Like he did last season or?Navas will start out right for them and Blind will struggle with his pace, Rojo at LB for this
Also, Any word on Ashley Youngs fitness?
Who scores first wins?
I find this city side more shaky than the one that came to OT last season. More dangerous too. I think they will score first again, but as long as they don't blitz us like Arsenal did, I'm confident this game is ours to win.Who scores first wins?
We're going to sing the UEFA anthem and they boo it. Then we both cheer.Who can we boo with them? Rooney?
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Kolarov is back, I expect you'll see City in a 4-2-3-1:de Gea
Darmian Jones Smalling Blind
Carrick Schneiderlin
Mata Herrera Martial
Rooney
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Sterling Bony De Bruyne
Yaya Toure
Fernandinho Fernando
Sagna Mangala Kompany Zabaleta
Hart
That's what I'm expecting, but I'd quite like to see Fellaini start over Carrick so we can play the same sort of style as last season. That'll probably be the Plan B though, with Schneiderlin and Mata/Martial replaced by Fellaini and Young (if fit).
No Silva, Aguero and Kolarov (possibly even Kompany not risked but I doubt that one) gives us a big chance to pull another one over them. Wouldn't be too displeased with a draw dependent on how the game actually goes, but I think they have bigger players missing than we do. The trip back from Russia may take its toll though!
That was the away game last yearMCFC 1-0 MUFC
Same as last year.
Here's what I'd like to see, in my dreams:
De Gea*I've put Rooney as our LB, because he will obviously play, so I want him in a position where he will do least damage. In attack, he will prevent us from scoring/attacking, so keep him at the opposite end of the pitch.
Darmian Smalling Blind Rooney*
Bastian Schweinsteiger
Herrera
Mata Martial Memphis**
**I'd prefer A.Young, but as he is injured, Memphis will have to do.
IMO, this is our most attacking formation. And I like attacking football.
I forgot Rojo at LB, Memphis could still be benched.
Despite them being a complete squad they're leading by just 2 points in the table.
Their two beat players are out. Without Silva they have far less creativity. De Bruyne and Sterling are capable but nowhere near that level. Without Aguero who is going to finish their chances?
At times this season they have been dire and Silva/Aguero have torn teams apart on their own. This is the weakest City team we will have played in years.
De Bruyne, Sterling and Bony is a scary attack force, that's about £130m worth of players.
De Bruyne is a concern, he's clearly a very capable replacement for Silva.
Don't be daft ladPs I would also like to see Iheanacho start ahead of Bony.
Don't be daft lad
We've been saying for ages that Bony needs a run in the team to get the best out of him and now he's looking something like what we thought we were getting you want to bench him for a kid who's only made sub appearances in this of all games?
Nacho is a nice option to bring off the bench but not ready for this.
Yet.
Yaya so deep? Would be an incredible ballsy move. I just pray we play Schneiderlin to keep some legs against that pacey three behind the striker.Kolarov is back, I expect you'll see City in a 4-2-3-1:
Hart; Kolarov, Mangala, Kompany, Zabaleta; Toure, Fernandinho; Sterling, De Bruyne, Navas; Bony.
Does your screen not display wink emoticons? Just messing with you but apologies if you took offence.I'm not a lad and I'm far from daft. Bony lacks mobility which will suit United down to the ground.
Iheanacho has the mobility and innate confidence that Bony lacks. I want City to win but unfortunately I think the team Pellegrini will send out is likely to struggle against a limited but well organised Utd side.
Iheanacho could make a big difference but sadly he's unlikely to get the chance.
I respect your right to disagree with me but please cut out the condescension.
As a City fan I think it all comes down to how Pellegrini sets up the team.
In my opinion even without Aguero and Silva we have the better players. Of course many of you will disagree.
But if Pellegrini persists with his unbalanced attacking formation I think the chances are United will win.
If however Pellegrini adopts a more balanced pragmatic approach then the day will belong to City.
Sadly for us Pellegrini seems hellbent on attack above all else and so I think we will lose :-(
Ps I would also like to see Iheanacho start ahead of Bony.
As a City fan I think it all comes down to how Pellegrini sets up the team.
In my opinion even without Aguero and Silva we have the better players. Of course many of you will disagree.
But if Pellegrini persists with his unbalanced attacking formation I think the chances are United will win.
If however Pellegrini adopts a more balanced pragmatic approach then the day will belong to City.
Sadly for us Pellegrini seems hellbent on attack above all else and so I think we will lose :-(
Ps I would also like to see Iheanacho start ahead of Bony.
Mark Clattenburg