TF Player Ratings - Man City 4-0 Newcastle Utd
Hands up who thought we had a decent chance of winning today? Guilty. Who were we kidding? Fucking shit as always in East Manchester
Dúbravka - 6 - Got himself stranded in no-man’s land for the first, but then it was already too late by the time he got involved. Not at fault for any of the goals. Emerges from today's horror show relatively unscathed.
Hall - 4 - Not a good day for our full-backs whose defensive deficiencies were exposed. Maybe there were mitigating factors I don’t understand, but Savinho was allowed to run and run for the third without the slightest challenge. Get into them, man!! Occasional attacking contributions get him a point more than his defensive colleagues.
Burn - 3 - Summed up by the moment in the second half when he “ran” across the goal as if wearing concrete stilts in particularly gloopy quicksand, while Haaland chased him down. Beaten at the near post for the fourth.
Schär - 3 - Gave the ball away with his familiar regularity, while also doing nothing to shore up the yawning chasm at the back for the three first half goals. We can't play with such little pace at centre back when our full backs push on.
Trippier - 2 - Not a mark on him as a human being or on his overall contribution since he signed. Simply an accurate reflection of 45 minutes when he was exposed for the first two goals and then mercifully hooked at half time.
Willock - 3 - Another to be spared further embarrassment at half time. After his dynamic performance further forward against (third division) Birmingham, a reminder that he doesn't have the touch, awareness, or control to be a midfielder against elite opposition. There's a reason his best games have come when he’s interchanged with Joelinton in those more forward positions. A selection error.
Tonali - 4 - Did his best to knit things together, but peripheral at best. And given how easily we were overpowered in the middle, has to shoulder the blame with the rest of them.
Guimarães - 3 - See above. But even more so. Elite midfielder? Hmmm…
Gordon - 4 - Anonymous. Took up some good positions wide in the opening exchanges, but did little to be the outlet we needed. Presumably, Hall would have welcomed a little help.
Isak - 5 - The match was lost in midfield and defence, not up front. Also had our most meaningful shot in the first half and got in some decent positions, but dallied too often and allowed himself to be dispossessed. Turns out he can't win matches single-handed.
Murphy - 4 - Much like Gordon. Saw little of the ball. Did nothing when he did.
Substitutes
Miley - 6 - A proper midfield presence who exposed the error of Willock’s selection. Also had our best (a relative term) opportunity in the second half. Actually our only shot on target. Deserves more of a chance.
Livramento - 5 - Eclipsed Tripper’s contribution, but that was a low bar. The usual mix of lively attacking promise and disappointing end product, not to mention lack of positional discipline. But things definitely felt more positive with him on the pitch - possibly because City gave up trying.
Longstaff - 5 - There can't be many times when he’s replaced Bruno with no discernible drop off in quality. Says more about the latter than the former.
Wilson - 6 - Didn't do very much, but gave us all something to sing about for five minutes at least. Also didn’t get injured, which definitely scores an automatic six.
Krafth - 10 - Didn't put a foot wrong.
Away end - 6 - A defiant fifteen minutes of “We’re going to win fuck all again…” at the start of the second half, but if you're going to point out empty home seats, you probably need to stay till the end yourselves. We were all fucked off, but you stay to the end. That's the deal. Always.
Tap rooms round the back of Piccadilly - 10 - Quality.
Etihad - 0 - All time aggregate league score: 58-8. Jesus wept. Again.
Matthew Philpotts
I don't accept Dubs is blameless for the first 2 especially when he's keeping Pope out of the team.
Pope plays higher up and would have been closer for goal 1 and would probably have got a hand to goal 2.
If Schär gives the ball away with familiar regularity, which he does; does nothing to shore up the yawning chasm at the back, which he does; and has such little pace, why is he in the team? Trippier gets pelters for misjudging a through ball, but in fairness to him he was nowhere near his right full back position, he was desperately trying to cover for the missing Schär yet again. He might not have had the greatest game, but lay the first goal on Schär not Trippier.