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Fans of the Month - a new year's eulogy

Christmas and the new year have come and gone and your champagne supplies could probably do with some replenishing after gran guzzled the last bottle of Moet on New Year's Eve before promptly falling asleep under the tree with the black lab and grandpa's slippers.

Which is why I've stored up the last three awards of 2007 for the start of 2008 (and nothing at all to do with ineffeciency).

So, please put the Slade records away for another year (or is that East 17?) and listen up.

Rob from CFC Net wins Fan of the Month for September

Sorry chaps, and especially you Rob, for the tardy service. I'm afraid I only have a rugby-related excuse ...

Here, a small matter of 19 days into the month of October, I'd like to make a short speech annointing Rob from CFC Net Fan of the Month for September.

He showed exemplary dedication, control and emotion during a very difficult period at his club. Jose left, the club went into a spiralling nosedive and yet Rob still viewed matters with a passionate clarity.

Straight after Jose had downed his last gin sling in Chelsea Harbour and returned to the comforting bosom of his home nation, Rob found solace in The Departed One's sartorial elegance. It was all about the coat(s). (And "Surralexferrguson", it is alleged, tucks his shirts in his Y-fronts.)

Still emotional and searching for answers, Rob took Abramovich to task. Apparently, Ronaldinho, Kaka, Cesc Fabregas and Batman combined still couldn't fill the hole left by the Preening Portuguese Prima Donna Peacock.

Finally, and stung by the short-termism in evidence at Stamford Bridge, Rob turned all metaphysical in an effort to get to grips with the mystique of Roman Abramovich. How can fans love their great benefactor when they don't have a clue who he really is? (He also shivered with genuine fear at the possibility that the Russian was starting to medddle with the team-sheet.)

It has been a true soap opera and Rob has penned the script. Accept the bouquet, take a bow and wait for the champagne.

A magnum of bubbly is in the post...

James Major

Times Online Sports Editor

Ric from Blue Moon wins Fan of the Month

We could have asked a worringly coiffed Chris Kamara to present this inaugural award at the lucky winner's work PC in front of stunned colleagues but thought that would be unfair (although bloody funny).

So you will have to put up with this online speech from myself instead...

The winner of the award for August is Ric from Blue Moon.

He showed a fantastic understanding of what Fanzone is about and hoping to become in a number of ways.

Here's the evidence.

1. He managed to produce a vivid and informative moan even when his team were placed in the somewhat unexpectedly lofty position of second in the Premier League

2. He displayed that endearing, if somewhat naive, quality of wild, blind optimism in predicting that City will win the league

3. He displayed that endearing, if somewhat naive, quality of wild, blind partisanship to declare Micah Richards the best player in the world

4. He gloated and provoked the local rivals after an unexpected victory in the Manchester derby

5. He picked on a rival club's manager for nothing more than being old (no prizes for guessing who...)

6. He paraphrased Descartes

7. He imposed a dictatorial family mealtime regime in homage to City

8. He replied to readers comments on the bottom of his posts

All important qualities, I'm sure you'll agree, for any self-respecting football debate blog.

Chaps, please keep up the good work and, if you've got five minutes, get back in here and get something off your chest. (Even if it's telling me why I got this decision wrong).

Ric - a magnum of fine champagne decorated in a blue and white way to make you proud will be winging its way north. Please let the kids have a night off from the Man City grace and crack open the bubbly...

Cheers,

James Major

Times Online Sports News Editor