Match Day Thread City v/s United

Interesting match in prospect at the Etihad with Pep's city slickers against Jose's smooth posers.

With Zlatan and Pogba, his 2 constants throughout the season, out with injuries will JM play an LVG team

With Rashford Lingard, martial, Carrick Herrera Fellaini starting? Not favourites but could spring a surprise. Fingers crossed.

 

Games going to be hard, a draw would be fine a win will be sweet

 

City at home and bound to attack and have lots of possession. JM is going to be pragmatic. Let them have the ball as key players are missing. United's strength will be in the counter. Rashford and not Rooney. Blind will need to step up.

 

The pivotal game of the season without doubt.

We win this and we'll get top four, probably third, as well have float going into the Arsenal and Spurs games. Anything else and especially a loss and we won't. I think it's that black and white.

Shame about Pogba being injured as he has far more energy and mobility than Carrick and Fellaini but we're stuck with that situation so have to get on with it.

I genuinely think we'll win a tight game but worry about Blind at centre half v Aguero. A lot.

 

Really key match. A win will be massive but I don't think we'll be out of the woods even then.

We obviously have to win all the matches against Swansea, palace Southampton. Which are not a given. If we do then we could afford only one loss or draw in the Spurs and Arsenal matches.

Agree though that a loss means that we very likely are out of it. We would be left with the RS having to **** up under pressure as usual.

 

Interesting comments from Mouriniho yesterday - is publicly pissed off at Smalling and Jones for not rushing back and he doesn't like the cautious culture at the club. Mouriniho vs medical staff again?

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2017/apr/26/paul-pogba-misses-manchester-derby-united-city

 

That's the problem with JM. He strays into areas that are not for him to comment. It is one thing to gee up your players another to get them to play when they are injured.

 

Was thinking the same thing, we really do need to win. However there will be slight hope if we draw providing Liverpool don't win there remaining games.

I lose will **** us.

 

This match is much more important for United than City. We just need to win by hook or by crook

 

Not really - you still have the Europa Cup while City have nothing.

Arsenal's jammy win over us helps you a lot as they will be desperate for the points and when they inevitably bugger up, you have the players to pounce.

 

Crap game so far.

 

Jose gameplan or we simply can't live with City's pressing?

Herrera should've scored at the end of that half.

 

I think it's even.

Two different styles both creating chances. Happy enough with the first half, we look capable of nicking a goal or two on the break and that has to be the aim.

City can win the passing, no trouble. Unless they score a couple it means **** all.

 

I think the plan was to let them have the ball up to the hallway line to draw their defenders out and leave room for our front 3. The problem is we have now dropped too deep and there is little room to play out when we win the ball back.

 

Yep spot on which is why I asked the question. We're riding our luck a bit tbh.

 

Although it could still go either way tbf.

 

City keeper caught a cross for the first time this season and got injured in the process.