A strange old week on the United front so far.
First, The FA cup defeat proved rightly unpopular on Tyneside, however much of the 
criticism has been painted in a strange manner of saying we didn’t try. Basically, this would appear to stem from the fact that John Irving (our Financial Director) said the cups weren’t our priority and this has been added to the fact that we lost, so people think we didn’t try. Of course we fucking tried (Ed: Yoan Gouffran says otherwise). It just so happens that on the day, we were shit, nothing to do with not trying. Players who we expected a lot more from, failed to deliver, (none of the players made good use of a cracking opportunity to show their worth) throw in the fact that Obertan is like being one man less and, what amounted to Cardiff’s reserve team, played much better than our lot and deserved their place in round 4. Disappointing? Yes, definitely. We’d all love to see a shiny pot waved about with our ribbons attached, but, fuck it, next year will have to do, but this defeat had fuck all to do with not trying or not taking it seriously. Some of our players had looked fucked in the Stoke match for 30 mins. In the Arsenal match and in the WBA match. They needed a breather. The issue appears to be that some of the players just outside of the 1st XI aren’t as good as they think they are.
Then we had the latest fans forum meeting which covered some interesting (and some totally irrelevant) points. If we’re taking the board’s answers at face value then it appears some business decisions have been made that will make United’s finances look healthier, there are of course other questions waiting to be asked/answered.
Throughout all of this, the transfer window opened, and fucking hell, twitter has become unbearable. Every few minutes we’re linked with another player, hardly any of them will be accurate.
So, on Sunday, we welcome a slick looking Man City side to SJP. They’ve not lost a game since November 10th and it’s 1 defeat in 18 games for them across all competitions.
They’ve been criticised in the media for being ropey away from home, however, that claim should be expunged now, having seen them lamp Bayern Munich in Germany.
Domestically, they have won 4, West Ham (3-1), WBA (3-2), Fulham (4-2) and Swansea (3-2), they’ve drawn at Southampton (1-1) and Stoke (0-0) and lost at Cardiff (3-2), Sunderland (1-0), Chelsea (2-1) and Aston Villa (3-2). For a team that’s going to win a league, that is a staggering amount of goals to concede on the road. 1 clean sheet in 10, 9 of whom, they’d expect to win, then this offers hope that defensively, on their travels, they are suspect.
They most certainly are not suspect when it comes to attacking. Aguero has 19 goals, Negrado has 18. Toure has 13 and Dzeko has 12. It’s a bloody good job Jovetic has been cattle trucked!
Having seen Man City a few times this season, they do appear guilty of attempting to walk the ball into the net, they over complicate things so often, perhaps this is arrogance, perhaps it’s just boredom? But the worst offender is Nasri. Nasri, is possibly, the most overrated footballer to have ever walked this Earth. If I could be a footballer for just 5 minutes of my life, I’d spend it punching this horrible, twisty faced, little, cunt repeatedly…………… He has a fadge instead of a dick!!
To be honest, they could take the field on Sunday with any amount of formations. All of them scary. If they want to take the piss and play players like Milner and Garcia then that would be most welcome and I’ll expect to be able to count their goals scored on 1 hand.
Aguero is injured (perhaps there is a God?) So too is Richards and Rodwell, whilst Jovetic may return from injury. Late fitness tests will be needed for Navas and Toure.
Team News
Still no Debuchy for Sunday as he sits out the 2nd game of his suspension. Coloccini now looks like missing the Derby. Cabaye has an achilles injury concern. Krul should return.
Given the very ordinary (that’s being generous) performances of Taylor and Mbiwa last weekend, I expect Williamson to walk back into the team. Hadaira may keep his place if Santon is needed at right back.
Up front, will depend on how brave Pardew is feeling, 1 striker or 2?
Still awaiting news on the release from captivity of Marveaux and Gutierrez
Injured
R Taylor – Knee – out for the season
Coloccini – Hamstring – 5 weeks
Suspended
Debuchy 2 more games
Possible Team (4-2-3-1)
1.Krul: 2. Santon, 5. Williamson, 6. Yanga-Mbiwa, 3. Haidara: 4. Tiote, 8. Cabaye (Capt): 7. Sissoko, 10. Anita, 11. Gouffran: 9. Remy:
Subs
Elliot, Steven Taylor, Dummett, Obertan, Cisse, Ben Arfa, Shola Ameobi
Referee: Mike Jones
History vs The Citizens at SJP
1983/84 Won 5-0. A dream day on our way to promotion with goals from Keegan, Beardsley (3) and Waddle. Attendance, 33,675
See the wonderful rout here http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O87AvsO98Nc
1985/86 Won 3-1. Another win for United on the last day of the season as we cemented our comfortable mid table finish. Roeder, Clarke and Whitehurst notching for us. Attendance, 23,479
1986/87 Won 3-1. Gazza, Cunningham and Neil McDonald on the mark this time during an inconsistent spell for us. We’d survive relegation by 3 points, City were less fortunate. Attendance, 21,780
1993/94 won 2-0 Back in the big time, we’d qualify for Europe in our first season in the Premier League. A double for Goal King Cole. Attendance, 35,585
1994/95 Drew 0-0. Our 3rd 0-0 in 5 games as we came to terms with Cole’s departure and realised Paul Kitson was fucking hopeless. Attendance, 34,437
1995/96 Won 3-1. Ferdinand (2) and a Beardsley penalty in front of 36,501.
2000/01 Lost 0-1. Shaun Goater with the winner at the Leazes End as we went through a period of transition under Bobby Robson. Attendance, 51,981.
2002/03 Won 2-0 United continued impressive home form with goals from Alan Shearer and Craig Bellamy. Seeing Keegan in the opposition dug out, just didn’t feel right. Attendance, 52,152.
2003/04 Won 3-0 Yet more Keeganness but 2 late Shearer goals plus one from Shola Ameobi. Attendance, 52,159.
2004/05 Won 4-3 It looked like a straight forward 3 points when Laurent Robert and Alan Shearer put us 2 goals ahead, however they pegged us back to 2-2. Robbie Elliott put us back in front only for City to equalise with 13 mins left. Craig Bellamy scored a last gasp winner. Attendance, 52,316
2005/06 Won 1-0 Michael Owen’s poachers finish was enough to see off Stuart Pearce’s side in front of 52,280. Sadly, this was our last 3 points earned at SJP vs. This lot.
2006/07 Lost 0-1 to Mpenza’s strike 10 mins from time. Attendance, 52,004
2007/08 Lost 0-2 A very cold night, Elano and Fernandes with the goals, but frankly, Fat Sam was serving up shit and many left after the 2ndgoal. Attendance, 50,956
2008/09 Drew 2-2 Having seen Habib Beye wrongly, red carded and Robinho score the non existent, penalty, we feared the worst.. However, an Ameobi goal and Richard Dunne OG miraculously put us in front, but pressure told in the end and Ireland equalised. Attendance, 45,908
2010/11 Lost 1-3 A shit Boxing Day as Barry and Tevez had the visitors 2-0 up in 5 mins. Carroll pulled one back but Tevez’s late effort was deflected in off Coloccini. Attendance, 51,635
2011/12 Lost 0-2 We managed to hold on until the last 20 minutes when Yaya Toure kicked in and scored twice. Attendance, 52,389
2012/13 Lost 1-3 Unite were going through a shit patch of bad form and injuries when Man City rolled into town. Again they went 2-0 in front through Garcia and Aguero. Demba Ba pulled one back, but Toure finished us off. Attendance, 49,579
Man City Fanzines
Blue Moon – bit of an online forum thingy http://www.bluemoon-mcfc.co.uk/
King of The Kippax – http://kingkippax.blogspot.co.uk/
Predictions
We’ll probably get stuffed. 3, 4, 5-0.
Danger Men
All of them.
CHRIS BETTS 
What really annoyed me about losing was that this year was the best opportunity, for at least a decade, to crack the FA Cup. Reasons?
1. We are playing some half decent football and have shown we can beat the top teams
2. A home draw against a side we had already played (and beat)
3. The top 7 and the bottom 7 are otherwise occupied. ManU and Spurs are already out!
4. We have no other distractions (League Cup, relegation, European qualification).
This season should have been ours and I cannot forgive Pardew and the players.
‘Players who we expected a lot more from, failed to deliver’
How many times did we hear that last season in the UEFA Cup matches!!!!
To be fair, at least that was the likes of Tavernier, Sammy Ameobi, Ferguson, Bigiramana, etc who were below the standard required (amongst others like Godling) but honestly, I expected much more of the team selected vs Cardiff! That XI was very experienced and should have done better!
aye, “next year will have to do” or the year after or the year after that. Like its been since 1955. Great fkin attitude that like !. You should be the Manager.
Itinerary will have be next now, as we’re out. I’m as disappointed as anyone to go out, but we are, I hope the club have learned from that defeat and address it. Pointless criticising the manager for the team he picked though, those players should have had more than enough about them to see of Cardiff but they let everybody down.
Marky Mark, Noted, far less commas in future. They’re overrated anyway
If Gouffran is an uncommitted and unmotivated player then Frankly, that is totally unacceptable and unprofessional and I’ll bear that in mind the next time I see him miss a gaping net from a few yards out…… In fact, if that’s his attitude then he should be bombed out immediately And replaced by someone who is committed and motivated
The players selected should have beaten Cardiff. They didn’t because they were poorly motivated and uncommitted. Goufrann has said as much himself.
Why should the fringe players but a gut?
Because 1 of Taylor & Mbiwa will be replacing Coloccini, this was their chance to stake a claim. Because Haidara will want the LB slot should Santon cover Debuchy’s suspension. Because Ben Arfa, Cisse and Anita want to be In The 1st XI? Cos Elliot wants to prove he’s up to the standard?
No I don’t believe the 3rd round should be moved
If you couldn’t see that Cabaye, Remy, Coloccini (& I’d throw in Santon, Sissoko & Goiffran) looked shattered in the WBA, Arsenal games then I’m not sure what you were watching
I always enjoy Chris Betts’ previews – always filled with righteous anger! But without wanting to be a complete arse about it, please use commas wisely – I find it breaks up my enjoyment reading the piece when there is a comma every other word.
Wonder how motivational “cups are not a priority” is ? Seriously, why would the fringe players bust a gut if they’re only being used in a competition the club doesn’t care about ?
As for the players being ‘tired’, do fuck off man. Perhaps the author agrees with Pardew that the timing of the Fa cup third round should change ? When to exactly ? One that doesn’t clash with other competitions presumably ? When is that then, June ? I’m old enough to know that the Fa cup third round has always been played frst week of January. I’m also old enough to remember that in those days it was played on frozen and snow bound pitches at times or on pitches that resembled ploughed fields and not the perfect playing surfaces they’re used to now. Players used to kick each other quite a lot back then too if I remember correctly. I don’t recall teams being tired though, back then if they played badly they had “played shit today”. We have quite a lot of foreign players who probably don’t appreciate the significance of the Fa cup to Newcastle fans and with the puppet doing his best to talk it down all last week, any surprise they played like they didn’t give a fuck ? It’s only the current crop of footballers that get tired it seems.