Welbeck is a doubt according to SSN
I'd personally play the same XI that started against Leverkusen.
I'd personally play the same XI that started against Leverkusen.
Manchester City vs. Manchester United
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I think it will be the same team that played against Leverkusen but have a feeling Giggs will replace Kagawa. Hopefully Rafael is back, City are weak down the left hand side and we exploited that last time at the Etihad
Would you choose Valencia over any of our available right backs?
Did the cnuts at the presser really not ask a thing about Nani or Rafael?
Right now with Rafael injured, yes.
Now your question is I guess, what about Fabio? Seeing that Fabio played just once this season, and that was our easiest fixture so far, and that few times he wasn't even on the bench, plus we played Jones, Smalling, and Valencia in that position before him probably indicates that he isn't really that good as some people think, or at least not yet.
As for Jones, and Smalling, I just don't think they offer too much attacking wise when played in that position, we aren't creating too much on that wing when they are playing there.
Having played in the champions league final indicates that he probably is good enough, being match fit and in top condition are different matters however.
Moyes didn't seem to want to divulge too much about injured/returning players which makes me think there will be a few SAF-like surprises.
I'm glad you're not the man making the decisions in that case Amar. Valencia can be useful at RB but not in a game like this.
Without Kagawa, surely?
I thought Kagawa was decent against Leverkusen.
CL final is completely different approach, and different game, and we had no one except O'shea to play there anyway. But, at this moment in time, judging by Moyes' team selections, he probably isn't.
You don't have to worry, I will never be that man anyway. I just don't see what's so wrong with Valencia playing as RB, I think he was excellent every time played there.
Our of curiosity, who is your RB pick for tomorrow?
You get the same defensive output from Valencia at RB as you would having him at RM. All that happens is that you lose his attacking threat. So, I don't see why (when there are viable options at RB) you would start with such an attacking weapon back there.
I would go for Fabio but understand the attributes Smalling brings to a game like the City one.
So why not keep that attacking threat (up for debate who would be better at the moment for this game) and have a more natural defender behind him?
Fabio. I know Smalling played well t'other night but Fabio offers much more offensively and now we've added Fellaini we don't need to worry about playing a big lad at RB to compensate for lack of height.
Fair enough, it will be interesting who will Moyes pick, judging by our wishes, it will be probably Smalling.
If the other options are Giggs and Young then let's keep Kagawa. If Nani is fit he should start.
Read again my first few posts on this, I said I'd like to see Nani and Welbeck too.
Fair enough, it will be interesting who will Moyes pick, judging by our wishes, it will be probably Smalling.
That's my expectation.
Yeh, that's fine, I'm talking about the defensive aspect at RB. We have plenty of viable attacking options on the right, defensively though, it's a battle between two and rightly so.
I'd probably go so:
De gea
Fabio Ferdinand Vidic evra
Valencia Carrick fellaini nani
Rooney
Van Persie
Well balanced all around, and this lineup is probably best suited for a game like this. Kagawa isn't fit enough yet for a game like this, and smalling just isn't good enough at right back for me. Hopefully Rooney keeps up the form.
Also playing Valencia at right back would be a terribly idea. He's not a right back at all. His positioning when he's there is all over the place and he isn't good enough defensively to be a right back in such a big game where it's likely we won't dominate possession.
De gea
Fabio Ferdinand Vidic evra
Valencia Carrick fellaini nani
Rooney
Van Persie
Well balanced all around, and this lineup is probably best suited for a game like this. Kagawa isn't fit enough yet for a game like this, and smalling just isn't good enough at right back for me. Hopefully Rooney keeps up the form.
Also playing Valencia at right back would be a terribly idea. He's not a right back at all. His positioning when he's there is all over the place and he isn't good enough defensively to be a right back in such a big game where it's likely we won't dominate possession.
I agree with all of this except that Smalling has played great at right back on a few occasions now, not just a fantastic shift against Leverkusen last week but he looked comfortable there during the preseeason and a couple of times last term. I rate him above Fabio at RB, and Fabio above everyone but Evra at LB.
Really? I'm just not a fan of him there and I didn't think he was too good against Leverkusen. He impressed me going forward because usually he can't cross or pass or do anything with the ball really, but defensively he tends to drift inwards all the time and act as a third centre back almost instead of a right back. He'd probably be my 4th choice right back when everyone's fit.
Smalling was excellent against Leverkusen, defensively speaking. But he gives feck all going forward so I hope it's Fabio or Rafael if he's fit
Well if he's blind, then I'm afraid you are rubbish at assessing a players performance. That is if you are suggesting "anything but decent" implies he was shit.
He was below average. It was understandable because he was rusty but he's nowhere near fit enough to play tomorrow.
I think Moyes will have Valencia at RB for this, and Nani ahead of him. These two will tear that wing apart against Clichy or Kolarov on that side
I'm always for playing players in their best positions, not shoe-horning your top players into positions they aren't that comfortable in. Smalling did well against Leverkusen, and it was the right game to play him there what with their height, but he's not comfortable enough on the ball and not a good enough passer to be a full-back, especially against City.
As for Valencia, the value of his massive defensive contribution is that he does it from an attacking position, whilst still providing a great offensive contribution. Play him at RB, and he's just a slightly uncomfortable defender. Personally, even as a Nani fan, I think Valencia's earned the start on the wing against City. He was massive against Leverkusen, and has been getting better and better this season. But either play him there or don't play him.
If Rafael's still out, it has to be Fabio at RB.
As for Valencia, the value of his massive defensive contribution is that he does it from an attacking position, whilst still providing a great offensive contribution. Play him at RB, and he's just a slightly uncomfortable defender. Personally, even as a Nani fan, I think Valencia's earned the start on the wing against City. He was massive against Leverkusen, and has been getting better and better this season. But either play him there or don't play him.
If Rafael's still out, it has to be Fabio at RB.
Valencia at RB makes no sense. I don't think Smalling will come in because City don't have that aerial threat that Leverkusen did so it's got to be Fabio.
Huge vocal effort needed tomorrow. Always a quality atmosphere whenever we're at the Ethiad, and tomorrow can't be any different.
City have the likes of Dzeko, Negredo and Toure bombing into the box. Then you have the big guys coming up for corners. They are a massive set of players.
In saying that, I am hoping for Fabio as well but I fully understand Moyes going with Smalling.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...Manchester-City-dream-team--Martin-Keown.html
Martin Keown picks a Manchester 11. Would be some team tbf and I'd agree with most of it if not all of it.
Martin Keown picks a Manchester 11. Would be some team tbf and I'd agree with most of it if not all of it.
DDG
Zabaletta - Kompany - Vidic - Evra
Toure - Carrick - Fellaini
Aguero - Rooney - RVP
Some team that would be.
We have the two centrebacks, Carrick, Fellaini, RVP and Rooney all very good in the air defending corners. That's plenty of height.
(saying that City will now surely score from a header)
...wh..what?
Hopefully I can get two in a row and predict the front four and two CM's for this one and we get a similar result:
RVP
Rooney ______
Welbeck _________________
________________ Nani
Fellaini - Carrick
I'm worried about how much of a rest Giggs has had though.
For the Mail that's a passable selection. Personally I'd have Silva in for Fellaini and Rafa in for Zabaleta, and make it look like this:
DDG
Rafael Kompany Vidic Evra
Carrick Toure
Silva Rooney Aguero
RVP
But broadly it's about right. I do like how much he sweats over selecting DDG ahead of Hart, as if the former wasn't excellent and the latter shite for the vast majority of last season as well as the start of this one.
Feeling quite confident for the match. I think we will outplay them on every aspect of the game. Hoping for some amazing goal as well... Rooney probably, or maybe RVP.
Smalling was great against Leverkusen. I think he deserves to start this one.
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