AZ Alkmaar v Manchester City Friendly 1978/79

 

City Corrigan, Clements, Donachie, Keegan, Futcher, Bell, Owen, Channon, Henry, Palmer, Hartford – used sub Coughlin(75)

FROM THE PRESS BOX

PETER GARDNER WRITING IN THE MANCHESTER EVENING NEWS 14TH AUGUST 1978
Rudi Krol, Dutch World Cup skipper, summed up Manchester City’s 5-1 mauling in Alkmaar yesterday when he told chief coach Bill Taylor: “This was strongest side.”
The patched up Blues, without five regular first teamers, were no match for AZ, the new force in Holland, where they were national cup winners and third in the League last season.
But at the same time, manager Tony Book was made only too aware of the task facing facing his side when they return for the UEFA Cup tie against Twente Enschede next month.
Dutch football remains on the crest of a wave, with Alkmaar the emerging threat and, although Twente finished only two points behind AZ, local feeling is that their potential is far greater than that of Enschede.
Twente officials, taking a second chance to look over City on a six match European tour, could have learned nothing to their advantage from a side bearing little resemblance to the line up Book will take back to Holland for the first leg.
Dave Watson, Tommy Booth, Brian Kidd, Paul Power and Peter Barnes were missing from a side that was shaken by a three goals in 13 minutes second half burst.
A new problem flared for the Blues when Gary Owen limped home last night with a damaged ankle that will leave him racing the clock to be in time for the big kick-off at Derby on Saturday.
So serious criticism of City’s performance would be totally unjustified in the light of events that left Book leaning heavily on his young players.
It was a task far too big for them. Alkmaar possessed pace, power and poise as they gave a display that left even their own 20,000 crowd gasping in admiration.
Speedy wingers gave City a harassing time and the punch through the middle from AZ was too much for Paul Futcher, who had Colin Bell as his central defensive partner.
City’s hero was undoubtedly Joe Corrigan, who pulled off at least four England-class saves, preventing his team from ending te demanding two week tour on an even more embarrassing and morale-destroying note.
Roger Palmer, too, provided encouragement, especially with a cooly taken goal that put City back in the match at 2-1 shortly before half time.
But that second half blitz battered the Blues into submission with the trip ending with three victories, two draws and one defeat.