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.
Nice piece Ambarish. City are pondlife and should not be allowed even to exist after this court case. It’s official: I hate them as much as Manure and almost as much as the Spuds. I think they’re in crisis despite spunking all that money in the latest window. I’m sure I speak for all non MC fans across the world in saying ‘fuck them’.
Last week’s results could also be read as: Arsenal 2 Abu Dhabi Nil.
I want to see the same fighting spirit tonight against the handchoppers. Get an early goal, quieten their crowd and take over. I fear in reality that this is one game where El Bastardo will be coughing it up.
KP
Even if we lose today, tonight’s game is one of those where you judge the character of players and the manager. Will they show the fight, hunger and urgency or will it be a slow ponderous game where everyone’s waiting for things to happen?
It will depend on the manager I think, if he has kept the players grounded while keeping the Man City performance still running then we should be okay.
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Totally agree with your City sentiments. At this stage, they are higher in the cunt list of mine than Manure. Only spuds tops them.
We need to show the fight that MLS possesses – his play on Sunday was first class. I think we have a good chance of beating the Takems tonight but we need the right mindset throughout the team – ignore El B’s instructions – who only knows caution.
Tonight’s game has more than a hint of our 1989 league title decider v Liverpool at anfied about it .
The question is , do we go for the George graham tactic of keeping it tight first half , nick an early goal in the 2nd half and then throw the kitchen sink at it in the last quarter.
In 1989 Liverpool were reluctant to commit going forward and we could see something similar tonight as Newcastle may look to protect their 2 goal advantage.
Previously I was of the opinion that we should play a weakened side tonight but due to no fixture this weekend then we might as well give it a good go.
This could be a game that the Newcastle players and fans are very edgy because of the expectancy , whereas we have nothing to lose.
A strong referee is always a priority at St James park , unfortunately Simon Hooper is in charge and he gives us very little , though he is a referee who is not afraid to upset the home fans so all hope us not lost.
Will joelinton and guimaraes get away with murder tonight as is the norm….probably.
Will also point out that Arsenal were 2 down on aggregate to Tottenham at white Hart Lane in the 2nd half of the 2nd leg in 1987 and came back to win in a replay, so it can be done
(originally posted late last evening on the previous thread)
strangely enough, considering our pathetic window, I’m rather bullish about the possibility of us overturning this Cup tie(keeping in mind that they had a similarly piss-poor window)…with a 10 day break following, I could see us putting in a energized performance, especially if Newcastle try to defend their lead and allow us to dictate play…now they’re a threat on the counter, if Isak and Gordon are playing, but I’ve got to think that there’s no way MA doesn’t start Ethan, who has the skillset required to breakdown their defence from wider positions, which should keep them somewhat honest…I would likewise start Marts on the left, to further stretch their backline, then deploy Merino in the 8-hole, so when they send extra help out wide there will be a more legit target in the box for crosses…of course this won’t happen as it would actually require Rice to do what he was paid to do
btw thanks Tony!!
We have put up a strong starting XI.
Raya
Timber, Saliba, Gabriel, MLS
Odegaard, Partey, Rice
Martinelli, Havertz, Trossard
Nwaneri on bench.
The same line up as the City game? C’mon you rip-roaring reds!
Hi Wicksy
I think your second comparison (the 87 2 legger when Davis and Rocky iirc shone) is more accurate than the 89 league decider . I’d say those 2 games against the spuds were the catalyst for our title in 89. George Graham (our best ever manager bar none) taught the players what they could achieve when up against on field adversity. I’d wager he said roughly the same thing when we won THE best ever title decider at Anfield.
Hope you enjoy tonight’s game. I think we can do it.
with our need to score goals, there’s no reason why Ethan’s not in the starting lineup, especially knowing that Marts is going to be played on his off-wing…just bewildering
Terrible defending
we were incredibly lucky there, it must have been by a cunt hair…why was he unmarked??
Moaning Geordie maggots.
I know its only the first example (and we were bloody lucky) but I think I like the ref announcing the decision.
that knee-on-knee between Isak and Gabs could see the former struggle to play a full 90…I’ve experienced those a couple of times and the adrenaline might get you to half, but it could stiffen up with a little down time
Marc—it will be interesting to see how they handle more complicated decisions on the mic
That was a booking – how Skelly can be shown a red card and that doesn’t even get a card is shocking.
TRVL
Definitely.
Isak is some player – we’d look a different team with a player like that leading the line.
Isak should have had two already…I saw Isak smash the post on the weekend too…he so smooth with both feet
I would take Isak over both Rice and Havertz, considering how they’re deployed, and we will still have some money left over
We need one of the full backs to tuck in a little when we’re attacking – their counter is leaving us really vulnerable.
frankly I’m surprised how open this one is, especially from a Newcastle perspective…I would imagine they will be tightening things up now that they’re up two, although sometimes it’s dfficult to reign things in on a dime
we would still…
the ref’s going to have to really earn his paycheque tonight
we need to press hard for a couple before Howe has a chance to make any definitive adjustments at half
Havertz is a flopping clown far too often
tbf so is Gordon…mind you he brings more to the table
let’s remember Ethan’s only coming in because of an injury to Marts
That doesn’t look like the severest of hamstring injuries…
Kroenke
Hopefully its precautionary – we can’t afford to lose another attacking options for any length of time.