I think Eddie Howe will be going on the front foot whichever system he plays against Manchester City. He will be trying to put them under pressure without leaving big gaps at the back to be hit on the counter attack because they do move the ball so quickly and they have pace. They can go from defence to attack very quickly.
With the exception of one result under Rafa Benitez where we beat them 2-1, the rest of the time at St James' Park, we've played with a really negative approach and we've still got beaten off them. I don't think Eddie will go with a negative approach, I think he'll go and be positive because we're at home and we've got the fans behind us.
We will look to try and cause them problems and ask them some questions. You're talking about one of the best, if not the best team in the world at the minute. They have some of the best players in the world in their position.
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It's never easy, but too many times I've seen Newcastle play with a negative system. They've played deep with a low block, and Manchester City still dominated and created numerous chances. If you go with that type of mentality and you go behind, it becomes very difficult for you to get back in the game.
I think there will be a real balance with what Eddie does, he'll not go away from the fact he's a positive manager who tries to get his team playing on the front foot. The players will be aware of the quality Manchester City possess.
The best way to try and solve the defensive problems you'll have against City is to play on the front foot, attack them and give them problems in their defensive areas. It's different when you go to the Etihad, you have to be a little more defensive-minded and accept they're going to have a lot of the ball. But when you're at home, the atmosphere is going to be electric. It's about trying to take them on.
Erling Haaland is world class, he's got everything. He's got pace, he's got power, he's a great finisher. People say he needs that room in behind for that pace which he does, but if you look at the penalty won against West Ham, his movement was so quick and with little space. He came to the ball a yard and just spun, and he's got Kevin de Bruyne who can put a pass on a sixpence.
He got around the 'keeper and won the penalty for his first, and we all saw what he's about for his second goal against a higher line and he just made that movement to the side of the centre-half and got slipped in. He has power and pace like you wouldn't believe, and it was an accomplished finish.
People say he didn't touch the ball a lot at the Etihad against Bournemouth, but in the small touches he had he was still clinical and got an assist. What he does even when he isn't contributing a lot, he didn't have a lot of touches but he takes people away. One or two defenders are always conscious of him, so City's other top players find spaces because of him.
That's what you do when you're a top player like him, you understand what you can do to help your team-mates by creating spaces in other areas and that's what he's got. He's world class at a young age and he's only going to get better, hopefully he has a bit of an off day at St James' Park on Sunday.
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