Match Thread | Manchester City vs Newcastle (03/10/15)

[stony]

Just seen Charlie Adams attempt! Nearly scored from half way line again. Outrageous!!

Was he trying to tackle someone?

 

[The slaughtered lamb]

I'd like to see Sterling have a go on the right.

So would I. It can't hurt.

 

[Theengelbert]

Sterling has turned into a black Rick Holden. What's up with him man? Looks devoid of ideas and has forgotten how to dribble.

I heard navas has been coaching him on his end product

 

[aguerooooo]

if this becomes the third week with no match of the day and no sunday papers then i am off to the offy for some liquid to make me forget how shit we have become

 

[super_city_si]

Soriano & Txiki as long as they are running the football side, we are not going to change our style..... its a bit strange that we try to play like Barca but we don't have Iniesta, Xavi etc quality players who can play that type of football.

We play nothing like barca when we don't have the ball. They press like maniacs then drop in to a defensive formation if they don't immediately win it back. We do nothing of the sort.

 

[CurlyCityFan]

The way we play football is so predictable. Doesn't help that on top of that we play so slowly. Need to speed up or yet again its going to be a frustrating 45.

 

[kippaxking79]

I heard navas has been coaching him on his end product

I'd have Navas on ahead of him at minute pal

 

[Blueband Brother]

Newcastle has played very well. Raced out of the blocks, looked solid at the back and the Mitkovic player is a real nuisanc. So their goal and lead was somewhat justified. Defending is and will be key to our success this season. At the moment the team is struggling to deal with pace and directness. Zabaleta has been a defensive liability in the first half. He has shown quality going forward but defensively he has been a ghost, with the Newcastle wingers striding past him as if he is not there, a scenario that lead to the first goal. Otamendi has been awkward all half, he needs to relax, compose himself and play with the quality and assurance that he obviously has. Difficult to criticize Kolarov as he has played in virtually all the matches so far this season, going up and down the left flank. He was an outlet in this half attack wise and has done OK. Mangala has also been OK. But as a unit they need to sort themselves out.

No one stepped up to control the pace of the game, that is Yaya's role but Fernandinho is more than capable of doing that. It got better in the later stages and we will need someone to hold on to that football and retain possession in the midfield. Front four has looked disjointed and largely ineffective. Coordination poor, Sterling has been neutralized and ineffective and De Bruyne has not been very good. Altogether we did not play well that half.

But this is a long season, these phases inevitably happen and the key is to graft and get the result. We did that and managed to engineer a Silva inspired equalizer and we picked up after that. Hopefully we will play much better in the second half but the most important position is defense of course. On a side issue, Navas has his frustrations obviously but I struggle very much to criticize or disrespect Navas because he offers so many profound things to the squad and he is an invaluable weapon to have. I expect to see him in there in the second half.

Needs to be better, players are capable, get the three points, that is all that matters.

 

[middleton___blue]

Terrible defending again, sloppy goal to give away. We just need to wake up at times and pass the ball a bit quicker forward rather than sideways. Good goal from Sergio and think we can turn it round, we just need to tighten things up at the back!

 

[Blue Haze]

Sterling subbed again