Match Day Thread The Official Match Day Thread - Man City v Newcastle

HBA has just come back from a major injury, and will take time to get back to his best. Apart from his game against Blackburn, he's looked quite promising so far. I know he didn't directly assist or score a goal in his sub apps, but two of his runs started the moves for our 2nd goal vs Spurs and our goal vs Wigan.

He has the ability, he just needs to get up to the speed of the PL.

He has the potential to be a much better player than Best, and I could see an back in shape HBA and an in form Demba Ba reeking havoc.

It's not that he's "disinterested in defensive duties", It's because we shouldn't be bringing all 10 outfield players back every time we get attacked, and if there's any player I'd choose to leave up, It would be HBA, as he's the one that will most likely beat the oppositions defense and run in on goal or be a vital part of an attacking move.

If he was on the wing, I'd say I'd agree, but when he's come on he's mainly been playing as a CAM behind the strikers. He's obviously been told to stay up the pitch. Surely if he wasn't tracking back because of pure laziness and disinterest, Pardew would have talked with him about it.

HBA to start vs Citeh for me.

 

Not sure he starts but he does score

 

Would love it if he scored the winner and we won 2-1 with De Jong scoring an own goal.

 

he does score the winner, however I'm not certain who scores for them.

 

Was this a dream or something because I dreamt that we scored via a Micah Richards own goal, only to later find out it wasn't an own goal and City had won 1-0 through the Richards own goal. Hope thats not a sign.

 

Thats a nightmare mate

 

Totally agree with this, except the start part, put him in the second half imo

 

it's a tough one but Hatem might react in a way that says this is the home of the demon that tried to end my career and fight like he's going to die.

 

Nah, start him.

-------------------Ba-----------------------

Jonas-------------HBA----------------Raylor

-------Guthrie--------------Cabaye---------

Santon-----Colo-------Taylor----------Simpson

-----------------Timmeh--------------------

Bring Shola and Sammeh on as super subs in the last 15 mins or so if we need them. Also perhaps give Gosling 15 mins if we need that little bit of defensive steel, like if we;re defending a 0-0 or 1-1 draw.

 

This but swap Raylor for Santon.

 

I thought this at first but I agree with the people that responded to me saying that we need Santon to learn his place as a defender.

Raylor is highly versatile and can play RM. We need Santon to gain as much experience in a defensive role as we can.

 

wouldnt Vuckic or Abeid be worth a look behind the striker

 

why change the best defense in the league? Santon can help Simmo and he can go forward well.

 

We're going to have change it eventually mate, we're not going to keep Raylor LB forever. Sooner or later either Santon or a newly signed fullback will take his place.

Santon has bags of potential, far more than Raylor, and we need to let him have games.

Raylor can still play at RM.

 

we will only have to change it if it's not the best surly?

 

yeh but why change it for when we play the best team in the league. I like the team you put up but Raylor and Santon have to be swapped for me

 

What?

Anyway, knowing Pardew he wont change the back four, but I'd personally put Santon LB and Raylor RM.

 

I know mate no ones right or wrong really.

 

im praying we take the game to them.

 

And take the points away from them.