Manchester City Vs Derby [R]

[MVF]

http://www.stevebarrow.co.uk/Football/Man_City_Logo3.gif Vs http://www.therams.co.uk/uploads/pictures/1D29/derby_logo.jpg

First Home Game for the season, and it looks like we could have a good win.

Thoughts ?

[Brava Rookie]

As great as our win felt against West Ham, that's as down as i'll be if we don't come in prepared for Derby. I'm confident that we'll get the 3 points... but we are still City. If we play like we did for the first 20 minutes and last 20 minutes of the WHU match, we should take this.

[J'can]

Any thoughts as to whether Kasper will keep the starting job all season even when Isackson (sp) comes back?

[Holygr4le]

City played well the first game against The Hammers, not only to win but also the way they played it. Eriksson has a history of sucess in premier matches (in last 8 he has lost none!) but we dont know:
1. How strong was West Ham?
2. Was the tactics a bulls eye performence or pure luck?
3. Has City lost its typical "City-behavior"?

Imo Erikssons strength is to build a team with great atmosphere and he has the ability to make all the players (even those on the bench) work toward the same goal. Hasse Backe is the one managing the trainings and he is pure tactics. Great with different patterns on the field. I just hope that they gained the confidence they need to take control and "play out" the whole register at home.

Derby is a dangerous newcomber that will fight for every point so it would be fatal to underestimate them.

3 points would be great regarding Man U and Arsenal awaits, but I wouldnt be disapointed with a draw.

Edit: Isaksson IS the Nr one choise for Sven, nothing will change that unless Isak would start making terrible matches. I have followed him from Djurgarden, Juventus, Rennes and the swedish national team (4 straight tournaments- 2 WC and 2 EC) where he is the Nr one keeper.

[CityBlues]

6 points would be great going into the Man U game. Hopefully we can get a win. Dunne and Richards have to stay in the middle. I'd like to see Bojinov and Bianchi up front at the same time.

[Alan D]

I'd go with the same team but switch to 4-4-2 and bring in Bojinov for Johnson or Ireland. The times are gone that we should have to settle for a point against a newly promoted team, lets go all-out for a win. Derby will be battlers but they do not have more of a threat than anyone else in the Premiership. We should beat them and do so comfortably, although it isn't as simple as that because upsets can be caused but there isn't any reason why we can't beat them. If this is a new era, a draw against Derby is not good enough after a performance like Saturday's. West Ham didn't play to their best but who says Derby will have one of their best days either? Who says we will play our best, but with the squads as they are we have the better in terms of quality so we should be fine. We're home as well and if it is a sellout as expected then the crowd will be a 12th man. We'll see what happens but as I said, it is vital we head into the derby with confidence and we have a tough game against Arsenal after that so 3 points is a must. 3 points is the only option.

[CityBlues]

Agreed, I too will be disappointed with a loss. Bojinov in for Johnson or Ireland would work, but which one do you take off? I liked the way Johnson played last week, and frankly I was suprised when the City website gave Ireland man of the match. Maybe I was missing something? Either way Bojinov and Bianchi both up top to start. Garrido, Corluka, Dunne and Richards in back, Elano, Geovanni, Petrov and Johnson would be my mid-field. And Schmeichel for now, we will see if City can bring anyone else in but Schmeichel didn't look that bad to me against WHU. Although the way they played and the way our defense played would have made me look like a top class keeper.

[gdub171]

I just hope that when Kasper shows his 'age' that we'll already have decided the game that we're playing. He's VERY inexperienced for a keeper, but has a lot of talent. Unfortunately, we have a Veteran team now that needs a Top Class GK. I think Kasper needs at least 1-2 years more seasoning (Or Joe Hart for that matter) for the pressure he will keep facing.

Gotta have Geovanni in the squad, even tho defense will be less in the MF. I'd pull M.O.M Ireland, leave Hamman or use Bojinov. I would be aggressive against Derby, since they might try for the draw against us. Diamond 4-4-2 with Elano at CAM? We'd have to use Hamman, since Fernandes played Reserves.

[BDegan]

Gotta have Geovanni in the squad, even tho defense will be less in the MF. I'd pull M.O.M Ireland, leave Hamman or use Bojinov. I would be aggressive against Derby, since they might try for the draw against us.

I think it is far to early in the season for anyone to be playing for the draw. I feel like all parties are in it to win it right now.

[MVF]

Manchester City boss Sven-Goran Eriksson hopes to have a new goalkeeper as Andreas Isaksson is out with a broken finger.

Having missed out on Scott Carson, Eriksson is hoping to sign Livorno's Marco Amelia, deputy to Gianluigi Buffon in the Italian national side.

Derby's latest recruit, American Benny Feilhaber, misses out as he has not received his international clearance.

Boss Billy Davies could rotate his team after an opening draw with Portsmouth.

Man City: (from) Hart, Schmeichel, Onuoha, Sun, Richards, Dunne, Corluka, Garrido, Ball, Hamann, Geovanni, Fernandes, Elano, Ireland, Johnson, Petrov, Bianchi, Bojinov, Corradi.

Derby: (from) Bywater, Mears, Moore, Davis, Griffin, Fagan, Oakley, Todd, Pearson, Howard, Earnshaw, McEveley, Jones, Macken, Teale, Leacock, Camara, Price.

BIG-MATCH FACTS

Manchester City won their first match under new boss Sven-Goran Eriksson and new owner Thaksin Shinawatra at West Ham on Saturday, but City have never won the first two matches of a Premier League campaign.

Victory for Derby would make it their best start ever to a Premier League season, adding to Saturday's 2-2 home draw with Portsmouth.

Should City warm-up for Sunday's home derby against Manchester United with victory, it would inflict on the Rams their 100th defeat in Premier League history.

A conclusive result is yet to be produced in Premier League games between these clubs.

KEY PLAYER NOTES

MANCHESTER CITY
Ins and Outs

Richard DUNNE was one of four outfield players to have been involved in every minute of every one of his clubs' Premier League matches last season. The others were Ivar Ingimarsson (Reading), Phil Jagielka (Sheffield United, now Everton) and Yobo (Everton).

Bernardo CORRADI was one of three players to be sent off twice in last season's Premier League. The others were George BOATENG (Middlesbrough) and Phillippe SENDEROS (Arsenal).

If he plays:-

Stephen IRELAND will be making his 50th Premier League appearance - all for Manchester City.

DERBY COUNTY
Ins and Outs

Steve HOWARD was Derby's top scorer last season with 17 goals from 49 appearances.

If he plays:-

Matthew OAKLEY will be making his 300th career League appearance (Southampton and Derby).

OAKLEY will also be participating two days before turning 30.

Jonathan MACKEN will be facing a former club. The 29 year old forward made 59 appearances (51 in the league) and scored 12 goals (seven league) for Manchester City between March 2002 and June 2005.

Tyrone MEARS will be opposing the club with which he started his professional career in 2000.

HEAD TO HEAD

These clubs have only been in the Premier League in the same season once. Both matches, seven years ago, were drawn.

Derby travel in search of a first league maximum on Manchester City turf since a 0-1 triumph 17 years ago.

Home and away
League (inc PL): Man City 39 wins, Derby 32, Draws 19
Prem: Man City 0 wins, Derby 0, Draws 2

at Man City only
League (inc PL): Man City 28 wins, Derby 8, Draws 9
Prem: Man City 0 wins, Derby 0, Draws 1

[Bluechester]

A very winnable game, I'll be dissapointed with any other result. I will be waiting till i'm off work to watch this one, only thing I am looking forward to tommorrow.

[CityBlues]

Only a few hours now!

[Manchester City]

Dunne is about the only bright spot in what has been a dismal first half.

We do not seem the same squad that dispatched the Hammers last weekend. Hopefully we begin to put it together in the second half.

[Manchester City]

Beautiful strike with Elano once again raising the level of play and Johnson showing he can do it all.

Better play, but seems more the exception than the rule at this point. Next half will tell.

[gdub171]

Johnson GOOOAAAAAAAL! Pass across pitch R-L from Blumer. 20 yards out.

Gotta LOVE IT! CITY!

[Manchester City]

It is good that we went to the tunnel on a high note and I am sure SGE will rally them even higher and correct the midfield tactics. We should come back out en force.

Side note: Richards' pressure on Pearson just before Johnson's goal may have kept us on top. He is set on national duty soon.

[Manchester City]

Looking a little careless so far, though Bianchi's strike was a nice warning shot to the Derby back line.

[gdub171]

Lots of shots being pummelled at the Derby keeper... Anyone watching to see if they are strong, or just plenty of 'hopeful' attempts.

[Manchester City]

We absolutely have to get our fouling under control. At this rate we will have reserves playing in mid-season matches.

[gdub171]

Hahaha. I bet it will get even more intense in the Derby on Sun.

Another Win for the Citeh boys... not all that pretty, but a W against a scrappy team.

I'm already plotting the squad for the ManYoo game.