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”

  2. Dubai-Toon:
    PLEASE??? Any links? No google here in Shanghai so I cannot search…

    Sorry mate im on sky go but it’s buffering like mad so I might have to have a look for a link 😈

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  4. Helloooooo????? If I take off my harry potter invisibility cloak, can some one, anyone, please post a link?

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  6. Thanks for the answer Dave mate… I stayed up to watch it but may have to go to bed if no links… I have to work tomorrow… almost 3am..

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  7. Their work rate is pretty impressive too.

    Can’t see them not scoring to be honest. Just too much quality in the final third.

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  10. So we have to go forward now and they’ll hit us on the counter and yes Stu looking again it is defo offside, well that’s our luck this season

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  12. A bit much to take that when you consider the three good goals we’ve had disallowed against City over the past two years…

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  13. We never win if we concede first, it will have to be a massive sea change to alter this outcome

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  17. Stuart79:
    A bit much to take that when you consider the three good goals we’ve had disallowed against City over the past two years…

    yes is it Stu, we get zero luck

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  24. What a finish! Absolutely deserved after that ****ing linesman’s decisoon

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  28. Stupid call with aguero btw. Why can’t we just have some fucking luck from the refs against citeh for once.

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  30. They need to make sure City get in the Champions League to keep that money rolling in.

    Newkie:
    Stupid call with aguero btw. Why can’t we just have some fucking luck from the refs against citeh for once.

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  31. Newkie:
    Stupid call with aguero btw. Why can’t we just have some fucking luck from the refs against citeh for once.

    big clubs always get the benefit of the doubt, it’s the lino to blame really, should of spotted it

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  32. Here’s a strange fact – of the 82 million we spent this year, 70 million is on the bench or in Marseilles.

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  35. kimtoon:
    Dubai, wake up you dozy sod were level ?

    Ha ha Kim, it’s 3.30 here in Shanghai and I have to be in the office tomorrow at 8am.. 😯 but I’m still here … And still no link… Get in Anita!

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  37. kimtoon: big clubs always get the benefit of the doubt, it’s the lino to blame really, should of spotted it

    Kim – aye, should have said officials to be fair I was just lazy :mrgreen: . Doesn’t change the fact though. We’ve had the odd bit of fortune against the Maanure and Chelsea – and we’ve beaten them both or at least got a result. But never these blue manc twats 😆

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  38. Great half.

    We’ve created the better chances but our final ball let’s us down but we’ve looked OK.

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  40. This may sound stupid but if we were ahead we would just sit back and let them dominate and build more and more momentum. When that happens they take us apart as we tire. At least this way we might nick it.

    Said it might sound stupid 🙂

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  43. think we done ok so far, peed off about that offside goal though, bit shameful his 100th being offside like.

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  44. Canny happy with that so far :mrgreen:
    Linesman is shocking, wasn’t even like he had to run to keep up with play, feckin free kick and he’s stood looking along a defensive line that was 2 yards behind Aguero ffs. Disgraceful!!

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  46. Come on lads, keep up the tempo!

    Pity Townsend gave away a cheap free kick

    Shocking linesman’s decision!

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  47. richietoon:
    Canny happy with that so far
    Linesman is shocking, wasn’t even like he had to run to keep up with play, feckin free kick and he’s stood looking along a defensive line that was 2 yards behind Aguero ffs. Disgraceful!!

    Can’t have the story of Aguero getting his 100th ruined 🙄 What gets me is a good team like that don’t need any breaks yet it seems every time we play them there is a contentious decision .

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  49. Eric – tha

    Eric Sykes:
    This may sound stupid but if we were ahead we would just sit back and let them dominate and build more and more momentum. When that happens they take us apart as we tire. At least this way we might nick it.

    Said it might sound stupid

    Eric, that’s proper stupid mate 😆

    Citeh are making mistakes and I fancy us to do them in like Swansea on the counter with Townsend and Sissoko. Sissoko should have already netted one really.

    We need Mitro though, Cisse just gives us nowt in the build up for me.

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  56. I’m sorry but I really have no idea what Cisse gives us outside the box. His control is abasmyl

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  58. god, they are shaky at the back we can defo get another here, just need to concentrate at the back

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  61. They are stepping up a gear, need to really concentrate now.

    Mitro man on , now then lets see if he can terrify that back line

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