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
toonoholic
Sep 29, 2007 at 2:59 PM
Comment #41we needed to play long ball tactics today . man city midfield play a lot of short passes and are very quick . Long balls helps players track the opponent.
Beye was very unlucky today to be frank, all his blocks got blocked of the opponent .
we desperately need milner to hit form
see more of duff emre and barton
and pray that nzogbia is shifted as LM
CMMON THE TOONS !
CMMON BS !
he is the right man !
Dragoner
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:18 PM
Comment #42Tactics weren’t great but that isn’t why we lost, we lost because virtually ALL of our defence had either a bad game or got unlucky on numerous occassions(beye), as soon as we scored we started needlessly giving away possession instead of holding on to it for a while because obviously city were going to come at us.
Taylor is too slow, so is Cacapa, but we really needed his experience and composure today, even Faye should have played ahead of Taylor. N’zogbia was ok going forward but was lacking defensively, Smith is NOT a midfielder and Butt cant help but make awful passes and fouls. I feel sorry for Viduka and Milner, they played very well, and so did Martins at times, i only wish he had a better footballing brain to go along with his raw talent, Geremi was good….although i do feel NONE 0f todays midfield were comfortable on the ball at any point in the game.
i do not know the reason for Sam leaving Emre until the end so i will not say anythign about that, he may be trying to be safe with him considering his injury record
hadrian
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:23 PM
Comment #43smith played well in the role he’s been given , trouble is theres 2 other players been given the same role aswell .
when duff’s fit id like to see him on the wing with zoggy and barton in the centre , milner on the right .
we lack any decent crosses , milners not really on form and zoggys pushed to far back , duff will get more in for us.
never mind we needed to play long ball today , thats all we have been playing , and i think it stinks .
joe
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:29 PM
Comment #44Good to hear ppl not slagging off players (gutless, spineless) after a defeat FOR ONCE. Good performance overall but one or two silly mistakes plus a spark of brilliance from elano cost us the game. We actually played football this time unlike the game against derby. Midfield leaves a lot to be desired the commentators kept pointing out that unlike city our midfield are not supporting the attack. Obviously the sooner barton gets back into the fold the better.
Alex
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:34 PM
Comment #45we need Barton back quick ,the midfield is shite.defence today resembled last seasons.Why in gods name did Big Sam wait so long to bring on the subs, as soon as it was 2-1 he should have changed the midfield But ,Geremi and Smith together just does not work Emre should have been brought on earlier.Yet another false dawn maybe?lets hope not.jesus i need a beer after watching that.
lets keep the faith !
Sinead
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:37 PM
Comment #46Joe..you obviously haven’t read johann’s comment on the other page apparently it’s Given’s fault..
“hahaha given played two games two losses. never seen the defense as shake ever, it´s all open. given the great organiser. im so angry right now that im going to cool down before writing more”
Talk about bitter.
Joe
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:41 PM
Comment #47Quite a poor game. The main problem was the possession and passing of the Newcastle players. You look at the best passers in the game – Arsenal – they make space for themselves and make two or three passes within a short distance and move up the pitch that way.. Our boys just weren’t making the space. Apart from giving the City boys loads of room to roam, they weren’t giving themselves a chance. I noticed Geremi, Smith and Butt making very poor passes in this game and if the midfield are doing that you got no chances of creating chances.
Viduka and Martins did what they could with the chances they had and Milner/Zoggy worked their socks off yet again but the midfield was very poor today and Beye looked unfit and exhausted throughout..City knew that if they passed out to their left they were going to create chances through their paces..Beye just simply wasn’t up to the pace today – worrying for the future!
Tayls was poor today and he knew it. Rozzy was fantastic given his partners in defence! Zoggy was a bit sluggish in defence – can’t see why Sam is still playing him there when he would be awesome on left wing – but Rozzy was great, covering his very poor partners in defence.
I am personally insulted that Sam didn’t get Emre on at half time. It was PAINFULLY obivous that Smith, Geremi, Butt was not working in the first half. They weren’t creating chances and weren’t passing at all well. What is Emre going to do with 3mins to spare? His passing and creativity was so obviously missing today I wanted to cry! If he doesn’t start in the next game I seriously question Sam’s vision!
Bryan
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:47 PM
Comment #48My comment on this game would mirror my earlier comment under ” Steven Taylor- We must move on”
Coach our players on how to pass and move and clear our lines in defence. Another very poor performance which is now becoming the norm. Another manager, another defence, more millions spent same old Newcastle. Will I ever see the Keegan days again. I doudt it.
malaysian youngster
Sep 29, 2007 at 3:58 PM
Comment #49im only impressed with milner and viduka.smith and given acceptable. other than tat not really.we having difficulty keep possession. and tat cause some of the player dont have composure when having the ball.or maybe thats the reason most of the passes from midfield cant reach striker.kinda miss dyer. emre trying to impressed too much and end up shit. damn no mood. i tot we can get 3 points at first.really wish our midfielders play as city’s midfielders.