Is Man City a "real" test?

I sit just to the left of the goal, it looked even better there!

 

I've added u as a friend so we can talk about the match on saturday night, I think we'll beat u by 5/6 maybe even 7, and to sugest our strikers are not world class is quite funny really. I got banned from a city forum for saying as much, but went on a NUFC forum to apologise, and made a few mates! LOL I honestly think we'll tonk u on Sat, but hope u go on and do well in the league. I know we have a very important CL game midweek but i think the boys in blue will be well up for it come Sat, and no excuses needed!

 

Isn't this the first real test for both undefeated teams?

 

It was never a test unless we lose. Then that game was our first test.

"Oh so you beat Man City, Man U and Chelsea but can you beat a scrappy Stoke on a cold Monday night..."

Yes. Yes we can.

 

As ever this fella sums the game up to a T: http://www.leazesterrace.com/man-city-vs-newcastle-tactical-preview-19-11-11/

Following another enthralling international break Newcastle United return to action this weekend with a daunting trip to the Blue half of Manchester – finally being allowed to ‘play someone’ in the Premier League…

Despite its standard irrelevance the international break could not have arrived at a more convenient time for NUFC – the unfortunate injury glut that went with the hard fought win over Everton having given the club time to gather thoughts, and the remainder of the battle weary troops time to rest. Again, through a mixture of selection overlooking (Colocinni and Gutierrez not in the Argentina squad…?) and minor injuries only two first team regulars were called into meaningful action – only Ba and Cabaye having pitch time, with Tim Krul bench warming again for Holland. Despite this, there remains a slight air of disappointment that despite the undefeated run having continued on as hoped, the squad, management and fans as a whole will arrive at these fixtures not quite in the buoyant, confident and focussed frame of mind hoped with off the field issues again raising needless negativity to contend with…

Team Line-ups and Strategies:
Our opponents arrive at this fixture in superb form and have scored at least three goals in all four of the games that followed the obliteration of neighbours Manchester United.

For the first time this season NUFC have felt the pinch of injuries, and although injury to Obertan may not arguably be as damaging to the team as, say, a lengthy lay-off for Tim Krul would, it leaves Alan Pardew with some difficult choices – with what would usually be instant right midfield replacements Ryan Taylor and Jonas Gutierrez looking pretty tied to their existing roles. Furthermore, injuries to Cheick Tiote and Sylvain Marveaux mean NUFC are having to dig deeper into an area which at least has strength in numbers, even if those numbers are very central position orientated… It’s hard to see NUFC veering from their 442 layout, but with debates over the fitness of Leon Best and Shola Ameobi it could be a convenient time to bring Hatem Ben Arfa back into the frame in a more midfield heavy counter attacking strategy.

Manchester City (perhaps unfairly) come into this game with the only real fitness doubt being that of Samir Nasri – the insanely talented Sergio Aguero looking to have recovered in time for this fixture. With the demands of Champions League football also to maintain Roberto Mancini has rotated his squad regularly (in particular in attack), and with a crucial trip to Napoli only three days following this fixture expect the Italian to be conservative with his superstars. Vincent Kompany should return to the defence after serving a one match suspension. The Citizens have looked anything but negative this term and will almost undoubtedly be deploying a free flowing attacking strategy, heavy in pressure and possession.

Opposition strengths and notable dangers:
After a variety of inappropriate (and vastly overvalued) signings, Manchester City have finally put their financial advantage to significant use – now looking every bit regular title-challengers and, dare we say it, Champions League challengers… Their strengths and dangers are both obvious and numerous, so for the sake of this preview we’ll merely highlight how significant those strengths are.


Silva - world-class
1. World class attack: The emergence of David Silva in particular, after a season of adapting to England has been crucial in turning a very strong attack into one which can now rival almost any in Europe. Couple this with the equal rebirth of Edin Dzeko and the singing of the almost-so-good-it’s-cheating Sergio Aguero and it’s unsurprising that the Citizens have scored a colossal 39 goals in the 11 PL games so far. Their average of 20 shots per game is the most of any PL side, an average of 7.6 shots on target per game is also unmatched and not a single one of those 39 goals has been from the penalty
spot or an own goal. Astonishing.

2. Stubborn defence: The significant increase in attacking potency has not come at a defensive price – Manchester City’s defence conceded less than any other team and managed more clean sheets than any other last season and are well on their way to repeating this with only 10 goals conceded so far this term – second only to NUFC’s eight conceded. An average of 12 shots conceded per game (the third least in the PL) says enough in itself.

3. The new Old Trafford? A stat that will perhaps not be unsurprising given the talent on show, Manchester City have won all five PL games at home this season, scoring 16 and conceding just twice in the process. However, this record starts to become particularly impressive when looking back to see that they have not lost at home in the league since a 2-1 defeat to Everton back in December 2010 – a run of 15 games in which they have only drawn one, winning the other 14 (currently 10 in a row).

Tactical suggestions:
Beyond ‘chuck ‘em out and hope for the best’…

1. Dig in: Defending well will undoubtedly be the most important aspect to this game for NUFC. Faced with a fluid and superbly talented attack this is of course easier said than done, but if we can form a compact core which forces City wide and into straight forward crossing for delivery to the front line it should greatly limit the exposure to our goal. Getting caught open will be near suicide in this fixture.

2. Starve the possession and frustrate: Going hand in hand with the previous point. Again, if NUFC can hold onto possession for decent periods of time it will go a great deal of way to preventing City building a head of steam and, ultimately, stretching NUFC into uncomfortable positions. This counts equally in attack, where we should not panic and wait for the right opportunity to break from deep in midfield. Both the selection and mentality in midfield will be key to this – more later.

3. Avoid the aerial route: Specifically straight up front, where long balls to what will likely be the lone man Ba would be wasteful and only invite City further onto us. Even if Pardew opts for two men up front the same would apply, as the strikers taking turns in dropping deep has shown on numerous occasions recently that playing direct balls end up causing NUFC more problems than benefits gained (something that was very stark against Everton recently).

4. Slight alternative…: Beyond the rigid 4411 / 442 expected, there’s also the possibility of a slightly less dramatic pack shuffle… The alternative congests the midfield with bodies, all of which are comfortable on the ball and have sound levels of team-work and work-rate. Ben Arfa could be open to play a freer role and provide a spearhead forward whilst also providing a worry for City’s deep lying midfielders, supported by Cabaye and Ba dropping deep if necessary. The down side naturally comes with introducing Santon to a settled back-line (off-side trap effectively ruined) and the limited pace to break from midfield – but with our available options there aren’t a great deal many other players to call upon. Hold onto the ball, stay organised, release through Ben Arfa and (dare we add) shoot on sight!

Final thought and gut feeling:
So the much desired ‘real test’ arrives, but in truth this game couldn’t be any less significant to the outcome of our season nor to the righteousness of our current lofty position. Every team in the PL will be strongly expected to lose at the Etihad Stadium this season – why should it matter any different as to how NUFC in particular fare? Many egos have been bruised in wider nation from NUFC’s form and said egos will no doubt climb over themselves to point out how right they are if the likely defeat does materialise. Lord knows what they will say if we manage to get a point or better out of this game… Naturally however, with the attacking and defensive talents we face (even up against an uber-tight NUFC defence) it will take a real feat of effort (and luck) to return with any spoils this time: home win.


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