[Event "Bye 2011"]
[Site "SchemingMind.com"]
[Date "2012.04.13"]
[Round "-"]
[White "BlueMooner"]
[Black "Clive Everill"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B40c"]
[WhiteCountry "ENG"]
[BlackCountry "CZE"]
[WhiteElo "1890"]
[WhiteRD "79"]
[BlackElo "1774"]
[BlackRD "56"]
[GameID "308130"]

{
BlueMooner: Hello my Czech chess loving friend; although Clive doesn't sound very Czech if you don't mind me saying plus I vaguely recollect you being a Villa fan from our previous games.  Is that right or have I imagined it?  If so City need a massive f**king favour from the Villa come Sunday when you can beat the Rags for us...(City that is!?)
}
1. e4 c5
{
Clive Everill: Hello again, Blue...ok, this is where the footie talk is (though I went on a bit about old footie days back on the other game ;-)) - the Villa...sadly have lived down to my expectations...we will be very, very fortunate to avoid relegation, perhaps for the simple fact that there are worse teams!! :-) However, they mostly seem to be getting their act together, whereas we seem incapable of keeping a clean sheet. This is surely THE worse Villa side since the dark 80's...McLeish MUST go! Bluenose at the Villa was always asking for trouble...I'd love the Villa to win, even get a draw on Sun against the Scummers, also because I have some students here who are Man U fans... ;-) But I fear a right old ripping apart, especially after Man U got stung by Wigan...
All the best in this game too! ;-)
}
{
BlueMooner: I didn't give Villa much chance but what I saw was pitiful. I am not even sure I will watch the Wolves game this afternoon as the Rags versus Everton is another one side 1-9 on home win banker isn't it?  Even Joleon Lescott was talking in yeterday's papers about ensuring "they don't win the league at our place" which is probably the summit of our ambition now.  It's a crying shame that Carlos Tevez is such a wanker as him and Arguero were magnificient last weekend at Norwich.  Superb to watch. Anyway City have a little bit of work to do in the transfer market and then hopefully we can push on next year and challenge for a title.  As for Villa well another mid-table/scrape with the bottom six seems inevitable doens't it?  It's a pity as I like Alex McLeish he always strikes me as a very decent man doing a very difficult job.  As for your billionaire owner...well comments on a postcard please
}
2. Nf3 e6
{
Clive Everill: The Villa are very pitiful...a must-win against Bolton on Tuesday...well, must-not-lose will be good too :-) Well, you were wrong about the Rags...chucked a 2 goal lead 7 mins from Fergie Time...unheard of! :-) Makes the clash coming up more spicy...winner takes all, and a draw would suit the Rags...McLeish (from what I've read, and also seen in the results) has been defensive in mood...which is what took Blues down last year too...deja vu - I was happy with him coming at the start, but having been a bit spoilt with O'Neill, he doesn't compare. You're right, he's on a loser - I will be VERY surprised if he stays for next season...
}
3. b3 b6
{
Clive Everill: (so in this game, we are going a way less travelled by...)
Well...we lost...Championship beckons...we are in free-fall now...
}
{
BlueMooner: Yes I have started playing Bb5 Sicilians OTB recently; pretty dull stuff to be honest but a lot less theory to learn and as I feel I don't have enough time to myself as it is I am playing this stuff for now.  As soon as I can give up work and then I want to play 3.d4 but Larsen said swapping a centre pawn for Black's c-pawn is a positional error which in dogmatic terms he is probably right.  I recently bought Tim Taylor's 'Slay the Sicilian' which to be honest i probably should have tried in our game.  Anyway the PMT is starting to build for Monday; I don't think I have been to a bigger game. Some of City's promotion and relegation games through the years have been massive but with the title potentially riding on it who knows.  Anyway I am off to Leicester tomorrow to play a County game - bloody long way from Bolton but if we win we qualify to the national county finals.  We are playing Cambridgeshire.
}
4. Bb2 Bb7
{
Clive Everill: Hope you won the match, and your game too! How was it? Sounds like you're having a great season...yes, today is THE day - the title rides on this, I guess, and it could go either way...too close to call, and for that reason, I expect it to be a volatile affair - and maybe Man U might have the edge with their 'old heads'...But the noisy neighbours have a great chance to be very noisy in Fergie's ears today! :-)
As for the Villa...well, as I said, it's only because other teams are more rubbish than us that we will survive...some close calls on Sat against WBA...the hand of God from Hutton saving a certain goal...Given playing a blinder (again!!)...we should be ok now, but some hard work in the summer ahead...
}
{
BlueMooner: Hello Clive.  Well we beat Cambridgeshire by one point although I lost my game on time...literally by zero point something seconds!?  Appalling way to lose; I made my last move clicked the clock; I had 90 minutes to play 35 moves and when I clicked the clock; which were digital it had just switched to 30.00.00 (it was an allegro finish of 30 minutes).  Technically I felt that I had made the time control as I was given 90 minutes to make 35 moves and then 30 minutes each to finish the game however the captains agreed to my defeat much to my disappointment.  
}
{
BlueMooner: Anyway at least we won the match which I hope will be the case tonight; City have averaged three games per match at home this year and seeing as the Rags leaked four to Everton last week who had previously scored 17 in 18 away games well...I fancy us.  I think we have better players and a pair of strikers in devastating form and I think Ferdinand is past it, Shcoles is too slow.  Their threat are the two wingers plus Rooney but Kompany has previously marked Shrek out of Derby matches aside from that superb volley he got at the Swamp last year.  Anyway what most people have failed to recognise this year is that the Rags spent the same amount of money purchasing players than City this Summer; we bought Aguero & Nasri for a combined £59 million.  They bought a shit goalie for £21 million; a 17 year old 'is he a centre back; full back; midfielder or future england captain' in Jones for £18 million plus Ashley 'Britain diving team' Young for £20 million. I know who got the value...Anyway put Tevez down for first scorer at 7-1
}
5. e5 Nc6
{
Clive Everill: wow...a bad way to lose a game...never had it happen to me in a tournament (except for a friendly rapid one we had in my town here) - what was the position at the time? So, your team are through, I take it...?
As for the footie - well, your faith in the Blues was justified...Fergie left chewing a bigger wasp than usual! Not a classic game, from what I read...one hand on the trophy, but a must-win against Newcastle coming up. A bit off with the 7-1, by the way :-)
}
{
BlueMooner: Well I was a bit off Clive but I meant place a bet on Tevez to score first at odds of 7 to 1!  I enjoy a sporting flutter on football, cricket and very rarely (e.g. three times a year) on the donkeys as I just don't understand the sport.  I have City at 4-1 to win the championship laid back in June or July after we had signed Aguero although that was long before Carlos went awol. 

As for the MCCU game; we are through to the quarter finals where we will meet Lancashire in a derby (we're Greater Manchester) so a very tense match as we will mostly all know each other from local leagues and congresses etc. As for the 0.something second 'loss' the position was even until my time scramble where I had lost some control but level material in a queen, rook & five pawn apiece endgame, I have been intending to look up the precise ruling on a relevant website as it was painfully frustrating at the time.  Still I had misplayed my Bb5 Sicilian (again) - as I previously mentioned - I am going to develop some balls and show some courage and get back to the Open Sicilian.  I am reading Timothy Taylor's interesting 'Slay the Sicilian!'.  He gives Be2 as an antedote to playing Open Sicilian's whilst maintaining positional control normally over the d5-square.  It seems interesting and I am running through the annotated games to get a feel of the repertoire and I am hopeful that it might be suitable.  The Sicilian is what playing 1.e4 is all about; I switched to Bb5 Sicilian's as a 40 year old with a busy job and played it as a low level theory opening etc. but it's rather tame pasrticularly against 2...d6.

Anyway Cisse wonder strikes have me very nervous for Sunday.  It's going to be horrible watching that game on the TV.  Absolutley dreadful; I normally dislike watching City on the TV as I get much more nervous than when I am at the games (Monday being an exception to that rule although the atmosphere was sensational - nobody left the ground for 15 minutes after the game it was fantastic)!!
}
6. Na3 d5
{
Clive Everill: thanks for filling me in about the chess match - yep, you need to be more brave in your style, I guess...I'd be happy to play a non-rated game with you in the Open Sicilian, if you wish...I could also learn something. Keep me posted when the QF is :-)
Yes...Newcastle have something to play for...any 2 of the 4 there can get the last 2 places for CL footie - it'll go to the wire. 
I am old enough to remember Man City when they last won the league ;-) And when they played Leicester in the FA Cup final!! :-)
I'm looking forward to the results, though we'll be away at the family cottage for the w/e, but my Mom (a Baggies fan) will keep me posted with the scores!
p.s: we now go out of theory...I think...
}
{
BlueMooner: I would like that a lot thanks Clive.  I have to dash as I am already late but i appreciate your offer; do you have an ICC subscription?  I thought we might analyse some openings and/or other chess on there sometime via Skype.  If you don't and/or you are not interested the correspondence game is very welcome though.
}
{
BlueMooner: Have we transposed to the French Defence?  I guess it can happen with a 2...e6 Sicilian can't it?
}
{
BlueMooner: ...d5 seems to make it difficult for me to keep my e5-spearhead pawn; what to do...?
}
7. exd6 Qxd6
{
Clive Everill: Hi...I don't have ICC...just use SM, I find I have to limit myself or I spread myself too thin ;-) I do have skype, but would probably prefer to just use SM (non-rated) at the moment - and we can discuss it...might be fun - I'm not such an analyst, though in the past when I've had tournaments, I like to go through my games - to spot the good, bad, & frequently ugly ;-)
I'd agree, we are out of any regular stuff that I've played before...makes for an interesting game, I hope...
As for the footie...we've been away at the cottage for a long w/e (which was just great, beautiful scenery, sunny & warm (on the whole), and lots of birding (a great place to do it)...& I see things are swinging for Man City now...QPR still have to fight for something, so it makes for an interesting & nerve-jangling last day - I will follow it with keen interest! :-) Any predictions?
}
{
BlueMooner: Hello Clive.  Your rustic description of life in a cottage in the Czech countryside spent birdwatching sounds marvellous.  Whereabouts is the cottage?  

As for today's game well one hopes that the old City with which I have grown up and lived all my life does note return as this would spell disaster...'typical City' would be to get to this position and then implode quite brilliantly such as the time wasting antics against Liverpool whilst we were drawing as the club had incorrectly calculated a draw would have avoided relegation.  Situation such as these don't seem to happen anymore but it still less than 12 years ago when I was at Wembley watching City losing 2-0 to Gillingham with just five minutes injury time to go (this was three days after the Rags had stolen the Champions League from Bayern Munich for a historic treble...

Still I hope it is our turn today.  It still seems surreal to me that City might be about to win the League.  Quite bizarre really; it could have been Everton or Newcastle (the Sheiuk Mansour assessed the potential of both clubs prior to buying City off Thaksin Shinawatra four years ago).

Anyway if the game goes to form City should tonk QPR who have been spineless away from home whereas City's home form is imperious scoring an average of three goals per game.

Fingers crossed and its been great to hear Sir Purple cluthcing at straws all week talking about Hughes being a 'warrior' and "I believe the QPR players will all be on pay cuts if they go down".  To be honest I expect QPR to stay up even if they lose as I cannot see Bolton going to Stoke and winning; from what I have seen this season Bolton are definitely one of the third worst teams in the division and deserve to go down; they make Villa look useful...!?
}
8. Nc4 Qd5
{
Clive Everill: Thanks! The cottage is in an area called 'Vysocina' (translated, it is like 'High China' ;-)) - in a village called Breziny - we love it there a lot! Well City tried SO hard to implode...and for a long time, especially after Barton or bust, it looked like it would be a disaster...indeed, Sir Alex was probably warming his hands to hold the Cup...Well done, as I said in my pm!! Hope you enjoyed the celebrations...perhaps some of the City fans even painted the train station for the return of the Scummers from Soonerland!?! :-)
Any team which makes the Villa look useful deserves to go down...and those 3 are now gone... :-( Looking bad for next year, really...but let's see what the summer dealings bring! A fresh clear-up, I hope!
}
9. Ne3 Qd8 10. Be2 Nf6 11. O-O Be7
{
BlueMooner: Well if you get Paul Lambert as manager I would suggest that things are most definitely starting to look up for Aston Villa as he looks to be an excellent prospect who can harmonise and harness limited talent to give their very best and considering Villa's limited transfer budgets these days he looks to be a very good fit to me.
}
12. d4 O-O
{
Clive Everill: Maybe I'm overly cautious - I had hoped for someone with a bit more experience - but such folk don't come to the Villa these days! However, he's on the up & let's hope he hasn't peaked :-) But anything has to be better than Alex (I liked Alex...but I think the move from the Bluenoses wasn't the best thing to do...)
}
{
BlueMooner: No he was on a no win situation really.  I have always thought he was a decent man too; not too sure why but he always strikes me as very genuine.  he's had some shit teams to manage this past year or two too.  I think you're wrong to be cautios; Lambert looks like a real catch to me ~ still young and hungry with a lot to prove and he obviously sees a year or two at Villa as a stepping stone to something good or who knows he might be able to build somehting good at Villa although he will need a transfer budget which appears to be unavailable for whatever reason despite Randy's billions.
}
13. Nc4 Nd5
{
Clive Everill: well, apparently there should be money coming in from the sale of certain players (not sure who!) - and the wage bill took massive cuts last year...so there should be some money...but it is hard to imagine why anyone would want to go there ATM... :-) I really hope Lambert comes good...but other than O'Neill, all we have known recently is mediocrity...
}
14. Nce5 Nf4 15. Bb5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Qxd1 17. Raxd1 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Rad8 19. Bc4 Kh8 20. Rfe1 Ng6
{
Clive Everill: have a good break, we are off to the cottage too!
}
21. Rd3 Nf4 22. Rdd1 h6 23. Bc3 g5
{
BlueMooner: Thank you Clive; we went to Aberdaron on the coast of Wales; very pretty & quiet.  Saw my first ever bird of prey; an osprey - beautiful.
}
24. Bb2 Ng6
{
Clive Everill: cool! We love birding...have seen ospreys catch fish twice in Scotland - a sight never to be forgotten...we also follow some weblinks where they are nesting - chicks are getting big now!
}
25. Kg2=
{
Clive Everill: well, Blue, an offer which I won't refuse...hard to see a way through for myself without opening up gaps in the defence...so, I'll settle for a draw & am very glad with it! thanks! 
}
1/2-1/2

