That second goal from Newcastle—why didn't we just boot the ball forward instead of trying to play out through a crowd? Why?

We take the lead in the Sportswashing Classico. It's Manchester City Women 2 Newcastle United Women 1

In the first Big Dirty Stinking Oil Money Derby between Manchester City Women and Newcastle United Women, it's 1-1 at halftime.

Why do Manchester City Women look so clumsy this morning. You can almost hear Benny Hill music playing in the background. Cmon City!

A good breakdown of the tactical changes Andree Jeglertz has brought to Manchester City Women this season.

Each time they started walking they could hear footsteps behind them in the grass. And if they stopped, the footsteps stopped too. But whenever they turned to look, there was nothing there. Just a big empty field. Kerstin had her suspicions and yelled, "Man United sucks ass!" There was no response.

"City have had nine different scorers this season - more than any other side - easing the burden on Khadija Shaw, and potentially lessening the drop-off that was suffered whenever she was absent last season."

"Our man works alone. An exceptional assassin. And never looks the same way twice."

It’s Black History Month in the UK, so here’s an iconic photo of Bunny Shaw giving the Black Power salute in February, after scoring against Liverpool. It was her first match back for Manchester City following online racial abuse she received after a game against Arsenal.

That moment in the game when the table 'bout to turn.

The speed at which Andrée Jeglertz is making positive transformations in this team at both the tactical and individual levels is impressive.

Andrée Jeglertz is harnessing the power of youth in this Manchester City Women team. 22-year-old Laura Blindkilde Brown won Player of the Match. 19-year-old Iman Beney scored the equaliser. And 21-year-old Aoba Fujino delivered the victory.

Gareth Taylor's revenge—almost. Whew! Too much stress for my Sunday morning. The young ones delivered big time—Beney again, and Fujino. The youth shall lead. Beney just arrived this season and is playing like she was born a blue, non-stop energy all game, and a bloody nose to show for it. Legend.

"Her father, Nicolas, is a former goalkeeper who represented seven clubs and won caps for the Switzerland youth teams, while her aunt, Noemie, won 45 caps for the senior women's team. Her older brother, Romeo, also currently plays for FC Basel." As Jose Mourinho would say, "football heritage."

Casparij and Blindkilde Brown are like new signings. Aoba Fujino looks better than she was last year. Hasegawa, with freedom, brings more to the game. Bunny was busy as a bee against Arsenal in both attack and defence. This is a new version of Manchester City Women and it is exciting to watch.

Listening to an Erykah Badu tune on a Man City Women Instagram video. Take a bow, admin. It's an absolute pleasure watching the clips these days.

Tell dem, Bunny. We nuh 'fraid a nobody.

Who did this? 😂

Going through another difficult reinvention process, still trying to bring out the best version of their game on the field, Manchester City Women had to draw on sheer grit, determination, effort and attitude to beat Arsenal 3-2 today. The hard road continues but it's how we travel it that matters.

Take a bow, Khadija 'Bunny' Shaw. What a performance for Manchester City today, scoring a goal and helping to set up the other two for a hard-fought win over Arsenal. She was as awesome in defence as she was in attack, always running back to help, and making key clearances at the back. Brilliant.

Running back to London with the 'L' after celebrating and tapping your Arsenal badge in front of City fans who showed you nothing but love. She thought she was Adebayor.

Even after Chloe Kelly disrespected the club in the manner in which she left, many City fans (not me) gave her love. I'm so happy she celebrated her goal against us, tapping her Arsenal badge in front of the City fans who have shown her nothing but love. Now go analyse your lives. Or come fight me 🤷‍♂️

Reality check from Arsenal in the first few minutes of the second half. You all never thought it was going to be that easy for us, did you?

If yu never heard of big, bad, bomboclaat Bunny Shaw, yu betta ask somebody. The other Bad Bunny.

Friday Flashback

Speaking of underrated fullbacks who get the job done without much fanfare.

"His glass may have been full little more than a year ago but Klopp seems to exude enthusiasm these days, perhaps the result of achieving the work-life balance that eludes so many of us." Klopp says he's still coaching, but in a different way. Very interesting piece. I enjoyed reading it.

A good performance from Manchester City. Shame we couldn't put away some good chances. In the end we were undone by some dire shithousery. Sorry, I meant to say Dier. I suppose he did what anyone would have done there. The boot was high, in his face, so he was always going to make the most of it.

She is staying, and that's excellent news. After all the recent disappointments and issues Manchester City Women have faced, the news of someone like Mary Fowler extending her contract with the club is just as big as any new arrival. Stay strong, City.

Bunny Sundays Those are fun days of sunshine, football and green grass. One-sided games. No impasse. No stopping, flopping, or points dropping. Boot against ball, ball against net. There will be goals. On that you can bet. These are the fun days, sweet like ice cream sundaes when Khadija Shaw plays

Bunny Shaw being fouled in the box twice in the same game and a referee actually awarding us the penalties.

Bunny Shaw winning two penalties and scoring both of them. She has been marked well this game but she ground out those two goals with her determination going forward. Bunny has done a hard day's work today.

Laura Blindkilde Brown coming off. She is almost like a new signing this season and has fit into Jeglertz' plans so well. Take a bow, Killer Brown.

Bunny needed that goal. She has looked as if she is still on her journey back from the trials of last season, but not quite there yet. So this is good. She won the penalty, she took the penalty, she scored. Build the momentum.

Gracie Prior having a bit of a nightmare, giving up possession a few times as City try to play out. But, to be fair, some passes she has received under pressure have been risky. I wish we would just boot the ball upfield or out of touch sometimes. We'll never learn, because we believe it's wrong.

Happy to see Troyes pick up their third consecutive win after beating Red Star 3-1 in Ligue 2 action today. The #CityFootballGroup team came into the game in fourth position behind Red Star who were in third. Troyes have now jumped to second place in the league while Red Star have fallen to fourth.

I like this new version of Manchester City. The idea that there is only one way to play football is the old skin that we must shed. I hope that the coaches out there who are dogmatic disciples of Pep Guardiola realise how pragmatic he is willing to be, and that possession alone is not everything.

City have shown recently that they can be more direct, more dangerous in offensive transitions, and today they showed they can defend well for 90 minutes and walk away from an away game against a top team with a point, and just 32% possession. It's the kind of growth we were looking for this season.

Hey, bit of a let down in the end, but I'll still take that point away against Arsenal all day.

Manchester City with 32% possession in the first half and one-nil up. How pleasantly weird it is to be that team for a change. It's going to be a tough second half.

Hey look at that: NYCFC just qualified for the MLS Cup Playoffs for the 9th time in 11 tries. Not the biggest achievement (given MLS lets in 18/30), but a big step for Pascal Jansen’s team. More in here about the playoffs, the schedule, and the standings as things stand post-Charlotte win

Happy that Miedema scored today because I think she needed it. Everybody said she can play in the 10 role but I think its much harder than it looks for her. I think she's a better 9 than a 10. But then we get into the difficult question of how to accommodate two 9's. Radical thinking required.

I used to love Khiara Keating's arrogance with the ball at her feet almost teasing opponents to come at her. I don't anymore. Why? Because life came at us fast over the past two seasons and taught us important lessons. Safety first, Khiara. There were two moments today things nearly went very wrong

What a game from Laura Blindkilde Brown today—all over the midfield in attack and defence, ball-carrying and mopping up. Over the past couple of games she's been given an opportunity and she's showing what she can do. Another player that can give Yui the chance to go forward. Nice work Killer Brown.

Seven different goalscorers in two games for Manchester City Women. Not something you see a lot with this team. I think that's a massive step in the right direction. We've relied a lot on Bunny and when she's not available we fall off. For our style of play its good to have different players scoring

That was magic from Doku. Little wizard.

Khadija ‘Bunny’ Shaw has been shortlisted for the 2024/25 Concacaf Women’s Player of the Year Award.

What is your body language?

A perfect debut from Donnarruma. A win and a clean sheet on Derby Day. What more could you ask for in your first game. I think the last time we had a goalkeeper make his debut in a derby was when Claudio Bravo made his first appearance for City, and you may remember that it didn't go very well.

Great goal by Foden in the first half. Donnarruma stamping his authority in his goal area and looking good. Not sure what's going on with Rodri. Looks out of it. So many bad passes by different players to Doku that he has been unable to collect. Very frustrating. Bring on the second half.