Manchester Derby - Red or Blue?

Come Monday night, the pride of Manchester is what is at stake. Or so what I hear from the city fans (whose number was on the rise last year but has been on check so far this year...LOL) while devils like me though would like to entertain the thought, is nothing more than a taunt to mask the present state of affairs in the BPL standings. I agree the games between the Manchester sides are always pulsating and bound to invoke high emotion. I have ended up watching the dying moments of the last few derbies standing/restless with bated breath silently pleading the referee to bring the curtains down if United were up or allow extra seconds for a comeback if they were down. Now, having decided against watching late kickoffs (disadvantages of being 5:30 hours ahead of GMT), I have rather resigned myself to write on some pre-game analysis this time around than a match report.

My guess for the team for derby is below but you can never pick Sir Alex’s brain with the headache he has getting the selection right with the arsenal at his disposal...no pun intended.

Starting XI: De Gea, Rafael, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra, Young, Carrick, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, van Persie

Substitutes: Lindegaard, Smalling, Buttner, Valencia, Kagawa, Cleverley, Welbeck, Hernandez

I have gone for a 4-4-1-1 formation that has been used predominantly this season against an expected 4-2-3-1 from the citizens. I don’t think Mancini would try his 3-5-2 against United given the returns they have seen when used this season.

Looking at the figure below, it is clear as a sky that I want the attack to originate from the right wing where you can count on Rafael and Nani hoping they are at their marauding best. Rooney to play a No. 10 role behind RVP but could interchange as the game proceeds. I have my reasons for not having Cleverley or Kagawa in the team sheet. The former to avoid a stronger blue midfield running circles around him while the latter for his physical build or the lack of it and not to be swatted around by Yaya like a fly. Carrick being a certain starter for the games this season needs no explanation. Giggs on the other hand has the experience to cope up with talent he would come up against and weave some brilliance of his own though not venturing forward as often.

Phil Jones vs Kun Aguero:

                Jones has been singled out for praise by Ferguson describing him animal for football. The lad has shown tremendous improvement from his days in Rovers where he was a standout performer making United to knock on his doors. He made his reputation for big killings marking the star men out of the game and most recently against Ronaldo still fresh in our memory (actually making Ronaldo switch flanks). Jones, if picked will try to contain the diminutive Argentinean centre forward – Aguero. The striker is astute in reading the game and an exponent of breaking offside trap. His strength and agility are his advantages when playing off the last defender. We will never forget him for the heartache he caused last season by whisking away the league trophy from United’s grasp with virtually the final kick of the season. I have to admit though he may want to run into Ferdinand who can be an easy prey for Kun (well given his age and speed) and Jones will have to double up. Having said this, Aguero will not be the only threat United defence will come up against as they have a Spanish magician Silva, another Argentinean Carlos Mercenary and the bull dog Yaya Toure.

Wayne Rooney vs Gareth Barry:

                Hoping Wazza makes a comeback from his injury and starts the game, will give a much needed fillip as the linkup between the forward line and midfield that has been missing in the last few games. Slotted behind RVP, he can counter City’s midfield stranglehold and is already developing a telepathic understanding with RVP. As shown in the figure above, Rooney can combine with Nani on the right to target Clichy who is the weakest in the otherwise strong backline thereby drawing Nastasic before cutting back into the box to score or supply the ball to RVP. To negate this effect would be Barry’s objective deployed as a holding midfielder who goes about doing his business with minimal fuss. In Barry, City has a right foil for Toure who can cover both ends of the field in attack and in defence. Though teammates in the national setup, this will never comes across Barry’s mind on Monday as his thoughts would only on how to disrupt United’s rhythm and initiate counter attacks.

Robin Van Persie vs Vincent Kompany:

                It has been 9 games since RVP scored and the forward as well as the fans alike would like the barren run to stop in this intense game. RVP endeared himself to the fans pretty quick in the first season that saw his name being chanted. A finisher of highest quality who is adept at playing a No. 10 will be a marked man on Monday (and him being a marksmanJ). He brought in a fresh breath of air to the team when he broke ranks with the Gunners in search of glory. If we end up winning the league which we are at a touching distance, the Dutchman will have been a major reason. He possesses a great vision and passing/dribbling skills that he can create goals too. Allow him time and space at your peril and this is where Kompany fits in with ease. City’s defence was never the same without their captain out with injury. Turning up for his country couple of weeks back had his manager fuming for risking his participation in club’s remaining matches. Such is the trust placed on him who is a classic centre back, not frightened diving into tackles and nullifying any threat. He has a commanding presence in the field and will be tasked to deter RVP from taking any shot on the goal.

               To conclude, the game is going to be a mouth watering clash and feel sad for missing this out. If the game did live up to the billing, I might catch a replay or decide to watch highlights if the game fizzles out as other hyped games have been this season. Let us wait and watch how I had fared in second guessing both Sir Alex’s and Roberto’s tactics. I have a very low expectation to be honest. J

My Prediction: 2-2