Man Utd (a) preview.
We are back in League Cup action on Wednesday night for the Manchester derby at Old Trafford again. I'm not excited for the game, I shouldn't imagine United fans are either. Both teams have been underwhelming as of late. Both need a result and expect both teams will put strong teams out (not first xi but 6-7 will start).
I'll start with how I think the game will go. United will be up for the game, they lost the derby last time and will want to right their wrongs. United lack some leadership on the pitch, City too. If Rooney is fit to play, he will play. United will look to defend in numbers, as Mourinho does and will look to take some of their opportunities. City make a lot of mistakes so United will get chances to score. The most important goal, however, is who scores first. Whoever scores first, wins this game for me... If anyone scores at all. I'm not ruling out a 0-0. I expect United will play with pace on the wings and look for strength in the midfield. I think United will win this game 2-1. I think City will make some changes but I'm really negative right now and I think United will do the job on us. How painful to say.
I expect City will make some changes. Caballero will probably start. He does love the competition after all. Who can forget the heroics of Wembley against Liverpool in this competition last season. I hope Zabaleta will be fit to play, he'll play and Clichy too. Kolorov has played a lot of games over the last few months and he isn't getting any younger. Kompany, for fitness reasons, could start and might not start for that reason too. Gundogan too. Otamendi didn't play yesterday, so I suspect he will start. Stones will probably start too. If we play 3 at the back, any of those defenders mentioned could start. This is where it gets difficult. Fernandinho has played every game and looks knackered. I've said it for the last two weeks. He needs a rest. Fernando or Delph should start, or shove one of the defensive covers (like Stones) in the CDM, give Fernandinho a break. I think KDB will be rested (he picked up a little knock yesterday in the first half it seems) so Silva could well play, with Delph or Garcia in the middle. We could try Sterling or Nolito in the central role, I hope so as Sterling looked really comfortable there in the last few minutes yesterday and looked really threatening. Iheanacho will probably start, Aguero may start (he needs some confidence) and two up top worked second half yesterday. But two up top, away, sounds like a disaster but who knows with Pep. Anyone could play anywhere. I'm not too bothered though about this game. I'd like Nolito to start as he looks fantastic. He makes direct runs, dribbles, twists and turns and can use both feet. He was crucial in our midfield play in our win at OT last month. Navas could start too (rotation). For United, Bailley sounds like he is out for a while, will Pogba and Ibrahimovic start? Maybe. I expect Rooney to start if he is fit, their new German signing too on the wings, if he is fit. I'm sure we'll see Fellani at some point too and maybe Rashford and another one or two youngsters.
My score prediction is 2-1 Manchester United. They will be up for the game, City make a lot of mistakes and United will have a point to prove after the hammering off Chelsea yesterday. City need a response too and the derby is a good time to do this, but we look but awful and disinterested at the moment. That 3-3 with Celtic has phychologically got to the team and we need to win soon otherwise our season could be in ruins. City cling onto top spot in the Premier League but if they play like they have over the last couple of weeks, they won't win any games. No team in the Premier League are walkovers and you need to be at your very best, at all times. I'm not too bothered about the EFL trophy (League Cup). City have won it twice in three years. I'd love an FA Cup run though. So if we go out, we go out fighting please and if we make no mistakes and United earn their goals then I won't be disappointed. If we can win, fantastic, use it as momentum. But the bigger games for City come on Saturday, WBA away. A negative Tony Pulis side in the Premier League. We need to start winning games in the league, and soon otherwise we'll find ourselves like last season and chasing too many points. When you can't catch teams, you fall and then it becomes difficult to make a success. Look at last season and us just squeezing 4th place. This season is shadowing that... Apart from we got to a semi-final of the Champions League, something we are miles away from now. We'll do well to qualify right now for the last 16 with Barcelona at home, Monchengladbach away and Celtic at home. All difficult games. Every game is a difficult game. Welcome to English football.
Team prediction for tomorrow -
Caballero, Zabaleta, Stones, Otamendi, Clichy, Fernando, Silva, Sterling, Navas, Nolito, Iheanacho.
