Ange Posetecoglou has laughed off suggestions his tactical approach is closely modelled on Pep Guardiolaâs, and there is one department where he radically departs from the orthodoxies of positional football: the use of his full-backs.
The hosts looked on course to inflict a fifth-consecutive winless game on City when Elijah Adebayo rose at the back post to open the scoring.
It has been a long 22 weeks since Newcastleâs Kieran Trippier had a holiday. That takes us back to mid-July, when his team reported for pre-season training. Before this Trippier, by the evidence of his Instagram, had enjoyed time in the Bahamas and at Disneyland. On the evidence of this match he could do with some more time on beaches, snorkelling and taking family photos with struggling actors dressed as Buzz Lightyear.