Just like the game at the start of the season, Manchester City controlled Newcastle United to move through to the FA Cup Semi Finals. Another approach for City with Kovacic in midfield, Rodri the hub and Foden free to move across the pitch.

Are Manchester City finally starting to click into gear in time for the run-in?

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Manchester City 2-0 Newcastle United Review

FA CUP

MOTM: Bernardo Silva

Other standout performances include: Rodri, Mateo Kovacic & Phil Foden

Notable Stats:

• Rodri (9) has provided more assists across all competitions than Bruno Fernandes, James Maddison and Martin Odegaard this season. He’s now 62 games unbeaten in all competitions.

• Manchester City have become the first team in FA Cup history to reach the semi-finals in six consecutive seasons.

• Rodri (144) and Mateo Kovacic (134) combined for 278 passes, more completed passes than all of the Newcastle United players put together (235).

Main Takeaways:

• Here is how Manchester City lined up for the match and Guardiola putting out a strong line up. Full backs pushing high and wide to keep the width, letting Doku and Foden move into the middle. No central defender stepping into midfield and Kovacic very much a partner to Rodri.

• The first goal, although deflected, comes from Bernardo Silva and Walker being left in space. Dan Burn caught between the two players and not able to close either down.

• Second goal leaves Dan Burn with the same dilemma, he cannot close down one of them so has to back off and wait for support. Tighter from Newcastle for the second goal but still not enough.

• Just wanted to use this graphic (Markstatsbot) to show you the spaces City took up in possession. Foden a free role across the midfield. Walker and Gvardiol roles out wide providing width. Rodri the hub with Kovacic and Bernado either side of him. Doku attacking the space inside rather than byline. Haaland dropping in deeper.

• It’s no surprise that once Manchester City have more technically secure players in the midfield they start to look like a Guardiola team again. Looking like they had clear patterns of play and weren’t lost for options.

• Erling Haaland showing again that he is becoming more effective with his hold up play through this season along with variety to it. Luton (A) playing fast on the break, into his feet and one touch pass to De Bruyne. Bournemouth (A) coming across to our right hand side. Then this game he was coming deeper in the middle to pick up the ball, laying off the Doku/Foden or he’s making a turn and running at the back four. Had a very good chance through doing that, Kovacic playing it into his feet and he ran at Newcastle to get a shot off that went wide of the post.

• Jeremy Doku had a good game against Newcastle coming inside and dribbling behind the Newcastle midfield, forcing them to turn and make a decision. Quite strong on the ball, City used him to hit passes on the ground to along with Haaland in the air. Made good decisions of when to attack or recycle. Final decision is lacking this season but was very close to scoring with a brilliant one-two pass between him and Foden. Only going to improve and next season might be quite something to watch.

• Ortega producing a great save from the Isak volley, the only real chance Newcastle had and kept them from gaining any sort of momentum.

• Mateo Kovacic again showing his worth in midfield, to get the best out of Rodri and brings that left hand side together regardless of the winger/full back playing there.

• Oscar Bobb looked very bright in his appearance off the bench, glides through the middle of the pitch in the final third so easily. Will be really pushing for minutes next season out wide and in the middle.

• Passing map included below just highlights all the points made above, Rodri is at the heart of everything good for Manchester City. Foden glues it all together in the final third. Doku and Haaland two options further ahead. Kovacic becoming a key player in the midfield.

Moving Forward:

• Now heading into the final games of the season I think we have a much clearer picture on the two best approaches City have, for the most part. There will be individual changes tweaks dependent on the opposition within them. Below is the eleven City put out against Copenhagen in the Champions League (A).

• The other option I think looks a lot like it did last night against Newcastle, using our full backs to push up high and provide the width. Allow the wide players to move into the middle (Foden/Doku). Not pushing a central defender into midfield.

• Substitute options then come down to only a few players to provide an attacking option or defensive solutions. One of Jack Grealish or Kovacic the 12th man who misses out on starting depending on the game and top of the list for coming off the bench. Leaving you both Doku and Alvarez as your two attacking options, both of which will be used for rotations between the ‘big games’ in the Champions League. Both looked very good in that inside left forward role with the full back providing width.

• I am not so sure Ake vs Gvardiol is a finished contest for either approach to the eleven. Both of them can do the LB role Guardiola is looking for, bring their different qualities and had their struggles defensively early in the season.

• Manuel Akanji has been, in my opinion, the best defender for Manchester City this season. In a good way, providing a selection headache for Guardiola at CB or RB.

• The FA Cup Semi Final draw will take place this evening following this end of Manchester United vs Liverpool.

• Manchester City now have two games in the Premier League yet to be rearranged, Totttenham away and Brighton away. Both won’t be easy and likely will come with limited time to prepare for. Could make the Premier League run-in more difficult for City.

• The next game for City will be Arsenal (H) in the Premier League with the chance to go top of the table and send a message to Liverpool. If you look at the way City played against them last season at the Etihad and how Porto shut Arsenal down centrally in the Champions League off the ball. Those are more likely the approach you see for City. Preview will be posted a day before the match.

Interesting Moments and Links

• All the key stats for the game provided by Markstatsbot here.

• All the highlights from the match here.

• Mateo Kovacic vs Newcastle comp here.

• Jeremy Doku vs Newcastle comp here.

That’s all for this newsletter, rounding up our week with everything here at Sky Blue Times and the world of Manchester City. If you haven’t already, subscribe to get all this Manchester City content right to your inbox.

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