Preview:Manchester City v Manchester United

My TV’s not working..yet. Incessant FIFA 11 game playing had to sting somewhere. There is a slim chance that I will have to try to stream the match through my feeble data card which will be an exercise in futility and equally futile would be to guess the United team for tonight that has been hit by a mysterious virus leaving Evra, Vidic, Berbatov and Scholes struggling to make it. Or, they might all be starting tonight depending on which version of SAF you have faith in, the clever one or the foxy one. Apart from that, the injuries have done their part to ravage the squad and we could potentially be looking at a virtual reserves team playing in the first part of the Manchester derby.

Admit it. A defeat in this match would probably hurt more than any other during the course of the season. Not because it is a big match but it could spell the symbolic beginning of the an era for the blue half of Manchester. Frankly, I did not think we would have the kind of results against City that we achieved last year. The blame for those results was laid at the door of a phenomena called City-itis, proponents of which fear the onset of this disease whenever City are cruising along. “They will mess it up” is the usual retort when the fans start feeling good about the team. City have always been the underperforming club even when they won titles. For example, when City last won the league title in 1968, guess what United did?? Sheikh Mansour would probably be ignorant of City-itis and is looking to win everything no matter what. Money being no object, obviously. After decades of one-sided affairs, the Manchester derby has become the biggest derby in the Premier League; the London, Merseyside or Northern derbies notwithstanding. Simply because both the clubs involved are huge these days and United see City as a direct threat now.

Super Mario is missing after a typical rush of blood and has shown that he can be wound up by teams who look to do that. Vincent Kompany played as a defensive midfielder in Europa League last week and will return to his favoured centre back position with Toure with Micah Richards and Kolarov partnering them. Carlos Tevez is certain to start and could be joined by two out of: Johnson, Milner, Silva and Adebayor. Johnson has, in recent games, been preferred and could be the more likely choice alongwith Milner. The 3 man defensive midfield has been a hallmark during Mancini’s reign and Toure will play in a more advanced to counter Scholes or Carrick, whoever starts. Martial arts guru Nigel De Jong has been commenting on Balotelli’s behaviour on the pitch and he certainly can, given that he has not been sent off even once during his stay in England.

Expected Starting XI: Hart, Kolarov, Kompany, Toure, Richards, De Jong, Barry, Toure, Johnson, Milner, Tevez

United have a point to prove with them being written and stated to be in decline and not capable of mounting a serious title challenge. They are within 2 points of Chelsea and a win at Eastlands could make it a 2 horse race while a loss would throw another contender into the mix. The ‘virus’ has given City an advantage and while they were in crisis mode after 3 straight losses, they have a right to feel confident about this match. Van Der Sar will start in goal and in front of him(the virus being ignored) should be Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic and Evra. The United defence has settled down after shipping goals at the start of the season and would require to be at their very best to stop Tevez and company. Scholes will be required to run the game for United and he showed his worth at the weekend. There was an element of composure and control to the Wolves game after he came on and he could largely be credited for the win even though Park scored both the goals. Carrick and Fletcher could both start in opposition to the packed City midfield and would be important for keeping the ball in the face of unrelenting pressure from De Jong and Barry . Obertan, Park and Hernandez could be the front three for United. Fletcher would be hugely instrumental while making his forward runs and required to support Chicharito.

Expected Starting XI: Van Der Sar, Evra, Vidic, Ferdinand, Brown, Park, Fletcher, Scholes, Carrick, Obertan, Chicharito

Man to watch (Manchester United): Scholes would need to run the game alongwith Carrick and would be faced by Yaya Toure when doing so

Man to watch(Manchester City): Tevez, who has been in hot form, is the player United need to pay most attention and a goal from him would hurt a lot

Prediction: 1-1(and I hope we do not lose)