What does Noel know that the rest of us don't?

I've meant to write about this all summer, but life got in the way.   Sigh.....

In the spring, when things were looking grim, Noel Gallagher gave an extended interview to the Men in Blazers crew.  You can watch it here:

http://www.nbcsports.com/soccer/premier-league/men-blazers-noel-gallaghers-unabashed-love-man-city

What I find amazing happens between 27:12 and 30:15, when Noel talks about Manuel Pellegrini's future with City.

At 28:00, he compares him negatively to Jose, at 29:00 he starts discussing that he'd have Klop or Angelotti.  But what's really amazing is that Noel predicts that if we don't sign Klop or Angelotti, it means that Pep Guardiola has been "tapped up" to replace Manuel.

I realize that at the time Noel predicts this, a lot of people were saying it was time for a change.  But Gallagher's takes it to another level.  There is a twinkle in his eye, sort of telling us that City would be stupid to do leave Pellegrini at the helm with Klop or Angelotti available.

While there are probably only 2 people who know if Guardiola has been "tapped up", the situation is a lot more complicated.  Suppose we win a trophy or two?  Suppose we make good progress in the Champions League?  Do we still replace Pellegrini?  It doesn't make sense to me.

We're riding high after a great win at West Brom.  But it's a long season.  We won't look that sharp for the length of the season.  That's when the talk will start.

Since the interview, we know that Pellegrini did get a contract extension, which Gallagher said would not happen.

Only time will tell......

Baggies v City 10th August, 2015

Nice sunny day in San Francisco as City kicked off at the Hawthorns.  Patrick, Maggie’s beloved barkeep, was uncharacteristically sullen probably due to being reminded that Arsenal were bottom of the league. He soon brightened though up to inform all 16-plus of the attending  SF Blues that we should be careful lest we bring worse things onto ourselves. Personally, I kept my trap shut.  Dr. Adrian Rawlinson offered to write us all sick notes as we had skived off work to watch which showed ultimate compassion from one who has uttered the Hippocratic Oath . Dave Brogan was off like a rocket towards the moan zone as the game began, complaining about the fullback pairing of Saghna and Kolorav but really!! why begin the season like this when we have 37 more glorious opportunities to vent our spleens?  What’s this? City started brightly, bossing the game as Silva buzzed around, playing through Yaya as West Brom watched like stand-ins from ‘Dawn of the Dead’. George A. Romero aka Tony Pulis stood impassively on the sidelines projecting his thought-waves, ‘4-4-2 wtf was I thinking? and these West Brom boxers are very tight around the nether regions’. Nine minutes in Silva shot across the face of goal, Navas retrieved and brought it back for Toure to scuff a shot through Dawson’s  lanky legs into the side of the net, a lucky dribbler –WE LOVE SCABBY GOALS! Cue a loud  Rob, Kyle (and bro) and  Jeffrey-led chorus of Yaya, Yaya Yaya…  It got better, 25 minutes on the clock a languid one-two with Bony for Toure to curl one in to the Myhill’s left top corner. City continued in similar fashion as the half ran out, Sterling should have scored but no matter; his 6 out of 10 performance,  though bright,  was  below the rest of the rampant City players. West Brom improved in the second half (it was hard not to) and had a few chances to score but not even Gino Fortunato,  who has a morbid fear of 2-0 score lines, looked not the slightest bit worried. The killer blow came as Silva whipped in a corner to Vinnie in similar fashion to his (almost) league winning goal against Man Utd in 2012,  glanced powerfully past the goalkeeper. Jose and Jacq Ferreira, Zack, Ajay, Simon P,  were up and Mick Graham started to enjoy the game. Kudos to Mike and Sue from Oz who attended and we didn’t mention the cricket once.  Great result! bring on Chelski and the ‘Cheating One’.

SF Blues Man of the Match: Kyle Cook for his rousing rendition of Manuel Pellegrini’s Lamborghini.

West Bromwich Albion

    13 Myhill

    04 Chester Booked

    25 Dawson

    06 Lescott

    11 Brunt

    08 Gardner Booked

    24 Fletcher Booked

    07 Morrison

    14 McClean (Yacob - 45' Booked )

    17 Lambert (Anichebe - 74' )

    18 Berahino (McManaman - 80' )

Substitutes

    03 Olsson

    05 Yacob

    09 Ideye

    10 Anichebe

    19 McManaman

    29 Sessegnon

    38 Rose

City

    01 Hart

    03 Sagna

    04 Kompany

    20 Mangala

    11 Kolarov

    42 Y Touré (Demichelis - 80' )

    25 Fernandinho Booked

    15 Jesús Navas

    21 Silva

    07 Sterling (Nasri - 74' )

    14 Bony (Agüero - 63' )

Substitutes

    05 Zabaleta

    08 Nasri

    10 Agüero