[Gambit]

I expect us to score 5.

 

[daveoliver91]

Can't wait for this, bring this on!
And let's not forget on Wednesday we have another important PL game against Bournemouth..

Going for the below line-up:

----David----
Lindelof ----- Smalling ----- Rojo
Valencia - Herrera - Matic - Young
Lingard
Lukaku ----- Martial

 

[BAMSOLA]

Feck City coming to our backyard and having 75%+ possession.

They did pretty much that to Chelsea this season so we just might have to be patient with this one and it bodes well that we've been counter attacking well recently.

 

[Big Andy]

Just fecking win...by hook, or by crook...

 

[Emptihead]

The Times came up with their combined 11s and I can't believe how bad they are https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/our-writers-pick-their-combined-city-united-xis-jcb0smt6m
Matt Dickinson had the only one I found somewhat reasonable.
Paul Hirst's was okay I guess, though I question starting Jesus on the left and Rashford as the striker in a front three. Better then the others though, they were dreadful.
Oliver decided to start Shaw, because he hasn't proven that he can't play. I mean he has just played one game all season right? Where as Young and Delph have both been having a great season?
Henry decided to go with a 4-2-3-1 with the two being Matic and Fernandinho and slots DeBruyne out to the wing. Fernandinho does do well when he has more freedom to go forward so I guess it isn't the worst setup, but think it is a much better team only playing one of the two and playing a natural winger on the right, maybe he didn't want to make that tough decision.
And then there is Alyson Rudd who decided to go with a 4-4-2 playing Silva and Debruyne as the two in midfield. I mean that midfield would get completely overrun. Guess she did it so Ibramovich and Aguero can start, but it completely unbalanced the side. She did have the kind of clever idea of playing Young with Delph as the winger on the same side so they could switch at will. Clever, but don't think it would work as well as she thinks it would.

Edit forgot to mention how Henry and Rudd decided to put Kompany in it. It is sad for me to say it, but since coming back he has looked to have lost a yard. Doesn't seam to be able to turn as quickly looks to be half the defender he used to when he was dominating. Still decent just nowhere near as good as he used to be and cannot see him getting into the squad. Seems like these Journos may just be going with reputation.

 

[ice-bionic red]

Quietly confident that we can win. Even without Pogba. A 100% focused Jose team can beat anyone in 90mins. A big performance like against chelase at home last season and we can get this upset. Title race still on

 

[Lowkey]

Remember Jose saying something like we play one way with Pogba and one way without Pogba. Without Pogba it will literally be park the bus and pray. Our midfield is trash without Pogba so i just can't see this one going well. I really hope im wrong but just being realistic

 

[Android1974]

Rashford looks scary, his body position when he has the ball reminds me of a certain Cristiano Ronaldo during his days for us at United. There is no way Mou can drop Martial and Rashford for the game against City.

So, should he drop Lukaku and Lingard?

 

[Android1974]

Arsenal had 33 at the weekend. 35 seems more than likely.

At home, Arsenal had those shots at home. Let's see how many they have playing in OT. Besides, that was mostly due to our 2-nil advantage so early in the game.

 

[AXVnee7]

I think both teams will be really nervous at the beginning. We should get a couple of physical challenges in early but I expect both teams will eventually settle with City having the ball and United setting up to counter. It's going to be very difficult, but we if be really clinical like in the Arsenal game then we have a great chance of winning.

 

[Android1974]

At OT, Mourinho won't be allowed to worry only about the result, and I think he would be pretty satisfied with a draw now. Without Pogba, I very much doubt he believes the team can honestly challenge City head on. But will United fans accept a game like Arsenal's that ends with a draw? Remember he tried the same tactics of pushing up and scoring earlier with Chelsea (a much more defensive team than both Arsenal and City, it's true), Guardiola will be more than prepared for it.

 

[Lennon7]

At OT, Mourinho won't be allowed to worry only about the result, and I think he would be pretty satisfied with a draw now. Without Pogba, I very much doubt he believes the team can honestly challenge City head on. But will United fans accept a game like Arsenal's that ends with a draw?

Completely had this mindset until I saw them struggle against West Ham as well as somehow manage to scrape 90+ min wins.

They have their weaknesses, and I’m sure Mourinho is the one to exploit them. No way will we play for a draw at home.

 

[Android1974]

Completely had this mindset until I saw them struggle against West Ham as well as somehow manage to scrape 90+ min wins.

They have their weaknesses, and I’m sure Mourinho is the one to exploit them. No way will we play for a draw at home.

West Ham had two players average position slightly in City's half, while City had the same two on their own half. Is this the way you want us to make them struggle? Isn't this going for a draw?

 

[Android1974]

I feel the thing about City is the way they simultaneously play with width, with Sterling and Sané very wide, and still have two or three midfielders in front of the box. How is our 3-4-1-2 going to deal with this? I suspect Mourinho is going to try something risky and different, like a weird 4-4-2, although he might be tempted to keep with what's been working for us lately.

 

[KirkDuyt]

Don't give a rat's arse how, but United need to win this. An offside goal after committing seven consecutive fouls and throwing the ball into the net in the 98th minute whilst the ref was only supposed to add on three minutes. I'll take it.

 

[KirkDuyt]

At OT, Mourinho won't be allowed to worry only about the result, and I think he would be pretty satisfied with a draw now. Without Pogba, I very much doubt he believes the team can honestly challenge City head on. But will United fans accept a game like Arsenal's that ends with a draw? Remember he tried the same tactics of pushing up and scoring earlier with Chelsea (a much more defensive team than both Arsenal and City, it's true), Guardiola will be more than prepared for it.

But if he gets a result I doubt anyone will fault him for the way he gets it. City is the collective second coming of Christ according to mostly everyone. Surely Mou's squad of lowely mortals will be praised regardless of the way they get a result.

 

[Todd]

Not gonna wish injury on a player, so instead I'll say that I hope KDB gets sent off in the opening minutes.

 

[horsechoker]

Not gonna wish injury on a player, so instead I'll say that I hope KDB gets sent off in the opening minutes.

I'll wish the flu on him then.

 

[whatwha]

Michael fecking Oliver...
He'll make at least one terrible decision, I expect.

 

[The Brown Bull]

Is the the biggest derby ever?

 

[Lennon7]

West Ham had two players average position slightly in City's half, while City had the same two on their own half. Is this the way you want us to make them struggle? Isn't this going for a draw?

I never said I want to see us play like West Ham?! I’m just saying it’s encouraging for United (arguably the second best team in the league) that West Ham (arguably the worst team in the league) can nearly hold City at the Etihad.

 

[Jacko21]

I feel the thing about City is the way they simultaneously play with width, with Sterling and Sané very wide, and still have two or three midfielders in front of the box. How is our 3-4-1-2 going to deal with this? I suspect Mourinho is going to try something risky and different, like a weird 4-4-2, although he might be tempted to keep with what's been working for us lately.

Yeah, I don't know if Mourinho would have been planning on playing a back three in this game, but our performances against Watford and Arsenal might have changed his mind. Either by accident or design we seemed to hit on something.

 

[Lennon7]

Is the the biggest derby ever?

Ey? Not even the biggest Manchester derby ever. April 2012 rings a bell.

 

[breakout67]

West Ham did well against City for two reasons:

1. City did not play a full strength side
2. City got complacent

We are playing City at a good time, where they are no longer steam rolling teams and have to rely on individual quality to win games instead of their system.

 

[Rajma]

Win this game and see how City responds in the subsequent games, the pressure on them is going to be of a completely different magnitude following this loss.

 

[Jacko21]

Part of me wonders whether Zlatan's passing and vision might be just enough to offset the fact that we'd have one less runner. If we can get Matic to find Zlatan and let him release a pass to the front three, that might give us the edge on the counter.

Effectively that'd be Zlatan's sole responsibility, aside from set pieces. He wouldn't be asked to chase back, just to be in space when Herrera or Matic pickup the ball from the defence.

Would be a gamble, but my biggest concern is we're going to have nobody to stitch the midfield and attack together and be blunt on the break.

But hey, this is what Mourinho is paid the big bucks for.

 

[RedDevil@84]

It is at home.. Our team is good enough.. There is no reason to expect anything but a win, unless the referee makes himself the news of the day or a freak deflected goal or something.

Let's goooooooooooooooooooooo for it

 

[Catt]

Come on United and put my prediction to shame. Pogba is a huge loss.

 

[Catt]

I'll wish the flu on him then.

Restless legs.

It's very uncomfortable according to my grandma.

 

[Infra-red]

At home, Arsenal had those shots at home. Let's see how many they have playing in OT. Besides, that was mostly due to our 2-nil advantage so early in the game.

I fancy us to nick an early goal. And then batten down the hatches for 70+ minutes.

 

[Yagami]

Let's win!

The good thing is most of our attackers are in form. Lukaku, Lingard, Martial, Rashford and Mata are all coming off good games.

 

[ants7]

I think that if there will be no further injuries and players decide to turn up and stay focused, we definitely have a chance. It's just one of these games were you need to have that little bit of extra of everything. But I think that our squad is well capable of beating them. There shouldn't be any additional motivation needed as it's easily our biggest game of the season so far. If they can't turn up for this game, we have no business in competing at the top anyway.

I'm going with the early positive feeling and go for 3-1 win.

 

[kthanksbye]

Not at all confident about winning this one without Pogba, none of the other attacking players in our squad are good enough to manufacture something from nothing.
We should be trying not to concede, and maybe try to hit them on the counter.

Same team that played against Arsenal, Herrera for Pogba.

 

[CM]

I'm feeling weirdly confident about this. I think it's the combination of the Arsenal win, the 40 game unbeaten run at home and Mourinho generally seeming really up for it. Even without Pogba I don't feel like we'll lose but I imagine that confidence will dissipate at some point between now and Sunday.

 

[King.of.Red]

I'm sure we can win against city. and hopefully we can watch thriller game again like last week. one of exciting and unforgettable Man United matches for me...

 

[SirAF]

I'm feeling weirdly confident about this. I think it's the combination of the Arsenal win, the 40 game unbeaten run at home and Mourinho generally seeming really up for it. Even without Pogba I don't feel like we'll lose but I imagine that confidence will dissipate at some point between now and Sunday.

It certainly has that feeling - like before the home match against Arsenal in 2002/03.

 

[Janson]

Who voted 5-0 and 4-0 for City?

 

[Treble]

I've read somewhere that if you take only the results from the first halfs this season we are top of the league ahead of City. For some reason we tend to be better in the first half and the strong beginning vs Arsenal was very important. In contrast, City's tactics aims at tiring the opposition and finishing games strongly. Thus it would be great to score first and counter attack them. Generally, they have been quite good in the second half.

 

[The No.10!]

I think Ander might hold the key to tracking the midfield runs from Silva and KdB into the box, especially when they play those over the top of the defense dinked balls, the ones in the mould of Silva's winner against WHU. It's crucial that we take care of those passes, as I feel such similar play releases Sterling and Sane as well to play it across, or finish them themselves.

Also, to stop these passes in the first place might be handed over to Ander's shoulders as well.

 

[TrueRed79]

Our record at home is absolutely fantastic. Why are people so afraid of City? They are not in great form at the moment, but of course a derby means that form can go out the window. This will be a very tense/tight affair and i fully expect us to come out on top. We will press in our own half and work the fullbacks all day. City cannot properly defend set-pieces. We will look to take advantage of that. 2-1 to us.