Defensive decisions key to derby delight
DE GEA OR HENDERSON?
THERE has not been this much scrutiny surrounding the United goalkeeping role since David de Gea’s first season, when he was eventually dropped for Anders Lindegaard.
De Gea cost a British record sum for a keeper in 2011, whereas Lindegaard arrived for a frugal £3.5m purchase and was, despite his initial steadiness, always regarded as No.2.United did not make a five-year investment in Dean Henderson just to sell him and he should have been installed as the club’s No.1 by now.
He is a confident enough character, not to be fazed by a crowdless derby, having been subjected to the most virulent abuse imaginable by Leeds fans at Elland Road with Sheffield United.
BACK TO A BACK FOUR?
OLE Gunnar Solskjaer’s gut instinct must be to get rid of the back three that backfired in Leipzig, even though United beat City with the formation in the last two derbies.
The Blues are not as intimidating a side as they were before the pandemic swept across Europe and the probable presence of John Stones is enough of an incentive to go on the front foot, as is City’s ongoing problem position of left-back.
Even if Edinson Cavani is unavailable, United have Marcus Rashford, Mason Greenwood, Bruno Fernandes, Donny van de Beek and, yes, Paul Pogba to inflict damage. Their strength lies in attack.
POGBA PREDICAMENT
THE midfield trio of Fernandes, Fred and Scott McTominay is United’s most dependable and the principled decision would be to overlook Pogba, whose silence has been deafening in the wake of Mino Raiola’s interview with Tuttosport.
YET Fred cannot do what Pogba did to West Ham and McTominay would not have threatened a remarkable recovery as Pogba did in Leipzig on Tuesday.
As unpalatable as it might be for the majority of United supporters, starting Pogba in his first derby in 20 months has some merit.
DEFENSIVE CHANGES?
SOME of the players are of the opinion it has become an ‘easy ride’ at United and that was underlined by the withdrawals of defenders Aaron Wan-Bissaka and Victor Lindelof with Leipzig 3-0 ahead in midweek.
The impression it gave was they were being saved for the derby, as though two defenders highly responsible for a three-goal deficit should automatically be assured of starting the next game. Lindelof enjoyed a mini revival after his October demotion but has regressed and United need a right-back to compete with the wayward Wan-Bissaka.
WHO’S THE FOURTH ATTACKER?
MASON Greenwood is poised to start his first league derby and Fernandes and Rashford are certainties.
THE final attacker - provided United switch to a back four - is unclear, though the decision seems straightforward.
If Cavani is fit enough then he has to come back in over Martial, whose substitution at West Ham immediately improved United.
The Frenchman was a matchwinner in both league derbies last season but is going through his worst period of form since the end of 2018-19.