Bill Borrows: City's dream season.

Byline: Bill Borrows

"MY support [of Manchester City] is not a matter of choice," sighed Howard Davies, the former deputy governor of the Bank of England a few years ago. "My work involves logic and rationality... but I have this emotional attachment to them that I cannot break."

I know what he means. Given that I have put in more than 30 years as a City season ticket holder with no tangible reward, I think I'm entitled to a short wish-list this season...

i) Blackburn's Robbie Savage, pictured, to be hospitalised with an in-growing toe-nail and the relevant surgeon to be a clumsy fan of his former club, Birmingham City, who suffers acute glaucoma.

ii) Fergie to get the boot after United are beaten at Old Trafford in the FA Cup third round by Sunderland, who go on to be beaten by City in an emotional semi-final contested by the two most passionately supported teams in England.

iii) Another easy four points from Chelsea.

iv) Newcastle United to be relegated. Their average gate in 1981/82 was 17,267. City, who share a conurbation with the "Stretford Red Sox" attracted more than 32,000 for their first game in the old Third Division in 1998.

v) Wigan to stay up on the last day of the season by virtue of an own goal but at the expense of Boro, the world's dullest team who'll never amount to anything.