Newcastle United v Manchester City - Official Build Up/Matchday Thread AND Poll

Apart from the ones who lobbed that flair/smoke bomb into the home section after their first goal...

That was disgraceful, especially coming from the team trying to clean up their image after the Ferdinand incident last week. Some of their players play acting also got to me today. Think it's confirmed to me which Manchester team I'll be supporting for the title this year.

 

We played some decent football at times. Finally it looks like the back 4 has been told to play the ball out on the deck more, surprise surprise we looked more threatening when we did. Happy that Willo did alright, he was better than he has been for most of this season, stuck to his task well given he was facing 2 pacey and tricky strikers. Jonas....yeah waste of space, how he starts let alone not get subbed is beyond me. Cisse seems to be a touch more comfortable in general play, and worked hard enough, but does need a goal to give him a lift. Anita is fast settling into this league, pleased that he's been allowed the time to get used to the pace as he's looking a real asset now. Overall one of our better performances this season, hopefully we can carry on improving and start getting the results as we need a few now!

 

Was a bit surprised at that. Surprised they did it and surprised the stewards let them into the ground with it.

 

I don't think we do need to buy. in CM he'd get replaced by Anita (when Cabaye's fit again), and on the wing by Ben Arfa. Saying that, I've thought he's looked better in the last couple of games than on any previous occasion this season.

 

We had our moments today, Anita was outstanding, a real pleasure to watch, I thought Perch had a good game, and although we lost, I didn't feel the despair that sometimes accompanies a loss.
City have some real class players, but Mancini was seen last weekend chastising Tevez for staying on his feet after being fouled, looks like the whole City team were determined to get that one right and go down, some of the rolling about was embarrassing.

Does anyone else think Tourre needs a visit to weight watchers, what a size, was it him or his brother who used his wife's slimming tablets?

First thing I noticed. A hell of a size, still managed to put a good shift in though. Looks more like an all in wrestler than a footballer though.

 

Kolarov in a spot of bother it would appear.

From The Telegraph, Saturday:

Manchester City defender Aleksandar Kolarov was at the centre of a race row on Saturday night after a complaint was made to police during Manchester City’s 3-1 victory over Newcastle United.

An incident is alleged to have occurred during the first-half of the Premier League match as Kolarov, who started the game as a substitute, warmed up down the touchline.

Two fans are understood to have been waving an Albanian flag close to him and Kolarov, a Serb, was then alleged to have been involved in a running verbal spat which went on for around 10 minutes.

One of the fans is then believed to have made a complaint to stewards in the stadium and they reported the incident to police at the ground.

The fan was immediately interviewed by the police at half-time with Kolarov also being spoken to after the game about the exchange of words.

The 27-year-old left the stadium with the rest of the City squad to return to Manchester but it is understood that he will speak again to the police later this week and co-operate fully with their inquiries.

Northumbria Police released a brief statement on Saturday night, also calling for any witnesses to come forward.

The statement read: “Northumbria Police has received a report of racist language having been used at the St James’ Park stadium during the Newcastle United versus Manchester City match today.

"Northumbria Police take such allegations extremely seriously and inquiries are ongoing into the incident."

 

Another one for City's rap sheet...

 

I think Benni is better on the right and I like the 433. As well as Cisse is doing and working his socks off wide, he needs to be in a straight out fight with Ba for me. There are enough games for them both to get their fair share. Someone like an Ince would balance us out there. Cisse can still play games there but a Benni for the left side would give the squad so many options. I don't consider Jonas a centre midfielder, I think a more utility role beckons where he is a sub until we have injuries. I love him to bits but I think it may have gone.

Marveaux is no good there. I have my doubts full stop but he is a central midfielder anyway.

To explain my thinking, I'd like to see us set up like this a fair bit

-----------Krul------------
Santon--Colo--Kjaer--Enrique
--------Anita--Tiote-------
Benni-----Cabaye-------Ince
------------Ba--------------

Frees up Cabaye, gives Benni more licence. Still plenty of goals there and plenty of switchability to keep Cisse content. Balances the side and means our wide men can switch up mid game.

Kjaer, Enrique and Ince are just players I like so don't read much into that, I know they are probably not realistic! I think we might get this Anderlecht centre back though with him being Senegalese.

 

Game of two halves
After the first ten minutes city controlled the first half but I thought Newcastle were the better side in the second half,probably a bit unfortunate on the whole to come away with nothing. First half we were given the ball very cheaply and the forwards didn't help matters by not retaining possession to give the defence a breather and a chance to regroup.
Hard to tell what the switch in formation was,still breathless from climbing the bloody stairs up,but second half Newcastle seemed to have an extra man in the middle and Tiote grew into the game after being largely anonymous in the first half.The young lad Anita looks promising and when he's got Cabaye & Ben Arfa to play with will look a much better player but what's happened to jonas? Thought he was poor
Hopefully the supporters will keep faith with Pardew,a few recruits in the window wouldn't go amiss,it can't be easy being so threadbare
The smoke bombs were let off in the middle of our end quite a way from the segregation so I don't know how they were thrown in to the Newcastle end?

 

I agree that Benni is better on the right, all I was trying to say was that we're in greater need of players for other positions than the ones that Jonas plays.

 

Centre back is priority. After that I think the left wing/forward would be the key area to get best from this squad. Then I'd have to say left back. I don't think we need much else but maybe a centre midfielder after that?? But I think whereas centre back and left wing/forward could do with happening in January maybe deals for left back, midfielder (Sissoko?) and maybe even another younger centre back to replace Willo completely, would have to wait till the summer realistically. I know they have looked at strikers, but I don't see the need with Campbell coming through and if we got a left wing/forward who could bring goals. Maybe a look at Ince, Zaha, Dries Mertens - that ilk of player anyway - although those 3 will probably head to bigger clubs.

 

From city's bluemoon forum

Post subject: Re: City fans todayPosted: Sat Dec 15, 2012 7:55 pm


I was sat directly behind the 3 scroats who chucked the smoke bomb down on the geordie fans below.
Letting them off in our end is one thing, but this was out of order.
After a few verbals I told them that they would be the next thing to be thrown off the upper tier, at which point they shut up and behaved.
This sort of crap does our club no favours."


Sorry,didn't see it where I was but like most sides we have our share of arseholes
I'm glad no one was hurt

 

Well said to the guy that spoke out against the idiots. Another case of the few spoiling things for the many.

 

Agree with a lot of this. I love Jonas but he needs to be dropped , no end product.
Perch again impressed and even though Santon should have done better for 2nd goal he looked a better threat than Jonas did going forward.
Willo was better today but still not a favourite.
Some nice touches from Cisse.
Anita MOTM.

 

Forgot to mention ref very angry he didnt book Kolo Toure earlier, he got away with murder.

 

Yep. At one point we'd committed three fouls and received two yellow cards, yet Citeh had committed seven and went unpunished.

 

Thought Santon probably had his worst game for us today.

 

Not brilliant, but he wasn't awful either, made some goood runs forward, and it's just a matter of time until he scores, and I doubt he'll be a one goal wonder like Enrique!

 

He seemed to have a go at Colo after it, could you see what happened?

 

Not really WP, both of them were a bit off form and probably out of sorts.

Hopefully just a one off.