Matt Oldfield
What: English Premier League
Who: Manchester City vs. Newcastle United
When: Saturday, 19th November, at 15:00 UK time
Where: Eastlands, Manchester, England
The First Sign of Weakness?
Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City side have been all but unstoppable this season. The Citizens have risen to every challenge presented, thrashing rivals Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur 6-1 and 5-1 respectively. In 11 Premier League games, City have dropped just two points, scoring an incredible 39 and conceding just 10 in the process.
Captain Vincent Kompany has marshalled a solid defence featuring much-improved England internationals Micah Richards and Joleon Lescott, while in midfield, Gareth Barry and James Milner have been hard-work personified, allowing David Silva and Yaya Toure to fulfil their more creative, attacking potential. Without spearhead Carlos Tevez, the strikeforce of Sergio Aguero, Mario Balotelli and Edin Dzeko has combined for 24 goals, proving the Argentine is not missed.
In their final Premier League match before the international break, however, City displayed the first hints of vulnerability. While eventually defeating QPR 3-2 to maintain their unbeaten start, the Citizens went behind for the first time this season, and then conceded again. Summer signing Stefan Savic had a torrid afternoon against the power of Jay Bothroyd and Heidar Helguson, while Silva looked out of sorts for most of the game.
The fightback will have pleased Mancini, but the Italian will have slight concerns, especially with his star-studded team returning from a draining set of internationals; Sergio Aguero missed Argentina’s draw against Bolivia with a suspected groin strain, but recovered in time to score the winner in Tuesday’s win over Colombia.
Returning England star and former Newcastle player James Milner is certainly not underestimating City’s task; “all credit to them [Newcastle], they’re playing really well. They seem to have a really good team spirit and are getting good results as well. Hopefully we can get everyone back fit from internationals and pick up where we left off”, said the midfielder.
Day of Reckoning
Newcastle United are now embarking upon the most difficult phase of their incredible season so far. Unbeaten and sat in third place in the Premier League, just one point behind Manchester United, the Toon must now play both Manchester clubs and Chelsea within the next three weeks. Alan Pardew’s side are expected to fall short, but the neutrals will hope the Magpies continue their fairy tale journey.
Confidence remains sky-high at St James’ Park, despite the recent furore over the renaming of the stadium. And why not? Newcastle now have the stingiest defence in the Premier League – just eight goals conceded in 11 games – and in Demba Ba, one of the league’s most in-form players. After a battling draw against Tottenham Hotspur and a hard-fought win over Everton, the Magpies have no reason to fear the best team in the country.
In a season where success has been built upon continuity, however, Pardew faces a potential injury crisis ahead of the game. Winger Sylvain Marveaux has already been ruled out, and Gabriel Obertan, Leon Best and integral midfield duo Yohan Cabaye and Cheick Tiote will all have late fitness tests.
Despite these worries, Pardew remains positive, especially with Hatem Ben Arfa once more available for selection; “The training has been brilliant. We are looking forward to the game. We have a few players to come back today and Man City certainly have the luxury of more players to call upon. But we can’t wait.”
Recent form
Manchester City:
Manchester City 3-1 Wolverhampton Wanderers (29/10; Premier League)
Villarreal 0-3 Manchester City (02/11; Champions League)
QPR 2-3 Manchester City (05/11; Premier League)
Newcastle United:
Blackburn Rovers 4-3 Newcastle United (26/10; League Cup)
Stoke 1-3 Newcastle United (31/10; Premier League)
Newcastle United 2-1 Everton (05/11; Premier League)
Key absences
Manchester City: Carlos Tevez (AWOL); Samir Nasri
Newcastle United: Sylvain Marveaux (groin); Cheick Tiote (doubt); Yohan Cabaye (doubt); Gabriel Obertan (doubt); Leon Best (doubt)
Players to watch
Manchester City – Yaya Toure: While much of the focus this season at City has been on Silva, Tevez and Aguero, the tall Ivorian has quietly played some of the best football of his career. Perhaps not as forward-thinking as last season, Toure remains a vital link between defence and attack, moving seamlessly between the two. The former Barcelona midfielder has even found his shooting boots of late, scoring three goals in his last two games. With Newcastle potentially missing their usual midfield grit, Toure’s strength, energy and skill could prove too much for the visitors to handle.
Newcastle United – Demba Ba: The Senegalese hitman just cannot stop scoring. After a second hat-trick of the season against Stoke, his tally stands at eight goals in just eight Premier League starts, and City best beware. Mancini’s defence struggled to contain QPR’s strikers and the partnership of Ba and Best or Shola Ameobi offers a similarly physical, plus quicker, challenge. With injuries mounting at St James’ Park, Pardew will be relying on his top scorer to step his game up for this crucial fixture.
Match Prediction
This game has the potential to be City’s toughest of the Premier League season to date. Pardew’s Newcastle side are confident, happy, well-organised, and crucially clinical at both ends. Cabaye, Tiote, Ba and co. are more than capable of a big upset, and should be underestimated at City’s peril.
However, with several of Newcastle’s top performers looking doubtful, Mancini surely has both the quantity and quality of talent at his disposal to overcome the Magpies’ threat, particularly in the middle of the park. The international break can do strange things to a team, though. This is definitely a game to watch.
Manchester City 3-1 Newcastle United.
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