Manchester United 2:1 Stoke City

Clas Sified · Dec 1, 2014

baggio said:
Valencia and RvP nailed on to start, both big and strong and rested in the late mins v Hull. Smalling, Rojo Carrick and Fellani also looked rock solid and are likely to keep their place in the team.

Questionmarks over Herrera (played with the newbs+Hull), Rooney(probably ready?) and ADM (probably out).
So maybe Wilson and Fletcher will be given minutes. Fletcher looked awful so he sure needs it.

De Gea
Valencia--Smalling--Rojo--Young
Fellaini--Carrick--Herrera/Fletcher
Mata
van Persie--Rooney/Wilson

2-1 and third in the table please!!

That's impossible, S'oton are 4 points in front are they not?

RedDevil@84 · Dec 1, 2014

A win for us against Stoke and a lame draw for Sou'ton against Arsenal.
Follow it up with a win against Sou'ton and there we are at the third.
Will be a hard fought week. Hope to see players fit by the end of this week.

Pexbo · Dec 1, 2014

Andre Kagawa said:
I want to see Falcao and RvP up front with Rooney in behind. Don't think Mata really impressed against Hull.

We watched a different game.

HeckneyNoodo · Dec 1, 2014

thejtrain said:
Oh feck right off - at work; I will miss the next 2 games

Quit work, done.

Raoul · Dec 1, 2014

Pexbo said:
Assuming no more injuries this should be 11/11 for everyone in the predictions game.

DDG
Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young
Carrick
Fellaini - Herrera
Mata
Rooney - Van Persie

Looks perfect. Falcao will probably get another 30 min. sub appearance for RvP. Looking forward to a good performance from Mata.

Pexbo · Dec 1, 2014

Raoul said:
Looks perfect. Falcao will probably get another 30 min. sub appearance for RvP. Looking forward to a good performance from Mata.

Aye, hopefully it's the formality we are making it sound. I have a strange "fear" that we are going to find our most balanced and cohesive team and its not going to have Di Maria in it.

Put Rafael and Shaw in and eventually Falcao for RVP and that team has a really solid feel to it and a combination of good passing, pressing, clinical threat and defensive balance.

KTM_NEPAL · Dec 1, 2014

----------------DDG-----------------

Val-------Smalling---Rojo--------Young

--------------Carrick*------------------
------Fellaini-----------Herrera--------
---------------Mata-------------------
----Rooney--------------Falcao--------

* i hope he can play 2 games in quick succession, Flecth was not that good to replace Carrick.

Zecov · Dec 1, 2014

Hope for a goal in first 15 minutes. It time for Fellaini goal

baggio · Dec 1, 2014

TheUnitedWay said:
That's impossible, S'oton are 4 points in front are they not?

It is now, wrote it before the City game, when we where two behind.

RedDevil@84 · Dec 1, 2014

Physioroom.com says Wilson has a knock. What the heck is this now?

Paul the Wolf · Dec 1, 2014

Rezyuz said:
Incase you feel like paying, not sure if it works internationally but we got a channel called fox sports and incase you don't have a subscription you can buy a single match for 4 euro's or something like that. So check it out if England got one, and else use the dutch one :P

I subscribe to Canal+ anyway for all our TV so get to see all the PL matches (more than are shown in the UK) and they show the Saturday 3pm matches live as well - is great coverage with the added bonus of not having to listen to the biased pundits on Sky

Chaky_Best · Dec 1, 2014

Need to play some of the player who didn’t play much lately in order to give them some time and preparing them to the festive period. I wouldn’t change much as Stoke is always a tough tough opponent.

-----------------------------------------De Gea---------------------------------------------

Valencia-----------------Smalling--------------Rojo-----------------------------Young

----------------------------------------Fletcher---------------------------------------------

-------------------------Fellaini----------------------Mata--------------------------------

----------------------------------------Herrera----------------------------------------------

-------------------------Falcao----------------------V.Persie------------------------------

Or

-----------------------------------------De Gea---------------------------------------------

--------------------Mc Nair----------Smalling----------Rojo-----------------------------

Valencia---------------------Fellaini--------Herrera----------------------------Young

------------------------------------------Mata-----------------------------------------------

-------------------------Falcao----------------------V.Persie------------------------------

Chuckazulu · Dec 1, 2014

Pexbo said:
Aye, hopefully it's the formality we are making it sound. I have a strange "fear" that we are going to find our most balanced and cohesive team and its not going to have Di Maria in it.

Put Rafael and Shaw in and eventually Falcao for RVP and that team has a really solid feel to it and a combination of good passing, pressing, clinical threat and defensive balance.

I totally agree with you. I've got a feeling that one of the few ways we could fit Di Maria in is if we play him as a striker, similar to the way Robben did at the World Cup. Him with an in-form striker could cause some serious damage against sides that play a high defensive line.

Pexbo said:
Assuming no more injuries this should be 11/11 for everyone in the predictions game.

DDG
Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young
Carrick
Fellaini - Herrera
Mata
Rooney - Van Persie

This is our most balanced midfield i have seen us play. I think the Smalling, Rojo partnership is working and with the other centre backs injured, i hope they have a great run together. The full backs pretty much sort themselves out.

My biggest worry is our forwards. We've got great options, no doubt, but that's not enough. There has to be a certain level of understanding for every body to play their best. Hopefully we'll achieve that very soon.

My squad prediction will definitely be your suggested lineup

Suhail · Dec 1, 2014

baggio said:
It is now, wrote it before the City game, when we where two behind.

We were 2 points behind southampton before they played city???

baggio · Dec 1, 2014

@Suhail No, two behind City, sorry. Was hoping for a Soton win obviously

Chuckazulu · Dec 1, 2014

Suhail said:
We were 2 points behind southampton before they played city???

We were 2 points behind City. If they (city) lost and if we win our game against Stoke we could have been 3rd for a day.

Revan · Dec 1, 2014

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Young
Carrick
Fellaini Herrera
Mata
Falcao Rooney

Valencia instead of Rafael, if the Brazilian is still injured.

DanNistelrooy · Dec 1, 2014

Will the press conference for this game be on today or tomorrow?

minoo-utd · Dec 1, 2014

----------DDG----------
A.Valencia----Carrick-----Smalling-----Rojo
----------Herrera---------Fellaini---------
------------------ Mata -----------------
------Falcao--------------- Rooney------
------------------ RVP -------------------

Turnip · Dec 1, 2014

Are you sure you want to use 6 midfielders?
And only 2 bloody defenders. We got anyone back between saturday and tomorrow?

minoo-utd · Dec 1, 2014

I can see Young become a common player in most of these formations, does it tell that he become so different to Moyes reign?

Galactic · Dec 1, 2014

Stoke are a very strong side. It worries me a bit. Are they still good at setpieces too?

Shark · Dec 1, 2014

Galactic said:
Stoke are a very strong side. It worries me a bit. Are they still good at setpieces too?

They're not a very strong side at all. They are playing and defending poorly.

Pexbo · Dec 1, 2014

minoo-utd said:
I can see Young become a common player in most of these formations, does it tell that he become so different to Moyes reign?

More to do with the fact we sold both our left backs in the summer and only signed one... who is now injured.

He's doing well though, he should have another good game against Stoke. Both their wings are dross and he should spend most of his time in their half.

thejtrain · Dec 1, 2014

HeckneyNoodo said:
Quit work, done.

Seriously though, it's freaking annoying to know they play 2 games in succession on work days. We've had the int'l break just weeks ago! Just can't catch them enough

Rozay · Dec 1, 2014

Much as I was impressed with Mata, part of me still feels that in any given game, if Di Maria cannot play then he should be replaced with Januzaj. We dominated against a terrible Hull side, but I think Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera and Mata is still much of a muchness, especially with Rooney and Persie ahead of them, which is kind of like more of the same.

Januzaj can offer some of the same kind of threat as as the Angel of the North, and I would prefer that string to be added to our bow.

MyOnlySolskjaer · Dec 1, 2014

Revan said:
De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Young
Carrick
Fellaini Herrera
Mata
Falcao Rooney

Valencia instead of Rafael, if the Brazilian is still injured.

I like this, mainly because I would love to see more of our Xavi and Iniesta pairing (Herrera/Mata)

Something tells me Wilson will get the start he's been waiting for though, I reckon RVP will sit this one out as he's only having a 3 day match break and Falcao's still building his fitness up but he's sure to come off the bench a bit earlier than against Hull. I'd also like to see Januzaj play in the diamond because I feel the fluidity and attacking style would really suit his style, so a possible appearance from the bench too, unfortunately' we've only seen him as a rigid old fashioned right winger in a 4-3-3 which doesn't do him any justice.

De Gea
Rafael Smalling Rojo Young
Carrick
Fellaini Herrera
Mata
Wilson Rooney

Chuckazulu · Dec 1, 2014

Check out this interesting picture of how Van Gaal approaches each game. I love how thorough he is.

Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date

Galactic · Dec 1, 2014

Shark said:
They're not a very strong side at all. They are playing and defending poorly.

Strong as in physically. Are they still?

Moriarty · Dec 1, 2014

I hope we batter them. I fecking hate Stoke.

Adisa · Dec 1, 2014

Anyone know the players that will be missing for Stoke?

stubie · Dec 1, 2014

2-0 and 2 players to get injured

Yorkeontop · Dec 1, 2014

Pexbo said:
Aye, hopefully it's the formality we are making it sound. I have a strange "fear" that we are going to find our most balanced and cohesive team and its not going to have Di Maria in it.

Put Rafael and Shaw in and eventually Falcao for RVP and that team has a really solid feel to it and a combination of good passing, pressing, clinical threat and defensive balance.

Its all about 3 CMs for me. As long as one of the is Herrera. Id then find a place for Angel up top somewhere. I wouldnt play him in CM.

bosnian_red · Dec 1, 2014

Yorkeontop said:
Its all about 3 CMs for me. As long as one of the is Herrera. Id then find a place for Angel up top somewhere. I wouldnt play him in CM.

Yep. Carrick, fellaini and Herrera seems wonderfully balanced. Di maria and Rooney are 2 of the first names on the team sheet, so you give them a free role in the front 3, along with one other, and that other spot can rotate between mata, Falcao or van persie , depending on form. At least in the bigger games. Games against hull and stoke for example we could probably afford to put in an extra attacking for fellaini and push Di maria to midfield.

My small worry is who to choose between Carrick or blind. Carrick is better positionally and his passing is unmatched, so I'd still go for him, while Blind rotates with him. Long term hes definitely the way to go but for now, Carrick is still an excellent player. Also there is the worry with mata if he's fine with being a squad player for this season only. Will get loads of game time next season when we have champions league, but this season he'd basically rotate with Falcao, van Persie, januzaj and fellaini (changing formations depending on player and opponent). Some great options to have though.

He Comes From Serbia · Dec 1, 2014

Chuckazulu said:
Check out this interesting picture of how Van Gaal approaches each game. I love how thorough he is.

Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date

'To know your Enemy, you must become your Enemy'

Straight out of Sun Tzu's Art Of War (or Zapp Brannigan's Big Book Of War).

Goes without saying we need to keep this winning run up, beat Stoke and Southampton and the table looks very nice indeed going into the Liverpool game.

VanGaalEra · Dec 1, 2014

When Stoke opened up a bit in that second half against Liverpool, Liverpool created a few chances. Scoring first is important on route to a 2-0 victory.

pseudo_canadian · Dec 1, 2014

stubie said:
2-0 and 2 players to get injured

Probably not too far off the mark.

Semir_Tuce · Dec 1, 2014

De Gea
Valencia - Smalling - Rojo - Young
Carrick
Fellaini - Herrera
Mata
Rooney - Falcao

Sied · Dec 1, 2014

Chuckazulu said:
Check out this interesting picture of how Van Gaal approaches each game. I love how thorough he is.

Tweet
— Twitter API (@user) date

I feel like I've read that first paragraph before somewhere. Anyway, interesting read.

detinUnaM · Dec 1, 2014

I really hope RVP gets to start this game. He is one of the players who is affected by confidence a lot more than others. His reaction post match after Hull showed that he is getting some of his confidence back. At his best RVP does not need pace or space, he is a very instinctive finisher and he showed that with his shot against hull and even his diving header from the carrick ball. He needs to start especially at home to stoke. It would be a waste if he is beginning to click and then we drop him.

Falcao needs to be treated with a bit of care till he can string a few minutes together. Falcao can come on for RVP or Mata in the second half.

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