The 2005–06 season was Manchester City Football Club's fourth consecutive season playing in the Premier League, the top division of English football, and its ninth season since the Premier League was first created with Manchester City as one of its original 22 founding member clubs. Overall, it was the team's 114th season playing in a division of English football, most of which have been spent in the top flight.
Season review
The 2005–06 season proved tough for the club finishing 15th in the Premier League after a turbulent end to the season. The season began with last season's top goalscorer Shaun Wright-Phillips joining Premier League champions Chelsea for a fee of £21 million.[1] Wright-Phillips was a fan favourite having made over 150 appearances for the club and winning Manchester City's Young Player of the Year award four times in succession.[2]
In the following week, Manchester City announced the signings of Andy Cole from Fulham and Darius Vassell from Aston Villa. The Blues ended their preseason with a 3–1 victory against Greek champions Olympiacos in the Thomas Cook Trophy. In this match, City fans were given their first introduction to Yaya Touré who put the visitors ahead.[3]
The club started the season unbeaten in their first five matches, taking 10 points from 12 matches. Manchester City manager Stuart Pearce was subsequently awarded the Barclays Manager of the Month award for August.[4] City then went on to suffer three successive defeats in September, including a 3–0 defeat on penalties to League 1
side Doncaster, which saw them exit the Carling Cup in the Second Round.[5]
The following months saw City's form continue to fluctuate. On December 4, Manchester City beat Charlton Athletic 5-2 at The Valley, setting a then-club record for their largest away win in the Premier League. Going into 2006, Manchester City were placed 9th in the League.
Robbie Fowler started off the new year with a hat-trick in the Third Round of the FA Cup against Scunthorpe. The following weekend, Manchester City won the Manchester Derby 3-1 at home, in a match that saw Cristiano Ronaldo receive a straight red card for a reckless lunge on Andy Cole midway through the second half.[6]
The January Transfer Window saw Robbie Fowler return to Liverpool,[7]Joey Barton hand-in a transfer request[8] and Stuart Pearce splashing out £6 million on Heerenveen striker Georgios Samaras.[9]
Manchester City's final hope of silverware was put to an end after a Dean Ashton brace led West Ham into the semi-finals of the FA Cup, eliminating City in the quarter-finals.[10]
The season ended on disappointing form with losses in 9 of their 10 final matches in the Premier League. A winless City steadily drifted down the league from mid-table to 15th position before the season culminated.
Team kit
For this season the shirt sponsor for all of the club's kits continued to be the previous season's sponsor, Thomas Cook, while the team kits were produced by the previous season's supplier, Reebok.
Home (version 1)
Home (version 2)
Away (version 1)
Away (version 2)
Third
This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (November 2010)
Biggest home wins: 4–1 vs. Birmingham City, 17 December 2005 000000000000000003–0 vs. Newcastle United, 1 February 2006
Biggest home defeats: 1–3 vs. Arsenal, 4 May 2006 00000000000000000000–2 vs. Tottenham Hotspur, 4 January 2006
Biggest away win: 2–5 vs. Charlton Athletic, 4 December 2005
Biggest away defeats: 2–0 vs. West Bromwich Albion, 10 December 2005 00000000000& vs. Bolton Wanderers, 21 January 2006 & vs. Chelsea, 25 March 2006 00000000000& vs. Blackburn Rovers, 7 May 2006
Biggest home attendance: 47,192 vs. Manchester United, 14 January 2006
Smallest home attendance: 40,256 vs. Middlesbrough, 2 April 2006
Biggest away attendance: 67,839 vs. Manchester United, 10 September 2005
Smallest away attendance: 19,556 vs. Portsmouth, 11 March 2006
Results by round
Round
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
Ground
H
A
A
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
A
H
A
H
A
H
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
H
A
A
A
H
H
A
Result
D
W
W
W
D
L
L
W
W
L
W
L
D
L
W
L
W
L
L
D
L
W
L
W
L
W
L
W
L
L
L
L
L
L
W
L
L
L
Position
10
5
1
2
3
5
6
6
4
6
4
5
6
8
8
8
7
8
8
8
9
8
9
10
10
9
10
9
10
11
11
13
13
13
13
14
15
15
Updated to match(es) played on 7 May 2006 (end of season). Source: 2005–06 FA Premier League results A = Away; H = Home; W = Win; D = Draw; L = Loss
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.
^Thatcher was born in Swindon, England, and has represented England at level, but also qualified to represent Wales internationally through his grandmother and made his full international debut for Wales in March 2004.
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