Manchester City 4 - 0 Newcastle: Thoughts and Ratings

By Alex Mason

My thoughts

Last night’s game against Newcastle United was a walk in the park for many of the City players. This is mainly because Newcastle had 10 men for 45 minutes, and when your team is up against the likes of David Silva, Sergio Agüero and Yaya Touré, your team is in for a long game.

Photo: Official MCFC Facebook

There were a lot of positives out of last night’s game for City. However, an injury to captain Vincent Kompany will have City sweating, as they only have one fit centre-back in Joleon Lescott. Young prospect Matija Nastasić is out with an ankle injury, but he is expected to be back in training this week. City will need to recruit another centre-back if they are to win the Premier League. It will be very hard to play 38 Premier League games alongside the FA Cup, Capital One Cup and Champions League with only three recognised centre-backs. Of course Micah Richards and Javi García can fill in at centre-back, but I believe that they play better football in their regular positions.

Match Preview: Manchester City vs Newcastle

Aguero set to return after injury

By Aaron Leggott

After missing the last three weeks of action through injury, City are ready to welcome back Sergio Aguero to the starting eleven after he recovered from the knee problem that kept him out.

There will also be a late fitness test for captain Vincent Kompany, who despite missing the past eight weeks, was picked to represent his country midweek as Belgium beat Macedonia 1-0. 

Considering he was out for so long, the decision taken by the Belgian boss Marc Wilmots hasn't been taken kindly by Roberto Mancini.

City vs Newcastle: Match Preview

Same again please... 44 years on!

By Dave Walker

If history repeats itself at St James’ Park tomorrow afternoon, Manchester City will be just one step away from being proclaimed Premier league champions.

It’s 44 years since a marauding City, under Joe Mercer & Malcolm Allison, took Tyneside by storm winning the last game of the season 4-3, and with it the old Division One Championship.

The parallels between then and Roberto Mancini’s team are uncanny; if City win it will be their 10^th away victory of the season – the same as 1968. Thus far City have recorded 17 home wins – the same as 1968 – but that will surely change to 18 with a win over QPR on 13 May.

The Sky Blue View Christmas Special: Number 8

Today, you picked an absolute legend to be Number 8 in City's cult heroes list, and he is a man who will always have a place in our hearts....

Neil Young

Neil Young was Manchester born and bred. Born just 2 miles away from Maine Road in Fallowfield, Neil joined City as an apprentice at the age of 15, signing on a professional basis two years later. 

He made his first team debut in November 1961, and was on the wrong side of a 2-1 scoreline at Villa Park as Aston Villa took the spoils. His career got better and better, and gave his family a great Christmas Present on the 23rd December by scoring his first goal in a 3-0 victory against Ipswich Town.

The following season was not as successful for Young or the club, as City were relegated to the Second Division. 

The appointment of Joe Mercer and Malcolm Allison in July 1965 helped to create a new chapter in the club's history though, of which Young was a pivotal part of. Young finished the season as the club's highest goalscorer as City were promoted back to the First Division as we succumbed to just one defeat.

His first season back in the First Division was not as successful, but a move towards Inside Forward the season after and once again finished as the club's highest goalscorer as we went on to win the Championship, with 2 goals from Young deciding the game against Newcastle. 

Young went on to score the winner in the 1969 FA Cup Final, as well as the winner in the 1970 European Cup Winners Cup, meaning City were the first English team to win a European and domestic trophy in the same season. In a team full of stars, he was always an unsung hero, but his role will never be underestimated. 

Unfortunately, after the tragic death of his brother in late 1970 meant his form dipped, and he was never the same player again. He left the club during the 1971-72 season, scoring 86 goals in 334 games for the Blues.

The death of his brother at an early age understandably never got away from Young, and at one point attempted suicide as he suffered serious depression from serious financial problems, where he was forced to sell his house.

Neil is no longer with us, and his death on the 3rd February 2011 came about after he was diagnosed with terminal cancer in late 2010. City dedicated their FA Cup tie against Leicester to him, with all the supporters wearing Red and Black. 

Neil was an absolute City legend, and it is a real shame that he was not as nationally recognised as some of the other players of his generation. RIP Neil, and thanks for the service.

Tomorrow we will have Number 7 in our Cult Heroes list, so check back after the Arsenal game!

TSBV Feature: Premier League preview (Part 3)

With 10 clubs having been previewed, we look at the last 10 teams with only 3 days left to go before the start of the season. Today, we'll preview the chances of Newcastle United, Norwich City, Queens Park Rangers, Stoke City and Sunderland