Two Clubs...One City..

Like most cities, there are two sides….one side with the posh elite and the other with the commoners. One side industrial/commercial and the other residential…and the city of Manchester is like every other city, split in two, even more when it comes to football….come this weekend, the city will either be blue or red, and after 90minutes of 22 men battling over a sack of air one side will be happy the other sad. And even if the spoils are shared…one side will definitely go home the happier. Blue host red as Manchester city hosts Manchester united, that’s right, the Manchester derby coming to a television near you 1:30pm,Sunday the 9th of December. This derby over the last couple of years had nothing but who will have bragging rights as the best in the city but with an inflow of money, purchase of world class players and silverware all on the blue side now…it has become way more than just a derby game as a game between these clubs can determine who lifts the trophy come May. The day of the red dominating hasn’t come to an end but it is well balanced with blue.

 

There is already some pain on the blue side of Manchester as they (Manchester city) have been kicked out of the champions league without winning a single game, their run in Europe epitomised the word rubbish because they failed to even qualify for the europa league. One may say it is better for them seeing as they can concentrate on all domestic cups but the question is why they couldn’t win with a squad filled with world class players? Having said that, they are unbeaten in the premier league,even without hitting the form they hard last season. Now the next question would be, how can a team be the champions of England, the English league supposedly the best in the world, how can Manchester city not win in Europe?…as a man city fan, the reply would be….as long as we beat Man United on Sunday, I don’t care. Manchester city sit second in the league after 15 games, 3 points behind Manchester United, they currently have the best squad in the league and arguably the best midfielder in the world in Yaya Toure...Alot can be said about a team not playing well but still winning games, and against their local and possibly biggest rival, they would not need any inspiration to win against united on Sunday.

 

At the moment there is currently no pain on the red side of Manchester , sitting first on the table, 3 points ahead of their local rivals and the current English champions. They qualified top of their group for the champions league and have a strike force described by Sir Alex as nothing more than World class. but there is a pain that still touches most fans on the red side…..the 6-1 thrashing they received last year at Old Trafford by City and a Vincent Kompany header that gave city 3 points at the ethihad early this year…the pain lingers as city have current bragging rights not only in the city but in the country. United loosing to Cluj in their champions league although they played a second string team, the weakness in midfield still shows.Ryans Giggs and Paul Scholes both played suggesting that they are most likely to miss the derby and it was a game they both would have done well if it was a testimonial. Anderson is out with a hamstring injury, tom cleverly limped off against Cluj, so Fletcher, still struggling to get back to himself and Michael Carrick that occasionally remembers he is a good player. But it’s a derby and form never really matters, at least the united fans will hope so. There are rumours that this might be Mancini's last season,especially after a poor run in the champions league,on the other hand,Fergie seems to be going strong and plans not to leave anytime soon. Both managers do share one thing and that is not to lose come Sunday. There have been 163 meetings between both clubs,United winning 68 and city winning 45. There have been 50 draws but come Sunday am sure there wont be a 51st draw.United rested 7 players against Cluj and will be fresh and buzzing,Kompany and co playing a day before United should also have had enough rest so barring injuries,they are both all up for it.

 

A statue stands in Old Trafford,tribute given to the best ever manager in English football,there is no doubt that sir Alex will live and die as the best manager but if the blue side continues to dominate in the city and in the country,in a couple of years all we will remember is a man that lost power to his local rivals. I am sure he wouldn’t want that. It should be a good game,and hopefully no red cards,racism or some idiot doing monkey chants at any player. We shall see after 90 minutes from 1:30pm on Sunday. In more words to come..Sabi Boi