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Match Report: Manchester City 3-0 NUFC
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 Friday
3 February 2006
By Ally
Campbell
Well, well. The entire slant of this takes a whole new spin this afternoon!
A dreadful performance at Eastlands finally saw the Fat Controller
lose patience as he sacked Souness.
Only a fool would have kept him at the club after last night’s debacle.
The team selection was slightly baffling, Lee Clark playing rather
than Solano. Good idea in theory I guess if they had Ronaldinho on
the left wing, stick a solid lad on the wing to try and nullify the
threat.
Instead Man City had Albert Riera, new to the country, and we didn’t
even play Clark right wing! Tactical genius, it must be said. No,
we played with Parker and Clark in central midfield with Emre pushed
further forward.
Poor Peter Ramage had to plough up and down the right flank like a
wing-back to little success. Defensive mistakes summed up the performance
really, and whilst they weren’t as glaring as they often are, they
were needless.
Riera’s first goal, well taken and for them was a cracking goal, but
sloppy defending simply gave him the ball.
Sloppy marking for Cole’s header and Boumsong got well and truly skinned
for the third. The fans, as ever cheered for the full 90 minutes,
which is more than can be said for the City fans.
Around 40,000 fans, don’t know if it was just me, but did the cheers
when the goals went in just seem rather muted? Quiet all game to be
honest.
I know atmospheres aren’t what they used to be but I’d have thought
after a 3 goals they’d be happy! Don’t even get me started on ‘Dave’
the DJ. Couldn’t see us scoring all game though, the ineffective Chopra
and N’Zogbia were subbed off for Luque and Solano at half time as
we adopted an even more bizarre formation.
From where I was, it seemed Clark was sitting back, Parker was in
front of him, Solano was on the right, Emre was upfront and Luque
was in the middle! If any tactic spotters can put a name to this then
please let us know, as I didn’t have a clue!
With such players on the pitch we should have threatened, but a complete
lack of movement off the ball saw Distin and Dunne have one of their
easiest games of the season.
It just makes you think, do we actually have training sessions or
do our players just get told to turn up and do what they like? Alas,
hopefully this shambles of a match will signify the end of an era.
Things can only get better with a new manager in charge, just make
it a good one and not another sub-standard 5th choice. The fans deserve
better, the only threat on goal was Emre’s early free-kick straight
at James and that is just unacceptable to be honest.
I can accept defeat, but the manner of last nights was a new low.
Thankfully the slant of this report is no longer Souness must go,
rather Souness has gone. The debate on the new manager will go on,
personally I’m off to stick a couple of quid on Martin O’Neill.
Howay the lads, the only way is up!
Lineups & Match Facts |
Man City: James, Jihai, Dunne, Distin, Jordan, Sinclair,
Barton (Richards 78), Musampa, Riera, Cole (Samaras 65), Vassell (Sibierski
69). Subs not used: Ireland, Wright-Phillips.
Booked: Barton.
Goals: Riera 14, Cole 38, Vassell 62.
Newcastle: Given, Ramage, Boumsong, Bramble, Babayaro,
Clark, Parker, Emre (O'Brien 81), N'Zogbia (Solano 45), Shearer, Chopra
(Luque 45). Subs not used: Harper, Elliott.
Booked: Bramble.
Att: 42,413.
Ref: Chris Foy (Merseyside).
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Post-Match Reaction: Graeme Souness |
"We had most of the ball but did nothing with it. The difference was
that their two strikers, Andy Cole and Darius Vassell, were fantastic.
"We kept going right to the end, but at 2-0 we had to chase it and
that's how their third came about.
"The third goal on the break maybe flatters them because I don't think
3-0 was a fair scoreline."
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Mn City Post-Match Reaction: Stuart Pearce |
"I do not agree with what Joey Barton has done in asking for a move.
"I believe he has done totally the wrong thing and I have told him
so.
"Joey has quite strong opinions, as we have seen over the last 48
hours, but he needs to put this to one side, keep his mouth shut and
play football.
"In this game, I find if you put your head above the parapet, you
tend to get it knocked off.
"Joey has delivered tonight but he has to keep doing it for weeks,
months and years."
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