[Event "Fast Knockout # 13"]
[Site "SchemingMind.com"]
[Date "2008.09.15"]
[Round "-"]
[White "BlueMooner"]
[Black "David Hartley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C77s"]
[WhiteCountry "ENG"]
[BlackCountry "ENG"]
[WhiteElo "1878"]
[WhiteRD "77"]
[BlackElo "1869"]
[BlackRD "67"]
[GameID "170690"]

1. e4 e5
{
David Hartley: hello. Ive an awful feeling that your user name may refer to being a bluenose.
}
{
BlueMooner: correct analysis!  M.C.F.C. ~ The Pride of Manchester
}
{
BlueMooner: and you dave244?  Surely not the Rags?  We may even be collecting more than our regular 4 points from you guys at the Swamp this year.
}
2. Nf3 Nc6
{
David Hartley: MCFC  Middle Eastern Community FC.I can see you ending up with 11 great individuals but no team.

}
{
BlueMooner: Jealousy will get you nowhere mate.
}
3. Bb5 a6
{
David Hartley: Being a bluenose you`ll know all about pride coming before a fall.
}
{
BlueMooner: You've not owned up to being a dirty Rag but I'll assume you are...in which case you better find yourselves a new sponsor as AIG have about 18 hours before going tits up; shame that.
}
4. Ba4 Nf6
{
David Hartley: Born in Salford attended my first match 1955.Sponsers will be queing at Old Trafford now.I think I detect a trace of bitterness in your messages.
}
{
BlueMooner: Neh lad, amusement...MUFC plc are mortgaged to the tune of how much by the way?  It will be interesting to see how the credit crunch plays out at MUFC.  Obviously our Arabian friends are utterly impervious to losing a billion here or there.  NB: Happily we secured Johnson's services for the next 5 years today.
}
5. Qe2
{
BlueMooner: I should point out that my Mum, and all of her side of the family are Reds; she was born & raised in Salford ~ Pitt Street near the old Cinema.  Fortunately, my Dad's side of the family herald from Higher Blackley & therefore we are true blue; watched my first game about 1977 a 0-0 against The Arse.  Obviously that was completely forgettable but I am City till i die as we say.  Supporting the Rags is the easy way in my opinion.  Following the blues, when we were playing Lincoln, Scunthorpe, Walsall at home; Wigan away in a monsoon stud on a grassy bank.  That's support.  We still had 25,000-30,000 when we completely wank in the 3rd division.  'I would love it...really love it' (to coin a phrase) if those Geordie turds go down.  Let's see how many of the greatest fans in the world turn out in the Chumps League (old div 2).
}
5... b5
{
David Hartley: Dont forget we were in old div.2 for a year and got top crowds. To tell you the truth I`ve supported the reds for over 50 years but the amount of money in the game has ruined it for me.No player loyalty, ridiculus wages, clubs the playthings of the mega rich and so many foreigners in the premiership that we have a job picking 11 English players.
}
{
BlueMooner: Well, obviously I concur.  These days it seems that all footballers are wankers and we support a kit rather than a team.  Personally I loathe all footballers and but for the fact of my passion for Manchester City I would hate football and would be happy to dispense with my season ticket.  Who wants to watch a grown man write around on the floor for 5 minutes blatantly feigning injury whilst earning a £120,000 per week?  I entirely agree that football is soulless, and £35 million transfer fees for the likes of Robiniho or Berbatov is utterly obscene.  Butrageneo (x-Real Madrid & Spain) who is now a successful businessman as well as some sort of footballing ambassador gave an interesting speech the other day at UEFA touching on money & football and made reference to the American Football model of salary caps (per club) to try and balance things out.  The Spanish (Madrid & Barcelona) are obviously becoming intimidated by English football's wealth & their success but perhaps it is a valid point because these days (since the advent of the Premier League really [ironically coinciding with much of The Rag’s success]) it is about how big your piggy bank is and not how well supported you are, or how good your youth development programme is etc.  However, having never seen City win anything in my 37 years on this planet I am more than happy that the Arabs are ploughing hundreds of millions of pounds into the Pride of Manchester and am looking forward to the season with some relish.  I realise what it must be like to be a United fan; being able to always gazump other clubs for their best players.  I realise hoping that the Geordies go down is schadenfreude but ‘I really would love it’ because their delusional tendencies and because at least 50% of those 50,000 attendees at St. James’ Park are Johnny come lately Sky Sports season tickets.  So let’s see them in the old div 2; talking of which my old man said that there were Relegation Parties in the pubs when The Rags went down in ’74.  Denis Law; how perfect how fitting!
}
6. Bb3 Bc5
{
David Hartley: Just when I thought we were going to agree and get on so well you go and bring up the Denis Law incident.
( He was traumatised by it). Dont you think we should try and copy the American Football model of the weakest teams having first pick of the new players coming throudg te College circuit?
Why dont you just face it regardless of how much money you throw at City they will somehow screw it up.
}
7. d3
{
David Hartley: Turkey beckons
}
7... d6 8. c3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Nf1 h6
{
David Hartley: Thoughts on England?
}
{
BlueMooner: Nothing to say really; predictably dull isn't it?  I thoroughly enjoyed the player/management reaction to the fans booing Ashley Cole.  Further evidence that nearly all football fans despise Premier League footballers.  There is no relationship whatsoever between them and the average Joe anymore and the fans seize any opportunity to let them know what complete twats the majority of us think that they are.  And the gormless turds just can’t get their tiny minds around it. To be honest I was hoping England would concede to whichever meaningless former Soviet satellite country we were playing.  England were shit and the Azer’s deserved an equaliser and but for a comedy goalie they might have had a chance.  Don’t get me wrong, whilst England were winning in Croatia I was shouting and jumping around the front room enjoying some attacking exciting football.  But Wembley is utterly soulless isn’t it.  The altar of English corporate football; what did it cost £2 billion or something like that and it’s got that horrible kid’s day out feel to it.  Anyway, let’s hope for a result tomorrow.  I might watch it; there will be a football atmosphere over there and apparently they have had some good performances against the likes of France, Holland etc. So it will be tough.   Talking of atmospheres; City played Amonia FC in the UEFA at Eastlands the other day & the Cypriot fans were brilliant; more entertainment from them than the game in the first half.  Noisy, passionate, colourful it was great ~ they didn’t stop signing, chanting, dancing for 2 hours.   
}
12. Ng3 Bg6
{
BlueMooner: Your assessment on England then?  Rooney was fantastic wasn't he?  And Heskey is the best example of Capello's imaginative management in my opinion.
}
13. Nh4 Bh7
{
David Hartley: Not sure whether your being sarcastic with that last comment. I believe England have had the double handicap over the years of a petty minded FA [ wouldnt appoint Clough ] and the emergence of the Premiership where club takes precedence over country. There is a middle way and the likes of Germany, Italy ,Holland seem able to do it.I think we have now got a great manager, Ramsey was the last one, and some reasonable players. Heskey and Rooney reminds me of Torres [not that one] and Eusebio when they played for Portugal and Benfica.The difference was Torres got the odd goal! There must be a way to get Lampard and Gerard to play together and with 1 or 2 toung layers coming through in the next year you never know.Your comments about Cole and most Premiership players I totally agree with.There are exceptions like Scholes but there earnings have meant there is no real relationship with the fans and almost none of them would understand what club loyalty is.
}
{
BlueMooner: No, the comments on Capello bringing the best of out of Heskey are sincere.  His performances against both Croatia & Belarus have been startlingly good in my opinion.  In hindsight, previous managers have been too eager to get rid of Heskey.  It would appear we share a similar outlook on football as England do have reasons to be optimistic, but spare us the usual tub thumping we always get when England win a few games.  As for Lampard & Gerrard they should be able to play together & what a sensational goal that was yesterday.  One should note however that England's poorest form of the game occurred when Garrard was supposed to be playing left side of a 4 man midfield.  Only in the second half was Gerrard down the middle and England blew Belarus away plus Gerrard was unluvky not to net a 2nd.  Wasn't Heskey's work down the left wing for one of Rooney's goals top class?  I'm sure him & Berbatov will go on to rip up trees as I rate that Berbatov as a truly exceptional talent. 
}
14. Nhf5 Ne7
{
David Hartley: I hope so. We might be red v blue but dont mean we cant agree on football. I remember the days when you could stand in the Stretford End and stand next to opposition supporters with no trouble.Everton fans always seemed the most knowledgeable and fair. My first match at Old Trafford was 1954 v Birmingham I think 1-1 so I must have seen the originalBusby Babes. I didnt really start goig regularly till 1960 and cycled to the ground and park the bike in a back yard for 3d [ 1p ].I think I`ve seen nearly all the great players over the years. Best Law Charlton of course but also Eusebio,Zidane, Franny Lee. However the best football team I ever saw playing the best most fluent football was Hungary in the 1966 World Cup in particular they had a centre forward Albert.They murdered Portugal but lost because they had a piss poor goaly. More reminiscences of great teams next move.Nice to converse with an intelligent guy like yourself.
}
15. Nxh6+
{
BlueMooner: My Dad & his mates used to do the same; the watching of both of Manchester's clubs.  And my Dad has told me about cycling to the match on countless occasions. I suppose in those days people were football fans rather than team fanatics although he has always maintained that United fans lacked the humour of City fans who he said he could always rely on to laugh at themselves and any misfortune compared to the United fans.  My Mum and all her family used to just watch the Reds probably because the ground was only 2 or 3 miles away.  Anyway, when I was a kid my old man took me to watch Bury play Bolton as my first live game (as I was born & raised in Radcliffe) but I guess I was always destined to be blue (my teddy had a blue scarf...) & I was effectively indoctrinated away from the lure of the Dark Side with a 1st trip to Maine Road in the mid-70s to watch a 0-0 against the Arse (you couldn't make it up really could you!).  I suspect it has been more fun being a Blue all these years despite the only trophy I have ever seen us win was the 1st Divison (in essence Division 2) when Keegan brought us up with a record goals scored tally with Bernabia & Berkovic controlling a 5 man midfield and 3 top tier strikers in Wanchope, Huckerby & Goater.  The journey into the old Division 3 was heartbreaking at first, and there was the obvious concern that we might never come back to the big time, but I, along with 25,000 others kept the faith turning out in a monsoon, for example, at Wigan's old ground Springfield Park to watch the worst ever game of professional football I have ever witnessed (1-1 for the record).  City had a full house for local 'derbies' against both Bury & Stockport and 30,000+ against Burnley, Lincoln and so on.  As I have said previously let me see Newcastle do that with their 'fantatical following' that has only appeared during the Sky Sport era.  For the record you seem a more than reasonable Red; did you see Match ofthe Day at the weekend?  What did you make of Hansen's assessment of Ronaldo's attitude at the moment.   
}
15... gxh6
{
David Hartley: Just come back from a week in inland Spain and have not been able to keep up with things but I can imagine what Hansen said about Ronaldo.Who knows whats going on in te lads head? I personally would have sold him to Real over the summer for a massive fee.Never have a player in the team if he doesnt want to be there. Thinking of old times one of my favourite mangers was Joe Mercer at City.Everyone thought Malcolm Allison was the real brains behind the successful City team of the 60s but when Joe went and Malcolm took over the team went into decline.The same in a way at United in that many said Kidd was the real thing at United but he faild as manager elsewhere.Difference between a good coach and a good manager I suppose. By the way that was a good move! 
}
{
BlueMooner: Cheers, my Dad and I visited Barcelona for a long weekend primarily to stock up on duty free Cuban cigars.  Whereabouts in Spain did you visit?  Wonderful place, 3rd time I have been to Barcelona (I had a couple of weeks in Sitges; on the coast of Catalonia a couple of years ago which was excellent too) & it never fails to impress me on a number of levels; the people, their attitude (although the recent upsurge in racism at Spanish football particularly at the England friendly in Madrid was rather distasteful) & the architecture ~ thankfully another city, however rare (Prague is another excellent example) of magnificent European cities that escaped annihilation during the Second World War...a tangential digression; sorry about that, I am in the process of watching the World at War series as narrated by Laurence Olivier via www.lovefilm.com, for the 1st time in full, and I must have WWII on my mind.  Superb programme; I watched a lot of it as a 15 year old with my Dad but missed lots of it and I have thoroughly enjoyed watching the series from its starting point.  Did you manage to see Berbatov’s assist for United’s second goal on Wednesday?  An outrageous piece of skill, absolutely fantastic.  You are right of course about Ronaldo, & Fergie is no fool & he will recognise this too but how do you replace 42 goals and the world’s best player?  You don’t; United could only deteriorate without Ronaldo.  Back to chess, as for 16.Nxh7!? I suspect I had no choice as I had snatched at my advantage rushing for an attack; a common failing in my chess, which is frustratingly familiar in my OTB play however in correspondence play I am much more inclined to play speculative piece sacrifices although it may even transpire to be a correct sacrifice.  Time will tell.  I decided at the last minute to get a ticket for Bolton away tomorrow.  £32!  Can you believe that?  32 fucking quid to watch one of the worst teams in the League.  Outrageous. My last two visits to the Reebok has yielded one goal; a contentious Elano penalty and last year’s 0-0 was easily the worst game I witnessed last season.  Anyway, we’re due a win on the win one; lose one form we have demonstrated this season.  Hughes played Micah Richards at left back on Wednesday which was an obvious mistake in my opinion as Richards is a marvellous athlete with sensational pace & strength but his football skills are his worst feature and making him play on his weak foot for 90 minutes was an accident waiting to happen and sure enough the penalty conceded (however dubious) was in our left back position.  Enough for now!?  Sorry to drone on.  
}
16. Bxh6 Re8
{
David Hartley: Dont apologise I enjoy your drones. We visited friends who live in a village called Alcalali about 30 mins. inland from Calpe.They have an apartment which they rent out and it is built under their Villa. The views of mountains are sensational and the best thing is they can direct us to the real Spanish restaurants where you get great 3 course meals for 8euros witha bottle of vino thrown in.However the weather wasnt too great this visit; one day rained all day and one day was 8oC ar 10am! Interesting what you say about cities as in this country the war, and the planners and architects have ruined our cities whereas there are cities in Europe that have been rebuilt to look just as they did 100s of years ago.Dubrovnic is a good recent example.Didnt see an football in Spain but I do think Beabatov is a United player with all that implies,good and bad.As for Ronaldo how were we going to replace any number of players that Fergie let go but we did.Dont envy you going to Bolton. I used to enjoy going to grounds like Burnden and Springfield Park. I used to go to Wigan with a season ticket holder and we would go in the members bar before the game and back in after to have the goals replayed and analysis of the match.I find the new stadia cold and lacking soul but I`m just an old fart whose not kept up with the times. Your sacrifice reminds me of the play of a friend of mine who usually opens Kings gambit and before you know it his Queen is bearing down on your King. It often isnt successful but has helped to improve my defensive game.Do you still play OTB? 
}
{
BlueMooner: hello dave watched the arse stuff the rags this afternoon which was nice; that Raphael looks a prospect although he appeared to be running all over the place rather than playing right back.  Arsenal were the better team on the day & their open style made for a fantastic watch.  It made last weekend's miserable visit to the Reebok appear to be another sport entirely.  I do play OTB; I started about 2.5 years ago and I now play for Bolton in the Manchester League & the occassional congress.  I think my next one is Preston in a couple of weeks although I will need a round 3 bye as City are at home to Arsenal.  As it goes I was lucky enough to win the minor section at the British Ch. held at St.Georges Hall, Liverpool during the Summer.  
}
17. Qf3 Ng6
{
David Hartley: Sad when your only football pleasure comes when the gooners win.That you have been reduced to this! I teresting you play for Bolton as many years ago I used to play for Great Lever on the Bolton League and the Manchester League. I havet played OTB for 20 years now.You are far too modest about your win inthe minor section this summer.I would love to boast of winning your scalp in one of these 2 games but that looks unlikely.
}
18. h4 Nf4
{
David Hartley: The less said about the tricky home match against the bottom club the better. 
}
19. Nf5 Bg6
{
BlueMooner: The inadequate performance & defeat to Spurs may prove beneficial to City in the longer term as the whispers regarding Jose 'the special one' Mouriniho's imminent return to English football are gorwing louder.  What better way than to shove it up Sir Rudolph's nose than to land at the Pride of Manchester with in excess of £10 billion as a transfer kitty...?
}
20. Qg3 d5
{
David Hartley: Do you really think your Arab friends are going to employ Mouriniho when he tells them that he is boss and they must keep their big Arab noses out of the special ones business? Also to insult a knight of the realm because he gets a lot of nasal colds does not become you.
}
{
BlueMooner: I am confident that the Special One's track record of transforming Cheslea into a winning machine will allay our owner's concerns.  Aside from which Hughes is an x-Rag & all he does is moan about refereeing decisions whenever we lose which is not how it's done at the Mancunian Academy of Footballing Excellence.  And let us be honest Fergie's nose has some serious comedy value doesn't it?
}
21. Bg5 dxe4
{
David Hartley: Got to agree with you about Hughes. Wouldnt want him to take over at Old Trafford when the unthinkable happens and Sir Fergie leaves.See Gerard is injured just before another England international.Club v Country will never be solved while we play too many games. Then maybe a block of time, say a month could be given over to internationals. If we are not careful we will become a permanent 2nd rate international team.Maybe we already have?
}
22. O-O-O Nxd3+ 23. Rxd3 Qxd3 24. Bxf6 Qxg3
{
BlueMooner: Who cares?  I didn't even bother watching the German game; totally disinterested.  Fair play for Capello laying down a marker with the Scousers as they had blatently lied refgarding Gerard's fitness during the previous qualification internationals so I don't blame him for not believing Liverpool.
}
25. Nxg3 Bxf2 26. h5 Bh7 27. Rh4 Red8 28. Rg4+ Kf8
{
BlueMooner: Derby Day approaches, perhaps City will settle for just the 4 points from Stretford's fading star instead of the 6 we grabbed last year.  I must add, and I suspect you'll be offended (but you shouldn't be because it isn't meant to be derogatory) that I enjoyed our win at the Swamp all the more last year on St. Munich day.  All that fucking guff we have to hear all the time about a 50 year old accident (undoubtably a tragedy yes; but overblown and cynically exploited these days in my opinion) and City turn up and piss on your celebrations. Fan-fucking-tastic.  Come on you Blue Boys!
}
29. Rg7 Bxg3
{
David Hartley: I cant say you offended me though I think your remarks are insensitive. Yes probably too much was made of the 50 years but non the less it was an massive loss for Utd and equally for English football with some of Englands best players and in the case of Edwards the Worlds best player wiped out.The Reds cup run after the Crash was nothing short of miraculous.I wouldnt expect you to feel like me about an event that I lived through but I would expect a bit of respect.Lets hope we stuff you and your middle eastern money today.
}
{
BlueMooner: Sorry I upset you but I meant every word I said.
}
30. Rxh7 Ke8
{
David Hartley: I`ll take your words to be brought on by the bitterness of defeat, once again. However it looks like you`ll get revenge in these 2 games.
}
{
BlueMooner: Well time will tell about the games and the opposite colour bishops may well kill my winning chances.  Maybe we can play some more if you are interested?  
}
31. Rh8+ Kd7
{
David Hartley: Yes I`ve enjoyed our games; you attack and I defend.
}
{
BlueMooner: Yes...in these correspondence games I just play hack attack chess; not pretty but often effective.  I try & take a similar aggressive attitude to the board in proper chess but it takes a whole lot more balls to sac pieces there.  In reality of course it probably should be the other way around as heaping the pressure on with piece sacrifices always freaks people out whether the sacrficie is valid or not.  Most players get nervous & uncomfortable by the sacrifice & often make weak mobves 'believing' in the wild, speculative sacrifice.  Anyway, I am sure there is some psychological point I am trying to make but I ain't sure what it is.  By the way, loathe though I am to admit it, United were excellent on Sunday.  It was a crying shame that Robinho had is worst ever game for us on Derby Day.  Berbatov & Rooney, as i knew they would be, were outstanding and the two centre halves were also exceptional.  Added to that is a very good left back, Carrick who I have always rated as a 'proper' footballer & Flechter seems to be progressing...fucking irritating really ~ and I have neglected to mention the World Player of the Year despite his comical sending off.  This year's championship should be very interesting as I have now seen both United & Chelsea at Eastlands and I was very impressed by both.  Perhaps, one could argue that Chelsea were at the top of their form when they demolished City 3-1 and United were just very good; I don't know.  What I do know is there is very little between those two but the gulf in class to the next teams is another world apart.
}
32. Rxd8+ Rxd8 33. Bxd8
{
BlueMooner: ...it looks like I was mistaken about the opposite coloured bishops doesn't it...?
}
33... Kxd8
{
David Hartley: Very fair comments on the game. I believe we have a fantastic youngster coming through the youth team, Ravel Morrison who you will be delighted to know was brought up in moss Side. By the way Id probably accept a draw!
}
34. Bxf7 Bf4+ 35. Kd1 Ke7 36. Bg6 e3 37. Bd3 Kf6
{
David Hartley: Surprised by your resignation in the other game
}
{
BlueMooner: Bxg3 was pathetic & left me as good as lost
}
38. g3 Bg5 39. c4 e4 40. Bxe4 Ke5 41. Bb7 bxc4 42. Bxa6 Kd4 43. Ke2 c3 44. bxc3+ Kxc3 45. Bb5 c5
{
BlueMooner: draw then?
}
46. Kd1 Kb4=
{
David Hartley: Really enjoyed the game.Will Arab All Stars be relegated?
}
{
BlueMooner: No I doubt very much that we will be relegated.  I have seen City sides frequently relegated throughout my time and this isn't one of them.  Most teams that take the tumble, in my experience, do so primarily because they can't score goals which puts heaps massive pressure on the defence; which then infects the whole team, club & fans with a confidence sapping malaise.  This City team can score for fun when it turns them on and with Robinhno in the team we can make 40+ points easily enough...  What this shit means is what I pointed out after West Brom away that there are only 3 players running in the fucking team.  Dunne (confidence shot to bits anyway whilst carrying that preening prima fucking donna Micah Richards [who Capello fingered out in his 1st squad with a big No Thanks] Shaun Wright-Phillips (injured & substituted against Forrest but one of our best players which is a shocking inditement since he was our best player before we sold him to Chelski for £21 million) and Stephen 'Superman' Ireland who didn't play because he's already run himself into the ground carrying the rest of the gutless spineless wankers who wear a City shirt for the club.  Out the door need to go Elano, Jo, Ball, Hamman (loyal service but completely fucked; Liverpool flogged him 4 years ago coz they thought his legs had gone), Fernandez (gutless turd), Ben-Haim (laughably bad), Zabaletta (unconvincing although he may just be infected by the malaise as he did run and show desire & commitment when he first arrived), Johnson (not played for 6 months the lazy twat).  Once that lot are out the door and we can bring in some players who show the energy and most importantly the guts to want the ball to go and do something with it like the three I initially mentioned then City will be laughing hence the imminent arrival of Parker & Bellamy (both have bottle as well as some talent).  At the moment, fortunately we have sensible owners who recognise sacking Hughes to play the manager merry go round is the wrong way to go although if Mourniniho is available in the Summer than all bets are off and get the Special One in.  It's going to be long term project creating a team to win the championship; which we WILL in time maybe 3-5 years.  And along the way we will start nicking the League's best players like the Rags have been doing for the last 15 years (Berbatov, Carrick, Rooney, Ferdinand, et al).  Yes, I have enjoyed our chess too perhaps we should play again?  I should have won the black game as I had a massive attack but spoilt it with a blunder.  I played at York this weekend so I was fortunate enough not to witness the FA Cup shanbles.  all the best BlueMooner aka Richard 
}
47. Be8 Kc3
{
David Hartley: Well you must feel better getting that off your chest Richard. In many ways I agree with much of what you say. Ireland is the sort of player I would always have in any team. Chelsea Blackburn and I suppose United to some extent prove that in the end money will buy success and the money available to City is going to be beyond even Abromovich`s wallet. Isnt it sad thogh that success depends on the wealth of your owner.Utd have been able to buy due to big crowds,good management and a "glamour" image. Also we have often been unsuccessful in the transfer market and our recent success is entirely down to Fergie.A manager I equally admire is Wenger for the style of football his team plays.
This present game seems to be heading for a draw to me so I would be happy for a re-match so you can get your revenge and remain sane by downloading on me!
}
48. Bf7 Kb4 49. Bd5 Kc3= 50. Ke2 Bh6 51. Be6 Bg5
{
BlueMooner: gas central heating installation...the joy...the timing
}
52. Kd1 Bh6
{
David Hartley: Are you warm now?
}
{
BlueMooner: Yes thanks Dave; to be honest I am taking a sad enjoyment from bad weather forecasts at the moment.  The colder the better so I can hit a couple of buttons and be warm as toast...as i said sad.  I have a chess lesson at 7 pm on ICC (do you have an account there; if you do we can play some live 'OTB' chess if you want?).  Anyway see you later.
}
53. Bd7 Bg5
{
David Hartley: No I only play on SM and I have trouble keeping up with all my games on that. A chess lesson? Sounds serious. Your views at whats happening down at Middle East land. I think Kaka turning them down could be viewed as a good thing or a bad thing.Good as what they dont want is an over payed super star upsetting team spirit. Bad as a.. he`s probably the worlds best player but equally important his arrival would give City credibility with other foreign super stars. Never mind you got Bellamy! After this game which I`m convinced will be a draw finishes lets have a friendly match where I can beat you you in both matches.
}
54. Ke2 Bh6 55. Bb5 Bg5 56. Kf1 Bh6 57. Be2 Bg5 58. Kg2 Kb4
{
BlueMooner: I recall you asking me about City and relegation a week or two ago as the media salivated with a schadenfreude that seemed to me to be based on both jealousy and perhaps a touch of racism.  Anyway, I watched City make hard work of outclassing an appalling Newcastle side on Wednesday.  'I would love it, really love it' as KK once said (who by the way nearly bankrupt us a few years ago buying some of the worst old shit, cynical, players who were all completely lacking of any desire or ambition (Fowler, McMananan, Sinclair, Mills et al).  His whole transfer policy was one big fucking cliche.  Embarrassing and nearly fucked City completely; witness Stuart Pearce barely keeping us up when we failed tio score at home for 5 months.  Anyway, those Geordies can get better value for their season tickets to the 'greatest "cluab" with the best fans in the world' when they're in the championship next year.  Their two best players both limped off (Owen & Barton) and they had Collicini looking clueless in centre midfield, two full backs who looked like they would have worn camoflage if it would habe helped them hide anymore.  Plus that mercenary twat Geremi (got the talent but a complete cunt & a coward).  They looked doomed to me.  Their only hope rests on Martins if and when fit as far as I can see and if and when Owen is fit although as he hits 30 match fitness takes longer and longer to find when coming back from injury.  ANyway, good riddance to  the geordie turds.  City looked very accomplished; although anyone would have looked good against that Newcastle team although we are crying out for a target man as our front line avergae height was about 5 foot 7 which made us a tad predictable in my opinion and they urgently need to be able to mix it up with a long ball to a hold up man or to flick on and or set Bellamy's pace free behind a defence etc.  But City look good, and getting better.  Apparently we have a £50 million bud in for David Villia as well.  
}
59. Kf3 Bh6
{
David Hartley: You certainly say what you feel from the heart although do I detect a slight loathing for "Our Lads". Being well beaten by Stoke doesnt suggest a "very accomplished" team to me. without doubt with unlimited wealth even City will probably produce a Premiership top team.But like Chelsea this will be at the expense of the heart and soul of the club and in the end of the heart and soul of football.And thats not envy talking, I would be saying the same if Utd. were having that money poured into them. I`m still not sure if this game is a draw or win for you?
}
{
BlueMooner: Well you have changed your tune on the game anyway...  As for "..at the expense of the heart and soul of the club and in the end of the heart and soul of football..." I am sorry but stones and glass houses mate.  What the fuck have mufc plc been doing for the past 20 years?
}
60. Ke4 c4
{
David Hartley: Calm down dear its only a game. The difference with Jack Walker, Abromovich, Middle Eastland, is that this is money generated from outside the game, whereas Utd have generated their own money from tickets,sales, franchises etc. in fact Utd have been milked over the years, look at Edwards. American football shows us the way in that the acquisition of players is tightly controlled and ensures the weaker teams get the better players thus keeping the league competitive with all teams in with a chance of winning.
}
{
BlueMooner: Right so the cynical exploitation of an aeroplane disaster 50 years ago and a poisonous marketing strategy to flog mufc shirts in the Philipines and christ knows where else is better is it?  A somewhat snactimonious perspective on it in my opinion.  Utd were fortunate in having a great manager, a decent crop of youngsters producing two world class players in Scholes & Giggs and a couple of decent players in Beckham & Neville (although that the youth policy was a one hit wonder wasn't it; O'Shea, Eagles, Thornton at al?  Add to that being in the right plave at the right time with the cyncial marketing, manager & two free world class players and Wilkinson's insane decision to seell Cantona and Utd were able to set up a regime where the Premier League's success, their Chimps League success (after 15 years of abject failure) meant that mufc plc can generate their own wedge to steal the best players in the League & world to ensure that they can continue to have a licence to print money.  And this makes you better than "Walker, Abromovich or Middle Eastern Community".  Sanctimonious cunt.  Game or not you are talking bollocks.
}
61. g4 Bg5
{
David Hartley: My word, it just shows you how decades of failure can make you twisted and bitter. Now you need to grow up,accept its just a game and try to avoid calling people cunts.
}
{
BlueMooner: yes, sincere apologies; cunt was completely inappropriate.
}
62. Kd4 Bf6+ 63. Kxe3
{
Game Over: What an error. Although it would have been difficult I think I could have salvaged a draw. Well Played.
As for football, When players were on £20 you could relate to them. I didnt feel happy when Haynes got £100. With salaries of £150000 the game has for me lost its soul and the traditional fan base are stuck inpubs watching the matches as they cant afford the entrance. The Bosman ruling simply legalises players total lack of loyalty to their clubs. Their loyalty is to their over-inflated bank balances.The only people left loyal are the long suffering fans and many of them are fair weather friends who go on to support whoever is successful. Having said all that it can make or break my week-end depending on the result of the match.
}
1-0

