The Guardian's Manchester football correspondent, Jamie Jackson, answers your questions live
Manchester City's victory in the Manchester derby has returned them to the top of the Premier League, and are favourites for the title with two matches left to play. Joining us to assess the match, and to analyse the implications of the result for both clubs, our Manchester football correspondent Jamie Jackson will be here from 1pm BST answering your questions.
Please post your questions for him in the comment section below.
We are posting questions Jamie responds to here to make the webchat easier to follow.
EminEmma29 asks:
Do you think Fergie made a mistake in his team personnel (I think his formation could have worked)? He left out our best player in the last few weeks (Valencia), he played Park (not played much recently) and he kept Giggs on the field for 90 minutes!!
Jamie Jackson replies:
After the display from United and the result the answer is: yes. Ferguson's thinking was that a draw more or less kills of City, with two games remaining. But not one shot on target tells the tale of how disappointing United were. Michael Carrick, Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes combined age is 105 and I also thought leaving out Danny Welbeck who impressed in the 4-4 with Everton was odd. This all left Wayne Rooney too isolated
WillHardy asks:
Do you think that in picking nani, presumably because he has done a job on Clichy previously, Fergie got too hung up on what has worked before, than who had been playing well recently. Also, bringing in a rusty Jones rather than the admittedly ragged Rafael.
Jamie Jackson replies:
Phil Jones had an ordinary night, I think. There was one decent block of a Carlos Tevez cross in the first half but he also got caught in possession and appeared a little dazzled by the occasion. Right at the end of the game, as United were trying to equalise, he hoofed in a rather frantic ball towards the City goal and Ryan Giggs made a point of shouting over to him twice to get him to calm down.
For me, Nani does not work in a midfield 5 that is set up to stifle/kill a game. His thing is attacking but there was a deficit of this as Scholes, Carrick and Giggs failed to dominate midfield.
Park Ji-Sung as the other midfielder was very average.
rogueseven writes:
I'd start with Fergie's choice - it was like the CL final, bringing Park in to little effect. I wou;ld have liked to see the first 11 (Valencia, Young / Nani) starting and play their game. I know that leaves a problem area in mid field (tell us something we don't know - buy someone!!) but United play on the counter - our attacking options were blunted from the start.
Jamie Jackson replies:
Agree with all of this. The midfield going forward for United has to be the major concern. Ferguson has defenders and attackers for the future but Tom Cleverly apart (and Pogba who may leave and is, of course, unproven), what has he got for next season and beyond.
For such a proven manager i was surprised how much Ferguson got caught in a classic stick-or-twist conundrum
Bloodclot asks:
Is this the biggest/greatest/best comeback of the Premier League era?
How ridiculous is it to call for Mancini for Manager of the Year?
Jamie Jackson replies:
Not sure about the first question -- I can think of some others, though given City's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal which was in the dying moments to leave them 8 points behind and completely floored, you have to say that to claw this back to where we are now is impressive.
On the second question -- I'd be inclined to agree, but only if City close the deal and win this first championship in 44 years. Like Ferguson, Wenger and Mourinho, Mancini is a intelligent man and a class operator.
You have to say, though, Alan Pardew has a big case: maybe Sunday's game on Tyneside could decide...
Langman42 asks:
Was it wrong to leave Giggs on for the whole 90?
JamieJackson replies:
In this starting XI, yes.
PunkahJr asks:
Did the sideline displays of emotion (childish, in my mind) by SAF help or hinder the performance of his players? Is it wise to behave in such a manner for a manager?
Jamie Jackson replies:
Nice question: maybe one way of answering is to ask whether Ferguson would have done this if United were winning (or drawing).
I read one line on this today that stated this rattled Mancini but not Ferguson, which I do not see.
Ferguson blew his top while Mancini mimicked him -- leaving United's manager, for my money, looking impotent: not a great message to your team while losing at your greatest rivals in a potential title decider
Parvulesco asks:
Wouldn't you have expected a little more quality footer from two of the half dozen most expensive teams ever assembled?
Jamie Jackson replies:
Definitely yes. But the 2008 Champions League final, apart, its a struggle to recall too many high profile matches that offer great football. High octane entertainment and tension is usually the name of these type of games...
jacktatum asks:
What with Tevez's petulant fit that probably stopped City having this sewn up a few games ago and the continuing saga of Balotelli's immaturity, does Mancini have man-management problems or did he simply have two players who can't cope very well with the rigours of the pampered and professional footballer's life?
Jamie Jackson replies:
The whisper is that Mancini can be aloof and his man-management is hardly warm. Tevez is a mystery -- every time he plays, as many of his team-mates have been saying recently, he gives 100 per cent so there is strange disconnect from this attitude to the man away from the field...
I was watching Balotelli as he warmed up last night towards the end of the game and wondered if he was thinking: 'I should have started this one but am paying for my lack of maturity." Because he missed out on a landmark match, and will continue to do so if he continues to be unreliable...
SpacedMonkey writes:
Kompany is the business - discuss?
Jamie Jackson replies:
Yes. He's the real deal as a defender and captain and is interesting to chat to. Mancini made the right call in making him his leader. And he brought Liam Gallagher into the pressroom afterwards...
johnbooth4 asks:
Do you think the tactics were more to blame for United's dismal showing in the big matches especially in Europe?
Jamie Jackson replies:
Yes and a lack of a creative force in central midfield who can pass AND has pace and can beat a player.
boc610 asks:
hi Jamie, would you agree that the performances of Scholes for united have been completley hyped up beyond all proportion (Niall Quinn remarked that he has been the best player over the second half of the season which is nonsense)-yes he has added stability to the team and his range of passing is still as good as ever but he was overrun last night (as he has been in a lot of the bigger games) and Ya-YA was ultimately too much for him to handle. i believe it is a case of people not wanting to damage his reputation because he has been so good for United over the years that they aren't as critical of him as they should be.
Jamie Jackson replies:
I do agree with this. He reminds me of Riquelme for Argentina at the '06 World Cup -- standing and spraying passes around like a quarter-back, which is fine as long as he/the team have options beyond this.
Yaya T is the kind of midfielder -- a powerhouse who can run and beat players with pace -- United lack
Ruprict asks:
Who is the least inspirational number two, Mike Phelan or Pat Rice?
Jamie Jackson replies:
1723985 asks:
Where is Dzeko in all of this? Was he £27m for a sporadic squad player? Or is he off this summer?
Jamie Jackson replies:
He may well leave this summer, yes. Depends, as always, on who they can get in.
Robin van Persie would not be a surprise
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