Next: Newcastle (Away)

[AG7]

Newcastle United v Manchester City
St James' Park, Newcastle upon Tyne

Sunday 12 January 2014
Kickoff: 1405 GMT

Referee: Mike Jones
Assistants: S Child & R Ganfield
Fourth Official: Martin Atkinson

TV Coverage in UK: Sky Sports 1 HD (Sky 401), Sky Sports 1 (Sky 407) and Sky 3D (Sky 170)
Coverage starts at 1330 GMT for Sky Sports 1 HD and Sky Sports 1, and at 1357 GMT for Sky 3D

----

The Opposition

West Ham United done and Newcastle United next ... I guess all the clubs whose names end with United in the league are having troubles at the moment (not than anyone's complaining) ... this one although hasn't done that bad. Apart from an opening day thrashing by none other than God's own, they have done pretty well ... until recently when they have run into some injury issues and lost their way a bit, otherwise they have had a great run in prior to that ...

They have lost their last three games in a row ... 0-1 to Arsenal at home, then couldn't beat a struggling West Brom away and lost that 1-0 as well and finally Cardiff rejuvenated by their new manager dumped them out of the FA Cup 1-2 at home ... We are on next and would like nothing else than making it their fourth defeat in a row ... Had they been playing anyone else, I'd actually want them to win as they are sitting just below the Scum in the table and that'd give them an opportunity to leapfrog the Rags and dump them back into 8th place ... but anyway, I'm sure they'll have plenty of opportunities coming soon for that ...

Team Selection

Seems like ages when we last played in the league with the FA Cup and then League Cup games for us ... but the 6-0 hammering in the semi-final surely has upped everyone's confidence. The fans sure are up beat but I am sure it has had the same effect on the team as well, especially after being held away at Blackburn ...

Strongest XI is what I think Pellegrini will be thinking here. If he has learnt he should go with a 4-5-1 away from home at a side that's not that bad after all and not to be taken lightly by any means ... and with Milner rested the last game, this game is calling for him in the midfield as an extra person ... BUT given how well the Negredo-Dzeko partnership worked last night, I have a feeling that Pellegrini will stick with 4-4-2, play both strikers up front and Milner will have to wait for the Blackburn replay ... at least this is how he'll start and if needs to put that extra person in the midfield, might switch during the game by taking off one of the strikers.

Navas should start if his knee knock wasn't that bad and Nasri's turn to rest (given Silva was subbed last game, expect him to start ahead of Nasri) ... but if Pellegrini plays it cautiously, he might not rush Navas back and we'll see the midfield of Nasri, Silva, Ferdy and Yaya. Yaya, of course only if his ankle wasn't hit or twisted that bad and is hopefully OK, if not then don't be surprised to see the fan favorite Garcia starting alongside Ferdy.

The back four of Zabaleta, Kompany, Demichelis and Kolarov are expected to play with Nasti, Clichy and Lescott coming in for the Blackburn game in the mid-week. Hart will of course return in place of Panti ...

Starting XI Prediction

Hart
Zaba - Komps - Demi - Kola
Nasri - Ferdy - Yaya - Silva
Beast - Dzeko

Score Prediction

Newcastle 0 - 3 Manchester City

With their key players out (Debuchy suspended, Coloccini injured and Cabaye doubtful) and with us in good form, expecting another win for us with goals at regular intervals. Perhaps not as many as six but nonetheless we should retain our good record against the barcodes ... In the title winning season we beat them 3-1 at home and 2-0 away (a classic that one), then last season we got them 4-0 at home and 3-1 away, and this season of course the opening day 4-0 at home and again in the League Cup tie 2-0 away (in extra time) but nonetheless we have beaten them with at least a 2 goal margin in last six encounters ...

Other Games

The weekend starts with Chelsea away at Hull, so they could be top of the table by the time we play on Sunday afternoon. Liverpool is away at Stoke right after our game on Sunday. Scum plays Swansea at home (again) on Saturday evening (let's hope Swansea can do them twice in a week at the swamp) ... and finally Arsenal doesn't play till Monday night when they are away at Villa Park.

[AG7]

Instead if writing my own intro to the game I should have just copied this guy's ...


Olivier Bernard: Only the best of Newcastle United can beat Manchester City

Chronicle columnist Olivier Bernard reckons only the best of Newcastle United can beat Manchester City on Sunday

How do you stop Manchester City?

Now there is a question. Alan Pardew and his staff have their work cut out this week to come up with some answers.

There is something about this City team that makes me feel, shall I say, concerned about this weekend. Actually, there are quite a lot of things.

Before I go on, we can get a point from Sunday, a result I’d bite both your hands off for right now. The right attitude, performance and slice of luck could see us win 1-0.

I honestly believe that.

However, we are up against a top side with genuine world-class players in every single area of the park.

I must admit that I love watching City when they click into that extra gear they seem to find during a game. It’s almost as if a silent command is sent out and every player raises their performance by10%.

City are brilliant, quick and powerful. They will drive at the doors of the most obstinate of teams and when they break through their defensive lock, then it’s game over.

Attacks can come from defence, midfield, the wing. It’s impossible to know what they will do next. With players as good as this, something magical happens and before you know it they’ve scored.

You never are quite sure where they are going to come at you from?

They can dismantle you in the blink of an eye. It’s scary stuff. When it happens for them, they are one of Europe’s best teams.

Yaya Toure is world-class. No question about. So is Vincent Kompany and you can say that about Sergio Aguero, although he might struggle for Sunday after being out for a month.

There isn’t a weak spot. Don’t even look for it. Even if their away form hasn’t match how they have played in Manchester.

So what to Newcastle do?

We play our strongest team for a start. We have to frustrate City, close them down, make sure we keep our concentration and everyone has to defend.

Pardew needs all 11 players, plus his subs, to perform as close to their best as they can. Only then can we get a positive result.

In an odd way, this isn’t a bad game for the players after three defeats.

For whatever reason, this Newcastle team are not so good at dictating games. They would much rather see a team come at them. We seem to be better without the ball at times. So this is no mission impossible. However, I do think we will need to score to take a point.

The biggest aspect of this game is that City play so well between the lines.

Strikers wander into midfield, midfielders such as Samir Nasri and David Silva love to operate in that area between the central area of the park and 30 yards from goal.

It’s an awful place to try to mark.

They float. That’s what they do. They float into these parts of the pitch looking to hurt the opposition.

Fernandinho has been a brilliant signing, as I thought he would be. City needed a box-to-box player and he operates beautifully in that role. They all mix and match.

If one goes up, someone stays back. Goals can come from anywhere.

If we score, it won’t be more than one goal. City have too much ability all over for that to happen.

However, if we can make the most of our opportunities, then Newcastle have enough good players to hurt their visitors.

We could do with a bit of positivity after a poor start to the year and a point on Sunday would be a massive result for the club.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

From BBC report of manager's presser:

Football
Newcastle v Man City (Sun)

Manchester City midfielder Yaya Toure is fit for Sunday's Premier League trip to Newcastle after overcoming a minor ankle knock suffered in midweek.
Top scorer Sergio Aguero (calf) remains on the sidelines but could be close to a return while fellow forward Stevan Jovetic and midfielder Jack Rodwell (both hamstring) are also still out.
Winger Jesus Navas returns after resting a knee problem while defender Dedryck Boyata is available again after suspension. Defenders Micah Richards and Martin Demichelis are available after injury.
Provisional squad: Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Nastasic, Lescott, Demichelis, Boyata, Kolarov, Clichy, Milner, Navas, Nasri, Silva, Toure, Fernandinho, Garcia, Dzeko, Negredo, Guidetti.

[South Stand Balti]

Thanks for the intro.....great stuff. I think the team MP will select will be
Hart
Zaba Kompany Demichelis Kolarov
Yaya Fern
Navas silva Nasri
Beast

Poor Newcastle (I hope)

[failsworthblue]

Tough Game

Good side Newcastle, strong at home and will be really up for this.

Everybody in the country "bigging us up" right now.

Would take a scrappy 1-0 win all day long.

[Twobob]

I have a good feeling about this one, maybe its the guinness, perhaps it was the rice-pudding (with uber amounts of nutmeg), but I think this is where we really put an away team to the sword.

Newcastle can be solid but pretty rash too, i recon a Yaya free kick to start us off and us finishing 1-4. There's a hell of a buzz at the moment and we'll take that up north.

[Hutch's Shoulder]

I have a good feeling about this one, maybe its the guinness, perhaps it was the rice-pudding (with uber amounts of nutmeg), but I think this is where we really put an away team to the sword. Newcastle can be solid but pretty rash too, i recon a Yaya free kick to start us off and us finishing 1-4. There's a hell of a buzz at the moment and we'll take that up north.

Please say that when you have these feelings they come true......

[Twobob]

Please say that when you have these feelings they come true......

I'm in a good zone however i rarely have these feelings so its new ground!