Derby Day Episode 2

Who would've thought hey?... that "A year is a long time in football". Last year April Manicni was celebrating beating Manchester United and subsequently putting City 5 points clear at the top of the league.

This April its quite the turn around, Manchester United are now 15 points clear and the English Premier League (EPL) is all but sawn up. No team needs any motivation for this fixture and the mind games have hit a crescendo with Mancini claiming "Manchester United don't deserve to be 15 points clear" and Sir Alex retort "We deserve to be 15 points ahead". If anyone doubts the importance of this Derby those comments tell that, even with United so far ahead, no manager wants to lose tonight.

The memory of the last time the Citizen visited Old Trafford is still fresh in both camps but credit to Mancini for saying :"Six-one is in the history now," because as we all know "anything can happen in EPL and it usually does." Ferguson on the other hand steered away from it: "I've never watched that game again. Why would I? I'm not into self-flagellation." You can be sure without mentioning it (acccording to Gary Neville Sir Alex will not dwell on it nor remind his players about it) each United player will be well aware of that capitulation at the hands of their noisey neighbours.

Stats

Manchester United will strive to make it their 70th victory over City in their 165th meeting, interestingly enough 50 draws (watch this space).
Manchester City topped both the defensive and goalscoring charts on their way to the title last season, with Manchester United second in both categories. This time around, while City again have the best defensive record in the division (26 conceded), they are fifth in the goal scoring table (55 scored). United have scored the most goals (70) and have the second best defensive record (31 conceded).
Manchester United and Manchester City are two of the three teams yet to lose in the Premier League this season when they have taken the lead. Arsenal are the other.
United have won 27 points from losing positions this season, more than any other side in the Premier League.

In conclusion just like my belief that no team will win 10 EPL games in a row again I do feel Robin van Persie will not go 10 EPL games in a row without a goal. Only Sir Alex Treble winners did that in 98 and for that matter the "Invincibles" couldn't achieve it. Pictures sourced by twitter followers and stats by bcc sports.

So Manchester is red and tonight we will show why, it wont be pretty but as this season can detest it will be effective.

Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (@JCBA)

Comments

What happens if Manchester United win the Europa League & finish in the top four?

Due to Champions League qualification clubs are now looking more favourably at the Europa League competition. So Manchester United will naturally be gunning for glory as they take on Celta Vigo in their semi final. If however, they win the tournament and finish the English Premier League in the top four, England will have just the four teams in Europe’s elite competition. What I find more interesting is if Manchester United win the Europa League and finish outside the top four! Should this scenario occur, England will have FIVE entrants to the Champions League, rather than four – with United joining the top four Premier League clubs. There are a host of different scenarios as to who will be in Europe's second tier next season. For starters, the Premier League's fifth-placed club - should United not win the Europa League AND finish outside the top four - will go into the pot. Then there's the EFL Cup - or League Cup - winners... however that tournament w

Liverpool's Klopp host Jose's United

WHAT THE MANAGERS SAY Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp : "Apart from the table, it's a very important game. I know about the history, I like the special stories. The whole world will watch this game, it's a big honour to be part of it. "At the end, it's up to us to perform to our best. You cannot and should not ignore the special circumstance of a game like this. You have to be ready. "They have big quality and we have to respect this, as we do. But this is Anfield. We have to show this. We have had a few nice atmospheres but I'm open for the best atmosphere. We need everybody in a Liverpool shirt in this game." Manchester United manager Jose Mourinho on concerns over disrespectful chanting at the game: "In football we have some football tragedies, if you can say that, which is a big match that you lost, the mistake that some player did, this kind of thing, and you can make fun of it in a positive way. "But the human tragedy i

The Premier League changes its logo.

The most lucrative football league in the world, The English Premier League (EPL), yesterday unveiled its new official logo, which will be used from the 2016-17 season onwards. The division's lion icon has been the face of England's top flight since its launch in 1992 but has undergone a makeover to give it a fresh, modern look. It means, EPL is ending its 12-year association with Barclays bank and will from now on be known simply as ‘the Premier League’. The new logo – has a crowned lion’s head gazing to the right, accompanied by either the words ‘Premier League’ or ‘PL’ -- will replace the current logo of a lion with its left paw on a football. All 20 clubs in the top flight have also agreed a new centralised sponsorship strategy, meaning the league will no longer have a named sponsor. “From next season we will move away from title sponsorship and the competition will be known as the Premier League, a decision which provided the opportunity to consider how we wanted

Search This Blog