Matty
Well-Known Member
United, despite being clear at the top of the league, haven't actually been playing all that well this season. A combination of the other teams playing even worse, United riding their luck on occasions, and the so-often-it-can't-be-coincidence refereeing assistance has lead to their current position rather than exceptional play.
However, it should be noted that United are a very Jekyl and Hyde team, their away form is, to be honest, poor, there are several teams with a better points per game return from their away matches, including City. However their home record is, unfortunately, something to be admired. 13 games played, 12 wins and 1 draw, 37 points from a possible 39. That's far and away the best home record in the country. What we need to do is realise that all this talk of United being a poor side is based around their away form, at home they are as good as they've ever been results wise.
Of course we're more than capable of beating them at OT on Saturday, the gap between the two sides is negligible at this point, but it'll be an extremely difficult task. I'm assuming our tactical approach will be the same as the home fixture, and the game at The Emirates, we'll defend well and in numbers, and we'll hope that we'll take that one opportunity to score we are sure to get. It'll be attritional, it'll be a battle, we'll play with Tevez as a loan striker of that I'm sure. It'll be nerve wracking, and it'll be low scoring, this'll be no 4-3 game like last year. If United take the lead it'll be interestign to see what our tactical changes will be, although obviously I hope we don't need to find out.
I think we'll hold out for another 0-0 draw if I'm honest, and I reckon it'll be greeted with the same level of disappointment at the performance rather than the result as the home match. Mancini, for whatever reason, seems either unable or unwilling to attack the better sides. I can only assume he sees the defensive steal-the-win tactics as our best option in these matches. It may well turn out to be a tactically astute decision, but it certainly isn't any good for the nerves, or for the entertainment.
However, it should be noted that United are a very Jekyl and Hyde team, their away form is, to be honest, poor, there are several teams with a better points per game return from their away matches, including City. However their home record is, unfortunately, something to be admired. 13 games played, 12 wins and 1 draw, 37 points from a possible 39. That's far and away the best home record in the country. What we need to do is realise that all this talk of United being a poor side is based around their away form, at home they are as good as they've ever been results wise.
Of course we're more than capable of beating them at OT on Saturday, the gap between the two sides is negligible at this point, but it'll be an extremely difficult task. I'm assuming our tactical approach will be the same as the home fixture, and the game at The Emirates, we'll defend well and in numbers, and we'll hope that we'll take that one opportunity to score we are sure to get. It'll be attritional, it'll be a battle, we'll play with Tevez as a loan striker of that I'm sure. It'll be nerve wracking, and it'll be low scoring, this'll be no 4-3 game like last year. If United take the lead it'll be interestign to see what our tactical changes will be, although obviously I hope we don't need to find out.
I think we'll hold out for another 0-0 draw if I'm honest, and I reckon it'll be greeted with the same level of disappointment at the performance rather than the result as the home match. Mancini, for whatever reason, seems either unable or unwilling to attack the better sides. I can only assume he sees the defensive steal-the-win tactics as our best option in these matches. It may well turn out to be a tactically astute decision, but it certainly isn't any good for the nerves, or for the entertainment.