DIDN'T EXPECT THAT TO BE HONEST

I am normally an optimistic person and look for the positives in most situations especially regarding City and their performances but even I cannot find anything positive about the first half attacking performance.

I still have not figured out what Odemwingie's role was in the first 45 minutes.

Newcastle done a job on us in the first half, they pressed our centre backs when we had possession and stifled Medel when we tried to play out with the ball.

With Odemwingie playing a central role we lacked width on the right hand side which allowed Newcastle to dominate that side of the pitch, which is where Luic Remy cut in from to score the first.

I wrote in the Echo today that Campbell needs to get back among the goals and he had an excellent chance to get a shot off but his touch was again heavy, that said the tactics of playing the ball long to a lone striker who is not a target man is doing the player no favours whatsoever.

Malky got it wrong in the first half today and, for myself anyway, was too slow to react in changing the system or at least tweaking it.

I know you can't legislate for individual errors and with regards to passing in the first 45 there were plenty of them.

I genuinely felt we had a good chance of taking the 3 points today and that is not taking things for granted but after the performances at home against Man City, Everton and Tottenham there was real belief we could get a positive result.

I am all for welcoming away supporters to the City and the football club but I think it was a little too much to have a choir singing to them at half time but that said I thought the booing was unnecessary.

The second half was better and the introduction of Jordon Mutch gave us a player through the middle who can carry the ball and be strong on it.

I thought our fans never really got going today which was shame as Newcastle supporters did their bit to create an atmosphere.

The next two fixtures are both difficult away trips and we have to get more from home games especially against sides such as Newcastle.

David Marshall was yet again making top class saves and had it not been for him in the first half then it could have been over as a contest at half time.

I don't think we need wholesale changes but we need tweaking and try to find a way to be a little more creative when in possession.

We had chances to level the game and we would have grabbed any chance of a point but if we are honest we didn't deserve a point from the game, Newcastle dominate the first half , we shaded the second half but both sides had chances to score another goal.

The Premier League is a fantastic competition and we have to earn the right to play before we can start making an impression in games, today we took far too long to earn that right and that is something Malky will have to deal with.

We've had a great start but expectations are resentments under construction so they say.....it's not going to be easy staying in this league we are going to have to scrap for everything.

Newcastle are no mugs they have a long proud history and I thought this week has we were building up to the game that we were under-estimating them a little. We played Everton at a good time because they look a real threat now and Newcastle gave them a game in the second half.....on they're day the Magpies can beat anyone in this division. So today for me the gulf from championship to premiership was plain to see.....

Such a difference between last weeks excellent performance where we looked comfortable in possession and threatening in attack.

Like chalk and cheese with todays sloppy first half when we were badly outplayed by a team that has been struggling recently.

The players let themselves down first half,showed too much respect and stood off the Newcastle players allowing them space and time to play,contrastly the Newcastle players swarmed around our players stifling us. I thought Marshall was brilliant but could have done better with the first goal. Second half was so much better and gives us hope that we can compete in this league,it's going to be a roller coaster season for sure.

We deserved to loose by the first half performance we paid for it. Second half we deserved to get a point but wasn't to be. Newcastle are very inconsistent but when on form they can beat anyone in this league.

I expected that to be honest after playing a shocking Fulham team they are under pressure with a few class players up front always was going to be a testing day.
Gutted mind !

A few players looked off their game today, but to be fair, so were the crowd. A few half arsed attempts at singing then silence. The away fans really showed us up today and I hate when that happens, we were like the Fulham home crowd last week.
Then at that point in the second half it turned, but who was first, did the players get the crowd going, or was it the crowd that got the players going? Either way, that 12th man idea is true and this season it'll be needed more than ever.

Where were you standing/sitting ? The atmosphere was pretty good not like man city and everton but tidy all the same

Ps did you sing all the game ? We did and always do its down to us to make the stadium bounce

I'm pessimistic about the City at the best of times. Were we a bit complacent going into this game? Decent win last week, Newcastle lost two games in a row?

Placid, I'm down the front of block 108, in the canton. Don't get me wrong the second half was bouncing from just before our goal went in. But you could see it affected the players coz both Campbell and odemwingie were trying to gee the crowd up.

I agree - not sure where Odemwinge was playing, but Whitts was wasted on the left wing.
Gunnerson was very poor.
Many of the players had off days, and the crowd were very quiet until we scored.
Marshall and Mutch did well.
Who ever thought out what the choir should sing needs shooting. Own goals at half time are not needed when you are 2 nil down. Flexibility should have been the word - ( Plan B in Dave Jones Lingo ) - sing a song they don't know, not their anthem , if they are winning.
Doh !

I agree - crowd was too quiet until Bellers started warming up. I thought at times Gunnarson was too deep and was getting in Medel's way... Can't believe how bad that first half was compared to the first half I saw at Fulham!

Carl, I've come to expect the unexpected from City a long time ago. Sometimes it's good and sometimes it's bad but I have determined that this year I am simply going to sit back and enjoy the ride on the roller coaster that is called The Premier League!

That said, City's first half performance was dire, with far too much ball given away freely and players appearing to be well out of position (Odemwingie being the most obvious, as stated in your original comment) and if it weren't for Marshall Newcastle cold have been a couple up well before their fist goal!

Second half was a lot different and we created the chances that gave us a fighting chance to snatch something from the game, which being honest would have been a little harsh on an impressive Newcastle team performance (the speed of their passing and running being particularly notable)

I think it showed that Malky does have plenty of 'bite' in the changing room (certainly at half time) and his initially confusing (for me at least, as I'd have taken Gunnarsson off) substitution of Kim Bo for Mutch turned out to be a wise one and Mutch had his best game yet in front of a home crowd and was instrumental in getting a few more voices going on the terraces

It could indeed have been better, but it could also have been a lot worse and (a bit like I felt after the Spurs game) I actually enjoyed the day for what it was...Cardiff City FC in the Premier League playing against players this time last year we would have had to but a Panini Album to see!

We move on, and in Malky (and the boys) we trust!

Such a difference between last weeks excellent performance where we looked comfortable in possession and threatening in attack.

Like chalk and cheese with todays sloppy first half when we were badly outplayed by a team that has been struggling recently.

Remember we were up against a much better team. The Newcastle team we played was the one that beat Everton two nil in the second half as he made three changes like he did on Monday.

They were well up for it and will move on up the table now. A bad first half, but at least we were the better team for the second half and back to ourselves.

That choir as well as lifting the Geordie fans half time, killed the atmosphere for us at the start of the game, what a stupid mistake that was.

Newcastle tactically done us over. We have a 25 man squad and it must be utilised against certain sides. Just a personal opinion, but I think Newcastle are weak at full back. We have wingers in the squad able to exploit this weakness such as Kadeem Harris and Craig Noone, use them please Malky. Please don't say their too young or lack experience, if their good enough to be picked for a Premier League squad then surely they must be good enough to put in the team. Look at that 18 year old lad who played for the Mancs yesterday, he's only 18, Moyes had the courage to select him. Sometimes being brave actually works. A lesson learned I hope by Malky and his staff.

We miss that wide threat and i miss seeing it. We're not overloaded in the sick wingers department but id love to see kads get a chance to skin a bunch of prem defenders. I hope he gets the nod soon

Newcastle tactically done us over. We have a 25 man squad and it must be utilised against certain sides. Just a personal opinion, but I think Newcastle are weak at full back. We have wingers in the squad able to exploit this weakness such as Kadeem Harris and Craig Noone, use them please Malky. Please don't say their too young or lack experience, if their good enough to be picked for a Premier League squad then surely they must be good enough to put in the team. Look at that 18 year old lad who played for the Mancs yesterday, he's only 18, Moyes had the courage to select him. Sometimes being brave actually works. A lesson learned I hope by Malky and his staff.

Good post, we have to have the ability the mix it up and change formation on occasion otherwise we will get Sussed out.
We were out Malky'd yesterday 1st half, they closed us down quicker than we closed them and they completely bossed the midfield.
Benefit of hindsight, but change was needed before halftime. Much better second half & maybe could have snatched a point.
Would have liked to see Bellamy left, Odemwingie right, Campbell through middle & Mutch in behind which to me looks a balanced attacking threat!

Newcastle battered us first half and we battered them second half, to say we shaded the second half is a bit silly.

It was like watching a Dave Jones team in the first half. We were second best, every player losing their individual personal battle and both goals we conceded were sloppy. Why Caulker allowed Remy to cut inside is anyones guess, he should have forced him down the line and I thought Theo could have thrown himself in front of Remy's shot for the second to block it. We looked disinterested, it was as if we didn't want to be out there.

I can accept being beaten by a better team, but effort wise, that first half showing was inexcusable. No doubt Malky gave his players a rollocking at half time and the second half was a huge difference. But we lost the game in the first half and we simply cannot play like that in the Premiership, otherwise we will be relegated. Hopefully that first half showing will be a wake up call.

A few players looked off their game today, but to be fair, so were the crowd. A few half arsed attempts at singing then silence. The away fans really showed us up today and I hate when that happens, we were like the Fulham home crowd last week.
Then at that point in the second half it turned, but who was first, did the players get the crowd going, or was it the crowd that got the players going? Either way, that 12th man idea is true and this season it'll be needed more than ever.

With regards to the crowd I think it's an important point.
Historically, our home crowds are often dictated by the play on the pitch. There are exceptions to this of course e.g. Man City where it was buzzing long before the ko. I don't think the ridiculous choir before the match started & the fact there was no Men Of Harlech played & sung by the fans helped the atmosphere either.
Our 12th man will be very important to the team this season.
If we could only recreate the Man City game every time!!

There are a handful of bad teams in this league and so far we've played 0 of them.

When we lose to Sunderland at Home I'll be concerned rather than a team who are underperforming and in my eyes will end up around mid table without any problems.

People said the same sh*t after West Ham who just beat Spurs 3-0 away, some just need to get a grip. Laughable as well that there were people saying we will win 2-0, 3-0 against Newcastle, who although struggled last year, were 5th in 11/12

When we have the players for a Plan B, we will have one, until then enjoy the 'bumpy' ride that is the PL. 1.14 points per game so far will give us 43 at the end of the year, and another year of PL in most cases.

There are a handful of bad teams in this league and so far we've played 0 of them.

When we lose to Sunderland at Home I'll be concerned rather than a team who are underperforming and in my eyes will end up around mid table without any problems.

People said the same sh*t after West Ham who just beat Spurs 3-0 away, some just need to get a grip. Laughable as well that there were people saying we will win 2-0, 3-0 against Newcastle, who although struggled last year, were 5th in 11/12

When we have the players for a Plan B, we will have one, until then enjoy the 'bumpy' ride that is the PL. 1.14 points per game so far will give us 43 at the end of the year, and another year of PL in most cases.

Yea agree, we need to ride it to Jan, deffo think we need some investment in the team. Not so much to replace players but so we have other options.

I'm also disappointed not to see wingers being used.

So far i would see Cardiff are looking organized and disciplined, but we do lack that flair/creativity when needed. So far only Mutch and Whitts has shown it.

I also believe that our players are still adapting to the Prem. If you look at Caulker and Odem, they look so much better on the ball etc

spot on carl fantastic post only saying what we are all thinking

spot on carl fantastic post only saying what we are all thinking

Cheers Martyn