Derby build up

[nottsblue]

Southampton has now been and gone. A line will be drawn under that performance

It's now full focus and throttle ahead for Saturdays game. And this will be a very tough fixture.

For the first time in a long time I have the rags down as favourites. They are on a good run, especially at the swamp and will be brimming with confidence.

Of course we are on paper a better side and the PL table backs that up. But a rag win moves them only a point behind so the gap is nowhere near what is has been in recent years. Hopefully Wednesday was an aberration and with our best XI on the field we will prevail.

But I'm not confident

[Harry Dowd scored]

I share with you the lack of confidence and that is not just down to the Saints debacle, the Everton and Brentford games have not been forgotten either. Some may put the Brentford game down to the pre WC thing, but the manager not using subs when the game was obviously slipping away must not be forgotten.
Like has been said rags are brimming with confidence, everything seems to be going their way, maybe that will change on Saturday, but not holding my breath.

[Tokyo Blue]

If we win this, it will absolutely crush them. Their “revival” (such as it is, beating the worst teams they’ll play all season) will be shattered and normal service resumed.

If they win, well, we know we are not at our best anyway. There will still be another 20 games left for us to win the league.

I grew up utterly fucking detesting these bastards and time has done nothing whatsoever to mitigate that. Come on, Blue boys, grind the twats into the dust. Let’s make sure this is the day we click again.

[Mase]

If they get at us I can see our players just folding. We seem like total shithouses at the moment.

[sheblue]

I have no idea what to expect from us at the moment.

And I hate 1230 kick offs.

Therefore a lot trepidation.

[Dimples]

Impossible to predict this one I think.
What City will show up, will City test out a new training ground formation, will we be caught on the counter, is Casemiro football's 007 in disguise with a license to cripple City players, who will play, where will they play - Ed as CF, Haaland as GK - just impossible to predict.

MU's run of 1000 wins in 700 games, is exactly that, a nonsense. That has been built against weaker sides but they still had to win those games, which they did (and that is something we are failing to do) and that are only 4 points behind us.

It will be interesting to see if Ten Bob plays both Ericksen and Fernandez. If he does I will be optimistic.

Our midfield should control the game, providing a clinical Haaland with lots of chances plus MU have no depth on the bench.

So City should win, says I, with absolutely no conviction.

[PeterParker]

Thank fuck is not Anty Taylor.
I am not that confident, to be honest. Den Haag will likely look to take his revenge after what happened in our home and we don't look that arsed.

But.

Last year our season took off after losing to Palace and going in the swamp and ripping them apart.

[carl_feedthegoat]

Our defensive issues is down to one man and one man only .

That will be the bald cunt who just cannot pick a steady back 4 to save his life .
That’s the main issue we have and we have have had since the start of the season .

He says he’s thinking about doing something radical for this game —- well , no shock there then , he has brain farts against most top teams so I won’t be shocked either way if he plays Bernardo as goalie and ederson upfront .

[Nigels Tackle]

cancelo, philips, palmer shouldn't even be in the squad for this one

----------------------ederson
----lewis------stones------akanji------ake
-----kdb------------rodri--------- bernardo
-----mahrez------------------------foden
-------------------haaland

[nottsblue]

cancelo, philips, palmer shouldn't even be in the squad for this one

----------------------ederson
----lewis------stones------akanji------ake
-----kdb------------rodri--------- bernardo
-----mahrez------------------------foden
-------------------haaland

Wouldn't have Foden starting either

[Nigels Tackle]

cancelo, philips, palmer shouldn't even be in the squad for this one

----------------------ederson
----lewis------stones------akanji------ake
-----kdb------------rodri--------- bernardo
-----mahrez------------------------foden
-------------------haaland

Wouldn't have Foden starting either

alvarez?

[carl_feedthegoat]

Maybe if pep played EVERYONE in their natural positions we will have a good chance of winning tomorrow .

I fear another brain fart .

[Harry Dowd scored]

Not withstanding brain farts we have to admit we have not been consistent for awhile left back is still a worry after all this time, amazing we cannot seem to solve this position. Carl has a point, play everyone in their positions and we stand a chance of winning

[Harry Dowd scored]

cancelo, philips, palmer shouldn't even be in the squad for this one

----------------------ederson
----lewis------stones------akanji------ake
-----kdb------------rodri--------- bernardo
-----mahrez------------------------foden
-------------------haaland

Wouldn't have Foden starting either

alvarez?

Alvarez was disappointing against saints

[blues2win]

Get a grip guys. We’ll have a far stronger team out and we’ve every chance of winning this. The Chelsea match was only a few days ago. I’ll be slaughtered but might consider Walker at RB instead of Lewis ( he played CB against Southampton). His pace and experience might be needed against Rashford. If fit Stones must play but with whom Laporte or Akanji? I’d go with Laporte for his distribution and for a Right Left balance. I imagine Ake will get the nod over Cancelo at LB. Rodri Kevin and Gundogan would possibly mean Bernardo missing out if Mahrez comes in. Not keen on that but what to do? Haaland obviously. Grealish or Foden?

[s1ty m]

If he picks Cancelo, he needs to be asked questions.

[Harry Dowd scored]

One thing I forgot to mention, I watched the rags v Everton and they are not against leaving a foot in when tackling, it was evident throughout, this tells me the manager is behind it. Malacia and Casemiro should both been sent of. One tackle on Iwobi was horrendous and resulted in him being carried off on a stretcher. I think Malacia was the culprit they are a tough side for sure.

[nottsblue]

cancelo, philips, palmer shouldn't even be in the squad for this one

----------------------ederson
----lewis------stones------akanji------ake
-----kdb------------rodri--------- bernardo
-----mahrez------------------------foden
-------------------haaland

Wouldn't have Foden starting either

alvarez?

Either that or another body in midfield

[Harry Dowd scored]

Apparently Stones is it of the Derby

[Mase]

Apparently Stones is it of the Derby

Is it too late to tell him we’ll wear a white kit?