In a pulsating first half with both teams playing attacking exciting football the score at half time is 1-1.
Both teams from the KO made it clear they were going for the win and both teams attacked each other form the first whistle.
On 6 minutes Given almost scored when his first touch from a back pass was bad and he just kicked it away from the incoming City forward – rustiness?
Then after 12 minutes Given made a brilliant world class save when he touched the ball with left hand around the post for a corner when he had no right to get anywhere near the ball as it was going into the top corner. A stunning save from the Irishman – guess he’s back.
What’s apparent early on is the the midfield and attacking players of City have piles of skill and are taking on the Newcastle players – a little worrying they seem to beat them one on one.
Milner is very prominent and is Newcastle’s best player and he makes a great run to the byline – beating two City players but his pull back is to a Manchester City player.
Then after 22 minutes it looks like it’s a penalty when Richards seems to bring down Milner. The commentators say no – but for me the replay shows Milner is brought down.
Milner is playing excellently on the wing and is only too willing to take players on. Then after 26 minutes a cross from the right wing eludes Given and shaves the cross bar before going out wide – a similar scare to a similar incident in our win against Barnsley. Given was nowhere.
Manchester City aafter 30 minutes are starting to attack and Newcastle midi field have to help the defense – it’s loking like waves of attacks from City and our midfiled needs to help out and keep the ball.
Then after 29 minutes Newcastle get a wonderful goal from Martins. A high ball comes in just inside the penalty and Martins kills the ball beautifully and lobs the ball over the onrushing Hart. He was just between the two center halves – but a brilliant goal for Newcastle – and yes Martins does his somersault.
Hart then has a terrible first touch to the ball and the ball dribbles along the goal line before he kicks clear – it may have been over the line – replays showed he kicked it clear when it was almost level (??) – of course the commentators say no but the replay shows it’s very very close to being a goal.
After 35 minutes Given makes a good save down to his left.>>>
City are attacking well and then after 40 minutes Manchester score . Newcastle are again caught short and the back and a diagonal cross comes over and Petrov puts is away at the far post. Bad goal for Newcastle to concede – where was Beye?
Then after 41 minutes City should have scored when Ireland got clear through but the amazing Given stayed his ground and brought off another tremendous save to save Newcastle – again. Ireland should have scored.
The worrying thing is that the last 10 minutes is almost all City – they look an excellent side as does Newcastle. The entertainment value is sky high. We could have been 3-1 down but for two tremendous Given saves.
It’s going to be a difficuly game for us in the second half.
Following the KO after half time Mpenza heads home after Petrov and skinned Taylor on the wing before crossing. 2-1 to City.
49 comments so far
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:07 PM
Comment #1City are all over us, why Sam doesn’t make the changes is beyond me ….
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:09 PM
Comment #2Come on Sam get Butt off the freakin pitch.
w2
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:13 PM
Comment #3THE 3 Midfield is not working!!! they’re in the middle of nowhere.. neither here nor there!!! FFS
Obafan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:14 PM
Comment #4@Toonking; your link doesn’t work, I can’t see anything its very frustrating..
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Comment #5u from the uk ??
w2
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:16 PM
Comment #6man city are getting too much space in the middle of the park!!!
Obafan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:18 PM
Comment #7No from belgium.
JoshI
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Comment #8Hadrian did u text in to bbc?
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:19 PM
Comment #9u need a proxy from the uk, enter this:
P: 147.46.155.20
Port: 8001
type: SOCK5
username: fc
password: 88
here :Tools/Settings/Proxy
then the link i gave u 😉
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:22 PM
Comment #10belgium ??
then it should work, i’m watching it as we speak.
JoshI
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:23 PM
Comment #11Do we look incredibly shite?
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:24 PM
Comment #12no mate, not incredibly………..just shite.
Geremi off now for Enrique, bad change by Sam, Butt should have come off.
gingergeordie
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:27 PM
Comment #13so much for big sams theory ‘ defence is the key’ weve conceded 5 in 3 games and we are not up to it!!!
absolutely gutted
been lookin forward to every game just to be let down again
different toon same shit
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:28 PM
Comment #14it certainly starts to seem so mate……..:(
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:33 PM
Comment #15i don’t know whats wrong with the toon mate, no matter who we have in defence, it’s terrible. Our defence today was absolutely crocked.
gutted i am…….
AlexW
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:33 PM
Comment #16absolute shocking game, we need some flair in that midfield, cant wait to see barton
JoshI
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Comment #173 f*&*&ing 1
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:34 PM
Comment #18oh for fu(*&k sake….
gingergeordie
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:35 PM
Comment #19i guess we can pack our shirts up and hope for better next season cos this is turning out to be just like last year
cant be arsed with it all that talent cant be in the wrong whats sam doing???
JoshI
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:35 PM
Comment #202 shit performances in a row, need creativity in midfield, Butt is shit, so is Smith.
milnerfan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Comment #21Another poor performance. No attacking creativity! Didnt seem to flow today. O well if this was classed as our first “test” then we failed badly. Aint looking forward to playing any the big four.
PK-Norway
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:38 PM
Comment #22Beye??? i am not impressed at all!!! our defence sucked!DAMN i am angry!We need barton and Emre in that midfield and for gog sake dont play butt!
geordiejordan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Comment #23i disagree josh. butt is performing his role as sam dictated. so is smith. it’s just too defensive. useful subs. but little else. i’m off to the pub. see you lads next time. disappointing. but will still wear my kit out with pride tonight! who’s with me!
Obafan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:39 PM
Comment #24ToonKing it didn’t work, thanks anyway m8.
We lost 3-1 at City???
What’s going on, I really can’t follow some of the choices BS makes, like Butt in the squad and Smith on the wing. It never looked good, but he keeps playing that formation, why?
A very frustrating afternoon it became, especailly since I can’t play myself cause I’m injured and I was looking forward to see a good game, but never saw it and then the outcome was very bad aswell.
geordiejordan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:40 PM
Comment #25great comment “they just need a bit more bite in midfield.” excatly….. welcome to the season thus far…
w2
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:40 PM
Comment #26FFS what kind of buttshill tactics is this.. midfield keep running from behind or chasing to defend.. What is that? huh!!! stupid stupid stupid stupid.. might as well get relegated
PK-Norway
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:43 PM
Comment #27first defence……now midfield…..:(
Sparkey
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:44 PM
Comment #282day was just horrable iv’e had a gutfull of these displays away from home
Beye was hopeless so was Taylor and the midfield created nothing
joe
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:45 PM
Comment #29come on for f(*&cks sake it wasnt a bad performance like some of u are making it out, except for the last 10 mins. We played attractive football but we’re lacking the final ball. Just shows how much we need an Elano type of player.
JoshI
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Comment #30next strike, then championship
apan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Comment #31emre should play ahead of butt, he gives away silly free kicks which end up in the back of our own net…..im so frustrated with the goals that we let in…..esp the 2nd one, poor2 defending caught napping and the free kick by elano was superb, butt’s fault for giving away a stupid free kick……..
geordiejordan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:46 PM
Comment #32i’m not saying it was a bad performance. but it was not attractive joe. that’s for sure. we had out moments but, i wish we played like man city. they played attractive football.
eishin from Malaysia
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:47 PM
Comment #33absolutely pathetic! completely overran in midfield and lacked creativity as well .. c’mon big sam! you dont win games by pumpin hopeful high balls to ur strikers n not to mention emre came on too late .. way too late!
geordiejordan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:47 PM
Comment #34ok maybe i’ll have a few at home and then go to the pub. i need some encouragement from you lads….
ToonKing
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:49 PM
Comment #35Again we didn’t turn up, as Obafan i too have trouble with Sam’s choices, why didn’t he make the subs earlier?? Come on Sam, u gave 3 mins of play to Emre???? U take off one off our best man, Geremi??? Why ??? FFS
Defence was terrible, Beye as impressive he was before, he was terrible today.
Butt has got to follow Ameobi out of the team and Zog was poor too today.
Smith was good today, and so was Milner, and Martins was decent and at least he got a great goal.
Well we’ll see what happens next week when Barton comes back.
bluevalentine
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:51 PM
Comment #36Get it sorted lads. The Prem needs a good Toon side. At least it was a sporting game, unlike Average Villa, Brum and the other cloggers and The Filth from Blackburn.
I hope Joey does it for you but his passing is woeful. We certainly haven’t missed him.
Ivan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:52 PM
Comment #37i am pissed too
but hey come on guys, you have to accept that we played well overall in second half, and it shouldnt be a foul there that got them the free kick.
We need luck! Im just gonna forget bout this shitty result and concentrate on my final exam next week. Needed the moral boost by newcastle’s win but well its not meant to be i guess.
Go on toon! Fight!
toonoholic
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Comment #38one of those days when nothing goes right . sloppy goals and then a 20 yard free kick . its time we ask for some luck .
milner penalty not given
geremi free kick outside the box not given
VERY VERY UNLUCKY !
we played shite though still !
geordiejordan
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:53 PM
Comment #39given will be back between the sticks that’s for sure….
joe
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:55 PM
Comment #40I stand by my statement that apart from the 2nd goal and the last 10 mins, we actually passed the ball pretty well. Agree with ivan that we played well overall in the 2nd half. So much for sam’s “long ball” tactics huh..