MANCHESTER UNITED losing a derby at Old Trafford would have caused outrage not too long ago.
What happens if Manchester City walk away with three points on Sunday?
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Even if they do so with a comfortable, high-scoring win? Most people will just shrug.
That is what United have become — people are no longer surprised when they fail.
For those of us who grew up watching them dominate, it is baffling. For the younger generation, it is the norm.
This summer, with Pep Guardiola leaving the Etihad, some in the red half of Manchester would have seen an opportunity to turn the tide on nearly 15 years of dominance by the noisy neighbours.
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But it is not only City they should be worried about catching.
Those years of dominance saw Sir Alex Ferguson’s United see off a number of challengers.
Whoever was in that second slot fighting for a title, United were always there. But they are no longer even in that second tier.
Arsenal are the leading force, on their own, at the moment. There is a cluster behind of City, Liverpool and now, after their summer, Chelsea.
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Saturday 12 September
Bournemouth
15:00
EPL
Brentford
Villa
15:00
EPL
Forest
Chelsea
15:00
EPL
Hull
Palace
15:00
EPL
Ipswich
Liverpool
15:00
EPL
Fulham
Spurs
17:30
EPL
Everton
Sunderland
20:00
EPL
Arsenal
Sunday 6 September
Arsenal
2 – 1
EPL
Chelsea
Everton
2 – 2
EPL
Man Utd
Saturday 5 September
Hull
0 – 0
EPL
Villa
Forest
0 – 0
EPL
Spurs
Man City
1 – 0
EPL
Coventry
Fulham
2 – 3
EPL
Palace
English Premier League
Pld
Pts
GD
W
D
L
Form
1
3
9
5
3
0
0
2
3
9
5
3
0
0
3
3
7
3
2
1
0
4
3
6
1
2
0
1
5
3
5
3
1
2
0
6
3
5
2
1
2
0
7
3
5
2
1
2
0
8
3
5
2
1
2
0
Below them are United, who are methodically working through trying to fix their squad bit by bit.
Last summer they moved to fix the forward line, this summer it was all about midfield.
Next summer we will likely see a raft of new faces at the back.
All very sensible, and some logical business. But there is one problem, it feels a lot like when my missus wants to improve the house.
We start with a new kitchen, then the lounge and then a new bathroom.
But what happens when the bathroom is done? Back to sorting the kitchen.
It is a cycle which keeps on going but there is never anything that really moves the needle.
United’s business has been smart but dull. It is like Old Trafford is now being run by accountants.
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Want your finances to be stable? Stop spending big.
But that’s no fun. What if I want to go on holiday? Can I do that?
Chelsea’s summer of spending made you think things are possible for them this season — and their start has only backed that up, even if there are teething issues.
Does anyone feel the same about Manchester United right now?
If Michael Carrick could have picked the perfect run of fixtures to start the season, in the Premier League or Europe, it would have looked a lot like what they got. But still there are big question marks.
Everyone knew when they faced newly promoted Hull on the opening weekend of the campaign an upset was possible and no one was really surprised when it happened.
All of this sounds very doom and gloom for those marching to watch their side at Old Trafford on Sunday.
But, surprisingly, I can still see them winning.
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Asked to pick a combined XI, most people would have one or two United players in there.
I have four. The midfield may surprise a few. Bruno Fernandes was always going to get in ahead of Enzo Fernandez but Youri Tielemans is the one at the base.
I am yet to be convinced by Elliot Anderson, even if City were sure enough to spend £116million on him.
The one City man in the middle is Rayan Cherki, my favourite player to watch in world football — whoever he would have been against to get in, he would have got in.
Diogo Dalot gets in at right-back given City don’t have a specialist, while Matheus Cunha is in ahead of Marcus Rashford and any City star.
I still cannot define what Carrick’s style is, something else which has them behind the rest at the top.
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But against Enzo Maresca’s City — who methodically go through all of their work between the two boxes searching for the perfect goal — United are perfectly set up to frustrate that.
And if it doesn’t play out that way, we can all just shrug anyway.