Manchester City 1-0 Newcastle United (19/08/23)

[Dr. TC]

Just now, The Prophet said:

The lads did themselves proud, limited City to less than a handful of chances and were competative throughout.

 

Frustratingly we never laid a glove on them. Bruno and Tonali were both decent in the middle, but Kovacic and Foden were different gravy.

 

Despite plenty of effort, their press was absolutely suffocating, their quality on the ball superb and they ultimately had too much quality all over the pitch.

 

Schar was my MotM with Botman and Bruno honourable mentions. Not a result to beat ourselves up about by any means.

I thought Bruno was pretty terrible. 

 

Almiron was quality I thought, but I agree Botman and Schar were imperious. 

[Decky]

We’re a different level to last season man. Eddie Howe. What a job he is doing and our players man. 

[joeyt]

City's players are all pretty press resistant, with their keeper being ridiculously good at passing. They were pretty exceptional with the ball tonight unfortunately for us

[KaKa]

Just now, Rich said:

Akanji might be my favourite defender in the league.

 

£15 million. Embarrassing for the rest of the football world. Top class defender.

[Cronky]

The problem is that City are very good both physically and technically. They win nearly all the 50-50 challenges, close down very quickly and then use the ball very well.

 

I'm glad we at least had a go at them in the second half, and could have nicked something. If only Miggy could take advantage of the situations that he sometimes creates with his pace and hard work. But I suppose if he could, City would have got him.

 

I found all the pre-match celebrations and all the fawning over them very hard to take, considering the question marks over how it's been achieved financially. There seems to be a ban on mentioning that on TV.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Cronky

[Whitley mag]

Very hard to look good against City and personally think they’re boring as fuck to watch.

 

Our time is coming we beat this lot at St James.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Whitley mag

[MrRaspberryJam]

Anderson was good when he came in. Mad to think he was playing league two last year. 

[buzz]

Just now, HaydnNUFC said:

 

I agree when people go OTT, but Almiron and Longstaff were poor tonight. Especially the latter when he came on.

 

Think Longstaff's technical deficiencies were super obvious when he came on. Just not quick enough in the feet against this level of opposition at all

[54]

Wasn't able to really pay attention, how did Anderson do? 

 

Did he look overawed by the team he was playing.

[Mike]

1 minute ago, Rich said:

Akanji might be my favourite defender in the league.

 

If you cut him oil spills out man.

[Stifler]

Hearing Rio is fucking annoying.

He just sounds stupid, then what he does say is fucking stupid.

Honestly man, no idea why he’s got a job as a pundit, surely there is a better ex Man Utd player who can arse lick who’s less of a fucking idiot, and less annoying.

[The Prophet]

Just now, Dr. TC said:

I thought Bruno was pretty terrible. 

 

Almiron was quality I thought, but I agree Botman and Schar were imperious. 

 

He was everywhere and used gye ball really well overall.

[madras]

Defensively sound but we seemed a bit starstruck when we had chances. It's coming.

 

Made no difference to the result but the ref was irritating, bookings for this but not for that when identical stuff happened.

[Mikky]

If we need a player - it’s a Rodri type - he’s utterly brilliant 

[Displayname]

City are a little anti-Newcastle with their extreme good passing and movement under pressure.

 

This was a free hit, lets bounce back hard against Liverpool next week.

[Rich]

Just now, Mike said:

 

If you cut him oil spills out man.

Can play anywhere across the back four and in DM, he could well be AI. 

[Yorkie]

Just now, Rich said:

Akanji might be my favourite defender in the league.

 

Bloke is immense. So impressive physically. Would make a bitch out of Ashley Barnes and Kevin Muscat at the same time.

[Aiston]

Just now, kingxlnc said:

This is a game where ASM would have been useful.

 

Last time we played with him starting at the Etihad, we lost 5-0.

 

[wormy]

Has Pep ever actually shown a certain air of relief after beating us in the past? That fist pump really had a 'thank fuck we got past that lot' feel.

[toontownman]

Just now, 54 said:

Wasn't able to really pay attention, how did Anderson do? 

 

Did he look overawed by the team he was playing.

Thought Anderson was great to be honest. Some great link up play and positive runs, passes. 

[JUICE690]

Great goal nicked it but they didn't really have many chances.
We looked a bit predictable overall with the ball out to Miggy.
They are so good with positioning though. Always seems to be in the right place for second balls and their tight interplay. City, brilliant but something about that style leaves me thinking I'd get bored watching them week in week out. Maybe that's why you can spot so many empty seats...

[Superior Acuña]

5 minutes ago, Beren said:

 

They weren't IMO.

 

Well they were making a big show of acting nervous for some reason.

 

Dead nervy when we were on attack (even though the attacks were a bit shit), taking it into the corner, huge grin from Haaland when the final whistle went.

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Superior Acuña

[andycap]

Think tonali adapted the best out of our three centre mids which is promising. Burn I love the lad but we were very limited by having to go right flank all the time by his dilly dally touch and come inside before releasing it. 

[Kanj]

We haven’t lost a football match since April.
 

This. Feels. Weird. 

[Interpolic]

Very frustrating game. They're still levels above us and can control the majority of a game like that when they want to.

 

A few sporadic spells where we looked OK first half, and a decent period of about 5-10 minutes in the second. Man City appeared to actively decide to play keep-ball for the remainder at that stage, and we couldn't get the ball back off them. 

 

Think we can be flattered by how conservative they were with the ball, they were very risk averse tonight. And might sound daft when you've just been dominated but I'd far rather watch us every week than them. Find them a really dull watch on the whole.