Newcastle v Manchester City – our thoughts

Nicky Toon

Ahead of tomorrow night’s match-up with City, we were quizzed by a few university sports journalism students on our thoughts on Newcastle and their chances.

After being asked a series of questions regarding Tuesday night, we figured we may as well place our answers here for you all to enjoy.

So here we go…

How are you feeling ahead of tomorrow’s game?

More confident than I thought I’d be. Our 3-0 win against Swansea certainly gives us some hope but we know it won’t be easy after the way the Citizens took apart Chelsea at the weekend.

After a much needed victory over Swansea City, how much confidence does this give the players ahead of tomorrow?

It will be huge. It’s our first win under Rafa and you got the feeling things were really starting to come together for the lads at St James’ Park. Without sounding hyberbolic, last week’s win could be the catalyst for something good.

How will the Magpies line-up? Who will play and in what formation?

I imagine it will be pretty similar to last Saturday. Rafa will stick with two holding midfielders to give the back four extra protection (Colback and Tiote maybe?) and after starting Mitrovic on the bench at the weekend, I imagine he will probably get a start on Tuesday night.

You haven’t beat Manchester City at home since 2005, why do you think it stretches back this far?

The money of Sheikh Mansour and incompetence of Mike Ashley. Next.

How do you think Newcastle should approach this?

Although we kept a clean sheet against Swansea, I still don’t have too much faith in our back four. We should start cautiously for the first 20 minutes then take the game to them – we have no other option!

Where will the key battles take place? Who should both sides be wary of?

The Man City back four looked very solid against PSG last week and I imagine Mitro will have his work cut out tomorrow night. And whilst I’ve been suitably impressed by youngster Jamaal Lascelles recently, marking Sergio Aguero will certainly be a good litmus test of how far he’s come should Benitez start him at centre back.

What are your score predictions?

As ever the optimistic Magpies, I’m going go for a 1-1 draw.

Where do you think both teams will finish this season? Do you think avoiding relegation is still possible, despite still having to play Liverpool and Spurs?

If I had a gun to my head, I’d still say we’re going down but of course hope I’m proved wrong. City will likely finish third.

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314 thoughts on “Newcastle v Manchester City – our thoughts”

  1. We’ve got those dirty dingoes down in Sunderland worried now. We’re hot on their tails and Rafa has laid the whip to us in the final stretch!

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  2. Norwich are looking very nervous as well. And they’re playing that way. We’ll pass both of them in the coming weeks! HWTL!!!

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  5. Sack them! Sack those dirty dogs! Send them packing! Charnley oot!!!! Carr oot!!!! Board oot!!!!

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  8. Bit tongue in cheek, TAE. Although be honest he’s done as much as most players in the squad and he’s only played about 5 games.

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  10. So, according to the Telegraph we will beg Rafa to stay if we go down and Jabba will give him full control and he won’t need to sell anybody unless he wants them to go.

    That would be one hell of a commitment form Jabba of that happened!

    Can’t see it…

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  13. Kim – who have you got the Scum & Norwich picking points up from like?
    And what’s your predictions for us?.

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  14. I truly hope it doesn’t get to a stage where we are having to beg Rafa – because we survive and stay up.

    But if we do go down, I think there is a chance (a slim chance) that Rafa may agree to give us 1 season to try & get us back up straight away.
    If he’s getting paid the wage & has things his way, why not?! – unless something bigger is offered.

    Arsenal, Man Utd or PSG could be a real possibility (if Arsene decides to call it a day, and depending on where Jose ends up).

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  15. Sharpy – He won’t go to Man Utd because of his Liverpool links, I doubt Arsenal would take him because he doesn’t seem to play the expensive game but PSG a possibility. But where’s the challenge with them? It’s like in Scotland!

    I see us beating Palace, Villa and getting a point at least against Spurs. That’s 36 as a minimum and how often has a club needed more than 36 to stay up? Does anybody know? It’s not been often I’m sure.

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  16. Stu – I personally think 35 points would be enough, but would leave the final day very nervy.

    I think Norwich end on 32/33 points and the Scum the same.

    I know PSG offers little competition, but league titles & CL with a real chance of getting as far as the semis or finals – I reckon that would be a greater draw than Brentford or Preston away.
    Still, hopefully keeping us in the PL and the project thereafter will be enough to keep him here.

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  17. My worry is “if”we stay up will jabba give Rafa the power to do what is needed,I wouldn’t trust jabba to end of the street he’s made promises before even 100% promises that mean nothing

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  18. Sharpy17:
    Kim – who have you got the Scum & Norwich picking points up from like?
    And what’s your predictions for us?.

    Can’t remember cause I did it twice 😆 but I know I put us down for only one more win or 2 draws like.

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  19. Assuming we lose to liverpool, who are in red hot form we will bwhind sunderland by 1 point. but they a will have 2 games in hand.

    Sunderland have lost 1 in 6 and have just stuffed their relegation rivals by 3 goals away from home.
    They have taken 6 points from 15 and are on the rise. They currently have 30 points, so assuming they will finish on 32 or 33 is wildly optimistic. Theybhave games against some very inconsistent sides whilst Stoke and Watford are out of form and have sod all ro play for. I think they will finish on 36, which means we would need 8 points from 3 games to stay up, as finishing level on points wont do it due to bad goal difference. It’s doable but is a tough task. If we beat Liverpool then its game on but cant see it myself.

    If we can convinve Rafa to stay then brilliant. Would be much happier no matter which division we are in. Tall task though.

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  20. Oh and I agree with Aussies senriments about how feckless and lazy the squad has been all season. Only showing effort now is disgraceful, but no doubt it was not helped by Scteve not making tough decisions and not dropping big name players when he should have done – and the boards failure to act sooner was also a huge mistake.

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  21. I think we need 38 which is 3 wins. Not impossible, but quite improbable.

    35% on the Stuart-O-Meter is my view.

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  22. Never like to see someone injured but it doesn’t look like Origi will be playing on Saturday… 👿 🙂 let’s just hope Sturridge comes on and gets a little niggle too!

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  23. Can’t see Norwich getting much more than 3 more points putting them on 34, think the scum are capable of getting a win and 2 draws at least so that’s 35. We should be capable of a win v Villa but Pool, Spuds and even Palace worry me frankly. Even Villa could turn it on now the pressure is off.

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  24. Shamrock:
    Oh and I agree with Aussies senriments about how feckless and lazy the squad has been all season. Only showing effort now is disgraceful, but no doubt it was not helped by Scteve not making tough decisions and not dropping big name players when he should have done – and the boards failure to act sooner was also a huge mistake.

    spot on mate, I don’t care if they didn’t rate steve, it’s a big two fingers up to fifty odd thousand fans all season, who lets face it, help pay their inflated wages.

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  28. Shamrock – It’s not totally inconceivable that Sunderland don’t win any of their next 3 games. All are tough. Us on the other hand should pick up at least 6 points from our next 3. At this stage of the season games that are the easier ones can all of a sudden look harder if your opponent has won and pressure is on.

    I personally feel any of the teams that get 11/12 points from their last 6 will stay up. So far we have 4 of those points and Sunderland have 3.

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  29. Liverpool
    ◾They have lost just one of their past eight league matches.
    ◾However, Liverpool haven’t won back-to-back Premier League games at Anfield since May 2015.
    ◾Roberto Firmino has been involved in 12 goals in his past 11 league games (eight goals, four assists).
    ◾Daniel Sturridge has scored in four of his past five Premier League appearances.

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  31. Kim – We won’t defend as bad as Everton have tonight. Rage has us a lot more organised now. Also I doubt the same team will play as tonight so we might pick up something. After all, who expected us to get anything from City apart from me?

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  33. Stu, If we were home I would be more hopeful of a point or two, it’s just we are so poor away and frustratingly inconsistent .

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  34. Ouch… get all of these goals out of the way before Saturday. A purge. Before you play us.

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  35. Stu, Everton have really lost their way last few weeks and it’s bloody typical Norwich have them last day of the season and I can see them beating them, especially if they need to , to survive, also Scum have them the week before and bloody Watford last day. 👿

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  38. A purge, a super cleanse or whatever you call it. A colonic. Get it all out Liverpool. You know you have to slim down before you meet NUFC and you don’t have any goals left.

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  39. Well watching the games tonight, I don’t see us getting much joy from Lpool – unless they are busy focusing on Europe beyond us.

    But more importantly, I don’t think we can count on any favours from Everton or Watford in their games against Scum or Norwich – both look like they have ended their season already … or Watford focused on the Cup now they are safe.

    Both managers could be at risk of getting sacked if reports are to be believed.

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  41. Despite what they have done tonight, i think a team who will be to worried about Europe on Saturday, 1-2 and 3 points for us, after last night I’m 65%. The way Newcastle performed last night was something else. Rafa has worked wonders with the team no matter what happens in the end. I’m sure we can pull it off and be relaxed by the time we play Spurs as all be done

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  42. So, here Kimtoon:

    I declare a holiday. Fall asleep, drift away.

    Sometimes you sulk, sometimes you burn. God rest your soul. When the loving comes and we have already gone..

    Just like your Da … you’ll never change.

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  43. ****: living in America I hadn’t heard much of that Ed Sherin but he is *****.

    AND.

    He is totally *****. How can you lot in England think he is anything other than ugly and *****? He is like John Carver with a guitar.

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  44. Kimtoon: when you put Radiohead lyrics up it reminds me of how **** music is now. It has been Simon Cowelled, Hewie Greened without noticing. I don’t even like Radiohead That much except for The Bends and OK Computer, but it shows how great music can be.

    You will never get the next David Bowie from Xfactor.

    What you will get is bland **** that will take over.

    I don’t think it is me getting old, I think it is that most music is getting ****. Like a jingle for breakfast cereal brought to you from Simon Cowell and there is no new John Lennon or Joe Strummer.

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  45. Eric Sykes:
    Kimtoon: when you put Radiohead lyrics up it reminds me of how **** music is now. It has been Simon Cowelled, Hewie Greened without noticing. I don’t even like Radiohead That much except for The Bends and OK Computer, but it shows how great music can be.

    You will never get the next David Bowie from Xfactor.

    What you will get is bland **** that will take over.

    I don’t think it is me getting old, I think it is that most music is getting ****. Like a jingle for breakfast cereal brought to you from Simon Cowell and there is no new John Lennon or Joe Strummer.

    Eric, I agree but I do think real talent will still break through and if it’s real it will endure too. Of course it’s difficult to be ground breaking now as pretty much most innovations music wise have been done it would seem. All the same once in a while someone really special pops up but as you say it likely won’t be on the Xfactor and if it were the dumbed down audience would vote them off.

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  46. Agree Kimtoon. I will wait for the next John Lennon and Joe Strummer.

    Meanwhile you have JZ singing Hard Luck Life from Annie. Cool, Muthafcker. And Taylor Swift.

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  48. I’ve mentioned this before – if Everton sack Martinez the door’s open for Rafa there. Wouldn’t be surprised if they were talking already. Apparently we approached Rafa weeks before he agreed to come. Long before the trip to Spain.

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  49. Me Mam said that one erection were “discovered” on an xfactor type show. I am bored with myself for even knowing who they are.

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  51. Bloody hell what is going on with 2016, now Prince is dead! 🙁 we have lost some great musicians this year and it’s only April.

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  52. Just a quick review of the club’s executives:
    Lee Charnley: complete pillock. Sack him immediately.
    Graham Carr: Extremely poor player selection for at least the last 2 seasons. Thauvin? Really Graham? And how has that worked out? Cabella? Even Mitrovic. A plodding player. Has some ability to hold the ball up but will never get more than 10-12 goals in the Prem. Sack him immediately.
    Moncur: And what has he done for the club? Anything? Made up some bollocks to support the owner possibly. Sack him immediately.
    Peter Beardsley: How are things work out in the development squad Peter? Possibly time to go down to London and make fresh acquaintances with the owner’s **** Peter. Great player but that’s it. Sack him immediately.
    If you want to keep Rafa Ashley you had better wake up and let your sycophants go.

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  53. That predicted final table is bollocks Kimtoon mate. According to them we’ll finish on 31 points? Complete drivel. Rafa’s got us going now.

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  54. Back to football.

    Beardsley is managing the U21s to 2nd bottom of the bottom league. There is no reason for him to keep his job, nor the ones at the academy. We need a clearout. F minus.

    I have said before I think that Charnley was manipulated by Carr and could do a good job in a role in the finance department but having no input in player selection. C plus.

    Carr has done OK with players but he should never have been given as much power as he has. Straight C on players, A on manipulation, F on Carver and McClaren.

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  55. Did anybody else see that Villa are sacking 500 people from their staff? Where the hell do 500 people work at a football club? I can think of cleaners, physios, doctors, massagers, dinner ladies, cooks, van drivers, kit men, car valets and still wouldn’t get to 500. Do they just have 300 John Carvers who are paid for doing nowt?

    That means there were more than 500 because they are keeping the essential people.

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  57. Kimtoon: I thought Prince was OK. The press are saying he was a music “icon” and I don’t see that. If the best you do is Little Red Corvette and Purple Rain then that is not that much.

    Plus, he inflicted the Movie Purple Rain on the cinematic world. Prince is to acting and directing as Iain Dowie is to coaching and Paul Merson’s Giant Balloon Head is to punditry.

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  58. Although I have to admit I didn’t watch all of Purple Rain. It was so bad that I couldn’t watch it after about 45 minutes. A bit like the Chelsea match that I turned off at half time !

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  59. Ed Sheeran is like James Blunt. He has a hit and people are afraid to say how **** he is. Years later, people laugh at how bad he was. It is not even like Bay City Rollers because everybody knew they were ***** at the time. You will all look back at Ed Sheeran and realise how ***** he was.

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  60. We were groving it
    We were movin’ it
    ***** footing and booting it ’round
    We were boppin’ it
    We were hoppin’ it

    Well we sang shang-a-lang and we ran with the gang
    Doin’ do wop be dooby do ay
    With the jukebox playin’ and everybody saying that music like ours could never die

    YES IT COULD LES McKEOWN. YES IT COULD, You fat fck.

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  61. My favourite was always Woody. Not really, i just thought he might need a bit of help as the others were sort of cute in their Scottishness and he could compete with Carvs in an Ugly contest.

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  62. Eric, You are kidding me, Grammy’s won 7 and nominated around 35 times, 4 mtv awards and an Oscar for purple rain says otherwise. And could he dance too, though he was very strange i’ll admit. 😀

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  63. No I am not kidding. Cheap Trick were just inducted into the Rock and Roll hall of fame :). They and Prince are not that good and Purple Rain was terrible. Have a look at some past grammy winners and you will see that the selection is a bit random.

    He could dance though. I will give him that. But they can all dance on Strictly Come Dancing and I don’t watch that either.

    I don’t like The Beach Boys either so it is all a matter of taste 😉

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  64. Kim: Purple Rain must have been nominated for a special effects Oscar? No way for the music or acting (ACTING !!!) Maybe costume design?

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  67. Kimtoon: I dare you to go and watch Purple Rain again. Prince is to acting as Steven Taylor is to defending.

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  68. Prince did a lot of writing for other people too. Nothing compares to you by sinead for example. Great song.

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  69. I know Eric, allpersonal taste, I just think its a shame to see him go another one gone this year

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  70. Kimtoon: Prince won a Best Music Original Song Oscar for Purple Rain. The other nominee was “The Muppets Take Manhatton”. I swear that is true.

    Sham, I am just farting around. You ever hear Sinead sing live. Caterwauling is more tuneful.

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  71. You are on fire today Eric. Better than talking about our impending relegation and loss of Rafa I guess!

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  72. Sham: I am not trying to wind anybody up man. It was true about “Muppets take Mahatton” being Prince’s competition for the Ocsar. You can Google it.

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  74. And for the 1985 Oscar for best music/song we have Eric Sykes singing Leonard Cohen underwater whilst tap dancing, The Muppets Take Manhatton, or Prince – Purple Rain. And the Oscar goes to… Eric… No wait… Yes. Prince.

    Pity about the Movie though.

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  75. As Frank sang: “It was a very good year”. Just not 1985 for Oscars music. Muppets take Manhatton 🙂

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