Now we’re in 2021, many of us will look back at the previous year in sport and feel appreciation that it’s all over.
Empty stadia, cancelled events and a general sense of disarray led to an uneven sporting calendar.
When events did go ahead, it wasn’t a great year for Manchester teams and athletes either. More often than not there is a trophy parade for teams like Manchester City or United, but 2020 yielded very little.
Nonetheless, there were reasons to be cheerful, with Greater Manchester’s teams and athletes providing some wonderful moments and achievements. Here are five of the best below:
Fury is King of the World
The first bout between Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder ended in a controversial draw, where many believed Fury was robbed of victory by the judges. The Gypsy King left no room for doubt in the rematch, however, pummelling the WBC Champion at the MGM Grand, Nevada.
It was one of the best heavyweight performances of the 21st century, and it has left us all tantalised at the prospect of an all-British title unification bout between Fury and Anthony Joshua in 2021.
But this was Fury’s night, and he showed the boxing world that he is arguably the best heavyweight on the planet.
Rashford is the Pride of Britain
Not exactly a sporting moment, but a great one nonetheless.
You’ll know the story by now: Manchester United striker Marcus Rashford campaigned that the government overturn its policy of not providing free school meals during the holiday period.
Rashford fought tooth and nail to make the government see sense, eventually getting Downing Street to reverse its policy and provide a multi-million-pound package of support for children in need.
Regardless if you were from the “blue half of Manchester” or a Liverpool fan, it didn’t matter – football was united in its acclaim for the young hero from Wythenshawe.
But when they fall short of perfection, as they have done in 2020, it always seems to be magnified.
Nevertheless, there was some sense of the old Man City on occasion in 2020, including a huge win at the Santiago Bernabeu in the Champions League.
But perfection was reached when routing newly-crowned Premier League champions Liverpool 4-0 in July. The match felt like a coming-of-age moment for Stockport-born Phil Foden who pulled the string alongside Kevin De Bruyne.
Jimmy Races to 600 wickets
Jimmy Anderson might be a Burnley lad, and the town is rightly proud of their cricketing hero. But the fast-bowler has plied his trade at Old Trafford Cricket Ground for almost two decades, so he’s also claimed by Greater Manchester too.
Anderson continued to break all kinds of records in 2020, notably becoming the first fast-bowler to reach 600 Test wickets.
Unfortunately, there were no fans in attendance when Anderson reached the milestone in August against Pakistan, but there were still scenes of jubilation.
Manchester United Women went into the New Year as leaders of the FA Women’s Super League – and are among the favourites for the title this season.
It’s an incredible achievement given that the team didn’t exist a few years ago.
There has been fierce criticism that United did not create a women’s team until now, but the women have quickly made up for the lost time.
It’s not certain that they will finish the season with a first WSL title, but they have been close to perfect so far.
Sport
Everton are reportedly already hoping to sign Jack Grealish from Manchester City permanently
Danny Jones
Everton FC are reportedly already considering signing Jack Grealish on a permanent deal after an impressive start to his spell on loan from Manchester City.
The former Aston Villa talisman has struggled to remain in the starting XI under Pep Guardiola since joining the club in 2021, but since arriving on Merseyside, he’s already been a difference-maker in every match for the Toffees thus far.
Grealish has not only registered four assists in just two starts for Everton but also won the very first player of the month award in the Premier League this season for his contributions.
Safe to say he’s fast made a big impact over in Liverpool – hence why it is now thought that manager David Moyes wants to make his transfer permanent.
Becoming just the 10th Toffee to ever win the accolade, the Birmingham-born creator is now thought to be the primary transfer target, despite the summer window having only recently closed.
He writes that despite the deal between Everton and Man City already including a £50 million option to buy next summer, that number is “not fixed and is more a consequence of accounting than a set price.”
The England international still has two years on his contract in the blue half of Manchester, but the previous valuation (which is half the amount City paid for him in a then record fee for a British player), so it is believed that he could be signed for an even better cut-price offer as his deal runs down.
Put it this way, it looks like the supporters would do just about anything to keep him at the Hill Dickinson.
Jack Grealish giving his shirt to an Everton fan after their brilliant win away at Wolves today.
Bascombe goes on to explain, however, that his salary considerations could be a significant obstacle. Grealish is estimated to be earning approximately £12m a year, which is almost certainly too rich for Everton’s blood.
Taking that into account, it’d be a case of whether or not the Brummy forward would be willing to accept a much lower wage to depart the Etihad Stadium for Everton long-term; alternatively, waiting for him to become a free agent in a few transfer windows’ time would also be an option.
What about you, Blues: would you like to see Jack Grealish stay and fight for his place under Guardiola, or would you understand/support him making his Everton permanent?
Interestingly, there could be yet more shuffling of the pack in the middle of the park for Pep, as a forgotten man is apparently going to be given another chance to revive his City career…
Kalvin Phillips is reportedly set to be reintegrated into the Manchester City squad
Danny Jones
Long-exiled Manchester City player Kalvin Phillips is reportedly on the verge of being reintegrated into Pep Guardiola’s squad this season.
The ex-Leeds United star, who signed for the Blues back in 2022, has still only made just 16 appearances for the club, but could now be eyeing up a potential renaissance.
Man City have made plenty of signings this year, but with a number of outgoings and several injuries in key positions, it looks like there could be an avenue for the one-time England international to fight his way back into the team.
As per Telegraph Sport‘s Mike McGrath, Kalvin Phillips is set to be reintroduced to City’s 25-man Premier League selection; the question is, can he make it into a first-team XI?
🚨 EXCLUSIVE: Kalvin Phillips has chance to resurrect career at the Etihad Stadium after failed loan spells with Ipswich and West Ham
According to McGrath, Phillips will be “given a chance to resurrect his career at the Etihad Stadium” with the meat and potatoes of the 2025/26 campaign still yet to get properly underway.
Now 29, the Yorkshireman is well and truly within the crucial ‘prime’ years as an athlete, and after such an extended period on the sidelines, he’ll be more motivated than anyone to get his career back on track.
The central defensive midfielder – who was formerly considered a key cog in the middle of the park for Leeds – has spent two loan spells away from the Etihad, but neither really worked out for the undeniably talented footballer.
Having joined West Ham for the latter portion of the 23/24 term and spending the last 12 months on loan at struggling Ipswich Town, his time at both clubs was pretty forgettable, punctuated by little more than a couple of unfortunate red cards and more time on the bench.
Speaking to Sky Sports fairly recently, he confessed that the last couple of years have been very difficult and was visibly emotional discussing his struggles since moving to Man City.
It’s also worth noting that Guardiola himself has admitted to feeling “so bad” for Kalvin Phillips’ situation – perhaps why he now looks like he could be given a second chance.
CDM-wise, Rodri and Nico González are considered the go-to options, but Stockport-born Rico Lewis and Mateo Kovačić have also been used in the role.
Once again, although Man City face somewhat of an injury crisis ahead of the Manchester derby this weekend, any prolonged absences could at least see an opportunity arise for the forgotten man.
What do you make of Kalvin Phillips’ chances of being restored to the Manchester City squad and maybe even putting himself back into national team contention ahead of the World Cup?
The Manc -
18th January 2021 
