Rio Ferdinand will miss Saturday’s Manchester derby, with the 32-year-old defender still suffering from the calf injury sustained last weekend. With Jonny Evans also injured, Chris Smalling is set to start alongside Nemanja Vidic in a reshuffled Manchester United defence – it’s a back-line that will face more than £100 million worth of Manchester City attacking talent at Old Trafford.
Ferdinand suffered the injury in the warm up to last week’s defeat against Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Evans lining up. But with the Irishman also injured during training with Northern Ireland this week two changes are forced on the United manager.
Indeed, Ferdinand’s loss is a huge blow not only to United’s hopes in the derby but potentially for both club’s title ambitions this season. Should City win at Old Trafford Roberto Mancini’s outfit will close to within two points of United. Should the Reds triumph then City’s hopes will be all but dashed for another season.
“Rio Ferdinand got a calf injury last week. He will be out for a couple of weeks,” Ferguson told the press on Friday.
“Jonny Evans was injured in training with Northern Ireland. He is out so Chris Smalling will play. I am sure he will do well.”
“It could have happened at any time. It is not as if it is anything to do with his back. That was our main concern last year but his back has been fine.
“You have to remember Rio has been in first-team football since he was 17. It is a long time. He will pick up little strains, like a lot of players do. This is not a long-term thing. It is a couple of weeks.”
The pressure will now pass to Smalling, who has started just 1 games for United this season, primarily in the Carling Cup and Champions League. However, the 21-year-old former Fulham defender has looked composed if a little raw during a fledgling career with the club and the derby will surely represent the biggest match of the £10 million signing’s career.
“Chris has made excellent progress this season,” added Ferguson.
“He got a bit of tightness in his back last Friday, which is why I used Jonny Evans as a substitute last week. We are very pleased with him. He has been outstanding since he came to the club.
“He has played a few games now. Of course, he lacks that big-game experience but in terms of the experience he has had, he has used it well and he has done well.”
The reshuffled defence hardly helps Ferguson, whose team lost so tamely at Molineux. While no motivation is required for the players against City, the Scot must still be concerned about the nature of United’s demise last weekend.
Park Ji-Sung could also play after recovering from the Asian Cup. The South Korean captain retired after the games, in which his side reached the semi-final before losing on penalties to Japan. But in central midfield Ferguson also faces a dilemma, with Michael Carrick woeful against Wolves and Anderson overlooked in recent weeks.
It’s a crucial call, with Ferguson acknowledging that the match could decide the Premier League’s destination this season.
“It’s a derby and it could be decisive in terms of the championship,” said the 69-year-old Scot.
“For both teams it could be decisive, and that’s what makes it such an interesting game. We just hope our home form stacks up, because I’ve been very pleased with our home form this season.”
In that there is a crumb of comfort after last weekend’s events. While United has performed poorly away from Old Trafford some of the football at home has inspired. The 7-1 thrashing of Blackburn Rovers was followed in quick succession by a 5-0 hammering of Birmingham City.
Meanwhile, City could be without both Mario Ballotelli and Nigel de Jong, with the pair both suffering injuries. Most intriguing though will be City’s formation after the ultra-negative approach in the tie between the sides at Eastlands earlier this season. New signing £27 million Edin Džeko may start on the bench unless Mancini changes the habit of a season and throws caution to the wind in a game the Italian is playing down.
“It’s a derby, a big game in Manchester when the top of the table plays the third in the table, but not the most important this season,” said Mancini.
“I’d like to win at Old Trafford. It is better to win there than at home…better for our heads and our personalities.
“Nobody would have thought that United would have lost at Wolves. And now The Europa League and Champions League starts again.
“Maybe United has more of a winning mentality than us because they have been unbeaten for a long time, but only this is the difference…when we start to win trophies then that can change. I think it is very important for us to win something at the end of the season.”
Probably the difference between Mancini keeping his job or otherwise.
Opposition
Wolves – 451 – Hart; Boateng, Kompany, Toure K, Kolarov; Toure Y, Vieira, Barry; Milner, Tevez, Silva. Subs from: Given, Lescott, Jo, Zabaleta, Dzeko, Wright-Phillips, Razak, Guidetti
United
United – 442 – van der Sar; Rafael da Silva, Vidic, Smalling, Evra; Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Giggs; Rooney, Berbatov. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Evans, Brown, Gibson, Owen, Bébé, Lindegaard, Fabio da Silva, O’Shea, Obertan, Hernández, Anderson, Park Ji-Sung, Carrick.
Officials
Referee: Andre Marriner
Assistant referees: Adam Watts & Scott Ledger
Fourth official: Martin Atkinson
Form
United – WWWWWL
City – WWLDDW
Evans isn’t injured, he’s just a liability and can’t be allowed anywhere near Manchester during the match
hopefully gibson is pseudo injured too
Nailed on draw, I reckon. Shite result but our season turned to shite last weekend. I see Fletcher’s been running his mouth in the press – which is what out form players do rather than shut up and work on their own inadequacies.
what do scottish people make of fletcher, fergie aside
Sky predicts the line up to be, a Fletcher/Scholes midfield… and if you think about it, that’s the best we’ve got.
No matter what Cal says, Scholes is still the best we’ve got at what he does, and to be fair to Fletcher… he’s the best we’ve got at what he does… when he does it.
According to a Scottish mate, they hate him; they blame him for Scotland being shit, and they can’t understand why he doesn’t reproduce his United form for his country
Smalltime cunts http://menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1407982_vandals_target_old_trafford_pub_and_manchester_uniteds_training_ground_with_munich_jibe_ahead_of_derby_clash
2-1 united, we will win, have faith.
if its level after 80 minutes I reckon city will take off every attacker, another late winner for us would ccrush em
and with that said hernandez is apparently out so owen will be involved
What’s wrong with Chico?… I can’t find anything.
Carrick and Anderson to start for me. Scholesy to come on later and steady the ship.
I hate to change the topic but has anyone heard or read that Qatar Amir is in the process of buying the club from the Glazers? A friend sent me an email and United fans around the world are hoping there is some truth to the story. The story claims that the Glazers will walk away with a 750 million pound profit.
why let it stop you now??/ you do it often enough
ffs
chico is out through “fatigue”
fucking well up for this lads – see you later
aye me too dannii
but i have baby sitting duties too so have to watch the swearing ffs
come on united
oshea starts
no berbatov
that’s it, tevez cunt will score at least 2. good think i’m missing the fucking match.
unbelieveable team, not happy, i feel sick
whats the team….dont tell me im going to be smashing shit up…..ffs
vds oshite smalling vidic evra nani bastard son scholes andershite giggs rooney
3 fucking sttikers on the bench ffs
link?
Goodness me!! Well, last week I thought the line-up was good and we lost so…
But O’shea ahead of Rafael and Brown? What the heck?
Anderson had better have a good game or else he should thrown out. I am at work but will finish before half-time but I will not be rushing home.
Our top goalscorer is on the bench. Does not say very much about what the manager feels you know..
Where is Ji?? How long does it take to recover from playing in the Asian Cup?? He did not even play in the third place match so what the heck?
Anderson!! Anderson! You gutless Brazillian lump. Today, please just go back to that your first season form when you schooled both Gerrard and Fabregas on their own grounds. PLEASE.
I actually think Scholes will be ok today as City do not have that much energy in their midfield. Giggs always does well against that brainless Richards. Goodness me am so tense
come on reds
pretty tense
what is saf’s game plan?
united at home and not looking good
come on reds
hate this one striker shite
1st shot on target by fletcher after 33 mins
make that a header by the scottish player even
Says more about his lack of faith in our midfield.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Rooney just can’t get in the game… no service to him at all.
no point putting berbs on then
or else switch shrek to midfield and at least give him something to aim at up front
fuckin yessssssssssssssssssssss
naniiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
get the feck in
Get the fuck in………………….NANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII!!!
Nice goal from Nani there, lets now see what he Bitters are made of.
Whoa… that was actually a bit of class from O’Shea.
we even looked like a good team after the first goal
Well done…
one man is beating eleven
Giggs was wank for the 1st half…
then he did that.
just got in after doing the groceries – some shithouses are coming over for “dinner” which means muggins here has to cook a curry cos am indian and they are expecting something exotic – gonna fuck them up with some punjabi chillies
did i read that OShea did something useful?
how is smalling holding up?
dannii
confuse your guests by making something mexican instead
Fuck… first decent ball to Rooney and Kompany makes a great tackle.
come on united
Fuck that… serve ’em fish’n chips… and tell’em to check the footy schedule first, next time.
city going for this now
hit them on the counter
come on reds
Rooney almost looks like he’s sick of football these days…
fucking hell that was close WAKE UP united !!
Fuck sake Giggs… that was rubbish.
pathetic
come on united fucks sake
don’t blame with the shit that Anderson is serving up – he is shit
FUCKING HELL
Ahhhh fuck sake… what a rubbish goal.
lucky cunts, come on Rooney
that is the difference between a 36 year old Scholes and Anderson
anderson is a fucking small time, waste of space
that’s right Anderson FUCK OFF out of here, CUNT
they should go and kiss his arse for that
come on united – citeh are shit
come on u cunts
Mancini will settle for this… hope we don’t.
get the ball to rooney – how hard is that?
fuck so close from giggs !!
fucking impossible with our midfield
give the ball to vds to hoof it
good defending come on UNITED – this is a DERBY, ffs
That Kompany is a good defender.
Another Easter Island Head.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
fuck cieh are getting closer and closer – this is not good at all
come on united
win this
nani you twat!!!
surely that is a yellor for that tackle on rooney, ref is a cunt
alf fergie settled for a draw before the game started
Look at that… Rooney has lost it.
whgat a fuckkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkinnn goallllllllllllllllll
midget man
AMAZING
FUCKING YES ROOOOOOONEYYY FrueofnjrewvjrTReE
EWHJK
shrekkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkkk lives………………
MOTHER FUCK
AHHHHHAHAHAHAHAHA… Now that is a fuckin goal…ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOONNNEEYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!!
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
remember you Roon hating cunts thats Wayne fuckin Rooney
Fucking hell Roonster get the fuck in !!!!!!!!!!!!!
I WANNA BUM YOU AND HAN AND ALF
rooneys finished!!!!!!
come on reds
win this
awesome, awesome, awesome – come on Rooney!
I need to change my pants… I just pissed them.
What might that do for Rooney?
Fuck me that was special.
I will be fuckin livid if we don’t win… that goal sooo deserves to win this game.
give him the goal of the season trophy now
becks with hid kids with a grin on his face. lol – still a gayer
even better than Berba’s overhead
yaya toure is a fucking dirty thug who shld be locked up
I think we just saw the goal of the season.
grey bearded giggs shat on everyone in the second half
he’s a genius
Absolutely brilliant keeping from VDS.
how shit is Dzeko? crap.
SMALLING = RIO MARK II
shock and awe. simply wonderful
vidic smallng giggs all up for man of match, and maybe roo just for that genius,
Excellent victory… can’t wait for MotD… want to see that goal again and again.
even citeh bench congratulating citeh
dannii i don’t like spicy food but i’ll be over when ur guests have pissed off
1 Man Utd 25 31 54
2 Arsenal 25 27 50
3 Man City 26 20 49
4 Chelsea 25 24 44
fucking put them back in their place – superb goal from shrek
<pops out the chemist to get a couple of tubs of Durex Play>
hmmmmmmm
me thinks that is the table before the game
Mancini fooked it up… thank god
Shrek….unfookinbelievable… wont see him do that again for a long time.
THICK CUNT ALERT
Sorry, stoooooooooooopid F5 refresh buttone
1 Man Utd 26 32 57
2 Arsenal 25 27 50
3 Man City 27 19 49
4 Chelsea 25 24 44
and Nani, scored the first and made the second
[video]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xCLtY8Ne1M8[/video]
wtf, i thought rooney was finished
over the moon that he would even try that, I bet taggart was raging
Didn’t get to see match, at work, but said that we would win 2-1, can’t wait to see
Rooneys goal, Manchester is red.
City money can’t buy you class.
hi mad red
dannii is up for a closet meeting ….
Oh, stop it, ffs…
Massive result. We still need to beat Arsenal away and take at least 4 points off Chelsea (and hopefully not fuck up any more matches we should be winning).
Rooney delivered, and how – fair play to him. Even O’Shea had a good game. Smalling was immense.
Still not confident we will win the title but I will enjoy today.
By the way… Tevez was kept well quiet, wasn’t he?
I thought our defense was great… Smalling is really coming on… still prefer Rio, obviously, but if Smalling continues to improve, I won’t be so worried when Rio can’t play… which is becoming all too common.
Smalling was outstanding
sounds good to me.
motm along with Kompany
so smalling was not so small today….
Smalling was … erm … Massive, te he he !!
btw, what a typical bitter prick that Mike Summerbee was in the studio…….basically represents what City have/are/will be all about….bitter
Just seen a replay of what Summerbee said. The man is a complete and utter cretin. He’s stewing because, despite being a very good footballer for City, hardly anybody outside Manchester remembers him because we had George Best.
Only City fans talk about the likes of Bell and Summerbee. EVERYONE talks about Charlton, Law and Best.
He’s frothing at the fanny. I love it. I love how he looks like he’s swallowed a wasp.
It’s pure bitterness from Summerbee
It’s funny when he says that City had “60-70% of possession”, then the Sky stats showed United had 54%
saw that – what a twisted fat fuck – bet he’s gonna kick his dog all night
I am so relieved. Goodness me I did not think we would do it but we rose to the challenge after their equaliser.
Nothing there to say about Rooney’s goal. I was speechless.
Smalling and Vida were immense while O’shea even managed to put in a good shift. To be fair, Kompany is one hell of a player. Nani is having a great season and am glad. Giggs was excellent AGAIN. Surely, we can not expect him to play this well next season.
I have to disagree with you about Giggs. I thought we witnessed one of his poorer performances today. For someone who saw a lot of the ball, his deliveries from the wing were pretty poor. He dazzled the City defenders with his skills but I thought he was wasteful with the ball. Delivery from set pieces was below par as well.
We can’t expect him to perform brilliantly in every game, I guess.
What was really funny today was that, in those last few mins of injury time where we were trying to kill time by keeping the ball, a Geordie fella sat behind me was doing his nut in when Carrick had the ball. The way he was ranting and raving…hilarious.
Sheesh,
Giggs has NEVER been good at consistently delivering a ball. So maybe that is why I did not count them against him. He held the ball well and did dribble as well as he is always going to. The biggest problem was when he had to chase back – the legs could not get back quickly enough.
Scholes was knackered only midway through the 2nd half. He still managed two incisive passes out wide to Nani. He had to be subbed and it was good Fergie called it. Carrick did well enough when he came on to be honest. Anderson? I really have given up and I think he is still there cos of his transfer fee.
I don’t agree about Anderson. I thought he had a good game today. All over the pitch he muscled City players off the ball and tried to get things going for us. I was disappointed for him when he got subbed off for Carrick. Anderson did a heck of a lot more than Fletcher. His passing was better than Fletcher’s as well. Fletcher was anonymous, making very little effort to impose himself on the game.
Yorke did everything but tell him to “shut the fuck up”… something about, “it’s good talking about possession, but United took their chances, and scored more goals”… Summerbee, then goes on to say, “City were the better team, and it took a great goal to beat them”… completely ignoring the fact that their goal was an outrageous deflection.
You don’t even need to put the boot in… knobs like Summerbee already have their foot in their gob.
Good man
Giggs has always infuriated. He gives the ball away a lot because he tries hollywood passes. Some of his corners have been piss poor mind, and there is no excuse for that.
But he has been United’s main creative force recently. As soon as he gets the ball, his head is up and he looks for what’s on, and he has the ability to play the right ball into the right area. 9 times out of 10 they don’t come off, but when they do, we usually score. Minus the Wolves game, hasn’t he had like 3 assists – proper killer balls in behind – in 3 different games.
I’m with Cal… I thought Giggs had a rough first half, but he was excellent second half… him and Nani ran the wings brilliantly, and at the end, Giggs nearly singlehandedly controled the game to run down time. I still think Nani could be sooo much better, if only he’d use his team mates more… too often he wastes a great dribble, by holding on too long, or taking a speculative shot… very frustrating since his brilliant dribble has created space for Rooney, or Berbatov, but he can’t be arsed to make the pass.
And yeah… Kompany… their best signing… even better than Tevez… he’s their Vidic.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Cal, you should just enjoy Giggs and scholes whilst it lasts…nothing is gonna change it mate
probably fuck it too
The bench went fucking mental when Rooney scored http://therepublikofmancunia.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/Rooney-goal-vs-City-celebration.gif
Wes, Fergie, Rene, Kiko, Ando, Raf… who else is in there?
Fergie and the staff really get them up for these big derby games
great goal. not enough words in the english language to describe it.
and great performances from the likes of smalling and nani. very impressed with the way smalling handled tevez. silva and kompany played really well too. shame they dont play for us.
as for the giggs debate. the ball for the nani goal was just sublime. some other balls were rather average. but overall i think he had a good game. and like pointed out above, he knew exactly how to run down the clock. thats 20 yrs of experience for you. we’ll miss the great man when he finally hangs up his boots.
Fantastic goal, wonderful feeling. But Rooney still has a long way to go to get back into my good graces, mercenary prick.
Wot you all getting on Summerbeeeee’s back..he’s a typical bitter blue..end of!
City played a good game, if they had played Utd last week, we’d have been slaughtered!
and you gits know it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Summerbee
haha…….
oh that made me laugh out loud
so cruuuuuuuuuel