Manchester Derby : Combined XI

by Chris

Welcome to the seventh day of the Sporting Lowdown advent calendar! This will be continued until the 24th December so any requests for my opinion will most likely be included in the 24 and in the future.

Also, apologies that this was not released yesterday or the day before! I was out so had no time to publish and reread it, but luckily tonight you can be treated with three doses of the Sporting Lowdown instead of just one.

The Manchester derby is now one of the most coveted games in English football, with the two super clubs now occupying the single city. I may be controversial, but for me it is the biggest game in terms of players, money and competition, but for the fans it doesn't seem to have impact than say, an Arsenal vs Tottenham or a Manchester Utd vs Liverpool, and this is only because the fixture isn't as ingrained into history as the two formerly mentioned.  But right now, one can't deny even with 20+ games to go, this could be the title decider, and here is the XI I would pick if given the two squads.

Formation : 4-3-2-1

David DE GEA 

Apps: 15

Clean Sheets: 9

Age: 27

Can anything go wrong for the Spaniard right now? Well yes is the answer with that haircut, but the Los Rojblancos graduate is currently on form and in my opinion, the best goalkeeper in the world, purely because of the versatility of the man. He is excellent in games like the Arsenal game where he had to make 14 crucial saves, but when he's called into action in games where he isn't tested as often, like against Liverpool when he made a point winning save from Joel Matip. He also has great distribution, reflexes and general shot stopping skills which make an outstanding keeper these days. Why not Ederson? Well, the young Brazilian has potential, and certainly on the distribution side could give De Gea a beating or a run for his money, but he is nowhere near the almost complete article that is David De Gea. As a Liverpool fan, I just wish he'd head off to Paris or Madrid just to make beating United a bit easier! :)

Antonio VALENCIA

Apps: 15

Goals: 2

Age: 32

This was one of the more tough positions to choose, as he and Kyle Walker are top quality full backs. But I think Valencia has offered more, especially this season, going both ways. I'm a fan of defensive full backs who occasionally get forward, even though they may not be the most attractive footballers to watch. Neither of these two are defensive full backs, bombing forward as much as possible. But I would trust Valencia more too on the defensive side of things as Walker has the tendency sometimes to be caught out and it's a rare sight for Valencia, especially this season.

Vincent KOMPANY

Apps: 6

Clean Sheets: 5

Age: 31

Although always a doubt for City through injury, he always is as solid as a rock in the City back four and they miss him and his consistency when he's out injured, often conceding more needless and avoidable goals when the big Belgian isn't around to help them out. They've won 5 of the 6 games Kompany has played in this season, although that might be below par as it was the one game they haven't recorded a victory in this Premier League season against an Everton side then managed by Ronald Koeman. He still ranks for me as City's best defender, although Otamendi has staked a claim this season but always has a big mistake in him, and Eliaquim Mangala has shown exactly why he's been sent out on loan in recent years and is surplus to Pep Guardiola's requirements.

Phil JONES

Apps: 11

Clean Sheets: 8

Age: 25

I'd never have thought, even 12 months ago, that I would rate Jones as United's best centre-back. But his consistent performances have outrun the likes of Bailly and Smalling to make a starting position his own. The Blackburn trainee has had his ups and downs at United, but his form is certainly an upturn on that of the previous 5 years, as there was sometimes inquests as to whether he deserved even to be in the squad let alone the first team. But the 8 clean sheets in eleven show the influence Jones has in the Mourinho mould, and he, alongside Valencia and the next man on this list, have experienced revival from being fringe players being surplus to requirements to first team regulars, and fair play to them!

Ashley YOUNG

Apps: 11

Goals: 2

Age: 32

Ashley Young certainly has had his critics in his 6 years, approaching 7 at Manchester United. He has never played more than 25 games for the Red Devils in a season so far, and that came in his debut season, mainly down to competition being too strong for Young and his fair share of injuries. But his rebirth at wing back has been an absolute revelation for Jose Mourinho. The flop signing of Matteo Darmian coupled with injuries saw Young slot in at right wing back for the start of the season, and the former Villa and Watford man has been solid and has earned a recall to the England squad, and in age and name, the squad is getting younger by the minute! I'm sorry I couldn't resist. Back to the midfield!

FERNANDINHO

Apps: 15

Goals: 2

Age: 32

The Brazilian was one of City's more low profile signings in recent years, and eyebrows were raised at the £25m fee Shakhtar prized from City for the services of the defensive midfielder. But he very much has been worth the money, becoming the first name on Pep Guardiola's team sheet and being conserved for the derby by his manager against West Ham, showing just what the experienced former Atletico Paraenense man is worth to the City cause. He has completed the second most passes in the league this season, second only to teammate Nicolas Otamendi.

Nemanja MATIC

Apps: 15

Clean Sheets: 9

Age: 29

Although commanding a £40m fee, the Serbian already looks a bargain for Mourinho as he brought his old player to his new club. Having touched the ball 1,239 times and passed the ball 1,008 times, both more than any other for the Red Devils, its also clear to see the value of recycling possession and Matic seems the perfect tool in any situation for United. Although he sometimes does lose his impact in games, this is rare and he will be a key part of their derby plans to contain Manchester City.

Paul POGBA

Apps: 8

Goals: 3

Assists: 5

Paul Pogba's £89m return to Manchester United was the most expensive transfer ever prior to this summer, and certainly this season he has proven his worth to United and shown his overawing quality which he showed at Juventus. Although he is unavailable for this weekend's match, Pogba will have a huge impact if United are to claw back City's 8 point gap. I think if this was a real team, he would be the box-to-box player with the two sitting, and giving him a license to do as he pleases because he has the match winning quality that Jose needs to encourage within his squad.  

Leroy SANE

Apps: 14

Goals: 6

Assists: 6

The 21 year old German wonderkid has been one of City's stars in the previous season and a half, after an inconsistent start for the ex-Schalke man, who arrived for £37.5m last summer. Having contributed to 12 Premier League goals this season, 4 more than the entirety of last season. He is part of a deadly quartet this season which make City tick offensively. I think if he goes on to complete two or three more excellent seasons, we could see him make a big money move to his homeland, perhaps Bayern Munich, or he could see City to become even bigger and better than those clubs and aid them in their quest for European success.

Kevin DE BRUYNE

Apps: 15

Goals: 4

Assists: 8

Kevin De Bruyne has truly established himself this season, if he hadn't already, as one of the best players not only in the Premier League, but in world football. His precision of passing and vision is hardly replicated anywhere, and in my opinion he would get into any team in the world and show the qualities he is already making prominent at City. He's also with all his attacking prowess completed the 5th most passes in the league this season, behind 4 city teammates and Granit Xhaka. 

Gabriel JESUS

Apps: 14

Goals: 8

Assists: 2

Perhaps a controversial choice considering the two other options available, but the clinical wonderkid has been excellent for City in his first 11 months in England. Hitting 15 goals in 24 matches overall in the Premier League, the ex-Palmeiras hitman just edges Aguero for me now as a striker however legendary the Argentine is. He also for me edges Lukaku because of the versatility he shows. Lukaku, although multi-dimensional, doesn't really have the pace needed in games such as these, and that's not his fault or his style, but Jesus seems to bring more players into play than Lukaku. His shot accuracy this season is 18% higher than Lukaku, showing his composure in hitting the ball on target in tough situations. The only thing I would criticise Jesus for is his chances created, where he lags 16 behind Aguero.

The Nearly Men -

Raheem Sterling - The ex-Liverpool winger has shown excellent form and I was comparing him and Sane for at least quarter of an hour, but I just went for Sane in the vein of consistency. Although Sterling has had a burst, I'm not too sure he will continue this all season, and I think Sane is a lot harder to replace aerially too.

Anthony Martial - This man is underrated at United and most definitely should be given a more prominent role up front, but the work he's put in this season almost got him into this XI ahead of Sane or Jesus. But again, I think the two I've gone for would offer more consistency and would be more likely to produce in a big game.

Sergio Aguero - The legendary Argentine was in my original plan for this XI, but I just edged towards Jesus because of the Brazilian's finishing prowess this season. Although Aguero has one more than Jesus this season in the League, I think these games are about one chance, and right now Jesus for me would be more likely to convert it.

Nicolas Otamendi - Again I had this man ahead of Jones, but the Englishman just pipped the Argentine because of his importance to United in comparison to Otamendi's importance to City. I was always heading the way of Kompany, I'm a huge fan of the Belgian, but Otamendi in recent seasons has shown that he is more likely to have an error in him than Jones or Kompany, giving the reason for his absence.

Jesse Lingard - The Manchester United youth product this season has really shown his credentials, especially with his performance against Arsenal. But once again, the consistency element is key here, and will Lingard continue his form for the rest of the season? For me, no chance. I hope he does do well, alongside Rashford too as they are youth products of United.

I hope you enjoyed this first of a triple edition of the Sporting Lowdown today. This will be probably the most in-depth but you never know!

Chris :)