Key occasions
28 min Further brilliance from Saint-Maximin, luscious footwork foxing Walker and Ake, each of them now deputed to deal with him. He shuffles, kicks, checks and crosses, there are two within the center, and Almiron, although delay by the lunging Willocks, thighs residence on the stumble! He loves it, however the flag goes up; over to VAR…
27 min The nook loops in direction of Botman on the again submit, who wins the header and knocks down for Wilson! This is a large likelihood, however in controlling, the ball goes behind him a bit and he can’t get laces round arse-cheek with ample energy to overly bother Ederson.
27 min Saint-Maximin is coming into this now, lofting a cross to the again stick the place Wilson heads into De Bruyne and behind. He needs a penalty however will make do with a nook.
25 min “I’m a Liverpool fan and I hate Manchester City,” however they’re simply gentle years forward of all different groups. Every different group it’s all the time a query of whether or not they can rating; with City it appears inevitable they may rating. With Haaland choosing up on possibilities they missed final season I’m taking bets they may win each single league sport for an ideal season? Any takers?”
I’d be very shocked, however I can’t see any sport you’d count on them to not win earlier than it truly occurs. If that is smart, which it won’t.
24 min This is sensible from Newcastle, attacking down the left once more after Stones offers it away then Saint-Maximin jinking by him, incomes a taking pictures lane … solely to lash straight at Ederson. City look as harmful as ever when in possession, however after I stated I didn’t charge their defence earlier, that is what I meant.
22 min Newcastle are having fun with this, Almiron and Guimaraes having crosses headed clear. The extensive pitch at St James’ helps them as a result of they’ve been courageous sufficient to maintain wingers excessive and extensive, then ship the full-backs ahead in assist.
21 min Ake is harm, and although he needs longer to see what occurs, with the stream of issues as it’s, Guardiola can’t permit him that, sending on Dias.
20 min Now Newcastle counter, once more with velocity and depth, Saint-Maximin discovering Almiron, who’se cross is simply too far forward of Wilson. Could he have slid in? Either manner, City are fortunate to nonetheless have their lead and clear sheet – this match is cooking.
20 min De Bruyne tries the outswinger, and it’s on the right track however Pope shoves away simply sufficient.
19 min City win a free-kick simply exterior the field, proper of centre…
18 min Cancelo is booked for a foul throughout that transfer.
17 min This is getting frantic! Newcastle are flooding males ahead, and when Wilson touches off for Joelinton, he slides a nice ball out to Saint-Maximin, who geese exterior Walker and cuts again! Almiron should rating! But the attacker with 9 league objectives in 93 league begins leans backs and larrups excessive. That is a colossal oversight.
15 min This is a very open sport, which I suppose Newcastle are permitting with their line of defense. But it’s breached but once more when De Bruyne sends Foden away down the left; once more, he shoots in direction of the close to submit and Pope saves with a foot when he tries for the far nook. On the touchline, Guardiola is irate as a result of there was no sq. cross for Haaland – as there wasn’t from Foden final weekend. He could also be apprised of some sentiments at half-time.
13 min Better from Newcastle, Willock skirting round Walker and … beating him for tempo? Do not regulate your units, that did simply occur. I do know! Anyhow, he lanks down the left, then with Wilson inside squares … however yerman opts to not permit the ball throughout him and onto his proper foot, sweeping along with his left and seeing it fly extensive.
11 min That actually was glorious from Haaland, the world’s first lab-created soccermonster. He goes to do some ludicrous injury this season.
10 min Haaland holds up adroitly, then turns, offers Willock a free piggy again, and with the surface of his boot, curves De Bruyne by way of at inside-right! He ought to barely angle his run to get nearer to objective however doesn’t, in order that when it’s time to drag the set off, he’s not go a lot at which to goal and Pope saves along with his toes on the close to submit.
9 min “The song choice was spot-on!” reckons Michael Driscoll.
– Kaiser Chiefs are from Leeds
– The residence group simply ran throughout Chelsea
– There could be a riot at Old Trafford
Points deductions for… being humorous and sensible?”
I’m not having that Kaiser Chiefs – named for Lucas Radebe, if we’re doing Leeds connections – are spot-on. I don’t make the principles, however I’m sure by them.
8 min De Bruyne skips away from Guimaraes, who boots him to the turf earlier than protesting as apparent a reserving as you’ll see.
7 min Eddie Howe will probably be extraordinarily displeased with how all that occurred, however to vital extent, it’s what occurs in opposition to City: the stress to carry out is intense, so gamers make errors they wouldn’t in any other case.
GOAL! Newcastle United 0-1 Manchester City (Gundogan 5)
Gundogan begins the transfer simply contained in the City half and mooches ahead, as Bernardo eases ahead unmolested. The cross then picks him out and he’s obtained time to manage, fetch the ball from behind him, and slot it residence, which is to say that is an absolute embarrassment for Newcastle’s much-improved defence.
4 min I first noticed Rodri enjoying for Spain, I feel, and he seemed a severe expertise then. But his enchancment into most likely the perfect within the league is but additional proof of Guardiola’s capacity to choose gamers he wants then develop them, and Rodri’s pleasingly nasty streak. He’s not as fast as Fernandindo, however he’s each bit as snide.
4 min Now City construct, Haaland shedding and spinning in behind, whereas Rodri lashes excessive.
2 min How usually do groups rating from a brief nook? I’d wager even much less steadily, on common, than from a nook despatched into the field. On which level, I ponder if information will ever insist gamers cease taking pictures from free-kicks, as that rarely yields a objective, and have them cross or cross as an alternative.
2 min Newcastle work a brief nook properly, Guimaraes discovering Trippier, whose cross is collected by Ederson.
1 min Yup, Joelinton Scholes spreads play to Trippier, deep contained in the City half as anticipated, and his cross is headed behind for an early nook…
1 min Howay we go!
I don’t even like Mark Knopfler, however Local Hero has obtained to be the perfect walk-on tune within the league.
Here come the groups!
“It is depressing just how easily we humans are bought off” emails Niall Mullen. “I can only assume that if Putin bought my club and promised massive investment in the team I’d turn up at the next game in a ushanka claiming that, actually, Ukraine is ethnically Russian.”
I suppose it make some sense – there’s little higher in life than your group’s footballing glory. What I discover bothersome is the refusal to recognise the provenance of success, and the animus despatched these whose job it’s to level that out. None of them need it to be like this, or resent any membership its success past that.
I wrote about that – and about City’s lack of brutes – right here.
“So the defence with the joint best defensive record in the Premier League last season and that haven’t conceded yet this season ‘lack quality’,” says Ben Burrell, quoting me again to myself. “I’d love to hear how you define defensive quality Dan!”
As with all Guardiola groups, City press from the entrance and maintain possession amazingly nicely – the battle is getting at their defence rather more than getting something from them. It’s the principle motive Guardiola has solely gained the Champions League with Messi and the best midfield of all time – you may get away with it domestically, however in Europe you finally get caught. See Liverpool, Spurs, Lyon, Chelsea, Madrid – City have been the perfect aspect in Europe for about 5 years now, and one closing isn’t a smart reflection of that. The defence is the rationale why.
Football nicknames: I discussed earlier that Steve Bruce used to name Joelinton “Big Joe”, which jogged my memory that Sam Allardyce known as Tal Ben Haim “Ben”, which means “son of”. Any extra for any extra?
“If the men’s sides deserve opprobrium,” emails Em Jackson, “for the way in which KSA and UAE have invested in both sides to facilitate sportswashing of dubious regimes (and NUFC with KSA especially – and with links to Tory supporting Reuben Brothers even more so), then what news from the sports commentariat about NUFC Women now being run, entirely, by NUFC’s owners? Is equality in sport the chance to be as bad as the men’s sides re: ownership? Or should the women have said ‘No, not until women in KSA are free to exercise democratic choices and freedoms?’”
This is soccer. There ought to all the time be sufficient opprobrium to go spherical.
Fast Edward says enjoying is “the ultimate test” – with added “for me,” clearly. His group must be the perfect model of themselves, and in that connection gained’t be sitting deep. Well, that’s the plan, however he is aware of the way in which the sport can go, that may occur whether or not or not you need it to. But he doesn’t need to give class gamers an excessive amount of time on the ball, is aware of his aspect have gamers who can harm City, and by exhibiting the intent to win the sport, his gamers can contain the group.
Guardiola is often gnomic when requested about his choice, saying there’s room for Sergio Gomez as a result of Jack Grealish is injured. He is aware of Newcastle away is all the time robust, so his group must present how good they’re and the way nicely they perceive their soccer. He’s additionally shocked his group have began the season in first rate type, as that they had a brief pre-season – o no less than he says he’s.
On which level, I’d count on to see Kieran Trippier being courageous in assault for that motive.
As with just about each group that has to play City, beating them is a nause as a result of it’s obtained to be completed with roughly 30% possession, most of which isn’t in harmful areas. But each group that performs City additionally has the possibility, if they will get sufficient first rate ball, to have a phrase with a defence that lacks sturdiness and high quality. Obviously the full-backs are glorious, however Joao Cancelo’s licence to assault means house behind, whereas the centre-backs are first rate however not among the many finest, and each might be dominated bodily. I’d count on Callum Wilson to attempt to pin them, however he’ll want first rate service from out extensive – I truly marvel if, for that motive, Fraser may’ve been picked forward of Almiron, had he been match.
At full-time at Elland Road, they performed I Predict A Riot. I’d have the factors off them for that, quicksmart.
The closing whistle has gone there – Leeds are actually second within the desk, Chelsea twelfth – and at London Stadium – or the London Stadium – the place Brighton have crushed West Ham 2-0. Brighton are fourth, West Ham backside.
They’re enjoying damage time at Elland Road, the place Leeds nonetheless lead Chelsea 3-0 and, for additional mirth, Kalidou Koulibaly has been despatched off for a wholly pointless second bookable offence.
Neither of these modifications is unintelligible, and earlier than I flippantly query them, sure, I do know that, chances are high, Josep Guardiola is aware of extra about affiliation soccer than do I. However, given City’s defence stays their weak level, I’m shocked he’s not attempting to settle a centre-back partnership that performs each week. And sensible although Bernardo is, I’m a bit shocked he’s on the wing, the place his relative lack of tempo generally is a downside, than in midfield, the place he’s at his finest.
As for City, it’s John Stones and Nathan Aké on the again, which implies no Rúben Dias, whereas in assault, Bernardo Silva begins forward of Riyad Mahrez.
Newcastle are unchanged following final weekend’s goalless draw at Brighton, however although Matt Targett isn’t match sufficient for choice, Ryan Fraser and Emil Krafth make the bench.
Our groups
Newcastle United (a Howeian, howayian 4-3-3): Pope; Trippier, Schar, Botman, Burn; Guimaraes, Joelinton, Willocks; Almiron, Wilson, Saint-Maximin. Subs: Dubravka, Lascelles, Ritchie, Krafth, Wood, Fraser, Murphy, Anderson, Longstaff.
Manchester City (a extra formal 4-3-3): Ederson; Walker, Stones, Ake, Cancelo; Rodri, Gundogan, De Bruyne; Bernardo Silva, Haaland, Foden. Subs: Ortega, Dias, Phillips, Alvarez, Gomez, Mahrez, Mbete, Palmer, Lewis.
Referee: Jarred Gillett (Gold Coast)
First issues first: Leeds are clattering Chelsea 3-0, with 18 minutes and alter remaining.
Preamble
Given a world that’s in fixed flux, it’s surprisingly straightforward to imagine a state of permanence with regard to issues which are essentially changeable. Whether we’re considering summer season, love or soccer, as soon as we’re ensconced inside a rhythm – scorching days, disappointing nights, predictable outcomes – it might probably seem to be issues won’t ever change.
Such are Manchester City. Champions of England in 4 of the final 5 seasons, they’ve gained 11 and drawn three of their final 14 league video games – through which time they’ve additionally added Erling Haaland, making the prospect of their failing to win any sport look extraordinarily distant. We should always remember that each one this can be a facility of state wealth, but it surely seems like a state of permanence however.
Of course, sport and soccer are not often like that – City had been as soon as the place Newcastle are actually, bankrolled by a few of the planet’s most famous altruists for the straightforward pleasure of the sport. Things have modified since then, although. Where City had a free run at gamers as sensible as David Silva, Sergio Aguëro and Yaya Touré and rivals, in Man United, whose homeowners prioritised silver over silverware, there are actually monetary truthful play guidelines which make it tougher to penetrate the elite, and chief execs whose private pursuits largely coincide with these of their golf equipment.
Which isn’t to say Newcastle haven’t improved lots during the last bit; they’ve. Bruno Guimarães is a nice participant, much better than any they may have anticipated to signal at this level; Joelinton, or Big Joe as Steve Bruce favored to name him, has been a revelation in midfield; and the defence now appears to be like like a defence.
All very good, however to trigger issues for City will take considerably greater than we’ve seen from the iteration of Newcastle. They are succesful – in the event that they discover the extent they hit in dismantling Arsenal on the finish of final season, they will harm City – however something much less, they usually’re for it.
Kick-off: 4.30pm BST
