It’s not worth dwelling too much on this painful defeat Dwelling too painful defeat
DISAPPOINTMENT SHOWS BUT MAGPIES CAN MOVE ON FROM CITY DEMOLITION
NEWCASTLE United suffered their heaviest defeat since the lockdown season after a 5-0 defeat at the Etihad Stadium dented the Magpies’ goal difference and meant they have the worst record on that score outside the bottom three. The key for Eddie Howe’s side moving into the last two matches is not to dwell on this one for too long. Sure, tighten up on individual errors in training in the build-up to next Monday and the home finale against Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal, but don’t get too down about a result which City have inflicted on four other teams this term.
Pep Guardiola’s men have also run up scorelines higher than five on numerous occasions with sixes and sevens being served up during a cash-laden era at Eastlands.
Yet that is exactly where City are after more than a decade of quality investment and Newcastle are still very much recovering from a historic episode in which Mike Ashley was happy to just get by at St James’ Park. Howe and his players were far from happy as they departed the Etihad and boarded the team bus. That in itself was a sign. There was no meek acceptance of the result despite it unfolding how many neutrals expected it to. Howe wants pride in performances and even at 3-0 down he believed there was still something to play for.
Perhaps Kieran Trippier summed it up best when he said: “It just shows signs of players developing, showing a winning mentality. The lads are disappointed, we’ve just been beaten by one of the best teams in the world and we’re coming off frustrated which just shows the steps the club and the team have taken.”
Frustration in the camp is a far cry from any of the fully-blown crises I have witnessed over the years at Newcastle. Not so long ago a defeat like this would have set the tone for infighting, training-round bust-ups and near meltdown.
That won’t happen under Howe and his staff. The future is now positive and while there is rebuilding to be done the squad will look to react in the same way they did after the last five-goal defeat at Spurs.
Back then Howe’s team put together four consecutive wins and rose into the top 10. Two victories in the final two games against Arsenal and Burnley would be the ideal way to sign off for the season.
It just shows signs of players developing, showing a winning mentality. Kieran Trippier
EDDIE HOWE’S MAKES POINT WITH SQUAD ADDITION
The Newcastle boss spoke about the potential of discovering “two or three” youth products from the Academy per calendar year last week. For all City’s spending power they still have local lads such as Phil Foden and Cole Palmer in and around their world-class squad.
That has to be a long-term aim for Newcastle as they look to progress with their Academy development squad. Howe included 18-year-old Jay Turner-Cooke in his squad for the trip to the Etihad.
As the Toon squad’s arrival was
beamed around the stadium, so was the sight of Turner-Cooke walking into the ground with senior teammates. Turner-Cooke has been on the books for two years after he departed Sunderland but has shone in the Under-23s.
Howe’s personal scouting mission on Thursday for the Senior Cup final against Blyth shows work is going in every day at Newcastle now.
After a bright performance and wonderful goal against Spartans, Howe had seen enough to convince him he deserved a place. Whether he will hand him minutes in one of the final games of the season remains to be seen.
If his shock inclusion at City is anything to go by there may be one or two surprises up Howe’s sleeve for the Arsenal and Burnley game.
WHAT FRUSTRATED HOWE THE MOST AT CITY
Let’s face it, moneybags Man City don’t need favours but Newcastle gifted them a host of goodwill gestures throughout the afternoon at the Etihad Stadium, starting with a sitter from Chris Wood followed by some defensive lapses.
Howe stated afterwards: “We lost a runner for the first goal and we concede from two set-plays.
“When you consider all the ways they can score that is a no-no.
“Whenever you come here, you know you are going to concede chances. We had the first big chance of the game - unfortunately, we did not take it.”