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City to win tonight - but they may not grab title
By ALAN SHEARER
Last Updated: 30th April 2012
WHAT a game we have to look forward to.
Nou way should JT lift the trophy
STUPID, ridiculous, mad. What else can we say about John Terry’s actions that got him sent off in the Champions League semi-final?
I’ve been a big admirer of Terry as a player but that was ridiculous.
There is talk he could go up and lift the trophy if Chelsea win. He should have lost that right in the Nou Camp when his pals were heroes.
CONGRATULATIONS to my old club Southampton.
I still have a deep affection for the club that I started at.
Saints taught me so much and put me on the right path in my career.
Their promotion to the Premier League has been a tremendous achievement for boss Nigel Adkins and everyone involved.
The type every player would want to play in — a derby with the title on the line.
Although I don’t see it as a title decider, unless Manchester United win.
With City’s home form, I think they are going to edge it 2-1 but that doesn’t mean they are going to win the title.
Newcastle may have lost to Wigan — but they will still be well up for the visit of City next Sunday with Champions League football still well within their grasp.
Anyway, tonight will be a titanic clash and here I assess the teams.
Goalkeepers
MAN CITY
THANK goodness Joe Hart has come along because there is a real lack of good English keepers right now.
He has everything — shot stopping, hand-ling, the way he controls his area.
And Joe has excellent distribution, too.
MY RATING: 9
MAN UTD
CREDIT to David de Gea for bouncing back from a very shaky start.
It says a lot about his mentality that he is performing as well as he has been in the last two months.
His confidence is restored and he has made key saves.
MY RATING: 7
Defenders
MAN CITY
I AM a huge fan of Vincent Kompany. Whenever he is out of the side, City do not look half as compact.
Had his partnership with Joleon Lescott not been punctuated with injuries, City would have been in a much better position.
MY RATING: 9
MAN UTD
DEFEND like they did against Everton and there is no doubt City will win.
Having said that, the combination of Jonny Evans and Rio Ferdinand had looked good.
At full-back, I would think Chris Smalling will be in for Rafael.
MY RATING: 8
Midfielders
MAN CITY
THEY have a tried and trusted system with two defensive midfielders behind a three and one striker.
Yaya Toure has been brilliant in either line.
David Silva looks like he has got his energy back after a slump that coincided with City losing their five-point lead.
MY RATING: 9
MAN UTD
THE return of Paul Scholes ignited United’s comeback.
The guy is simply one of the greatest I have played with or against — a complete midfielder.
Scholes is perfect for a striker, landing that ball on a sixpence for you.
His partnership with a consistent Michael Carrick is excellent.
MY RATING: 9
Strikers
MAN CITY
SERGIO AGUERO and Carlos Tevez have combined late in the day but with great results. How stupid Tevez must be feeling now.
If City don’t win this league it will be down to him. But a winner tonight will go a long way to him being forgiven.
MY RATING: 9
MAN UTD
FOR me, Wayne Rooney is player of the year. Yes, Robin van Persie has had an excellent season.
But Rooney has made the difference in the title race with his consistency and goalscoring.
His combination with Danny Welbeck is really starting to click.
MY RATING: 10
Managers
MAN CITY
ROBERTO MANCINI has had a lot to contend with this season but handled it all well — and I include the Tevez situation in this.
I like the way his team play and I like the way he conducts himself. Yes, he has spent big but you still need to bring those stars together into a team.
MY RATING: 9
MAN UTD
IF Alex Ferguson wins this it will be his greatest achievement.
To ensure his side hung in there when not playing well and then overhaul City has really been some achievement — and another example of a manager managing a team through the marathon season.
MY RATING: 10
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