@EPL-Pune: Tomorrows
Manchester Derby will be this season’s title decider in English football. From
equal number matches (30) United are leading city by 15 points. A win for
United will put them 18 points clear which means that, city will have to win
all the matches and hope & pray for united to lose at least five of their matches.
Considering the current form of united, it will be insane to even think of
that. We will have a small analysis of both teams’ chances to win title.
Manchester United Matches
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Manchester City Matches
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Man UTD Vs Man CITY
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Man UTD Vs Man CITY
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STOKE Vs Man UTD
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Man CITY Vs WBA
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WHM Vs Man UTD
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Man CITY Vs Wigan
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Man UTD Vs AST VILLA
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TOT Vs Man CITY
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ARS Vs Man UTD
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Man CITY Vs WHM
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Man UTD Vs CHL
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SWA Vs Man CITY
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Man UTD Vs SWA
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RED Vs Man CITY
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WBA Vs Man UTD
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Man CITY Vs NOR
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Both teams have four home & four away fixtures.
Manchester United:
The three tough fixtures are home to Man city, away to
Arsenal & home to Chelsea. If united can see through these fixtures then
they are almost there on the podium. This will be a sweet revenge for the heart
break that united supporters suffered last season, in the last match, by a last
minute goal by Kun Aguero. Sir Alex wouldn’t have thought of losing title by
goal difference. This season so far has been better from united; they have
improved lot in defense in the second half of the season. Rooney & Van
Persie in good goal scoring form. There could be many contenders for united
player of the season but for me, it has to be shared by two. “The master
finisher Van Persie and the master holding midfielder Michel Carrick.”
Last season on a similar derby night Sir Ales fielded a mere
defensive line up and united lost to a solitary header by Kompany. He will be
more cautious not to repeat the mistake.
He may opt for a 4-1-3-2 line up.
Johns ( LB ),
Ferdinand ( CB ), Vidic ( CB), Evra ( RB ), Carrick ( CDM ), Young ( RW ),
Rooney ( CAM ), Nani ( LW ), Van Persie ( ST ), Welbeck ( CF ).
(This is just
what I think, will be different from what Sir Alex thinks..)
key Competetion :
- Johns & Evra will have to check runs of Clichy & Zabaleta.
- Carrick will have to stop the free flow passing by Man city Midfielders
- Nani & Young will have to do little more defensive duty as well.
- Vidic & Ferdinand will have to mark Tevez & Silva.
- Header Threat: Dzeko, Zabaleta, Kompany, Yaya Toure
- Long Ranger Threat: Zabaleta, Yaya Toure, Tevez
The two tough fixtures are away to Man UTD, away to Tottenham.
City will have to win all the matches to give them any chance of winning the
title plus hope for united slip up. City became champions last season, in the last
match, by a last minute goal by Kun Aguero. Roberto Mancini wouldn’t have
thought of winning title by goal difference. The season so far has been jittery
from Man CITY. They will be looking for a revival of their season by beating
their fierce cross town rivals.
Man CITY won last season derby on a similar night by a solitary
header by Kompany. I still remember jubilant Kompany rising so high towards the
corner flag to celebrate his goal. Mancini will opt for an all out attacking
strategy.
He may opt for a 4-1-3-2 line up. Clichy( LB ), Kompany( CB ), Lescott(
CB),
Zabaleta( RB ), Yaya ( CDM ), Milner ( RW ), Silva ( CAM ), Nasri ( LW ), Tevez
( ST ), Aguero ( CF ).
(This is just what I think, will be different from what
Roberto Mancini thinks ...)
key battle :
- Clichy & Zabaleta will have to check runs of Johns & Evra.
- Yaya Toure will have to stop the free flow passing by Man UTD Midfielders
- Nasri & Milner will have to do little more defensive duty as well.
- Kompany & Lescott will have to mark Persie & Rooney.
- Header Threat: Vidic, Van Persie, Evra, Welbeck
- Long Ranger Threat: Carrick, Rooney, Van Persie
My prediction is Man UTD will win the derby & be the eventual champions
of this season.
Courtesy for fixtures :
BBC, goal.com, google
