The answer – just about!
Wayne Rooney was the last man who made it on to our teamsheet when we considered the combined XI of players from either side of Manchester.
Ahead of Saturday’s derby, we thought long and hard about who was deserving of a place, based on form.
Vincent Kompany remains a doubt, as does Luke Shaw. And Sergio Aguero is definitely suspended but we based this on the current squads so all three players were up for consideration and, unsurprisingly, all made it into the team.
Here is what we came up with.
Goalkeeper
Sure, Claudio Bravo can play with his feet but David De Gea has been the best goalkeeper in the Premier League for a number of years now. No competition here.
Defence
Antonio Valencia is still a makeshift right back and Matteo Darmian doesn’t cut the mustard. Pablo Zabaleta, although he is getting up there in age, is still one of the best full-backs in the league and he deserves his place in our back four.
Vincent Kompany faces a late fitness test but could well make an appearance and when fit, he’s a must-have at the back. He joins John Stones, who is under a lot of pressure given his price-tag but has taken to life at his new club like a duck to water. Eric Bailly is unlucky to miss out as the same can be said for him.
Luke Shaw too remains a fitness doubt but he is in with a chance of playing on Saturday which means he’s in contention to make our combined XI. On his day, he’s the best left full in the Premier League and he just trumps Aleksandar Kolarov and Gael Clichy.
Midfield
Granted, Paul Pogba‘s best position is not as a holding midfielder but given the creativity available among both United and City, we had to put him here just to fit him in as there was no way we were going to leave him out.
David Silva is arguably the most reliable midfielder in the Premier League and he can pull the strings in the centre of the park.
We’ve controversially used Wayne Rooney as an out-and-out midfielder and almost left him out in favour of Juan Mata but he’s started the season well and can rotate positionally with Kevin De Bruyne if need be.
Attack
Kevin De Bruyne starts on the right flank and is actually capable of delivering a cross into big man Zlatan Ibrahimovic (the same can’t be said for the likes of Jesus Navas who never truly entered our minds.)
Sergio Aguero definitely won’t feature but it was going to be too complicated to draw up caveats for who could and could not be included in our XI so we simply opened it up to all squad members.
That leaves us with a 6-5 split in favour of the Citizens.
Complaints on a postcard!
The GAA Hour Hurling Show relives Tipperary’s sensational All-Ireland victory with Paidí Maher. Listen below or subscribe on iTunes.
