So, we win ugly...

[s1ty m]

Superb 3 points, always good to win away and we are THE team away from home. I cannot ever recall saying this. City have mostly been a home team. Always a bit of an easy touch on our travels. Not now!

So, we need what to win the title:

1. A fullback or 2. Or at least not this pair today. I am anticipating some people agreeing with me about our Jerome. Wow, is he a piece of work. Lol.
2. Andy Carroll. Fuck the other targets, have you ever seen a player win every single ball into the area like he did today? Fabulous player and alongside Tevez, it would be mayhem. Would give us the aerial dimension we lack, probably just about all we lack in attack.

Other than that, we have all the pieces.

Was anyone outstanding today? I couldn't see one, not even the usuual gods like NDJ, Carlitos or Komps. They weren't bad, far from it, but did anyone stand out?

[Ted Hughes]

Two new fullbacks taking time to settle so we buy another one?

The problem about Carroll is he's one of those typical geordies with a mental age of 7 who probably misses his mam & his mate Eddie Ten Guts when he's away from home etc. If you could get him to settle at another club, he'd be lethal but will he settle?

[paulmclaren]

They all put a shift in today i thought.
Going to Newcastle with the type of in ur face players they have will always be tricky.
They hammered us on shots.
But we hung in there.
Excellent 3 points.
And i agree, that Carrol does look a very good player.
Wouldn't pay the silly money they were asking though.

[Dameerto]

A fresh start away from his personal problems might be appealing to Caroll, I wouldn't be upset if we tried to grab him - I hadn't realised just HOW good he was in the air.

[s1ty m]

Two new fullbacks taking time to settle so we buy another one?

The problem about Carroll is he's one of those typical geordies with a mental age of 7 who probably misses his mam & his mate Eddie Ten Guts when he's away from home etc. If you could get him to settle at another club, he'd be lethal but will he settle?

I think Kalarov looks occasionally threatening going forward, but to be outplayed by Routledge, who is basically shite, is a worry. He looks the better of the 2 full backs today though. Micah and Zabs are massive upgrades on Boateng. Struggling to settle cannot excuse some of his crude football. He's just not good enough.

Eddie Ten Guts! Ted, that is funny, mate. You may have a point, but Carroll looks the dogs nuts to me and a natural fit into our team.

[Crossie]

Carroll almost looked like he was trying to impress us today.

Im just not convinced yet.

[psut1]

How many chances does Carroll need to score though, wins headers but hardly threatened the goal

[Ted Hughes]

Two new fullbacks taking time to settle so we buy another one?

The problem about Carroll is he's one of those typical geordies with a mental age of 7 who probably misses his mam & his mate Eddie Ten Guts when he's away from home etc. If you could get him to settle at another club, he'd be lethal but will he settle?

I think Kalarov looks occasionally threatening going forward, but to be outplayed by Routledge, who is basically shite, is a worry. He looks the better of the 2 full backs today though. Micah and Zabs are massive upgrades on Boateng. Struggling to settle cannot excuse some of his crude football. He's just not good enough.

Eddie Ten Guts! Ted, that is funny, mate. You may have a point, but Carroll looks the dogs nuts to me and a natural fit into our team.

Well if we had a player like Carroll & we had the kind of possession around the box like we did v Everton Brum & Blackburn, I'd have no problem getting the ball to his head in the six yard box, so I presume that even City would manage it. I can't see teams holding out v us at home if we had an option like him.

[Dameerto]

How many chances does Carroll need to score though, wins headers but hardly threatened the goal

Mainly due to our defending though, they were in positions where he couldn't get a shot in (or where he had a slim chance)

[Ted Hughes]

How many chances does Carroll need to score though, wins headers but hardly threatened the goal

Mainly due to our defending though, they were in positions where he couldn't get a shot in (or where he had a slim chance)

He won countless headers which, had a player like Tevez been playing next to him, would often result in goals. City used to use Joe Royle & Tommy Booth like that; just get them to head it back into the danger area & have players steaming in. We won nearly all the 2nd balls today, which we shouldn't be allowed to & wouldn't, had it been rags or Chelsea we were playing.

[zuricity]

Must have watched a different game to you guys......

[Ted Hughes]

Must have watched a different game to you guys......

The last time we got an aerial skinning like that, Kit Symons was playing.

[Dameerto]

It looked to me like we were almost resigned to the fact that he would win the headers, and were treating our positioning as the priority - the match centre says he attempted ten shots with three being on target so I think how we played him was important in the end result. I saw him laying it off to a team mate a number of times too, which might be a big part of his game (I haven't watched much of him to be honest) or might have been forced by us.

[zuricity]

Must have watched a different game to you guys......

The last time we got an aerial skinning like that, Kit Symons was playing.

Did we win or lose the game ?

Thought so. He is an average player.

[Beefymcfc]

Fucking Ugly!!! Where've ya been for the last 30 odd years???

That was fuckin' bewdiful.

[Moonchesteri]

Right now Carroll is on fire. Big time. And you can see that from his play.

What I want to see is how he plays when he has a small injury, a little dip in his confidence or perhaps a bit off-field problems (more likely than unlikely in his case? just asking..) how will he perform?
He can be a one season wonder and then everything can go downhill. Big time.

Does that scenario sound familiar? It should.

[Beefymcfc]

Right now Carroll is on fire. Big time. And you can see that from his play.

What I want to see is how he plays when he has a small injury, a little dip in his confidence or perhaps a bit off-field problems (more likely than unlikely in his case? just asking..) how will he perform?
He can be a one season wonder and then everything can go downhill. Big time.

Does that scenario sound familiar? It should.

I see him as a Blackburn'esque type of player. Great at the long-ball/freekick specialist sort of player, nothing more.

[BlueinBosnia]

Is it just me, or does Boateng look like he's been sent to us for work experience? He really doesn't look part of the team. Most disappointing buy of the summer imo, as I thought he'd tear the prem apart.

[Grob]

We won nearly all the 2nd balls today, which we shouldn't be allowed to & wouldn't, had it been rags or Chelsea we were playing.

Key reason for victory. Carroll is one of the best headers of the ball maybe ever. Just stopable. He'll always win the header but to reduce effectiveness make sure there is always someone there to challange him and that there are plenty around to clear the knockdowns.

As for his potential big money move to City, he's got a long way to go and alot of maturing to do before that becomes a reality.

On the subject of the full backs, both today were garbage. Boateng isnt good enough, too laid back, too easily beaten. Kolorov cant turn, he stands off players too much, gives them too much time, and cant stop crosses coming into the box. He's also not that great on the ball. Both really need to buck up their ideas. How Boateng gets in before Richards and especially Zabaletta, whose been great this season, is beyond me.

[Grob]

We won nearly all the 2nd balls today, which we shouldn't be allowed to & wouldn't, had it been rags or Chelsea we were playing.

Key reason for victory. Carroll is one of the best headers of the ball maybe ever. Just unstopable. He'll always win the header but to reduce effectiveness make sure there is always someone there to challange him and that there are plenty around to clear the knockdowns.

As for his potential big money move to City, he's got a long way to go and alot of maturing to do before that becomes a reality.

On the subject of the full backs, both today were garbage. Boateng isnt good enough, too laid back, too easily beaten. Kolorov cant turn, he stands off players too much, gives them too much time, and cant stop crosses coming into the box. He's also not that great on the ball. Both really need to buck up their ideas. How Boateng gets in before Richards and especially Zabaletta, whose been great this season, is beyond me.