Manchester United 1:2 Manchester City

Von Mistelroum · Dec 8, 2017

I'd go with:

De Gea - Romero
Darmian - Smalling - Lindelof - Rojo - Blind - Shaw
Valencia------------Matic------------Young

Go for the draw. Smalling can also drop back as a sweeper/emergency third keeper as needed. Wait though, can we have everyone standing the goalmouth on each other's shoulders? If so we should do that! I should have been a manager....what a waste of talent

Broad Street Bullies · Dec 8, 2017

I have to say that although I'm not surprised, it's getting ridiculous reading all the brown nosing media going "How will United beat City", How to stop City" etc. You'd think it's the first time ever we've played a good team before, and if you didn't already know you'd think we were QPR! But hey, all the sweater when we get the win on Sunday.

A word of caution though: I fear in The Law of Selective Gravity—a cousin of one of Murphy's Laws—which postulates that “An object (In most cases Aguero) will fall so far as to do the most damage.”

SkeppyRed · Dec 8, 2017

Without Pogba we’re not going to able to hold on to the ball on the rare occasion we do get it.

Expect long periods of us being penned in unable to get out or even break.

VanGaalEra · Dec 8, 2017

RUUD_10_LEGEND said:
This is becoming a real threat looking at the forecasts. Didn't a Manchester Derby suffer the same fate just a few years ago?

Think it was the game below.

OnlyTwoDaSilvas said:
Chelsea did this to us some years ago. They were in garbage form going in to that game and we were due to play them at Stamford Bridge in the midst of it in December time. It got postponed for many weeks due to the ice around the ground. We didn't play that fixture until March, I'm sure it was. I think they beat us too. David Luiz scored, who they signed in January. He wouldn't have been playing for them in December. FIX!

If the snow's not heavy enough, a fake bomb in the bogs will do it.

Remember that well, that game could have easily been played. Still, all is well that ends well, we still won the league.

OnlyTwoDaSilvas · Dec 8, 2017

VanGaalEra said:
Remember that well, that game could have easily been played. Still, all is well that ends well, we still won the league.

True. And we settled the score a few weeks later to just about secure the league, scoring in the first minute, and David Luiz, of all people, had a total stinker. Hooked at half time too IIRC.

I remember being totally annoyed that we didn't get to stuff them at their place whilst they were in rotten form though.

charlenefan · Dec 8, 2017

SaintTresano said:
Not that I necessarily disagree but why do you think so?

If we play 3 at the back I can see this happening

Valencia--Lindelof--Smalling--Rojo--Young
Sane----------Aguero/Jesus-------Sterling
----------Herrera-------Matic----------
--------De Bruyne------Silva--------
----------------Lingard----------------
--------------Fernandinho--------------
----------Lukaku-------Martial-------
Delph---Otamendi---Kompany---Walker

Essentially (as the above might not make sense) we'll end up defending with 5 at the back with 2 spare centre backs, overrun in midfield (unless we spring a surprise and Fellaini plays instead of Lingard) with Lukaku and Martial isolated up front against their entire back 4

Match them up though and it should look more like this

Valencia--Smalling--Rojo--Young
Sane----------Aguero----Sterling
----------Herrera--Matic----------
--------De Bruyne--Silva--------
---------------Lingard---------------
-------------Fernandinho-------------
Rashford-------Lukaku-------Martial
Delph--Otamendi--Kompany--Walker

I'm still concerned in a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 about Lingard and again would prefer a Fellaini playing there however we should have a much better attacking presence with Rashford + Lukaku + Martial

Depends what we're looking for a 0-0 draw or do we want to try and win?

sunama · Dec 8, 2017

VancouverUtdFan said:
United’s home unbeaten record of 40 games. Top it off with José’s personal Sunday home record and I’m confident we come away with at least 1 point.

I don't want 1 point. I want 3.
MCFC are there for the taking, struggling to beat the likes of WHU at home and needing to score in the 96th minute, to win that game.
And words cannot describe how much I dislike Guardiola and MCFC. Put them together and I have a strong dislike for both.

At Old Trafford. Biggest game of the season. Going up against Jose. Meeting the best defence in the league.
When MCFC meet us, they'll not know what hit them.

I can't explain it, but this is the game where I feel we are absolutely guaranteed 3 points.
They'll come to OT. They'll lose. And go back to their half empty stadium.

Logically though, without Pogba, it'll be tough. MCFC have got very lucky that Pogba is not playing, otherwise I truly believe that we'd score 4 past them.

Ultimate Grib · Dec 8, 2017

Haven’t read through all the thread but has anyone considered that this game might get postponed?

Can7onA · Dec 8, 2017

We need to do what we did against Arsenal and just get at them as soon as the whistle goes.

Last season they pressed us from the get go and we crumbled. We are looking good at the back so I say we let the front 4 absolutely fly at them and try stay calm at the back with Cities front players all switching.

sunama · Dec 8, 2017

Macern said:
If we lose it’s over imo.

You would concede the title race in early December? :lol:

My friend, I have seen many league titles over the years (I am 43 years old) and if it's one thing I can tell you: league titles are not decided in December!
We have Jose in charge (a man renowned for winning titles with all teams he manages) and a team of good individuals. MCFC will drop form soon and when that happens, we need to capitalise.

We are in good form right now and fans need to stop being so down-hearted. This loser mentality needs to stop as it can feed into the way players perform.

T A · Dec 8, 2017

Will be the same lineup against Arsenal, if Fellaini is fit, he will replace Pogba, otherwise, Herrera. We must maximally exploit Mangala/Delph - two weakest links on City team

Jacko21 · Dec 8, 2017

Ultimate Grib said:
Haven’t read through all the thread but has anyone considered that this game might get postponed?

Yep, heavy snow is forecast for earlier in the day.

Could make travel a nightmare, but no suggestion as of yet that'll it cause abandonment.

VorZakone · Dec 8, 2017

Just press that City backline. Let the likes of Lukaku, Rashford, Martial and Lingard run rings around Delph, Otamendi etc. They are there for the taking.

PeteReDevil · Dec 8, 2017

This thread' made me somehow optimistic for the game!

Canagel · Dec 8, 2017

All the talk pre-match has been about how we are going to stop City but there seems to be a total disregard that we have scored 12 goals in the last 4 PL games and our attackers look to be in better form recently. City haven't faced any team with the defensive stability we have nor the speed on counters and they would be very foolish to think we will just defend the whole game.

Havak · Dec 8, 2017

I cannot predict how this game will go. We could both cancel each other out, City could control the game and hand our ass to us, or we could absolutely bully them and do them in that way. Along with that, either team could nick it by the odd goal in a pretty even contest.. They're not playing as well for about the last month or so, but they still win which is a pretty bad omen for us and the rest of the league. I think we have played better football in that same period where City haven't been quite as scintillating, but we had Pogba, whom we won't have on Sunday. We'll have to see if we can still hit that caliber of performance without him. Hopefully City are without Silva and Stones, if so, they're probably going to line up like this:

Ederson
Walker Kompany Otamendi Delph
Fernandinho Gundogan
De Bruyne
Sterling Aguero Sane

They could go three at the back to match us, but why? They're probably benching a superior player to bring in Mangala so that isn't happening IMO. Jesus could start, but Aguero's record in the derby games can't be ignored. If Silva is fit, he starts, and odds are he is.

As for us, this is what I am mostly expecting:

de Gea
Lindelof Smalling Rojo
Valencia Herrera Matic Young
Lingard
Lukaku Rashford
---
Romero; Darmian, Shaw; Fellaini, Mata; Martial, Ibrahimovic

Maybe Jones gets on the bench if he is actually fit, but I would be surprised if that isn't our 18 on Sunday.

Our Home record is excellent, with 40 games unbeaten and 12 wins in a row this season in all competitions. In that time, no team has managed to score more than one goal at Old Trafford in any game which is pretty outstanding. However, the last team to win there and score more than once was Man City, and they're on an excellent winning run themselves.

After all that, not a fecking clue what will happen.

Dobba · Dec 8, 2017

I for one am shocked that David Silva has recovered from an injury he never had.

BluesJr · Dec 8, 2017

Silva fit! Someone put me back in my chair. My irrational hatred for Pep is growing by the day at this point :lol:

Andersons Dietician · Dec 8, 2017

P-Nut0712 said:
Don't know why people are expecting Martial not to start this one.

He was rested for most of the game Thursday and so will play Sunday.

Can't see much changing from the Arsenal game to be honest.

Mou will try and keep it right and bring Fellaini and Ibra on late to try and grab a goal from a set piece. A draw isn't disastrous and sneaking a late win would be perfect.

Under normal circumstances it isn’t at all, however I think Jose has realised he has to go for these games and to be honest given the way City are grinding out results this is a must win.

I’m sure at some point they have to drop points but here is the opportunity to put them under real pressure and put down a marker.

P-Nut · Dec 8, 2017

Andersons Dietician said:
Under normal circumstances it isn’t at all, however I think Jose has realised he has to go for these games and to be honest given the way City are grinding out results this is a must win.

I’m sure at some point they have to drop points but here is the opportunity to put them under real pressure and put down a marker.

A win would be great and really it's exactly what we need. However, a loss is disastrous as it will almost end the race needing a 4 game swing minimum. A draw keeps it alive whilst not being ideal.

Infra-red · Dec 8, 2017

5-4-1

De Gea

Valencia Lindelof Smalling Blind Young

Lingard Fellaini Matic Martial

Lukaku

ayushreddevil9 · Dec 8, 2017

Womp said:
This time you might have an excuse to, going into probably the most important game of the season with our best player and best defenders being out and our second best midfielder basically playing with an injury.

I'm trying so hard to be confident but I don't see us getting anything from this game. We'd need a miracle tactical masterclass from Mourinho and the players to all be at the top of their game.

Yeah, and I hope OT rises to the occasion

Jacko21 · Dec 8, 2017

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Jacko21 · Dec 8, 2017

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Manchester. The capital of football.

tomaldinho1 · Dec 8, 2017

Say what you want about Pep vs Mou in other regards but Mou is the master of mind games. Pep looks a bit stupid now as he's had to own up to Silva being fit early.

He's just a snide little shit.

royboy16 · Dec 8, 2017

I think it will take a city red card for us to get a win here otherwise I think it will be 0-0 draw.

Ultimate Grib · Dec 8, 2017

Jacko21 said:
Yep, heavy snow is forecast for earlier in the day.

Could make travel a nightmare, but no suggestion as of yet that'll it cause abandonment.

I can tell you that the faintest layer of snow will mean council cannot ensure saftey. Happened few years ago vs Chelsea.

charlenefan · Dec 8, 2017

Jones fit.... not sure if I'd bring him in for Rojo or Lindelof or not, big call that...

Canagel · Dec 8, 2017

Ultimate Grib said:
I can tell you that the faintest layer of snow will mean council cannot ensure saftey. Happened few years ago vs Chelsea.

Could it really be postponed?? When would it be played in that case?

SirAF · Dec 8, 2017

charlenefan said:
Jones fit.... not sure if I'd bring him in for Rojo or Lindelof or not, big call that...

I, personally, would let Rojo sit this one out. I love him, but the thought of his rashness against those light footed City players gives me the bejeesus.

I'd go for a back three of Lindelof, Smalling and Jones.

cyberman · Dec 8, 2017

The game isn't getting postponed!
Maybe if fans were travelling long distances but not for a local derby (Yeah yeah I know..)

Shark · Dec 8, 2017

breakout67 said:
He's the elephant in the room

That thread :lol:

Jacko21 · Dec 8, 2017

tomaldinho1 said:
Say what you want about Pep vs Mou in other regards but Mou is the master of mind games. Pep looks a bit stupid now as he's had to own up to Silva being fit early.

He's just a snide little shit.

Don't know why Pep does it to himself. As good a manager as he is, he's hopeless when it comes to trying to exert any kind of psychological pressure during pre and post match conferences.

He'd be better off steering clear. Rule #1 when dealing with Mourinho, don't engage him.

tomaldinho1 · Dec 8, 2017

Jacko21 said:
Don't know why Pep does it to himself. As good a manager as he is, he's hopeless when it comes to trying to exert any kind of physiological pressure during pre and post match conferences.

He'd be better off steering clear. Rule #1 when dealing with Mourinho, don't engage him.

Even SAF, who was excellent at rubbing ppl up the wrong way, steered clear of him.

"You are never quite sure what he is up to. I don't go down that road. I let him get on with it."

whatwha · Dec 8, 2017

@nemanja15 has overtaken @DanNistelrooy on the team prediction leaderboard :eek:

whatwha · Dec 8, 2017

Jacko21 said:
Don't know why Pep does it to himself. As good a manager as he is, he's hopeless when it comes to trying to exert any kind of physiological pressure during pre and post match conferences.

He'd be better off steering clear. Rule #1 when dealing with Mourinho, don't engage him.

I think you mean psychological pressure!

Jacko21 · Dec 8, 2017

whatwha said:
I think you mean psychological pressure!

Damn autocorrect. You know what I meant!

ValenciasDrilledCrosses · Dec 8, 2017

If it somehow did get postponed until after January or something like that, would Pogba be eligible? Interesting dilemma

Cantonagotmehere · Dec 8, 2017

I think Jose loves Jones, and for sure will start him for the derby if he is fully fit.

As others have pointed out I really hope United play 4 at the back and 3 in midfield.

notcool · Dec 8, 2017

charlenefan said:
If we play 3 at the back I can see this happening

Valencia--Lindelof--Smalling--Rojo--Young
Sane----------Aguero/Jesus-------Sterling
----------Herrera-------Matic----------
--------De Bruyne------Silva--------
----------------Lingard----------------
--------------Fernandinho--------------
----------Lukaku-------Martial-------
Delph---Otamendi---Kompany---Walker

Essentially (as the above might not make sense) we'll end up defending with 5 at the back with 2 spare centre backs, overrun in midfield (unless we spring a surprise and Fellaini plays instead of Lingard) with Lukaku and Martial isolated up front against their entire back 4

Arsenal switched to a 4-2-3-1 with a front 3 of Iwobi, Lacazette and Sanchez against us when Mustafi went off. Martial switched out to the wing and Valencia, when needed, pushed up onto Kolasinac. So we pretty much matched them all over the pitch despite nominally playing three at the back.

It also left space behind Kolasinac, because he was close to Valencia, a wingback, not a winger. Pogba ran into this space in a way reminiscent of his time at Juve, just on the other side of the pitch. Of course we don't have Pogba on Sunday but this does show why going three at the back against a 4-3-3/4-2-3-1 can be a good idea.

The problem I foresee of us going 3-5-2/3-4-1-2 against City is that Pep might move Delph into midfield (this probably explains partially why Delph is playing left-back) and shuttle the rest of the defence to the left to make the formation 3-3-1-3. This way they could make it 4v3 against us in midfield and really dominate the match.

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