Following the close of Matchday 3 in the Premier League, Arsenal remains the only team to have a perfect start to the season with 3 wins in 3 as Manchester City dropped points and drew against Newcastle at St. James’ Park.
The defending champions were perhaps fortunate to secure a draw after Newcastle outplayed Pep Guardiola’s men for the majority of the game.
But thanks to a spirited effort led by Erling Haaland and Bernardo Silva, the Citizens found their way back from a 2-goal deficit to even the tie at 3-3.
The Norwegian striker’s arrival was meant to guarantee goals for a Pep team that has been dominating the league even without an out-and-out No. 9.
Haaland has already scored thrice for City and has an assist in his first three league games. But funnily enough, despite his arrival City have failed to match their goal tally in their first three games (10 goals) from last season by 2 goals.
Haaland’s incorporation into the side has not been all perfect as suggested by his goal output. During City’s second league game against newly promoted Bournemouth, the 22-year-old had only eight touches on the ball and two successful passes throughout the game.
For a prolific striker such as Haaland, these stats appear out of the ordinary and has led to heavy backlash from City fans targeted at the current squad’s incapability to provide better service.
The largest blame seems to have found its way to yet another young gun in Phil Foden as City supporters have hijacked the Englishman’s Instagram comments section and have flooded it with ‘pass the ball’ replies.
Following City’s draw at St. James’ Park Foden took to Instagram to celebrate a personal milestone as he completed 100 appearances in the Premier League.
But much to his dismay, City fans were in no mood to celebrate his achievement and instead flooded the comments on this post with ‘pass to Haaland’ replies.
The numerous replies now found on the youngster’s post seem to be based on two clear goal chances in the opposition box, one each from City’s previous two fixtures.
The first chance came against Bournemouth after De Bruyne sent Foden through inside the box. With Haaland just a square pass away from tapping in City’s first goal in just 9 minutes from kick-off, Foden instead choose wrong and shot straight at goalkeeper Mark Travers.
Foden hates Haaland. How many chances does he need to slide it across to Haaland for a tap in pic.twitter.com/hp1nT0PSxb
The second chance against Newcastle presented a similar situation to the 22-year-old winger early in the first half after De Bryune once again sent him through. But yet again Foden failed to square the ball to Haaland in the middle and the chance was lost.
Following both these errors from the Englishman Pep cast a frustrated figure on the touchline, especially against Newcastle where perhaps an extra goal would have ensured the three points for City.
With the season now beginning to heat up, Pep would be in no mood to lose ground to his former apprentice Mikel Arteta and Arsenal in a potential title race.
The Spaniard would surely have addressed the issue following City’s disappointing game against Newcastle and if Foden still did not get the hint then these supporters on his Instagram page have surely reminded him to pass the ball next time to his teammate.
