BlueMerlin
Well-Known Member
- Joined
- 24 Dec 2025
- Messages
- 483
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- Manchester City
I thought the officials played well. I can’t recall any controversial decisions, which is the way it should be.
I thought Rodri played well when watching live but I don’t think I’d noticed just how well he really played until watching it back, he had a top game.
In the dying minutes of last night's match, I had visions of Kev shithousing at the corner flag to waste time to see the match out.We are spoilt by years of unbelievable players. Some of the breaks in the second half I was left thinking my god what would Kevin or David or Leroy done with that chance. You are right though, another season or so of playing together and they will be fine.
They won 5-2 on yellow cards, which felt right.I thought the officials played well. I can’t recall any controversial decisions, which is the way it should be.
Burn could have got a second yellow and BSilva could also have got a second yellow. But I thought it was fair in a game that was a good battle not to give either of those second yellows.I thought the officials played well. I can’t recall any controversial decisions, which is the way it should be.
He just has different skills to Kev and Merlin.A man that's going under the radar in a number of these posts. Bernardo Silva, who for nearly nine years has run his socks off all over the pitch, maintaining possession, giving us options, harrying, playing short cunning balls, playing defensive midfield or out on the wing or wherever Pep has wanted him to. He did it last night, for the umpteenth time. When he goes, we'll understand what we had. He's not quite up there with Merlin and Kev in his skills, but in his importance to the team he's been every bit as important.
Since this may be his last season, I'll say it again, and I'll keep repeating the accolade — a great servant to the club, and a very fine footballer.
Agreed. It was also fabulous to see him walking round the pitch after the game; he was noticeably the one leading the applause of the supporters, making that connection and commitment. He knew what a big game and result that was.Rodri's performances are often a level or two above what people perceive in real time. Guess what he does looks easy.
Yep Joelinton came on as a substitute and literally fouled committed four fouls in quick succession, him and Burn a pair of cloggers or always seem to be against us.I'll run through the full match replay on the OS and get back on this one. It was in the second half. I give full credit to Newcastle for giving us a hell of a game, but my clear impression was that they had been told — or had collectively decided, more probably — to rough us up much more in the second half. They were sharing out the yellow cards very cunningly.
It's the 2nd balls you have to win if you are going long q,too many times we are on our heels reacting rather than anticipating.but we really aren't built for it
no need to be a dick about it. i watched it and i can remember thinking yellow a few times with Burn. particularly the one at the side of the pitch my point was i couldn't remember any specifics today. or timings compared to the bernardo one. thanks for being singularly unhelpful on point 1.Point 1 if you need to ask, you need to find another sport to watch.
Point 2 yes
No, Newcastle team ran 0.5km more than us, we 113.51km Newcastle 114.05km
Yes, the result is the major outcome and was needed
That was comical Bernie picking on the biggest guy on the pitch , captain leading by example :)He should have gone for that but Bernie jumped into him in a similar fashion so should have gone as well. I thought overall the ref had a decent game
The other obvious thing was that Dias got the yellow because he has no pace. For me, that was more significant.I thought that was obvious tbh. Kush started warming up as soon as Dias picked up the yellow.
That sub doesn't happen if Dias hadn't got one
It would have made more sense to hoof it toward Haaland rather than Marmoush.As fans we have to realise we ain’t that treble winning team anymore and the premier football has changed and PGMOL to both have decided to let “contact” in games go, let players drag players down from corners! You watch how Newcastle played last night for me it was a throw back to the 80/90/00’s with every set piece Newcastle had they put all there players in our box and went for % football! We also for some reason kept hoofing it from Donno for me that’s fair enough but if that is the instructions you have to win at least 70% of those long balls or you will be under a lot of pressure! Newcastle made it like a cup game they never stopped pressing running!
We have 6 away games left yeah we better than early season but our away record is W6 D3 L4 so now coming into the must win games wonder how many we will win or points we pick up out of 18 points?
It would have made more sense to hoof it toward Haaland rather than Marmoush.
We should adopt what Rosenior and Chelsea did , leave three players on the half way line and they have to leave three back , less congestion in the six yard box , give Big Don chance to claim crosses and just leave our big guys Haaland , Dias , Guehi , O'Reilly and a couple more to defend corners. They only score from corners because of the congestion and chaos they cause and force own goals and mistakes , they really are a shite football team.They should address corner routines that have become quite farcical. When Arsenal push and block it's 'clever', and now these tactics are being copied.
it and I’d argue that’s the best they’ve ever played at the Etihad (don’t think they’ve ever actually won here).Just watched the game back. Newcastle proper went for it and I’d argue that’s the best they’ve ever played at the Etihad (don’t think they’ve ever actually won here).
We didn’t half mess up some great opportunities to put the game to bed and our football was scruffy and not very in-sync at times. We made things very difficult for ourselves late on by not keeping possession high up the pitch well enough and either not trusting ourselves to pin Newcastle back by just keeping the ball and going back to Donnarumma who just punted balls up that Newcastle won back or by trying silly high-difficulty passes that weren’t on and giving Newcastle the ball back, and there were situations right at the death where we just needed to get the ball in the corner but tried to go for goal and lost the ball… but the effort we put into that game was superb.
Haaland was everywhere, up front, centre back, right wing. Rodri and BSilva were also all over the pitch. I thought Rodri played well when watching live but I don’t think I’d noticed just how well he really played until watching it back, he had a top game.
Nunes also played very well. Khusanov when he came on was a monster. Cherki’s first time passing and positive creative play created some great attacking opportunities.
O’Reilly’s goals were superb and he very nearly got a hattrick. He was excellent in the first half, he was a real threat and hard to get the ball off. He’s starting to use his size and strength really well. But he was a lot less involved in the second half.
Guehi was solid again. Showed a bit of lack of pace a few times but his defensive capabilities to make up for it were very good.
Donnarumma’s kicking was a bit poor and the ball over the top to was on for the front three numerous times but his execution was mostly poor (Haaland had a bit of a go at him after one of them). I’d love for him to work on that.
There were some great moves by Marmoush and Semenyo but also some very erratic stuff from them both.
But overall, that was a game played with great resilience from the whole team.
Yep Joelinton came on as a substitute and literally fouled committed four fouls in quick succession, him and Burn a pair of cloggers or always seem to be against us.