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

[madras]

2 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

We still haven’t got our De Bruyne or Salah difference maker teams need against the best.

 

I think Barnes and Gordon are decent signings at this point and where we’re currently at, but still don’t think we’ve got enough quality in final 3rd against the real top teams.

 

Tonight’s a good reality check and will keep expectations in check, we’ll be around top 6 but still at least 3 players short of competing with the very best.

 

In many ways the next step will be the hardest for Howe as expectations are through the roof.

Agree and disagree. As Sir Bobby said the step from 4th to 3rd is hard, from 3rd to 2nd is even harder, or something like that. But expectations are in check, I've yet to hear anyone expecting 3rd or better.

[madras]

4 minutes ago, Jesse Pinkman said:

To be honest players like ASM or Maddison would have made a huge different this game. We are lacking those truly creative players in midfield that can make something out of nothing. If teams mark Isak out the game, our creativity in 1 in 1 situations isn’t that great. Look at Foden today where he was almost unplayable one on one. 
 

If we are being honest Gordon is going to have to improve a lot to justify the ASM sale. 

Have you heard of "packing" as a football data style stat ?

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by madras

[The College Dropout]

20 minutes ago, The Prophet said:

 

Thought the scoreline reflected the game. The better team won with one of the only bits of on the ball quality in the game.

 

Off the ball they were immense though.

I would agree as City often fluffed the final ball or the crucial touch. They scored a great goal and missed better chances. Our defenders played well too though.   

[Kanj]

Foden runs rings around Maddison. Foden is generally one of the best in the league and it’s baffling he’s often sat on the bench. 

[Menace]

He won't be now that Mahrez has left 

[PhilT]

Thought Foden was exceptional tonight playing more centrally. Reminded me of Beardsley the way he moved between the lines and linked the play. 

[Wandy]

12 minutes ago, Whitley mag said:

We still haven’t got our De Bruyne or Salah difference maker teams need against the best.

 

I think Barnes and Gordon are decent signings at this point and where we’re currently at, but still don’t think we’ve got enough quality in final 3rd against the real top teams.

 

Tonight’s a good reality check and will keep expectations in check, we’ll be around top 6 but still at least 3 players short of competing with the very best.

 

In many ways the next step will be the hardest for Howe as expectations are through the roof.

Agree. And I think that’s why there is a bit of frustration with Bruno tonight, which on reflection is harsh on him. We are desperate for him to be that game-changer but he isn’t it. So we need to find to find that game-changer that Bruno and Tonali can play alongside. 
 

We are significantly behind City and probably a little bit behind Arsenal too. We shouldn’t fear anyone else this season though so 3rd is a realistic target to go for.

[Kanj]

People seem to completely forget city are playing their first home match of the season, despite what you think of their fans and support. It’s their home comforts under the lights. Whatever happened in the last week is completely irrelevant. 

[madras]

6 minutes ago, Menace said:

He won't be now that Mahrez has left 

And De Bruyne is 32 and often injured.

[Kanj]

We’ll get used to Foden destroying people this season

[LFEE]

Good marker of a game and great to have it out the way already…

 

As I predicted pre match (apologies ?) but thought Foden would be the danger and no surprise he bagged MOTM. What a talent and England (and Man City) both need a way to figure out how to fit him into their 1st not 2nd team.

 

As for us I felt we were a little nervous on the ball overall with too many cheap turnovers. City always give away a couple of dozy chances and unfortunately we didn’t capitalise on them. Scoreline though will give us confidence going forward though.

 

Individually it highlighted what I’ve posted before. Bruno is very good but not great. Physically too slow and if anyone fears Real Madrid are in for him then I’m not sure what more i can say to assure you. He’ll resign for us and play a great part in our transition hopefully to even greater things. I’ll agree with the majority that Barnes over a season is a better fit to our system however what I would’ve done for ASM those last 15/20mins when City got a little twitchy.

 

Thought the back five were very good as a unit. Trippier had Grealish in his pocket. Botman likewise with Haaland. Schär who i had the biggest doubts alongside Burn were both positionally excellent.

 

Front three toiled best they could. Shame that three on one was Wilson not Isak as he probably would’ve made the correct pass.

 

Tactically I would’ve liked us to go old school and played Joelinton up alongside Isak. Brentford have caused Man City the most problems recently for a reason. Thought we could’ve mixed it up a little more.

 

Fair play to City though. Best time to play them and they were very good. Felt like a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. On paper you feel like you’ve a chance but you never really get close enough to laying a glove.

 

 

[RS]

Th fact city were wanking themselves off with their win celebrations shows how far 

we’ve come in 2 seasons.   Best club in the world shitting themselves against

little Newcastle. 

[Kanj]

Bang on @LFEE Mate. The point on Bruno is something I’ve been quietly harboring. Actually think Sandro has all the tools. He will develop into our main man. 

 

 

Edited August 19, 2023 by Kanji

[LFEE]

1 minute ago, Kanji said:

Bang on @LFEE Mate. The point on Bruno is something I’ve been quietly harboring. 

 

 

 

Even though you were the first to call me out for doubting him… ?

 

I do love him as a person. He’s a NUFC type player. Love how him and his partner have embraced Newcastle for what it is and undoubtedly played a part in Joelinton’s redemption arc. However I’ve always felt it’s quite obvious how we’ve managed to pick him up in front of others. Weirdly in the ECL he might have a great tournament as games are reffed slightly differently.

[timeEd32]

I thought the first half was incredibly frustrating. They were well on top and we handed them possession so many times (Joelinton x2, Isak, Botman, Pope, Trippier, Gordon, and Schar all did it). I feel like the team felt they had to be perfect and the result was sloppiness, like when you come in late at night trying to be quiet and make a ton of noise.

 

Second half was better but there was only one small stretch with about 15 min left that I had any thought we might score. 1-1 would have been flattering IMO.

 

[timeEd32]

15 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Fair play to City though. Best time to play them and they were very good. Felt like a boxing match against Floyd Mayweather. On paper you feel like you’ve a chance but you never really get close enough to laying a glove.

 

 

This is a really good comparison. Also in the sense that I think some of what they are doing and so good at is almost hard to pick up on. It can make it seem like the opponent should have done more, but it’s a mirage. For the most part they are comfortable in victory.

[Kanj]

4 minutes ago, LFEE said:

Even though you were the first to call me out for doubting him… ?

 

I do love him as a person. He’s a NUFC type player. Love how him and his partner have embraced Newcastle for what it is and undoubtedly played a part in Joelinton’s redemption arc. However I’ve always felt it’s quite obvious how we’ve managed to pick him up in front of others. Weirdly in the ECL he might have a great tournament as games are reffed slightly differently.

He’s only going to play a team like city 2x a year and probably won’t deal with that type of tactics by anyone in Europe - 

 

but no, I’ve said it to some other friends before this match - I felt like Bruno seems to lose his same swagger away from home. So ya, I’ll call you out  

[LFEE]

Just now, Kanji said:

He’s only going to play a team like city 2x a year and probably won’t deal with that type of tactics by anyone in Europe - 

 

but no, I’ve said it to some other friends before this match - I felt like Bruno seems to lose his same swagger away from home. So ya, I’ll call you out  

I think where I’ve always argued about Bruno is how many games against the top teams in the division does he “dominate”…

 

Home & away he has done well against Spurs. Chelsea not so much as both tight games even when one when they were hopelessly out of form. Not at all against Liverpool or Man City. Arsenal no when they were at full strength but did well one game when they had injuries at home. Man Utd only at home at best ?‍♂️ 

[Kanj]

Interesting analysis. Is it him? Does he need a proper partner to work with? Is he even a 6 long term?

[Zero]

So who has picked up an injury tonight? Gordon and Joelinton?

[HaydnNUFC]

6 minutes ago, LFEE said:

I think where I’ve always argued about Bruno is how many games against the top teams in the division does he “dominate”…

 

Home & away he has done well against Spurs. Chelsea not so much as both tight games even when one when they were hopelessly out of form. Not at all against Liverpool or Man City. Arsenal no when they were at full strength but did well one game when they had injuries at home. Man Utd only at home at best  

 

He's only played once against Liverpool tbf, April 2022. Missed both games against them last season due to injury and suspension.

[LFEE]

2 minutes ago, HaydnNUFC said:

 

He's only played once against Liverpool tbf, April 2022. Missed both games against them last season due to injury and suspension.

He has to be fair and was overrun so my point still stands. Would love nothing more than for him to dominate the game next week ??

[NEEJ]

13 minutes ago, LFEE said:

I think where I’ve always argued about Bruno is how many games against the top teams in the division does he “dominate”…

 

Home & away he has done well against Spurs. Chelsea not so much as both tight games even when one when they were hopelessly out of form. Not at all against Liverpool or Man City. Arsenal no when they were at full strength but did well one game when they had injuries at home. Man Utd only at home at best ?‍♂️ 

To be fair he was suspended last time round against Liverpool. To discount him against Arsenal at home the first time round is ludicrous. 

 

He's brilliant but needs others to step up. Enjoy him while he's here instead of analysing his every move (that's more aimed at others than LFEE). He'll beast most, if not all, of the visitors to SJP. 

[Kanj]

You wonder what he’s capable of if he did end up going to an 8 position or if he had another Tonali quality player to his left. 

[Conjo]

3 hours ago, midds said:

One negative for me, and it's only a slight one tbh, is that we've already got Tonali and Bruno on 2 yellows after 2 games, Joelinton is on 1. That will cat h up with us later on in the Autumn as they reach 5 and maybe 10 before Xmas. Yeah we got a chasing tonight but some of the cards so far have been either soft/thick  

 

Longstaff recently-ish back from injury, Willock coming back from injury, Anderson deserving more playtime, Miley eager to pounce at the chance of an opportunity. We have a squad now. Would be good to get to use it. Not concerned about yellows at all tbh. More worried about long term injuries.