the postseason.POKES QB: Josh Allen

Fixture pile-ups, injuries and squad rotations might be considered the preserve of present-day football, but when Manchester City won a domestic and European double in 1970, they had it every bit as tough as the 2016 vintage, perhaps even tougher. One of the key characters in the Blues dressing room back then was a full-back who played in almost every outfield position for the club in his 14 year career. Now 69 years old, Glyn Pardoe looks back fondly on the manic week that led to Citys first taste of League Cup glory against West Bromwich Albion at Wembley.I think what made it a better win was we played Academic Coimbra in the Cup Winners Cup in Portugal on the Wednesday. It was about 70 degrees and the pitch was like a rock, Pardoe said. We travelled back to London and couldnt land because of the snow so we touched down in Birmingham and had to travel down to London through the night. We got there the next day and won the match. The conditions were testing and I thought we played tremendous. Pardoe didnt just take part in the match, he scored the winner, his only goal of that season and while the rest of the game and the celebrations that followed are now something of a blur, his recollections of his golden moment beneath the Twin Towers are razor sharp.I do remember the goal, Franny (Francis Lee) went down the wing, he chipped one into Belly (Colin Bell), Belly flicked it on and I beat the keeper and the centre-half to it, right footed into the corner. I remember it like sitting here now. The lap of honour by Manchester City after they won the 1970 League Cup Final against West Brom at Wembley City had come from behind to beat West Brom, their other goal on the day was scored by Mike Doyle and he and Pardoe went from being great friends and team-mates to relatives. Mike passed away in 2011 but the pair share grandchildren, one of whom, Tommy, now plays in the same Manchester City Academy in which his grandfathers both learnt their trade. In fact Pardoe also holds the record for being the youngest ever player to make his debut for the clubs first team, that game a 4-1 battering by Birmingham at Maine Road when he was just 15 years and 314 days old.Birmingham City, April 1962. Trevor Smith was the centre-half, England centre-half, I remember that well. I didnt do too bad actually, I thought I did alright but we got hammered didnt we? But at that time we were getting hammered lots so that doesnt help.Its a record that, despite Manuel Pellegrinis recent tinkerings with Citys youngsters at Stamford Bridge last weekend, Pardoe believes will stand the test of time, although hes a big fan of giving academy starlets first-team opportunities.I think its brilliant, I think if youre young enough, youre good enough. It doesnt matter how old you are, but the trouble is now its governed a little bit more by money. But I cant see that record ever being beaten, I mean I might be wrong but I cant see anybody playing in the first team at 15, simply because of the money side of it all, not the football side. Youre going to have to be some player. David Faupala was one of five full debuts for City against Chelsea in the FA Cup fifth round Still, he believes some of the players weve glimpsed this season will be given their chance to cement places in the Manchester City first-team squads to come.Theyre doing fantastic. I mean Id love to see one or two of them get in there. I mean [Kelechi] Iheanacho, hes just beginning to get in there. He looks like he could turn the corner and start being a regular and Id love that. The fans would love it as well. Pardoe is a fan of young Man City striker Kelechi Iheanacho If his League Cup winning goal and debut are two of the fondest memories of a career he still cherishes, the darkest day of Pardoes time as a City player came nine months after that Wembley triumph in a Manchester Derby at Old Trafford. The Blues ran out 4-1 winners, but during the first half Pardoe was tackled by George Best in a challenge that broke his leg and left him fighting for his life as well as his limb.It was serious, I was within 20 minutes of losing my leg, I was very lucky to keep it, another 20 minutes and theyd have cut it off or it would have killed me, he continued. Even now I havent got the full movement in my ankle, having said that Im fine, Ive played football in the garden with my grandson for the whole of his life. It was a shame, it did harm my career no doubt about that. I would have been an international, I think, if he hadnt done that but I look at it on the other side, I could have lost my leg and Ive got it. So to me thats all that matters. Manchester Citys Mike Doyle (front) and his team-mates celebrate Doyles equaliser Pardoes recovery from such a grave injury took almost two years and although he went on to play for Manchester City until 1976, he admits he was never the same player again. Now a club legend, he doesnt harbour a grudge for that incident on the Red side of Manchester in December 1970.Ive no regrets in football but Id have loved to have played for my country. I played for the schoolboys, the Under-23s, so it would have been fantastic, but it wasnt meant to happen. I look at life and if its not meant, its not meant. You can work your socks off and it might not happen for you and other people dont seem to do it and it happens for them!I hold my hand up, Ive been lucky. What a career I had, I mean how many people have won the trophies Ive won? And played with the players I played with and against? I mean it was a fantastic era.Which brings us onto the last question. Talk to Pardoe and hell tell you about the aggression, the passion and the flamboyance of the teams that saw him win the First Division, the FA Cup, the Cup Winners Cup, as well as the League Cup. Hes looking forward to the arrival of Pep Guardiola and believes that Pellegrinis displayed all the qualities of one of his former managers, Joe Mercer, in how hes dealt with the constant speculation. Manuel Pellegrini will be guided City into their Capital One Cup final against Liverpool So who would win if Pardoes boys of 1970 were pitched into battle against the team that Pellegrini will pick for Wembley this weekend? Pardoe has no doubts.Wed beat them. Because we had so much going forward and we had so much aggression, whereas today I dont think they play with that sort of aggression. Mind you, wed probably get some red cards for tackling! So its difficult to say. But we had great characters.The majority of the Pardoe/Doyle clan will be making their way down to London as City aim to seal their fourth League Cup on Sunday. But the man whose goal saw the club lift the trophy for the first time 46 years ago wont be joining them, hell be watching at home. After all, someone has to look after his granddaughter and the familys dog. Also See: Pellegrini: Job not done Carra meets Noel Will Liverpool beat City? Road to Wembley Air Max 97 Pull Tab . Barcelona also left injured defenders Carles Puyol, Javier Mascherano and Jordi Alba out of its squad for the trip to Glasgow. That means that Marc Bartra will probably start again in the centre of the defence alongside Gerard Pique. Air Max 270 White Volt . The 15th-ranked Canadian men lost the opening two games of their European tour: 19-15 to No. 17 Georgia and 21-20 to No. http://www.270airmax.fr/air-max-98-pas-cher.html . -- Claudio Bieler hadnt scored since early September, and not from the run of play since mid-July. Soldes Nike Homme Air Max 270 Flyknit Noir/Blanche/Vert Fluorescent . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Soldes Nike Homme/Femme Air Max 270 Flyknit Noir/Bleu Royal . Only three players drafted by NHL clubs were included on the Czech selection camp roster on Wednesday. Those players were Dallas Stars 2012 first-rounder Radek Faksa, Winnipeg Jets 2013 fourth-rounder Jan Kostalek and Phoenix Coyotes 2012 seventh-rounder Marek Langhamer. SAN DIEGO -- The BYU Cougars and Wyoming Cowboys had to come to San Diego to renew a rivalry that dates to 1922.The Cougars (8-4) play Wyoming (8-5) in the Poinsettia Bowl on Wednesday night. Its the first meeting between the schools since 2010, before BYU left the Mountain West Conference to go independent.None of the players were around when the rivalry ended.Some of the coaches played in it, like BYU head coach Kalani Sitake, who was a running back for the Cougars in the 1990s, and offensive coordinator Ty Detmer, the 1990 Heisman Trophy winner while at BYU.Sitake said hes had to tell his players about the rivalry.I think its more for guys like myself that played in that game and Ty Detmer and a number of our coaches played against Wyoming, but this generation is different. You kind of have to teach them all and were dating ourselves when we talk about back when I played against Wyoming, Sitake said. But its also a cool experience to share and talk about players and places that have passionate fans.Cowboys coach Craig Bohl came to Wyoming after the rivalry ended.I do know this, a bunch of old guys who played college football come up to me in the hotel, and its a big deal to them, Bohl said.Here are some things to look for when the Cougars play the Cowboys:THE RIVALRY: These teams started playing each other in 1922 and were in a number of leagues together, most recently the Western Athletic Conference and the Mountain West Conference. The Cougars lead the series 44-30-3.COUGAR QB: Tanner Mangum will start for BYU after Taysom Hill strained his left elbow Nov. 26 in the season finale against Utah State. Mangum played in four games this yeaar, completing 14 of 18 passes for 145 yards and two touchdowns.ddddddddddddSitake said Mangum has worn a headset on the sideline and listening to Detmer has been great for him maturing as a quarterback. I think now that hes had the opportunity to lead this team and this game with the unfortunate injury to Taysom, we will see what happens. I think he has a lot of skill and a little different than what Taysom does, but hopefully with what we have practiced and things we have implemented, its not like its a huge departure from what we do offensively.SAN DIEGO BOWLING: The Cougars also played in the 2012 Poinsettia Bowl, beating another former long-time rival, San Diego State, 23-6. The Cougars have played in San Diegos other bowl, the Holiday, 11 times.WYOMING POSTSEASON: This is Wyomings first bowl appearance since 2011, and the Cowboys have a 6-7 record in the postseason.POKES QB: Josh Allen was sacked four times and threw two interceptions in a loss to San Diego State in the MWC championship game. Bohl said Wyoming will have to do a better job against BYU, which has a stout defensive front.The Cowboys will have to do a better job of springing running back Brian Hill. He is the Cowboys career rushing leader, and he broke his single-season school record with 1,767 yards and 21 touchdowns.If youre able to run the football that opens up so many things and takes pressure off our quarterback. Thats going to be important, Bohl said.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 ' ' '