This afternoon's Manchester derby was enough to make one believe in all that 'Greatest League in the World' bollocks. It wasn't just the Pep v Jose psychodrama. There were goals, brainfarts and the bonkers debut of Claudio Bravo. There were heroes and zeroes aplenty.
HEROES
Kevin de Bruyne
Yes, @debruynekev! 🙌 pic.twitter.com/rLqe1ppfY0
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 10, 2016
De Bruyne was pure magic for United throughout City's frenetic opening 45 minutes. His goal was sweetly taken and he set up the second. The sight of him ripping to United defense to shreds in both halves was probably the most impressive sight in this young Premier League season.
City 1 up by the best player in the prem de bruyne
— Anto Moran (@moran_anto) September 10, 2016
Funny how, year after year, De Bruyne looks like the best 14-year-old you've ever seen.
— Andrew Das (@AndrewDasNYT) September 10, 2016
It was if he'd been watching Eamon Dunphy youtube videos to psych him up.
Marcus Rashford
Twitter was aflame with the Iheanacho vs Rashford debate before kickoff. Jose, in his wisdom, opted to keep Rashford on the bench at kickoff despite his midweek hattrick. Mourinho had no choice but to swap Lingard for Rashford at halftime and United were a different force in the second half with Rashford on. He was unlucky to be denied a well-taken goal with Zlatan offsides.
Took Rashford 50 seconds to do more than Lingard did in 45 minutes.
— Samuel Luckhurst (@samuelluckhurst) September 10, 2016
Rashford is quicker than a xenomorph
— Musa Okwonga (@Okwonga) September 10, 2016
Kelachi Iheanacho
Everyone wondered where the City goals would come from with Aguero gone. Iheanacho has been quietly brilliant the last two seasons and set up de Brunye's first goal with a header and tapped in City's second.
What a performance! Give us your match reaction and get on https://t.co/axa0klD5re #ManchesterIsBlue pic.twitter.com/CYqgpfaRSS
— Manchester City (@ManCity) September 10, 2016
VILLAINS
Claudio Bravo
Bravo's much ballyhooed debut was ridiculous enough to have the entire internet posting photos of jolly Joe Hart. With City utterly dominant late in the first half, Bravo beelined for John Stones after a 'Premier League cross' rained down in the box...and Zlatan did the rest. In the second half, he nearly gave up a goal, got sent off and dismembered Rooney. Shite Neuer, basically. Not the debut Pep was expecting.
Gary Neville slaughtering Claudio Bravo on Sky, much like he did with David De Gea when he arrived. Joe Hart generally got a free pass
— Barry Glendenning (@bglendenning) September 10, 2016
Claudio Bravo for Joe Hart looking dubious at best
— Rob Latham (@robilaz) September 10, 2016
Daley Blind
Blind was still on international break during the first 20 minutes of the first half, as Kevin de Bruyne made him look ridiculously stupid on City's Route One opener.
What a game. Can't take your eyes off it - unless you're Daley Blind.
— Sam Morgan (@sam__morgan) September 10, 2016
About time Blind was punished for that man bun thing he has going on.
— Ian McCourt (@ianmccourt) September 10, 2016
Daley Blind more like Daley Blind
— Dan (@Riredansabarbe) September 10, 2016
Wayne Rooney
Rooney has an honorary place on the villains list, due to his general unrewarded huffing and puffing with the occasional brainless tackle. Another 90 minute shift for Rooney that left the internet scratching its head. He did, though, look far more dangerous up front when United threw everything at City in the last 10 minutes.
Plus he got schooled by Pep on the sideline.
Now how awesome was this from Pep!#ManchesterDerby pic.twitter.com/bWCVlXntK1
— Football Trolls (@FootballlTrolls) September 10, 2016
Martin Tyler
A great commentator, sure, but Tyler found it very hard to subdue his love for United in the second half. We don't appreciate his efforts to make 'Jose Time' a thing.
Joking aside, @skysports pro United bias from people like Martin Tyler who *should* be neutral is really quite embarrassing.
— Adam Smith (@Adam_Smith_82) September 10, 2016
"Where's Alex Ferguson when you need him?!"
Words just uttered by Martin Tyler.— Carl (@Carl_M79) September 10, 2016
Martin Tyler sat there, drawers round his ankles.
— gareth brooks. (@mrgarethbrooks) September 10, 2016
