MAN CITY v Man Utd: The PREVIEW – City’s Probable Team
29 Apr
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Two years ago it was a Carling Cup semi-final. Last year it was an FA Cup semi-final. Now it is a Premier League title decider. Of sorts.
This is a fixture that barely needs any introduction at the best of times, but with such significance now placed upon it, the hyperbole has reached an astounding level in this week’s build-up. The most important game of the season. The most crucial fixture in history of the Premier League. The most momentous encounter in football. Ever. It’s time for the hyperbolic cliches to stop and for the action to commence.
Put simply, a victory or draw for Manchester United and the title race is effectively over. The Blues need to secure a win and have the form, confidence and belief heading into this explosive match. Anything but three points for City and our hopes will be dashed. Until next year.
Focusing now on team selection, and Roberto Mancini has a fully-fit squad available. Nine of the team virtually pick themselves, with only the rightback role and a midfield spot up in the air. With regards to the place in defence, both Pablo Zabaleta and Micah Richards are excellent contenders, though with the match taking place at the Etihad Stadium, I’d expect the Englishman’s extra attacking strength to swing the vote in his favour.
Samir Nasri’s position is the only other one I believe is uncertain. The Frenchman has found some form recently and has a key trait of scoring hugely important goals but in terms of overall contribution, he’s often lacking. Therefore, Nigel De Jong and James Milner are in with a shout, the former’s ability to provide cover for the defence an option (whilst at the same time enabling Yaya Touré to operate from a more advanced role), but I’d be tempted to select Milner for his workrate, desire and ability to provide help in dealing with the considerable threat of Antonio Valencia.
Here is the side Mancini may select:
The pattern of the game may well depend on the mentality of United. If Alex Ferguson opts to pack the midfield and leave Wayne Rooney on his own up front, that may actually help as the striker’s ability to drop off the front and find spaces between midfield and attack could cause us huge problems. As touched on above, Valencia on the right wing is a huge threat and his battle with Gael Clichy will be an intriguing, and potentially defining, one.
Referee: Andre Marriner – He is yet to referee City in the Premier League this season, though has officiated three United games, of which they have won two and drawn one.
Prediction: MAN CITY 1 – 1 Man Utd – It is such a challenging match to predict, but I feel that due to the importance of the game, it will be a scrappy, tense and ridiculously nerve-wracking 90 minutes. Goals to be scored by Wayne Rooney and Sergio Aguero.
Yeah, we should not get our hopes up but at the same time we have to hope the players give it their all and play with pride.
Bueno, si tu crees eso eres tonto. Los hinchas del City son leales a Tevez, hoy te demostraran esa lealtad. Viva el River.
Mr. Marriner should be watchful of cheating divers – Man U has a handful of them. All the best for City!
We should win. Been awhile since we won at home on epl competition
I hope your wrong about Milner for Nasri. Why make a change there? We’ve won three straight in impressive fashion. We need to leave our attacking quartet of tevez aguero silva and nasri alone and let them do it again for us
lol calm down Tevez is back whether you like it or not. Quit bitching
Look at how effective milner was vs united at Old Trafford tho… Im not to fussed, both have their strengths, as with pablo and micah
I am all for Milner, his work-rate is a key factor to tire up United mid-field esp considering their age. The key is not concede first and then score.
With that team I would go for 3-1 to City. Tevez Aguero & Silva to score.
However, he might decide to rest a couple of players and go with Kolorov, Savic, Balotelli, Dzeko, & Pantilimon. In which case I am going for 6-1 to United.
CTID
Here in Argentina everybody is a Citizen today. Good luck