Manchester Utd (A) Pre Match Thread

[Gray]

See the forecast has changed to heavy snow all morning and most of the afternoon(about 3-4 inches). The pitch will be ok to play due to the heating however had a text off a friend before who works for GMPTE and they have had meeting about the public transport situation for sunday and they will do everything they can to keep buses and trams going but the final decision will be with the police as public safety comes first

Any really heavy snow and half the Scum fans will not be able to get there, from all four corners of the British Isles.

 

[nellyonthewing]

Suspect it may get cancelled looking at the forecast..Elf & safety of the rag fans having to travel up the M1.

 

[lionheart]

Don't think the weather is the issue its if public transport stops the surroundings areas will become gridlocked and it will be difficult for fans to get there. It also depends on Trafford council making sure the area around the swamp is safe for people to walk through, ice ect

But that really depends on the amount of snow and whether the pavements freeze, which does make the weather the issue, surely? My opinion is that it will be called off.

 

[Uptop]

Hahahahhaha.

Survived, more like. Beaten the Harry Kane team featuring no Harry Kane. And that huge 0-0 win at Victim FC. Stunning, just stunning.

8shots and 25% possession vs 33 shots and 75% with countless save from De Gea. They praise De Gea for being amazing yet cant admit without those saves they would have been trashed. Rewriting history as usual.

 

[Gray]

But that really depends on the amount of snow and whether the pavements freeze, which makes the weather the issue, surely?

Amber warning issued by Met Office for snow from 4.00am on Sunday up to 6.00pm.

 

[kaz7]

But that really depends on the amount of snow and whether the pavements freeze, which does make the weather the issue, surely? My opinion is that it will be called off.

They have tomorrow to grit everywhere,if they don't it will be because maureen wants the game cancelled

 

[Chippy_boy]

I'd definitely go Jesus over Aguero. Or both of them and drop Sane. We need Jesus but on current form I doubt we'd miss Sane.

I think we'd miss the width Sane provides and the space that creates. With Sterling far right and Sane far left, that's an enormous wide space they have to cover to keep Aguero and runners from midfield out. I think we've been less effective when Sterling and Sane are not playing together. It's seemed like the impact is bringing Sterling on, but I think it's more to do with the shape we play when they are both on. Also, KDB sits a bit deeper and that creates more space for Silva just in front of their back 4.

 

[BLUEMATT23]

Lets face it weather wise - we get over an inch in this country and everything stops. Utter joke compared to other countries.

 

[Gray]

They have tomorrow to grit everywhere,if they don't it will be because maureen wants the game cancelled

Grit works with icy roads, does fuck all if you get a heavy snowfall.
Public transport grinds to a halt, pavements and surrounds are too dangerous so the police and local authorities deem conditions unsafe.

 

[kaz7]

Grit works with icy roads, does fuck all if you get a heavy snowfall.
Public transport grinds to a halt, pavements and surrounds are too dangerous so the police and local authorities deem conditions unsafe.

I doubt it will come that,they usually warn on worst case scenario's,we have played in snow before,health and safety gone mad since we last had snow

 

[magistadreadnought]

Not even going to go ahead this is it. Is this a good thing for us you reckon? obviously they’re without pogba and Bailly, but stones is missing for us and we’re not playing as well as we did at the start of the season

 

[kaz7]

Not even going to go ahead this is it. Is this a good thing for us you reckon? obviously they’re without pogba and Bailly, but stones is missing for us and we’re not playing as well as we did at the start of the season

We'll go up a gear,it's a derby

 

[Ric]

Some quotes from Paul Dickov, ahead of the game:

United’s physicality and height worries me, especially in set pieces

"City’s goals will come from all over. The one thing that worries me is United’s physicality and height. Where City have struggled at times this season is set pieces. Going back to the West Ham game at the weekend and the Southampton game mid-week with set pieces: the opposition set up in a way that they get all their big players in the six yard boys. For instance in the Southampton game last week, City had Gabriel Jesus picking up van Dyke. Southampton could have been two goals up mainly from set pieces. If you think Fellaini is probably going to play, they’ve got Lukaku, the centre halves - United are a big physical team. City have got the players who will find little pockets and that will play into their hands. Sane and Stirling are going to be massive, especially if United play three at the back.”

There’s less anxiety amongst the fans and the players at City

"Even speaking to the die-hard City fans who have been through hell over the last ten to fifteen years, there was a real belief in the stadium against West Ham. There wasn’t any anxiety thats been at the Etihad the last couple of the years, there was a real belief amongst that fans that they were going to do it. That’s a side that they’ve added to their games this season."

City have got great options on the bench when looking to change a game

"Last season you could see Pep turning round and looking at his bench with 25 minutes to go and it’s no disrespect to these players but there was Zabaleta on the bench, Cliche, Kolarov, Sagna - there’s four full backs on the bench when you’re looking to change the game. Now, you’ve got Yaya Toure, Gabriel Jesus coming on to change the game, Bernardo Silva and David Silva was on the bench, Aguero was too - so when City are struggling, they’ve got that talent in the team and it gives them much more belief that you can get something out the game."

Deep down City will be delighted Pogba isn’t playing this weekend

"Pep and a few of the City players have come out and said they would much rather play against the best players. But deep down City will be delighted that Pogba isn’t playing because he’s the one that makes them tick, he’s their best player, in everything they do attacking wise. He gives them a lift."

Hearing Kompany say that this week is different to a normal week was refreshing

"Managers play it down and say ‘it’s just another game,’ players say ‘it’s a normal week leading up to it.’ But Kompany said yesterday that this week is not the same as a normal week, it’s completely different. It was quite refreshing to hear, it’s completely different, derby week, and leading up to it. Vincent said it was the only game to him that is important, not because it’s the next one but because it’s the Manchester derby. Whether Vincent is playing the game or not, that’s what the fans want to hear: the players saying it is different, it is the derby."

You can’t see City losing four games this season

"I think there’s a huge amount of pressure on United, to go into the Christmas period possibly eleven points behind or even eight points behind, is a huge amount at that time. It’s how many games do you see City losing after Christmas as well. Can you see City losing another four games the way they’re playing at the minute? I know things can change but I think United have to come after them."

Raheem Sterling has new found confidence

"Sterling is playing really well at the moment. People are giving Pep credit for it for giving him the confidence, but you’ve got to give Raheem credit as well. I noticed a big difference in him last season or when Pellegrini was manager, his first touch was always backwards. Now, since Pep came in, every time he gets the ball he’s either looking to get a shot off, take his player on, get a cross in and it’s just the confidence he’s got. He’s a top goalscorer at the minute, it speaks volumes."

Watch the betsafe.com interview with Paul Dickov

 

[jonmcity]

The Sharks are hungry!

 

[kaz7]

We need to stop them before they getting anywhere near the box or to win corners,we do far too much backing off of late,cut that out and give them less set pieces and corners,also jump and not let them get free headers,really bad habits we have got recently in defence

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

the way this snow is forecast will this even go ahead?

 

[bakerdave76]

The good old days

 

[kaz7]

the way this snow is forecast will this even go ahead?

It's only snow,it's winter,are they going to cancel games when it snows a bit ffs

 

[kaz7]

The good old days

This,we need to man up in this country

 

[PannickAtTheDisco]

It's only snow,it's winter,are they going to cancel games when it snows a bit ffs

they have before.