[caption id="attachment_70669" align="aligncenter" width="600" caption="City will be hoping that United old boy Darron Gibson do them a favor on April 22. "]
Much attention has being focused on the Manchester City vs. Manchester United game at the end of the month as it might decide the outcome of this year’s Premiership, but a lot of football must be played before then. Both City and United have four league games before that April 30.
And City didn’t help their cause in the last two games: picking up just two points from games against Stoke (away) and Sunderland (home). United punished them with a late goal against Blackburn on Monday night to go five points clear at the top -- which makes it United’s league to lose.
April 8
Sunday’s fixture represents a tough start to April for the Blue Moon: they face Arsenal on the road at the Emirates. Meanwhile United are at home to QPR a couple of hours earlier. Arsenal will want to bounce back big time after losing 2-1 to QPR -- so expect to see the Gunners firing on all cylinders this Sunday against. QPR also beat Liverpool a couple of weeks ago so United will not for one minute underestimate the fighting spirit of Mark Hughes’s team. United will very likely extend their lead at the top this weekend.
April 11
Both the Manchester teams will be expected to get full points. United could very easily trounce Wigan on the road. City on the other hand must and should beat West Bromwich Albion at home
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April 14/15
City could close the gap with home advantage over Norwich on April 14. However once again United get to play on the Monday after City and they will know exactly what they have to do. Seems a bit unfair that United has this advantage once again just like this past Monday when they beat Rovers. Still, wouldn’t Alex McLeish love to get one over on his fellow Scotsman Mr. Ferguson?
April 22
City will depend on the rising form of Everton to cause United concern at Old Trafford. It’s a tall ask for any team to win at United but Everton are looking really good these days. Keep an eye on Darron Gibson in this game -- the ex-United man will have a point to prove. And should United seriously slip up during the midday game, City must prove their worth with an away win at Wolves in the 4 o’clock game. Too often they’ve failed to make United pay for their setbacks.
United peaking
Manchester United’s system of play, style and players have peaked at the right time and City’s haven’t. Sir Alex Ferguson continues to make flank play a big part of his system. Getting down the flank with speed is crucial to United’s approach. And when it comes to rotation, Fergie’s wing personnel is definitely the best in the league. Ashley Young, Nani and Valencia terrorize all opposing full backs. Individual work rate is also a Fergie priority. Rarely does the team lose the battle when it comes to work rate. Another main difference is that United also have Wayne Rooney, arguably the best player in the league right now
Manchester City’s main men are more in the middle of the park -- David Silva and Yaya Touré. City don’t have an established system. Not yet. And if a key player like Touré is out of the side, the team is not as effective. The Blues looked quick early on with their play, but it seems to have slowed down.
Let’s not forget either, that Sir Alex has been in this win-win situation many times. City haven’t the experience for this final stretch. By the time April 30 rolls around, City’s home advantage against the Red side of Manchester will still make this an exciting game. The Blue Moon, of course, have the stars to win the fixture, but by then it may well be way too late.
