How did it come to this? Barely three weeks ago Roberto Mancini’s Manchester City side was “cracking up” and Manchester United had opened up an eight point Premier League lead. United’s superb form in 2012 had brought 12 wins and a draw since defeat to Newcastle United at St. James’, and the title was the Reds’ in all but name.
Yet football, at least the format practiced by Sir Alex Ferguson’s men, is rarely that simple. Defeat to Wigan Athletic at the DW Stadium and a draw with Everton at home, together with City’s improved form, means that Monday’s clash between the two Manchester clubs at Eastlands is now pivotal to this season’s title. Ferguson, ever mindful of the key moments in any campaign, believes the victor will go on to take this year’s honours. Who could disagree?
United, three points to the good in the title race, can afford to draw of course, enabling the Reds to claim a 20th domestic title with four points from games against Swansea City and Sunderland over the next fortnight. Yet, with recent form as it is, there is little presumption to be made about United’s ability to achieve even that goal.
So to the “shootout” with City, as Ferguson put, where both Blues and Reds know that a win is likely to bring with it the main prize. Mancini’s men must win, but if they do so then matches against a recently humbled Newcastle and relegation-threatened Queens Park Rangers should hold little fear. Three points for United and City can kiss all hope goodbye.
Indeed, says Ferguson, whatever happens in Monday’s fixture, Reds must now get used to City challenging United’s hegemony at every turn. It is a fixture that will come to match United’s enmity with Liverpool, concludes the Scot.
“We have to get used to playing City in important games, they are not going away,” admitted the 70-year-old United manager.
“The financial support they have means we will be playing them, in a lot of big games. Cup finals maybe, semi-finals – we have already done that last season and had an important cup tie this season.
“It’s there, if we are going to be contesting for league titles regularly, and we will be doing, it will become just as important as the Liverpool game. Maybe not in terms of the emotional part because the Liverpool-United games are emotional, but certainly in importance – probably at this moment in time it supersedes the Liverpool games in the sense that they are our direct opponents now.
“Manchester City are without question up against us to win titles and that is what I focus on, I only focus on the team that can actually affect our progress in terms of winning.”
Ferguson’s men must quickly overcome disappointment against Everton last weekend if the team is to get a result at Eastlands. There can certainly be no repeat of the slapdash defending that saw United concede four against the Toffees, with Ferguson’s side making errors in the build up to each of the visitors’ goals.
Whether it was nerves or arrogance, United’s ability to casually throw away a winning position against Everton could yet see the title slip away. But this is not a position Ferguson is prepared to countenance in the build-up to Monday’s clash, with the Scot preferring to laugh off United’s slip as ‘doing it the hard way’. It is a cliché, of course, but better than admitting the side is one calamitous reverse from a trophyless season.
“I am a confirmed masochist, I joined about 26 years ago,” joked Ferguson.
“I do not know if you thrive on it, I can’t even say I can look forward to it, but I am up for it, I am prepared for it and I think my players will be prepared for it so hopefully we will be OK.
“I suppose when the fixtures came out at the beginning of the season all roads pointed to this game. It was inevitable maybe. But we are where we are and it doesn’t matter what has happened before – the buildup to the game, who has dropped points and who hasn’t dropped points, it really is all down to this game. It will be a fantastic atmosphere and I hope it lives up to the billing.
“We are also smarting from throwing that game away last week, but in the context of our history we almost expected it, we make it hard for ourselves, our poor supporters have been subjected to that drama for years and years. God knows what they are like just now but hopefully we will make amends on Monday. It’s not a cup final, there are three games still, it is an important game. I think it could decide the title.”
However, United could be without two key players for the tie, with both defender Jonny Evans and winger Nani struggling for fitness. Evans trained on Friday as Ferguson took his players to Wales for a short break, but the Northern Irishman’s sore ankle has been a concern all week. Meanwhile, Nani is also suffering from an ankle problem, and Ferguson will leave a fitness assessment until the last moment.
United’s manager is unlikely to make significant changes despite the second-half horror show against Everton. Ferguson may bring Chris Smalling in at right-back, with Rafael as culpable as any for United’s poor defensive display against Everton. The Brazilian has performed admirably during the run-in, but Smalling’s defensive nous may win the 21-year-old a place.
There are unlikely to be many further changes, although Ferguson must decide whether to deploy both top goalscorer Wayne Rooney and Danny Welbeck, or leave the Scouser to plough a lone furrow up-front.
Meanwhile, across town Mancini has spent the week playing down his side’s chances despite an uptick in recent form. United’s experience, says the Italian, is likely to win the day. Little more than mind games 101, cynics might add. Moreover, Mancini will be able to field a full strength side at Eastlands, including fit again Mario Balotelli and former Red Carlos Tevez.
Given the Blues have scored 10 in the past three fixtures, form is certainly on the Italian’s side.
“He probably wants to take pressure off his own players, that’s possible but it will not affect our approach or attitude, we know exactly the situation we are in here,” adds Ferguson.
“We are in a better position than Manchester City. We can get two results they can only get one, they have to win we can draw, we can win. But my attitude and the club’s attitude will be trying to win.”
Amen to that, Reds will concur, although Ferguson’s side is likely to adopt the ‘European approach’ at Eastlands, with five strung across midfield, and the visitors prepared to wait patiently for a chance. United supporters making the short trip across town will forgive any negative approach, if that is to be it, in exchange for three points and a 20th domestic league title.
Match Facts
Manchester City versus Manchester United, Premier League, Eastlands, 30 April 2012, 8pm.Potential Line-ups
City (4-4-2): Hart; Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Clichy; Silva, Touré Y, Barry, Nasri; Tevez, Aguero. Subs from: Pantilimon, Taylor, Zabaleta, Kolarov, Savic, K Touré, De Jong, Milner, Pizarro, Johnson, Balotelli, Dzeko.United (4-2-3-1): De Gea; Smalling, Evans, Ferdinand, Evra; Carrick, Scholes; Valencia, Rooney, Young; Welbeck. Subs from: Amos, Jones, Fabio, Rafael, Jones, Young, Cleverley, Giggs, Nani, Hernández, Berbatov, Owen.
Match Stats
- Nani was given the nod over Ashley Young in last weekend’s 4-4 draw, and made the most of his opportunity with a goal and an assist against the Merseysiders;
- The Portuguese winger has scored eight goals in 27 Premier League appearances this season, and has struck 51 per cent of his shots on target this season;
- Wayne Rooney scored twice last weekend and has now overtaken George Best as United’s fourth highest goalscorer. Rooney remains a goal behind Robin van Persie as this season’s top goal scorer;
- United had conceded just once in seven league fixtures until the calamity against Everton last weekend. David De Gea was an ever-present during that run, making 32 saves at an average of 3.5 per game. The most saves the United ‘keeper has made in any single game was 13 against Liverpool in October 2011;
- Sergio Aguero slotted home City’s first last weekend – his 22nd of the season, putting the Argentinian third behind Rooney and van Persie in the leading goalscorers chart this season;
- David Silva picked up another assist last weekend and remains at the top of the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for assists this season. Silva has also been one of City’s hardest workers this season, covering 190.2 miles to date;
- Joe Hart pulled off two key saves to prevent Wolverhampton wanderers getting back into last weekend’s clash at Molineux. Hart is now ranked 15th in the Index, and is the leading ‘keeper;
- United’s captain Patrice Evra is the highest ranking player in the Index to have not scored this season.
- Rooney tops the rankings, scoring 30.9 percent of the Reds goals this season.
Form
City: DDLWWW
United: WWWLWDOfficials
Referee: Andre Marriner (Birmingham)
Assistants: A Watts, M McDonough
Fourth Official: M Jones
Ferguson takes aim at Blues in title shootout
(357 posts) (26 voices)-
Posted 1 year ago #
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DeadRevel – turned an ankle in training
Posted 1 year ago # -
Jim
Member
Posted by unregistered user: Jim… yeah den,,, need Rooney to give a shit though…. I’ve gotta agree, and “Rooney giving a shit” 100%, has looked a bit suspect in some matches this season. I’m no body language expert, but for me he’s not looked totally committed sometimes. Hope his transfer wish doesn’t raise it’s head again in the coming silly season. That time there was an issue about him questioning United’s commitment to bringing in quality players, that is competing in the transfer market, and well, there is no evidence since then that the Glazers are going to suddenly match the big guns of Europe in competing for the best of the best expensive players, and if Rooney sees more European wilderness in front of him, and some big money comes knocking again, will it all blow up again and make him again unsettled and even less committed?
Posted 1 year ago # -
Alfonso Bedoya
Moderator
To be honest... I'd rather not see Nani in this game... he's been shit lately, what little he's played... and he's been playing that stupid, frustrating, head down, won't pass football, that he's prone to at times... we need team players, and wingers tracking back for this game... it's got to be Young and Valencia for me... they'll get forward when they can, but they'll hold up their defensive duties as well... and that's a must.
"Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don't need badges. I don't have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching' tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you."Posted 1 year ago # -
bman
Member
Fucking hell, if we throw away the title in the fucking city stadium in front of all their supporters, cheering tevez's winning goal. I can't even stand to think about the possibility. But we simply don't have any midfield options - I can't see how Carrick and Scholes wouldn't be blown away by Toure being up in their faces. Maybe Cleverly? But he's hardly played lately. Our midfields been well and truly found out, and Toure is more than capable of doing Fellaini's job against us for Everton.
Posted 1 year ago # -
DeadRevel
Member Posted by unregistered user: DeadRevelYeah that;s been the staple of my nightmares too.
Re: Nani… say what you like about him, confidence in big matches is not an issue. Plenty of his best performances have come in such games, he destroyed City in the Community Shield and was great against Everton and QPR.
Posted 1 year ago # -
bman
Member We absolutely miss Fletcher. Fletchers a good player, people mostly criticise him for being something he's not. But if you want a box to box all rounder with good energy and endurance, he's good at that job. I can't see him coming back though.
I honestly can't understand the thinking about our midfield for the past few seasons. There's been no effort to replace Hargreaves -- whether or not you rate him, he's clearly a defensive midfielder so SAF saw need for that role. then Fletch did the job Hargo for hired for, and a lot of other jobs as well with varying degrees of success, but as the two finals against Barca proved, if Fletch was unavaiable we simply had no possible replacement. Then Fletch was starting to look dodgy, for reasons that are now clear.
So if we arent looking for both an attacking/creative midfielder and an all-action one this summer, we're going to keep watching the same shit match after match, where any team with a strong midfield and a clever manager will shut us down. Champions League, Europa, Newcastle, Everton,, same thing over and over. the thing that worries me about Monday is that City are exactly one of those teams well placed to take advantage of our one note midfield.
Posted 1 year ago # -
Tommy
Member
we've played them 3 times this season and won twice, we need a draw, while they have the pressure on them to win. Remember what happens when city are under pressure? (see city vs arsenal)
also they haven't scored against us at the council house in over 300 minutes of football. in the league that is.
ALSO when was the last time you saw united have THREE shite games in a row?
We've played some of our best football this season against city. The 6-1 was an aberration that was due more to the red card and some poor keeping than our tactics or the respective skill of the two teams. I'm nervous - any sane fan should be - but still expecting us to get a draw at the very least.. Although I can't imagine this game ending as a draw.
Posted 1 year ago # -
19 and Counting
Member
What the hell is SAF going to do? Does he bring in Smalling for Rafael? Does he shore up the MF and bring in Giggs or Park or bring Rooney back and go with Welbeck up top? Listening to SAF yesterday, I really don't think even he knows. Oh how we are missing Fletcher right now 'cause he would be the perfect guy to come in and do a job in central MF.
My heart says 2-1 with a late United winner but my head says a City win. Hope my fookin' heart prevails...
Posted 1 year ago # -
19 and Counting
Member Commenter said:
There is an horrific rumour going around that United may use Park to “contain” City! (well,it was on BBC text via “The Sun” so it must be true)!Is he still at the club?Yeah I've heard that too. I've also heard SAF playing Giggsy and taking out Valencia so you can't go by rumours. I honestly don't think SAF even knows his starting 11 yet.
Posted 1 year ago # -
brianofnazareth
Member
sheesh said:
I'm pretty confident we will concede a goal or 2 tomorrow. I wonder whether we will have the firepower to cause problems at the other end depending on the side that lines up.Pretty pissed off that we've allowed things to come to this tbh. Totally avoidable.
I'm the same way, I'm dreading the game tonight and I'm sure that's not the idea...
I'm not being all doom and gloom but I just cannot see any chance of a win for us tonight!
I'm sure for the 1-6 thrashing we owe them payback!
The difference between stupidity and genius is that genius has its limits.....Posted 1 year ago #
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