Game On! Manchester City v Newcastle United

Big Dave

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United travel to champions Manchester City in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday (5.30pm kick-off).
The Magpies go into the fixture on the back of a three-game unbeaten run which has seen a victory at Hull followed by two draws against Stoke and Crystal Palace.
The sides have already met twice this season. On the opening day, Manchester City ran out 2-0 winners.
However, United gained revenge a couple of months later when they beat the holders of the Capital One Cup 2-0, with Rolando Aarons and Moussa Sissoko on target.
Newcastle will be without Paul Dummett after he injured his knee cap in the 1-1 draw with Crystal Palace last time out and will likely be out for the rest of the season.
That means head coach John Carver heads to Manchester with captain Fabricio Coloccini, Mike Williamson, Daryl Janmaat and Massadio Haidara as his only fit senior defenders, while Remy Cabella (knee) is a doubt.
Nevertheless, Carver remains in confident mood and told his club’s official website: “We are going there knowing that we are playing against a good side, but we are not going to be fearful because we’ve proved that we can go there and get a result.”

Wilfried Bony will be available to make his long-awaited Manchester City debut. The Ivory Coast international striker Bony moved from Swansea City to the Etihad Stadium in January on the eve of embarking on a successful Africa Cup of Nations campaign with his country. Toure is also back and is expected to slot straight back into the starting line-up against Newcastle, while Bony will compete with Edin Dzeko and Stevan Jovetic for a place alongside top scorer Sergio Aguero as City boss Pellegrini has the pleasure of selecting from his full complement of attacking options.

Man City Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (C), Mangala, Kolarov, Nasri, Fernandinho, Toure, Silva, Dzeko, Aguero

Subs Caballero, Demichelis, Clichy, Lampard, Fernando, Navas, Bony

Newcastle Utd Krul; Janmaat, Coloccini (c), Williamson, Haïdara; Sissoko, Anita, Colback; Pérez, Cissé, Gouffran.

Subs Woodman, R.Taylor, Abeid, Obertan, Ameobi, Armstrong, Rivière.

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493 thoughts on “Game On! Manchester City v Newcastle United”

  1. ERIC I used to be a heavy gambler years ago but then again it was my own dogs I gambled on 😆 I wouldn’t give a bookie a penny of my money now,thanks for your offer but no thanks and hope you are right,now all we need is for fans to stay away from SJP,think you will find the odds on that are bad mores the pity

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  2. Psychs is just psycho and Betsy a professional whine with no logic. Actually that’s Eric as well. 😆

    Begas is a professional snide. Has the odd good point but in general a sniper. Puts condescending remarks out frequently then disappears without clarifying points.

    I think the happy clappy club know who they are. I try to distance myself from them. I get shivers thinking about their cosy love ins. I’ll name them if one of the happy clappers asks.

    Overall, the blogs improved since the new threads have been springing up.

    The one thing I do miss is the Aussie bashing. Wow! Aussie didn’t half take it up the rear some days. 😛

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  3. Stuey and Troysta are the banter boys. They like to insult people and pass it off as banter. That’s so bantabulous of them.

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  5. Stu – I thought you were more a sweet potato man, but if you want to make me a bacon sandwich I’d break bread with ya 😉

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  6. And Troysta: people are expressing a bit of frustration at the way the club is run. You have done it yourself when you said Pards should be sacked if we lost to Leicester and that we would finish 4th bottom. You forget what you say and then have a go at others for being negative. What was the last positive thing you said????

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  7. ERIC IMO collo and willo must be the worst pairing in the PL they have been so lucky in that some of the lower teams cannot hit a barn door but defend quite well at times and can grind out draws,we cannot defend and cannot score,my worry is it will be the same again next season and we will be having this same debate next year,wish I hadn’t been born in the toon lol

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  8. Stuart: I really do need to get out more. It has been minus fucking 20 degrees now in Chicago for 2 weeks.

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  10. Ice @ 307 there is no way in this world that the club can’t see that the defence has been in very bad need of repair for the last few seasons, but it seems that they get to jan each yr and if they are confident that we will stay up they are prepared to run with what we have.

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  11. DAVE imo you are going to have to change your heading for the next match,Game On,we must be joking when was the last time we “played” a game

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  12. I wonder what Remi Garde made of the game yesterday 😳
    What do you reckon Remi, still fancy giving it a go in the summer 🙄

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  13. Playing without protecting the back 4 is suicidal, and the reason defense is so poor, as average Willo is we can grab points only if we play the right way. And bad defense is frequently the consequence of bad offense.

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  15. I’m with Ice, I am seriously wondering where points are coming from, Leicester, baggies and QPR are right at the end of the season and if we keep failing to pick up points now confidence will be shot by then. Also if one or both of them is already down then they will play without pressure unlike us. Villa is a massive game but how many of our lads are really up for it, our Geordie players Dummett and Colback are both out, Janmatt looks doubtful and our left side is incredibly weak. Regarding yesterdays game, what is worrying is that City will have had one eye on the Barca game and likely were not in top gear even.

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  16. Just a brief description of Ashley’s 8 years as owner. In football terms you are a nothing Mike. A nobody. You couldn’t put together a decent girls under 6 side. You are a disgrace to the club and the city.

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  17. As for the game. What is there to say? Give away a penalty in the first minute? Every time City touched the ball it looked like they could score if they felt like it. How does Krul stand being with us now? It’s got to be embarrassing for him. The club is in a terrible state with a clueless owner who should be forced out. Boycott lads. Otherwise get set for years more of the same.

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  18. Direct quote from Peter Drury. “Newcastle have no depth at all.” Numerous other jibes at us which I must say we deserved on the day. Carver should step down but he won’t. The next 6 weeks or so are going to be a nightmare for him.

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  19. After Villa: ManU, Everton, gunners, mackems, bindippers, Spurs. How many points there? One? And if we draw or lose to Villa? Pathetic. It really is now. Another second half like last season. We limp across the finish line with 42 points or so? Then what Mike?

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  20. Would serve Jabba right if JC walked away right now imo. Leaving us so short at the back in January was an act of negligence always destined to come back at us. Every fan could see and predict it, yet not an astute business man apparently. Truth is he took yet another massive gamble with the clubs future, we’ll probably just survive now and the whole fiasco will start again next season.

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  21. What’s the plan now Jabba the Flatulent? More of the same? More dreary, pathetic football? More lies in the summer? What has Lee Charmless got to say? Still pleased with the club’s progress Lee?

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  22. Kim I didn’t expect to get anything yesterday. We didn’t even put up a fight and got what we deserved. If Carver gets the job I will give up until Ashley leaves.

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  25. The only way to get Jabba the Flatulent out is to boycott Terry. Most of the older supporters know it. Otherwise stay tuned for more of the same. The summer should be hilarious. I can’t wait to hear Lee’s excuses. It will be so refreshing.
    ” We tried to get him over the line. We are trying to strengthen the side but it is very difficult. We have no real budget and will have to sell to buy. Mike is very clear on this. We are a very poor club with no resources. Mike can’t keep dipping into his own pocket.” Blah, blah blah. Step down Charnley you fop.

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  26. Remi Garde and Alan Shearer probably had similar thoughts. Hopeless owner. No future at the club as long as the Flatulent One is there.

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  27. Eric how Ed can put that article on his blog after a defeat like that is hilarious but I would have to agree about Obertan being MOM.

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  30. G2 11 honey badger’s would have done better against City. I agree with you on that. Only trouble red cards and the match being abandoned.

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  31. The team abandoned the match in the first minute Terry mate. Somebody should dump a huge pile of rubbish with a Newcastle United flag on top in front of Mike’s castle. That’s what he has turned the club into.

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  33. Kimtoon: if Carver resigns where is he going to go? His record:

    Leeds – SACKED
    Plymouth – SACKED
    Sheffield United – SACKED
    Luton – SACKED
    Toronto – 31% win record, left by mutual consent but essentially SACKED

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  34. More comments from Lee Charmless:
    “This is no time to panic. I have complete faith in Cardew or whatever his name is. He set us up just right for Man City. I feel there is another 8 points in this team for the season. Mike is very excited about the future.”

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  36. Enough for now. I need a break from discussing the bright future the club has with The Flatulent One in charge. 👿

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  37. The only job Carver has had for a major club is us (Leeds were on the decline and bought by Bates for a pound). He was sacked by every one except NUFC. If your CV had 5 out of 6 sackings on it by ****-poor organisations you would thank your lucky stars that NUFC even looked at you never mind appointed you Manager (interim/head coach).

    I have tried to explain this to the Troysta but he is such a Pardew fanboy he has transferred that love to Carver.

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  38. I don’t know how we will ever get rid of him. He just wants the paycheque’s that’s all he cares about. Are team needs serious attention this summer. We desperately need another striker and a centre back but we also need strength in depth.

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  39. I do agree that yesterdays performance was not all Carver’s fault, there are many other reasons we got twatted. However, that doesn’t hide the fact that Carver is **** and a continuation of the uselessness of Pardew. We need a complete break from that dirty duo to even stand a chance next year.

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  40. On Carver why the surprise? Ashley is not bothered if he has been sacked by every club he’s worked for. All he wants is someone cheap who can keep the club up.

    As for Remi Garde and his thoughts; he won’t have any at all because he isn’t in the running, never has been in the running and would probably laugh his head off at the thought of it.

    The regime have forgotten that it’s about football.

    We are akin to a trading company who have a football team that plays every now and again. Who cares about the football?

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  41. If, like Carver, you get sacked by the equivalent of Tescos, Nicos Videos and Stan’s-rent-a-van what qualifies you for a top job? Because he is the incumbent? That is not a good reason. Some will say he has a poisoned chalice but that ignores the fact he wouldn’t succeed even with the Chelsea or City squads. He is ***** and is proving it again now. Every time he has been appointed caretaker manager he has been let go from **** teams.

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  42. And Troysta: I am not having a new moan about Carvs, he was complicit in the Pards ***** so it is the same moan 🙂

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  43. I am sorry if anyone thinks I am repetitive but that is because nothing ever changes. We are a team with no leadership – from Fatso, through Charnley and down to Carver. Even Coloccini wanted out and he is still fucking captain FFS (and recommended Fuckoffdo or whatever his name is).

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  45. am just hoping we get enough points too stay up ,the fat **** has got his cas back taking us for mugs ASHLEY OUT YOU FAT *******

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  47. YES, Eric. I finally agree at 343!

    I almost bore myself sometime complaining about the same things over and over again, but if and when the club act differently I suppose we will have something different to talk about.

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  48. Stu, I do think Gardes been approached as when asked on French tv if he’d be taking the job he smiled and said I can’t talk about that today. If he wasn’t in the running a simple no would of sufficed . Will he get the job? now that’s a different matter. 😉

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  49. Kim – He may have been approached but I am sure once he learned the financial package he would have, the fact that the club has to sell the best players to buy anybody and he would have to work with the coaching staff already in place because we won’t pay for any member of staff (exc players) I am sure he turned round and said no thanks.

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  50. Psychs

    2 things;

    First, surely you expected Carver could be an option if Pards left and you demanded?
    Second, minus 20 degrees in Chicago?

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  51. I only use Terry and Trigger on here Eric. I was told by Troy that Terry was a **** name and changed it for a while mate.

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  53. Terry & Mark the most bland names on the blog. Terry I know you are Trentham Delorious in real life. 😆

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  55. Got to say. I can see a big gulf in performances between Pards and Carver. Early days but I have seen alarming weaknesses in Carvers tactics.

    That Man City performance was the worst pre Pardew. Can anyone name a worse one?

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  59. Troy – in fairness we had some pretty wretched performances under Pardew. Especially at Southamptona couplenof times and also the last couple of league games at Man City were pretty turd like.

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  60. Troy – thank god for that. I hate it when you nip to the bog and miss something 🙁

    Stu – there wasn’t many week when I had much confidence in the side under Pardew either – you never knew which team was going to show up.

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  61. I think that’s morento do with the players and squad to be honest. Our underbelly has been average at best for a while so whenever there’s been changes needed it’s effected is hugely. Not sure who could do anything better than mid table with this lot. Carver will do well to finish top 12 with the players at his disposal

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  62. Troysta says:

    “That Man City performance was the worst pre Pardew. Can anyone name a worse one?”

    Liverpool, home 0-6.

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  63. Troysta: seriously, it has been minus 20 celcius in the daytime a couple of times in the last week. You can google the Chicago temps for yourself and see the next 5 or 6 days get about minus 20 at night. One day last week it was -37 with the wind factored in.

    I went from 30 in Thialand to this. It has kept me inside which is partly why I have been boring you. The other reason is that you do tend to take over if left untethered 🙂

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  65. I’m sorry to say that Troy’s right – the team sheet screamed tactical ineptitude (who the hell thinks that Cisse and Perez could be carried by the MF away at Citeh?) Never like to see us lose, let alone get humiliated, but we won’t go down (calm down lads and lasses) and we really need to miss top-10 ‘target’ by miles to make sure that there’s no fig leaf to allow them to keep JC in the job. It’ll be difficult enough making a relegation-level budget compete next season if we get a good European manager used to working in tight situations, but retaining JC looks like a one way ticket to the Champiomship to me.

    Troy’s also right about Pardew being a decent coach, btw.

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  66. Big Dave, Troy, read what your mate says at 249. He’s not the only one, though.

    Oh, and sorry to disappoint you about answering … yet again.

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  68. Psychs

    Aye. 6 nowt at home off Liverpool takes some beating. 😯

    The Man City defeat stuck in my throat for the lack of guile and commitment. If we weren’t so far ahead of the bottom 3 I would be concerned. I still believe the players are behind him so we should get enough points to stay up.

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  69. Bris meant to ask who is the others one/ones as you say “he’s not the only one” ?
    Would it not be easier to just name who your talking about rather than people having to try to work it out, or ask ?

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  70. Seen the game now, btw. What a load of ***** it was too, from our perspective. ManC were pretty good, though. We’re just so far from the elite now. I doubt we’ll make the top 10.

    And it could be even more of a struggle next year if something isn’t done about the coach.

    Dave: Stuart is the main one, yeah. I would have thought that was obvious and it didn’t need pointing out as he says it so often. As for others, I’m not going to go back through the posts to take note of names. I read the blog occasionally but don’t keep a dossier on who says what. I’ve got better things to do with my time.

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  71. And just to make sure you know (and to be a straight shooter) I think Stuart is the biggest troll on here. I think he is disingenuous, a fraud, a great pretender, a stupid kid who advertises his IQ in his moniker and speaks through his ****.

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  72. And it’s only because I don’t want to sink to his level that I haven’t resorted to calling him names 😆 Just giving the historical truth. 😉

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  73. Bit early to be on the Fosters isn’t it, Bris? 🙂 😯

    To be fair I just normally can’t be arsed to name everyone individually who have been wrong when debating with me. In future I will just call them Bris as I think that is quite a good description of someone who’s always wrong…

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  75. I’d need to employ someone full time to go through all your comments that have been proved wrong. Life’s too short but if you want I will keep count from now on.

    Cue Bris saying absolutely nothing in way of an opinion over the next few weeks. But like Aussie… 😯

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