Manchester United vs. Stoke City

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True, but it takes longer than a few months to completely change such an ingrained style of play, and at the moment despite some changes under Hughes they still offer broadly the same sort of threat.

Look at their players: big strikers like Jones, Walters, Arnautovic and Crouch. Physical, sometimes dirty midfielders like Nzonzi, Whelan and Adam. And a defence still built around Ryan Shawcross. I don't think we can expect much less of a physical and aerial battering than usual.
 
Those questioning it earlier... Evra needs to play this, as he can have a week's rest before the next game. Fairly sure Buttner will start (god help us all) against Norwich.
 
De Gea​
Rafael - Jones - Evans - Evra​
Carrick - Fellaini​
Nani - Rooney - Kagawa​
RVP​


Hope we start to put away our chances, have created plenty during our last two games, just lacked the finish and killer instinct. 2-0 United.
 
Anduin said:
De Gea​
Rafael - Jones - Evans - Evra​
Carrick - Fellaini​
Nani - Rooney - Kagawa​
RVP​


Hope we start to put away our chances, have created plenty during our last two games, just lacked the finish and killer instinct. 2-0 United.
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That would be my team as well. Someone soon is getting a bumming from us will Stoke accept our attacking length?
 
I would play Kagawa behind Rooney, if RVP is healthy or not. He deserves his chance.


----------De Gea
Rafael-Vidic(?)-Evans-Evra
Carrick - Cleverley (?)
Nani--Kagawa--Januzaj
---------Rooney
 
Sandikan said:
The regrettable verdict is that it'll be incredible if he comes back to be even a semi regular. How long will we wait to accept that?
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for me he was the nearest we got to a Keane like player. At his best Fletcher was like Keane. Its such a pity we did not have him for the start of this season. No way would we have dropped so many points with a fully fit Fletcher. His vision and positioning were excellent...and not too shy about getting among the goals either.
 
Vidic must play. Even though I would still play Rafael at RB, Moyes will go with Smalling due to Stoke's height. Fellaini will most likely start too.

Stoke is probably one of the few teams where a 442 still works. Expect to see Rooney/RVP up top or Rooney/Hernandez. Kagawa deserves a start, as does Januzaj and Nani. Don't know where they will all play though. I'd go with this:

----------DDG--------
Rafael--Vidic--Evans--Evra
Nani-Carrick-Cleverley-Januzaj
---------Kagawa----------
---------Rooney------------

Moyes will most likely go with:

-----------DDG----------
Smalling---Rio---Vidic---Evra
Welbeck-Carrick-Fellaini-Januzaj
------Rooney-Hernandez-------
 
Red Dreams said:
for me he was the nearest we got to a Keane like player. At his best Fletcher was like Keane. Its such a pity we did not have him for the start of this season. No way would we have dropped so many points with a fully fit Fletcher. His vision and positioning were excellent...and not too shy about getting among the goals either.
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the longer he's out, the more his reputation hypes up!
 
Brightonian said:
True, but it takes longer than a few months to completely change such an ingrained style of play, and at the moment despite some changes under Hughes they still offer broadly the same sort of threat.

Look at their players: big strikers like Jones, Walters, Arnautovic and Crouch. Physical, sometimes dirty midfielders like Nzonzi, Whelan and Adam. And a defence still built around Ryan Shawcross. I don't think we can expect much less of a physical and aerial battering than usual.
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He's hardly played Crouch and has been leaving Jones out more, Walters is more a wide player and Charlie Adam is hardly physical or dirty. Players like Pieters, Assaidi and Ireland are getting games and I have not seen much of Arnautovic but I did not think he was especially a Pulis type of player when I saw Stoke play Fulham. Stoke are changing their style of play and the one thing that remains is the back four which they are doubtful to change to much as it is a strong back four. Hughes might bring Crouch or Jones in for this game as they were poor against WBA and he is under some pressure but the attempted changes in style are obvious from the personnel.
 
I think it'll be 2-2...We'll make a slow start and they'll somehow manageto take a two goal lead (one inveitably from a set-piece)... After which point we'll wake up and make a good go of it in the second half, get the two goals back - but fall just short of completing the comback, giving us another week of people reporting on the shacking fact that Moyes isn't in fact Alex Ferguson.
 
Annihilate Now! said:
I think it'll be 2-2...We'll make a slow start and they'll somehow manageto take a two goal lead (one inveitably from a set-piece)... After which point we'll wake up and make a good go of it in the second half, get the two goals back - but fall just short of completing the comback, giving us another week of people reporting on the shacking fact that Moyes isn't in fact Alex Ferguson.
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No way should we be conceding 2 goals against this lot, they've only scored 4 all season!

I'll go with 3-0 United. RVP to score a brace
 
DanNistelrooy said:
No way should we be conceding 2 goals against this lot, they've only scored 4 all season!

I'll go with 3-0 United. RVP to score a brace
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We need to learn to lower our expectations... that way we can't be disappointed.

It's the same approach I've used with all my ex's...
 
ideal choice of team to play.

Massively out of form, very limited attacking threat, and won't out pass us!

Let's hope the recent good spell continues.

Hoping VP smashes them.
 
Hope the same back five starts again. We look to be getting some continuity and rhythm in defence.

Outside of the back 5 and Carrick, it's hard to predict. Alot of players deserving a game, or need to get back on form. I think Kagawa's performance and his assistance in keeping our passing quick and attacking deserves him another start. Nani and Januzaj are looking better every time they play. Rooney and RvP have performed in short bursts this season. Valencia looked great against Sociedad, but then again, I think I would have looked great if I wasn't up against a full back. Regardless, that performance might have given him some confidence to kick on
 
Reading between the lines of the press conference, I'd say Cleverley, Welbeck, Rio and Vidic are out. RVP more likely to be a sub than to start.
 
Kagawa behind Rooney?

I reckon so.
 
Based on the injury news I'd hope we will line up something like:

-------------------DDG----------------
Rafael------Jones------Evans------Evra
-------------Carrick----Fellaini----------
Nani------------Kagawa-----------Januzaj
-----------------Rooney-------------------

As has been mentioned it will be great to give that back 5 a run of games together now and that front 4 on paper looks class.

Then we can look to rotate a bit in the COC game vs Norwich midweek, ideally giving 90 to the likes of Hernandez, Welbeck and Cleverley (if fit)
 
Think Valencia, Kagawa, and Rooney were all very good against Real so should all start again. Giggs was great too, but he'll obviously be rested. So, I'd probably draft Fellaini back in to help on set-pieces, and either van Persie up top, or Januzaj to play Kagawa behind Rooney instead. Nani on the bench to get on for some minutes at some stage. Only other change would be Vidic over Jones if fit, but I'd be happy to see Jones and Evans carry on.

With a team like that, I really think this is one we can finally go on to win 4 or 5-0. Even though we only beat Real 1-0 in the end it was a strong performance which should breathe some confidence into the team.

de Gea​
Rafael Jones Evans Evra​
Carrick Fellaini​
Valencia Kagawa Januzaj​
Rooney​
--​
Lindegaard; Smalling; Anderson, Giggs, Nani; Hernandez, van Persie​
 
----------De Gea------------
-Rafael--Vidic--Evans--Evra--
----Carrick------Fellaini------
---------Cleverley-----------
----------------------------
----Rooney-----Kagawa-----
-----------RvP--------------

Edit - taking into account what Havak said, one of Cleverley or Fellaini could make way for Valencia, as I agree he looked like his old self again in that game.
 
de Gea​
Rafael - Jones - Evans - Evra​
Carrick - Fellaini​
Nani - Kagawa - Januzaj​
Rooney​
​
Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Fabio, Giggs, Valencia, van Persie, Hernandez​
​
If there's any risk of van Persie aggravating his injury there is no need to rush him back quickly and that goes for Rio and Vidic too.​
​
There were positive signs when we switched to Kagawa behind Rooney against Sociedad and an interchanging three of Nani, Kagawa and Januzaj should mean we start to create more chances. Likewise, Evans and Jones have a blossoming centre back partnership and we shouldn't disrupt their continuity and understanding together by starting Rio or Vidic who have both had underwhelming seasons so far.​
​
de Gea, Rafael and Evra pretty much picks itself, so it's just a matter of two centre backs to go along with that. Carrick is also a mainstay and given the physicality of Stoke, I'd opt for Fellaini despite his poor form - this is assuming Cleverley misses out. van Persie to get some minutes off the bench whether we are chasing a goal or the need to build up his match fitness.​
 
Manchester-United-v-Stoke-001.jpg


Are the guardian well and truly off it? Surely we'll be seeing Kagawa, Evans and Jones tomorrow....? Please god.
 
Yes they are. Rio and Vidic are still doubts, and RVP may not be ready either.
 
VP to Rooney looks the sensible fantasy footy decision.
 
CallyRed said:
I don't think we have been on so many 3pms kick offs this early in a season.

I prefer 3pm kick offs, back to the good old days.
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one of the the worst things about United being relegated will be that they will never play at 3pm. The Football League will want every game live on TV.
 
Glanville95 said:
de Gea​
Rafael - Jones - Evans - Evra​
Carrick - Fellaini​
Nani - Kagawa - Januzaj​
Rooney​
​
Subs: Lindegaard, Smalling, Fabio, Giggs, Valencia, van Persie, Hernandez​
​
If there's any risk of van Persie aggravating his injury there is no need to rush him back quickly and that goes for Rio and Vidic too.

There were positive signs when we switched to Kagawa behind Rooney against Sociedad and an interchanging three of Nani, Kagawa and Januzaj should mean we start to create more chances. Likewise, Evans and Jones have a blossoming centre back partnership and we shouldn't disrupt their continuity and understanding together by starting Rio or Vidic who have both had underwhelming seasons so far.

de Gea, Rafael and Evra pretty much picks itself, so it's just a matter of two centre backs to go along with that. Carrick is also a mainstay and given the physicality of Stoke, I'd opt for Fellaini despite his poor form - this is assuming Cleverley misses out. van Persie to get some minutes off the bench whether we are chasing a goal or the need to build up his match fitness.
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We always beat Stoke in the middle of the pitch despite that physicality.
 
This is nothing against RVP at all but I would love it if we left him out. Give him that extra week, it will only do him good. He isn't in the greatest of form and then hopefully that allows Kagawa to play in behind Rooney.

I think it will really give us a better feel with Fellaini in there (because like it or not, Fellaini will start). Two holding midfielders, two wide players, Kagawa as a 3rd midfielder in behind the striker.
 
OJKernow said:
-------------------DDG----------------
Rafael------Jones------Evans------Evra
-------------Carrick----Fellaini----------
Nani------------Kagawa-----------Januzaj
-----------------Rooney-------------------
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This (if Ferdinand, Vidic, Welbeck, Fletcher & Cleverley are out)

Bench: Lindegaard, Fabio, Smalling, Anderson, Valencia, Zaha, Chicharito

And like i've said in the "Van Persie thread".........i would rest Van Persie if he isn't 100% fit.
 
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