That’s it, the deadline has passed and all we can do now is sit back and enjoy. Whether this gameweek, or indeed this Saturday can go anywhere near replicating the exhilaration we had last week, we start with a game of huge significance.
It’s the second Manchester derby of the season, and with just a dozen or so games left in the season, a win for United will probably end City’s title ambitions, whereas the reverse will blow it wide open. A draw seems likely (I’m going for a United win, obviously), but let’s just hope it easily betters their previous meeting at Eastlands. Either way, enjoy the action as it unfolds in our Dugout Discussion Chatroom.
The build-up has already started on the telly and, more importantly than Dwight Yorke’s poor effort with his usually dazzling attire, the team sheets from Old Trafford are in, and the big news is that top-scorer Dimitar Berbatov is dropped to the bench…
Man Utd XI: VDS, O’Shea, Smalling, Vidic, Evra, Fletcher, Scholes, Anderson, Nani, Giggs, Rooney
Man City XI: Hart, Richards, Kompany, Lescott, Zabaleta, Milner, Barry, Silva, Yaya Toure, Kolarov, Tevez
A five-man midfield is not just bad news for the neutrals hoping for an open game, but critically for those fantasy managers that held onto Berbatov. Elsewhere, fantasy bargain Rafael is benched for the incoming John O’Shea, and Chris Smalling partners Nemanja Vidic in defence as expected. City once again utilise Aleksander Kolarov on the left in midfield.
Once the dust has settled in Manchester, we have six 3pm fixtures to enjoy, before Tottenham travel to Sunderland in our evening game.
