The buildup to the Manchester Derby has obviously been overshadowed by the 50th aniversary of the Munich air disaster. Touching moments hearing the survivors talking about their experience. I would expect the city fans to show respect as one of their own Frank Swift lost his life in the tragedy.
With both Rooney and Evra suspended for the game Fergie has a dilema on his hands. Will he play Ronaldo up front with Tevez and play Nani and Giggs on the wings or go with the promising 17 year old Danny Welbeck up front. I would say Wellbeck will be on the bench. The central midfield is hard to predict. I would start with Anderson and Hargreaves as I thought they really did well in the Arsenal and Liverpool away games. Its going to be a tricky game. City are always going to be up for it although I can see United winning eventually maybe 2.0.
That was beautiful - truly beautiful. City thoroughly outplayed and outclassed United and in truth deserved to win by more. Hamann was immense and owned the midfield - a legend of a player.
United were shocking. They never looked like scoring in the second half. If they had snatched a draw there it would have been the biggest travsity ever.
United despite playing bad deserved a draw. The 2nd goal was offside for city and Tevezs goal was onside as it deflected off a city man on his way in. Missed Rooney today as his presence would have gave Dunne and Richards something to think about. Giggs and Scholes are finished in my book. Was shocked how Giggs played 90.
Ridiculous comment, you were clearly watching a different game. United were shambolic today and got what they deserved. Iâve never seen so many poorly executed passes from a united team, far far too many basic errors, offered nothing going forward and to be honest a few of them didnât even seem interested. The Munich angle and the distractions of the past week etc canât be used as an excuse either - these guys are professionals, if they donât have the ability to switch on for a derby game then they should be playing with the local pub team. Ronaldo was too busy complaining about the state of the pitch to have any impact - the pitch is bad, youâre well aware of that and its the same for both teams so get on with it. Giggs really looked like a winger with a lot of miles on the clock but heâs still required for another season as Nani and Park are just not up to it at the moment. Scholes tried to get things going but was let down by the ineptitude of those around, and particularly ahead, of him. Van der Sar is looking a bit David James-esque in his twilight years and that coupled with Ferdinandâs tendency to pass the ball directly to attacking opponents (3 glaring examples today) doesnât bode well for the latter stages of the CL. As below par as Rooney has been of late, his presence in the team and general enthusiasm was missed yet again (heâs been absent for all of unitedâs defeats this season. Not sure if we should read too much into that but itâs pretty sad if a club with so much talent and cash to spend is so reliant on one player). Long way to go yet but difficult to see them overtaking Arsenal now based on the form of both teams.
City got a goal on the counter and a goal that should have been flagged for offside. Hamann should have went for that two footer on Nani. City just raised it for United. I didnt see them try that hard against Arsenal last week. They are a sham of a team.
United did deserve a draw. As I said citys 2nd shouldnt have been allowed as Petrov was offside when he recieved the ball. 1.0 at half time and it would have been different. Ferguson has to play Hargreaves and either Anderson/Carrick in the central midfield. Scholsey is finished due to age and the injuries and he dosent seem to get the shots away that he used to. I dont like to say it but it has to be said. Also forgot to say that Evra was really missed today. John O Shea just looked so out of place going forward. United are short a target man striker. Anelka would have been perfect. I think if they can get Berbatov in the summer it would be some coup.
Very disappointing all together. Utd were pretty poor today. Anderson was good and Tevez worked his bollocks off but that was about it. Man City were damn lucky with their goals but we had 45 minutes to get back into it and never really threatened. Giggs was pants, but the real problem is that with OâShea and Brown as full backs, we lack that attacking ability that stretches teams so much when itâs Evra and Neville. We really need an attacking right back. We were a bit predictable and Dunne and Richards ate up every attack. It shows that letting Manucho go out on loan might have been a poor move, we had no attacking option on the bench that they were willing to use. Thought the subs were a bit mad. Giggs and Scholes only stayed on because of the munich thing and Fergie thought they might do something. Anderson was the only one really trying to force things, and he was taken off. Park for Nani is a nothing switch.
Jugs has one decent comment, that itâs hard to see United winning the league on current form.
Farmer is a loon, although it must be some effort for a heart to pump blood up that high, so a bit of light headedness is to be expected. Strange to see you praise Hamann, youâd think you might have praised him a bit before this seen as he used to play for Liverpool and you sold him, to be replaced by Sissoko. Canât argue with his assertions though, as Farmer will always have a better overview of a game than the likes of me, or anyone.
I think the Manucho move was out of necessity for a work permit rather than United not wanting him. I heard the lad Welbeck was in with a chance of playing but didnt even make the bench. I think that the balance of the team was all wrong. I think Hargreaves should have started so he could have marked Hamann out of the game. Its the system that is failing Utd. I think the 4-4-1-1 is better suited to European games. Tevezs skills were no match for the physical play of Dunne and Richards. A right back and a centre forward are top of the shopping list in the summer. Lahm or Alves would be good buys and of course Berbatov or even someone like Yakubu who has done United damage in the past.
Not giving up on this season by any means though, Shan. Weâre still shithot defensively and weâll always get goals. A bit of a blip at the moment and that team will click again this season but, A right back is a must. Although Iâm sure those Brazilian twins will be animal eventually. Weâre not far off. If we do buy a striker it has to be an out and out frontman type.
I know its not over Juhniallio but if Arsenal win tomorrow night its going to be very tough to claw them back. The run in for United is not very kind with trips to Blackburn and Middlesborough notorious bad grounds for us in the past. The cup game on Saturday is shaping up to be a cracker. Its the perfect game for a response.
If Scholsey is playing then its certain. I think that United have to go back to the blueprint of a few years back of tough hard ugly football when you play Arsenal. The likes of Rooney have to get stuck in and not give them a second to settle on the ball. United of today are actually playing more like Arsenal of a few years back looking for the perfect goal. Arsenal with [SIZE=2]Adebayor[/SIZE] have changed their style of play and put balls in the box for him to head in.
I have to laugh at you jokers. Go bury your collective thick heads in the sand. Were you actually watching the same game as me?
City got two lucky goals - how were they lucky? In the same way that Tevezâs goal against Liverpool was lucky? The truth is that you were beaten up badly by City who deserved to win by one or two more. Completely outclassed United in every area of the pitch.
Dunne and Richards are not overly physical. They are damn good defenders who nullified the 20/30 odd million of Tevez completely. Juhniallio would probably be the guy to slate the likes of Kuyt for âworking his bollocks offâ and have no end product. That was Tevez today and is not something I would be praising in a player.
Oh so Hargreaves would have changed the game? Getting fucking real. And how exactly do you mark a holding midfielder? Hamann, all thirty odd years of him dominated the midfield with the likes of Andersen looking lke the boy he is.
United were muck and were beaten up badly and I am fucking delighted.
Donât know what Juhniallio is on about with Hamann. First of all Sissoko did not replace him, they were there for a season together. Scondly I always rated the guy and was disappointed to see him leave. Whatâs your point you smelly little shit?
Hamann and his two footer on Nani. That was shocking. I think Howard Webb had a stinker. I recall Richards handle the ball early in the game and Webb points to his foot. Laughable really. Two offside decisions go against United regarding Citys 2nd and Tevezs disallowed goal.
Shan, Tevezâ strike was clearly offside. A defleciton doesnât count as a new phase of play. The ManU player struck the ball and it deflected off a City player. Tevez was 4-5 yards offside when the ball was played. Themâs the rules.
I didnât see the match but saw the City goals afterwards. Andy Gray showed an angle to prove Petrov was offside for the second goal but they drew a line across the pitch that was clearly crooked because it started 5 yards from one corner flag and ended up at the other corner flag. I think itâs next to impossible to say whether Petrov was offside or not.
Tevez was about two yards offside.
Petrov was still standing at the corner flag so thereâs no need to worry about Andy Grayâs shite, you can just look across the line. Not suprised the linesman missed it, though.
Vassell was damn lucky in that he hits a shot at a pretty open goal thatâs going wide, it rebounds off our keeper and he gets a second bite at the cherry.
The main problem is Utd were shit today, and worryingly so. Got to get our shit together to hand the Gunners their arses on a plate next week.
Petrov was offside. Its hard to find a video as hes out of the picture in the best angle you can see it in. Andy Gray proof is good enough for me. I would trust him over Johnny Giles.