MAN CITY v Manchester United – The PREVIEW: City’s Probable Team
8 Dec
Gael Clichy is expected to recover in time for this explosive encounter and should resume duties of the left of defence, with Pablo Zabaleta shifting across to the right and Matija Nastasic returning to partner Vincent Kompany in the centre. Aleks Kolarov is out injured, as is Micah Richards, but James Milner might be in with a chance of being named on the bench after his recovery from a hamstring injury.
After missing the trip to Dortmund as a precaution, David Silva is expected to be fit which is a huge boost. Up front, the Argentine duo of Sergio Aguero and Carlos Tévez are likely tog et the nod, although Roberto Mancini will have noted United’s vulnerability in the air recently and could be tempted to hand Edin Dzeko or Mario Balotelli an opportunity.
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Here is the side Mancini could select:
Referee: Martin Atkinson – He was the referee who awarded four minutes of injury time a few years ago at Old Trafford in the Manchester derby, only for Michael Owen to score United’s winner in the seventh additional minute.
Prediction: MAN CITY 1 – 1 Manchester United – This is a mightily tough game to predict, but it’s bound to be tight and tense. Goals to be scored Sergio Aguero and Robin Van Persie.
William Hill have some excellent odds for this match: Vincent Kompany to score the first goal stands out at 40/1 whilst Yaya Touré is 10/1 to score the final goal of the game.
Leaky defense, mid-field injury with Valencia, Nani and Cleverly out, fossilized players e.g Scholes and Gigs have left United with a team that except Rooney and Van persi none would even make it on City bench. United team at this moment is nothing more than a faint shadow of its past. City should throw the caution away and bitch-slap the bitches right from the first minute [please pardon my jargon in advance].
Makes me nervous just even reading blogs such as this, the rags have shown quality going forward this year and keep coming back to win after going behind. Our defense is much stronger, but going forward its no secret we are not the same at the moment. With Nasri not playing well, I would be tempted to play Milner (if fit enough) alongside Barry, and push another current under performer in Yaya Toure further forward, and see if we get the old Yaya back. Got to be sergio and tevez up front for me, after that the team pretty much picks itself
I am astounded that Tevez & Aguero were not paired up front – they are the only front line combination that show any understanding.
Ballotelli yet again fails to live up to the hype. Complete lack of running off the ball and aside from 3/4 flicks nothing came off. Sat right behind the dug out and the effect Tevez had on harrying their back line and as a result the game itself was startling. Please be gone in Jan – 2.5 seasons is lon enough to see if you’re up to it.
Dzeko did ok and proved better coming on against tired players.
Kolo actually not that bad today!!!
Thought Valencia was Utd’s best player – shows that wingers would add a different dimension to our play. The tussle with him and Clichy was great to watch – prob edged by Clichy in that he forced him off the pitch with an injury.
Was so annoying when the ref stopped play when YaYa (another so so game) rode a few challenges and was through. Absolutely shoving decision.
All in all a thoroughly entertaining, absorbing game with a sickening end.
As much as I posted on here just 2 posts above saying to start tevez and aguero, I can understand giving Balotelli an opportunity. At the end of the day its not come off and he has taken him out of the game very early in the second half. I dont actually think he was as bad as some people are making out, in fact at the end of the 1st half he looked like he might do something. Having said that I agree with the post above in that its now been 2.5 seasons and hes not showing any signs of real improvement or increased work ethic either. If we were to sign a falcao then he has to be the man to go. Yaya probably looked a little better for me at times today, and i thought zabs as well as silva had decent games. Overall it could of gone either way and so it proved in the most sickening fashion.
I had a feeling he would pick Balotelli (not just because of who he picked in Germany) because the few good games that he has played have been in the ‘bigger’ matches (Spurs 3-2; Stoke Cup Final) and those against United (semi final of FA Cup; the 6-1). However, Tevez also always has something to prove against United and Ferguson and, without Vidic, having two small men upfront wouldn’t be an issue.
He did have a few nice first time passes (one to set up Aguero just before United’s second springs to mind) but from where I was sat the effort/work rate (which should be a given as this is not down to talent but mentality) from has was severely lacking.
Although he set up Augero against QPR, the team went on the winning streak at the end of last season after his red card v Arsenal. I can’t abide Tevez the person after what he did but on the pitch it’s a different matter.
I thought Zabaleta was terrific today and would be my first choice right back in the team. He has really come on in the last 18 months. Having said that I thought for th first hour Utd did well at pinning our fullbacks back contributing even more to our lack of width.
For the love of him above; I’ve just seen the replay of the winner and the cowardice of Nasri – he should be lined up at Carrington with Kolorov banjo-ing shots against his Albert Halls. Give me strength; give me Milner.