Football is a game of opinions, and for a large part that’s what makes it so great, but sometimes, just sometimes, a person can be wrong within their opinion.
When former Manchester City boss Stuart Pearce was asked ahead of this weekend’s Manchester derby to pick his best combined XI of current players, it is fair to say he’s done his ailing reputation no favours.
Making some erratic selections, based on what can only be described as absolutely nothing, Pearce has seemingly gone the other way if he’s picking on form as his main parameter.
Ignoring David de Gea in goal for Joe Hart, he has set himself up for some outrageous criticism. Hart may be having a good season personally, but his form has paled in comparison to that of the Spaniard, who at times has won United points all by himself.
At the back, we see Pablo Zabaleta dropped for unnatural right-back Antonio Valencia.
Further forward, he has placed Yaya Toure in a two-man midfield next to Michael Carrick. Toure notoriously struggles in a two-man set up, and next to the intelligent, but immobile Carrick, that’s just asking for trouble.
Forward again, and Pearce has again displayed a masterful misunderstanding of how things work by placing the in form Marouane Fellaini in the number 10 role ahead of the scintillating David Silva. The Belgian may be playing well, but not in behind the strikers!
And finally, up front, England captain Wayne Rooney. Shy on goals this term in comparison to others, he takes the place of the always wonderful Sergio Aguero.
On second thought, with this level of understanding and competence, he may just be in the running for the England job after all!
Here are the combined Manchester XI's that Tony Gale and Stuart Pearce would pick. Send us yours using #SSNHQ pic.twitter.com/4WfwOb3uTA
— Sky Sports News HQ (@SkySportsNewsHQ) April 10, 2015
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