One only needs to scour the Internet for a matter of minutes to find the words ‘most important’ appearing before what will soon take place at Eastlands on Wednesday. The occasion is none other than this season’s first installment of arguably English football’s tastiest fixture, the Manchester derby.
English Premier League Preview: United, City Renew Bitter Rivalry In Season’s First Manchester Derby
Wednesday in the Premier League witnesses the most recent version of the Manchester derby. While it’s yet to be proven that this installment is the most important, the fixture is slowly becoming England’s most exciting.
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And while the great North West city of Manchester continues to produce the goods both past and present - FC United’s animated existence, The Smiths, Boddingtons Pub Ale, The Ting Tings and Shameless - United’s brilliant reign as England’s best and City’s recent emergence as contenders for the crown continue to be conspicuously influential in the lives of Mancunians.
While football remains paramount in manc town, United’s vice like grip over City, at least for now, refuses the distinction to neutrals that the two clubs are tantamount. That said, it’s highly unlikely that Wednesday’s clash is in fact the ‘most important’. This installment doesn’t take the cake simply because United have their history, their recent derby wins, and their trophies, and City have, well, not much besides deep pockets and a whole lot of ambition.
Massive? Sure.
Anxiously anticipated? You better bloody believe it.
But until City, a club starved for attention like some acne faced younger brother, succeeds in one-upping United, finishing above them in the Premier League table, or wins something, hell, anything (!) resembling a piece of silverware, the Manchester derby of 10 November, 2010 will remain another installment of a bitter, local feud.
While Wednesday’s match will bear more than a few talking points as the season’s title race is concerned, let’s take a quick look at last year’s Manchester derbies and see what, if anything, we learned from the outcomes.
September 20th, 2009 - 4-3 United, Old Trafford - Truly one of the most memorable since Dennis Law back-heeled United into the old Second Division in 1974, the 4-3 epic was finished off by Michael Owen deep into what was then dubbed 'Fergie time'. While Mark Hughes cursed the Gods, Owen, Ferguson and quite a large portion of Old Trafford lost the plot.
United's goal scorers on the day were Owen, Rooney and a brace from Darren Fletcher. City hit United for three with a goal from Gareth Barry and two from the now departed Craig Bellamy.
Here we recognize that Wednesday's match will likely feature only two of the five goal scorers from last year's first derby and that local derbies don't have to be dull, especially when Rio Ferdinand attempts to match pace, bad back and all, with Craig Bellamy.
January 19th and 27th, 2010 - Carling Cup semi final, both legs, United advance 4-3 agg - An electric first leg at Eastlands replete with darts, golf balls and Carlos Tevez. The night time kickoff had the authorities nervous, but had Tevez himself ready to sink his old club. A Ryan Giggs cheeky opener was canceled out in the 42nd by a Tevez penalty. Tevez struck again to win it in the 65th minute on one of those mad scrambles in the box where you just know someone's gonna score, or someone's gonna get kicked in the head. Tevez scored.
City took a 2-1 lead to Old Trafford a week later in hopes they'd advance to the final at Wembley. It wasn't to be. United won the second leg emphatically, 3-1, with goals from Rooney, Scholes and Michael Carrick to slash any hope City had of at least a minor trophy.
What we learned: United are still the better team.
April 17th, 2010 - 0-1 United, Eastlands - The tightest of the four derbies last season ended late on with a Paul Scholes header. With that Patrice Evra cross, Scholes, ever the opportunist, again helped United knock City off a perch they so wanted to sit on.
Wednesday’s match has all the makings of another entertaining chapter in the book of Manchester derbies. Both clubs enter match day 12 high from their win in week 11. United barely disposed of Wolves at home 2-1 while City won at the Hawthorns v West Brom 0-2.
Manchester United currently claim second spot in the league yet remain unbeaten in all competitions this season. Although not yet in second gear, Ferguson's fledglings continue to find ways to win matches against inferior opponents when they've been outplayed. United's win v Wolves produced two goals but realistically only three moments of pure quality.
As a virus ravages it's way through the United changing room, and as Wayne Rooney breathes the fresh Pacific Northwest air in Oregon, the furthering of that grip United so desperately need to hold onto to prove they're a club not in decline will have to emerge in the form of a United B squad.
Even Ferguson himself has fallen ill from the bug now joining some 10 players who look to be out. While it’s yet to be proven, United’s glorious world class players look set to miss the derby as the Park’s, Fletcher’s, Chicharito’s and Obertan’s will have to prove their worth. The good news for United is the recent form of England captain Rio Ferdinand. His solid defending continues to instill a sense of self belief into a United side who were leaky at best without him.
City sit fourth, level on points with Arsenal. Largely fit and ready to prove they belong among the league's elite, only new summer signing Mario Balotelli will miss due to suspension. NIgel de Jong will be key in midfield for City. He'll deal well with Dimitar Berbatov, the two like to occupy essentially the same areas. Tevez is always chomping at the bit as long as his lungs fill with air. He recently took time away to recharge his waning batteries but is one of the league's best and most consistent players. David SIlva continues to impress in an attacking role. The summer signing from Valencia has claimed a starting spot after slowly settling into English football.
City have proved they’re a team on the brink but have yet to prove they’re a team ready to move anywhere past that point. The 0-2 away win on the weekend was a bullet point on the ‘brink’ list, but City’s previous three matches were all defeats by a combined score of 2-8 - proof for now they’re sitters when they aspire to be jumpers. While City boss Roberto Mancini continues to be questioned by journalists, fans and players alike concerning his tactical acumen, he’ll undoubtedly realize three points from the derby will silence many.
Question marks surround who gets the edge going into the match due to the injury crisis at United. If precedence is followed, Fergie will somehow magically cure a myriad of first team players in time for Wednesday’s kick off. It’s usually unwise to doubt the Scot, but even with a United first team available, one wouldn’t be remiss in suggesting a City victory. After all, United, although unbeaten, have rarely looked the part of unbeatable this season. Form and common sense alike are both thrown out the window when a derby match comes a’calling.
With an atmosphere set to soothe the ears, Wednesday’s Manchester derby hopes to be one for City to prove deep pockets are just the first step in global domination, one for United to prove what they’ve always proved, that they’re still top dog in the North West, and for fans and supporters across the globe, Wednesday’s derby just needs to be one for the ages.
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