Manchester City 1:0 Manchester United

Sufferin Succotash · Oct 31, 2014

Trizy said:
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.

Watch the Chelsea game again. Where exactly did he bully their midfield?

If this was any other player then this performance would have gone unnoticed but the bar has been set so low for fellaini that suddenly this is a world class outing.

Sufferin Succotash · Oct 31, 2014

detinUnaM said:
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.

Not sure what games you have been watching mate but this isn't true. Fellaini under any sort of pressure with the ball at his feet either ends up with the ball going out of play or possession lost. Unless of course the ball is played to his chest. But that's a different ball game.

And all this talk about Fabregas being nullified. Please. How many tackles did he actually put in on him? All he really did was follow him around. Are we saying that Fellaini is the only player in our squad capable of running around after an opposition player?

SouthSide · Oct 31, 2014

712 said:
I like Smalling, I think he can handle Aguero.

Trizy · Oct 31, 2014

Sufferin Succotash said:
Watch the Chelsea game again. Where exactly did he bully their midfield?

If this was any other player then this performance would have gone unnoticed but the bar has been set so low for fellaini that suddenly this is a world class outing.

I'll watch that clip again but from what I remember he completely kept Fabregas out of the game, he was positioned well to stop the supply to Oscar (who was subbed) and he won the ball 2-3 times off Hazard by bullying him off the ball.

Smithy89 · Oct 31, 2014

Cesc had one of if not he's worst game of the season and never created a single chance i think, so props to fellaini and our midfiled on that one.

100 · Oct 31, 2014

DDG
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Blind Carrick
Herrera
Di Maria RvP Rooney

Dafydd · Oct 31, 2014

Good to see Juan Crapa not in people's starting eleven keep it that way.

Tarrou · Oct 31, 2014

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Shaw
Fellaini Mata Di Maria
Mata
Mata Mata

Dafydd · Oct 31, 2014

There's always one.

Sufferin Succotash · Oct 31, 2014

Smithy89 said:
Cesc had one of if not he's worst game of the season and never created a single chance i think, so props to fellaini and our midfiled on that one.

Thank you. It was a collective effort. Fellaini, Mata and Blind all really worked hard.

Everest Red · Oct 31, 2014

Smithy89 said:
Cesc had one of if not he's worst game of the season and never created a single chance i think, so props to fellaini and our midfiled on that one.

Had some 11 passes too.

Also: Read between the numbers. Fellaini, Mata, Blind, Januzaj an Di Maria collectively make up a midfield. They stifled Chelsea's midfield(and to be fair, were not very potent themselves, but still more threatening). Fellaini's performance was good not just individually but also as as a member of the midfield collective.

Smithy89 · Oct 31, 2014

Everest Red said:
Had some 11 passes too.

Also: Read between the numbers. Fellaini, Mata, Blind, Januzaj an Di Maria collectively make up a midfield. They stifled Chelsea's midfield(and to be fair, were not very potent themselves, but still more threatening). Fellaini's performance was good not just individually but also as as a member of the midfield collective.

Yeah was going to mention it was a collective effort from back to front really especially in the first half, chelsea as you'd expect been the best in the league came out much better in the 2nd but we stuck at it and got a deserved point.

Still think city at the etihad is a different animal, the likes of kompany will play out of their skins.

Tarrou · Oct 31, 2014

I hope we keep the same formation as the previous two games. We've looked to have a bit more control over the game in my opinion, despite the balls-up at West broim. Playing two strikers would leave us a bit light in midfield, and if I'm honest, I don't think any two together have looked that good yet.

Just swap Rooney for Mata and we're good. Fellaini has done nothing wrong and played well, and he's a huge asset defending and attacking set-pieces. City have some serious power in midfield too, so perhaps not the best game for Herrera to come back to.

Everest Red · Oct 31, 2014

Smithy89 said:
Yeah was going to mention it was a collective effort from back to front really especially in the first half, chelsea as you'd expect been the best in the league came out much better in the 2nd but we stuck at it and got a deserved point.

Still think city at the etihad is a different animal, the likes of kompany will play out of their skins.

They are, but they's missing Silva, whose is both important and unique. He's one of those guys who adds disproportionately to the sum portion of "the sum is greater than its parts."

He's superb at shifting the pace of the attack. He drags players around, carries the ball from deeper positions, links well with anyone, can deliver good final balls from both deeper positions and attacking third and so on. You get the drift, he has destroyed us before.

His absence will mean the defense won't have to face a player virtually free role, which should make planning defensive plans easier.

I'm not discounting City, they have a wealth of good attacking players, but Silva is easily the best, most important and unique one.

Toure is still a worry though.
I'm off to shower.

Brightonian · Oct 31, 2014

Dafydd said:
Good to see Juan Crapa not in people's starting eleven keep it that way.

God only knows why you're still in the newbies...

Winrar · Oct 31, 2014

Dafydd said:
Good to see Juan Crapa not in people's starting eleven keep it that way.

Nothing surprising about that as we don't have a player named Juan Crapa in our team.

Rudi j · Oct 31, 2014

Brightonian said:
God only knows why you're still in the newbies...

moses · Oct 31, 2014

Dafydd said:
There's always one.

There sure is.

Ole Gunner Scholes · Oct 31, 2014

PickledRed said:
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.

They are the champions - but they still raise their game up a few notches from their usual brilliant during the derbies. And it's nothing abnormal, it's the atmosphere & the crowd support behind their teams.

Ole Gunner Scholes · Oct 31, 2014

Sufferin Succotash said:
Not sure what games you have been watching mate but this isn't true. Fellaini under any sort of pressure with the ball at his feet either ends up with the ball going out of play or possession lost. Unless of course the ball is played to his chest. But that's a different ball game.

And all this talk about Fabregas being nullified. Please. How many tackles did he actually put in on him? All he really did was follow him around. Are we saying that Fellaini is the only player in our squad capable of running around after an opposition player?

I generally do not respond to the myopic posts like this. You are talking a loads of b**locks, Fabregas was able to complete only 5 passes in the first 25 mins & 11 passes in the first half. Fellaini stole the ball from him in the midfield on multiple ocassions & never allowed him the freedom to play those fantastic "Passes with great vision all game". He even stole ball from Matic in dangerous area more than once. Maybe your understanding of a tackle is, doing a full blooded slide to win the ball, which if does not go your way results in a booking or sending-off. Hell, even if you watched your video carefully, Fellaini was even involved in the run up to that goal, when he passed the ball to di Maria (resulting in Ivanovic sending off & eventual free kick). He was surrounded by 3-4 Chelsea players & I did not see the ball going out of play or possession lost. After that, he won the header, which eventually resulted in the goal. Fellaini was our best player on the pitch along with De Gea against Chelsea. We get it you don't like him, you are prejudiced but please don't try to impose your opinion on others , by being illogical when they don't agree with you.

Ole Gunner Scholes · Oct 31, 2014

Trizy said:
I'll watch that clip again but from what I remember he completely kept Fabregas out of the game, he was positioned well to stop the supply to Oscar (who was subbed) and he won the ball 2-3 times off Hazard by bullying him off the ball.

You are correct, but he won't agree with you. Don't bother!

Ole Gunner Scholes · Oct 31, 2014

Sufferin Succotash said:
Thank you. It was a collective effort. Fellaini, Mata and Blind all really worked hard.

Mata was not shadowing Fabregas, he worked hard & tried to shackle Matic but was bailed out by Fellaini on multiple ocassions. Di Maria tries his best but he is not good at tackling & winning the posession. Blind is not exactly a heavyweight either but he had other Chelsea midfielders to worry about too. Fellaini put in a great shift & showed unbelievable desire to surprise us all - give the guy some credit when it's due.

Listar · Oct 31, 2014

Sufferin Succotash said:
Not sure what games you have been watching mate but this isn't true. Fellaini under any sort of pressure with the ball at his feet either ends up with the ball going out of play or possession lost. Unless of course the ball is played to his chest. But that's a different ball game.

And all this talk about Fabregas being nullified. Please. How many tackles did he actually put in on him? All he really did was follow him around. Are we saying that Fellaini is the only player in our squad capable of running around after an opposition player?

I always thought as a fan, you are obliged to praise the player who had a great performance for your team, and hope he replicate the form going forward. Giving stick to a player that had a good game is usually done by rival fans?

Listar · Oct 31, 2014

Hmm, then again just joined last Sunday. Fishing for responses I see?

snk123 · Oct 31, 2014

Sufferin Succotash said:
Watch the Chelsea game again. Where exactly did he bully their midfield?

If this was any other player then this performance would have gone unnoticed but the bar has been set so low for fellaini that suddenly this is a world class outing.

I don't really like the Afroman but watching that clip emphasises the point that he was class - cool and calm under pressure and put key tackles in. Don't know what you're on about.

RedDevil@84 · Oct 31, 2014

I hope we attack well and it is not one of those days when Joe Hart is in God mode..

PickledRed · Oct 31, 2014

Ole Gunner Scholes said:
They are the champions - but they still raise their game up a few notches from their usual brilliant during the derbies. And it's nothing abnormal, it's the atmosphere & the crowd support behind their teams.

So, like any team in any derby then. If you don't raise it for a derby you're probably dead.

RedMachine03 · Oct 31, 2014

David Silva out of the match.

PvsNP · Oct 31, 2014

The pre-match presser is today, right?

Jacob · Oct 31, 2014

I love how things now have turned around. Fellaini is now a threat to the opposing goal and people are actually looking forward to see him play.

Ole Gunner Scholes · Oct 31, 2014

PickledRed said:
So, like any team in any derby then. If you don't raise it for a derby you're probably dead.

Nobody said others teams do not raise their game during derbies, u were the only one who did not seem to agree, when someone said city usually raise their game against us. Now u seem to agree with what was originally said, so let's move on!

Ole Gunner Scholes · Oct 31, 2014

DesiBD said:
The pre-match presser is today, right?

Yes - it should be held today!

PickledRed · Oct 31, 2014

Ole Gunner Scholes said:
Nobody said others teams do not raise their game during derbies, u were the only one who did not seem to agree, when someone said city usually raise their game against us. Now u seem to agree with what was originally said, so let's move on!

Err, no. I took objection to the notion that "City will raise their game as usual". This was a comment directed singularly at City and how they approach a game against United - as if the norm is that they don't perform well against other teams but because it's United they'll turn up.

My issue is that such an analysis doesn't fit with the champions of England who have done enough to not be accused of being the perennial game raisers other teams may be.

The debate then got sidetracked and skewed a tad when discussing the idea that derby matches will have an added zest that will likely cause all participants to up their performance but this is a distinct point to the one I was originally taking issue with.

lalloyd · Oct 31, 2014

had a pretty depressing dream last night that we went 1-0 up and held on until that **** Aguero scored a 97th minute pen.

Yorkeontop · Oct 31, 2014

We havent won a derby in the league since the 2010/2011 season(according to my math). Kind of due man!

thegregster · Oct 31, 2014

Yorkeontop said:
We havent won a derby in the league since the 2010/2011 season(according to my math). Kind of due man!

We won away in 2012/13. RVP last min winner.

Yorkeontop · Oct 31, 2014

thegregster said:
We won away in 2012/13. RVP last min winner.

Forgot that one!

doomy20 · Oct 31, 2014

SaintTresano said:
Isn't Falcao still injured?

Edit: that bolded part

Haha, bad wording :lol:

Is he? He was fit before the Chelsea game, got a little knock by a team mate in training and now is injured again for over a week? No good sign.

Manucho the boss · Oct 31, 2014

Despite having made our worst start to a Premier League season ever and no away wins, I'm strangely confident going in to this game.

Everything seems to be falling into place for us, a bit of confidence built from the late goals against West Brom and Chelsea, the majority of our injured players back, City suffering injury to Silva and Toure woefully out of form and leaking goals from everywhere.

I'm happy with Michael Oliver too, think he's one of the better refs for us.

finneh · Oct 31, 2014

lalloyd said:
had a pretty depressing dream last night that we went 1-0 up and held on until that **** Aguero scored a 97th minute pen.

Well that counters my incredibly vivid dream that Aguero put them 1-0 after 10 minutes, RVP then equalised and we went on to win the game 6-1 with Mata scoring 2 and assisting one after coming on in the second half.

FA Premier League

Manchester City 1:0 Manchester United

Etihad Stadium

Closed

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Full Member

binary bot

New Member

Full Member

New Member

New Member

Reddest ever

Full Member

Full Member

Reddest ever

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

Can't We Just Be Nice?

New Member

New Member

New Member

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

Poster of Articles

Full Member

Full Member

New Member

New Member

Full Member

Full Member

meonbottom

Harbinger of new information

meonbottom

Full Member

New Member

Full Member

Man of the Match

Runners-up

Player Ratings

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Score Predictions

Detailed Results

Match Stats

Referee

Man Utd Lineup

Substitutes