After our five-star display over Aston Villa – where we battered Unai Emery’s men 5-1 – we face perhaps the toughest game in world football a week later.
It doesn’t get much harder than Man City away, but we go into the game with no fear and full of confidence after the perfect start to the new Premier League season.
If we can play our own game – something Eddie Howe has urged his players to do – press, blow them away with our intensity, defend well and show that clinical edge at the other end (something we didn’t do in last season’s 2-0 defeat), there’s no reason why we can’t come away from the Etihad with a result.
The hosts only arrived back from a Super Cup trip to Athens on Thursday afternoon and will be without three key first-team players in Kevin De Bruyne, Bernardo Silva and John Stones. This time last year we raced into a 3-1 lead over Guardiola’s side at St James’ Park, so the treble-winners will know what we’re capable of.
It’s just refreshing to go into such a tough game with hope not fear and genuine excitement that we have the potential to upset the best team on the planet. It’ll be a risk-reward strategy if we attack them, but I’d take a brave and ambitious approach every day of the week over 11 men behind the ball and hoping for a 0-0.
Team news
Eddie Howe revealed in his Friday morning press conference that there’s no change on fitness front, with those who missed last weekend’s opener still out of this one.
Joe Willock (hamstring), Emil Krafth (ACL) and Javier Manquillo (groin) remain out, while the game will come too soon for Lewis Hall; who is on Tyneside but yet to sign over the dotted line ahead of his loan-to-buy move from Chelsea.
For the hosts, Kevin De Bruyne (hamstring), John Stones (hamstring) and Bernardo Silva (fever) have already been ruled out, while centre-back Ruben Dias is also a doubt.
Predicted line ups
(4-3-3): Pope – Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn – Tonali, Bruno, Joelinton – Almiron, Isak, Gordon.
This may be our toughest test of the season, but I don’t think we’ll have an easer predicted line-up. After last weekend’s 5-1 win over Aston Villa and stunning display at St James’ Park, I can’t see Howe making any changes.
There’ll be plenty of dilemmas to come, with Wilson, Barnes, Longstaff, Willock (currently injured) Anderson, Hall and Livramento all likely to be contention in weeks to come, but I’m pretty certain we’ll see the 11 who looked full of energy, confidence and quality seven days ago.
Predicted Man City XI: Ederson – Walker, Akanji, Gvardiol, Ake – Rodri Kovacic – Foden, Alvarez, Grealish – Haaland.
One to watch: Erling Haaland – He may be without the creative spark of Kevin De Bruyne, who has assisted so many of his goals at City, but the giant Norwegian is a freak of nature and goalscoring machine. One lapse either on the counter or in and around the box and he’s likely to punish you.
Prediction
For the first time, we have genuine belief heading to the Etihad. Stopping Haaland is a challenge few can overcome and it’s important we aren’t left too exposed if and when they bypass our press, but I really do feel we have the pace, intensity and quality to cause them issues.
I’ll lead with my heart and belief in Eddie Howe’s Mags and predict a scoring draw, with goals from Isak and Gordon.
Prediction: Man City 2-2 Newcastle
HWTL!
For once I am actually looking forward to the game, would be thrilled with a draw.
kimtoon(Quote)
I really think we can get something from this one. 🤞🤞
Gilly Toon(Quote)
If we are brave & go at them with our high press then I think we beat them – and comfortably.
The players they are missing & they played a strong team against Seville – I think it’s a good time to play them.
I think 0-2.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Good to see Chris Woods score last night
PremAndUp(Quote)
I’m so wary at all the upbeat predictions for this game, and seemingly the title. It’s all possible of course but we’re still NUFC and we don’t do these things.
Having said that I love this team. HTL
georgio(Quote)
To be fair, this is probably our best opportunity to get a result at the Etihad. And expecting to lose is a surefire way of being right. Anything other than confidence and expectation is a guaranteed loss.
PremAndUp(Quote)
Aye .. much maligned player who did what was needed while at the toon
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
There does seem to be a lack of recognition of how good manc are.
Sure they’re missing key players and played midweek but they’ve been coping with that kind of stuff for years
Newcastle are very (VERY) good and have been consistently so under Howe. They approach games thoughtfully and with intensity, improved the squad in the summer and have Eddie Howe. None of that is changing
I expect a very good game between two top teams and manc will know they’ve been in a game irrespective of the result
HTL
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
let’s hope it’s not decided by VAR
PremAndUp(Quote)
Go West – my belief in us winning today isn’t because I think Man C aren’t still a massive threat.
It’s not because I think we’ve made up so much ground on them or that I think we will be title contenders. I’ve said before my expectations for this season is top 8 – of course we could do better than that, but I think this season may be more of a struggle.
My confidence for tonight may be misplaced – but they had a shorter pre season, they have played mid week and have players out. But City tend to have a slower start to a season if you look back over Peps reign.
I remember our game there last season & whilst we lost 2-0, we played really well & but for better finishing we could have got something there.
It’s still a place you go where you think ‘it’s a free hit’ 🤷🏼♂️. If we lose 2-0 again it’s not embarrassing.
But if we go there and be brave, I think our forward play is better than last season. We are more clinical and have more players that can hurt them – and we have the options off the bench now too.
But I don’t think it’s going to be easy at all.
Sharpy17(Quote)
I was offering the view in the context of the toon army fan base not the blog (which remains balanced and justifiably optimistic )
don’t have look too far to see a feeling of ‘manc should fear Newcastle who are coming for them’ among large sections of the toon army.
I’m sure guardiola is 5h1tting himself 🤣🤣
don’t disagree with your points sharpy and the slow start point is one I’ve seen elsewhere and seemsborne out by the data .. doesn’t seem to do them much harm over a season.
I did hear some commentary that guardiola treats early seasons as an extension of the close season training which is an indicator of their confidence / competence too
Fwiw I agree that Newcastle should play to their strengths and trust themselves.
I’m expecting a good game which is a world away from wondering how badly newcastle’d get humped
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
I watched the 2nd episode of ‘we are Newcastle United’ – our fans were unreal during the build up & at Wembley for that final!!.
But Amanda Staveley came across as such a driving force in growing our club – whilst at the same time being present for Howe & the players.
Howe will get a lot of credit & rightly so. But Amanda seems to be creating a togetherness around the club from board level to training ground.
It was interesting hearing Peter Silverstone talking about the commercial side & just how far we are behind Arsenal (where he was previously). We have a team of 40 – they have a team of 200+ … and they aren’t still well behind the Manchester clubs who are top of the commercial tree.
It’s a stark reminder of how far we have to go & how little Ashley cared about our club.
But it offers optimism – particularly based on what we’ve seen so far!!.
Our commercial team alone could grow by 150 employees who could generate hundreds of millions for our club – which is exciting as a fan.
But as a Geordie and maybe more importantly the father of a 14yr old – the prospect of jobs being created in the area off the back of our club growing – that to me is as important as any success on the pitch.
There will be jobs generated under the NUFC umbrella – but look at the Sela fan zone for example.
I find myself really torn at times. As someone who can be so critical of how Chelsea was grown from Russian wealth – I’m acutely aware of my hypocrisy talking about our region growing from Saudi wealth.
But I feel so let down by our government & the lack of effort & focus on supporting & growing our region.
I want my son to have opportunities in live. I lived through the Sir John Hall era & know how much our region thrived during that time – there definitely seems to be a link between the club & the region.
So when I read that Sunak is cosying up to the Saudis, I start to think that may result in investment for the North East. Companies basing themselves in our region because of the ties with our club.
Could the Geordie nation help make changes in Saudi? – maybe a little ambitious, but we are an infectious bunch when we get going 🤷🏼♂️😂.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Go West – I agree mate. The fact we can still remember the days under Bruce & Rafa where we’d be going there desperate to hold on & hope for a fluke counter or set piece – just shows how far we’ve come.
It has the potential to be a really good game & a fixture that is bound to be watched around the world.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Liverpool leading because of 2 VAR decisions to Nil
PremAndUp(Quote)
Ref nufc’s majority share holders, Much criticism seems borne from a pre-existing bias against the region and club and they are a good subject by which to continue that bias
I’m happy to join in a rational discussion on opposing views and I don’t think every Newcastle United game requires the topic to be revisited.
If anyone wants to lob vitriolic abuse, lazy tropes and childish barbs into a discussion they’ll be ignored. I will, as a lifelong Newcastle fan, continue my support in my way while maintaining my knowledge of just what the majority owners are.
I do concur that it’s a shame a non-UK nation is investing in the region .. and I do hope that investment goes beyond the city of Newcastle .. after generations (including mine) of north-easterners have been ridiculed, vilified and patronised by successive governments, media and citizens of the uk.
significant sections of those afore mentioned now expect the toon army to be the conscience of the UK on KSA while they merrily go on their way.
Nah .. I’m not playing their games
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Gowest , Sharpy, I can only concur with you both. As a southerner, I can tell you that you are not imagining bias for the South, it’s as clear as the nose on our faces. The bias mainly comes from southern press and Central Government though. If we dismiss rival clubs fans for a second as it’s a given they will take the mick. The average person I know regards Geordies as warm passionate folk who have been fecked over repeatedly by Governments, mainly Tory but not exclusively .
I have watched the first two episodes of ‘we are Newcastle united’ and was surprised how much I enjoyed it as I don’t normally like fly on the wall stuff. It seems well done and I thought everyone connected with the club came across really well.
kimtoon(Quote)
Regarding KSA, plenty of clubs taking Saudi cash for their players now, they can dismount their high horses.
kimtoon(Quote)
Anyone watching Spurs vs Man United? I wonder if Onana is going to try knock someone out again tonight. He knows now it doesn’t count as a penalty… lol
Gilly Toon(Quote)
And it’s now confirmed by the club that we will switch to Adidas next season after Amazon mistakenly uploaded a few extra episodes of the documentary earlier than planned. 👍😂😂
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Maddison looks canny in this Spurs side. They are playing well.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Unchanged side against City
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Not really surprised and not doubting howe by any stretch .. i must admit I’d love to see Barnes, Isak, Gordon front 3
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Lots of treble winning hype & celebrations pre kick off 🤨.
Hope that fires us up & we ram it down there throats!!
Sharpy17(Quote)
😒 Clinical. Pope a bit unlucky (altho a bit flat footed )
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Hey ho. Going to thought to get anything here.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Going to be tough. Meant to say.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Have to say I’m disappointed with that first half like. I know it’s City at home but I think we are showing them far too much respect. I don’t think we are close enough to them & we aren’t closing down quick enough.
The goal was super disappointing. We’ve talked our midfield up but not 1 of the 3 of them was anywhere near the lad as he struck that.
It’s all been a bit sloppy when we have had the ball too. If you knew no better you’d have thought we’d played mid week.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Well, we look a bit like in the pre season games at the back, not quite right at times. Foden in acres of space more than once that half.
Hopefully we are more on it second half.
kimtoon(Quote)
Yeah, agree Sharpy. Way too much respect shown. Need to go at them in second half.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
Newcastle passive or manc being manc??
Newcastle Sloppy in possession and a bit loose with the one touch attempts in midfield when trying to get out of defence so inviting manc back onto them
Score about right on first half ( could be more)
Judging by the cyber fuckwits patter, Gordon is the latest target for criticism
GoWest!Mag(Quote)
Bruno has been poor tonight – Mr anonymous in midfield tonight.
I’ve also decided Miggy is fine against poorer opponents where we’ll get time – but not having a right foot to put the ball into the box early is a real problem.
It means Trippier has to overlap or be up there to cross the ball & means he gets caught out of position pulling our defence all over the place.
It also means their defence has time to set while the ball is getting played back to Trips.
Sharpy17(Quote)
So sloppy in our play man!!.
Of the 5 players covering the most ground tonight as well only Bruno in there – the other 4 are Man C players – that to me is disappointing. We should at least be out working them.
Sharpy17(Quote)
Poor tonight. Sloppy and not there. Wilson had a great chance but blew it. Anderson and Barnes made a difference but we are still leagues away from City in terms of quality. I mean, Foden… what a player he is.
And this site is doing my fucking head in. So many ads that it’s jumping all over the place, details missing, comments not showing.
Gilly Toon(Quote)
pretty much what I expected
kimtoon(Quote)
Foden, brilliant
kimtoon(Quote)
Again, it shows how far we’ve come that I can be frustrated & disappointed with a 1-0 at City.
Foden was excellent tonight & Rodri & Kov bossed the midfield for City – really disappointed with Bruno. I know they will be technically better than us – but that they outworked us as well is disappointing. I’m not talking about possession, I’m talking KMs covered.
The fact Pep is so pleased about the win tells me he knows that we will be in amongst it – that’s encouraging & 2 seasons ago 1-0 would have been seen as a win.
Sharpy17(Quote)