Manchester clubs face derby fixture pile-up

[JamieMCFC]

One of Manchester United or Manchester City will be forced to play two games in three days at the end of October -- one being their Premier League derby -- after both were drawn at home in the Capital One Cup fourth round.

United and City never play at home on the same night because of policing issues, but one of them is set for a intense run of fixtures soon after next month's international break.

Therefore, one will have to face a second fixture little more than 48 hours after their top-of-the-table clash, potentially forcing Louis van Gaal or Manuel Pellegrini to select a weakened team in the Capital One Cup.

United will meet Championship promotion contenders Middlesbrough while City take on Premier League rivals Crystal Palace.

One match will be played on Tuesday, Oct. 27 -- two days after the derby -- and the other on Wednesday, Oct. 28.

United and City meet at Old Trafford on Oct. 25 while both are in Premier League action six days later, when City host Norwich and United visit Crystal Palace.

Neither match can be shifted back to the Sunday because both have Champions League games on Nov. 3.

Both Van Gaal and Pellegrini selected strong sides in their third-round victories.

City's Chilean coach omitted only Fernandinho of his fit first-team players as they won 4-1 at Sunderland, while Dutch boss Van Gaal arguably picked eight of his preferred starting XI as Ipswich were defeated 3-0.

http://www.espnfc.us/capital-one-cup/st ... fter-derby

[Dameerto]

Hart Mangala and Nacho had the night off - so it's bull about Fernie 1 being the only first teamer omitted. Get your facts straight ESPN.

[PrezIke]

Hart Mangala and Nacho had the night off - so it's bull about Fernie 1 being the only first teamer omitted. Get your facts straight ESPN.

I believe Mangala was taken off at halftime not because of his performance exclusively as we had initially thought, but because he was carrying a small knock

I gather they meant the first eleven, which explains why they didn't include Nacho, but it does not for Hart. Unless they mean that this is an expected change when it comes to English cup matches to which Cabellero is the automatic starter I believe. They didn't mention that, so either way it's not well written.

As for the fixture congestion...

So does this mean one of us will be moved to play Wednesday the 28th?

How does this get determined? Surely a coin flip or something like that. If so hope it's done in front of City and Utd officials so no one can cry conspiracy.

[nottsblue]

The rags will play Wednesday. That's a given. Still, two games on Sunday and Tuesday mean we are fresher for the game the following weekend

[KinkyKinkladze]

We have played on the same night before. Can't remember who it was we played, but we had a night game in the 2nd div and united had a chumps league match, 55k at their place and 29k at ours. Only time I know of it happening, and the police went mental about it despite there being no trouble at all.

Here ends my useless contribution to this thread.

[nottsblue]

We have played on the same night before. Can't remember who it was we played, but we had a night game in the 2nd div and united had a chumps league match, 55k at their place and 29k at ours. Only time I know of it happening, and the police went mental about it despite there being no trouble at all.

Here ends my useless contribution to this thread.

Be good if the attendances for the next round were 54000 for City and 30000 for the rags! Not as fanciful as it sounds

[Hutch's Shoulder]

We have played on the same night before. Can't remember who it was we played, but we had a night game in the 2nd div and united had a chumps league match, 55k at their place and 29k at ours. Only time I know of it happening, and the police went mental about it despite there being no trouble at all.

Here ends my useless contribution to this thread.

You're right; I can remember playing on the same night as them and bloody awful traffic getting from the office in Sale to our ground. The only thing worse than being stuck in traffic is being stuck in traffic with a bunch of cars full of rag scarfs.

[gillie]

How will the actual dates for these ties be decided will the Football League have the final say or will us and the rags toss a coin to decide who plays when?

[clippo22]

I can see them saying that because we are playing the Derby at the swamp, then that pitch will need more time to recover, so we will be playing with only a 48 hour gap.

[Blue Oli]

And a few years ago when we played Fulham in the league cup United were at home too I think

[Dubciteh]

it has defo happened, i think a carling cup game or something, we were in premier league at the time, was recent enough.

[AG7]

Happening again ... both play at home on Wednesday. We kick off against Palace at 7:45pm and they play Boro at 8:00pm.

[Wonderwall]

Happening again ... both play at home on Wednesday. We kick off against Palace at 7:45pm and they play Boro at 8:00pm.

FFS that's going to cause me serious grief on the tram from sale

[nottsblue]

Did not see that coming. Maybe because the rags only had 34000 turn up the other night swayed the decision

[Beefymcfc]

We're both playing on the same night or is this just the provisional dates/timings?

As mentioned, the police usually dictate this but also the TV have a say on when we play. I take it we've not been picked looking at the timings?

[Foreverinbluedreams]

We're both playing on the same night or is this just the provisional dates/timings?

As mentioned, the police usually dictate this but also the TV have a say on when we play. I take it we've not been picked looking at the timings?

Yep both on the same night, confirmed today.

The Arsenal game is on Tuesday on the box and the Liverpool game on Wednesay.

[Beefymcfc]

We're both playing on the same night or is this just the provisional dates/timings?

As mentioned, the police usually dictate this but also the TV have a say on when we play. I take it we've not been picked looking at the timings?

Yep both on the same night, confirmed today.

The Arsenal game is on Tuesday on the box and the Liverpool game on Wednesay.

Cheers mate. Hopefully on the box back in Germany.