Manchester Derby Combined XI

By -
Image result for manchester derby 2018
As the Manchester Derby approaches, it is once again time to look at a combined XI for the top two teams in the Premier League. While Manchester United are going into Saturday's match after a comfortable but certainly not clinical match against Swansea City at Old Trafford, City will enter on the back of a humbling 3-0 defeat at Anfield after Salah, the Ox and Mane made City pay for defensive errors and give the Citizens an uphill battle at the Ethiad on Tuesday evening. Nevertheless this is the Manchester combined XI of the current fit and in form players for these great sides.

GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA
Image result for david de gea vs man cityNo other option really. The world's best goalkeeper and the easiest decision to make for the whole side. Without de Gea it would be worrying to see where Manchester United would be in the table with the League best 16 clean sheets and 99 saves this season. The Spaniard is the clear starter in this side.

RIGHT BACK: KYLE WALKER
He may have been at fault for Salah's goal but Walker has been dependable and consistent all season for City and for England alike. He has pace, a sound work ethic and is class offensively and defensively. 

CENTRE BACK: ERIC BAILLY
A natural out and out defender with pace, strength and a jump like a salmon. Eric Bailly is United's best defender and one of the best in the league. He sat on the bench against Swansea and in all fairness should be alongside Lindelof as the centre-back pairing for the future as opposed to Smalling who has mistakes in him and shows it from time to time. 

CENTRE BACK: VICTOR LINDELOF
Image result for ashley young and lindelofPerhaps Otamendi or Kompany could be in this side but Lindelof was immense against a revamped Swansea side who sumptuously beat Arsenal and held off Liverpool to win 1-0. He played forward and clinically when he could and made some good tackles, especially his crunching challenge on Andre Ayew early in the game. He, like Bailly are the future partnership for the club and he and the Ivorian compliment each other nicely, much like Vidic and Ferdinand did for so many years.

LEFT BACK: ASHLEY YOUNG
Not really spoilt for choice here. Ashley Young has been the most consistent player in this position for both sides with Mendy and Delph injured for serious periods of the season and Danilo not really shining since moving to Manchester. Recently Aymeric Laporte has been occupying left back and really struggled against the pace of Salah and Alexander-Arnold. Young has two goals and three assists to his name and has worked hard defensively in the big games, especially against Liverpool both times and has earned his place in this side as well as in the England squad for the World Cup.

CENTRE DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER: NEMANJA MATIC
It was a coin toss between the Serbian and Fernandinho who have both had excellent seasons but Matic gets the nod as he has been an anchor in the midfield, allowing the likes of Pogba, Lingard and Mata roam free in more attacking positions while he orchestrates from a deeper position. He has a giant presence in the midfield and would fit into any top side.

CENTRE MIDFIELDER: DAVID SILVA
He has been sensational this season and has made roughly 84 passes per game, turning defence into attack from a more central role. He makes more passes than Pogba or De Bruyne per game and has scored eight goals and made eleven assists in the League this season and has earned his place in this side.

Image result for kevin de bruyneCENTRE MIDFIELDER: KEVIN DE BRUYNE
World class midfielder. He has been outstanding this season and has been key for City since they bought him. His vision and delivery of the ball are sublime and would fit into any team in the world and be the star man. There are rumours that he may leave for PSG for a sum larger than £120m and he has certainly earned that price tag and his place in this XI

RIGHT WINGER: LEROY SANE
A fantastic young talent who has had such a huge impact to Manchester City in the last twelve months especially. He has it all; pace, strength, mercurial dribbling ability, composed finishing and is 6 ft tall. He has earned a position in this City side, forcing Nolito and Navas out last year and Bernardo Silva this year and is one of the biggest threats for United on Saturday.

LEFT WINGER: JESSE LINGARD
He has scored more goals this season than any other for United (bar Lukaku). Lingard has scored 13 goals in all competitions and scored some vital goals for United against Chelsea, Burnley and Arsenal to name a few. His high energy performances make him a good player in any side and his unselfish nature makes him a dream for any manager and deserves a position in this squad.

STRIKER: ROMELU LUKAKU
A far better rounded player than Jesus and far more crucial for Manchester United than Jesus for City with 15 goals to his name and 7 assists in the league alone. His hold-up play has improved and drifts into the right wing position when he needs to in the flexible front four United play at the moment. He will be vital in the derby and hopefully not for the opposition this time!

Manchester United 4-3-3 football formation

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Chelsea vs Manchester United Preview

By -
Image
What a game this weekend. Chelsea host Manchester United in a season-defining match for both teams. Chelsea's aim to continue their unbeaten run that has seen them only draw twice; once to West Ham at the London Stadium and again to Liverpool at home, thanks to a Daniel Sturridge wonder-goal. Manchester United have had a torrid start to this season and have already lost three times and drawn at home to newly-promoted Wolves. Lately they've made a superb comeback from 2-0 down at half-time to win 3-2 against Newcastle United with goals from Juan Mata, Anthony Martial and Alexis Sanchez. Chelsea is a completely different beast to the still winless Newcastle as the Blues ooze class with the likes of Jorginho and Kante in the midfield and their star player Eden Hazard in white-hot form. This could either be a heart-breaking match for United fans as a defeat will almost certainly deny United any chance of the title and even put their Top Four chances in doubt or a re-vitalising re…
Read more

Chelsea vs Manchester United Combined XI

By -
Image
Chelsea vs Manchester United Combined XI This is the biggest game of United's season so far as Chelsea aim to continue their unbeaten run in the league and keep up with Manchester City and Liverpool, who are all on equal points, as they plot a home victory against their bitter Red rivals from Manchester. Jose Mourinho has managed both sides, and many of the players still at Stamford Bridge, so knows how good they are and how good his own side are. Both teams have adopted a 4-3-3 formation for the majority of this season and so that is the formation I shall use as it suits both sides very well:
GOALKEEPER: DAVID DE GEA Now the undisputed best goalkeeper in the world and miles above the level of his Spanish compatriot Kepa Arrizabalaga, who is a very promising goalkeeper and has played very well so far in adapting to the physicality of the league. Nevertheless, De Gea has earned so many points for United and is a guaranteed starter in this combined XI. 
RIGHT BACK: DIOGO DALOT It was…
Read more

Fred, the Brazilian Red

By -
Image
Fred is a Brazilian football player who plies his trade for Manchester United. He was part of the infamous Brazilian contingent that played for Shakhtar Donetsk. 


It has been over three months since Fred joined the United squad and for some it may feel that he has been underwhelming. To be fair our season has not gotten off to the best of starts but following the last gasp win against a poor Newcastle side, there could be more that he can offer as the season goes on. 

Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos ,better known as Fred, was born in Belo Horizonte and began his football journey with Atletico Mineiro. He would play for other youth academies until starting his professional career with Sport Club Internacional. On 26 June 2013, the dynamic midfielder signed a contract with Shakhtar Donetsk worth €15 million. 

It was at Donetsk that he would start to make his mark in the footballing world. 
Fred had the license to roam and act as an aggressive passer and ball carrier further up the pitch…
Read more

How have the Red Devils fared on the International Break?

By -
Image
How have the Red Devils fared on the International Break?
Well let's be honest, the minority of football fans enjoy the international break. It is a time in which the League is forgotten and the players soar off to their various home countries to prepare for friendlies or international tournaments before coming back for the return of the Premier League on Saturday, with a 12:30 game of Chelsea vs Manchester United. Only nine United players featured over the international break but let's see how well they have all done:
ARGENTINA - SERGIO ROMERO Sergio Romero's return to fitness was greeted by many with praise and relief. However his nightmare against Derby County, in which he conceded a swerving freekick and then was sent off for an out-of-the-box handball, has been criticised by many. But he remains as Argentina's no.1 keeper and featured for full 90 minutes in both games against Iraq and Brazil. While Romero kept a clean sheet against the Middle Eastern football team…
Read more

A Left Back Legend

By -
Image
My earliest memory of Manchester United stems back 35 years when Norman Whiteside’s cracking goal sealed a memorable victory against Arsenal in the 1983 FA Cup Semi Final at Villa Park. Television coverage also captured Arthur Albiston kissing the cheek of physio Jim Mcgregor admist jubilant celebrations of players in white shirts and members of United’s dugout. A joyous occasion and one which ultimately kick started my emotional connection to our beloved club.
During the 70s and 80s, Albiston’s solid and honest performances at left-back made him a perpetual feature on match days. He eventually racked up 485 appearances, 7 goals with 3 FA Cup winners medals to his name. His first came at the expense of our arch rivals in 1977, as he helped United halt Liverpool's treble aspirations. Another impressive display followed a few seasons after, when a last gasp winner by the Scot sunk Liverpool hearts. Whenever I think of the white United away kit of the 1980s, Arthur Albiston springs to…
Read more

Best United Side - Post Fergie

By -
Image
Six years since Fergie left and we have won the League Cup, Europa League, and the FA Cup. However, the performances are far from convincing. Our league finishes since he left are averaging at 5th. To put this into perspective, we haven't finished outside the top 3 in 23/26 of Fergie's seasons.

The teams have been very volatile and no one knows which United will turn up on a given day. It is such a contrast to what most United fans are used to. Sir Alex gave us so many good teams and players to love. So that got me thinking as to what our best 11 would be post Fergie. The rules are - players who played for Sir Alex are allowed but they should have played for him for less than fifty percent of their Manchester United careers; players will be added based on their contribution to the club and not based on their potentials.

Goalkeeper - David De Gea Probably one of the rare players who has improved since 2013. This man is the reason we didn't finish lower than where we have be…
Read more

Where is the FOOTBALL in Manchester United Football Club?

By -
Image
With the international break currently ongoing, Manchester United and Jose Mourinho are trying to salvage most of their time to rebuild themselves. The club is gradually making wholesale behind the scenes changing, reporting and trying to plan for life post Mourinho (whose time at the club may have gotten shorter with the series of losses, draws and near scrape victories and numerous bust-ups with senior players, club officials and of course, the media).
The manager faces an uncertain future at Old Trafford and reports suggest that the club are searching for a potential successor in the international break. With training ground disputes, questionable on pitch decisions, no team structure and no club structure, United are in the current state of limbo. There is a hierarchy consisting of the rich Glazer family and Ed Woodward, who are all controlling the club like a business rather than a world class footballing family. The football is run independently with no proper communication bet…
Read more

Herrera, The Red Warrior

By -
Image
Ander Herrera is a Manchester United midfielder who joined the Red Devils in the 2013/14 season. He has been  an indelible servant at The Theatre of Dreams and on his day typifies the United fighting spirit. 
Ever since the signing of Nemanja Matic in July 31 2017 Ander Herrera has been side-lined to the periphery of the first team. When he has been gifted an opportunity to play his performances have been hot and cold. On the one hand fans love his passion and determination, but on the other hand some fans feel that he makes too many mistakes. He has often been compared to Paul Scholes for his ability to shoot from long range, his tactical awareness and the ability to play quick, short passes. 
Ander Herrera was born on the 14th of August 1989 to Yoland Aguera and Pedro Mario Herrera in Bilbao, the largest city in the Basque country. Herrera would start his football journey at Real Zaragoza, joining the academy in 2001 and making his professional debut for the B team (Deportvio Aragón) …
Read more

Where do United go from here?

By -
Image
After what we thought was a hapless, usual, and revolting first half, a couple of tactical changes from José Mourinho saw us win the game in the last 20 minutes. The previous week was strewn with rumours saying that the Newcastle game was José's last game in charge regardless of the result. Tonnes of rumours and a passionate Gary Neville rant later, we were down 2-0 to Newcastle at home. At that point, all the news articles made sense. But after the second half, it just doesn't seem as likely. As I mentioned earlier in a tweet, I'm certain no one is getting carried away with this result but what happened in that second half was something this football club really needed. The toxicity between those in the dressing room, the hierarchy of authorities and the fans was overflowing and despite all that, everyone just put their agendas aside for a while and watched the club make a comeback in the dying moments at the Stretford End.  The fact that our players could turn the game …
Read more

Manchester United vs Newcastle United Player Ratings

By -
Image
Sometimes football can prove to be a game of two halves. Is there a more cliché line than that? Well, this game was a game full of clichés. Manchester United may be going through some really tough times at the moment but it is still the most romantic club in the world. Unlike the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, there was some shoddy defending in the first half. But just like the days of Sir Alex Ferguson, United, against all odds, came back from the brink to snatch a win from the jaws of defeat. Those final 20 minutes at Old Trafford seemed like Jose Mourinho's men had rolled back the years and had the fans scratching their heads, thinking that why can't United play like that more often.

Manchester United Starting XI 
De Gea, Young, Smalling, Bailly, Shaw, Matic, McTominay, Pogba, Martial, Rashford, Lukaku

Player Ratings
David De Gea (GK) : 9/10 Some shoddy defending from the players in front of him meant that De Gea couldn't do anything about either of the two goals that Unite…
Read more