Besides the action, there’s 20 minutes of DVD extras including good interviews with Stuart Pearce and SWP that make it a must-see, if not a must-buy. There’s also an interesting feature on City’s Academy - very apt with the impressive number of kids coming through last season.
The producers have also done a good job putting the action together as there’s regular comments from not only Shaun and Stu but also David James, Sylvain Distin and Richard Dunne - besides Shaun, our three most important players last season (the most interesting revelation that Jamo's save at Chelsea was a direct result of training with keeper coach Tim Flowers).
Obviously Kevin Keegan was in charge for most of the campaign and, in hindsight, some of his post-match comments make for interesting viewing, particularly after the win at Palace when he says he definitely won’t walk away. Really, Kev?
The review is let down by the fact the narrator is an unknown Irishman, someone like Mark and Lard would have been much more welcome. Pointing out the “half-empty stadium” in the Carling Cup defeat to Arsenal did nothing to change my opinion - any City fan knows that was because ticket prices stayed the same despite both managers admitting beforehand that it’d be a virtual reserves match.
Another negative is that the only games they show that City didn't score in were the two derbies, while Robbie Fowler’s goal and comical celebration was the only action they showed from the eventful defeat at Everton. Although I would like to pretend those games didn’t happen, they did, and I wouldn’t mind analysing how and why.
Speaking of the derbies, it’s interesting to see how you allow memories to fade with time. I admit I totally forgot Steve McManaman’s goalline block at the Red Theme Park, but that was probably because I preferred to replace it with his awful miss at COMS, thereby justifying my hatred of the waster.
Nonetheless, I cheered up as it turned into the Shaun show, sparking the internal dilemma of trying to decide his best goal of the season (more later). So the campaign regained a rosy haze as SWP dazzled, Dunney stood firm and Psycho inspired to help City create that ‘UEFA Cup decider’ with Boro.
The makers recognised the significance of the game and, as they did with the rest of the season’s key encounters, gave it the coverage it deserved (in that case, I can forgive not having to sit through the defeat at West Brom again!)
I’ll leave you to make your own minds up but, for me, the most enjoyable game/moment was the comeback at Norwich and Fowler’s fluky winner.
As for best goal, I’m still to decide. Fowler’s first at Norwich and Kiki’s against Liverpool were both great moves, but it has to be Shaun. Yet in their own way, his thunderbolt at Highbury, turn and shot against Southampton, and solo goal at Villa were each worthy winners.