SHEFFIELD UNITED v MANCHESTER CITY
Over 7,000 fans will be making the short trip over the Pennines to Bramall Lane for this fourth round tie which has come at just the right time for both clubs.

In retrospective – the short trip will actually be something of a nightmare for the blue army as no trains are running on the Sunday and a massive landslide on Snakes Pass as shut the road for weeks. 7,000 down the Woodhead Pass is going to be fun!

But onto footballing matters. It’s always good to play a Bryan Robson team. Once one of the most over rated managers of all time – a failure anywhere he’s been he no longer gets the press attention but he’s sure to get the full attention of the 7,000 faithful.

As mentioned in the opening intro – this cup game comes at just the right time for both clubs. Sheffield United are suffering in the Championship – currently a lowly 14th and coming on the back of a poor performance and a two-nil defeat against arch-rivals Wednesday. In fact the Blades have only won two games in the last nine.

However, City have exactly the same record – two wins out of nine but we hold a fantastic league position and the Blades don’t! A welcomed break from the league the FA Cup match represents City’s best possible chance of bringing proper glory back to Manchester. Both Sven and especially Hans Backe have being making all the right noises this week about how important the FA Cup is and how they are both taking it seriously and will be fielding their strongest possible starting eleven.

In season’s gone by, the Invisible Man would be worried about an away game to an out of form Championship side. It was just the type of game which City would promise so much but deliver nothing but grief and heart-ache. These days, under the Sven Revolution, things are distinctly different. Sunday, there will be an air of confidence amongst the team and the fans.

We will fancy our chances of going through at Bramall Lane in a confident and efficient manner. Sven is, without doubt, a cup competition man. The has a fantastic record of winning five cup comps in 3 different countries. Who knows, this year might just make it 6 cups in 4 countries. With only 11 Premiership teams still left in the cup, the lowest amount since the Prem started in 1992, it might just be the year for an “unfashionable” club to win.

And City deserve to go along way in the cup. Quarter Finalists for the past two seasons has given the fans an appetiate to go that little bit further. And going back to Wem-ber-lee would be an amazing experience – the very first for countless young fans. Having been on the pitch of Wem-ber-lee last summer in front of 80,000 (albeit at a MUSE gig) was an immense experience. The ground is truly stunning both inside and out (just a shame about the area!)

Anyway, back to the game on Sunday afternoon. Yes another game on tele on a stupid day at a stupid time – oh for a Saturday 3.00pm kick off. Both teams have their injury problems – the Blades more-so than City. James Beattie is struggling with a knee injury and is by far and away their best player so there’s some good fortune for City.

However, Micah Richards and Javier Garrido both became injured today. Add them to long term absentees Johnson (abdominal), Bohinov (Knee) and Castillo (Shoulder) and City are starting to look a little thin. Binachi has returned to be waited on hand and foot by his Mum in Italy so striking options are limited.

However, Bianchi would have made little impact in this game. He couldn’t handle Premiership centre-halves moaning about how rough they are. He’d have no chance on a bobbly pitch and Championship defenders hell bent on chopping you down.  

Good news is that Mpenza has been training all this week and should be in contention for his first start of 2008. The most likely line-up for City will be Hart (possibly Schem), Corluka at RB, Dunne at CB, Nedum at CB, Ball at LB, Didi at CM (possibly Gelson), Elano at AM, Vassell at RM, Petrov at LM and Mpenza at FW.

There will be quite a few familiar faces for the 7,000 faithful to give some banter and stick to on Sunday. The Blades boast amongst their ranks dinosaurs such as Lee Hendrie, Ugo Ehiogu, Gary Naysmith, Jon Stead, Rob Hulse, Gary Speed, Keith Gillespie and Geoff Horsefield. My GOD it really is a football retirement centre!!!!

And don’t forget we all get to shout constantly for 45mins at Paddy Kenny for being the fattest keeper in the land. Happy Days!

City Danger Man
Elano – Expect the little midfield maistro to have the skill and guile to dominate the middle of the park

Blades Danger Man
Gary Speed – He may be even older than Didi (if possible) but this guy is still pure class. He can pass well and often scores a headers from corners.

Prediction
Despite the absence of Richards, City’s defence will be too strong for the Blades – The Invisible Man can’t see them breaking us down. With Robson’s inept management style there is little chance United will score. However, City won’t have it all their own way. The pitch is not in the best shape and they will be tough in the tackle and won’t give us much space.

Expect a hard fought game. Petrov will struggle to be as effective as he as in recent weeks but still expect him to whip in a couple of world class crosses during the match. Hamann v Speed will be a great contest in the middle. Elano will beat his men and will influence the game. If City score in the first half the match will open up and City will counter to great effect.

The Blades lack of pace at the back will allow City to exploit them down the flanks and through the middle. Vassell may even score 2 out of 2 games! The Invisible Man predicts a 0-2 Man City victory.

Head to Head

All competitions - Not met since both were in the Premier League in 2006-07. City are undefeated in four; won two and drawn two since United’s 1-0 home victory at second league level on 22 January 2000.

FA Cup – The clubs have been drawn together three times in the FA Cup, and Sheffield United have won all three. The most recent was in 1939 at this fourth round stage; the previous in 1914, required two replays.

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