Our beloved sporting city’s premier ice hockey team, Manchester Storm, are hosting their annual fan-favourite Retro Night this weekend and it’s set to be a stormer. Pun absolutely intended.
The Storm and the Elite Ice Hockey League as a whole are no strangers to unique events and special occasions throughout the season but this one, in particular, is up there with the most popular of all on the calendar simply because of the unrivalled nostalgia factor.
Set to face off against the Guildford Flames on Saturday at 7pm, both teams will be rolling back the years and pulling on jerseys of the past. In the case of Manchester Storm, they’ll be donning a revamped version of their 1996/97 shirt, commonly known as the ‘Eye of the Storm’.
The league-wide initiative takes place every year for at least a week and on top of getting to look back on the club’s wonderful history, the night is packed with plenty more action too.
— Manchester Storm | #WeAreStorm (@Mcr_Storm) March 3, 2023
For starters, Retro Night isn’t just about the players wearing old kits: it’s about everyone getting involved, having a laugh and a good time.
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With that in mind, they’re encouraging fans to turn up their finest 90’s garms and there’ll even be some fun and exclusive themed prizes awarded to the best dressed. No, we’re not going to tell you what they are — the incentive alone should be enough for you to get involved.
Furthermore, there’ll be plenty of 90’s anthems being played before puck-drop as well as during the break, and considering Manchester pretty much smashed that decade (if we do say so ourselves), you can expect plenty of Oasis, Stone Roses and Happy Mondays, not to mention The Prodigy, Blur, Weezer and plenty more era-defining artist being played.
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As if that wasn’t enough, there’s even going to be plenty of 90’s nostalgia TV playing, including some old-school Manchester Storm footage from the ‘Arena’ days that the young’uns might have never seen.
90'𝘀 𝗗𝗥𝗘𝗦𝗦 𝗨𝗣
If you're signed up to our official newsletter, you'll have read today that we will be selecting SIX of the best dressed fans to have a post-game photo on the ice with the entire squad! Be sure to dress to impress, Manchester! ⛈️ #WeAreStorm | #RetroNightpic.twitter.com/yWTW6NP9hP
— Manchester Storm | #WeAreStorm (@Mcr_Storm) March 2, 2023
It was always going to be a night of fun and excitement but as the Storm are currently on a roll of five consecutive victories and just as many league games remaining in the season, it’s all set up to be a blockbuster as coach Matt Ginn and his squad look to continue their winning streak!
With forward Anthony DeLuca third in the race for top scorer with a total of 23 goals and Jeremy Brodeur fourth in the league for goaltending with a huge 91.88% save percentage, fans could be in for another blockbuster.
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Knowing that nearly 15,000 have piled into the Storm Shelter at Planet Ice, Altrincham in 2023 so far, they’re expecting another bumper crowd this weekend.
If it’s anything like the turnout and the atmosphere produced for the ‘Air the Bear’ event at the end of last year, you really don’t want to miss this one.
If you fancy bagging yourself a ticket for Manchester Storm’s Retro Night, doors open at 6pm and the face-off is set for 7pm. The best part is, tickets will cost as little as a tenner — you can grab yours HERE.
£10 is the standard price for adult admission but family tickets are also available not only is parking free after the doors open, but the travel links are right on the doorstep too.
Pep Guardiola admits heavily rotated squad was ‘too much’ after landmark home loss
Danny Jones
Pep Guardiola has conceded that his heavily rotated side, which saw almost an entirely different team from the previous matchday squad, may have been “too many changes” as Manchester City suffered their first home loss in the Champions League group stages in more than seven years.
Man City suffered a 2-0 defeat whilst hosting Bayer Leverkusen at the Etihad Stadium – a place that has been largely a fortress in European fixtures since the Catalan coach arrived – but the biggest headline on the night was the whopping 10 personnel changes Guardiola made to his starting XI.
It has been argued that Pep has become overly reliant on star striker Erling Haaland (who has already scored 19 goals in the Premier League and UCL combined this season), and the virtually ‘start-from-scratch’ outfit he fielded on Tuesday night definitely didn’t do him any favours.
Speaking to various media in post-match interviews and the press conference after the game, Pep admitted that his wholesale rotation gamble may have been “too much.”
"Maybe it was too much…"
Pep Guardiola reflected on Man City's home defeat to Bayer Leverkusen after making 10 changes 🔁 pic.twitter.com/WBZHwl3ZOb
Considering the only continuity between the batch that faced Leverkusen and the previous squad that narrowly lost to Newcastle United was the still relatively new CDM, Nico González, we think he might be on to something.
In fact, as if the conviction behind the decision wasn’t already questionable enough, Pep insisted before the game that he would have made more if he could, but with fellow central midfielder talisman Rodri still injured, the number 14 was the sole teammate who remained from the weekend.
There are always going to be lapses in sharpness and fluidity when a lineup is shuffled, but it’s fair to say that it’s almost guaranteed when you remove every individual bar one.
Perhaps this was a somewhat covert/loaded attempt to shine a light again on previously mentioned complaints regarding squad depth in relation to the increasingly congested fixture list, with both Guardiola and the aforementioned Euro 2020 winner having flagged their concerns about the calendar.
This is also the second time in just a matter of days that the 54-year-old has held his hands up and taken accountability for making “huge mistakes”.
Not only was it City’s first Champions League loss of the season, but as mentioned, the first and at home in the competition’s initial stages in more than half a decade.
It’s quite a record that Pep has clung onto, which should get plenty of recognition in its own right, but supporters will nevertheless be hoping to get back to winning ways soon and avoid stringing together any more consecutive losses.
Last November was the first time Guardiola had ever lost four matches in a row during his entire career, and with a trio of very winnable fixtures coming up in the league, we would bank on a big reaction in the next game against Leeds.
If you missed the game, you can watch the highlights from Man City vs Bayer Leverkusen down below.
Pep Guardiola apologises for ’embarrassing’ camera operator confrontation
Danny Jones
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has apologised after confronting a cameraman following the Premier League fixture against Newcastle United this past weekend.
The Blues boss was left visibly frustrated as Man City were beaten 2-1 away at St James’ Park by Eddie Howe’s side following a flurry of three finishes in the space of just six minutes.
However, this wasn’t the only action pitchside during the game, as not only have some supporters argued they should have had a penalty as Phil Foden was brought down in the box, Pep was also seen engaging in a loaded exchange with opposition captain Bruno Guimarães, as well as a camera operator.
Guardiola has since apologised for the incident, confessing he was left “embarrassed” by his own conduct and admitting that even “after 1,000 games, I’m not a perfect person – I make huge mistakes.”
As you can see, the Catalan coach approached the member of the broadcasting team following a fairly widespread spat both during the second Newcastle goal and following the full-time whistle.
Despite journalists recognising a natural amount of frustration and passion amidst the narrow loss and speculation over decisions, he went so far as to say he wasn’t “ashamed” of his actions at the time and doesn’t like or condone this kind of behaviour.
He was also seen smacking his seat in the dugout after conceding as well as after missed chances by his own players.
Pep assured that he apologised to the cameraman within seconds, remarking, “I am who I am” and reminding football fans that he is a human capable of acting on instinct just like anyone else.
He also clarified that the bulk of his issues on the day were to do with the officiating, taking umbrage with the referee’s decision-making in multiple instances.
You can see the clip down below:
"I feel embarrassed and ashamed when I see it"
Pep Guardiola apologises for his behaviour towards a camera operator after the defeat at Newcastle. pic.twitter.com/wVYfJDbnLm
As for his conversation with Guimarães, he wouldn’t disclose any details of their conversation, but did insist to one reporter that they share a good relationship, confessing that he is “an emotional guy” and can often appear particularly animated as he is known for gesticulating.
It seems that the 54-year-old was just annoyed over the potential penalty, but match-winner Harvey Barnes’ brace in particular, too.
Not only were there questions of a foul on new goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma – whose shot-stopping was otherwise excellent for the majority of the match – but Guimarães was supposedly offside in the build-up to the strike.
Regardless, Pep went on to add that the confrontation with the cameraman, Donnarumma’s booking for dissent, and general disappointment have been “immediately forgotten”, and all eyes are now focused on City’s big European meeting with Bayern Leverkusen.
You can see the highlights from Newcastle vs Man City down below.
Danny Jones -
3rd March 2023 
