City v Newcastle

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.



Don't imagine we have a better record against any club,great being someone else's bogey side 
We seemed to have plenty of them at one time or another 

01 Feb 2006 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 3-0 Premier League
11 Nov 2006 Manchester City v Newcastle United D 0-0 Premier League
31 Mar 2007 Newcastle United v Manchester City W 0-1 Premier League
29 Sep 2007 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 3-1 Premier League
02 Jan 2008 Newcastle United v Manchester City W 0-2 Premier League
20 Oct 2008 Newcastle United v Manchester City D 2-2 Premier League
28 Jan 2009 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 2-1 Premier League
03 Oct 2010 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 2-1 Premier League
26 Dec 2010 Newcastle United v Manchester City W 1-3 Premier League
19 Nov 2011 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 3-1 Premier League
06 May 2012 Newcastle United v Manchester City W 0-2 Premier League
15 Dec 2012 Newcastle United v Manchester City W 1-3 Premier League
30 Mar 2013 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 4-0 Premier League
19 Aug 2013 Manchester City v Newcastle United W 4-0 Premier League
30 Oct 2013 Newcastle United v Manchester City W 0-2 Capital One Cup


3 points is a must,can't really see arsenal slipping up on monday and we must keep applying the pressure

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Lescott Kolorov
Fernandinho Yaya
Milner Nasri Silva
Negredo

Is how I'd go 
Doubt Pel will play jolean though

Good analysis.

This could be a tricky game, so we need to forget about the WHU and BBurn games. 

Hart
Zabaleta Kompany Nasty Kolorov
Fernandinho Yaya
Navas Nasri Silva
Negredo

Play our strongest team. Navas has been superb lately at tracking back and doing his defensive duties, and just the presence of his pace, especially against a Santon/Goufrran may help keep them back. Think he may opt for Milner though and can see Nasty/DeM coming back in for Lezza.

Fernandhino v Tiote should be tasty.....it's been a while since he's been sent off (Tiote).....

The atmosphere will be electric....shame I'll miss it, we have a 14:00 KO away on Sunday....bollocks!!!

I'd be happy with either of your teams. We can only look forwards to the next game as we should have too much firepower for Blackburn in the replay next week anyway.

Not sure Navas will be playing,isn't he injured?

Nope...according to MP...the only injuries are Sergio, Jovetic and Rodwell...he said all other players are fit and available. Yaya and Navas had a couple of knocks, but they are fine.

And Sergio is back training and could be avialable as soon as next week.

Navas missed the West Ham mauling as a precaution.