[sunama]

City will inevitably raise their game though and score a goal or two.

So will we.
We now have great players and a great manager.
Don't under-estimate Man Utd.

 

[DomesticTadpole]

Is YaYa fit for Sunday ?

Probably, he is just a big jessie.

 

[Ole Gunner Scholes]

Probably, he is just a big jessie.

Now that Silva is probably out, we can put our big guy Fellaini to do a job on him all game.

 

[Browniee]

Now that Silva is probably out, we can put our big guy Fellaini to do a job on him all game.

Yaya will murder Fellaini. Let's hope he is out

 

[Sereques]

Who is the ref for this game?

 

[Paolo Di Canio]

Its about time City came into a derby minus a key player, I dont think they have ever had an injury to a key player in the derby since the oil money

 

[DrogbaTheBarbarian]

Hopefully the morale boost from the late goal against us spurs you on to take points off this lot. Should be a great game to watch either way. I can't see Rojo + whoever being able to handle Aguero. But at the same time, Kompany and Mongolia (Chelsea game aside) haven't looked too great
themselves.

Given the naive way Pellegrini always sets the team up- to score as many as possible, I think this will be the day we get a true look at United's vast array of firepower. If City are without Silva and still in "we'll outscore you" mode, I can see Falcao, Di Maria, RVP and Rooney being too much for them.

I'm going with 2-3 to United!

 

[Buchan]

After some further consideration, I think I'd go 4-1-3-1-1 with the following personnel:

De Gea

Smalling -------------- Rojo
Rafael ------------------------------------- Shaw
Blind


Herrera ------ Fellaini ------ Di Maria

-----------------------------
Rooney

van Persie
​

The back six stay the same as they are showing signs of forming a good understanding with one another. Blind's role will be vital on Sunday in two aspects of the game: defence and attack. We need somebody to screen the back four adequately and try to intercept City's probing balls into Aguero (Fellaini and Herrera will be vital here, too), but also somebody good in possession who can take it from the defence and get us on the attack. Blind's distribution is sound and he can find Di Maria, Rooney and van Persie in attack.

Herrera and Fellaini get through a mountain of work between them and they will be more than a match of Toure and Fernandinho (whom has gone completely off the boil. I wouldn't be surprised to see Milner in CM this weekend, nor even Fernando). Di Maria is back in his midfield-cum-winger role and will pose a huge threat on the counter attack. Get him running at Zabaleta at every opportunity.

Rooney will be picking up empty pockets of space that City's midfield two will inevitably leave (that's the biggest flaw in Pellegrini's 4-2-2-2 formation) and it'll also give City's two centre-backs a decision to make: to leave Rooney isolated or to break their defensive line and come to him. Either option should benefit us as it'll disrupt their organisation.

Van Persie will play as a lone striker and we'll be looking to taking advantage of his biggest strength: his hold-up play. Fire the ball into him at any angle, any pace, and he usually traps it and lays it off to an on-rushing United attacker. He pulls away into space between the centre-backs, which usually drags them out with him. Taking the City centre-backs out of their comfort zones will be a necessity on Sunday. Kompany is rash and guilty of desperately lunging into tackles (why does he want to win every single ball?), and Demichelis is suspect on the turn. With the support cast attacking from midfield, and with Rooney, I think we have more than enough to cause them problems.

Attacking options from the bench include Falcao (hopefully), Mata and Januzaj (all players with something to prove to the manager if they want a regular starting berth), and I think that we are heading into this derby with more than a fighting chance.

Manchester City 1-2 Manchester United

 

[VanGaalEra]

Who is the ref for this game?

I've heard it's Michael Oliver

 

[VanGaalEra]

I'd go with a MF trio of Blind-Fellaini-Herrera.

Keep Di Maria on the left, RVP will be up top and Rooney as the 10. Rooney and Herrera to cover/add support on the right when required.

 

[RatedGNR]

They're there for the taking, but one thing that worries me (a lot) would be Aguero's runs behind our defence.

Prediction: 2-2

de Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Fellaini Blind
Januzaj Rooney Di Maria
van Persie

 

[DimitriusFalcao]

de Gea

Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw

Blind

Herrera Fellaini

di Maria Rooney

van Persie

Prediction Man City 2-2 Man Utd

 

[Red_Manc_M15]

Why don't people want Falcao to start?

For me he is the best goal scorer we have on our books he also holds up and links play better than Van Persie.

 

[2 man midfield]

If Toure is out then that's a huge boost.

 

[VanGaalEra]

We've got this guys! Navas and Nasri on the wings, I'm confident Rafa & Shaw have that covered.

Toure and Fernandinho in the middle, not to worry, Blind, Fellaini and Herrera will boss it. Rojo will give Aguero a couple of friendly Argentinian kicks

If we get that first goal, that crowd will get on their backs and the players will crap themselves.

 

[PickledRed]

Do you think City can easily beat United without raising their game from the last 3 games they have played so far against CSKA , West Ham & Newcastle?

They'll have to play better but the notion that they're game raisers against United is misleading. It suggests the norm is mediocrity.

To put this into context, look at United under Fergie. Occasionally his teams would dip in form, have a bad defeat but the narrative never suggested United would raise their game next time. It was always about a "United backlash". That's because the norm was a high standard rather than inconsistency. Similarly, City aren't a game raising team. They're champions of England.

 

[VanGaalEra]

They're not very confident over on the place where the moon is blue

 

[The Man Himself]

I am guessing our XI will be pretty much the same as was vs. Chelsea except Rooney in for Mata.

 

[doomy20]

Start Falcao ffs.
RVP needs a rest and is predictable.
Falcao needs gametime and is still highly unpredictable for our opponents. No one really knows what he can do at ManUtd. If he is fit and on form, he is one of the best goal getters in this game. And if Rooney and Co. feed him with enough balls he can harm City big!

 

[Florida Man]

Start Falcao ffs.
RVP needs a rest and is predictable.
Falcao needs gametime and is still highly unpredictable for our opponents. No one really knows what he can do at ManUtd. If he is fit and on form, he is one of the best goal getters in this game. And if Rooney and Co. feed him with enough balls he can harm City big!

Isn't Falcao still injured?

Edit: that bolded part

 

[ManUArfa]

=======DDG======
Rafael Smalling Roco Shaw
======Blind=======
==Herera====Fellaini==
==Rooney RVP Di Maria=

I feel that 433 will combat their game through the middle. I'm just not sure about Herera and Fellaini on the same team.

 

[Trizy]

Is YaYa fit for Sunday ?

Won't matter, he's been shit.

Bit fan of Toure and easily one of the best players in the league since joining so the reply is not biased its just fact based on current form.

 

[Ramshock]

Is Silva out then?

 

[Trizy]

Is Silva out then?

99% sure he will but there's also rumours of Toure being out, if those two are out and we're serious about competing for top 4 home or away we have to win.

 

[Ramshock]

99% sure he will but there's also rumours of Toure being out, if those two are out and we're serious about competing for top 4 home or away we have to win.

If Yaya and Silva is out that helps us tremendously, saying thats those cnuts always play lights out against us

 

[Sufferin Succotash]

I am AMAZED at how many teams feature Fellaini. One and a half okay performances and suddenly he walks into everyone's first team. Madness.

 

[detinUnaM]

I am AMAZED at how many teams feature Fellaini. One and a half okay performances and suddenly he walks into everyone's first team. Madness.

Not just because of one and half decent performances. It is because of the quality of oppositon too and also our lack of a physical presence. I don't think anyone would choose Fellaini to start against lower table teams. They would rather Herrera or more creative talents.

 

[Manucho the boss]

Drone invasion if we're losing, could it work?

 

[Gerald G]

De Gea
Rafael--Smalling--Rojo--Shaw
Blind--Fellaini
Januzaj--Rooney--Di Maria
van Persie

subs: Lindegaard, Blackett, Carrick, Valencia, Herrera, Falcao, Wilson​

 

[Spark]

Looking forward to this game, but feel like City's shit run and their injuries are lulling us into a false sense of security. As long as we keep up the improvements, no sloppy passing and defending as a unit, we should be ok, but City have enough experience of battering us in the last couple seasons to make this too close to call. Either way, cannot wait till Sunday.

Drone invasion if we're losing, could it work?

What does Steven Gerrard say?

 

[Manucho the boss]

Looking forward to this game, but feel like City's shit run and their injuries are lulling us into a false sense of security. As long as we keep up the improvements, no sloppy passing and defending as a unit, we should be ok, but City have enough experience of battering us in the last couple seasons to make this too close to call. Either way, cannot wait till Sunday.



What does Steven Gerrard say?

Only have the back page I'm afraid.

 

[Sufferin Succotash]

Not just because of one and half decent performances. It is because of the quality of oppositon too and also our lack of a physical presence. I don't think anyone would choose Fellaini to start against lower table teams. They would rather Herrera or more creative talents.

People always talk about Fellaini's physical presence - and yes he is a big lad - but tell me exactly how he used his physical presence to our benefit against Chelsea. I've watched, rewatched and then rewatched again the game and he didn't exactly bully anybody.

So if he's not in there to physically dominate teams - I'm still to see him do that in a United shirt - then just what is he there to do?

 

[Red4Life_#7]

4-2-1-2-1

------------RVP------------
----Di Maria----Rooney----
-----------Herrera----------
-------Blind----Fellaini-----
Shaw--Rojo---Smalling--Rafael
----------De Gea---------------

Play narrow in the middle with Di Maria and Rooney centrally, but roaming to the wings when needed to support Shaw and Rafael.

Bring on Falaco after 70mins to keep our attack fresh. Also give Carrick game time, as well as Januzaj so we can keep counter-attacking with speed.

 

[MrMancunianRed]

If Yaya and Silva is out that helps us tremendously, saying thats those cnuts always play lights out against us

This is when we have Cleverly, Anderson,Fletcher and Carrick as mid. Now its a different ball game folks. In recent games with Manc shitty we are dominated in mid, now its not the case. We cannot get bullied with the current mid.

 

[Gerald G]

​

What does Steven Gerrard say?

His contract runs out in May and if Liverpool don't give him a new contract he'll look at other options and he won't be retiring

 

[Trizy]

His contract runs out in May and if Liverpool don't give him a new contract he'll look at other options and he won't be retiring

West Ham

 

[detinUnaM]

People always talk about Fellaini's physical presence - and yes he is a big lad - but tell me exactly how he used his physical presence to our benefit against Chelsea. I've watched, rewatched and then rewatched again the game and he didn't exactly bully anybody.

So if he's not in there to physically dominate teams - I'm still to see him do that in a United shirt - then just what is he there to do?

Physicality is not just in pushing people. For me the best way Fellaini uses his physicality is by not giving the ball away under pressure and also chesting down aerial balls from the defense which he did against WBA and chelsea. He did actually nullify fabregas in the chelsea match. Again, if we had a better option like a younger fletcher then we would have used that or a mythical creature like an on form anderson. But since we don't we will have to go with Fellaini.

 

[Trizy]

I am AMAZED at how many teams feature Fellaini. One and a half okay performances and suddenly he walks into everyone's first team. Madness.

He was arguably our best player against West Brom and Chelsea, if that doesn't deserve a starting spot I dunno what does, especially considering he was absolutely quality in both fixtures. He was a plan B against West Brom which worked and he was a tactical plan against Chelsea which worked perfectly (Eliminating Fabregas and bullying the midfield). City have size to their advantage in midfield and no better man to send to battle than Fellaini.

 

[Brightonian]

If Silva plays I'd definitely have Fellaini in the starting line-up, because Silva's such an obviously profitable player to man-mark and Fellaini showed against Chelsea that he can do that job. But if Silva's out, I'd probably go with Herrera instead.

Fellaini is good for two things: man-marking jobs, and offering an aerial threat in attack, particularly from set-pieces. What he isn't good at is being 'just another midfielder', dropped in there to try and make us harder to play through. That vague sort of job is what Moyes used him for all last season, and it was a disaster. He just doesn't have good enough basics for a normal midfield job.

And Silva's the only player City have worth man-marking. He's the one who they need to be on the ball all the time, the one who pulls the strings and makes them tick. Touré is a great player but his role doesn't require him to be on the ball all the time - he's perfectly happy not doing much for ten minutes before popping up with an explosive, game-changing contribution. There's no point man-marking players like that.

So yeah, Fellaini if Silva plays, Herrera if he doesn't.

EDIT: And he can always come off the bench as an impact sub if we need a plan B, as he did against West Brom.

 

[Ramshock]

This is when we have Cleverly, Anderson,Fletcher and Carrick as mid. Now its a different ball game folks. In recent games with Manc shitty we are dominated in mid, now its not the case. We cannot get bullied with the current mid.

I see what you are saying but our midfield isnt what you would call bedded in but yes we do have an upgrade in talent.