FA Premier League

Manchester United 2:1 Stoke City

Old Trafford

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Tue, 2 December 2014 @ 7:45pm GMT
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    Somehow they always find a way to sneak back into our attacking plans. I hate seeing the two of them out wide.

    They've both played a lot better under LVG than Moyes, as has Fellaini, and credit should always be due when it's merited, but however well they play, the three of them seem to have this weird voodoo spell on the rest of the team that encourages everyone to pass to them at the earliest opportunity. Almost like a reflex panic action. In Fellaini's case long, in Ashlonio's, wide. And almost always at the worst possible times in games.

    Now, for example, we should be methodically trying to carve out openings, but instead we're getting out to Young, who's whipping in crosses. Against Stoke!

    I'm convinced it's still a pyschological issue. Because it's a terrible "plan"
     
    We haven't been able to get the strikers involved. And we are still a team that relies far too heavily on crossing as our main attacking option (despite the fact that we are not good at crossing and it is a low percentage play). I hoped with the addition of Herrara and Mata we would look to go through the middle more and actually involve the strikers.
     
    By losing Rooney and AdM, we've lost any semblance of pace and penetration.

    Can't really even blame the forwards, it's just slow, predictable, one dimensional football.
     
    Our passing has improved dramatically along with off the ball movement. Players are always interchanging and covering up for others. It's good football. We just need to take more risks and shoot more. Test the keeper
     
    Rooney really is the most important part of the team. Whenever he's missing, like today, there's little to no cohesion and the players don't seem bothered
     
    I know he's just one player but I can't help but think that Rooney wouldn't have allowed the slackness that led to us conceding. He very rarely switches off, unlike other players who stupidly think the job's done.
     
    Call me harsh but Fellaini should have taken a touch in the build up to that goal. His lack of belief in his touch meant he let the ball bounce and it all stemmed from that...
     
    Falcao has to come on. It's so obvious we are lacking up front. Wilson does a lot of running but is so can't hold on to the ball at all
     
    We were pedestrian, I wish we'll move the ball a bit quicker. In fact, just fecking win the game, simple.
     
    Yeah, but he doesn't get much playing time anyway, whilst RVP has played too many games, we wouldn't want to see another key player injured.

    Its an experience/confidence builder for him. He's not likely to play much this year once each of Rooney, RvP, and Falcao are all fit at the same time.
     
    Jeez match day threads crack me up, we're like the anti RAWK, underrating the team and performance
     
    Looked a fairly straightforward foul to me which is why I didnt say anything, everyone was already up in arms about it.

    I just dont understand why he was holding his neck.

    As for the ref stopping the game, its on their own judgement and I expect he knew it wasn't a head injury because it was a knee scrape. So you can see why he'd continue if he didnt think it was a foul.

    Yeah I thought it was a foul too, as I happened so quick I assumed he must've have caught high. He's certainly not the type to feign injury, he was still holding it when he came off at half time so presumably a muscle twinge or something?
     
    I struggle to see how this side will improve. Stoke are very compact to break down and this side just doesn't look like they can deal with it. Needs more width.

    Stoke have a good game plan.

    Needs Di Maria, who is injured.
     
    I'd bring on Falcao for Wilson. Neither of the strikers have played well, but Wilson looks very loose on the ball. RVP is better at holding it, even if he is offering little penetration.

    And to think they've still got Crouch to come on, who'll do his usual pushing the defender down by the shoulders as he climbs up them like a ladder to win a header, over and over, and probably get away with it. I hate that gangly cnut.
    This, Wilson hasn't been lucky with most or any of his involvements so far. He should get ten more minutes then off unless he's scored.
     
    Call me harsh but Fellaini should have taken a touch in the build up to that goal. His lack of belief in his touch meant he let the ball bounce and it all stemmed from that...

    And where's your criticism of Carrick who is supposed to be the DM and be around the place where Nzonzi was?
     
    I feel sorry for Young. He has to take on the whole left side himself as Mata nor Ander seem to be playing on the left of midfield, both are in the middle somewhere

    Well that's not totally true, considering Herrera had a sweet cross from the left which was the assist on Fellaini's goal.
     
    I'm not sure we're missing Rooney at all, he doesn't up our tempo. This is van Gaal, we're patient in possession.
     
    Mata needs to up his fecking game. He's supposed to be the teams main creative force but has yet again been mediocre.
     
    People losing their shit in here. Wilson went from the second coming to fecking useless in 45 minutes.

    Not sure a lot of people understand how football really works.
     
    Good to see Mata's transformation into a Manchester United player is complete, ie pass the ball out wide whenever you're within 10 yards of the box and wait for a cross. He really needs to step it up this half. We need some inspiration, some creativity. It's all well and good playing this simple, short 5 yard passing game when we're 3-0 up and cruising but we need him to take some risks now and provide something. Looks a shadow of the player he was 18 months ago.
    I'd be tempted to throw Januzaj on somewhere to try an inject some pace and urgency into what is so far a stale performance.
     
    Totally can't understand to those who want to keep wilson on the pitch. C'mon guys he didn't keep and control the ball well enough.
     
    Well that's not totally true, considering Herrera had a sweet cross from the left which was the assist on Fellaini's goal.

    Yes he also had another attempt at a left footed cross earlier.

    Those are 2 kicks in a 45 minute half though

    From his passes on the chalkboard Mata is on the left, but barely. Fellaini is offering himself on the right far better than they are on the left
     
    Bottom line; we must win this. We can't lose to fecking Stoke. Not today.
     
    [TE="pseudo_canadian, post: 16778785, member: 78471"]Young has had a lot of poor touches.[/QUOTE]

    He's been our best player
     
    I'd like him to come on for RVP, unfortunately it's probably gonna be for Wilson.

    Januzaj for Herrera may be an option too.
    No I think it should be for Wilson. He's done nothing so far and RvP can score from nothing like he did on Saturday even when he's not playing well. Herrera has done more than Mata for me so I'd like Januzaj on for him.
     
    Its an experience/confidence builder for him. He's not likely to play much this year once each of Rooney, RvP, and Falcao are all fit at the same time.
    I hope you are right, I've been really disappointed with him this season but wouldn't want him to get injured, we need all of our players in top form.
     
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Player Ratings

6.5 Total Average Rating

Highest Rated Player

Lowest Rated Player

Compiled from 504 ratings.

Score Predictions

506,7,9
  • Man Utd win
  • Stoke win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 26% Man Utd 2:0 Stoke
  • 20% Man Utd 3:0 Stoke
  • 16% Man Utd 2:1 Stoke
  • 15% Man Utd 3:1 Stoke
  • 7% Man Utd 4:0 Stoke
  • 4% Man Utd 5:0 Stoke
  • 4% Man Utd 4:1 Stoke
  • 3% Man Utd 1:0 Stoke
  • 1% Man Utd 0:0 Stoke
  • 1% Man Utd 1:1 Stoke
  • 1% Man Utd 0:5 Stoke
  • 1% Man Utd 1:2 Stoke
  • 1% Man Utd 4:2 Stoke
  • 0% Man Utd 5:1 Stoke
  • 0% Man Utd 3:4 Stoke
Compiled from 522 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Man Utd
  2. Stoke
Possession
64% 36%
Shots
10 5
Shots on Target
3 4
Corners
3 2
Fouls
8 13

Referee

Jonathan Moss