Manchester City Set to Clash with Former Talisman at QPR

As Manchester City travel to Loftus Road this weekend, they will meet two former academy products plying their trade for the opposition.  Only one, however, will be met with universally positive songs from the away end.  It will be an emotional day as the former golden-child of the City academy clashes with the Sheikh Mansour bankrolled titan of modern day.

One Friday night in the summer of 2005, I happened upon a chance meeting with Shaun Wright-Phillips in a Manchester petrol station.  The summer had been rife with transfer speculation, but Shaun gave assurances that his future lay at the City of Manchester Stadium.  The following Monday, Wright-Phillips was officially announced as a Chelsea player.

Manchester City had heavily overspent during Kevin Keegan’s tenure in charge, the £21 million brought in by Wright-Phillip’s transfer proved vital to the survival of the club.  But at the time, fans did not view the transfer in fiscal terms. They were hurt.

As the first graduate of the Manchester City academy, Shaun Wright-Phillips quickly became a key player and one of the most exciting young talents in the country.  His marauding runs down the right flank were vital to City’s adaption to Premier League life, comfortably finishing mid-table after stylishly winning the Division One title in 2002.  After three successive player of the year awards and finishing 2004/05 as Manchester City’s leading goalscorer, Roman Abramovich’s new club decided the England winger would be a welcome acquisition.

The promotion-winning City team had already started to disband; to lose Wright-Phillips merely rammed home the fact.  The flair of Benarbia and Berkovic faded, mercurial striker Nicolas Anelka fled to Turkish pastures, whilst the left-back was now the manager.  Fans looked to other academy products such as Lee Croft and Willo Flood to fill the right-wing void, but they ultimately left disappointed. 

15th and 14th positions in successive seasons saw the club struggle in the league, at the same time Wright-Phillips began to collect medals for FA Cup, League Cup and Premier League victories.  Despite his personal trophy cabinet success, Wright-Phillips never cemented a first team position at Chelsea, eventually leading to his return to East Manchester in 2008.

Much as Wright-Phillips was an inaugural signing to a new ownership era at Chelsea, the same situation developed during his second City spell as ADUG invested heavily in the club.  Wright-Phillips would never reach the scintillating form of his breakthrough seasons, but firmly remains a fan favourite with the City faithful.  They say time heals all; it certainly applies in the case of Wright-Phillips and City fans.  Where there once was resentment, now there is only appreciation for a player who first lit up Maine Road, then brought much-needed income to a struggling club.

“Shauny Wright, Wright, Wright” may be employed by QPR, but he will always remain a firm City fan favourite.