2003–04 Manchester City F.C. season

Manchester City
Season 2003–04
Owner Publicly traded company
Chairman John Wardle
Manager Kevin Keegan
Team captain Sylvain Distin
Home stadium City of Manchester Stadium
(a.k.a. Eastlands and CoMS)
PremierLeague Sixteenth
League Cup Fourth round
FA Cup Fifth round
UEFA Cup Second round
Top goalscorer League: Nicolas Anelka (17 goals)
(5th highest in Premier League)
All comps: Nicolas Anelka (25 goals)
Average home
attendance
46,834 – over 19 PL home games
(3rd highest in Premier League)
Highest home
attendance
47,304 v Chelsea
28 February 2004
Highest away
attendance
67,645 v Manchester United
13 December 2003
Lowest home
attendance
29,067 v Sporting Lokeren
24 September 2003
Lowest away
attendance
5,500 v Groclin Dyskobolia
27 November 2003
2002–03 2004–05
Results summary - all competitions
WinsDrawsLossesWin %
Home712529.2%
Away961233.3%
Both16181731.4%
Results summary - Premier League
WinsDrawsLossesWin %
Home59526.3%
Away451021.1%
Both9141523.7%

The 2003–04 season was Manchester City Football Club's second consecutive season playing in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and its seventh season since the Premier League was first created with Manchester City as one of the its original 22 founding member clubs. Overall, it was the team's 112th season playing in a division of English football, most of which have been spent in the top flight.

Season review

After finishing ninth during the club's final season at 80-year-old Maine Road, Manchester City's debut season at the City of Manchester Stadium was a major disappointment. A ninth-place finish had not been good enough to earn City an opportunity to play in the UEFA Cup but the team was rewarded with that opportunity anyway due to being awarded a "Fair Play" slot in the UEFA Cup competition this season. City reached the second round proper of the competition thanks to aggregate victories against The New Saints and Lokeren, but exited the competition on the away goals rule after two draws against Polish club Groclin.

Having embarked on a new era for the club by signing a host of experienced players in the summer, such as Claudio Reyna and Steve McManaman, to combine with such burgeoning talents coming through from the MCFC youth academy as Stephen Ireland and Shaun Wright-Phillips, City started their season very brightly with three wins in five games, sending them near the top of the table. They were still in the top-half of the table after winning five, drawing three and losing three of their first 11 games, with three notably big wins: a 3–0 opening-game away win at Charlton Athletic, a 4–1 home victory over Aston Villa and a 6–2 thumping of Bolton Wanderers. However, a dreadful 3–0 home defeat against unlikely opponents Leicester City in November started a gradual downturn in form and City then ended up battling against relegation. At one point, City went on a run of winning only one game out of 18 league and cup matches played, sparking media rumours of unrest in the squad.[1] Survival in the Premier League was not confirmed until City won their 36th game of the league season. That victory meant that City were six points ahead of the relegation places, but the club's survival was effectively confirmed due to it having a far superior goal difference to Leicester, Leeds and Wolves, who were relegated.

Perhaps the most memorable game played by Manchester City during this season was the FA Cup fourth round replay fixture against Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane which featured what many people consider to be one of the most extraordinary comebacks in the history of the competition.[1][2] City fell three goals behind during the first half, had Nicolas Anelka substituted due to injury and Joey Barton was sent off during half-time for verbally abusing the referee.[1] Despite having one man less than their opponents during the second half, City came all the way back to win 43 and reach the next round.[1] Rookie Icelandic goalkeeper Árni Arason made a key double save[1] and Jon Macken scored the winning goal.[1] In the next round, a Manchester derby at Old Trafford, City lost 42 to exit the competition.

Team kit

There was a change in the producer of the team kits for this season, with Reebok replacing the previous season's supplier, Le Coq Sportif. The shirt sponsorship was provided by the financial and legal services group First Advice who had also been the sponsors for the previous season.[3]

Home (version 1)
Home (version 2)
Away

First-team squad

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK David James
2 France DF David Sommeil
3 Belgium DF Daniel Van Buyten (on loan from Marseille)
4 Netherlands DF Gerard Wiekens
5 France DF Sylvain Distin
6 United States MF Claudio Reyna
8 England FW Robbie Fowler
9 Costa Rica FW Paulo Wanchope
10 France MF Antoine Sibierski
11 England FW Jon Macken
12 England GK Nicky Weaver
17 China DF Sun Jihai
18 Germany DF Michael Tarnat
19 Australia MF Danny Tiatto
20 England MF Steve McManaman
22 Republic of Ireland DF Richard Dunne
No. Position Player
24 England MF Joey Barton
25 Iceland GK Árni Gautur Arason
26 Netherlands MF Paul Bosvelt
27 Denmark DF Mikkel Bischoff
28 England MF Trevor Sinclair
29 England MF Shaun Wright-Phillips
30 France MF Christian Negouai
32 Denmark GK Kevin Stuhr-Ellegaard
33 Denmark GK Kasper Schmeichel
39 France FW Nicolas Anelka
41 England DF Stephen Jordan
42 Republic of Ireland MF Glenn Whelan
43 Republic of Ireland DF Paddy McCarthy
44 Republic of Ireland MF Willo Flood
45 Republic of Ireland FW Stephen Elliott

Left club during season

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No. Position Player
1 England GK David Seaman (retired)
7 England FW Darren Huckerby (to Norwich City)
14 Israel MF Eyal Berkovic (to Portsmouth)
15 Norway DF Alf-Inge Håland (retired)
No. Position Player
16 Scotland DF Paul Ritchie (to Walsall)
25 Cameroon DF Lucien Mettomo (to Kaiserslautern)
40 England MF Chris Shuker (to Barnsley)

Historical league performance

Prior to this season, the history of Manchester City's performance in the English football league hierarchy since the creation of the Premier League in 1992 is summarised by the following timeline chart – which commences with the last season (1991–92) of the old Football League First Division (from which the Premier League was formed).

Friendly games

Pre-season

First game ever played at CoMS

Competitive games

Premier League

Final Positions

Pos Team Pld W D L GF GA GD Pts Qualification or relegation
14 Tottenham Hotspur 38 13 6 19 47 57 10 45
15 Blackburn Rovers 38 12 8 18 51 59 8 44
16 Manchester City 38 9 14 15 55 54 +1 41
17 Everton 38 9 12 17 45 57 12 39
18 Leicester City (R) 38 6 15 17 48 65 17 33 Relegation to 2004–05 Football League Championship
Source: Premier League
Rules for classification: 1) points; 2) goal difference; 3) number of goals scored.
(R) Relegated.

Results summary

OverallHomeAway
PldWDLGFGAGDPtsWDLGFGAGDWDLGFGAGD
38 9 14 15 55 54  +1 41 5 9 5 31 24  +7 4 5 10 24 30  −6

Last updated: 15 May 2004 (end of season).
Source: Premier League results 2003–04

Results by round

Round1234567891011121314151617181920212223242526272829303132333435363738
GroundAHAHHAHAHAAHAHAAHAHHAHAHAAHHAHAHAHAHAH
ResultWDWLWDDLWLWLLLDLDLDDLDLDLWLWLDDDDLDWLW

Source: 2003–04 Premier League results
A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss

Individual match reports

UEFA Cup

Final aggregate score 11 with Groclin winning due to away goals counting double


League Cup


FA Cup


Statistics

Appearances and goals

No. Pos Nat Player TotalPremier LeagueFA CupLeague CupUEFA Cup
AppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Goalkeepers
1 GK England David James 180170100000
12 GK England Nicky Weaver 1000000010
25 GK Iceland Árni Gautur Arason 2000200000
32 GK Denmark Kevin Stuhr Ellegaard 502+20001000
Defenders
2 DF France David Sommeil 252181201041
3 DF Belgium Daniel Van Buyten 6050100000
4 DF Netherlands Gerard Wiekens 1000000010
5 DF France Sylvain Distin 503382512050
17 DF China Sun Jihai 42229+41301051
18 DF Germany Michael Tarnat 414323412030
22 DF Republic of Ireland Richard Dunne 40028+1050203+10
27 DF Netherlands Mikkel Bischoff 100000000+10
41 DF England Stephen Jordan 200+20000000
Midfielders
6 MF United States Claudio Reyna 31119+4130102+20
19 MF Australia Danny Tiatto 901+4000002+20
20 MF England Steve McManaman 30020+202+100+1040
24 MF England Joey Barton 39124+413+10202+30
26 MF Netherlands Paul Bosvelt 35122+3041104+10
28 MF England Trevor Sinclair 38220+913+102031
29 MF England Shaun Wright-Phillips 461132+273+11224+21
30 MF France Christian Negouai 1100000011
42 MF Republic of Ireland Glenn Whelan 100000000+10
44 MF Republic of Ireland Willo Flood 1000000010
Forwards
8 FW England Robbie Fowler 411023+87412141
9 FW Costa Rica Paulo Wanchope 26612+10600001+30
10 FW France Antoine Sibierski 30718+553+210+1011
11 FW England Jon Macken 2147+811+220+111+10
39 FW France Nicolas Anelka 432431+116442054
45 FW Republic of Ireland Stephen Elliott 200+20000000
Players transferred out during the season
1 GK England David Seaman 260190101050
7 FW England Darren Huckerby 1100000011
14 MF Israel Eyal Berkovic 701+30000+1020

Starting 11

No.
Pos.
Nat.
Name
MS Notes
1 GK England David Seaman 26
17 RB China Sun Jihai 38
22 CB Republic of Ireland Richard Dunne 38
5 CB France Sylvain Distin 50
18 LB Germany Michael Tarnat 41
28 RM England Trevor Sinclair 28
24 CM England Joey Barton 31 Steve McManaman had 26 starts
26 CM Netherlands Paul Bosvelt 31
29 LM England Shaun Wright-Phillips 41
8 CF England Robbie Fowler 33
39 CF France Nicolas Anelka 42

Goal scorers

Information current as of 15 May 2004 (end of season)

Transfers and loans

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "The greatest comeback ever?". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-02-05. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  2. "Great FA Cup comebacks of our time". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media Limited. 2004-02-05. Retrieved 2011-03-15.
  3. "Man City takes First Advice in £5m shirt deal". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media Limited. 2002-04-18. Retrieved 2010-11-20.
  4. "Man City swoop for Tarnat". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-06-04. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  5. "Seaman sounds fond farewell". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-06-21. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  6. "Sinclair joins Man City". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-21. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  7. "Man City finalise Bosvelt capture". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-24. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  8. "Man City land Sibierski". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-02. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  9. "Man City sign Reyna". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-29. Retrieved 2010-11-18.
  10. "McManaman joins Man City". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-30. Retrieved 2010-12-17.
  11. "James seals Man City deal". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-01-14. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  12. "Keegan looks at Arason". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-01-13. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 "Premiership ins and outs". guardian.co.uk. Guardian News and Media Limited. 2003-09-01. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  14. "Tranmere sign Loran". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-05-23. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  15. "Foxes move for Howey". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-06-05. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  16. "City keen to sell". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-06-16. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  17. "Jensen leaves Man City". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-08. Retrieved 2011-02-26.
  18. "Transfers - July 2003". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-31. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  19. "Haaland set to retire". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-25. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  20. "Benarbia heads to Qatar". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-27. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  21. "Reading sign Goater". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-01. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  22. "Nash joins Boro". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-14. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  23. "West Ham sign Horlock". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-15. Retrieved 2011-03-04.
  24. "Paul Ritchie - Career". soccerbase.com. (Racing Post). Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  25. "Mettomo answers Kaiserslautern call". uefa.com. (Union of European Football Associations). 2003-08-25. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  26. "Huckerby's Norwich move back on". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-12-26. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  27. "Huckerby completes Norwich move". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-12-26. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  28. "Pompey sign Berkovic". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-01-08. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  29. "Seaman eyes Gunners post". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-01-15. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  30. 1 2 "Man City sign Van Buyten". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-01-31. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  31. "City to lose Van Buyten". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-05-25. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  32. "Keegan lets Vuoso go". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-07-03. Retrieved 2011-03-01.
  33. "Rochdale bring in Shuker". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-08-07. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  34. "Shuker stays at Rochdale". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-09-02. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  35. "Shuker shuns Dale extension". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-11-05. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  36. "Worthington hails Huckerby". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-12-14. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  37. "Bury bag Whelan". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-09-29. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  38. "Transfers - December 2003". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-01-02. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  39. "Bury sign Whelan on loan". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2003-12-24. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  40. "Shakers extend loan deals". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-02-02. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
  41. "February 2004". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-03-06. Retrieved 2011-03-05.
  42. "Rochdale snap up duo". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation. 2004-03-15. Retrieved 2011-02-27.
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