Wow. Just wow. Spent the rest of the day grinning foolishly at seemingly random times. Still doing it this morning.
While I picked Maguire as man of the match (you can correctly argue that I'm out of my mind), I really couldn't pick one. As I stated in the match day thread, what we saw was 11 men playing like 11 men. Everyone did their part, front to back. Full effort for 90+ minutes from every man. And I don't care about "style of play," this was the Manchester Derby. Results are ALL that matter. But the way they did it...
First off, Ole: He nailed it. He had this set up perfectly to force Pep to play into our strengths. Some criticized his substitutions and timing, but I really believe he knew what he wanted to do with those given the situations. I'm really sick of the criticisms about his tactical naivete. He doesn't always get it right, but no manager does, I think he's been far more hampered by personnel than by a lack of tactical nous.
Bruno: He wasn't the best player on the pitch yesterday, but he has made everyone else better. When Ole talks about the "X Factor," that's what Bruno brings along with everything else. It's what Pogba doesn't have. We've seen the change in Mata just because he's there, but I really think Fred has become more creative with Bruno's influence as well. We saw Martial on the sideline with him after McTominay's goal. Bruno is infectious. That free kick was perfectly beautiful. And Bruno draws off defenders where his predecessors could be ignored.
James: He had a job to do and did it almost to perfection. Sure, we can complain about that missed opportunity to Bruno, and Bruno sure did, but that will come with time. James made run after run after run, offensively and defensively. At one point late, the defender simply gave up. He has to be accounted for at all times and that is so valuable.
Martial: "Lazy" is such a bad word. He has a way of carrying himself, and that's been a good deal better since Bruno came along, but he's anything BUT lazy. His off the ball movement was outstanding and he was putting in a shift defensively. And that perfect contact from Bruno's free kick.
Fred: Everyone else on the field is running on gasoline, he has a nuclear reactor. Is there anywhere on the field that he doesn't show up? Maybe in the back right corner, because AWB doesn't need his help. Since Bruno has arrived, Fred has been taking more and more chances and been more and more creative.
Matic: Super solid defensive performance. Very few mistakes and a rock allowing Fred and Bruno to do their things.
Williams: Solid on defense and helpful on offense. This is a 19-year-old starting in the Manchester Derby - mistakes should be allowed and forgiven when they don't cost us.
Shaw: He and Williams really have a great thing in the 3-5-2 setup. Part of a rock wall Ole set up that stymied Pep's attack.
Maguire: I picked him for MOTM because he was commanding on the field and he won so many aerials. Ole knew what he was doing when he gave the armband to Harry.
Lindelof: Keeping up his side of the CB pairing, he won more aerials than I remember him ever doing. Solid day.
AWB: Maybe I should have selected him as MOTM. On leaving the stadium, a furious Pep had security make him turn out his pockets and return Rahim Sterling before heading home.
DeGea: Ho hum. A couple of good saves in an otherwise uneventful day. That defensive line is a great comfort to him.
Bailly: I suppose Ole was getting Williams off before a mistake did cost us, but this was also a defensive move, putting us to a solid 5-in-the-back for the final onslaught. He did his job, and I do like his physicality.
McTominay: Another defensive shift, taking Martial off. Was playing well even before the goal. And that goal...
Ighalo: The more I see him, the more I like him. His hold up play is marvelous. A man among boys when it comes time to push the ball up slowly, and that heel-kick to Fred was perfect.
I don't care if we only had 28% possession. It seemed like more, especially in light of the fact that we had 12 shots while City only had 7. And 6 of ours were on target to their 4. That was exciting football.
As for anyone that points out who City were missing, or their standing in the table having an effect on the game, two things: This is a derby, and rumor has it that City has three players for every position and all the backups would start for any other Big-Six team, save maybe Pool.