It’s a game of chalk and cheese when it comes to money spent this summer. City have splashed in the region of £90 million on incoming transfers over the summer whilst United’s only outlay thus far is a £2 million loan fee for Loic Remy.
However, trying to be optimistic here, football is simple. It’s a game of eleven men against eleven and it’s not always the overwhelming favourite who comes out on top. Can United bridge the gap in financial muscle for 90 minutes this evening? Or will be a case of what we have become accustomed to whenever we meet up with Man City these days?
For more background regarding the match please feel free to have a look at my match preview which is linked at the bottom of this article. It features news of injuries for both sides, a history of the fixture, some random thoughts and some (not so) fun stats.
Team news is detailed in full below although I do apologise for the delay in getting it to you. My internet has decided to play silly buggers at the wrong time so I’ve had to use my phone as a WiFi network to get internet juice running through my laptop. Between you and me though, my internet stopped working shortly after I started hacking my bedroom carpet up with a stanley knife blade so the two may well be linked…
Enough about me though. A disappointing close season it has been but at last we have regular football to watch again. The big questions is will we be able to sit and watch it for the whole 90 minutes?
Howay the lads!
Manchester City: Joe Hart; Pablo Zabaleta, Vincent Kompany, Joleon Lescott, Gael Clichy; Jesus Navas, Fernandinho, Yaya Toure, David Silva; Edin Dzeko, Sergio Aguero
Subs: Costel Pantilimon, Aleksandar Kolarov, Javi Garcia, Jack Rodwell, James Milner, Samir Nasri, Alvaro Negredo
Newcastle: Tim Krul; Mathieu Debuchy, Steven Taylor, Fabricio Coloccini, Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa; Cheick Tiote, Jonas Gutierrez; Hatem Ben Arfa, Moussa Sissoko, Yoan Gouffran; Papiss Cisse
Subs: Rob Elliot, Paul Dummett, Vurnon Anita, Sylvain Marveaux, Gabriel Obertan, Sammy Ameobi, Shola Ameobi
The Telegraph is reporting that Ashley, in a direct conversation with Arsenal’s contract negotiator **** Law, responded to Arsenal’s £10.2 million bid with the words: “Which part of him do you want to buy?”
batty(Quote)
ST – sorry mate but Cabaye wouldn’t have made much difference tonight like. Pardew absolutely should take a large portion of the blame for tonight. **** formation and no shake up at all from last season. Tiote and Jonas still first choice selection while Anita and Marv rot on the bench again – how long before they are pushing for transfers?!.
Pardew may not be getting the support from MA and JFK but he’s in charge of team performance. In the link Prem posted earlier today he said he was happy with his squad.
Cabaye may or may not be on his way out – but he could have just been injured tonight – then what mate?
Sharpy17(Quote)
Kim–I’m glad you said that about Carragher because I couldn’t understand much of what he said at all and I thought it was because I’m American.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Dummet looked the better fullback really.
We need to stop trying to make passes in air behind the central defender for Cisse we loose the ball always and receive counter attack.
How can Benny pass to a player, he tries 2 combinations with Cisse and Gouffran first half 2 times the second pass was ****.
Just not quality upfront to play football.
AND *** DEBUCHY WAS SO ****. Put santon and Dummet as fullback next week please with Coloccini and Mbiwa as CD.
HBA39(Quote)
You can hear the cigs in Pellegrini’s voice!
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
GT:
Joe was at St James’.
He didn’t realise it was an away game.
Pootle(Quote)
Lescott FSOTC
This whole buy English is a laugh (mainly because English players are mostly *****)
i thought it would be better to buy the best we can get.
Santii(Quote)
and if we can sell Debuchy with Cabaye it would be good even for 3 or 4 milllion.
HBA39(Quote)
Wait–City had twice as many English players as us, which is to say two in the starting line-up. Dummet was decent when he came on though.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Santii @ 276 I watched the game on a big screen in HD and I saw Saylor with eyes on the ball and Aguerro leaning into him with eyes only on Saylor. No excuse for the swinging arm, though. A yellow, for me. Had there been no swinging arm – a free kick to Newcastle.
brisvegas(Quote)
Hands up who thought we wouldn’t get stuffed today?
Exactly have a bit of perspective we are **** against man city and will be for as long as we have the same stupid tactics
Fans – yes buy English who can work around this fancy technical Frenchman apparently. We need some balls like Nolan and Barton and Carroll have us.
Liam southern toon(Quote)
I think you have your black and white specs on Bris 😀 Taylor knew what he was doing. He didnt like Kun backing into him.
Santii(Quote)
brisvegas 🙄
Saylor knew exactly what he was doing. he has a history of making similar stupid mistakes..
mark(Quote)
Heeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeere’s Alan!
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Good account of ourselves in the 1st half?
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
not concerned that will do for me pards 😆 😆 😆
batty(Quote)
Pardew says he will put out a team thats a lot more offensive at home… I cant wait to see this 3 players over the half way line 😀
Santii(Quote)
Give me English any day that should be our core and then pad out with luxury Frenchman not the other way round
Liam southern toon(Quote)
That’s what I was afraid of Pootle @306. 😆 Is he actually aware of the bid for Cabaye? Probably not. He dozed off for a while there mate. 😆
GeordieTwo(Quote)
Pardew says we need to field a team that is more offensive at home.
Well, personally speaking I found that pretty offensive, so good luck there.
Pootle(Quote)
Pardew said we are better prepared than ever then serves up this bollocks. Logically we should have taken the best performing elements of our team and Shola has been decent pre season. Put aside your bias and see the logic. What we saw from Cisse today was horrendous. The man could not even take two touches with the ball before giving it away. MArv sits on the bench when his pace and creativity was needed today.
Pardew has a philosophy and it is just rubbish. He needs to look beyond that and try somethings rather than try to get a different result by doing the same thing over and over again. It has comprehensively failed what does it take to change ploy?
Europe is gone that is not an excuse for him and judging from what i saw today what we would consider banker games are not banker games but game we are going to have to drag results from and ugly results at that.
We should have tried for a goal or two today we were never going to do that with that setup. Cisse is dead we played with 10 men then 9 when Taylor left. HBA and Sissoko should flank our striker pref Gouf or Shola NOT Cissewho needs the ball set up on the line to score.
Ba, Ramadan, Eid, Cabaye’s wife, man city too strong all excuses for him. Sorry it does not wash with me. HBA played too but performed reasonably well and did not rely on the excuse we were playing city.
Michael12(Quote)
We need a settled back four with Mbiwa and Collocinni in the centre and Taylor on the bench IMO. What it lacks in height, it makes up for in quality and Mbiwa has the pace to cover Collo. Just don’t give away so many corners. Taylor has always done stupid things like the arm swing. There are times when I’ve watched a replay and thought, ‘how did he get away with that’.
DJG(Quote)
Well I watched it on my even bigger HD TV and replayed it twice with my TiVo box. He clotheslined the back of his head on purpose. Simple as that. Its possible to hit someone without having to stare at them.
If he hadn’t got a red card City could easily have complained the ref was too soft.
Pootle(Quote)
So it’s official ,Pards has just comfirmed Cabs head has been turned 👿
KIMTOON(Quote)
Santii: Of course I have black and white specs on – I’m a Newcastle fan through and through. 😆
brisvegas(Quote)
I agree we need some steel, but It’s not necessarily English. To be fair, Tiote is supposed to be that bulwark, and Neville just made a very good point, that our central midfield was completely overmatched and even outnumbered at times. He also hasn’t been at his best and I wonder if he’s lost it.
I do think this is the kind of game Cabaye could have made a difference in… or a player like Cabaye. Last season, he was far from convincing to me, but at his best, he is a player that can control a midfield when necessary. I don’t know that he was the creative string-puller we needed, but he can be a very strong central midfield component. I wonder how much his contribution was limited by our tactics last season.
Unfortunately, he seemed out of it last season and seems now to be distracted and I wonder if we’ll ever see him at his best again–or if we ever really saw his best for us.
Pardew, man, I really want to believe you can pull things together with a less chaotic season, but you’re not getting a less chaotic season and I’m struggling to keep any kind of hope for you, buddy.
We’ll learn a lot more agains Wham, I guess.
Sigh.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Mark: Try reading my comment again, particularly the part about there being no excuse for the swinging arm.
brisvegas(Quote)
The bid for Cabaye brought a hilarious snub from Mike Ashley who made a joke of Arsenal’s bungled transfer policy.
Arsenal’s transfer fixer **** Law, who has yet to land any of their big targets, rang Ashley offering £10.2m and the Newcastle owner quipped: “Which bit of him do you want to buy?”
The joke went over Law’s head as he replied: “No, we want to buy all of him. The player wants to play for Arsenal.” Ashley claimed they would only start talking at £20m and hit back: “He may want to play for Arsenal but he’s got three years left on his contract here.”
mark(Quote)
Well I really hope PSG come in for Cabs now as I do not want Arsenal to get him based on the awful timing of their poxy ***** bid.
KIMTOON(Quote)
That Van Wolfswinkel goal for Norwich was a great header. Nice.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Fans ,agree ,they have a good player there.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Pootle: You must have a big one, then.
brisvegas(Quote)
@Bris. I saw your comment thru my 32″ HD monitor and you said it was a little harsh and should of been a yellow.. the ref, Pards and Saylor agree it was stupid.. Red card was appropriate 😛
mark(Quote)
who give a **** when Arsenal bid, why should they wait, they have 2 weeks left of the window and are ready to bid. Why is Pardew even concerned with the timing. He should be more concerned with our transfer timing or lack of it..
mark(Quote)
The comment from that Arsehole official that “The player wants to play for Arsenal” is a bit concerning.
Fans Should Own The Club(Quote)
Fans ,suggest a tapping up has taken place.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Well, steven taylor has shown yet again what a fucking joker he is. Such a bad defender it’s unreal, what a clown. Clear the wages and get a real winger/striker in? Yes please.
Newkie(Quote)
Final thought : Is Marveaux another one being kept for a sale? Surely he offers more coming off the bench than Sammy Ameobi. Has Kinnear been told to sell midfielders before he can buy a striker? Goodnight folks.
DJG(Quote)
Did anyone listen to APs post match interview?? He said we looked good and threatened up until the sending off (when in truth they should have been 5-0 up). He also said we showed fight and spirit???
Is this man for real, he needs to go and quick. Nothing has changed, nothing will change and we will only get worse as our squad continues to weaken. Hes a coward and a liar.
buddy(Quote)
Well 3 touches in their box and 1 shot all night tells its own story really 😳
KIMTOON(Quote)
@buddy
The bloke is a total joke. we showed a good account of ourselves but the sending off really hurt us. 😯 🙄 😆
When asked about reinforcements, Pards admitted another striker. he obviously thinks we only need one player. We’ll probably sell Cabaye and get in another loan player.
I reckon Ashley is banking as much as he can before selling us..
mark(Quote)
Let’s not delude ourselves dummy should be out on loan!all you simmo willo fregy and tav haters ,they should of played tonite the defence was a joke!!!
steveo(Quote)
http://www1.skysports.com/watch/video/sports/football/competitions/premier-league/8879218/pardew-unhappy-with-%27disrespectful%27-bid
mark(Quote)
…at least Pardew is still manager. 😎
Rodzilla(Quote)
Three odd years I’ve basically been alone plugging away how Simpson wasn’t as **** as constantly made out to be, how he was rarely our worst player on the pitch. All that time I was told how every problem both in our attack and defense was down to him, not closing down opponents or being unable to pass. Granted, his “footballing” ability is average at best, but **** me Debuchy can’t defend to save his fucking life can he, and this is the player who people were saying would transform our team and we needed to get over the line? As I thought, average at best. BUY SOME PEOPLE FROM OUTSIDE OF FRANCE **** ME. Get Carr to spain at least, **** sake.
Newkie(Quote)
Debuchy was clearly affected by the Cabaye **** but that’s no excuse. Dummett looked the best fullback by a mile and I include our other LB’s in that. Imagine Navas running at Santon? He would be torn a new backside.
DJG(Quote)
DJG-Affected? Because his boyfriend fancies a different team? It’s fucking pathetic, same excuses as were made for Cabaye for the first half of the season “oh boo hoo we didn’t bring his BFF in” it’s absolutely shocking, these cunts need to grow a pair. I knew cabaye was a fucking slacker last year, he’s just shown what a top **** he is today by not being involved. Pathetic surrender monkey. 😉
Newkie(Quote)
…well, lol myself daft if I wasn’t a **** be jeeziz 😯
**** the bed 😕
😡 😛 😳
Rodzilla(Quote)
Well, looks like the neggers were right after all 🙄
Munich Mag(Quote)
while Arsenal are f’ing about trying to accumulate parts of Cabaye’s body… hoping PSG swoop in with a Qatar-sized offer to buy him (and his fucking mate)
M(Quote)
Leazes Terrace @LeazesTerrace 6h
Debuchy playing like a man who’s husband’s just told him he’s leaving him..
M(Quote)
I reckon Pardew would support a window where NUFC can’t buy anyone but can sell anyone, if its good for mike, puppetboy will agree.. 🙄
http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11661/8879360
mark(Quote)
Fancy WHU to turn us over on Saturday, Big Sam will be licking his lips at our spineless lot.
TonyGreenSupreme(Quote)
Right now I’ve calmed down a little here is my own assessment of last nights “performance”.
KRUL- Made some great saves and things could of been a lot worse without him. Maybe should of done better for the second goal though. Kicking and distribution still not great
-8
DEBUCHY – Dear god! What can I say about this fella? Was I watching Boumsong or Cacapa? So far since he has arrived he has been woeful (at best) and can’t defend for ****. Was never a Simpson fan but this guy is a step down in my opinion. Should be dropped if we have someone to fill in. Raylor on crutches would do better!
-0
SAYLOR – I like this guy but that’s mostly because he is daft as a brush. Looked way off the pace last night and then got stupidly sent off. Failed his audition to be Colo’s starting CB partner, M’Biwa will get settled and will not let him back in without a fight.
-3
COLO – Looked slightly off pace but even he can’t look good in a defence where two of the back four have taken the night off.
-5
M’BIWA – Struggled with Navas and Zab early on at LB. Looked a lot better at CB and with Saylor out the way will cement his place at the back next to Colo. High hopes for this lad.
-5
JONAS – Tries hard. Gives little going forward though. We need options on the wings Jonas should not be starting for me. Looked better than most though.
-6
TIOTE – I actually thought he looked ok in the first half. Difficult to judge in the second. Still tries to do too much on the ball when he is on the edge of our box. – 5
BEN ARFA – Looked like a threat right from the off (even for a fat lad!) and tried hard to make things happen.
-7
SISSOKO – Always tries hard and is literally everywhere on the pitch. Used properly as a box to box midfielder I’m convinced this lad could be a huge player for us. NOT a left winger or number 10 though.
-6
GOUFFRAN – Typical hard working display but that’s about it. I’m not sure if even he knew where he was supposed to be playing by the end of the first half though. Personally would have left him on instead of Cisse up front on work rate alone.
-5
CISSE – Not given a chance to get into the game. Too isolated up front. No creativity or supply from the wings or centre mid. Aguero would look **** in Pardews 4-2-3-1 formation.
-3
Subs:
DUMMET – it’s just one game but this lad did himself no harm last night. Showed good pace and willingness in going forward and in defence. Didn’t let the occasion or chaos get to him and was one of few shining lights. I was worried about chucking him in from the start but if he is good enough he is old enough. On last nights display he deserves his chance at West Ham.
– 8
ANITA – Did well in difficult circumstances. Tried to get some passing going.
– 6
SAMMY – Not given fair opportunity to show what he can do. Tried to provide an outlet on the left.
-5
We still lack leaders and creativity. As soon as City scored the heads dropped and we might as well of gone home. We need players through the door and if MA can’t see that now he never will. Could be a long, long season. Hold tight boys and girls!!!
Oblong(Quote)
Ok maybe I haven’t calmed down! Sorry for the long post!! 🙄
Oblong(Quote)
Tgs you could be right mate.
Not many of our players looked as if they were up for the game.
Newkie I think you’ll find a few of us so what Simpson brought to the team, rather than looking for what he didnt bring to the team.
Big Dave(Quote)
Anything changed from last season? Well yes actually, everyone else around us has strengthened their squad and we haven’t. Doesn’t bode well.
Stuart79(Quote)
City look like they mean business. We done Joe for not strengthening the team. Taylor was a disgrace with his hand balls. World class side our City. It’s only a matter of time before Newcastle get relegated because of Mike’s penny pinching. Nothing has changed and the West ham game coming up. I can’t see many team’s beating City this season.
stem(Quote)
mark@352
What exactly can “puppet boy” say to mike, Put it to the board, You cant do that at your club.
Look at Chelsea, Abramovich bought Shevchenko and made mourinho play him, Bought Torres and made Ancelotti play him. Are they puppet managers or were they just getting on with their jobs as they have absolutely no right to tell the owner what he can do with his club ??
CC(Quote)
Newkie@345 Back when we were linked with Debuchy I did a little stats comparison between him and Simmo . I found that the ONLY thing Debs offered over Simmo was the ability to get forward and put a cross in. Defensively Simmo edged it on ability . So yes I have to agree with you as for me first and foremost a defender has to be able to defend and at the moment he looks a liability . I have never been convinced he was all that and have said it often ,my only hope is he’ll come good like Colo and Enrique did after a season or so .If Cabaye leaves I think he’ll sulk and want out tbh and if that’s the case he can go as right now he’d be no loss.
KIMTOON(Quote)
So cabaye looks like he is gone.
No signings on the way
Remy injured
Its hard to put the finger on why we are so inept at the moment. The last away games going back to last season we have barely scored a goal, look like conceding six and just all round poor football.
Is it confidence?
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
CC, Whilst I agree with you @359 ,The calibre of players Roman brought in are excellent and most managers would salivate at getting Torres and Shevchenko it’s just strange how Torres has completely gone to ***** 😯 who would of thought it. Also I do think a manager can be more outspoken on their situation ,Pards should be able to bemoan the lack of strengthening without fear as there are no grounds for sacking him for stating the obvious ,and he would get respect from the fans. As I remember ,Laudrop threw a strop early on in the summer over lack of signings and the owner coughed up shortly after.
KIMTOON(Quote)
Dave-depressing those in charge don’t see it, Pardew did but naturally got slated for playing him ahead of erm…Perch, Anita and Tavernier 😯 😆 , although the torrents of abuse Simmo got from fans would also have influenced his decision to leave, and who can blame him?
Debuchy must be awesome in training, or maybe his mind was off the game because his best mate is already jumping ship like 😕
Newkie(Quote)
kim
Both chelsea managers had objections to those players coming in as good as they were and it did **** all to stop Abramovich, I honestly cant see Pardew not questioning some of these decisions particularly the transfer policy and the director of ****all but he has two options if the owner doesnt listen. Quit and throw away probably the only premier league job he will ever get and a long term contract and hefty pay or get on with it and try and make the best of it…
CC(Quote)
Kim-Aye I remember, and those stats were from when Debuchy was playing in a better side defensively and in an easier league than Simmo, I said at the time his discipline was a problem and I expected it to get worse while it was here. How many reds and pens did Simmo get for us? Debuchy looks like he will get sent off or give a pen away or both each week-in fact he got away with a pen and SHOULD have been sent off. We knew he would need some adjusting time but crikey, we really should have extended simmo’s by a year at least.
Can’t put all the blame on debuchy though, he was playing alongside an utter clown. Now that Taylor is banned hopefully we can stick with the same back 5 for a few matches and see if we can get some understanding among them.
Newkie(Quote)
CC@359-Bang on.
Newkie(Quote)
LST-Confidence has a huge part to play IMO, in football as in any sport. It’s been lacking for yonks now though 😕
Newkie(Quote)
CC , I know both managers didn’t want them and point taken but what is really apparent is that though Roman undoubtedly meddles in team affairs he has only the best of wishes for the club. That much is obvious with the, as I said calibre of player he was ‘ forcing on the managers’ ,still think most managers would of loved a Torres or Shechenko chucked at them. The only player Jabba would chuck at Pards is Carlton cole 😆
KIMTOON(Quote)
Very simple solution. Pardew out and someone who can coach the team and get the best out of our players. We are inept and can understand why Ashley wont spend. Ashley is not the bad guy here, we have a team of international footballers who look anything like a team. We are a good manager away from saving this season, and a striker! Really dont think he will bite the bullet this early though. If this had been against Hull or Stoke for example he would be gone, but as it was Man City he will have some more time. I simply think Mike has made a massive error in judgement in allowing him to remain over the summer. We dont need billions spending, we need a decent coach/man manager.
It has been said a million times before, but until pardew goes I just dont think we will go anywhere fast. Thankfully Saylor is out for 3 games so Yanga can play CB and I hope Dummett gets his chance, with Santoon coming into RB. Remy must be wondering WTF he has done.
Raffo(Quote)
Does Pardew have a crush on Jonas ? Anita and Marveux our much better imo. I hope Jonas is out for a few months.
stem(Quote)
rogers/moyes/avb & lambert’s replies to recent bids for their players..
NOT FOR SALE!
pardew’s – not acceptable!
meaning – offer a few more quid & he’s all yours.
i’d hate to be in the trenches with – jelly spine – the white flag would be up in a shot.
as raffo points out – we are going nowhere fast with him as manager.
roy cropper(Quote)
I think we should look for something different. Historically we have gone for people like Pardew, Sourpuss, Allardyce, KK, lets try something different.
I think we should try and get De Boer and Bergkamp from Ajax. They obviously like to play a certain way,are raw and untested relatively, much in the Laudrupp situation. I think they wouldnt demand massive wages and I think it would be a massive chance for Mike to show what he is about.
It would be a risk, of course, but why not try and change something. Better to go down fighting than bend over and take it up the tail pipe.
I have had enough. Pardew out, De Boer in. Ashley can stay but he has to show ambition. Sack pardew now
Raffo(Quote)
That’s the first time in many many years I’ve switched off at half time.
Embarrassing. City were unstoppable and the new manager has really made a difference.
Scratching around for any positives. Krul, Colo, HBA and Sissoko looked decent. Is Cisse a footballer even? Shola’s much better . . .
I’d like Pardew gone immediately but where does that leave us with only 10 days of the window left. We’ll see after West Ham but I can’t see a win.
georgio(Quote)
My Journo pal has emailed me saying that Cabaye bid of £10m included a player. He reckons Rosicky but cant confirm.
Would make a bit more sense but considering Arsenal are as tight as us it does seem they would just bid £10m
Liam Southern Toon(Quote)
Rosicky is sicknote personified. I wouldnt take anyone from Arsenal really, maybe Gibbs at LB, but they all are overhyped. Would much rather the money, or player plus cash from PSG or even better Man u. Powell and maybe Buttner for him
Raffo(Quote)