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Daily Manchester City: 4-0 win & the new Egyptian King's Premier League reign begins
13 Plays14 days ago
Episode 74 - Jools, Jack and Keelin cover City's 4-0 demolishing of Newcastle United, how great the performance was, focusing on the new signings and of course specifically lamenting over the brilliance of Omar Marmoush's hat-trick
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Transcript
Man City's Victory and Marmoush's Impact
00:00:09
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome to episode 74 of 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. Over the course of the past few months, anyone listening might have become accustomed to Keeling's rants or our general exasperation from what we were seeing from City on the pitch. Today is not that day.
00:00:34
Global Sports Podcast Network
Pep Guardiola's side, easily dispatched Carabao Cup finalist, Newcastle United 4-0, thanks to a statement and crowning hat-trick for the new Egyptian king, Omar Mamoush. Omar Mamoush is the name. water performance water signin What What a player. Keelan, just initially, give us some thoughts and feelings about City's new main man, not about my singing, but about the new main man and that performance.
00:01:02
Keelin
Yeah, no offense, students. You know I love you, but the less said about that, but much, much better. Omar Marmouche, on the other hand, is my favorite Egyptian to ever exist. and What a brilliant, brilliant performance from Man City's new number seven. I mean,
00:01:20
Keelin
I really don't know where to start with this. you know I saw he was starting. Brilliant. Love to see that, of course. but first go is just ah ah i mean The first the best of the three. Ederson does what Ederson does. When he's not given the ball to the opposition, he is pinging it 60 yards up the pitch to the feet of one of our players. Marmouche makes it brilliant running behind. Newcastle's goalkeeper's off his line. Bang. Lob. 1-0. We're in business, boys.
00:01:49
Keelin
you know And then the second goal, he's just in the perfect position out wide to cut inside, fire in on the opposite angle, 2-0. And then the third goal, it's just striker's instinct following the ball into the box, right into the middle of the net,
Importance of the Win in Standings
00:02:05
Keelin
3-0. I mean, I couldn't have asked for a better, you know, show from Omar Marmouche.
00:02:11
Keelin
Erlang Holland himself would have been proud, he was very proud, and I was absolutely delighted because I'm no longer depressed, so thank you Omar Marmesh.
00:02:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it was a truly spectacular performance, and and clearly he's the best Egyptian in the Premier League already, as a certain other Egyptian hasn't scored a Premier League hat-trick since 2021, so it's not for everyone, is it guys?
00:02:35
Keelin
Ahmed El-Muhammadi, sorry you've been overtaken.
00:02:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Oh, that's what I was all about.
00:02:40
Jack
yeah
00:02:42
Global Sports Podcast Network
Before the start of play these two iconic Premier League sides could not be separated by points or even goal difference after 24 matches of the Premier League season. Lewis said in the preview it really felt like a Champions League qualification six-pointer. So the manner of the victory securing fourth spot and especially off the back of Chelsea losing to Brighton too, it feels big doesn't it Jack?
Midfield Performance and New Signings
00:03:03
Jack
Yeah, I mean, it's pretty huge. I mean, it's weird because against Newcastle, we have a pretty decent record. I mean, they always kind of beat us in the cups when we're we're facing them there, whether it's the AFL or the yeah the FA Cup.
00:03:14
Keelin
Thank you.
00:03:15
Jack
But in the league, we've we've actually got a really, really good record against Newcastle. I mean, going back, the last time they beat us in the league was 2019 in January, and that was at their ground. and It was only 2-1, so it was a pretty impressive performance all around. not Not to say I was confident going into the fixture, because they're in pretty red-hot form at the moment. They've got the second best striker in the league in Alexander Isaac, whether you want to.
00:03:38
Jack
and make the case that he's the best is, is up to you, but he's certainly one of the best players in the league. So they've been firing on all cylinders. I think that we've agreed on this podcast that Newcastle probably have the best midfield in the league. and we We saw it today, Bruno Gomarez, when Joe Linton's fully fit, him in the midfield alongside Sandro Tenali, is a pretty defensive and compact and and pretty impressive midfield. That midfield was It was a joke because we completely outran it today, which is not something we've ever said at this point in any season. Well, particularly this season, our midfield does not outrun any midfield, but wow, Nico Gonzalez, you have changed my absolute life. and it it was It was just a perfect day because there was three new signings making another performance at the Etihad and they were all just fantastic.
Historical Dominance Over Newcastle
00:04:30
Jack
I mean, we've had experienced players in the mix with new, fresh, young players. And what really excited me more than the the the performances from the new signings was the experienced players in the side looked like experienced players. They didn't look past it. They didn't look like the legs had gone. They looked like they were experienced in helping the younger players and and offering that great performance. So, I mean, it really was just a perfect day.
00:04:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, absolutely. and I've got some more stats to back up, just how good City have been against Newcastle over the past few years. So they haven't lost ah ah to Newcastle at home since the turn of the millennium, September 2000. I mentioned in the preview, that was of course at main road. Both teams were not owned by Middle East and billionaire regimes. And I'm pretty sure I was the only one from this podcast that was alive then.
00:05:21
Global Sports Podcast Network
I don't know about when your birthday is, Jack, but it's there or there about, isn't it? and I got some more updated head-to-head stats as well. Since 2006, City have only lost three times to Newcastle in the total of 40 games, two of which were in the League Cup, as you mentioned, Jack, including the one they lost last season at St James' Park there.
00:05:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
and But that means the Sky Blues have dominated Newcastle in the Premier League in the last 35 games played since 2006. City have won 28, drawn six and lost just once, scoring 93 now and conceding just 21 in that period.
Defensive Strengths and New Additions
00:05:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So that imperious run against the Magpies continued here and with the amount of similarly impressive records City have faltered in maintaining this season, and how pleased were you with the way the team applied themselves and what you saw, Keelan?
00:06:07
Keelin
Oh, I couldn't have been any happier. You know, it was night and day from the last episode that me and Jack recorded. and Apologies again for the rounds, ladies and gentlemen, but this is what this team does to me from time to time. ah But thankfully, no need for that today. You know, like you said, the midfield looked like a completely different midfield. Abdukadir Kucinov is my new favourite defender. and I joke that he gives me that Soviet block aggression, which every team needs.
00:06:34
Keelin
He's kind of like the regen of Alexander Kolorov, which this team has needed for a long time. And yeah, I thought he looked absolutely at home in the middle of that defense alongside John Stones, who once again had a brilliant game. Yasco Vardiol is maybe my favorite fullback in the world at the moment. Rico Lewis didn't mess anything up, which is always nice. The midfield was brilliant. The attack, I mean, so how good was Savino? We haven't even met Savino.
00:07:03
Keelin
Lewis Hall is never going to want to see Savinio ever again. That is how good he was. I mean, there is a real star football player in Savinio. The potential is just seeping out of him. And when he puts it all together with the end product alongside the pace and the skill, my God, we might actually ever re-admire his regen.
Attacking Dynamics with Marmoush and Haaland
00:07:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
big, big claim. And then we're going to get into a lot more of the individual performances, especially from near some of the newest signings after this short word from our new sponsor.
00:08:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. So let's get back into analyzing City's 4-0 demolishing of the Magpies.
00:08:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
And a lot of that was due to City's potent attack. and And after this game, only Liverpool have scored more than City's 52 goals in the league so far this season, which suggests it's the defence that's been struggling for most of the campaign.
00:08:40
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that would be true, the stats back it up. This is only the 10th clean sheet in all competitions for Pepside, and remarkably just the sixth in the Premier League after 25 games, and only 10 teams in the league having kept last.
00:08:49
Keelin
Thank you.
00:08:51
Global Sports Podcast Network
Clean sheet intact here though. How impressed were you with the defensive structure and the solidity required to keep one of the world's best in the ESA quiet as a mouse today, Jack?
00:09:00
Jack
Well, first I'd like to just start off by saying it's frustrating because we could genuinely sit here and have a 10-15 minute segment on each single player's performance this game because let's ah let's have it right. Every single player stepped up to the mark today. It was just beautiful all around, like Keelan said earlier on.
00:09:20
Jack
Josh Guevario is just absolutely sublime. And he's gone a little bit under the radar these past few games because he's not done anything magnificent going forward, which which is what we're usually talking about his performances for. But what he has done, he's had no clangers at all in the past few games. And you just saw what an absolutely magnificent footballer he is on the ball, off the ball. he He looks like a midfielder when he's playing in midfield. He looks like a pure defender when he's defending at the back.
00:09:48
Jack
Even though just the the subtle movements that he was doing where he wasn't making a tackle but just using his body to b block these players off so other players can retain possession. It was so composed, he looked like a proper senior player and we still forget that he's one of the youngest players in this side. He was fantastic today, absolutely magnificent performance. I just absolutely love this partnership that we've got going on between John Stones and Abdukha De Kuchinov. We've only seen it a few times this season but you can really see this kind of mantle that Stones has accepted as a kind of mentor for Kuchinov. Since that Chelsea game when he came in and in the first three minutes looked like his city career was going
Marmoush's Versatility and Tactical Flexibility
00:10:28
Jack
to be very short-lived and after that played the rest of the game out fantastically. He's been brilliant since then and
00:10:36
Jack
against Leighton Orian in what Jules described as an easy dub for against the O's, something like that, I won't repeat that title. But he was great then, and fantastic against them, even got his kind of deflected goal, which kind of summed up his chaotic start to his city career. Kyushinov was absolutely fantastic. jones jones John Stones, so professional, so experienced, really looked like the part today.
00:11:01
Jack
And of course, Rico Lewis, who, like me and Keeling talked about on a previous episode, has been a little bit nervous recently. This was a game, if you remember us talking the other night, Keeling, where no one no teams are coming to us and are scared against playing us. Well, Newcastle really kind of sat back and and looked like they were a little bit nervous against playing us. And that's the game where Rico Lewis comes into his own, because he starts to excel in his technical qualities. And we see, like we did today,
00:11:31
Jack
what he's best at. Progressing the ball up the field, he's extremely technical on the ball, very precise. His his forward runs are brilliant. When he's defending, it leaves a little bit to be desired when we've got so much pressure on us. We didn't have that today. That entire back four kept some of the the the best attackers in Europe at the moment, really quiet. I mean John Stones and Abdukadik Ushinov did something that Gabriel and Saliba failed to do on three occasions this season and keep Alexander Izak, Anthony Gordon quiet. It was really impressive.
00:12:06
Jack
But for me, the standout player in that back line was actually someone who's come under a lot of criticism for us this season. We've all had our things to say about Edison, but wow, what a performance from him today. He has officially broken the record for the most assists from a goalkeeper in Premier League history. He's got three assists this campaign, the most of any goalkeeper in a single campaign. He's got the same amount of assists this season as a certain Martin Urdu guard.
00:12:33
Jack
It was just fantastic from him. He came clutch when he was required required to step up and make a few saves. Not that he was very busy, but he dealt with what he was given by Newcastle. and It was just a brilliant performance from him. He was so composed. His link up play, he's brilliant. He's like the 12th man.
00:12:50
Jack
You know, well, the extra man in our build-up obviously is not an extra player on the pitch, but when we were playing with all of our full backs so far forward, we was almost operating with two centre backs in that back line that were staying back. So having Edison so heavily involved in the build-up play is just absolutely crucial for how we play football. So I was really impressed with him in particular. The whole back line impressed me. That was a perfect defensive performance from us and a clean sheet to top it off.
Nico Gonzalez's Midfield Contributions
00:13:16
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I had to send them a more effective quarterback than Patrick Momes over the last week or so. And I'm glad...
00:13:22
Keelin
Can Patrick Mahomes go and go?
00:13:22
Global Sports Podcast Network
you Exactly, exactly.
00:13:25
Keelin
This isn't even a discussion.
00:13:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
And I'm glad that you've both highlighted specifically Kucinoff, because like you mentioned, that first five minutes from hell, and no, I'm not talking about being an elevator with a Marseille player, it was terrible.
00:13:41
Global Sports Podcast Network
And, but he managed to battle back that game, which I thought was impressive. And and ever since he's looked increasingly more comfortable and this obviously is best showing so far. So excellent from him and very promising partnership with John stones emerging as well.
00:13:58
Global Sports Podcast Network
City have now won seven of the last 10 in all competitions, which a few months ago might have seemed a bit improbable, but we're back. And again, the scoring has just been exceptional. The Sky Blues have smashed in 37 goals in those 10 games. And Simple Math says there's nearly four a game, which is quite some going. So considering Haaland, Foden, and now Marmush have all been bagging them in, and Savino developing and elevating his playmaking game alongside it, the attack starting to look properly potent, isn't it, Keelan?
00:14:27
Keelin
It is very much so and I think what you're starting to see is you're starting to see something really gel and develop with the frontline. you know Omar Marmouche has come in and he's added such a dynamic ingredient to the attacking line. you know As much as I love Jeremy Dokku and I am a big fan as well of Jack Relish, with Omar Marmouche, when he gets a ball of his feet, he only wants to do one thing and that's get forward and beat whoever's marking him.
00:14:57
Keelin
And I think the biggest criticism we've always had of Jack Grealish, for example, is he's too pedestrian and you know what he's going to try and do when he gets the ball.
00:14:59
Jack
And.
00:15:07
Keelin
He's going to cut inside, try and feed it in the midfield and basically be invisible for the rest of the move when the ball's away from him. With Omar Marmouche, he has his opponent on tender hooks and he's got them on strings because they're so scared of hacking him down that he has that threat.
00:15:24
Keelin
He can go inside, he can go outside. he can play the ball in midfield and make a run or he can kick the ball and get to the edge of the box himself. I just think Omar Marmouche, yes I was a lot of money I completely agree but he's such a special part of this team going forward you know you can see the vision when they're all there and you can see the pieces coming together game by game by game. And last thing I'll say before we move on, on the topic of Kucinov,
00:15:54
Keelin
What I love about his partnership with John Stones at the back is that you've got the sort of Rolls Royce footballer and you've got the Dodge Hellcat in Kucinov. You've got the Beast and you've got the Refined and I think any great defensive partnership has that. As much as I hate giving them any kind of credit at all, that's what Arsenal do so well.
00:16:16
Keelin
You've got the Rolls-Royce and William Saliba, and you've got the sort of Ruff and Tumble and Gabrielle. With Liverpool you've got Van Dyke who's the Rolls-Royce, and you've got Kanate for example who's the more physical sort of specimen. And I think if Citi can redevelop that dynamic, I think you've got something very, very special on your hands.
00:16:36
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, I would agree. and Recency bias is obviously going to be prevalent here after seeing in such a good performance. and But before we before the game, we spoke about how good on paper that front four was of Mamoosh, Foden, Savino, Haaland, and now we're speaking about Kucinoff and Stones. This has to be the team going forward, right, Keelan?
00:16:55
Keelin
Yeah it does absolutely you and especially with Real Madrid on the very immediate horizon if you want to have even the remotest hope of getting something from this game this has to be the team that goes there because You know, we saw in the home game against Madrid, if it wasn't for Holland, nothing happens in
Strategic Planning Against Real Madrid
00:17:16
Keelin
that game. And I am the biggest Kevin De Bruyne fan you will ever find. De Bruyne has not been out at it the last number of months. Admittedly, those are injuries, those are things that aren't in his control. But you have to put the best players that you have in the moment out there.
00:17:33
Keelin
And at the moment, Foden starting the tick, you know, Nico Gonzalez, absolutely incredible protecting that back forward today and patrolling the channel. These are the players that need to go to the Burnabout and start, you know, if you want to, if you need to go and get a goal early, which you do, it needs to be Marmouche up alongside Holland and Savino. Foden just in behind, put dictating the play.
00:17:57
Keelin
Basically tells to answer your question, yes, that's the team that needs to go there and Kucinov needs to be given a chance as well.
00:18:04
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, he's he's definitely earned that chance. And just on my moosh before we take another short break, he's given city something which is completely different, which is what you allude into. He's the opposite of Grealish, but the number one thing that he has done, he keeps making runs in behind, which is stretching defenses. That is where all of city's best players are in that space in between midfield and attack.
00:18:24
Global Sports Podcast Network
And there was two it was too clustered. It's been too clustered for months, which means Harlan's not getting any service. But Marmouche, if someone has got the ball, he is making that run in between defenders, in between centerbacks, in the gaps between the fullbacks and the centerbacks, taking defenders where they don't want to go. And we've seen ah ah the rewards here. The amount of times he found space in this match was was crazy, wasn't it, Keelan?
00:18:47
Keelin
It was, absolutely. And the other point that I'll add, because you've made a really interesting point, they're jewels. If you look at, for example, Omar Marmush and the runs he makes feeding the ball in and instantly darting in behind, who does that open up space for out wide? Yasuko Vario.
00:19:03
Keelin
to whip in the ball, to play the ball along the side and get in behind as well. What happens is you've got a brilliant tandem threat in the wing and that is what you are building with someone like Omar Marmouche. When Rodry's back balls pinged over the top for someone like him to get that and to really feed off of that and to build the threat out wide. What do you think Jack?
00:19:26
Jack
I'll just add this one thing onto both of your brilliant points, because really quick, how how often have we faced with the issue the
Counterattack Strategy with Marmoush
00:19:33
Jack
past few seasons? Have we played Erlen Haaland up top, up front, and every team that we play against, Erlen Haaland is occupied by all of their back line, if not both of their centre backs, every single game. With Omar Marmouche playing just behind him or just off the left or just off the right, he's making these runs. Defenders are thinking, right, who do I take on here? Do I leave Marmouche?
00:19:54
Jack
ah ah open for the run and keep an eye on Harland? Or do I leave Harland the most clinical striker in all of Europe at the moment to go mark this run? yeah And what do you do as a centre-bark? You're faced with an impossible decision because either way you've got a world-class player on this side who's open or a world-class player on this side who you're leaving open. So I think it's a really good sign of things that come with all my mamuge and Daelyn Harland on the pitch together.
00:20:20
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, so pick your poison and ultimately that is how goals are scored in football, a moment of disorganisation in defence and then capitalising on it. So having someone that will make those runs and disrupt the defensive structures like Marmouche and the way he's so confident and his balls striking and everything, he just seems perfect for this city team, Keelan.
00:20:41
Keelin
He is, and the the big point to take away from this is, remember what me seti great i won makes and what makes City tick. City are usually at their best when they're in the first five, ten minutes of dominating the ball, they're dominating the play, and usually with these runs from an Omar Marmouche type player, they score first, they get one or two goals, and then they force the opposition to come forward. They have to come out, because you can't just sit in the tune of loss,
00:21:09
Keelin
When it comes to put teams digging in and man marking Holland and sort of just basically parking the bus, what you have to do and what city are the best at when rogeries fit, force them to come out, force them to attack and then pick them apart in the counter attack.
00:21:26
Keelin
and is there a player better built for counter attacking football than Omar Marmouche? Can you imagine what him and Savania were going to be like when Roger is back and those balls are being played and teams are being torn to shreds through the lines? That is what you have to wait and see because that is what the vision is going to be. Get the first goal, get the first couple of goals, let the opposition press you and press the issue and then bang hit them with the blitzkrieg. That has to be the way.
Nico vs. Rodri: Future Role Discussion
00:21:56
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, and hopefully it will be we'll be back after this short break.
00:22:28
Global Sports Podcast Network
Hello and welcome back to the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. You both have brought up how good Nico Gonzalez was. He definitely needs his own segment because I waited until now to bring it up, I guess, because we've talked about the midfield ad nauseam for what feels like an eternity. But Nico was slotted straight in and the team looks inconceivably different and he has had a massive impact in that, you'd you'd have to say.
00:22:55
Global Sports Podcast Network
So let's give some flowers. Talk to me about Saint Nico, Jack.
00:22:59
Jack
I mean, what's there to say? He's just, you watch him and I'm absolutely blown away. I mean, I thought that after that debut against Leighton Orient, when he got that contact injury, I thought it's just going to be another typical story of a city signing coming in and getting injured straight away. We're not going to see anything about him.
00:23:17
Jack
No, he was rightly rested against Madrid. I thought I didn't want to rush him back for a game that, let's face it, was probably going to get away from us anyway. and Although I do think that if he had started, he probably would have made the difference in controlling that game. and But that type of control, we definitely saw today against Newcastle. 112 touches, 98 accurate passes, the most in the game. 97 pass accuracy, the most in the game. 14 passes into the final third.
00:23:43
Jack
four recoveries, four ground duels, attempted all of them, one, one interception, one accurate long ball. When have we read off some stats like that about a player in our midfield at all this season? It's absolutely so refreshing and it it was genuine i know It seems a bit cliche to say, but it was genuinely like watching Rodry in our midfield. When we all heard these links about Nico Gonzalez signing for City, let's face it, none of us really had a clue who he was. We'd probably heard of him playing um um in the Portuguese league, but he wasn't the first name on anyone's list.
00:24:18
Jack
But as such is the case, like we mentioned on that transfer pod actually, in recent years we've missed out on our first choice targets, ended up having them to sign our second or third choice targets, Reuben Diaz comes to mind, America Port comes to mind, I remember we were going for Jules Coonday first in that one, and before that we were going for Kula Barley, ended up with Reuben Diaz.
00:24:38
Jack
We missed out on some key targets and this season. Zubamendi, Bruno G, ended up with Nico Gonzalez and look how it's turning out for us because that was a phenomenal performance. He was absolutely involved in every single aspect of the play. When we had these loose balls coming away in the midfield,
00:24:57
Jack
Any other game this season would think, right, that's it, they're on a counter. But you you blink, and look away almost instinctively because you know they're going to be on the attack. But no, Nico Gonzalez has collected the ball with a brilliant tackle or you know dodged his way past two or three players and played it out wonderfully. What impressed me the most was that his decision making was on point in every single aspect of his game. Every single time he got a ball he made the right decision whether it was to play it forward or where it was to turn around and recycle and keep all the possession. All it took was one midfielder and the others look so much better. Ilkay Gundogan had one of his best games I've seen since he came back to City because he didn't have the burden of having to track back and run and chase the all these balls. That's not what Gundogan is going to do. He's 34 years old nearly like
00:25:46
Jack
Having Nico Gonzalez got the best out of every single player in that team. One of the players that I'll point out in that aspect who also had an impact was Erwin Holland's captain's performance. I feel like he elevated the level of every player. But Nico Gonzalez allowed us to play like Manchester City again. It was it was beautiful.
00:26:06
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, that was brilliantly put. and Those stats truly show a complete midfield performance. And yeah, maybe and not like Rodry being on the pitch, but it's certainly the absence of him was felt a lot less. And that's a good accomplishment as you can give a midfield player considering Rodry is the gold standard.
00:26:27
Global Sports Podcast Network
We will undoubtedly give what's coming up its own episode with a lot more analysis for such a huge game. But looking ahead, we couldn't really ask for much more going into that second leg at the Bernabeu
Optimism for Future Matches
00:26:39
Global Sports Podcast Network
-Kudvik healing. This momentum is so important.
00:26:42
Keelin
Oh, absolutely. And especially after the, you know, just falling apart that happened in the first light, we needed belief and we needed some kind of energy going to Madrid. The other point that I'm going to make on a slight segue back to what Jack said about pivoting to other transfer targets. Always remember, ladies and gentlemen, the first top target for Man City wasn't Rodry, it was Georgina.
00:27:07
Keelin
And Aurelio de Laurentiis' meanness meant we went and got Rodri instead. So always remember, even if you don't get the first target, it can i actually work out much better in the long run. And what are your thoughts on that, Jack?
00:27:22
Jack
just thinking like going on that performance that we saw from Nico as he wants to be known now uh today you can really tell that he played a little bit further up in the midfield when he was playing in Portugal because the intensity and the physicality that he's played today was was really that that as ah ah it reminded me of you know a typical eight performance and you could tell that he'd played in that position back in Portugal with the display that he put out today because he was just so aggressive winning every single second ball. He just paced power. It it was electric. The energy that we had in midfield just allowed everything to tick in our way and
00:28:01
Jack
We've now started to in recent years under Pep Guardiola play with this double pivot. We saw it in a treble winning season with Rodri and John Stones. When Rodri comes back in next season, I can definitely see it was getting so much success out playing Rodri alongside Nico Gonzalez. They just look like, well, I'm um'm obviously imagining things here, but they they they have to compliment each other so well. they They just look like they'll play brilliantly together and I don't see Rodry coming back into the side and benching him. I think that Rodry will come back into the side and play alongside him. Do you a agree Keelan?
00:28:36
Keelin
Yeah I do actually, but I do have an interesting thought on this. I 100% see Nico Gonzalez being an 8 going forward with Rodri back, and imagine, I mean even if you have Rodri sitting at the base of midfield patrolling the channel, and imagine having a player like Nico Gonzalez sweeping up alongside Rodri.
00:28:44
Jack
Yeah, absolutely.
00:28:57
Keelin
and players like Foden and De Bruyne being able to push further forward, that's the dream. And even if it's Rodri playing a single pivot on his own, Nico Gonzalez and Phil Foden as your other two eights, I mean the possibilities that can be done with this midfield now with one player being at it. The combinations are endless, thankfully at least it won't involve Mateo Kovacic, God willing,
00:29:22
Keelin
But any other combination of two eights that you want to put together, now you count them on Roger's back. That sort of discipline and that positional awareness, it opens up so many different avenues for this team.
00:29:35
Global Sports Podcast Network
Yeah, it definitely does. and Because that should be the requirement for a midfielder at Manchester City. Someone that has the technical capabilities to progress the play and move forward. But if you're in any kind of defensive position, have the defensive capabilities too. And Pep seems to have gone to this double pivot.
00:29:53
Global Sports Podcast Network
and while Rodri is out wasn't the case at the start that's what he settled on now so it'll be interesting if you could have a double pivot of Nico and Rodri when Rodri's back and then you could allow the the more forward thinking players to start further up the pitch but like you say like you both said Nico gives a lot more versatility and a lot more options for the midfield which is what we've all been crying out for all season so it was great to see.
00:30:19
Global Sports Podcast Network
And that will about do it for our coverage of Manchester City's 4-0 win over Newcastle United. Stay tuned this week for the coverage of the massive second leg at the Bernabeu, where hopefully City can overturn that first leg defeat. I've been Jules Jordan-Probat. Thank you to Jack Ward and Keelan McNamara for joining. and We are the Daily Manchester City Podcast on the Global Sports Podcast Network. I hope you have a wonderful rest of your day.