FA Premier League

Stoke City 2:0 Manchester United

Britannia Stadium

Kick-off
Sat, 26 December 2015 @ 12:45pm GMT
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Discussion Your Lineup Prediction

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    van Gaal I reckon will revert back to a few weeks ago and demand no one goes chasing for goals like the last few games where we have looked more threatening but capitulated at the back, he'll then hope for a one nil bore fest to save his job.
    However I believe with Arnautovic, Shakiri and Bojan they will be too much for us on the break so I'm going for 2-0 or 2-1 and LvG being sacked the following day.

    This press conference will no doubt be about how the players and the board are behind him but he knows its a results business, we are unlucky as we just need to finish our chances, we dominate possession and its still a process Zzzz
     
    NJM78 said:
    van Gaal I reckon will revert back to a few weeks ago and demand no one goes chasing for goals like the last few games where we have looked more threatening but capitulated at the back, he'll then hope for a one nil bore fest to save his job.
    However I believe with Arnautovic, Shakiri and Bojan they will be too much for us on the break so I'm going for 2-0 or 2-1 and LvG being sacked the following day.

    This press conference will no doubt be about how the players and the board are behind him but he knows its a results business, we are unlucky as we just need to finish our chances, we dominate possession and its still a process Zzzz
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    This sounds eerily realistic.
     
    NJM78 said:
    van Gaal I reckon will revert back to a few weeks ago and demand no one goes chasing for goals like the last few games where we have looked more threatening but capitulated at the back, he'll then hope for a one nil bore fest to save his job.
    However I believe with Arnautovic, Shakiri and Bojan they will be too much for us on the break so I'm going for 2-0 or 2-1 and LvG being sacked the following day.

    This press conference will no doubt be about how the players and the board are behind him but he knows its a results business, we are unlucky as we just need to finish our chances, we dominate possession and its still a process Zzzz
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    Whats the point? We have a game a day later against the Champions.
     
    K2K said:
    Whats the point? We have a game a day later against the Champions.
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    To put the guy out of his misery. I doubt him being there for Chelsea will have a more positive effect than him not.
     
    Stoke are pretty good against strong teams, so not sure how they'll fare against us, maybe we'll stand a chance.
     
    Jones to be dropped, perhaps?

    De Gea
    Young Smalling Blind CBJ
    Herrera Schneiderlin
    Mata Rooney Depay
    Martial​
     
    De Gea
    Young Smalling Jones Blind
    Carrick Schneiderlin
    Herrera Memphis
    Martial Rooney
    ​
    Something like this probably. Probably van gaals last game, though with Schneiderlin in there, he'll hold the defence well and we will probably keep a clean sheet so might even win and keep Van Gaal for another game.
     
    Shame you can't change your score prediction. I got caught up in the negativity and went for 1-1 but I've changed my mind. We'll grind out a shite 1-0 win.
     
    Never been less looking forward to a boxing day game. How are we still favourites with the bookies?
     
    Leftback99 said:
    Never been less looking forward to a boxing day game. How are we still favourites with the bookies?
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    Really? Given the circumstances, now I can't wait!!!!!!

    Feels like SAF vs Nottingham Forest all those years ago.

    Our players need to get motivated as though its the last game of football they may ever play. If LVG can get really inside their heads and put some good old passion into our play, we will spank Stoke.

    A big victory will change the entire mood and inspire the beginning of our revival and the last phase of the LVG process.

    It's lvgON
     
    Last edited:
    Sometimes a loss can be a win.

    Looking forward to us being game-raisers against Stoke and Chelsea.
     
    sammsky1 said:
    Really? Given the circumstances, now I can't wait!!!!!!

    Feels like SAF vs Nottingham Forest all those years ago.

    Our players need to get motivated as though its the last game of football they may ever play. If LVG can get really inside their heads and put some good old passion into our play, we will spank Stoke.

    A big victory will change the entire mood and inspire the beginning of our revival and the last phase of the LVG process.

    It's lvgON
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    I like your optimism, but i just don't think LVG or the players have got it in them. There's been enough times when we've needed them to stand up and be counted this season alone and they've let us down every time.
     
    We concede a goal on the break while dominating, we continue passing a little further ahead of the center line and they sit deep and hit on the counter whenever we try to move goalward. Recent matches indicate that the counter will be successful in this case. 2-1 Stoke.
     
    We will lose. It disgusts me to say so but its true. With all due respect, a club like Man Utd should not be losing to f'n Stoke. Yet it will happen. I am p'd right now thinking about it. I've gone from dreading match days to anticipating failure. Sickening.
     
    Tyrion said:
    I've never seen 50-60% predict a loss. We really are sh!t.
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    I have. It would always be during the SAF era after a mental starting line-up was announced. Inevitably, every time it happened, we'd always end up playing the other team off the park and winning. :lol:
     
    Tyrion said:
    I've never seen 50-60% predict a loss. We really are sh!t.
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    People can't see the wood for the trees.

    We may have been dreadful to watch previously, but at Bournemouth we had extreme measures due to the sudden injury mix and we had to play with 3 youth players at the back. The last game, he brought a load of players back from injury, probably because of what happened at Bournemouth and they were not ready. Grave mistake. More players back, so I expect us to become more difficult to beat again. The issue is whether the front line buck up and put the one or two chances we create away.
     
    #07 said:
    We will lose. It disgusts me to say so but its true. With all due respect, a club like Man Utd should not be losing to f'n Stoke. Yet it will happen. I am p'd right now thinking about it. I've gone from dreading match days to anticipating failure. Sickening.
    Click to expand...
    The size of the club doesn't dictate the scoreline, it's not like big clubs never lose to small clubs, happens all the time. If this was Burton albion or mk dons I'd agree, but stoke beat Chelsea last season when they were on shit hot form (maybe even twice actually), theyre a good team who shouldn't be under estimated. That's what causes big teams to lose to small ones actually, getting too cocky.
     
    The way the players come out here will basically say if they themselves back Van gaal or not. If they go out, and play the same slow, safe football with not too much passion, then they're probably fine with him leaving and we won't win. If we come out guns blazing, everyone giving 100%, then I'd say it'd be pretty clear that the players back him. We'll see I guess.
     
    bosnian_red said:
    The way the players come out here will basically say if they themselves back Van gaal or not. If they go out, and play the same slow, safe football with not too much passion, then they're probably fine with him leaving and we won't win. If we come out guns blazing, everyone giving 100%, then I'd say it'd be pretty clear that the players back him. We'll see I guess.
    Click to expand...

    I think the first goal is also going to very important. If Stoke somehow get an early goal like Bournemouth, it could all downhill from there. An early goal from us can give players the confidence which been missing for the last few weeks.
     
    Has anyone made a hilarious comment about winning on possession yet? If so no to worry I've got a cracker about having no shots on target up my sleeve for backup.
     
    This game is truly has to be the decider game for LVG. If he doesn't win or even gather some kind of pleasing performance out of the players, Ill be very surprised if he is still manager by the next game. I do feel for LVG with the media slating him, but being Manchester United manager comes with the burden from the media as expectations are set at the highest level at this club and when United are performing & achieving below that, all the eyes are set at United because everyone enjoys an upset so it just mounts more pressure. Overall LVG has no excuses now, he has to show that he wants continue has Manchester United manager. It's clear the players are not liking his "philosophy" so he has to change it to stay in the job. If his stubbornness continues and plays this boring, non attacking style of play then he's finished and will likely lose this game.

    Hoping: 0-2 to Manchester United

    Reality: 3-1 to Stoke City
     
    just saw the LVG press conference. To me that all but confirms we have the same "moyes clause" in the LVG deal. He will only be sacked when top 4 is mathematically impossible. They want to maintain the "non-sacking club" ethos and when LVG probably misses out on top 4, then it probably triggers the ability to terminate by "mutual consent". Even if we probably lose to stoke, I now don't expect anything to happen.

    the only conceivable way i'd see LVG getting sacked this weekend is if the players do absolutely nothing but jog around the pitch and stoke hammer MUFC 6-0. However that won't happen, and if that did happened, i think i'd hate the players even more than the football they currently play. :D

    If LVG can turn this around, kudos to him. However his tactics have become so woefully implemented i don't know how he turns it around, especially against a plucky stoke side. The whole MUFC season can be summarised in two sentences. If MUFC defend well, he doesn't know how to transition that into creative/fluid attack. If he tries to get the players to creatively attack, MUFC get smashed on the counter.

    I think MUFC go into this game seeking a draw and/or hoping to pinch a winner if a seldom opportunity makes itself present. I think LVG picks fellaini and rooney again for no reason, while schneiderlin and herrera ride the pine for 70 mins.

    2:0 Stoke and nothing will happen. :mad:

    I DESPERATELY want to be wrong, i just don't think i am. :(
     
    Giggs sprung into life in the second half at Norwich, think we'll see him doing something again if this match doesn't go so well? Think he has to, if LvG is gonna get sacked he needs to actually do something to show he's worthy of taking over for even half a season. Not that simply shouting from the side-lines does that, but it's a start.
     
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Post-match discussion

Man of the Match

Ashley Young image Ashley Young 39% of 534 votes

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Score Predictions

249,358,164
  • Man Utd win
  • Stoke win
  • Draw

Detailed Results

  • 17% Stoke 2:0 Man Utd
  • 12% Stoke 1:1 Man Utd
  • 12% Stoke 2:1 Man Utd
  • 9% Stoke 1:2 Man Utd
  • 8% Stoke 1:0 Man Utd
  • 8% Stoke 0:0 Man Utd
  • 7% Stoke 0:1 Man Utd
  • 6% Stoke 0:2 Man Utd
  • 3% Stoke 3:0 Man Utd
  • 3% Stoke 3:1 Man Utd
  • 3% Stoke 1:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Stoke 0:3 Man Utd
  • 2% Stoke 0:5 Man Utd
  • 1% Stoke 5:0 Man Utd
  • 1% Stoke 2:2 Man Utd
  • 1% Stoke 0:4 Man Utd
  • 1% Stoke 2:3 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 4:0 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 5:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 1:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 4:1 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 2:4 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 5:2 Man Utd
  • 0% Stoke 3:2 Man Utd
Compiled from 771 predictions.
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Match Stats

  1. Stoke
  2. Man Utd
Possession
41% 59%
Shots
13 11
Shots on Target
3 6
Corners
1 12
Fouls
13 16

Referee

Kevin Friend

Man Utd Lineup

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