The Manchester Derby – down through history
The last time Manchester City entered a derby as champions at home, back at the old Maine Road in August 1968, it heralded a run of 13 successive league derbies incorporating only one defeat. That came in a meaningless end of season encounter in May ‘71. The run also saw them win 6 times in 7 years at Old Trafford, the other was drawn, as City became the top dogs in Manchester.
United in decline, still had the lauded triumvirate of Best, Law and Charlton, But City trumped that with their own quality trio of Bell, Lee and Summerbee. Now the names have changed, but are we seeing the same phenomenon develop some 44 years on?
Back then as now, United had been the dominant force not only in Manchester, but in the north-west generally.
In those days when blue reigned in Manchester, City was never burdened by the weight of a “favourites” tag going into matches with the old enemy. How will they fare with that same responsibility in the modern day?
Manchester City vs Manchester United on December 9: Mental and tactical battle
Sunday's match, a hard one to call, is a real mouth-watering, heavyweight prospect, but too early in the season to be termed crucial. United should they win could go 6 clear, but we saw them 7 points clear much later in the season, just a few months ago, and still finish in second spot.
As always the approach of the two coaches will be shape the encounter. Ferguson will be happy to come away with a draw, Mancini under pressure, given City’s horrible European showing, may be ok with that too. Although he would dearly want all three points, the prospect of falling 6 behind, probably renders avoiding defeat acceptable.
One thing is for sure, United cannot go with the negative attitude reserved for last season’s corresponding end of season clash. City were attack-minded and United lay so deep, that when the Blues did score on the stroke of half-time, United were unable to emerge from their defensive shell for the rest of the game. Wayne Rooney for the most part cut a lonely figure up front that night..jpg)
At a less mature part of the season Ferguson’s approach will be more positive this time. His defence has been all at sea, pretty much throughout the season so far. It may be a game for them to focus and prevail, the making of them perhaps, but can the Manchester United manager really rely on a defensive game plan when all evidence suggests the chances of success are slim to none?
He says he will not play Vidic, but surely must be tempted. It is not only the back four, United in fact have been defending horribly as a team, and the goalkeeper situation is enough to give Sir Alex a few sleepless nights going into this fixture. Great shot-stoppers both, but City look much bigger than United and set pieces will be a major concern for the visitors. Will they cope with Kompany?
Balotelli and Dzeko if on the pitch will cause aerial concern as well. Situations like this call for your custodian to be strong, commanding and with the ability and presence to control his area. Lindegaard or De Gea, whichever is chosen, hardly fit that bill.
Otherwise, City up front has been somewhat of a conundrum so far. Often the allegation fired at Mancini is that he doesn’t know his best line-up, and to be fair with their embarrassment of riches, they do possess several options, but surely his best front-two pairing is Aguero and Tevez. Yet surprisingly they’ve not started too many games together in this campaign.
Whichever way you look at it there is goal threat in abundance, and with United in opposition, this is sure to produce goals. United will need to score more than once to win in this one, and on current form that’s enough to set City thinking too.
Robin van Persie has improved United’s attacking prowess no end, and City will be wary of that. Unlike last time, on Sunday it will not be a case of lone-striker Rooney, currently three goals short of singularly becoming all-time top-scorer in the Manchester derby.
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With the potential of goals all over the pitch, will that heighten the level of caution?
Both coaches will realize that neither side has yet hit the heights this season, but Mancini may be the one most tempted in preaching a conservative approach to his players. Ferguson will not be encouraging all-out attack either, but he will be more positive than during last April’s visit to the City of Manchester Stadium.
It is at worst an intriguing tactical encounter, at best a potential crackerjack. Strange to say for a Manchester United side, but they looked frightened and overawed in both league clashes with their increasingly noisy neighbours last season. That won’t be lost on Ferguson, a man not akin to suffering shrinking violets gladly.
So, can Red arrest the swing towards Blue influenced by last season’s campaign, or are City about to crank up the volume a further notch or two?
Manchester City 2-1 perhaps, but beware of a wounded Manchester United.
