United (H) - Sun 14th Sept, 16:30 | PL | Pre-Match Thread

[Marvin.]

We have lost the main spine of the team that brought us so much success. Eddie, Walker, Kev and Gundo. No team loses four world class players like that all at the same time and doesn't suffer. We have no idea how good their replacements are going to be and I'm sorry to say a few look like panic buys, but time will tell. I personally don't see us being in the race for honours this season.

Replacing Walker, Kev and Gundo had to be done and the spine of the side that plays today will be stronger than last season because of it...

1. Donnarumma
4. Dias
6. Rodri
8. Reijnders
10. Foden
9. Haaland

I would prefer Foden to have more games under his belt, and for Stones to play, but rarely do you get to play your best side. It's still strong enough to beat a poor Man Utd side.

Man Utd have a coach who has a big mouth and doesn't know how to use it. He's made a big mistake in the build-up to this game by confirming who will start in goal. City will have spent Saturday practising set-pieces with Bayindir in mind.

 

[Eaststander1]

I fucking hate derby day.

I know what you mean, and plenty of fans in both camps will be feeling nervous, even if they don't admit to it .... but the only thing i care about are getting the three points, we need them before we really fall behind.

The only trouble is that United are pretty much in the 'same boat'!

 

[malg]

Had a look in the cafe. Who is this treacherous piece of shit?
View attachment 169392

I'm loving 'treacherous piece of shit'. Much better than the usual 'who is this ****'.

 

[Eaststander1]

£10m of that was on new fancy, facial-recognition turnstiles!!

Yep, which have probably put a lot of 'floating fans', who just fancy going to the odd game, off visiting the Etihad!

Well that, and the difficulty in getting the actual match tickets you want.

 

[oldhamblue]

Someone just told me that since the Treble we've spent £750m. Is that right? Seems high to me

Most of that in legal fees :-)

 

[dickie davies]

I know what you mean, and plenty of fans in both camps will be feeling nervous, even if they don't admit to it .... but the only thing i care about are getting the three points, we need them before we really fall behind.

The only trouble is that United are pretty much in the 'same boat'!

The rags won't be in the boat for long
They'll be marooned on an island whilst everyone else sails on

 

[jimharri]

Sounds like @jimharri

Nah; not me. I'm banned from posting on there. Fucking mods have no sense of humour. Not like on here.

 

[Scottish Cityzen]

Don’t care where he fits in but having Khusanov in the side is a must for me, the necessary pace and tenacity to deal with any fast breaks.

We need to be up for this from the get go, be ruthless and clinical.

 

[Blue Maverick]

We better fucking win today my rag mate is going for the first time to the Ethiad with his son I can’t be doing with any pics on WhatsApp after if them twats win.

 

[Marvin.]

Someone just told me that since the Treble we've spent £750m. Is that right? Seems high to me

By net spend from the Guardian Transfer Interactive £m):

Summer 2023: -76
Jan 2024: 0
Summer 2024: +115
Jan 2025: -185
Summer 2025: -80

Total: £226m spent on a net basis.

 

[Eaststander1]

I'm a glass half empty guy in general, but I honestly think for the first time in over a decade the difference in quality between us and the rags is minimal.

It is minimal .... but because their football has generally improved with their new signings, and, so far, ours doesn't appear to have done .... the rags are missing chances, probably more chances than we are, but they are probably creating more ..... and right now we can't argue that we are actually any better than them, because they have just 'edged' above us in the table!

 

[Petethemancinleeds]

Jettison Kdb, Jack and end up with Phillips in the squad. Four one City!

 

[Norbert D]

Had a look in the cafe. Who is this treacherous piece of shit?
View attachment 169392

In fairness the second sentence is accurate.

 

[paulchapo]

Replacing Walker, Kev and Gundo had to be done and the spine of the side that plays today will be stronger than last season because of it...

1. Donnarumma
4. Dias
6. Rodri
8. Reijnders
10. Foden
9. Haaland

I would prefer Foden to have more games under his belt, and for Stones to play, but rarely do you get to play your best side. It's still strong enough to beat a poor Man Utd side.

Man Utd have a coach who has a big mouth and doesn't know how to use it. He's made a big mistake in the build-up to this game by confirming who will start in goal. City will have spent Saturday practising set-pieces with Bayindir in mind.

I don't disagree that age had sadly caught up with all of them and we had to replace them. I'm not sure their replacements will hit the heights they did.

Donnarumma looks a presence and he made some great saves in the champions league. Dias has regressed and we have no idea if Rodri will get back to his pre injury form. Reijnders after a superb debut has been fairly anonymous. Foden? I have no idea. His form.last season was terrible and he consistently seems to be injured these days. Haaland will always score goals which is just as well as they have dried up from elsewhere.

The rags are poor but seems to cause us problems. The last three games they've beaten us in the cup final and at our place and drew with us at theirs. I'm not sure that's because of any tactical masterclass from their manager, it's more them just hitting us on the break like every single team we play does and is usually effective.

 

[Marvin.]

Well he's definitely not the finished article, but which goalkeeper is ????

The term 'finished article' means that the player is not going to develop much further. Some players, e.g., Doku, O'Reilly, Savinho might develop further, and are not the finished article, but a player like Donnarumma is as good now as he is going to be. All he has to do now is settle in.

 

[Gorton_Tubster]

Its too early to tell if we win or lose I have gone for a draw today as we both have issues. This could kick start our season though.

Our team just dont have the gravitas of old, the opposition saw KDB, Silva, etc and were already on their way to being beaten. Now this season we have to build all that up again with these new players. It will take time and even luck. Long journey though.

 

[Eaststander1]

If, big if, Doku can put it all together I.e beat his man and deliver it could(could) be a performance from the ages and kick start his career

I can’t stand him, I think he’s shit, but there is something in me last and night and this morning that makes me think he’ll do the business. It might be the San Miguel that’s got me feeling this way but who knows…

His workrate can never be questioned ...... the big question for Doku is ...'is he actually any. better, or has he improved, since he's been here ? ... and, so far, my answer to that would be NO.

 

[Eaststander1]

There are loads of them on here. Man Utd have been impersonating Bert forever.

United fans, and their usual bullsh#t, are about as transparent as Ten Hags lying and delusion was !

 

[Gumzy97]

I want to see how our team handles it if the rags score, if they crumble mentally like they have done so far this season when we've conceded, we are in trouble. If they fight back show passion and grit then their mentality is back to what it was

 

[meeesh]

Phillips off the bench to score winner and restart his City career today, it’s happening…….I’ll just pull the cornflakes off my forehead