Transcript
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hello and welcome to the daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. The only network giving you exclusive news and views on your Premier League team, the Premier League, women's and fantasy football, every club, every day.
Global Sports Podcast Network: I'm Jules Jordan-Probert and in today's episode we're going to be doing another Friday forecast, looking ahead at... Manchester City's fifth round FA Cup tie against Plymouth in a trophy that Pep Guardiola's side absolutely needs to win.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But before that, we're just going to touch upon City's 1-0 win over Spurs on Wednesday night and how important that win could be for the rest of the season. and So a brief overview of the game. It really felt like a match of two halves.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Manchester City were dominant in the first. i Scored early. Jeremy Doku, excellent throughout. Back-to-back starts for him where he's looked really effective and dangerous.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Getting the ball into Haaland, who took his chance in the 12th minute with what proved to be the decisive goal of the game. Doku created multiple chances throughout the game too. And Marmouche and Savinho both could have added to the scoreline in the first half.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But and the at half-time, the game stood at 1-0. And in the second half, Spurs come out like a totally different beast. They controlled the ball better, pressed City more and created a lot more danger and a lot more opportunities themselves, mainly through the direct and excellent delivery of Pedro Poro and Brennan Johnson too on the right-hand side.
Global Sports Podcast Network: There was a goal ruled out in in added time, Erling Haaland, would have had a brace but he was penalized for a handball which absolutely was a terrible decision it took five minutes in the game as well and and the var showed so many angles that all pretty much highlighted that dan so in fact handled the ball not harland it came off harland's chest before he finished with a plomb But despite the VAR recommending that the goal should stand, the referee disagreed and waved play on either way.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Spurs then nearly went and equalised in what would have been the 99th minute of the game in a match that only should have had four minutes of injury time. Paps saw missing his header completely unmarked with a dying touch of the match to deny Spurs a draw in a game that they possibly feel they could have got a draw from.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But as it stands, City, with a relatively deserved and comfortable victory at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, hang on to fourth place in the Premier League and and now can look ahead to the FA Cup.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Just before we get on to the FA Cup, some stats, or one stat in particular. and These two sides have met...
Global Sports Podcast Network: ah ah before this before this game 173 times and bizarrely the head-to-head record is exactly equal in that time with both sides winning 68 and of course losing 68-2 with 37 draws so that match yesterday has taken City outright winners over the head-to-head record between these two historic English clubs
Global Sports Podcast Network: Also, and it was an important victory as City have generally struggled at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Last season's massive wick victory there. Of course, everyone remembers the Sun chance that Ortega saved, which ultimately was one of the most defining moments at the end of the season. And City claimed their fourth consecutive Premier League title, an unprecedented total in the English game.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But last year's 2-0 win with Haaland getting both goals there as well was the first time in the league that City had won or even scored at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So to go two years back to back and Haaland again scoring and proving proving the difference is a good sign at least for things to come, especially since City have lost twice to Spurs already this season, and once in the Carabao Cup.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and which was the beginning of the terrible run of form for Manchester City. And, of course, the reverse fixture at the Etihad, where Spurs ran away with 4-0 winners that day. So, a lot more positivity inbound after this performance.
Global Sports Podcast Network: As I said, City are now fourth, gone immediately back up to fourth. Only one point away from Nottingham Forest in third, who, despite and holding Arsenal out to a 0-0 draw yesterday too,
Global Sports Podcast Network: and can't quite get the wins going at the moment. The form has dropped off and all the teams below them have started to catch up.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Nottingham Forest are in third with 48 points. Manchester City just one below and then Chelsea one below City. Newcastle in sixth on 44. Brighton and Bournemouth are Bournemouth in 7th on 43, Brighton in 8th on 43, and even then, Fulham 9th on 42 points, and Villa 10th of 42 points.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So there's only 6 points separating 3rd place Forest, all the way down to 10th place, Aston Villa. So the end of the season in those in the pursuit for those European places and particularly the Champions League places as the as fifth position should be enough with the UEFA coefficients for the Premier League.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Yeah, it's going to be quite the race all the way till the end of the season. and We're going to take a short break and then when we come back, we're going to get stuck into the Plymouth match.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City podcast. So we've lookeded we've touched upon that very solid win for City at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But next up is the FA Cup fifth round. And as I mentioned at the top of the show, it's of utmost importance that City get this trophy. To come away trophieless at the end of the season would feel incredibly disappointing.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But on Plymouth specifically, they them have they themselves have had a great upturn in form over the past month and a half.
Global Sports Podcast Network: new New manager.
Global Sports Podcast Network: New manager Miron Muslic was appointed on the 10th of January. And they won their first game after his arrival, after going winless in 11 prior to that. and So an instant impact.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And in the 11 games since his arrival, Plymouth have won four and drawn four, losing in three. Two of which were to teams in the Championship Playoffs in Blackburn and Burnley.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So no shame there. But to be more specific, Plymouth have beaten... Brentford, West Brom, Millwall, and of course the game that got them to this amazing tie at the Etihad.
Global Sports Podcast Network: An absolutely glorious victory over a Premier League Champions-elect Liverpool, a result which I'm sure in hindsight a lot of City fans are thankful for. So as I mentioned, Plymouth's route to get here was Brentford, a 1-0 win away, with Morgan Whittaker coming off the bench to score an absolute screamer before his lone move to Middlesbrough.
Global Sports Podcast Network: and that 1-0 win, courtesy of a Ryan Hardy penalty in the second half, and they closed the game out to get the job done, and themselves, into the last 16 of the FA Cup. The reward, trip to the Etihad.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And for Manchester City, it really is FA Cup or bust this season. Finishing in the Champions League places is a minimum requirement, of course, and as I mentioned earlier, the top five should be good enough to do that.
Global Sports Podcast Network: But this competition is obviously the last chance for silverware for Pep Guardiola on his side. Simply can't be coming a away empty-handed, regardless of the injuries, with the wage and transfer expenditure in the team.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And there's still elite quality littered throughout the squad. A team containing Diaz, Guardiola, Foden, Mamouche, Haaland, De Bruyne, etc. should be competing at the forefront of every competition, as they have done nearly entirely throughout Pep's illustrious tenure.
Global Sports Podcast Network: There are of course plenty of variables to consider this season. and The aforementioned injuries, players ageing out and dropping in form, the legal cases constantly hanging overhead and the potential for Pep to leave.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Thankfully signed a new deal as the big man did too. The football as in any sport is cyclical and it seems the majestic dynasty created over the past four years and perhaps longer is coming to an abrupt end.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So to finish on a positive note with those factors accounted for, a top four slash five finish in Champions League qualification and and another FA Cup to add to the mantelpiece from this position and in what's been a very difficult season would represent a palatable return just back hungrier than ever next season.
Global Sports Podcast Network: the The kickoff for the Plymouth game will be at 5.45 on Saturday, of March. Hopefully City get the job done. Roll on to the FA Cup quarterfinals with with Liverpool, of course, out at the hands of Plymouth. Arsenal out too.
Global Sports Podcast Network: Spurs out too. This represents a... Oh, Spurs aren't out, sorry. But this still represents a fantastic opportunity to get another piece of silverware.
Global Sports Podcast Network: And I think most of us expect City to get that job done. So thanks for listening. I've been Jules Jordan-Provet. Please like and share and give us five stars that would make the world a difference as we're start starting this journey with the company.
Global Sports Podcast Network: So stay tuned for all our coverage coming up. We'll of course cover City's performance in the FA Cup against Plymouth and all the other Premier League games coming in what should be better end to the season.
Global Sports Podcast Network: We have been the Daily Manchester City podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.
