Manchester city v  MANCHESTER UNITED

Article by Mark Graham, Editor, Record Keeper & Official MUFCINFO.COM Match Reporter.

Match Preview
Manchester City v Manchester United, Eastlands, Manchester, 13.30pm, Sunday 19th August 2007.
Manchester City, 2nd, 6pts.   United, 12th  2pts.

United visit City in the Sunday Lunch time kick off with a host of injuries & a daft and unnecessary suspension to take into account. SAF problems in the treatment room are at a standstill as a number of players are still unfit and/or receiving treatment.

SAF in his Friday press conference touched on what MUFC.COM reported in the Portsmouth review, the boss said "I’m looking at the performances of the team in the first two games and saying to my players, ‘Well done’,".  "We’re dropping points and that’s disappointing and frustrating because the performance levels have been very good.

The important thing is to be patient now. The situation is recoverable, of course."

The law of averages says this will not continue and for all the possession the goals will come, for United's sake & it has to start now.

On the subject of the treatment table the United manger said "Owen Hargreaves is still feeling the problem of tendonitis in his knee but he is doing some bits of training, which is encouraging.

We think we are on the right road to sorting it out," "The better prevention is to do it naturally.

"Owen has been training reasonably well, and we are prepared to go along that course until it deteriorates. If that happens - in any way, shape or form - we have to consider an injection."

On Captain Gary Neville SAF said "he has also been doing bits of training but he's not really near"

Saha has been training with the first-team squad but will not take part in the match & Anderson is struggling with a hamstring strain

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer still has knee trouble & Wayne Rooney is expected to be out for two months.

Ronaldo serves the 1st game of his 3 match ban for laying the head on Hughes of Portsmouth.

On the other hand the Blue side of Manchester are quietly confident as Sven has had a dream start with his revolution & City under their new manager with new tactics & new personnel are not to be under estimated, whilst the Reds have played well enough to win games, the final ball in the back of the net has eluded the Champions leaving United trailing City amongst others by 4 points after only two games. 

City are expected to field an unchanged starting line up which includes goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel (his father I believe played for United!!!) The Great Dane's son is currently deputising for injured keeper Andreas Isaksson (fractured thumb).

Gabriel Heinze is reportedly fit but it now seems certain the defender not be involved, a meeting with the Premier League has been arranged for Monday that will clarify where his future lies.

Editor: If he does move to Liverpool, I & many many others would loose all respect for the combatative Fan favourite, especially taking into account the Reds allowed him to pick his venue for rehabilitation in Spain & paid his wages whilst he was out for a year.
When we all shout "Argentina" it wont be for you Gabby it will be for our new Argie hero.

Manchester United (from): Van der Sar, Kuszczak, Brown, Simpson, Bardsley, Pique, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, O'Shea, Fletcher, Eagles, Scholes, Carrick, Giggs, Tevez, Nani.

Head to Head
League: Manchester City 35 wins, United 53 wins, Draws 48.