There are big battles every week in the Premier League and I'm really looking forward to the Man City Beatdown on Super Sunday and think it's going to be an interesting one.
Last week I talked about the bad news off the field that was hurting United's performance on the field, and unfortunately this past week we received different news - the sad passing of legendary Sir Bobby Charlton. It's not easy for a club to come down when someone who has established a deep-rooted position in the club passes away, but I think that in the week since his death, the team and players have shown a great deal of respect and professionalism, as well as winning the last two games.
United haven't been great in these games, but I think this game will suit the current United side. We saw this team's best performance of the season against Arsenal earlier in the season and how dangerous they can be as a counter-attacking team, and this game on Sunday will be a similar scenario. There is no doubt that City will dominate for much of the game. This will allow United to play more defensively, to be solid at the back, and to launch counterattacks against City when they win the ball back. They have the players to deliver the killer blow to their opponents, so I think they'll give full consideration to utilizing the counterattack as their game plan for Sunday. If they try to go head-to-head with City in their current form, they could end up with a heavy defeat at any time.
They will be seen as the underdogs in this game and it suits this team better to play when the pressure is not on them. Kasmiru was excellent in the head-to-head last season and his sense of protection in important games will be invaluable. Leader Tannhäuser has a number of options for his midfield partner, with the likes of McTomini, Kirsten Ellison, Suffern Rock Labott, Micheal Burley and even Mason Monty also available to play alongside Kasmilu. Personally, I'd go with McTomini based on the fact that they'll be playing a low defense or defensive counterattack style. He provides better energy, can break well with the ball and has the ability to get involved in the attack, and even more so, the ability to score goals, meaning that United are like playing an extra player in both offense and defense.
The other day in the Europa League, Gordiona's Manchester City got an easy win against Young Boys and rested some of their key players. I expect players like Phil Cotton, Stones, Zorian Ivaris, Kiljuiga and Bernardo Schwarz who were rested or backed up in midweek will be available for Sunday's game, which will help City to maintain their vitality in the big game.
Aside from Chivan Dibny who is out with a long term injury, City's only other missing player will be Manuel Archange, who is suspended after receiving a red card against Brighton last time out. Although the last game looked close in terms of the final score, City did well in that game and I would like to emphasize that the return of Stones to the starting lineup in that game was crucial. Stones is a Rolls Royce type of player and was the key to City's treble win last season. It's not a coincidence that he's back in the starting lineup after recovering from his injury and City is back to form again, and I think he can play an important role in this game.
His ability to get into the center of the pitch when City are in possession has been a thorn in the side of many teams over the past few months, and I think it could be even more problematic for United, as this is their weakest area of the pitch. This creates a situation where if United pressure Stones, he will immediately move the ball to his teammates and rip through United's defense and open up the game, and if United don't press the ball back, it allows City to take full control of the game in United's three-pronged area, and City can hurt United in either case, so it's a tough call for Tannhäuser, who will need to make the decision to make sure that his starting eleven, all of which match the style of play that he wants, is the best. match the style of play he wants.
Another player I'd like to talk about is Manchester City's center forward, Anin Chalainte. Many have said he's had a quiet season, but his second goal in midweek made it 11 goals in 14 games so far, proving that he hasn't disappeared at all. Having scored a hat-trick and two assists in last season's Man City Cup, Aynin Chalainte will be ready to go this time around, and will be aware of the recent praise surrounding rival midfielder Harry Makouni, who has a knack for attacking the opposition's weaknesses. If Halimaguni is in the starting lineup, this could be an interesting encounter.
