Worst combined XI to ever play in a Manchester Derby

Sport360 staff 19:28 26/10/2016
Do you agree with our Manchester Derby XI?

The Manchester Derby has produced some memorable moments down the years but the playing personnel involved hasn’t always been brimming with high-quality.

So we’ve picked a combined worst XI that has ever played in one of these famous derby matches.

Did we leave anybody out? Do you agree with our selection and our classic 4-4-2 formation?

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GOALKEEPER – MARK BOSNICH

The former Aston Villa goalkeeper was described by Sir Alex Ferguson as being a “terrible professional”.

Roy Keane echoed those sentiments in his autobiography, and labelled him a “dreadful goalkeeper” and a “big-time Charlie that was never good enough to play for Manchester United.”

Bosnich only played 23 times for the Red Devils, but he was the only player Ferguson ever signed twice for the club. He first arrived in 1990 as a 17-year-old from Australian club Sydney Croatia, before re-joining in 1999 after his contract expired at Aston Villa.

RIGHT-BACK – LAURENT CHARVET

The mere mention of his name still sends shivers down the spines of Man City supporters who had to endure watching Charvet play 23 times for their beloved side.

His first introduction to English football was an ill-fated loan spell at Chelsea, but he somehow managed to earn himself a contract at Newcastle. He wasn’t popular on Tyneside either, but Joe Royle thought he’d be a good fit at Maine Road.

He wasn’t. The Frenchman played three times under Kevin Keegan before saying ‘au revoir’ to Manchester.

CENTRE-BACK – JONATHAN SPECTOR

The USA defender arrived at Old Trafford with a promising reputation as one of the best young defenders in the game.

However, after just three games at Manchester United – one of which was a Manchester derby, it became evident the American was out of his depth.

He was quickly farmed off to Charlton Athletic on loan, before enduring a disastrous spell at Upton Park with West Ham United.

He did score two against his former employers Manchester United in a League Cup clash for the Hammers – but was released in 2005.

Currently plying his trade at Birmingham City, plenty were left scratching their heads over as to how he became a professional footballer.

CENTRE-BACK – JONNY EVANS

He’s been superb for West Brom and was outstanding for Northern Ireland at EURO 2016.

But Manchester United fans will never forgive Johnny Evans for his part in their worst ever defeat to Man City in October 2011.

City rocked up to Old Trafford and bashed their fiercest rivals 6-1, condemning them to their heaviest home defeat in 56 years in the process.

Evans was at the heart of the defence that day, but he had an absolute shocker and was sent-off to boot.

LEFT-BACK – BEN THATCHER

He was not a nice bloke.

Thatcher inexplicably knocked out Pedro Mendes with his elbow in a sickening assault in a league clash during his time with City – which saw him subsequently banned for a total of twelve games.

There may perhaps have been worse left-backs over the years that played in this fixture than Ben Thatcher (Danny Granville) but we don’t like him for what he did to Pedro.

So he makes this team on those grounds.

RIGHT-WING – BEBE


We don’t really need to say much do we? I mean it’s hard to even find the words to justify what Sir Alex was thinking when he purchased him.

Awful player. Fantastic agent.

In July 2016, he signed a four-year deal with La Liga side SD Eibar. Baffling.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – ERIC DJEMBA-DJEMBA

The famous saying was he was so good they named him twice.

But he wasn’t very good, he was woefully bad. in fact.

Aston Villa signed him following his departure from Old Trafford.

CENTRAL MIDFIELD – JAVI GARCIA

Arrived with a superb reputation but was quickly found out in the hustle and bustle of the Premier League.

Some City fans reckon he was their worst signing due to the initial fanfare over his arrival.

City purchased him for £15.8m in 2012 from Portuguese giants Benfica – but he flopped terribly and was quickly disliked by the fans.

He was offloaded after just 53 games to Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2014.

LEFT-WING – ANGEL DI MARIA

Manchester United fans were drooling over his signature from Real Madrid in 2014.

The Argentinian cost £59 million and had helped Real Madrid capture the European Cup the previous season. He was also an integral member of the Argentina side that reached the World Cup final in Brazil.

However, things never took off for Di Maria, and his performances quickly came under scrutiny from the unforgiving English media who labelled him the ‘No.1 flop of the Premier League era’.

He just couldn’t find his form and looked a shadow of his former self, LVG sold him after just one season.

STRIKER – JO

The Brazilian arrived with a big reputation but was disappointing for City.

He commanded an £18 million transfer fee from CSKA Moscow but like several others in those first few months he turned out to be an expensive flop.

In total, during his spell at the Etihad, he scored only once in 21 Premier League appearances and only six in 38 matches in total.

Even loan spells at Everton and Galatasaray couldn’t inspire him to find his form and in 2011 he returned to his native Brazil to sign for Internacional.

STRIKER – JON MACKEN

Released by Manchester United after a spell as a trainee, Macken was signed by Man City in 2002 after a successful stint at Preston.

However, Macken never endeared himself to the Man City faithful, likened to former City legend Niall Quinn, it quickly became apparent the only trait they had in common was that they were both tall.

Macken scored just seven times in 53 appearance for City, whose fans will at least remember him for netting the winner in a thrilling 4-3 come-from-behind FA Cup victory over Spurs.

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