium.  Significantly, the time span between their first appearance at Maine Road and their last was greater than any other visiting club. Co-incidentally City’s last victory at Hyde Road was also against Sunderland in April. You can read about that game elsewhere on my website.

21/4/2003 MCFC 3 Sunderland 0, Attendance 34,357

Fowler and Wanchope

On this day twenty years ago (1 November 2003) Robbie Fowler and Paulo Wanchope both scored as City won 2-0 at Southampton and moved into 5th place in the Premier League. The attendance was 31,952.

Maine Road 100 – Day 70

Here’s post 70 in my Maine Road 100 countdown. Today I’m talking about the old stadium’s final Manchester City victory. During 2002-03 the focus for many City fans was Maine Road’s final season, especially the final month or so of the season. With every game at the stadium a sell-out – only the size of the away support varied – supporters were desperate for the final season to see the old venue at its best.  They also wanted a few memorable results in those final weeks.  

Ultimately, the best Maine Road match of the final weeks came on April 21 2003 when a goal from Robbie Fowler and two from Marc-Vivien Foe brought a 3-0 win over Sunderland.  The game became significant as it was to be the last City victory at the old stadium and Foe’s 80th minute goal was the last scored there by a City man. Sadly, Foe was also to die a few weeks later, adding to the poignancy of this day.

Pre-match Sunderland presented the Blues with a rose bowl commemorating their final visit to the stadium.  Significantly, the time span between their first appearance at Maine Road and their last was greater than any other visiting club. Co-incidentally City’s last victory at Hyde Road was also against Sunderland in April. You can read about that game here:

https://gjfootballarchive.com/2021/04/02/hyde-roads-last-city-victory/

21/4/2003 MCFC 3 Sunderland 0, Attendance 34,357

The view down Wansford Street towards Maine Road in 2003

The 2000s: This Week 2005-06

Continuing the weekly series on Manchester City’s seasons from 1999-2000 through to 2008-09. Each week I’ll be publishing here the story of a different season of that remarkable ten-year period. Today we have a 3,100 word article on the 2005-06 season (below).

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The 2000s: This Week 2004-05

Continuing the weekly series on Manchester City’s seasons from 1999-2000 through to 2008-09. Each week I’ll be publishing here the story of a different season of that remarkable ten-year period. Today we have a 2,200 word article on the 2004-05 season (below).

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The 2000s: This Week 2003-04

Continuing the weekly series on Manchester City’s seasons from 1999-2000 through to 2008-09. Each week I’ll be publishing here the story of a different season of that remarkable ten-year period. Today we have a 4,200 word article on the 2003-04 season (below) which was City’s first at the City of Manchester Stadium (now Etihad of course).

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This article is for subscribers to my website. It costs £20 a year to access everything on the site since creation in December 2020. That includes articles, history talks, videos, interviews & more. There’s also a monthly option below.

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Delia’s Day

On this day (28 February) in 2005 goals from Robbie Fowler (2) and Antoine Sibierski gave Manchester City a 3-2 victory at Norwich City, but the most newsworthy part of the night came when Norwich’s Delia Smith went on to the pitch at half time to encourage the home fans to make a bit of noise.  

She memorably called out: “A message for the best football supporters in the world: We need a twelfth man here. Where are you? Where are you? Let’s be having you! Come on!”

A lot of people in the media both then and in the years that have followed, criticised Delia but the truth is that she was exhibiting the type of passion and fervour for her club that many of us want to see. Maybe the manner was a bit too much but how great would it be if those in charge of our clubs could demonstrate similar passion?