ESPN Soccernet - Correspondents - Manchester City- It's just one game

Posted by Wallace Poulter on 10/22/2011

Really it is. Beat United or Stoke and the same three points are awarded. At the end of the season there isn't some asterisk that gets posted on the point total that improves the league position because a club beat United. And City need to approach it as such.

In the past the derby against United was in many ways the club's cup final. United were, and still are to some respects, the dominant force in English football. City were not in a position to challenge this in any way when a place in Europe and a decent cup run was about all the faithful could truly realistically hope for each season. But the game against United was different. Here, for a couple of games a year, was a chance to put one over Ferguson and co.

For all the talk of Arab money and the investment in the club the derby remained the most important game of the year from a psychological standpoint. Beat United and them winning the league, again, was bearable because City had come out on top in the only game that mattered. This changed in that epic two-leg League Cup semi-final. Ferguson, for one, took City seriously for possibly the first time in his career. It was the turning point in the realities of the derby. Though City lost over the two legs the foundation for the FA Cup semi final victory a season later had been set.

For winning the FA Cup isn't the most important thing that has happened to City recently. It was winning the cup and beating United on the way to that triumph. It was finally a practical victory rather than the perpetual hollow one; that artificial attempt to indicate that the end of the season be damned, City were better than United.

The club still isn't. City are competitive with United. The two clubs appear to be the two contenders for the league title although I still believe Chelsea, Liverpool or Spurs make some kind of run. What's required on Sunday is a pragmatic approach. A glorious effort in defeat is just that, a defeat. Should City take a point from United, and more importantly cause United to effectively lose two home points, then Roberto Mancini will be well on his way to an excellent first half of the season.

The City formation will tell us everything we need to know. A single striker and a packed midfield says Mancini gets it and is playing for the Premier League title. An adventurous formation with the emphasis on attack, ala the game against Spurs for example, offers the chance of a City victory, but also a crushing United win. Risk and reward. No longer is the season about one game...

Comments

Posted by Yitbarek on 10/22/2011

HI Wallace
i was waiting your article regarding the Teves issue
please let us know ur intake

Wallace Reply The comments of Mark Hughes have now given me that opportunity... stay tuned.

Posted by van emmerik on 10/22/2011

Looking forward to the game tomorrow, interesting to see what formation City will use!

Wallace Reply I believe it is the single most important decision of Roberto Mancini's tenure as the City manager. It will signal intent to the rest of the Premier League.

Posted by Isah on 10/22/2011

United wil beat city

Wallace Reply Quite possibly. It is after all a home game for United and they have a good team and useful squad. Curiously though were I making a City/United team it would be 7/4 in City's favor. The problem is that three of United'd four would be in the back and that tells you City's weakness, and my concern, going into the game.

Posted by Jim Kanichirayil - Chicago on 10/22/2011

This really puts things into perspective. While I have enjoyed CITY's recent form, they really haven't beaten anyone. You could make the case that Spurs and maybe Villa count but it would be rather weak. Against the best club that CITY faced this year (Bayern), we didn't do well.

While I agree that the match against United is worth the same as any other match, a part of me really wants to see CITY dish out a bloodbath. I don't really think that's realistic. Even though I'm a newer CITY fan, I have the same "beaten up little brother syndrome" that the more veteran fans have. I understand the "must win" nature of this match. With that being said, you're correct that this is just one match. Realistically , I would be just fine going 0-2 against United for the year and still winning the title.

Wallace Reply What I like about City's form is that they have beaten, with the exception of Fulham, the kind of clubs that would cause the team issues in the past. Drab draws and frustrating loses would normally be expected but instead we have seen Everton at home and Bolton away fall. Those are the sort of under the radar results that impact a season.

Posted by bluwes on 10/22/2011

Its ok for you guy's to pontificate about its just another game and you still get three points for the win, but I have to go in work in Manchester on Monday morning. The result makes a big difference to how my day will be....:) or :(

Wallace Reply Indeed.

Posted by JahJah on 10/22/2011

Agreed! Points wise its the same as every other game. But psychologically we need at least a point and to play well. On another note I noticed in one of your responses you said that United has 3 defenders in a Manchester all star team. Which brings me to my question. Why does Richards constantly get overlooked? Im assuming Kompany makes it, Lescott, Richards/Zaba and Clichy/Kolorov don't make it. But i think Richards is better than any option at right back for United. Closest person is Jones. He needs to be a regular in the England squad. Second related question. U claim that Silva and Kun are the only truly world class players on the squad. But De Jong is the best DCM in the league. Joe Hart the best keeper. Does that mean that the EPL has no world class DCM or keepers? Oh and who is the 4th United player? Rooney or Nani?

COME ON CITEH!!!!!

Wallace Reply Richards is an undisciplined defender with a lot of potential. He should have become England's right back for years to come, but he's too easily pulled out of position. I do indeed prefer Jones to Richards in an All-Manchester team.

Hart is a very good goalkeeper, but if I'm saying World class is at most five players deep at the position then Hart doesn't make that list. Good, but not "world class." de Jong is a fascinating case. Regular readers know how much I rate him. Like Hart, good but not top five.

Rooney would partner Aguero in an All-Manchester team with Hernandez really unlucky to be on the bench. Nani is too hit and miss for me.

Posted by Hari on 10/22/2011

Wallace,
agree that this is definitely the time to be a little cautious and go for a draw...at eastlands at the end of the season we will see what needs to be done......one thing though-who would you have up front-balo aguero or dzeko??

Wallace Reply Aguero

Posted by JahJah on 10/22/2011

I see...interesting. I am a regular reader so I know how you rate him. As I value your opinion, who are your top five Keepers, midfielders and strikers? If you have the time to suss it out....

Wallace Reply That's a column for another time. Something I've been kicking around.

Posted by Danny Myers on 10/22/2011

hi wallace... very interesting article. Im a united fan and would all but hate to see them lose tomorrow. Much as i berated last season about city's performance and how mancini was inadequate im forced to admit this season that he has impressed me massively. City's fire power this early in the league has proven that they are indeed a top class team. having said that, if you look at who united have played in chelsea, liverpool, Tottenham, arsenal and stoke away, city have had it fairly easy. I don't mean to take anything away from city's performance but do you think they have the squad and more importantly the mentality to be top of the league if it wasnt for the easy start?
ps : i think at £39 m, aguero was a bloody bargain!! his movement on and off the ball, dribbling and finishing is honestly worth it..

Wallace Reply Your point about United's schedule is completely valid. I was just thinking about that earlier today. It's a massive test for City. Personally I think City are top too early and would have preferred them to trail United until the New Year. Everyone is gunning for you if you are top of the league and it will be a challenge to stay there.

Posted by Hari on 10/22/2011

Wallace,
who would you play at left back to counter nani???
zaba kolarov or clichy?
zaba couldnt handlle nani last season at OT......

Wallace Reply Clichy although it is games like these that I miss Bellamy. He not only terrorized the United right side, but also hustled back in support.

Posted by Jon on 10/22/2011

I think I would go with Kolarov tomorrow, simply because if Mancini is going to pack the midfield (Yaya, De Jong, and either Barry or Milner) then the fullbacks need to get forward or it will be backs to the wall for 90 (97?) minutes, and Kolarov attacks much better than Clichy for my money. He had his best performance in Sky Blue against Villareal in the midweek, and I'd think that warrants a start.

Also, you've talked in the past about needing someone to make the pass when Silva is out, but James Milner has been sublime in the last few matches. He has really thrived when allowed to float a bit by Mancini, and his range of passing has been excellent (the ball to Adam Johnson in the lead up to the fourth goal was absolutely sublime).

Posted by harry soveno on 10/22/2011

curiously i make it a 5/6 in favour of city.
if your playing a 4 4 2, with nani on the right, nasri on the left, silva and de jong in the centre. And thats keeping in mind that young is on the bench, which would have been a close call. Nani would be more of a threat than milner in the centre.
I feel that the keeper spot goes to Hart only because VDS retired. Give de gea time and he may turn out to be a better keeper than Hart. His reflexes are super. Another thing city may have to keep in mind is the bench. In an all manchester bench, united i feel would have more/better subs. (hernandez, young, ferdinand, smalling etc), which again may be vital come tomorrow. I can see united's weakness though - midfield.

Wallace Reply Reflexes does not a great keeper make. Position is equally as important and I'm not convinced on De Gea.

Posted by Don-X on 10/22/2011

Going into the derby tomorow, the line up that I am hoping to see and I believe that will pay dividend against united is a 4-4-2 as follows :

4: Richards, Kompagny, Kolo ( or Lescott ), Kolarov

4: Silva, Dejong (as a DMF), Yaya, Nasri

2: Balo, Aguero

let's wait and see !! ..

Go CITY !!

Posted by James on 10/23/2011

Much to contemplate in your post (as always); this battered City fan wants desperately to see a victory to make those many losses palatable - and to see not just a win but an embarrassed Ferguson, too. But the hallmark of a focused, mature team and organization is knowing how to grind out a result whether you are favored or not, and tomorrow's game may very well let us know if we are there or not.

I wonder if Balotelli will get the start alone up top, or if he is still a bit too "incendiary" to trust in a match of this magnitude. ;)

Wallace Reply Remember that Balotelli was incredibly focused in the semi final against United last year in a very mature performance.

Posted by Anand on 10/23/2011

Hi Wallace,

Nice article, I admit I enjoy reading your blogs.
Very excited about tomorrow's game and sincerely hope city pull off a win! But I don't think Mancini is the highest caliber manager at top level, he manages wins against the lower and mid table teams but still not the one to master the top 4! I am speaking from his current CL and Inter's CL record. Although he has had excellent squad, he never managed to progress further in CL for Inter. This makes my doubt stronger. Your comments?

Wallace Reply I wouldn't be surprised if you turn out to be correct, but at the moment he's an FA Cup winning coach who got City into the Champions League and we'll take that.

Posted by MCFCBoy on 10/23/2011

One advantage that United have over City is Rooney's positioning during games. At times an out and out striker, at times playing as a second striker, a true no. 10, a winger and a CM in the same match. Thus United are essentially switching between a three/four/five man midfield at will. I believe how Mancini chooses to cover Rooney will dictate who wins the game. Do you think he will place De Jong on his tail for the entire game since we know De Jong is an excellent man-marker ?

Another problem area for City in this game is at RB. Richards is great going forward and provides a physical presence on the pitch but gets pulled out of position way too often. Zabaleta is a better choice defensively but provides nothing going forward and if Mancini does pack the midfield, then the full backs need to be getting forward to provide that support to Kun (or Dzeko or Balo).

Wallace Reply I don't think you need de Jong to man-mark Rooney but I do think you need to focus on winning the battle in midfield to have a chance against United. First league derby without Scholes. I know he had slowed down, but always a thorn in City's side... I'm looking forward to tomorrow.

Posted by Dip on 10/23/2011

-----------Hart------------
Richards Kompany Lescott Clichy
------De Jong Barry---------
----------Yaya-------------
Balo--------------------Silva
--------Aguero-------------

really think milner should be there somewhere.. maybe milner silva

Posted by Iain on 10/23/2011

The resurgence of Dzeko has made a massive difference for City this year. If not for Torres underwhelming, more attention may have been paid to Dzeko's suspect start in the EPL. I am a United fan thru and thru, and hope that Vidic can stay on the field long enough to mark Dzeko tomorrow.

Wallace Reply Dzeko has just been like most foreign players into the English game. Took him a while to get settled.

Posted by Hankinsohl on 10/23/2011

Good article once again Wallace.

This year Mancini has been much, much more attack oriented than last. To what would you attribute this change in Mancini's strategy?

Wallace Reply Tevez being unavailable. Seriously. It opens up Silva's ability to play and then Aguero has helped to unleash Dzeko.

Posted by Blue Boy on 10/23/2011

chelsea rules...

Wallace Reply after today's result Chelsea scare me. AVB has really changed the club. The loss is imaterial, the effort was awfully impressive.

Posted by Odey moses on 10/23/2011

Being a UNITED fan, i'm not in any way underated CITY with the quality of players they had, but if you look at UNITED side too they are also up to the task to get the maximum point especially at old trafford, we all know that beaten UNITED at home will not be easy for CITTY. With the help of ROO, CHI and with the hungry and young player WELBECK at front i believed they can do it.

Wallace Reply United missed Scholes today.

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