Manchester Metropolis went all the way down to a to Newcastle United at St. James Park yesterday. The defeat was solely Manchester Metropolis’s second of their previous fifteen matches in all competitions. Throughout the previous fifteen video games for Metropolis, the indicators are there that this iteration of Pep Guardiola’s aspect may finally grow to be what a Metropolis aspect has appeared like all through their latest period of dominance. However they aren’t there but as their loss to Eddie Howe’s aspect yesterday confirmed.
Manchester Metropolis squandered too many probabilities towards Newcastle.
Newcastle did deserve their victory over Manchester Metropolis yesterday. Eddie Howe’s aspect created the higher probabilities and a second-half brace from Harvey Barnes both aspect of a Ruben Dias purpose was sufficient for the Magpies to choose up a invaluable three factors in an entertaining Premier League fixture yesterday. The hosts had luck on their aspect as a number of shut VAR calls went their manner, and backed by their passionate house help Eddie Howe’s aspect bought within the face of the Metropolis gamers. Additionally they dug deep defensively and stored Metropolis out in the course of the sport’s closing levels. With that out of the way in which, Manchester Metropolis did have their probabilities yesterday and in the event that they put them away yesterday’s consequence may have been utterly completely different.
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Erling Haaland and Phil Foden squandered two high quality probabilities every in the course of the first half of yesterday’s match. If any of the 4 probabilities they missed went in, it may have given Pep Guardiola’s aspect the impetus they wanted to go on a decide up a invaluable three factors. Newcastle additionally had their probabilities within the first half however an impressed Gianluigi Donnarumma and a galling miss by Harvey Barnes stored the hosts at bay.
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – NOVEMBER 22: Phil Foden of Manchester Metropolis reacts in the course of the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Manchester Metropolis at St James’ Park on November 22, 2025 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photograph by George Wooden/Getty Photographs)
Within the second half, Newcastle took their probabilities and Metropolis couldn’t create any actual openings outdoors of Ruben Dias’ purpose. Bernardo Silva and Phil Foden curled efforts extensive however that was the sum of Manchester Metropolis’s second-half efforts. The work price and energy had been there within the second half from Pep Guardiola’s however in the long run the hosts had an excessive amount of for Metropolis on the day.
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The method of changing into a typical Pep Guardiola aspect might be a gradual one.
The overriding feeling I had coming our of Manchester Metropolis’s loss to Newcastle was that this Metropolis aspect is growing right into a Pep Guardiola aspect however they aren’t there but. At house, Metropolis are a formidable opponent and their high quality overwhelms sides. Away from the Etihad, and towards harmful groups like Aston Villa and Newcastle, the new-look Metropolis aspect hasn’t developed the arrogance of their gamestyle and talents simply but. That can come, the indicators had been there at St. James Park, however it is going to doubtless be a gradual course of.
The indicators had been there from Pep Guardiola’s aspect towards Newcastle that this Metropolis aspect is rising. They dominated possession at instances, however they haven’t developed the flexibility to regulate matches away from house in typical Metropolis trend simply but. Nor have they grow to be able to taking the house crowd out of the equation. However the indicators had been there yesterday that every one of that can are available in time.
Whereas Manchester Metropolis’s 2-1 loss to Newcastle was disappointing, it wasn’t all doom and gloom on the remaining whistle. This Metropolis aspect is rising however they aren’t but the completed article which stood out to me on the finish of yesterday’s match. Alarm bells aren’t ringing simply but round Pep Guardiola’s aspect, they simply aren’t the place they have to be but however that ought to come primarily based on the positives that emerged for Manchester Metropolis from yesterday’s match.