A trip to Manchester City is on the agenda which is seldom good news for fans of Newcastle given our dismal record when visiting the blue half of Manchester. Actually, come to think of it, when visiting Manchester full stop.
The talent that Roberto Mancini has at his disposal is there for all to see. They have some truly world class players within their ranks and are always a dangerous team to play. Yet this term they’ve failed to build on the success of their title last season and look a shadow of the team that wrestled the Premier League trophy from their city neighbours on the final day of the last campaign.
As I mentioned in my match preview, for me this game is a write off. Damage limitation if you like. Just because they are pretty much out of reach of Manchester United it doesn’t mean that they are no longer a good side. They have a mean defence and a home record that compares with the best. It will be tough.
They also have a lot of players back in contention for them, again as pointed out in my match preview. We, on the other hand, are starting to see our injury list lengthen again and will struggle to name two actual full-backs for the game.
Being a 3pm game on a Saturday means that we aren’t being shown live here in the UK. However we are being shown live on a whole host of overseas channels, probably due to the fact we’re playing Manchester City. We’ve also sold out our ticket allocation so there will be plenty of fans who can’t make the game today who will perhaps be wanting to watch it online. Normal rules apply regarding streams, those being that if you find a good one then please share it with your fellow NUFC fans by leaving the link in the ‘comments’ section below.
Team news will today be provided by Big Dave. I’m at work and will be finished in time for kick-off (hopefully!) but I won’t be able to post the team news when it becomes available. You can see it in full at the bottom of this article.
Which just about wraps it up and it’s up to the players to perform at the Etihad. Will it be a case or more misery in Manchester or will we see some unlikely heroes instead?
Howay the lads!
Man City: Hart; Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Lescott, Clichy; Barry, Yaya Toure; Silva, Nasri, Tevez; Dzeko.
Subs: Pantilimon, K Toure, Kolarov, Garcia, Milner, Sinclair, Aguero
Newcastle: Elliot; Simpson, S.Taylor, Yanga-Mbiwa, Gutierrez; Anita, Cabaye (c); Obertan, Sissoko, Gouffran; Cisse.
Subs: Harper, Good, Perch, Bigirimana, Gosling, Marveaux, Campbell
Pathetic all round
stevep(Quote)
This is not good ,not good at all our goal difference is takeing a hammering now ,Perch og 🙄 😳
KIMTOON(Quote)
Oh dear. Bring on Benfica.
Toon TRW(Quote)
Newkie@148 ,Now now ,don’t you know all teams are equal and all suffer injuries that hurt them just ask B&B. 🙄
KIMTOON(Quote)
Horrible deterioration since the dizzing heights when the four new players came in. Think we have run out of the magic steam that new players bring and now we are back to the same old excuses of intensity, injuries, pitches, youth, fans which are all mitigating circumstances singular to Newcastle utd.
michael12(Quote)
Sweet Jesus ,Benfica will have a field day if we play like this ,we are utterly toothless up front .
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dede do you think we’ll win 😆 😆
Big Dave(Quote)
What is it with Wigan every season get themself out the mire leading 1.0 now 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
OH AYE DAVE
😆
Wee Dede 9(Quote)
WEE DEDE 9 thats it son keep the faith 😉 😉
Big Dave(Quote)
**** – Wigan moving within 3 points at this rate
stevep(Quote)
We haven’t been that bad in the second half, but City have had one of those games where everything is falling for them.
The Kid(Quote)
What a bad game?
Really not danger, only few chances created, looses possesion too quickly.
HBA39(Quote)
Get Ryan Taylor, Tim Krul, Santon, Debuchy back for fulham game.
I praying for that. 😥 😥
Getting back Ben arfa is impossible for this season.
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
thank fuk thats over
Big Dave(Quote)
Oh we need tiote of last season back too. 😳
AngelOfDeath(Quote)
Bloody Saints and Wigan win 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
How big of a game is the derby gonna be. The loser if there is one will be staring at relegation
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Always thought Saints would get out of it.
Toby le Rhone(Quote)
Well that was ***** but not surprising. 😕 Hopefully with a few of the injured players back we’ll be able to put in a convincing performance against someone, but not like we did today.
Lessons learnt
1) Simpson IS ***** and needs to leave in the summer (no new contract)
2) Jonas isn’t a left back and whilst trying his hardest couldn’t fill that role, though I’m not sure that Santon would’ve done any better.
3) Obertan offers very little as we all knew, sell him in the summer.
4) City are a united team and will rip you a new one if you say otherwise.. Hmm… Mr Cabaye.
5) We are NOT safe from relegation and need to pull our fingers out. Enough of this French comradery *****, put in a convincing performance or you are dropped.
6) Teams have figured out Sissoko, he did well considering but hits it too far in front of himself now.
Andymag(Quote)
We will be fine. Our home form will keep us up as we only need two wins from the last 7.
The Kid(Quote)
15th now just 2 above the Scum and far from safe thanks to Saints and Wigan pulling wins out the hat.
KIMTOON(Quote)