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Work-rate. Incisiveness. Nous. I don't ask for much. This is how it's gonna be. Build from the ground up. We've fucked about enough against these lot this season (an several times in the last few years). A lack of cutting edge in the home game, and a chronic lack of concentration combined with plenty of complacency in the FA Cup tie last month, mean that we must get our shit together for this fixture, which has added importance if we are to remain ahead in the title race. We can't allow the likes of Rashford (who seems totally disinterested most of the time) look like Thierry Henry every time we rock up at the Theatre of Leaks. He's got such a weirdly shaped head by the way. I bet his silhouette profile looks like an American fire hydrant. They are apparently going to be without a number of defensive options for this game, so make that tell. Last season's fixture in August 2022 was a total shitshow. It started badly when we could have been a goal down within minutes had Elanga found the net rather than the upright. The defence had been cut open repeatedly and Trent was having a wretched time of it. We were second to everything, and soon enough the Mancs found the opener when Rashford again found space down the left and squared for Sancho. He still had a bit of work to do but managed to put a defender on his arse before having all the time in the world to place a shot past Ali from 10 yards out. Virg didn't cover himself in glory with his non-attempt to even block the effort. We could have equalised in comical circumstances but the Mancs managed to scramble the ball clear after hitting their own woodwork. Into the second half, and again we let Rashford have the freedom of Old Trafford to race clear and slot past Ali. A quick VAR check to draw the lines to make Rashford onside even though he was more off than on (compare that to the gnat's chuff level of detail we are routinely subjected to), and the goal was given. We had very little fight, but managed a consolation goal when Mo reacted quickest to De Gea's save from Fabio's effort following a corner. We looked a mile away from the 2021/22 side. At the time it was suggested that we were suffering a hangover from the previous season's efforts where we fell just short in the league and in Europe. As the season wore on it became more and more clear that the midfield stalwarts' legs had gone. Jurgen has, at the time of writing, got all the players who were available for selection against Sheffield United, plus Endo coming back. Ibou might be rested if his recovery from the assault last night needs a bit more time, in which case I'd expect Jarrel to step in. Trent and Diogo are probably ready to rejoin the first team in training for next week, so Conor should start, with Danns an option off the bench. Whoever we pick, I want us to be a lot more diligent and less open in the early stages, much more ruthless in any spells when we are clearly superior, and with absolutely none of the complacency evident in the FA Cup tie. Do the job to the level we are capable of. Maximum concentration, motivation, attitude and application from first minute to last. Three points please, although a brilliantly efficient and effective performance is more than welcome in addition. Get it done!

The third of 4 away games in a row since the international break. If the green-and-gold brigade have there way though, it might go the way of last season's fixture and not even take place. Despite spending over £100m in the summer, along with the lavish spending year after year, The Glazers get all sorts of shit from fans for not investing in the team. What the hell would the entitled gobshites do if their club had owners with FSG's level of prudence? Anyway: Order. Lethalness. Energy. Speed. Audacity. Tactical flexibility. Tenacity. Heart. Effervescence. Wiliness. Heads screwed on. Endeavour. Electricity. Last laugh. I don't ask for much. Last season, their fans decided to go on the rampage, blocking team buses, breaking into Old Trafford and slapping some stewards and coppers around. Supposedly because they were up in arms about their club's involvement in trying to set up the European Super League. They weren't fooling anybody though. It was really a protest against the Glazers, and Sky's Manc cheerleader Gary 'man of the people' Neville was busy stoking the flames that led to these incidents yet, like Trump after the January 6th Capitol invasion, he then tried to say his words had nothing to do with it. He was so outspoken about it that he can't backtrack and claim his words were taken out of context. Anyway, the rearranged fixture came shortly after the Mancs had laid down in front of Leicester to help the Foxes in their quest for a top 4 place while simultaneously derailing ours. We went behind when Big Nat deflected in a 'Bruno' shot that was going wide anyway. The shit twats who decide on the goalscorer gave it to the Portuguese cry-arse anyway. Probably because he was in their Fantasy League team. So far, it was going like practically every other corresponding fixture. We were even denied a penalty by Manchester's finest, and then got an equaliser when Diogo backheeled in an effort from Big Nat. And right on half time, Bobby got clear at the far post to power a header past De Gea (or was it Dean Henderson? I'm not sure.) Into the second half and Bobby got on the scoresheet again, reacting first to a rebound in the six yard box. We were suddenly looking something like the team of a year earlier. Then we allowed Rashford space down the middle and he rolled the ball past Ali to bring them within one goal. The late onslaught and the helping hand from the ref never came, and in the final minutes Mo broke clear to race onto a first-time volleyed pass by Curtis and place the ball into the far corner to confirm the win. The Mancs had dropped 6 points at home within a few days, and would go onto lose on penalties to Villarreal in the Europa League final. Boxing Day 1978 though saw us visit Old Trafford. We were having a cracking season in the league and wold go on to regain it convincingly, possibly aided by an early exit in the European Cup when the eventual winners Forest overcame us. They'd won the league the previous season so they were obviously a strong side. Efficient rather than exciting. The Mancs were probably more exciting at the time but far less efficient, and we battered them 3-0. Ray Kennedy, Case and Fairclough got the goals. Can't tell you much more as I can't find any clips either, so here's a match report by Alex Ferguson's arse-kisser-in-chief Paddy Barclay from the Guardian. The big movie for the festive period in 1978 is one of my favourites. The effects are obviously dated but the fella in the lead role knocks it out of the park. Superman: The Movie made Christopher Reeve a household name and has left a huge legacy on the cinematic landscape. Kal-el's story was known from DC Comics, and their two big superheroes Superman and Batman had both had outings on the small screen, but this was another level. Awesome theme music and excellent performances from Gene Hackman as the ruthless but ever-so-slightly camp Lex Luthor, Margot Kidder as the fiesty Lois Lane, Ned Beatty as Lex's bumbling sidekick Otis and Valerie Perrine as the sultry Eve Teschmacher helped the movie to transcend its comic book roots. That helicopter rescue of Lois Lane is majestic even now. The sequel is also superbly enjoyable with the big bad coming in the form of Phantom Zone escapees General Zod, mute Non and ice queen Ursa. The franchise went downhill after that, and what's come since hasn't matched the 1978 original for spectacle or enjoyment, and especially the sense of humour. Reeve's comedic chops as Clark Kent really help sell the dual identity. The Mancs have a wealth of attacking options, but they are very much reliant upon individual magic to create moments and win games. It will be effective more often than not against most of the league thanks to that attacking depth, but there are times when this attacking strength cannot overcome glaring deficiencies further back. Let's render that attacking depth impotent and highlight the defensive issues and lack of overall cohesion this weekend, and take them to the fucking cleaners. Do what we know we can, and get the points. We have a forward doing a very passable impression of Superman at the minute. Is it a bird? Is it a plane?