Manchester United VS Manchester City – The Cantona Kickems Preview

I’ve gotta say that the Small Potato has made a bold prediction on da car-TOONs grabbing a point at Villa Park. Ashley Young is most definitely the player to watch – returning from a one-game suspension and hungry for more after the midweek England debut. If you have the moolah, grab im at 16.02.

But enough on that, let’s jump right into the nitty gritty of the Manchester derby.

Key points to this matchup:

1. Attack vs. Defense: With the absence of Rooney and Evra due to suspension, the matchup may not be as easy for the Red Devils as it is on paper. City will be expected to shore up their defense for this tremendous Old Trafford away game.
   
2. Center Midfield: What combo will it be for Manyoo? Scholes-Carrick-Hargreaves or Scholes-Anderson-Hargreaves or even Scholes-Anderson-Carrick? Yeah, Scholes will be integral and absolutely crucial in their centre-midfield triumvate. The Blues will only have defensive-minded players for show in Gelson, Hamann and Corluka. Clearly Manyoo has the advantage in this department but can they finish off the Blues with lone striker Tevez?
3. Cristiano Ronaldo: so long as he stays on the field for the full 90 mins, Manchester United will win this one.
   

This game is overwhelmingly in favour of the Red Devils, but expect new signing Benjani Mwaruwari to cause minor mayhem, especially if Petrov can get Brown flat on his back and cross to the big fella.

My game prediction: Manchester United 2 Manchester City 0

My YFF prediction: Ronaldo and Scholes to star. Pick up Scholes if you’re the high-stakes gambler.

Today’s Astro EPL Fixtures

ESPN

01 Dec 2040 Chelsea vs. West Ham United
01 Dec 2255 Blackburn Rovers vs. Newcastle United
02 Dec 0130 Wigan Athletic vs. Manchester City(Delayed)

Starsports

01 Dec 2255 Portsmouth vs. Everton
02 Dec 0110 Aston Villa vs. Arsenal

Elano Woe

More changes needed for my injury-hit YFF squad, straight from Yahoo UK Eurosport:

Elano injury blow for Eriksson

Thu 29 Nov, 03:15 PM

Brazil playmaker Elano has been ruled out of the Premier League match at Wigan on Saturday because of a hamstring injury.Elano has been in majestic form for City so far this season and has scored four times in helping Sven-Goran Eriksson’s men into third place in the table after 14 games. Eriksson said: “He is having a scan and we do not know at the moment how long he will be out for.”

However Vedran Corluka and Emile Mpenza are both fit after taking knocks in the 2-1 victory over Reading at the City of Manchester Stadium last weekend.