ToonArmyMIA 0 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 (edited) http://www1.skysport...y-streets-ahead The gap in quality between Manchester City and Newcastle is 'phenomenal', according to Paul Merson, who watched Roberto Mancini's men earn their 11th victory of the season in some comfort. Both sides went into the match unbeaten but City emerged with the three points after Sergio Aguero's 72nd- minute penalty added to first-half strikes from Mario Balotelli, from the spot, and Micah Richards. It took the league leaders over 40 minutes to break the Magpies down, though, and Merson told Soccer Saturday he was impressed with Newcastle's attacking style of play. "Fair play to Alan Pardew," he said. You've got to look at it and think that's the way they've got to where they are - they got there because of playing that way. The players know that way - 4-4-2; it's not complicated, they all work hard. "I thought they did very well first half. Demba Ba missed an absolute sitter; for me it's a sitter. If he passes it into the far corner they go 1-0 up. It's a very different game then. Man City were just starting to run out of ideas. "But two goals just before the end of the first-half; a stone-wall penalty as [Ryan] Taylor's got his arm out and it does hit him and then [Ryan] Taylor just gets caught with the ball. "It's under his feet and he just couldn't clear it; Richards took it off him and he scored. Newcastle never gave up but it just shows you the gap. "You're talking about a team that is third in the league, hasn't lost a game this season, that just gets beat quite easily and they had a go. The gap is just phenomenal." Mancini opted to start with David Silva on the bench but introduced the Spaniard for Balotelli on 69 minutes and also took the opportunity to substitute Sergio Aguero with 15 minutes remaining. Merson said that the changes indicated that Mancini's toughest task this season - and it's a nice task to have - will be keeping all of the players happy. "That's what this season is going to be about - when to make the right decisions," said Merse. "Sir Alex Ferguson is a past master of it. Very rarely does he get it wrong. "That's going to be Mancini's job. When to rest players, what games to rest them in. In some games you rest players and it doesn't work out. It did work today. "Gareth Barry came on - an international - Silva came on. It's ridiculous really. City have been outstanding this season, with great passing and movement. "But Newcastle can hold their heads up - they've had a great start. I know people will go 'it's their first test'; it isn't their first test, because Newcastle - no disrespect - are not a great team so every game they play is a test, in my opinion." Edited November 20, 2011 by ToonArmyMIA Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 This from the man who said, "if you go into a hairdressers every day, you'll end up getting your hair cut". Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Howmanheyman 26731 Posted November 20, 2011 Share Posted November 20, 2011 Merson is a complete Bull's Knacker, mate. Always was, always will be. There's nothing to add. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ayatollah Hermione 12757 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Any bloke with gambling debts must be fucking useless at making informed opinions about owt tbf. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monkeys Fist 38682 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 The man's a fucking tool His latest exploits here Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 4833 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I dont see a massive problem with what he has said there. They are streets ahead of us. As someone posted on Saturday. They brought on David Silva. We responded with James Perch. He is a bell-whiff though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
McFaul 35 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 He is and always will be a total meff. I remember he said on Soccer Saturday no one in the country cares enough to watch Sunderland v Newcastle, to which Jeff Stelling said no one in the North cares about Tottenham v Arsenal, and it's true it's a boring fixture contested by two clubs with little passion and shit fans. I don't even watch it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobbyshinton 59 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I dont see a massive problem with what he has said there. They are streets ahead of us. As someone posted on Saturday. They brought on David Silva. We responded with James Perch. He is a bell-whiff though. agree Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 19784 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 pretty much agree with all of his comments. don't see what the problem is tbh Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KeithJ 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) I kind of agree with what he said! Man City have a massive squad of internationals. Silva, Ballotelli, Aguero, Toure, etc. list goes on for quite a while. We ourselves have good players but not to the extent of where they are superstars. To be fair, Man City have been streets ahead of Man Utd and that showed when they hammered them! Edited November 21, 2011 by KeithJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Monroe Transfer 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 The only comment I dislike is "I know people will go 'it's their first test'; it isn't their first test, because Newcastle - no disrespect - are not a great team so every game they play is a test, in my opinion." Although with that said, we're not a great team yet but we're a good one and I find his "every game they play is a test" line a bit patronising. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Holden McGroin 4833 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Well we arent a great team. We are a decent team. A lot of our own supporters suggested we'd be in relegation trouble this season. It seems like we can say it about our team but as soon as someone from the outside says it some people throw a hissy fit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gemmill 34338 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 (edited) Who gives a shit what that drunken moron thinks. I like that they quoted him verbatim, so you can see how stupid he is, though. He's right like, which us another reason not to get wound up by it. Edited November 21, 2011 by Gemmill Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brock Manson 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Not really Merson-related but in the Sun's write up of the match today we were mentioned once in the very last paragraph. The rest was busy discussing the gulf between City and their not so noisy neighbours, 'United'. I know, I know but what a fucking shambolic piece of journalism. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Asprilla 96 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Every true Citeh fan will be enjoying the ride but knowing full well it's really got nothing to do with football any more. It's no achievement to be where they are. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheMoog 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Every true Citeh fan will be enjoying the ride but knowing full well it's really got nothing to do with football any more. It's no achievement to be where they are. Which sadly is the very truth of the matter, I'm pretty sure that given an equal amount of money any team in the land could be where they are. Reputation, fan-base and history-wise City have and always will be a mediocre team in my eyes, the team they are now aren't a true reflection of any real achievements because, like Chelsea, they've just got someone who's bought their name if you like and thrown money at it until it gets somewhere. Teams like Man Utd and Liverpool are big teams on their own merit - I know both have weathly owners now but their reknown was about a lot longer before the money came along. City haven't built a team who play as a team by a manager who gets the best out of the most average of players, they've just paid up the cash until they have enough big named players to compete at the top of the league, it's sad but that's what our game is these days. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26232 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Every true Citeh fan will be enjoying the ride but knowing full well it's really got nothing to do with football any more. It's no achievement to be where they are. Exactly, it's like cheating in Championship Manager to give yourself a budget of £500m. The satisfaction just isn't the same. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Every true Citeh fan will be enjoying the ride but knowing full well it's really got nothing to do with football any more. It's no achievement to be where they are. Exactly, it's like cheating in Championship Manager to give yourself a budget of £500m. The satisfaction just isn't the same. Sour grapes. When you've lived next door to manu for all these years, every citeh fan will be loving this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26232 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 I doubt that you've ever felt a hint of satisfaction in your life. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Never mind. You clearly don't know any citeh fans and how much they are enjoying this. As for resorting to insults because you know fuck all, only to be expected. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ewerk 26232 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 May God be with you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dr Gloom 19784 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 i'm sure most of us would be loving it if we were bought out by some oil rich arabs and were competing for honours again. it's all very well to take the moral highround when it's not your club but i'd love to see the likes of silva and aguerro at the toon. i wouldn't give two shits if the only reason we go them was because we were paying more than anyone else. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sniffer 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Exactly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Craig 6300 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 What he's said is 100% right though. What's the problem? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricster 0 Posted November 21, 2011 Share Posted November 21, 2011 Every true Citeh fan will be enjoying the ride but knowing full well it's really got nothing to do with football any more. It's no achievement to be where they are. So this must apply to every successful club? Name me one that has splashed cash and not had a good time because of it? Newcastle had it, to an extent, in the Keegan era. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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