Manchester United lost their unbeaten record in the league after a poor performance away to Wolves last Saturday. For Suhail Seedat, there is no better opportunity to put right the doubters than with a victory over the ‘noisy neighbours’ Manchester City, who visit Old Trafford in the weekend’s grudge match.
Tale of the tape
Though many claim United have been patchy over the past couple of games, their form over the past six games suggests otherwise. Other than the defeat at Molineux last weekend, the Red Devils have picked up 13 points from a possible 15. However, their home form is what has made them such strong contenders for the title so far. Having only dropped two points at home all season, United’s home form illustrates the task which lies ahead for City.
City’s form hasn’t suggested a title challenge over the past six games: they’ve only picked up 11 from 18. Their away form doesn’t make for good reading either, with their last away victory coming on Boxing Day against Newcastle United. Manager Roberto Mancini wanted to ensure the team didn’t lose in the reverse fixture earlier in the season. With only a five-point deficit to the leaders, some invention and a positive approach may be called upon should City have serious title aspirations this season.
Predicted teams
Manchester United: Van der Sar; Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evra; Nani, Fletcher, Scholes, Giggs, Rooney; Berbatov.
Manchester City: Hart; Boateng, K Toure, Kompany, Kolarov; Milner, Barry, Y Toure; Silva, Tevez, Dzeko.
Rooney as a left winger
It’s fair to say Wayne Rooney has not been at his best this season. Some have suggested it has been the knock-on effect from the woeful World Cup campaig,n where he struggled to fit in and find his range. It was then attributed to protracted contract negotiations which were then controversially resolved ,and then an ankle injury.
Since March 2010, Rooney has only managed three outfield goals - one against West Brom and a brace against Aston Villa. In total of 20 games, Rooney has scored five times in all competitions for his club.
Today’s game, however, provides Alex Ferguson with a question. In the past, he has dropped Dimitar Berbatov for the big occasions as it is felt the Bulgarian lacks the industry to play the lone man role which Ferguson insists on playing, and instead has used Rooney or in the past Ronaldo as a false nine, with the intention to maintain possession and build for the counter. This season has proved to be the blossoming of Berbatov, where he has managed to shoulder the responsibility and score an impressive 19 goals this season, his biggest tally since arriving in England in 2006.
It means Berbatov has become undroppable and it is Rooney who sacrifices his position in his favoured split striker role to play on the left wing, which over the past couple of games hasn’t really produced the best out of the team and certainly from Rooney. It’s natural for him to cut onto his right foot which means he will congest the play in the left central midfield area where it is anticipated Ryan Giggs will play.
It also exposes Patrice Evra to some extent, as Rooney will demand the ball more centrally and with the structure built by Mancini in midfield where Gareth Barry and especially James Milner and Yaya Toure hunt for the ball, it potentially makes it difficult for United to attack down the left side and allows David Silva to be released far more easily should there be no cover from the left side of midfield. However, the congestion on the left could provide an opportunity for a switch ball towards Nani on the right to test Aleksander Kolarov, who has shown far more in the attacking third than in the defensive.
City’s inside-out wingers
Following the huge fee paid for Eden Dzeko in January, Mancini will be forced to play the Bosnian but also try and find positions for his top scorer, Carlos Tevez, and his most creative spark, David Silva.
Mancini has shown he prefers his wingers to cut inside despite having Adam Johnson and James Milner, both capable of playing crosses into the box. But the striker has been Carlos Tevez thus far, who isn’t likely to win many aerial challenges against many of the league’s centre backs. Tevez’s game is more suited on the ground which is why Milner and Johnson have been used on opposite wings to pass to the feet of Tevez.
Dzeko is built and ready to face the rigours of the Premier League. Not only possessing the physical toolkit of a traditional big man striker, he also has the modern technical skill which makes him far more flexible in terms of style of play. It will be an interesting dilemma once Johnson is fit, as his crossing ability could be well suited for Dzeko.
The way the wide players operate will demonstrate whether City intend to go for the three points rather than a draw. If Tevez and Silva stay as wide as possible despite having the ball, it suggests City want to ensure their defence is not exposed from wide areas and they want to maintain shape. On the other hand, if City do have the ball and Tevez and Silva narrow the play and come between full back and centre back, it does suggest that City are looking for some creativity and quick interchanging play to break down this United’s defence, which has been solid at home.
The width in the latter scenario would obviously be provided from the full backs, though it’s unlikely in a game of such stakes they will asked to go further than 30 yards into the opposing half.
Central midfield
The difference in central midfield systems between the sides is quite striking. United, when playing with three, always have one deeper to collect and quickly spread the play, in a traditional centre-half role. Since Scholes has lost even more pace to travel further up the pitch but still retaining his fantastic range of incisive passing, he has been asked at times to play the deepest, allowing the wide players to travel further up and potentially spring the offside trap. Fletcher and Giggs will be allowed to roam far more freely in trying to split open City’s defence and times will be seen overlapping the wingers to put balls into the box.
Conversely, City’s midfield three have a clear defined structure, almost working in a mechanical pinball manner. Barry and Milner will be asked to play more efficiently in trying to maintain possession and reduce the amount of turnovers in the game by challenging and covering as closely to the centre backs as possible. What both players have is experience playing in full back areas and should either Kolarov or Jerome Boateng be caught upfield, both players have the ability to cover for a brief period. Yaya Toure is seen as the connection between midfield and attack though at times he lacks the ingenuity that Silva possesses. His ability to run with the ball and power and slalom past the opposition could be a vital tool for City to play on the break.
The derby will ask questions of both managers and their sides’ ability to win the title. City’s lack of experience and last season’s last gasp winners in the games against United may be the ghostly figure which restrains Mancini from unleashing his side against a flaky United team, who have only dropped points at home to West Bromwich Albion.
Follow Suhail on Twitter - @SuhailSeedat
Tags: Manchester City, Manchester United