Man City game. A potential turning point…

Chumpsbechumps

Full Member
Joined
Aug 12, 2018
Messages
3,421
I know there Will be a match thread and much discussed on it but the overly unrealistic optimistic part of me can’t help but feel a sliver of hope for this game.

Based on from this season, Id say there’s a 95% plus chance of United not winning this game. There’s a slightly lessor percentage chance of them not losing and theres a greater then 60% chance that we will get hammered.

However, as bad as United have been, there has been moments of quality (ironically in the games against stronger opposition) that hint of green shoots if we can just get through this rough patch and play ourselves to form.

Our forward line has yet to show up this season and yet if, by some remarkable turn of events, we somehow beat city at weekend we are only 3 points behind them. Unlikely as it is, it would kind of insane.

I mean, if we can actually use the last gasp drama against Copenhagen as a springboard, we really could turn things around. There are examples in the past where these sort of events can have a massive influence in driving a team on (and the opposite with bad moments).

I know the mark robbins goal saving Fergie job and sheff weds game in 1993 (that basically setup Fergusons successful reign) are unique moments in uniteds history but they do happen.
 
tirninh, tirninh they’ve all got a tirninh
 
Genuinely think we could win if play Pulis football, otherwise a comfortable loss.
 
We play at home, have most of the squad available and just had a confidence boost. There is no need to get the expected trashing BUT it all depends on whether the players will play up to their potential. City players will, so will Rashford too or will he put in another 2/10 performance? Will Bruno orchestre the game, splunging out awesome passes or will he get invisible again? Will Onana be a safe haven or make game changing mistakes again? Will Hojlund convert the 1-3 chances he gets? All of those individual performances will decide whether we use this potential turning point
 
We can win this. We won't, but we can. But we won't.
 
Scenes when we're down 4-0 after 35 minutes.
 
Strangely, I'm feeling pretty optimistic about winning this.

Just like a gambler feeling lucky when going to casino.
 
I thought a win at Brentford was a turning point.

Or how many turning we are going to have this season?
 
Win, lose or draw..one thing for certain is that we might win, lose or draw.
 
I don't think we have a hope. Not so much because City are playing great, but simply because we are that disjointed and appear to look like 11 strangers on the pitch.

It's one of those where you'd take a respectable 1-0 loss just to get past it, but I do fear for us. Copenhagen could've put us away the other night, and with Bruno and Rashford so badly out of form I just don't think we have enough to score.
 
Maguire to boss Haaland and then score a last minute winner, probably.
 
If we get beat then it's all about the manner in which we lose, we still have players that absolutely capitulate when things go wrong, this is my worry. We could pick up points, but the best outcome here would be a good performance for 90mins, that could be a real turning point.
 
RaddyRed said:
Maguire to boss Haaland and then score a last minute winner, probably.
Click to expand...
That would be fantastic. Particularly if it was a game where city hit the post, had goals dissalowed and then a 95th minute corner to United hits Maguires head as hes facing the wrong way and deflects off a city player into the net...
 
It's all about momentum. I keep thinking these last-minute wins might give us some, but they haven't yet. A win on Sunday would be just the trick. You never know.
 
neon_badger said:
If we get beat then it's all about the manner in which we lose, we still have players that absolutely capitulate when things go wrong, this is my worry. We could pick up points, but the best outcome here would be a good performance for 90mins, that could be a real turning point.
Click to expand...

I actually think this has to be the motivation for sunday. We really have a chance to draw a line under the last few weeks and pull ourselves out of this.

I think confidence, not coaching, has been our massive issue. Maybe there is a bit of players feeling sorry for themselves as I do think that we are having one of those "absolutely everything that can go wrong is going wrong" kind of seasons.

I really do think that because of everything going on, the margins of error for ETH are non existant. Another manager could discard a Sancho/Anthony/Greenwood or rotate players (with a fit or stronger squad) or bring in strong alternatives for players out of form, but we dont have that luxury and its impacting us more then it should. Klopp and Pep can use "we had so many games last season so our team is exhausted" excuses when they start lowering standards, its fair that last season was punishing for our squad more then most, its unfair that people dont factor this in.

A managers job is to obviously manage the squad he has, he cant keep hiding behind injuries or other problems, but honestly I cant remember a season where so much sh*t had gone wrong on and off the pitch. I know Onana saved us against Copehnagen but it was a very soft peno and it feels like theres been alot of massive incidents in games where we are on the wrong end moreoften then not.

I feel if we can get a break against City, it could help lift everything and the poor football (that to me is from players lacking confidence) will fix itself as our forward line finds its feet.

This is what footballs about. How quickly you can go from despair to ecstacy and back to despair.

If by Christmas we have scraped into CL knockouts and are there or thereabouts the top 4, I really do feel the second part of the season can be fun. We just need to keep our heads until we can get the form going.
 
Chumpsbechumps said:
That would be fantastic. Particularly if it was a game where city hit the post, had goals dissalowed and then a 95th minute corner to United hits Maguires head as hes facing the wrong way and deflects off a city player into the net...
Click to expand...

A corner that replays reveal should have been a goal kick.
 
tomaldinho1 said:
Genuinely think we could win if play Pulis football, otherwise a comfortable loss.
Click to expand...

Man. City played a very conservative game at Arsenal so not sure it's going to be even an end to end game for you to get space to run at them. I know Rashford's been way off it this season but Arsenal game showed he can still score a quality goal if he has space to run into.

Think Man. City will just strangle you to death with their passing and wait for the inevitable gaps to open up around the penalty area.

I'm a big fan of Eriksen and his quick pass set up Rashford for that Arsenal goal I mentioned but he really struggled to get near Man. City in the cup final so ETH has some interesting selections to make given more players are getting fit.

I actually think if Casemiro is available then you play him and Amrabat as the low block pivot infront of the backline and actually bring in Mount to play as pressing midfielder. Stick Fernandes out wide. It's not ideal but just play your usual team and I'd expect Man. City to score at least three times.
 
MaT23 said:
I thought a win at Brentford was a turning point.

Or how many turning we are going to have this season?
Click to expand...
Oranges038 said:
Every game is a turning point, that's why we're always going round in circles.
Click to expand...

I think this is a very fair question, I guess I really believe that when you look at the history of events in football, one moment can change a legacy/season. Our momentum to date has been so fraught with negativity , danger, setbacks and drama that it just feels like the same cycle of previous managers.

What gives me hope is that I dont feel the manager is losing the head, the support of the owners/squad. Hes gridning out wins when we are playing quite bad, it just feels like if he can get players back fit , it would stand to reason that we would start playing better and winning far more games and building momentun.

I mean I cant wait to see Hoijland in a functional forward line. He is some player, reminds me of Ruud in some ways.
 
FootballHQ said:
Man. City played a very conservative game at Arsenal so not sure it's going to be even an end to end game for you to get space to run at them. I know Rashford's been way off it this season but Arsenal game showed he can still score a quality goal if he has space to run into.

Think Man. City will just strangle you to death with their passing and wait for the inevitable gaps to open up around the penalty area.

I'm a big fan of Eriksen and his quick pass set up Rashford for that Arsenal goal I mentioned but he really struggled to get near Man. City in the cup final so ETH has some interesting selections to make given more players are getting fit.

I actually think if Casemiro is available then you play him and Amrabat as the low block pivot infront of the backline and actually bring in Mount to play as pressing midfielder. Stick Fernandes out wide. It's not ideal but just play your usual team and I'd expect Man. City to score at least three times.
Click to expand...
Rodri was out though.

I do think you can keep the ball versus this City team if you pack the midfield, I’d put Mount LW and Antony RW which is a defensively sound pair who can draw fouls/keep the ball well whilst not really having much goal threat. Case/Amrabat/Mebrij as a three with Mebrij the more advanced and then Hojlund up top.
 
Ten Hag has shown over the last two derbies that he set up to keep Halaand quiet. It’s just if he can do that with this back 4.
We don’t seem to get caught in Citys possession real since the first half of his first derby but I wilder say turning point when we’ve won 5 out of the last 7. It can really kick us on though. Citys away record v big teams is just as bad as ours so that plays a massive factor
 
FootballHQ said:
Man. City played a very conservative game at Arsenal so not sure it's going to be even an end to end game for you to get space to run at them. I know Rashford's been way off it this season but Arsenal game showed he can still score a quality goal if he has space to run into.

Think Man. City will just strangle you to death with their passing and wait for the inevitable gaps to open up around the penalty area.

I'm a big fan of Eriksen and his quick pass set up Rashford for that Arsenal goal I mentioned but he really struggled to get near Man. City in the cup final so ETH has some interesting selections to make given more players are getting fit.

I actually think if Casemiro is available then you play him and Amrabat as the low block pivot infront of the backline and actually bring in Mount to play as pressing midfielder. Stick Fernandes out wide. It's not ideal but just play your usual team and I'd expect Man. City to score at least three times.
Click to expand...
Citys away record is just as bad as ours which you would happily highlight if the shoe was on the other foot.
I love your pretence of impartiality when it comes to United
 
cyberman said:
Citys away record is just as bad as ours which you would happily highlight if the shoe was on the other foot.
I love your pretence of impartiality when it comes to United
Click to expand...

Pretence at impartiality?
I agree to the degree that city’s away record is presently at a very low ebb. . I think that they’re shaky right now and that your home advantage could well tip the balance but, having said that, I must mention that you’re unusually feisty today Mr C, he wasn’t having a pop at anyone, just describing the view from his midlands perspective.
And anyhow, when have subjective opinions ever been impartial . . everyone has an opinion and if there weren’t any nuances between them then there’d be no point in posting them and we could all form a huge monk’s circle.

Would I be right to guess that you’re a monk’s circle kinda guy? ;-)
 
The idea of being three points behind them if we win is bonkers, it would almost undermine my faith in the league table.
 
If every match is a turning point at some stage we will just end up where we started
 
I have lost count how many "turning points", "new dawns", and "next chapters" this club has gone through over the past decade.
 
BobFromParva said:
Pretence at impartiality?
I agree to the degree that city’s away record is presently at a very low ebb. . I think that they’re shaky right now and that your home advantage could well tip the balance but, having said that, I must mention that you’re unusually feisty today Mr C, he wasn’t having a pop at anyone, just describing the view from his midlands perspective.
And anyhow, when have subjective opinions ever been impartial . . everyone has an opinion and if there weren’t any nuances between them then there’d be no point in posting them and we could all form a huge monk’s circle.

Would I be right to guess that you’re a monk’s circle kinda guy? ;-)
Click to expand...
Nah, I’ve noticed it for a while now. It’s always taking the understandable opposite view and is part of the reason why I engaged with them a few days ago. There’s a Chelsea fan who does the exact same thing where they constantly back the ref over any bad decisions we get.
I spent two days in a discussion with them where they brought up old United results, our away form v big teams, our away record by only winning by the odd goal in general etc. They gave it away by trying to back up what they wanted to happen with facts and figures that simply wasn’t true.
notice how none of that is brought up and it’s City will strangle us, 3-0 when City haven’t strangled a game v a top team in 18 months now. Not a mention of our great home form over the last 12 months.
3-0. We went away to Bayern and lost 4-3, was half an inch away from beating Arsenal at the Emirates and was robbed away to the best team in the league this year.
3-0.
we may lose and it wouldn’t be a big shock to do so but I’m starting to call this out. It feels I’m going crazy reading some posts lately
Edit I honestly feel this is the poorest both teams have come into a Manchester derby for years now, ever since that 0-0 we had at OT during the pandemic.
 
The momentum and the late victories mean there will be belief in this team.

Ten Hag's tactics need to be spot on and we must play counter-attacking football from the first minute. City are never there for the taking so there's no point of ten headless chickens chasing shadows.
 
If ETH cannot have the balls to do the necessary it will just be another pasting and nothing he has done in the past few weeks has given me any indication that he has it. ManCity will decimate us because he will instist on playing his suicidal midfield setup with inappropriate personal and he will still start Rashford on the left.
 
Chumpsbechumps said:
I think this is a very fair question, I guess I really believe that when you look at the history of events in football, one moment can change a legacy/season. Our momentum to date has been so fraught with negativity , danger, setbacks and drama that it just feels like the same cycle of previous managers.

What gives me hope is that I dont feel the manager is losing the head, the support of the owners/squad. Hes gridning out wins when we are playing quite bad, it just feels like if he can get players back fit , it would stand to reason that we would start playing better and winning far more games and building momentun.

I mean I cant wait to see Hoijland in a functional forward line. He is some player, reminds me of Ruud in some ways.
Click to expand...

Yeah, grinding out wins is fine. But the overall play is slow, static and lacking any kind of creativity from the wings. That might be a personnel issue. I think he's badly missing Martinez playing through the lines from the back and a proper left back.

I like Hojlund I think he's showing great promise, but he can make runs into the box but he's not getting a decent ball in or a cross from these wingers. Not one of them can cross a decent ball in and they don't make the runs to supply cutbacks. He's going to continue to feed off scraps until that's sorted.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.