The home side lost 2-1 at Fulham on Monday night whilst Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City lost the Manchester derby to Manchester United.
While both sides are undoubtedly looking for a win, the three point reward would come in very handy for differing reasons. Newcastle need to pull an unlikely result out of the bag in attempt to pull away from the relegation spots whilst Manchester City will be looking for the three points to keep them in touch with their arch-rivals from the other side of Manchester at the top of the table.
Newcastle:
Hatem Ben Arfa made a scoring return at Craven Cottage on Monday after missing the previous four games with a hamstring problem. Unfortunately it would appear that he aggravated the injury against Fulham and is now doubtful for the visit of City tomorrow.
Also sidelined are Yohan Cabaye, Steven Taylor, Dan Gosling, Haris Vuckic and Ryan Taylor although Gabriel Obertan is edging closer towards being available once again*.
Manchester City:
Vincent Kompany is unlikely to play after being give only a “2% chance” of making the game by Roberto Mancini. Gareth Barry is suspended while former Magpie James Milner misses out with a hamstring injury. Also sidelined are Micah Rochards, Jack Rodwell and Aleksandar Kolarov.
Previously…
It’s been seven years since we last beat Manchester City. That win came back in September 2005 courtesy of a single goal by Michael Owen. Since that victory we’ve managed just two draws in eleven games against the Citizens.
At St James’ Park we have the upper hand in terms of historical meetings. There have been 82 games played in all competition at St James’ Park and Newcastle have won 50 of them. Manchester City have won on 15 occasions with 17 draws making up the numbers over the years. Our biggest ever home victory over City came back in October 1983, with United running out 5-0 winners on that occasion.
Overall, home and away in all competitions, United have the upper hand but it’s much closer. Of 165 meetings between the two sides, Newcastle have won 70, Manchester City have won 57 matches with the other 38 ending in a draw.
Match stats and facts…
Newcastle are poor in the month of December. We’ve lost 41 matches played in this month, more than any other Premier League team in the entire history of the competition.
It’s been 61 games since Newcastle have turned a half-time deficit into a full-time victory.
Newcastle are ten point worse off than we were at the same stage last season.
On a smaller scale but along the same lines, City are yet to win in December.
Mancini’s men have kept clean sheets in their last three away matches. They have never kept four away clean sheets in a row. Ever.
City have not lost back-to-back Premier League matches for over two years.
Final thought…
This is one of those games where expectations of a result amongst the fan base remain low. With Newcastle on such a dire run of form and City full of strength the conception is that we’ll get turned over at St James’ Park tomorrow.
Maybe we will, maybe we won’t, but I’m not expecting anything other than defeat. Obviously I’d like us to give it a go and get the three points but the way we’ve been playing I just can’t see it. Stranger things have happened though…
Howay the lads!
Date: Saturday, 15th December, 2012
Time: 12:45pm – Live on Sky
Venue: St James’ Park
Kimtoon… sometimes a hoof ball is required, I’m not against it, but with the forwards we have we cannot play it effectively. We should play the ball more through the team, through the midfield, but we don’t have enough “footballers” in midfield at the moment, we need HBA and Cabye back asap, and a big footballing but commanding centre half brought in January.
Actually, if Pardew cannot see the glaring deficiencies in the team, and doesn’t get it sorted out, then he deserves the wrath of the fans, and the media pressure. He get’s paid exorbitant amounts of money to do something that we would love to do. We’ve been poor for months now and he needs to get it sorted pdq.
I
I think the failure to strengthen our defence
Munich Mag(Quote)
As Bon Jovi once said ‘keep the faith’ 🙂 2-1 to the Toon 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
God I think I’m going to throw up
So nervous
Don’t even know why, it’s all about next week really
SolanosTrumpet(Quote)
AussieMag@77…. gotta love your optimism matey 😆
Hope your missus has a big tin of chocolate biscuits to lure you out from under the bed tomorrow when you go there in a huff after another inept toon display … 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Sharpy17, as you point out, just cos you hoy lots of money at a team doesn’t necessarily mean success, but there is “lots” of money, and “LOTS” of money, and that’s why I hate Man City and Chelsea. Am also pretty envious too by the way.
The irritating thing is that wor owner isn’t a pauper, and he’s earning a canny wedge from the Sky TV money alone. He needs to part with some of that money in January otherwise we’ll get relegated imo, then his investment will really take a hit. That’s why I think we will spend in January, but as always our lot think we are the only ones looking to spend in January… 😕
Also assuming of course that Pardew can 1) actually identify the players to improve the team, and 2) get them to sign for the toon…
Over to you AP, we are all watching.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Eminem 🙂 just trying to shine a light in the dark mate 🙂
The only way I will be pissed off is if we don’t put up a fight. If we lay down and spread our **** cheeks for City to plunder, then I will need those biscuits. 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Oh god, who got Munich started about Dortmund again?…
🙄 😆
Newkie(Quote)
AussieMag… better get your lass put on standby mate…. 😥 though your light is shining brightly matey….
If AP can get a result from this game, then he’ll go up in my expectations.
I can see a performance tomorrow where we have very little posession in the final third, huff and puff a lot, then ship in three goals due to defensive errors, and the obvious class difference between top international world cup strikers coming up against Championship defenders.
Anita, Jonas and Tiote have a lot on there hands tomorrow, the game will revolve around how well they perform.
Munich Mag(Quote)
Yalreet Newkie… 😉
Now Dortmund, they are a great side, funny that you mention it … 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Aussie did you get my apology 😉
It’s not too good to see you have another good feeling for today, that normally means only one thing 😈
Big Dave(Quote)
Munich..You’d be better off “seeing a performance” today rather than tomorrow 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Munich 😉
Re today…I was confident until Aussie was confident…. 😛
Newkie(Quote)
Big Dave, is it the same type of apology that I made to Troy some months back 🙂 🙂 🙂 I don’t really have a good feeling mate but someone has to fly the flag on here 🙂 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Richie he is fishing mate (Munich)
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Aussie, nope, he’s just not very bright 😉 😆
richietoon(Quote)
Newkie, what are you doing up?? 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Richie that is true but I like to try and give him a little credit 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
You really shouldn’t 😉
richietoon(Quote)
richietoon it’s still Friday here, don’t you know there’s a time difference between Munich and Richietoon la la land… 😆
Munich Mag(Quote)
Aussie-I’m actually getting up at 7am every week day now so you can fook reet off, weekends? Well, if it wasn’t for this fckin half 12 kick off…. 😆
Newkie(Quote)
Munich 😆 do you watch motd over there?…I know it hasn’t been worth it lately like.
richietoon(Quote)
Richietoon land 🙂 🙂 where the rivers are gravy and the clouds are marshmellows 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Munich..tbf it doesn’t shock me that you are a day behind everyone else 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Aussie…I prefer marshmallows 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Newkie, poor bigger 🙂 🙂 just be thankful that you are not unemployable like Richie 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
I’m not unemployable but I am “sackless” apparently 🙄 😆
richietoon(Quote)
I see the Microsoft Richietoon 7 spell check is working. Wonderful software 🙂 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
Richie 🙂 🙂
Aussie Magpie Fan(Quote)
wrong thread 😉 >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
richietoon(Quote)
Newkie@95 aye but that’s just ti gan ti the netty… then you’re back to your scratcher … 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Richietoon motd aye great programme that like, we get it ower here. Knows his stuff that Jimmy Hill bloke like…. 😎
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich – yeah, that’s kinda what I’m suggesting. It’s doesn’t really matter who we bring in in Jan – although I’m not saying we shouldn’t bother – but with the tactic Pards is using at the mo, that’s our biggest problem at the moment IMO
Sharpy17(Quote)
Munich..Ya sarky fecker, it works canny on here http://www.filmon.com/#LIVE 😉
richietoon(Quote)
Richie@108….sorry mukka….cheers for that link 😉
Munich Mag(Quote)
Munich… I just go on the free version, I click on the HD tab and maximise, it usually works ok, if not I just put it on the SD for a bit. Good thing is ya don’t need owt like expat shield for it to work 😉
richietoon(Quote)