Last night the latest episode of HBO's gripping, wildly successful fantasy series was released. It is a story of political intrigue; the power of words as great as the might of the arm, a scrabble for glory which descends to mad desperation. Blood is shed as heroes rise and fall, loyalty and sanity the loftiest virtues as all around lose their heads. Perhaps we should view tonight's game as the latest installment, albeit with hyperbole, subtext and fanaticism that make it far fetched even alongside a fantasy world of dragons and magic. Manchester City play Manchester United for the title. A Game of Thrones, indeed.
It's a gratifying change to have two teams at this stage of the season battling for a title they both deserve to win. It is easy to criticise the wealth of City, to belittle their achievement's as little more than inevitable given their vast resources, but it is wrong to do so. Money or not, to upset the established hegemony of English football, an order we all bemonaed a few years ago, is no mean feat; to conquer it within a few short years would be nothing short of astonishing. And conquer it they will if they can beat the neighbours who have lorded it over them for so long. So what of United? They no longer play with the absorbing panache of old. Their defence is creaking, their midfield non-existent and their attack too reliant on the broad shoulders of Wayne Rooney and Antonio Valencia. Yet United, with their worst starting XI in years, stand atop the league due to their manager and their sheer, unrelentingly obstinate refusal to lose. The unstoppable force of City's wealth meets the immovable object of United's self-belief.
There are hints though that City enter the fray with the higher ground, unthinkable a few weeks ago as they trailed a Seb Larsson-inspired Sunderland 3-1 at home. Carlos Tevez is a pathetic, spineless mercenary; a charlatan who serves as a sad indictment of our modern game. He should be ashamed to wear the same shirt as Joe Hart and Vincent Kompany and call himself their equal. But bloody hell can he play football, and his return has inspired City in the same way Paul Scholes' did for the neighbours. He has spearheaded their revival and masterminded their return to the form of last year, when the title felt inevitable and challenge felt futile. As City have risen United have hinted at capitualtion; an astonishing run of success was followed by defeat to a suddenly brilliant Wigan side. More worryingly, they conspired to snatch a draw from the jaws of victory against Everton last week, when a win would have surely seen them safely home. As it is Mancini's team have the momentum, whereas Ferguson's must claw at that most ethereal of footballing virtues; experience.
As for the game itself, the teams all but select themselves. The battleground will be midfield, and it is here that Ferguson will try to win the game. Scholes and Michael Carrick excel in playing hold-ball, but will be surely too lightweight against a formidable City pack led by the indomitable Yaya Toure. Darren Fletcher or Anderson would provide the running needed but they are both unavailable, while Ji-Sung Park, the archetypal big-game player, has had a poor season by his standards. United must sacrifice this battle and tactically retreat to the strategy the are most famed for; rapid distribution to the wings. Micah Richards and Gael Clichy are fine players, but if City play the narrow game they normally do their full-backs will be dominated by Nani, Valencia or Young. Likewise, Patrice Evra and the rapidly improving Rafael must reinforce their wingers; if United keep the ball on the flanks they will pin City back, and Rooney and Danny Welback will surely capitalise at some point.
This, of course, requires the supposition that United can get enough of the ball from City to find their wide players. Toure and Gareth Barry, with Tevez dropping back, will hope to suffocate the midfield and starve United's flanks of the ball. If the play stays in the middle of the pitch United lack the strength to cope with City's combined physicality and technical wizardry. Jonny Evans is a different player to the man who capitulated so disasterously at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture, but if City exert enough pressure on him through the middle they will eventaully crack him. In short, City must flood the middle of the park, take Scholes and Carrick out of the game and wait for Tevez, Sergio Aguero and David Silva to deliver the killer blow.
This, of course, requires the supposition that United can get enough of the ball from City to find their wide players. Toure and Gareth Barry, with Tevez dropping back, will hope to suffocate the midfield and starve United's flanks of the ball. If the play stays in the middle of the pitch United lack the strength to cope with City's combined physicality and technical wizardry. Jonny Evans is a different player to the man who capitulated so disasterously at Old Trafford in the reverse fixture, but if City exert enough pressure on him through the middle they will eventaully crack him. In short, City must flood the middle of the park, take Scholes and Carrick out of the game and wait for Tevez, Sergio Aguero and David Silva to deliver the killer blow.
What an amazing run in to the season. United can and perhaps will settle for the draw?
ReplyDeleteUsually I would back United but I think the gap in quality of each starting 11 (player for player) is unlike what we've seen before. City are unquestionably the technically superior side.
However, United are magic under Ferguson. He makes Gandalf look like Tommy Cooper.
I have to go for score draw.
It's hard to disentangle my heart and head, but I think score draw as well, though sending offs have drastically changed both games this season.
ReplyDeleteGandalf is no conjurer of cheap tricks.
Couldn't agree more with the score draw prognostication. City to be leading as well.
ReplyDeleteLate is the hour in which this Mancini conjurer chooses to appear... I'm not sure he quite has enough to negate Fergie's experience.