Nige 50-50 for the Derby

[Beeks]

Fucking hope he's ready...he is essential IMO

From the MEN...

Manchester City warrior Nigel de Jong faces a hard battle to be fit for the Manchester derby. The midfield ace may even have to pass a late fitness test, with his chances rated as 50-50 as he struggles to overcome an ankle injury.

De Jong picked up the knock in the draw at Birmingham – a game which also saw him receive several stitches in a head wound after colliding with team-mate Micah Richards.

It kept him out of last week’s win over West Brom, and forced de Jong to withdraw from the Holland squad for their midweek friendly win over Austria.

That was a tough call for de Jong, as he had only just been recalled by national coach Bert van Marwijk after being dropped following his tackle on Hatem Ben Arfa in October which left the Newcastle man with a broken leg.

De Jong has been receiving intensive treatment at the Carrington training ground’s medical centre.

The uncertainty around the Blues’ main defensive midfielder has also meant manager Roberto Mancini will not pick his team until very late.

De Jong is a vital part of the way Mancini plays, as he frees Gareth Barry to get around the pitch, joining in with attacks as well as doing sterling harrying and defensive work.

He will also be an important figure against United, as he occupies the space in front of the back four in which key United stars like Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney like to operate.

Striker Mario Balotelli is losing his own battle to play after more than six weeks out with a knee problem.

But the Italy international may be on the bench, possibly alongside Edin Dzeko, with Carlos Tevez starting as a solo striker.

Richards, who also missed the West Brom game as he suffered mild concussion in his clash with de Jong, is expected to be available.

That adds to Mancini’s selection dilemmas, as Richards was the best player on the pitch in his last full appearance, the FA Cup tie at Notts County, and is vying strongly with Jerome Boateng for the right-back berth.

Aleks Kolarov is expected to continue in the midfield role he filled so well against West Brom, and that would mean the Blues can rely on the more solid defensive abilities of Pablo Zabaleta to deal with United danger man Nani.

Zabaleta is desperate to play in the derby, and claims the Blues now have the personnel to inflict a defeat on the Reds.

United have the best home record in the league with 12 wins and a draw, but City have one of the best away records and are strong on the counter.

United remain strong favourites to win the title, but Zabaleta believes that this season’s Premier League has proved more unpredictable than ever

[CityFanFromRome]

He has to play, even if it means he will miss the following two or three games; if it is needed, I would even inject him with painkillers just to have him play.

I didn't like the suggestion of Tevez alone upfront with Balo and Dzeko on the bench, I hope Mancini doesn't go for that solution. Also, Zab against Nani can be dangerous, Kolarov will have to help him a lot there.

[johnny crossan]

Team without NDJ

Hart

Richards
Kolo
Kompany
Zabaleta

Kolarov
Barry
Yaya
Milner

Silva
Tevez


Bench: Given, Boateng, Lescott, Dzeko, Balotelli, SWP, Vieira

[Martinez]

Gutted if he misses out, not that we can't do well without him, I was just really looking forward to some of his trademark tackling into those rag cnuts.

[Dubciteh]

Team without NDJ

Hart

Richards
Kolo
Kompany
Zabaleta

Kolarov
Barry
Yaya
Milner

Silva
Tevez


Bench: Given, Boateng, Lescott, Dzeko, Balotelli, SWP, Vieira

Pretty much id imagine, if hes fit he will prob replace kolorov with milner going wide one side and silva the other? big game from milner needed, the rags strongest point is evra in my opinion we need to stop him.

[Tokyo Blue]

Gutted if he misses out, not that we can't do well without him, I was just really looking forward to some of his trademark tackling into those rag cnuts.

A pound to a piece of shit says he gets booked for his first foul.

[Scatman]

Quotes galore there

[Beeks]

Pretty much id imagine, if hes fit he will prob replace kolorov with milner going wide one side and silva the other? big game from milner needed, the rags strongest point is evra in my opinion we need to stop him.

I think it will be the other way around and Kolorov will start wide with Milner on the bench

[1950]

Hopefully just mind games.

[Nick]

ffs

[Mikhail Chigorin]

He has to play, even if it means he will miss the following two or three games; if it is needed, I would even inject him with painkillers just to have him play.

I didn't like the suggestion of Tevez alone upfront with Balo and Dzeko on the bench, I hope Mancini doesn't go for that solution. Also, Zab against Nani can be dangerous, Kolarov will have to help him a lot there.

At the end of the day, although the derby is mightily important, it's just one more game in a long season overall.

If, by playing Big Nige, we risk losing him for two, three or even more games, would it be worth it when his overall value to the side is immense and there are other, just as important, big games coming up.

I wouldn't like to be Bobby Manc having to make this call; he can't do right for doing wrong.

[CityFanFromRome]

At the end of the day, although the derby is mightily important, it's just one more game in a long season overall.

If, by playing Big Nige, we risk losing him for two, three or even more games, would it be worth it when his overall value to the side is immense and there are other, just as important, big games coming up.

I wouldn't like to be Bobby Manc having to make this call; he can't do right for doing wrong.

Fact is that in other games we can cope without him, like we did with WBA; however his tackling will be much more needed tomorrow so if the result is a couple of games out I'd be willing to risk it. More than that, then I wouldn't risk him. I guess the doctors will be able to say how much of a risk playing him would be, won't they?

[Martinez]

Gutted if he misses out, not that we can't do well without him, I was just really looking forward to some of his trademark tackling into those rag cnuts.

A pound to a piece of shit says he gets booked for his first foul.

True, as will Zabba and Kolarov