Apr 17
Manchester City vs Manchester United: Preview
Prior to the Blackburn match last weekend few of us would have thought things could have gotten any worse, but they did. A disappointing draw at Ewood Park matched by a lacklustre performance, the title now seems like a distant, fading dream.
Next up are our neighbours from across town, Manchester City who are in their own battle, that for fourth place. We managed a 4-3 victory in the reverse fixture at Old Trafford, but Eastlands will be a tough place to go, especially considering the form Roberto Mancini has his charges in.
City have scored sixteen goals in their last five matches and have only lost once as well, so United’s defence will have to be on top form if this goal scoring run is to be halted.
Sir Alex Ferguson feels it is the most decisive derby he has contested:
“It could be the most significant derby I’ve been involved in. City could get into the Champions League, and their form in the last few weeks has been excellent. Six goals against Burnley, five against Birmingham – nobody has scored five against Birmingham all season, their defensive record has been fantastic.”
Edwin van der Sar will be the usual custodian between the sticks and will make his 150th Premier League appearance for United. Playing in front of the Dutch master will be a central defensive pairing of Nemanja Vidic and Jonny Evans as Rio Ferdinand is out with a groin strain. Rafael could be brought in on the right to replace Gary Neville and Patrice Evra will surely be back in his left-sided role.
The United midfield is more troublesome, should Sir Alex Ferguson go with a 4-4-2 or revert to the 4-5-1 that is so often used away from Old Trafford.
Considering we need to win the match, 4-4-2 would seem the best option with Darren Fletcher and Michael Carrick in the middle, Nani on the left and Antonio Valencia on the right.
Dimitar Berbatov is fighting for his United future and Sir Alex may give him a chance to shine against City, alongside Wayne Rooney who should be fit to start the match.
Injuries to Ryan Giggs (hamstring), Anderson (knee), Wes Brown (metatarsal) and Michael Owen (hamstring) mean they will miss the match.
Manchester City will be looking first to gain a valuable three points to help their ambitions of reaching the Champions League next season and the added incentive of killing off United’s title challenge will mean Roberto Mancini will not need to give his side any further motivation.
Of the match Mancini is quietly confident:
“It’s a big game, of course, it is the derby – but also it’s just important that we win, and if we continue to play like we have been playing then we have a good chance. It is a difficult game. United are a good squad with some fantastic players, but we also have fantastic players and we are a very good team.”
Pablo Zabaleta is available for the Blues after serving a two-match suspension; Stephen Ireland is also back following a three-game absence with a shin injury. Joleon Lescott (hamstring), Wayne Bridge (groin), Martin Petrov (knee) and Michael Johnson (knee) are all definite absentees.
Many in the media have spoken of Carlos Tevez, former United striker and now City talisman. With good reason as well, he provoked a war of words with Gary Neville before the Carling Cup semis and has been in top form for City this year, also managing to score a hat-trick (over two legs) in City’s Carling Cup defeat to United.
But one player who is becoming indispensible to the City attack is Adam Johnson. The former Middlesborough man has made the right wing slot his own, and in the process ousting Shawn Wright-Phillips from the City starting eleven.
As always with a derby, form goes out the window. If United can get the three points and close the gap on Chelsea to one, it may give the league leaders something to think about going into their match with Tottenham.
If United lose then it is curtains for a 19th Premier League title… until next year anyway.
Prediction: 2-2 Draw
Probable Line Up: van der Sar, Rafael, Evans, Vidic, Evra;, Valencia, Fletcher, Carrick, Nani; Berbatov, Rooney
***
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Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- The Manchester United Pledge
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Derby County v Man Utd: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (479)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@CraigMc: you said ” Now please God Robben goes or is on the LOSING side ” and then he scored
, oh well still the second leg to look forward to
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@Traverse: I am not getting my hopes up, it will go like this, hernandez plays for the reserves and then loaned out, berbatov still on the bench, rooney gets injured in the world cup and sidelined for few months, and no money for huntelaar.
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@ROOOOONEY:
, well spotted mate, but I am still wishing Robben to finish on the losing side – because he deserves nothing other than that – the ex Chelski turd 
.
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@ROOOOONEY: Mate I think Hernandez is going to do a lot better than you think
.
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@gator: I’d take that deal in a second because i believe Huntelaar would do really well for us and in the english game. With crossers like Nani and Valencia and a striker to play off like Rooney he would be outstanding simply because he is more aggressive than Berba. He clearly struggles in the Italian game because of it’s plodding pace and the fact he gets very little wide service. Everything comes through the middle with Milan. But I still doubt they would go for the deal because selling Berba should only happen for straight cash so that Fergie can give the cash to the Glazer’s
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@RicoTheRed:
I’m also a two finger typist but in truth I am a wonder because I could challenge a trained secretary to be able to keep up with me. And yet my best friend who is a programmer types with two fingers and does so in light speed. It’s just a case of lots of practice and repetition.
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Bayern really blew a chance to make the second leg pointless today. They should have won that game 5-0 or 6-0 with all the clear cut chances they missed. All style and no substance. Their strikers are just not world class and that hurts them. I think with time Muller has a chance to be but Gomez is the most overrated slug playing football today and Klose is over the hill and clearly not in favour over at Bayern. Thank God they have Robben. Other than Messi has there been a player in better form this season? I think not. This guy doesn’t just score big goals, he scores them from anywhere with 40 metres of goal. Outstanding. It’s been hard taking a liking to him as he is a former Chelski scumbag. But we all must have forgiving hearts.
1-0 is a comfortable result because Lyon is not an attack oriented side, even at home. They are too cautious which is a shame because they have some very skilled players. I think the return leg will be a 1-1 draw as Bayern always seem to be able to score away from home and nobody is going to tell me that lYon are a better team than United. No Ribery hurts Bayern but no Toulalon is devastating for Lyon. Bayern plays a patient counter attacking game they will come out of the second leg in good shape for the final. Still, I believe Inter will be in that final and Inter will win it because if Mourinho can beat both Chelsea and Barcelona, then he cannot lose to Bayern or Lyon. But first he has to survive a blitzkrieg at the Nou Camp
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watching that bayern game tonight brought one of those if only moments. if only Rafael had not got send off. i thought lyon gave one of the most uninspiring performance’s i have seen in a semi final of any competition, never mind the CL. they were awful, even with a an extra man. united would of put that tie to bed in the first leg no doubt.
so its another if only moment, to go with all the others we’ve had in that competition. lets hope we don’t have any over our remaining 3 games, cause that would be hard to take. if united win their remaining 3 games and Chelsea are crowned champions, i could take that fair play to them they kept their nerve and won their games. but if we balls it up and hand it to them that will stick in the throat. it’ll be a long fucking summer, especially without the mighty NORTHERN IRELAND missing out on another tournament.
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@RicoTheRed: I was saying the exact same… if only we had not gifted Olic the two goals, if only Rafael had not been sent off or Fergie had taken him off at half time, if only carrick had blocked Robben’s shot,
We could actually had made it to a third final with relative ease
I guess that is why they say, If and if my ass is stiff
19>4 BELIEVE!
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: Well Opti – is you arse stiff – that is the question?
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Bayern the biggest bunch of fucking cheats and oscar diving performers I’ve ever seen – if they win the CL it will not be because they deserved it, but because they can dive better than any fucking German bomber planes in world war 2. Other than that, I would say they have an awful lot of referees on their payroll. Typical Germans as Fergie says
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: aye m8 it was hard to stomach, i thought Lyon we’re a decent side, but on that performance i don’t know, they froze big time and forgot how to attack. i cant believe a manager sent them out to be that negative, unless he said “lose the ball at every opportunity and no matter what do not create any goal scoring chance’s. Inter are shoe in’s for the trophy now, in my opinion. Jose will not let barca back into the tie. no matter how much they wet the fecking pitch. his head will then swell to such a size, it will need its own post code.
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@CraigMc: Its Inter’s m8. rest easy, they’re having all the luck, mixed in with some very good performance’s.
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@RicoTheRed: Mate we handed it to Chelsea when we let them beat us twice in the EPL. Honestly, I hate being champion when I know the second place team owns my ass. They deserve to be in front even if they haven’t fully realized it or fully appreciated it. As for us, well lets just say at least we aint Arsenal or Liverpool. We still might win the league but like last year, it will always have a tainted and sour taste in my mouth because we lost twice to Chelsea. Still, it is a marathon and not a sprint.
As for the Bayern vs Lyon game, I think Bayern deserve a lot of credit for making Lyon look as bad as they did. Bayern totally outclassed Lyon but lacked the Rooney like finishing that would have put the whole 2 leg tie to rest after only 45 minutes. They were great to watch but unfortunately their Achilles heel is poor finishing by their strikers.
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@CraigMc: Typical Craig and typical sour fucking grapes is more like it. One day an intelligent comment may come out of your mouth instead verbal diarrhea.
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@RicoTheRed: The problem with Lyon is that is the way they always play on the road. Their manager is a coward and they do as he says. Sad thing is they have talent but it’s shackled because of the negative system they used. Put a manager like Guardiola in charge of them and watch them light it up.
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@Grognard: And what if we put Ferguson at Lyon.Even more negative???
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vote for Red Rants as the best club blog
http://www.epltalk.com/2010-best-epl-club-blog/
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Let the boycotts begin. Here’s a list of companies that support the Glazer regime.
http://wewantglazerout.com/corps.htm
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@CraigMc: Inter or Barca would crush them, don’t worry about it.
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Good little interview with Nani worth checking out.
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@Grognard: alright m8. appreciate your comments, but cant agree with that one. i personally could care less if they beat us twice, remember we out played them at their place and yet another dodgy decision got them the victory. but nothing could taint 19 titles and 4 in row, absolutely nothing. besides would they be challenging if they lost drogba and lampard, doubt it very much. like i said m8, if they win their games and we win ours fair play to them, but if we win it, then it is because we deserve it, simple as that m8. if chelsea beating us twice taints it for you m8, thats a shame. personally i will be doing somersaults for a week, because i want this 1 more than any other, and nothin could possible taint it for me, even if the scum hand us an anvantage at the death. come on the scum, for that hour an half, i’ll never walk alone.
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Sorry to say mates that I will be away for a while as my mother finally passed away this morning after a long fight. She was 92 and meant everything to me. I just thought I’d pass this on so that a few of you who knew of her struggle were informed and so that all of you know that this time my break from the blog has a legitimate reason. To all of you who still have mothers and fathers, give them a big hug and a kiss. God bless all of you.
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@Grognard: That’s terrible to hear, mate. I’m so sorry for your loss, my deepest condolences. Hope to see you back on the blog soon. Do take care and God bless.
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@Grognard: Thats really bad news mate.Too sorry for this loss.Come back soon.I am with you at this moment.
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@Grognard: I’m Sorry for your loss.
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@Grognard: I’m sorry for your loss mate.
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@Grognard: So sorry to hear about your Mum Grog. My heart goes out to ya.
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@Grognard: I’m sorry for your loss. Take care and hope to hear from you soon.
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@Grognard: My best wishes to you, mate.
You’ll be in my thoughts, Grog, and here’s hoping the road ahead has a sunny horizon.
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@Grognard:
Deepest Sympathies Mate, GOD Bless
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@Grognard: My condolences Grog.
I’m really sorry for your loss, I can really understand how much you love your mom, so I know this must hurt. Take care Grog, my best wishes goes to you.
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@Grognard: Sorry for your loss m8. puts things into perspective. God bless at this difficult time
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@Grognard: stay up groggy, condolences
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@RicoTheRed: my condolences grog
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@Grognard: You are in all of our thoughts.
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Condolences Grog. Really sorry to hear of your loss. Take care.
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So we are going after Bale???
Any player who plays well for 3 months,we are rumoured to be after him.
At the end we will get those who have played well for 10 years and did nothing in the last 2 years…
Owen,Cole,Guti………
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@Owen: We wanted him when he was at Southampton, but he shunned us for the Spurs.
He’s a little one footed for my liking, but he’s playing out of his socks right now.
Bring him on, … along with:-
Milner
Silva
Rodwell
Benzema
Et’o ……….etc!
Hell, it aint my money!!
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@Grognard: You have my deep condolences mate.
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Well we’re top of the league again, in the money stakes, that is. Worth 200000000000billion or something like that, but we still have problems making a big signing!!
I guess when money talks, the big signings walk.
Wait, isn’t there something wrong with that???
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I think Duncan Drasdo wants me to fire bomb OT!
Or so it seems!!
Keep getting these Emails about much more than just boycotting the Glazers. In fact he now wants my money to print “flags and cards” for the final protest on the season against Stoke.
Anyone think this is legit, or is this an “administrative fund raising” that a lot of non-profits are famous for??
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@Redrich: But why we want Bale..Doesn’t Nani signed a new long contract or will he will sold after WC.
Why Fergie has developed so much love for buying Wingers?Why he has so much faith on CM who are so bad and must be given priority to replace?
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@Owen: He might seem like a winger to you, but Bale is a Left-Back!!
Was great at Southampton then has been a subdued influence at Spurs until the last month or so. I don’t think he can kick a thing with his right foot, but his aggressiveness in attack has been impressive to say the least!!
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@Redrich: At Spurs ,He is playing as Winger only and due to him ,Modric has been shifted to the centre.If Fergie Wants him as Left Back,then does it mean that Evra might be moving to Madrid???
Any way,what should be the market price of Mr.Evra?25-30 million.
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Grognard, very sorry to hear about that! May strength be with you to face and go through this phase!
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Huntelaar has failed to prove himself at Madrid or Milan. he was non existent against us. Why would we still want him at United???
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Lads, what happend to Aguero?
Haven’t heard of/seen him in a while…
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@Grognard: sorry for your loss Grog. puts things into perspective. God bless at this difficult time.
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Carlo “Telly Tubby” Ancellotti makes the weirdest statements. After being dropped out of ECL he said, it was a good thing, because they can now focus on EPL. Now, after leading by one point he states:
“It’s better to be [leading by 1 pt] than to be 10 points behind and chasing nothing.”
Yes and having cancer is better than being shot in the face. From 4 pts to 1 pt is a big loss for Chelsea.
Come on United!!! Let’s beat Tottenham and pile extra pressure on chelsea!
BELIEVE!
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