Manchester City vs. Manchester United

Plan A almost worked. Another two minutes and we'd be where we wanted to be until we bring on fresh legs after 10 or 15 mins of the second half. SAF will have a Plan B.
 
We're just unable to play the pressing game for more than 10min. Giggs and Scholes don't have the legs for it and Carrick is too slow.

And we haven't got Vidic, VDS and the Evra of old to just sit back and wait.

Our best bet is attack and now at least we have to do it.
 
We just look slow compared to them once they settled, that midfield trio is very one paced and they are making that count with their quicker style.

I guess Valencia will come on but that wont help the fact that Rooney is isolated.
 
At least we'll be forced to approach the 2nd half differently. If we'd have gone in 0-0 they'd have probably scored later on and give us less time to comeback.

Uninspiring half, but we can do it...
 
Ignore redricho, you'll a more intelligent conversation out of a brick wall.
 
Niall Quinn is a laughable commentator. What utter shite, he's making me want to vomit with his utter shite commentry. What the feck are Sky playing at getting him on?
 
Park is playing fine. His task is to keep Yaya quiet and he's done that. He's shit on the ball as usual of course, but that's not the point of playing him. Just put on Valencia or Young for Giggs and play more offensive. No other changes needed.
 
Just stuck a tenner on us to win.
 
Still only hoping for a draw. We haven't won a game this season yet after going under but we have drawn some.

First 10 minutes were very good. After that we went to European style football. Kept up some okay-ish pressuring. City's lead is only due to a marking mistake during set pieces. Nothing brilliant.
 
If we play Park or Giggs I'm going to be on suicide watch. Both of whom, especially against teams like City who can both hold possession and pressure with tenacity add nothing and in parks case his technical inadequacies are exposed and in Giggs' case his physical inadequacies are exposed in that play just passes him by. I'd have Cleverley ahead of either of them.

Yep.
 
-Park has not done his job imo. Okay he pressed Yaya' but usually the reason why he's there is he can dribble and pick passes and actually be powerful... the lack of game play, stamina has shown and he already looks gone after 45 minutes... Bad choice and needs a change ASAP if we are looking for a goal..

Giggsy LW, as much as I love the legend, him and Evra has been totally awful and has been exposed too many times by Zabaleta, they've basically attacked the left flank only if they had the chance, we have to definitely change this or we are going to be fecked.

Welbeck for Park, Valencia for Giggsy/Scholes...

Only thing I can see us get back into the game.
 
Closing down Yaya Toure constantly?

I'd get Young or Valencia on for Giggs. He's been so off the pace and Evra can't defend that side on his own.

Closing down? He's chasing shadows. Toure has still managed 43/45 passes. It's not working and he has been awful.
 
A real kick in the teeth to concede a goal right before the stroke of halftime. Usually we are the ones inflicting the damage in that way. You can't even say it wasn't deserved becaue we chose to sit back and defend for almost an entire half and they kept turning the screw on us. Rio and Smalling both fell asleep to allow kompany to score and in a match of this magnitude it only takes one mistake to lose.

We have defended very well up until the goal. Although it always seemed like we were a step slower to every ball than the citeh players. Even though our strategy is to absorb the pressure and hit them on the counter, everytime we get to their end of the pitch and give it away, its citeh who seem to break much faster than we do!

I like PJS and the way he works his bollocks off on the pitch. But tonight he is doing absolutely feck all. Yes he is chasing and running all over the pitch but he hasn't won a single tackle and gotten us the ball back. When we are in possession of the ball every move breaks down when he gets the ball or fails to get it. He is the weak link in the attack and citeh can see it because they easily push him off the ball the second he touches it. He is playing like he is drunk really. I can see why SAF might want a player like Kagawa for that role in the midfield because PJS is certainly not cut out for it.

This might force us to change up the formation a little bit and attack. The way we were set out in the first half reminded me of how we used to lineup against the gooners back in the day. The only difference is we're not putting in any hard tackles and this citeh side are very patient.

Its 45 minutes till the title is lost. Will be very interesting to see if Fergie makes any changes but we're getting overrun possession-wise even with a 5 man midfield. Switching to a 4 man midfield with Scholes/Giggs in it might just be the nail in the coffin.
 
Need to make changes promptly and try to force the game in a direction that will allow us to create a chance or two. No point in trying to sit back and defend a one goal deficit.
 
SAF will stick with Giggs, just wait and see. I do think he'll take Park off at the half. Probably Nani and Valencia wide with Giggs in the hole.

Would prefer to see Rooney drop in the hole with Welbeck's pace able to catch City pushing forward with Nani and Valencia wide. City's front four are not exactly looking to do dirty work defensively so SAF can open up this match.
 
Harsh on park. He has closed down all over our half.the problem tonight is we are up against a better side
 
And why on earth are we giving Nasri so much space? He's been causing havoc down our left flank.
 
We havent come back to win a match from a goal down all season have we? (I'm sure I read that stat on here)