Premier League Sunday, Gameweek 16: Open Thread
The biggest match of the season kicks off today at the Etihad Stadium with Manchester City hosting Manchester United. Will City’s unbeaten run end today? Will Sir Alex Ferguson get into an argy-bargy with Roberto Mancini? Can United or City expose their opponents defensive weaknesses? All shall be revealed in the next few hours.
Starting line-ups:
Manchester City: Hart, Zabaleta, Kompany (c), Nastasic, Clichy, Yaya Toure, Barry, Nasri, Silva, Aguero, Balotelli
Manchester United: De Gea, Rafael, Evra, Ferdinand, Evans, Valencia, Cleverley, Carrick, Young, Rooney, RVP
In addition to the Manchester derby, there are two other high profile matches today. Everton plays Tottenham Hotspur at 10am ET/3pm UK time. And West Ham United hosts Liverpool at 11am ET/4pm UK time.
Before, during or after today’s match, post your rants, raves, observations and questions in the comments section below.
116 Responses to Premier League Sunday, Gameweek 16: Open Thread
well Christmas comes early don’t want City but do want a good match.Evans and Evra have to hold or they could be shredded.
First impressions… that’ s a horrible back four for United. Evra has had his worst season at United. Rafael can’t tackle. Evans is a calamity, and Ferdinand is too slow. City could tip that back four apart.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Now, let’s really hope that happens! :’)
Morning chaps. Have to agree with The Gaffer on that defence.
A couple of your countrymen are in attendance today, Tom Cruise and Robert Duvall. I find it more surprising that Ron Atkinson is working for 5live today.
I’m a fan of neither side but in the interests of entertainment I’d like a City win just so United don’t start to run away with the league.
Challenge for The Gaffer, find someone to interview Robert Duvall. He’s a huge football fan, has been for years.
GOAL!
Cracking, that’ll make a game of it. Still time for City to score 6.
talk about a goal against the run of play and miss hit to top it off.
That thing was so slow Charlie Adam could have outrun it!
Guy
hell you or i could have out run it!
No chance, he’s like a little tub of lard. I’ve nicknamed him Fat Dave Brammer, which if you know your ex Stoke players isn’t a term of endearment.
Well, you are just unkind. I call him Charlie The Jet.
Fart powered
Vinnie coming off might turn this to the red side he is a stud.
GOAL!! Rooney hat trick impending?
mankini looks lost
what’s going on now? still only watching the 10th minute and i’m also lost…
Long way to go yet in this game.
odds are increasing balotelli will get a red.
Was that ever in doubt?
150th Premier League goal for Rooney.
Yep, and I posted about two years ago that Rooney was done. Good thing we don’t have betting.
i bought beta over vhs look how that worked out.
That’s why you never see a poor bookie. I’d have gone for the draw myself because I’d have thought United would settle for that.
I want many many goals in this one as a treat, dosen’t really matter who scores them.
no comments from Marc L and Dust they must be at Chapel.
HAHAHA!
Mancini getting it wrong leving lescott out of starting 11 and then bringing on kolo instead, of course Rooney is gonna get the better of kolo.
Nasri is invisible, Barry failing to pick up anyone, very poor for the opening goal, with nastasic just clueless and hart impersonating freezal.
Balotelli and aguero have looked ok, Nasri off tevez on.
oh..and Paul Walsh is a peanut.
Friended starts today.
Is this the ex spurs and Liverpool Paul Walsh as I always hated that prick
Yes, he has issues, he was ok as a player, I sang his name on the terraces at times, but he is a complete wingnut and for some weird reason turned on the club.
Muppet!
Friedel!
Well now that was relatively frustrating.
Best build-up and offensive flow in the first 20 all season for City and then Hair Club dribbles one in and then you have to take off VK and put “Francois” on in his place. And anyone not knowing why Kolo Toure needs to be called “Francois” needs to do some googling. Trust me, it’s funny.
However it falls, it is early and if 8 points can be made up in mid-April then 6 is not the end of the world in December.
Lol Francois.. I forgot about that whole car salesman thing lmao
Two thumbs up for Francois.the second goal might not have happen if Vinnie is not out.Marc if you have a headlamp you might want to get on the Mtn bike.
I was hoping for a better game than this. Dzeko time.
Crazier things have happened but i think this result could be great for the title race if it stays the same and Spurs win… I think utd will slip up even with a 6 point lead… Any number of possibilities. City look like they falling apart this season.
LOL Mcbride saying bring on dzeco at half time…LMAO
I agree with McBride.
Spurs starting team today is: Lloris, Walker, Gallas, Caulker, Vertonghen, Lennon, Sandro, Dembele, Dempsey, Adebayor and Defoe.
C’mon You Spurs!!!
Spurs subs today: Friedel, Naughton, Huddlestone, Townsend, Livermore, Falque & Sigurdsson
I hope falque gets some time.
is Carroll hurt he did not make the bench?
Injured
With the rubbish that fox team spout I would be fine with the entire first half being magicjet and miracle wax commercials.
I would take Balottelli all day long at Spurs, Mancini has no idea how to get the best out of him, c’mon Mario, ask Ade how good it is at spurs, we’ll take you!
Wonder how much Sh*tty paid that linesman.
A City goal would do now, just to add some excitement.
McBride would laugh at this comment.
Evra lost in space
both goals from unmarked men at top of box like we said poor defense.
why not Chicharito
Why are you bringing on Welbeck with only two minutes to go??
GOAL!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
that is pure CLASS.
What a bad giveaway by Clichy and foul by Tevez.
pure sh*t from city thugs nice touch you F-ing idiots it is a freaking game
Cable box completely locked up before Van Persie’s goal. Lovin’ Time Warner.
Fcuking scumbag fans.
go HAMMERS beat Pool! good luck Dust for your Spurs.
Thanks, this 442 is not working getting over run in the midfield with ade loosing the all and not hustling back, Dempsey not hustling enough so far.
I hope the authorities identify whoever threw that object at Ferdinand and just absolutely OBLITERATE him.
Well good news all around for you rags supporters. Jeter will be back for spring training. The Miami Heat are in first. What? Alabama probably for college football. They should win by 40 against ND.
But just remember. 8 points clear with 6 to play was not enough last time.
Who are the “rags supporters” ? Only item you mentioned that I care remotely about is BAMA.
Glad City lost.
Marc L
BRAVO nice post about the thug or thugs and your a City fan.a little disappointed no SAF/NKVD post from you maybe to early.
Stone, “Those two teams never fail to disappoint.” Great
One, Rob!
6 clear and on the beer!!!!
That’s why football beats any other sport for drama on a weekly basis.
Just nipped out for some beers, is anyone else sick of Michael Buble Christmas songs yet.
He’s been banned in the States.
Come on you SPURS. I need goals from Defoe for my fantasy team
Defoe has been great so far, real hustle, sprinted 40 yards back just to make a defensive challenge, and won the ball. A real shift so far.
A shame Ade and Dempsey can’t do the same.
are you really watching the game or just pre script the same lines every week? Dempsy was fine all game- one who posts so much and says so little
LoL
Oh my, poor Rio Ferdinand! Kinda enjoyed the fans’ drama though, that’s what makes a derby so special. Don’t be too disheartened by the result City, the season’s still far from over there’s always a next time if you want to get your revenge against United (wow, I might actually be mistaken for a City fan here
)
Closet fan.
A west ham win would make this a even better day now
Go West Ham!!!
COYS! Suits me given we play Everton next week. Just need Howard to get injured now.
West Ham v Liverpool can stay at 1-1 for me.
Good job Friedel isn’t playing.
Dempsey still won’t get any love from Spurs fans because it was a deflection. He has been getting assists and the goals are starting to come.
The last few games Dempsey has been excellent- when you say Spurs fans realize the 1 loudmouth here is not “the spurs fans”
You have so much hate and so little time, you don’t know the fan base, if you were on the blogs then you would know that what dank is saying is true, he is getting no love, to the point where AVB had to come out and defend him saying he was adjusting etc…
All you do is post “hey that’s rubbish, you don’t speak for us” and some how you do speak for everyone? yet you have no idea who us is.
Why the hate, who are you? Are you really mathew?
Aim no expert but aim willing to debate and not just sling insults.
Can’t believe I bothered replying to you… Perhaps it’s out off the hope you may want to engage in a discussion instead of acting bitter and twisted.
Friedel would have got that.
And that one! AVB out.
Lloris come on, Friedel would have saved that.
Wow. Two minutes changed everything.
Dust
what the heck i do a few Sunday chores Spurs are up and i come back 2 goals in the 90th that will leave a mark.
Love it Toffees ! Thank you Moisey ! Gotta love football. A productive weekend if I do say so myself.
That is a bad beat, not much to say….. Sloppy on the pienaar goal. Jelavic goal was poor on gallas.
Brutal, but that’s football, tough place to go and win at…. A draw would have been the fair result. Oh well
Dust
this might not be the best time but since you have been a Spurs fan give me your starting XI Gaffer and bench in your opinion.tough one to lose today.
From today?
I would have played a 4-2-3-1 with the same starting 11 except with siggy behind Defoe.
Same subs minus Huddlestone who should be on a raft just off Alaska.
So many injuries in the back, I feel bad for Caulker, he played well but unforuntaly made a mistake that cost is the game. A shame, but heads up move forward, looking forward to Kabul coming back.
Fellaini was quiet, we really did look comfortable up til the 89th minute, which just sucks.
Dust
no your all time since you have been watching the Spurs.
Way to difficult to do right now after the loss.
Players that would be in there Hoddle, Gazza, Klinsman, Lineker, mabbut, king…..
I can’t go on…
Need to deal with the bad beat today.
no problem like i said not the best time.
You got to throw in one of Chelsea’s all time player Spurs poached when he came back from Italy. Jimmy Greaves !
it is to bad Joe Hart stepped in and stopped the fan saw a picture of the fan. a foot shorter and 50/60 pounds lighter than Rio would have been a nice beat down sort of like Marquez and Pacquiao.
West Ham Academy 3 Liverpool 1
Nice one, Joe! A draw works for me.
….or Liverpool win.
All 3 Liverpool goals scored by ex West Ham players.
Wait, isn’t James Collins a current West Ham player?
They gave it to Shelvey when I heard the goal go in.
nice fight back from Pool quality away win.
I’ll take it. Luck for the Hammers in the first half, luck for Liverpool in the second.
Oh, look at that, Liverpool, are only 4 points from 4th.
Stoke are only 3 points off it. It shows how poor a league it is this season that that’s possible. Hell we beat Everton next week and we match them on points, it doesn’t mean we’ll finish top 4 though.
As I said the other day, teams 4 through 12 aren’t really distinguishing themselves. Is it the league that’s poor or are is there just more parity this year? When I watch Swansea, for example, I don’t think they’re a poor team.
Liverpool played probably their second worst game of the season yet won. Maybe their fortunes are changing.
The game changed when Diame went off for West Ham. He was unplayable while on the field.
With reinforcements in January there might yet be hope for Liverpool to get a European spot.
A great effort by Spurs considering 10 games in a month, Everton had 8 days to prepare and just scrapped a win in the dying seconds after we played a tough game against Panithanikos on Thursday with key injuries.
Joint 4th on points at this stage with still massive injuries, have to be positive about the direction considering.
Important rest and prep for a Swansea team that knows how to play with dangerous players.
Bale should be back, as could Parker make an appearance from the bench.
Just 4 mins away from what would have been a shock win, 2 mins away from a deserved draw but for a rookie mistake by caulker not leaving it when Lloris called for it.
So so close! Damn Opta stat that shows if games were only 80 mins long we would be top by 3 points is just too damn cruel.
A great showing tho, it ain’t over by a long shot, still lots of football left.
Looking forward to Monterey beating CFC on Thursday.
So it’s been one of those crazy days today for me where I was away all day, and came home in the late afternoon to catch up on the matches I missed. And what a brilliant three matches that were waiting on my DVR (and FOX Soccer 2Go).
What an incredible league yet again.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Gaffer
so will you and Dust have a friendly wager on next weeks match?a six pack or a 1/5 of your favorite beverage.hope Vorm is given a shot next match.
White Hart Lane is a hard place to go to get a win, so I’m sure Spurs will win next Sunday. Should be a great match to watch, though. But first things first, Swansea has a midweek match against Middlesbrough in the quarter-final of the League Cup. A win against Boro would be more important than a win against Spurs right now.
Cheers,
The Gaffer
Gaffer is pulling a SAF with minds games
he knows Swansea could get the win at the lane, I am not underestimating Laudrup, Michu and co.
I would have a Friendly wager, but dont want to put gaffer on the spot.
we have a week to make it happen.the Gaffer is trying to get better odds.all for a good time no malice.much more fun if their is a little skin on the match.
Perfect day indeed ..Liverpool won and slowly improving and gaining momentum…would have been better if Scum and bitters had lost but its okay.
Btw is FA going to take action on Rio Ferdinand for trying to incite the crowd, trying to celebrate in front of home crowd. What did he expect…was funny though, thought for a second he hit himself trying to raise his shirt over his head.
I think you need to take a look at that again. The entire United team was celebrating in front of the visiting teams stand. You didn’t notice the wild celebrations in the stands right behind the goal that United scored in? The coin came from the next stand over.
anybody who tries to blame Rio for some thug in the stands throwing a coin at him needs to rethink what he is saying.99% of city fans are fine 1% ruin it for all city supporters.i wonder is their more hate in football or religion the more i watch i think football is catching up.oh well religion will continue to hate and fans will continue to throw things and make racist gestures long after i am dead and gone.
Get off your high horse for second,I didn’t say I was condoning the idiot fans action…Rio being the captain should have known better than to go towards the home stand and try to show off his club loyalties in a highly charged derby match.
Moreover if you look at the incident it looks like rio hit himself on the head trying to remove his jersey which wht i meant was funny.
M Owen
FYI Evra is the Captain.no where in your original post do you say anything about the thugs all you showed was how much you dislike UTD by trying to blame Rio/FA action for incitement.i will stay on my high horse when it comes to thugs and the crap they do to ruin a great sport.just so you know i don’t have a bias when the UTD clowns chant about Hillsborough that is wrong just like when pool fans chant about Munich.
Hmm… I really wonder what you mean by “hate in religion”. Or which religion you are referring to, for that matter.
Sammy
all religions that are taken over by fanatics just like the fanatics in football that ruin it for the true fans.i am using the word religion in general not pointing a finger at any religion.