Newcastle will try to defend well tomorrow at the Etihad Stadium, and maybe we can get the point we almost got when the league leaders beat us 1-0 at St. James’ Park in late December.
But one thing we don’t want to see tomorrow afternoon in the late kick-off game is a heavy defeat.
We have a decent goal difference at the moment of -10, and that can help us survive this season as it’s worth an extra point.
-10 is not great but better than most teams down in the relegation zone and we want to keep it that way.
Pep Guardiola – Manchester City manager
We think Rafa could well play a 5-4-1 formation tomorrow and try to nullify the talented (and expensive) Manchester City side who are coming off their first PL loss of the season – 4-3 last weekend ay Liverpool.
Here’s the side that could start the game tomorrow:
Darlow
Yedlin Lascelles (c) Clark Dummett Manquillo
Ritchie Merino Diame Perez
Joselu
If Chancel Mbemba is fit, we would have in at left back.
Think we need Joselu to hold the ball once we get it up there and Diame will provide some physical presence in the center of midfield and Mo have been looking good lately.
Perez is on the left wing because he can work hard and track back and of course, he’s looked in very good form of late.
The best we can hope for is a draw tomorrow – but anything is possible.
Comments welcome.
145 comments so far
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:20 PM
Comment #12-0 to City. We haven’t got a chance down there. Hope I’m wrong like
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:22 PM
Comment #2Lennon off to Burnley!
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:23 PM
Comment #3Wonder if Mitro will feature tomorrow. He scored last time we played at the Etihad
Jail for Ashley
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:24 PM
Comment #4I think we might see Mitro tomorrow.
Jib
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:26 PM
Comment #5See if you can pick a team from these lads freezing their nuts off at Benton this morning
Munster Mag
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:26 PM
Comment #6Oh no have we missed Lennon too? I though Rafa was a big draw but I guess we cant pay burnley wages !
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:28 PM
Comment #7If we sit in our own half for 90 mins like the last game, I can see us getting a hiding.
Hope to see us press them and force errors. They’re not perfect and will be a little shaken from the Liverpool game. Hopefully anyway.
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:29 PM
Comment #8Munster
Does that mean that Burnley are a bigger club than us now? 😳
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:32 PM
Comment #9Wonder if that’s a goodbye hand shake on those pics!
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:33 PM
Comment #10Jib
What’s that site you use to pick your team??
Geordie-john
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #11I would like to see Mitro have a go up front along side Perez in a 3-5-2 . It might sound crazy but i think could surprise Man City for 30 seconds or so.
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:43 PM
Comment #12Doubt we’ll see mitro, he supposed to have just returned to training a couple days ago.
Tsunki
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #13Magscar @81 last article –
Oh. I see
Sorry. ?
Jib
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:44 PM
Comment #14http://football-formation.com/submit-lineup.php
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:45 PM
Comment #15McNall has gone on loan to Gateshead at 18 years old. That is good as he’s doing well this year. Hopefully he’ll develop well from the experience of playing with men.
Barlaser has gone out on loan too. He’s gone to Crewe. Good young player who desperately needed actual games.
Mister Tuff
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:46 PM
Comment #16dig – I saw your posts earlier. Jib was probably too embarrassed to respond.
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:49 PM
Comment #17I’d be tempted to play 532. Wing backs provide width, middle 3 of diame, merino and Hayden. Good mix of being solid, energy, tackling and passing. Would consider atsu and Perez up front again like v Stoke, causing problems with movement and play on counter. Perhaps without the ball, ask one of the players to stalk Fernandinho around the pitch.
Belfast
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:52 PM
Comment #18Simulate match.
Jib
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:53 PM
Comment #19I think the handshake with Gayle could be significant
Mag :P
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:53 PM
Comment #20“Why can’t we be friends
Why can’t we be friends….”
This blog needs to… Relax.
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #21As others already point out, Lennon is off to burnley. Not too fussed anyway, never been a fan and never rated him. However, would have maybe took him on loan provided other positions were filled (striker, no10, keeper). Definitely would be against him signing permanently.
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 5:58 PM
Comment #22And Southampton putting in big bids
Ed Aarons
Ed Aarons
@ed_aarons
·
42m
Monaco have rejected Southampton’s €20m offer for striker Guido Carrillo
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:02 PM
Comment #23Jib
Was that Saivet aswell who received a handshake?
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:04 PM
Comment #24Smileypooemoji
Jib
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:06 PM
Comment #25The Grauniad’s pick
Jib
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:08 PM
Comment #26Pep was a bit ticked off with Rafa’s
tactics at SJP.
Man Shitty will be fired up to give us a caning
lochinvar
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:12 PM
Comment #27Gayle and Aarons got the handshakes
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:14 PM
Comment #28What handshakes you all on about lol?
lochinvar
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Comment #29Wouldn’t concern ourselves over Lennon going to Burnley.
They should be safe so he’s thinking ahead to this and next season in the Premiership plus his cut of a transfer fee and decent wages. However depending on where he lives on Merseyside it could be a domestic decision if there’s a Mrs. Lennon and Little Lennons who prefer to stay put rather than uproot to another area. It’s probably commutable in 45 minutes up the motorway so seems like a sensible decision on his part.
He may think otherwise later on.
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:16 PM
Comment #30Earlier in season, Ranieri said v psg that he’ll park two buses. Perhaps we should be thinking the same? And don’t forget the kitchen sink, dont want to be throwing that, should use it to barricade the goal!
lochinvar
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:18 PM
Comment #31Ronaldo – didn’t realise it was you. Could you send me your autograph and Rafa’s as well if you have it. Just post it here.
Please
Lol
ShireToon(Disavowed)
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:19 PM
Comment #32My pick
http://football-formation.com/lineup/65589/formation.png
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:20 PM
Comment #33The Independent claim the #nufc takeover is well and truly dead in the water. Ashley won’t negotiate further
Ashley particularly was not happy when Staveley “turned up” at the curry house while he was eating with his wife. #nufc
ronaldo aarons
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:22 PM
Comment #34Loch
Yeah, no problem mate. Will need your address… and while you’re at it I will need your card and bank details 😉
GeordieTwo
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:22 PM
Comment #35So the deal remains on the table then? Just sitting there, all that lovely money but tied to a relegation clause. Never mind Mikey, a little dealus interruptus happens now and then. Now you are free to focus on all the top, top players you are going to sanction buying.
Jib
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:24 PM
Comment #36Round of applause for Shire
He’s got it – by george he’s got it !!!!
Reilly
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:27 PM
Comment #37noway am i buying that bs that AS gate crashed the fat mans date night with the mrs.
GeordieTwo
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:27 PM
Comment #38Twelve more days in the window Mikey. Then your true aspirations for the club are exposed once again. Is it going to be more of the same? Leave it to Rafa to generate a miracle? And then what? More pointless negotiating in the summer? Give it up and sell for a slight loss Mikey. In actual fact, with all the free advertising it isn’t a slight loss at all. You’ve come out well ahead. And you can drown your sorrows in a bucket of champers lad.
north east lincs toon
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:28 PM
Comment #39Can see hull getting a win at the unwashed tomorrow.but sunlun strongest team in the league at the bottom holding everyone else up ha ha !
GeordieTwo
Jan 19, 2018 at 6:28 PM
Comment #40Another load of bollocks Reilly. The photo op was deliberate to make Mikey look good.