Stoke City 2:0 Manchester United

golden_blunder · Dec 26, 2015

We need Morgans tackling ability and mobility for this one. I hope he hasn't chucked Fellaini in because of some notion that stoke are still reliant on physical attributes. Truth is they are mobile and have some good players, hence we need Morgan

R'hllor · Dec 26, 2015

If its 4-3-3 then no way Morgan is better solution then Afroman in that role where Ander and him need to be up front creating triangles with Mata/Depay. Really hope its 4-3-3 feck number 10 bullshit.

Garethw · Dec 26, 2015

izec said:
I think Fellaini according to the team sheet. But lets see on the pitch.

Hopefully. If he plays as a traditional midfielder then we are screwed.

Mciahel Goodman · Dec 26, 2015

LvG got this nearly right. Seriously though, Schneiderlin for Fellaini. Arggh.

green_smiley · Dec 26, 2015

10/11 get in there!

WPMUFC · Dec 26, 2015

it's exactly the same team barring rooney/herrera swap. Rooney wasn't at fault for norwich killing us on the counter. SIGH.

Di Maria's angel · Dec 26, 2015

Hmm... Could be a 4-3-3. Carrick - Fellaini - Herrera, like last season.

Sassy Colin · Dec 26, 2015

10/11, Rooney actually dropped :eek:

dichinero · Dec 26, 2015

Rooney in Paris said:
Fellaini in midfield is always a recipe for disaster, shame that cos with Schneidi instead of him that was a good team.

My fears exactly!

Mciahel Goodman · Dec 26, 2015

R'hllor said:
If its 4-3-3 then no way Morgan is better solution then Afroman in that role where Ander and him need to be up front creating triangles with Mata/Depay. Really hope its 4-3-3 feck number 10 bullshit.

Schneiderlin sits deep, Carrick slightly higher, then Herrera the most advanced. He's definitely better in this role by virtue of the fact that he can pass the ball.

Rooney in Paris · Dec 26, 2015

Sultan said:
Exactly my thoughts.

LvG is probably thinking Fellaini could help out defensively and is a bigger goal threat.

Yep possibly. Or could Ander be in midfield with Carrick and Fellaini as a '10'?

Dans · Dec 26, 2015

Sassy Colin said:
10/11, Rooney actually dropped

Let's hope he isn't playing Fellaini up front in his place.

LS17 · Dec 26, 2015

If it's 4-3-3 it might be okay. As a midfield three Fellaini played his best football last year and it lets us get away with his positioning. If it's 4-2-3-1 can't help but feel we'll end up seeing Carrick in a one man midfield and a loss.

FC Ronaldo · Dec 26, 2015

golden_blunder said:
We need Morgans tackling ability and mobility for this one. I hope he hasn't chucked Fellaini in because of some notion that stoke are still reliant on physical attributes. Truth is they are mobile and have some good players, hence we need Morgan

I agree but I think he's banking on Morgan for that role against Chelsea with Schweini back in too.

R'hllor · Dec 26, 2015

Mciahel Goodman said:
Schneiderlin sits deep, Carrick slightly higher, then Herrera the most advanced. He's definitely better in this role by virtue of the fact that he can pass the ball.

Attacks to start from Schneiderlin then from Carrick? No thanks.

Leftback99 · Dec 26, 2015

Last throw of the dice, going back to the system from the only time we looked half decent in 18 months?

LeftyBlaster · Dec 26, 2015

Come on boys let's get 3 points.

Skills · Dec 26, 2015

Rooney in Paris said:
Yep possibly. Or could Ander be in midfield with Carrick and Fellaini as a '10'?

I think he's gone back to what worked last season, the 4-3-3 with Herrera and Fellaini in front of Carrick. I think that should've always been the right idea, but Fellaini should've been upgraded on in the summer.

Dir Wangem · Dec 26, 2015

Back to square one, eh?

Our best XI last season:

---------------- DDG -----------
Valencia - Smalling - Jones - Blind
------------- Carrick -----------
-------- Herrera - Fellaini -------
----- Mata - Rooney - Young ----

Today's XI:

--------------- DDG -----------
Young - Smalling - Jones - Blind
------------ Carrick -----------
------- Herrera - Fellaini -------
--- Mata - Martial - Memphis ---

Garethw · Dec 26, 2015

Wednesday at Stoke said:
Surely with his playing style you can't expect him to play 2 games in 3 days. Think him and schweinsteiger will start against Chelsea.

It'll be Carrick and Schweinsteiger starting against Chelsea IMO.

Today was the day to start Morgan. His physicality will be needed more today than against Chelsea. Stoke is going to walk through our midfield today.

Mciahel Goodman · Dec 26, 2015

R'hllor said:
Attacks to start from Schneiderlin then from Carrick? No thanks.

I see what you mean in terms of mobility, etc. But Fellaini is terrible. He's not a midfielder and if he's playing as a 10 then feck me, what's the point.

Garethw · Dec 26, 2015

golden_blunder said:
We need Morgans tackling ability and mobility for this one. I hope he hasn't chucked Fellaini in because of some notion that stoke are still reliant on physical attributes. Truth is they are mobile and have some good players, hence we need Morgan

It's madness mate.

WPMUFC · Dec 26, 2015

every attack will be aimed at fellaini and nothing will happen. It's norwich all over again, easy crosses headed away, poor wing play that no one will be in the box for (barring herrera) as he is the only one that seemingly attacks the ball at ever chance. Also this team still has the same problems that norwich exposed with ease. One change is not enough.

Rooney in Paris · Dec 26, 2015

Skills said:
I think he's gone back to what worked last season, the 4-3-3 with Herrera and Fellaini in front of Carrick. I think that should've always been the right idea, but Fellaini should've been upgraded on in the summer.

Yeah possibly. Can't help but feel a bit nervous, Stoke are very good on the break, but it's a pretty positive lineup all things considered.

Norris · Dec 26, 2015

Our bench is really weak though. We have 3 defenders, an untested talent, a DM and Rooney. I hope we don't get any injuries, we are truly screwed if we do.

Man-United · Dec 26, 2015

How's Cameron as a midfielder?

Devil81 · Dec 26, 2015

Question234 said:
why is schneiderlin not getting games. Has he not seen our win ratio without him ?

PSV at Old Trafford has destroyed Van Gaal's confidence in him. Personally feel he's perfect for today's game.

wiz4231 · Dec 26, 2015

golden_blunder said:
We need Morgans tackling ability and mobility for this one. I hope he hasn't chucked Fellaini in because of some notion that stoke are still reliant on physical attributes. Truth is they are mobile and have some good players, hence we need Morgan

Exactly, I hope soon enough Fellaini, Rooney and LVG all feck off, sick of the stupid shite, fecking BS philosophy. Play your damn best players end off.
Merry Christmas

Walters_19_MuFc · Dec 26, 2015

Garethw said:
Fellaini over Schneiderlin is crazy!

Fellaini isnt taking Schneiderlin's spot, it's Carrick, and when it comes to the holding role, not many play can play that postion better, especially in a team that has the majority of the ball.

Schneiderlin will be good to put on later in the game.

Dec9003 · Dec 26, 2015

My captain shall alwaysh play.
Come on united!
(Predicted 2-0 to Stoke)
Very excited to see Herrera start

Irrational. · Dec 26, 2015

We're definitely going to win this today lads. There's no way LVG is getting sacked - he's even gone to the drastic measure of dropping Rooney and starting Herrera. This is unprecedented.

Mr Anderson · Dec 26, 2015

RedSky said:
Exactly. Given how awful both the DMs were last game at tracking back I'm astounded. Stoke will be laughing, attack with pace on the break and they'll break us like Norwich.

Pissed off at that team.

Joke at this stage bud. On the bench the last 3 or 4 games, now with Herrera back any excuse for "Morgan's lack of creative passing" should not come into play.

Morgan protects the back four so so well. Composed on the ball also, I really don't see why Louis doesn't use him. Hope to feck he doesn't alienate him as he has massive potential.

MAME DIOUF 32 · Dec 26, 2015

Hmm. If he's gone for the 433 again I'd probably have picked Varela over Memphis and restored the Blind-Young-Fellaini triangle but at least he's dropped Rooney. He's done something different, so now it's time to find out if the players will too.

Hammerfell · Dec 26, 2015

Horrible feeling they're going to run rings around Fellaini.

Raw · Dec 26, 2015

FFS, why is he benching Schneiderlin so much. Surely he's fit enough by now?

At least Rooney got dropped.

Wednesday at Stoke · Dec 26, 2015

Garethw said:
It'll be Carrick and Schweinsteiger starting against Chelsea IMO.

Today was the day to start Morgan. His physicality will be needed more today than against Chelsea. Stoke is going to walk through our midfield today.

Schneiderlin needs better distribution to work in a single DM line up. That's where Carrick is irreplaceable.

VanGaalEra · Dec 26, 2015

Back to the 433 of last season?

Or Fellaini as a 10, or Herrera as a 10? Hopefully 433 of last season.

MAME DIOUF 32 · Dec 26, 2015

Additional thought: "My captain will always play"... is Rooney no longer captain? It'd be a wonderful Christmas present.

LeftyBlaster · Dec 26, 2015

No Schneiderlin which is puzzling. Hopefully Fellaini's deployed in that off left wing position that'll allow him to play as a pivot for Blind and Memphis.

stu_1992 · Dec 26, 2015

Wow, Rooney dropped! :eek:

Can't complain about that, it's long overdue tbh. Good to see Herrera back in the side after injury. Also good to see that Fellaini is in that more advanced role and not a midfield two. That's been one of our major issues recently.

EmPeeKay · Dec 26, 2015

LVG, I think, is really going for this. By dropping Rooney he is making a big statement and he is in fact in violation of his own philosophy, "my captain shall always play..."...etc... and all that jazz.
Love it that Ander is finally getting a start. I'm carefully optimistic about this lineup....

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