Manchester conquered, Newcastle next

We beat Man City 5-1 on Sunday, courtesy of goals from Odegaard, Partey, Lewis-Skelly, Havertz and Nwaneri. We scored first, let City have the control for the rest of the first half but wrecked havoc in the second after Partey’s deflected goal. MLS scored the decisive goal and then went on to recreate Haaland’s celebration.

Havertz and Nwaneri humbled down the Haaland’s and Silva’s of Manchester. Out of a beautiful game, some very prominent journalists and pundits have decided to confront Myles Lewis-Skelly celebration calling it a disgrace and that an 18 year old should keep his head down and play ball. I don’t know what to say to that, except someone from Man City had asked him ‘who the eff he was’ not so long ago. The same ‘someone’ asked an opposition manager to stay humble and an ex-team mate to fuck off. I think he deserved it! If you can’t handle some banter your way, don’t be a bellend next time.

I have two positives from the game. First, we win against the big teams. We look comfortable against the teams that play progressive and attacking football and do not just sit back and ask us to break their line. Second, we have some STARS coming out of the academy. MLS is a very confident lad, he had shown us so far, keeping a fit Calafiori to the bench and the arrogance which he shows (pumping fans after being asked to leave the pitch, Haaland’s celebration in his face etc.) is what the legend Thiery Henry has been asking of Bukayo Saka. Nwaneri, another brilliant player, doing wonders at the age of 18, not letting us miss the best right winger in the world is scoring curly goals after taking on 2 defenders. If you have got 3 starters from your academy, it’s a great thing!

We are still in contention. Liverpool has got 6 points lead, with a game in hand but still a good part of the season is left.

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CARABAO CUP – Newcastle v Arsenal

At home, Newcastle scored 2 against us in the first leg. To remain in the tie, we must at least match it at St. James Park in the first 90. It’s going to be very difficult, Eddie Howe has coached them very well and I doubt we can see it out frankly. It’s going to be a very tough day for the lads and they would have to give their everything if they want themselves closer to a trophy.

I would love that trophy. A win today by 3 goal margin takes us to Wembley. There’s a lot at stake and we have to see how the players react.

Team availability remains the same, so I would expect the same XI we played against City. There’s going to be 10 days off for the players so I think they can take it. MLS and Nwaneri should keep their place, Partey should anchor that midfield with Rice and Odegaard on either side and Martinelli should keep his place as well. It’s going to be a physical game and the presence of MLS, Nwaneri, Havertz will allow us to neutralize it.

The other leg is between Liverpool and Tottenham where the spuds have a 1-0 first leg advantage. I would love us winning the trophy and stopping Spuds to win one in the process.

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I am a little frustrated with our transfer window. We did nothing. We needed a CF and Villa offered Ollie Watkins to us for 60m but we valued him a lot less and rejected the proposal. I think we have made a mistake. Watkins could have helped us for at least 2 seasons and when you are in a title race, you need players for NOW and not tomorrow. If it’s to safeguard Havertz then it’s a firing offence. Jesus is out for a year, and we are reliant on a player who hasn’t been doing as much as he should. Getting Watkins would have improved that position. I also don’t believe we did that to keep the money for summer, that would just imply that we have given up on the season when we are on 2nd in PL, in knockout stages in the Champions League, in semi finals in the Carabao Cup.

I will say it again, someone at the club needs to get hold of Mikel and stop his fantasies for defenders. We have enough bodies and the academy can fill in if the need be (MLS is doing pretty well). Nwaneri has stepped us so we haven’t been missing Bukayo but we need a back up of him, Odegaard, and a CF first before any defensive signing.

I’m pretty sure we will be looking for a Partey’s replacement while ignoring the CF position completely in summer.

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Right, that’s me done. The game is too late for me but I will try keeping myself up. Hope you celebrate the City’s win and the cunts getting humbled in the process.

Cheers.