PBP: EPL - Manchester City FC vs Manchester United FC - Apr 27, 2017 [R]

Let's not play an unfit jones/ smalling play and further jeopardize our chance of a win.I would rather go with tuanzebe. Atleast that way we can see what to do with him. Who knows he may do good.

 

Arguably our most important league game this season. Win this and we out ourself in a good spot to finish top 4. Lose this and it's probably over unless Pool keep leaking points.

 

Front 3 should absolutely be Martial, Rashford, and Miki. Kill them with pace.

The midfield 3 should be Pogs, Herrera, and Carrick unless one of the first two aren't fit. Then bring in Fellaini.

Back line should be Shaw, Tuanzebe, Bailly, and Valencia. But I'm sure it'll be Blind and Bailly.

 

City might be without Silva and possibly Aguero, which could be huge. GJ may be back so that's a nice trade off for them in that department but he's not going to be match fit.
And their defense is still the same more or less, even if Kompany coming back has been a plus for them.
We've just got to go at them with speed upfront indeed, just like we did vs Chelsea. If Silva is not going to be there, KDB will probably be the one pulling the strings for them and we'll have to put the clamps on him.
We've got a chance for this one, no doubt about it, being a derby game and all. We've just got to see the same tactical nous from Jose from the Chelsea game and the fight and desire we've seen from the guys in that game and vs Burnley. With both those elements, anything can happen, even if God forbid, we're missing Pogs on the day (fingers crossed he'll be good to go though)

My XI:

Dave
Valencia. Bailly. Darmian/Tuanzebe. Shaw/AY
Herrera. Carrick. Pogba
Miki/Lingard. Rashford. Martial

If either or both Lingard or AY started for this one, I would have no issues with it, since both players have stepped it up big time when it really mattered as of late. In central defense, Blind's performance was really not up to scratch and that was against Burnley's attack. Vs City, want either Tuanzebe to get the call, but even Darmian would still make sense to me as well, because of his temperament and attitude towards defending, which are far more suited for the job compared to Blind.
The rest of the team really picks itself. Big game here, with an even bigger opportunity. Some payback for the corresponding fixture at OT would be a nice, sweet bonus as well...

 

Not sure if we are going to see another Mourinho master plan. Of course, the old rivalry is gone and these days i guess he is going after conte and Chelsea.

 

You mean that Jose has "forgotten" about his rivalry with Pep and Wenger? Just because Conte has found his way in his sights, doesn't mean he'll ever forget about them. Not a chance, as that is what gets him going inside...

 

You call on the lineup. I think there's a chance we play 442 again with Martial and Rashford up top. Possible also that Lingard plays in a 433 with Mkhitaryan coming off the bench.

He could also try Martial off the bench and play a very conservative XI. This one is very difficult to call.

 

I was really thinking about that possibility of going 4-4-2 with Rashford and Martial upfront (which selfishly would love to try admittedly). But I became a bit stuck on the midfield, especially vs their quick and dynamic wing options. But I wouldn't mind at all either to be perfectly honest.

 

Lingard and Young with Pogba and Herrera. Would ask all 4 to do their fair share of work. Biggest problem would be inability to change the game off the bench with just one stacked available.

 

I can see a diamond with two up top roaming to wings.

 

I'd absolutely take a draw in this one. If we can get through or remaining games with either one loss or two draws and the rest wins, we'll make top 4. But that's a tough ask.

 

In the spirit of pulling a rabbit out of his hat, as we can expect Jose to do for this game, I actually like that setup: daring and possessing plenty of speed and guile, which could literally kill City.
Any change of personnel would require a change in the setup, but that is something Jose could plan for as well. That's why he's being paid big money. But I do like the thinking a lot: being very pro active and taking it straight to them, instead of worrying to counter what they will do. Always the best position to be in, as far as I'm concerned. And we have little to lose, considering many think that our top 4 chances are dead anyway. Let's just go after them.

 

I don't know what to expect from Mou. When we are down he picks it up, and when we are up, he screws it up.

De Gea

Valencia
Bailly
Blind (even though I would prefer Tuanzebe)
Shaw

Fellaini
Herrera
Carrick (If Pogba can't make it, even though I'd like a like for like replacement in Mensah)

Lingard (need a horse)

Martial
Rashford

Shut down Sane and De Bruyne.

When attacking Lingard plays in the hole, along when we are defending, Sane will be one on one with Valencia, physically Valencia will eat him alive but his pace is a danger however we have Bailly to cover. IF their LB overlaps Lingard has to drop and cover, he has enough football IQ to recognize that.

Rashford needs to track the RB runner with Martial playing up top, on the counter or build up play Rash can go as a 9 and drift Martial to the left to attack the fullback.

Lingard along with Fellaini and Herrera need to press high up to prevent distribution of the ball.

2-1 win for United.

 

Martin Atkinson will be the referree for this one. Not a bad choice in theory.

 

United winning this does more for the team than any other result, in my opinion. It will boost morale and position the team exactly where they want to be. Other than beating Liverpool, this is the win that will set the mark going into the final stretch.

 

Play for the draw and hope we can score off a Fellaini knockdown ball.

 

The win vs Chelsea was a good start in that endeavor and it probably can be argued that win meant more to Jose and his United career. But on the back of that performance and to a lesser extent, what we saw against Burnley, I don't think that a win against City is out of reach.
Their backline remains a major liability, which could be taken advantage of with the right gameplan, which I'm pretty confident Jose will put together. The players should be more than up for this one, so anything is possible really. Provided we don't lose anyone else important, I'm quietly confident about this one.

 

There's two way to look at winning streak -- the current game win streak -- that it has to come an end soon or that it will keep going until the end of the season. Win the next 6 games to wrap up the season with a remarkable 9 game win streak and a top four spot. But those next 6 games are no walk in the park. Even Palace could be tricky.

 

If there were ever a time for players to step up and be counted for, it would be this match. Absolutely massive.

 

Herrera speaking about Thursday's game said that it's going to be the game of the season. That the players realize they are just one point behind them and with a win, they have a good chance to finish in the top 4. Went on to say that this is pretty much a "make or break" game, a massive game and that even though they have done well recently and done some good things, they'll have to show it Thursday.
Give this man the armband already.

 

Sorry, one above iirc

 

Would really like to see some speed up front to start. Stretch the middle and our midfield (carrick, pogba, Herrera) will beat theirs if Silva doesn't start. Our speed up front (rashford, martial, lingard) will also destroy their defense. I'm really looking for a direct attack, but I fear Jose might set up for the tie.

 

Does anyone know whats with all the new threads popping up in Chinese...seems like spam??