Man City Preview

Newcastle go into this must win match knowing, anything other than 3 points and any lingering hopes for Europe next season are in tatters. Newcastle go into this game with only 2 wins in 11 games, that is relegation form and the 2ND worst run in the clubs history despite playing the bottom 3 in consecutive games in which we luckily won at Fulham. Tonight's game will speak volumes for what the crowd reaction will be Newcastle need a performance no matter what, only once in 10 home games can the fans say we deserved to beat a team that was the Everton game, every other game minus 2ND half v Arsenal we've scored very fortunate last minute goals and have ridden our luck with the opposition. People may say we are mid table but we need 6 of the top 8 away from home from our 9 remaining away games, so it is very unlikely we will win another away game. Reason for this is Allardyce who wants to play his containment game v the likes of Wigan, Derby and Fulham away. Most of his criticism has come from not attacking games and rightly so, he may be forgiven not doing it against Liverpool but against Derby and Wigan in successive games then that is criminal.

A defeat tonight and the pressure will be Mort and Ashley who need to show that they are serious about this football club as at the moment that doesn't seem the case. Chris Mort doesn't have a clue about football, so he doesn't know how bad the football we've seen. If Shepherd had been in charge the criticism would have been 10x as bad now and action taken. Mike Ashley needs to take advice of Bobby and get a suit and take some proper decisions as they haven't done anything but PR stunts.

The team got some of their dignity back v Chelsea, but Allardyce won no fans over with his nonexistent game plan, he just put 11 players out their and told them to sort themselves out. No pattern to play and his substitutions when at 1-1 (Owen for Martins, Rozehnal for Duff) meant we had the smallest player upfront by himself and 4 CBs on the pitch. The way we sat back for the last 20 Min's meant a goal (which was the worst offside decision ever) was inevitable. This was against the worst Chelsea team I've seen for 7-8 years, a good chance not taken.

Team News: Michael Owen could start, Alan Smith very doubtful (good news for a change), formation god knows the only predictable thing is that my starting 11 with everyone Else won't be the same as Allardyce. Enrique won't start I think that is a certainty with Charlie again our most dangerous players LB and liability against good opposition.

Neesy Prediction: 2-1 Man City, we can't break down teams for our life's, their is no pattern to our play and we don't force ourselves onto teams, Man City will try to contain us but the difference with them is that they have one of the best defence in the country, so they can do that and they have players like Petrov and Elano who are match winners.

Craig's Prediction: 1-1 Draw