The United Irishman
"Martial is championship material at best"
We have only conceded more than 1 goal once in 2015 (Swansea away), I believe as long as we score at least 2 then we will bag all 3 points.
Actually Swansea was the only time since the 2-2 draw at West Brom in October and it has happened only four times this season in the League (2xSwansea, Leicester and West Brom).We have only conceded more than 1 goal once in 2015 (Swansea away), I believe as long as we score at least 2 then we will bag all 3 points.
Still not confident. City could be on the end of a drubbing from Luton and i'd still fancy them to be up for this. If we win though, it will be our biggest achievement this season. It may please City fans to read this, but this is basically our cup final this season. If we get 2nd, that will eclipse anything i expected at the beginning of the season. For LvG, 4th was the aim. Still is. But to do so whilst finishing above the champions and in fantastic form both in terms of results and style of football? I think he'll have exceeded himself.
I can understand why some of us are still pretty cautious but honestly City could show up and be shit on Sunday.
Should we fear city? in a way yes, because we have only started to get our shit together for the past 3 games, and 3 games do not make us conquerors. While city have been there done it for the past few years. But lets not forget city struggle against teams who are good at keeping possession, and they play a 4 man midfield, we do not and we will have the numbers in midfield, unless they change things around. It would not surprise me if toure and aguero have storming games causing us problems, but let us not underestimate this style of play VG is putting together is something city do not like playing aganst. City remind me of united back in 09, we did not like playing possession teams during the final year of ronaldo's stay here, and the final few years of fergie's reign. And these clever little players used to run rings around us, I think it applies to city at the minute, they do not like these technical players like herrera and mata playing triangles, and keeping possession because toure and aguero are going to see very little of the ball, starving them of the ball. You factor the brains of the team carrick, fellaini loves these games and if we get our shit together we could give them a few problems. A factor of carrick herrera mata fellaini rooney, with either di maria or young is a midfield that could swarm city's 4 man midfield, because rooney will get involved in the midfield. I think they have to play a 5 man midfield or they will see very little of the ball, and it could be a long day for them
Don't get me wrong, i think we stand the best chance we have for a few derbies. But it wouldn't surprise me one bit if City make us look very ordinary and bully us out of the game.
In their 4 man midfield? unless they change the system they going to see very little of the ball. Like I say they hate possession teams, and we were better than them with 10 men. Too long have many fans think every top team will make us ordinary, and we have actually dominated these big games, not got lucky we have looked like a real danger. Our problem against city? we have kept getting red cards, that is been one of the big problems with united against city. And city have not face a real united team in a while now, the closest was this season, and we could have got a draw, but we got one man sent off. Lets see if we can keep 11 men on the field first, and I think VG's whole mentality is dominating that football match through periods of possession
We could have got a draw, we could also have conceded 3 penalties and been out of sight by half time. I was impressed by the effort we showed in the reverse fixture, but i feel our supposed dominance over them that day was overrated.
If we can keep 11 men on the pitch then we have as good a chance as ever, of course.
Let us not forget back then, this club was in a reconstruction phase. I call our fall from grace under Moyes after fergie retired, basically stark house after the red wedding. fergie retired, Moyes disastrous stint has manager, his sacking, Giggs temp taking over, VG taking over in July, we were a broken club. Going into the city game under a complete new guidance, new players. We are talking about a club starting at ground zero, against an established order in city. So looking back, it was one hell of an effort by the players. And I look at us now, we are looking in very good shape not seen in a few years, with an identity. And for too long under VG, this team was lacking that identity to hang with the big boys. What was our identity? But the biggest pleasing thing is? going to grounds like anfield, and not just scrapping a 2 -1 win, but looking like a united team playing to a level at anfield that has not been done in a long time, no luck, not getting dominated, but dominating them in such a overwhelming fashion, it was men against boys at times. To go to anfield and out football liverpool at anfield, is something that is pretty damn scary.
Again, don't want to get ahead of the game here. As poor as City have been recently i don't think we can compare a toothless Liverpool side to them. Not trying to belittle the win at Anfield, it was a brilliant performance and we've shown real progress. I just don't think we're far enough down the line to think City at home is a forgone conclusion. Another Swansea may well be just round the corner.
I think too many will continue to underestimate united, let us not forget macca predicted a 3-0 win for toothless liverpool
Yes but he's a fool. I wasn't as apprehensive about Liverpool considering they cashed in on their only world class player and they're other 2 players of note were just coming back from injury and having a 6 month dip in form. If Aguero had been going through a barren spell i'd be more confident, but even then they have the players to hurt us. If we thump them 3-0 on sunday i'll gladly bump this and hold my hands up. But i think it's too premature to say 'we got this'.
If I am wrong sunday, so be it. I am just happy we are going into these big games, with the coach players and identity to hang with the big boys, no longer the laughing stock.
For sure. It's nice having a fighting chance again. I feel these days that if we lose it will be in a closely fought game, with only a minor thing making the difference. Last season turning up at Old Trafford and expecting to have our asses handed to us against the likes of Liverpool and City, and not being the faintest bit surprised when we lost 3-0 in each was gutting. Glad we're putting those days behind us.
While I agree it's far from guaranteed, city really has been awful this year. That liverpool side, who we made toothless, beat city and were by far the better team in that game. City are 11th in the league in 2015 I think, and many players are old and past it. Of course aguero and silva are world class players and you have to worry about them, and toure has it in him to score out of nothing, but other then that? A very average side all around with very little motivation, low on morale, and a manager just waiting for the sack.Again, don't want to get ahead of the game here. As poor as City have been recently i don't think we can compare a toothless Liverpool side to them. Not trying to belittle the win at Anfield, it was a brilliant performance and we've shown real progress. I just don't think we're far enough down the line to think City at home is a forgone conclusion. Another Swansea may well be just round the corner.
Mark Clattenburg