Stoke City F.C. vs. Manchester United F.C.

[Interval]

Saturday, 1 Feb 2014
1500GMT
​

Potentially the most boring match in football, EVER!

 

[B20]

The most boring team in the top 10 vs the most boring team in the bottom 10.

I predict a draw. Stoke are very solid at home.

 

[CallyRed]

DDG,
Smalling, Vidic,Evans, Evra,
Jones Clevs
Young Rooney Mata
RVP

I suspect Moyes will put Smalling at RB (I hope he doesnt) over Rafael for the height, Stoke thing etc

 

[Rozay]

DDG,
Smalling, Vidic,Evans, Evra,
Jones Clevs
Young Rooney Mata
RVP

I suspect Moyes will put Smalling at RB (I hope he doesnt) over Rafael for the height, Stoke thing etc

Pretty sure Vidic is suspended.

 

[CallyRed]

Pretty sure Vidic is suspended.

Ah yes your right, completely forgot.

Well as you were with the back 4 against Cardiff then.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Bring back the diamond!

DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Jones
Januzaj_______ Mata
Kagawa
Rooney RVP​

 

[Ish]

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

Rafael/Jones---Smalling--Evans---Evra

-------Fellaini/Cleverley--Fletcher

---Mata--------Rooney-------Januzaj
------------------RvP

 

[2 man midfield]

-----------De Gea------------
Rafael--Smalling-Evans--Evra
-------Fletcher-Fellaini-------
Valencia---Rooney-----Mata
------------RvP--------------

 

[Keenst]

Bring back the diamond!

DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Jones
Januzaj_______ Mata
Kagawa
Rooney RVP​

Please god yes!

Not gonna happpen though.

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

Rafael/Jones---Smalling--Evans---Evra

-------Fellaini/Cleverley--Fletcher

---Mata--------Rooney-------Januzaj
------------------RvP

Assume that will be what we'll see with the exception of Jones in for Fletch in CM maybe.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

I don't like the idea of having to change our team personnel due to the mighty stoke, we shouldn't adapt to their game, we should go there and let our football talk, not try and play someone at RB who isn't a RB, because 'he's a bit taller'..

 

[December_16]

De Gea

Jones
Smalling
Evans
Evra

Valencia
Cleverley
Fletcher
Mata

Rooney
Van Persie


I'm just going to put a pre-emptive line-up because invariably Moyes will not field my muppet XI, so might as well. Hope Mata, Rooney and RVP can get on the same wavelength sooner rather than later.

 

[CallyRed]

I don't like the idea of having to change our team personnel due to the mighty stoke, we shouldn't adapt to their game, we should go there and let our football talk, not try and play someone at RB who isn't a RB, because 'he's a bit taller'..

Neither do I

But you can see Moyes doing it though. Fergie did the same.

 

[bosnian_red]

De gea
Rafael Evans smalling Evra
Fletcher jones
Rooney
Mata RVP januzaj
​

Go for a 4-3-3, Rooney at the tip of the trio, mata and januzaj playing as wide forwards either side of van persie. Doesn't seem to be too attacking or defensive, and with that front 4 you can't go wrong. Maybe Fellaini in for jones or something if he's fit enough but more likely he'll be a sub.

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

Neither do I
But you can see Moyes doing it though. Fergie did the same.

Yes unfortunately so, I can forgive SAF doing it, because he got so many others right, quite often we would win with Arsenal etc Teams that other's would struggle with, but Moyes wants to counter a lot of teams, it's not that we shouldn't counter, but I'd of hoped they would be more concerned about us and trying to shape around us, than us changing to accommodate them.

 

[UnofficialDevil]

----------------De Gea------------
Rafael-----Smalling----Jones----Evra
Januzaj-----Mata----Fellaini----Young
-------------Rooney-------------
-----------Van Persie----------------

 

[Shimo]

DDG
Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra
Januzaj, Fellaini, Fletcher, Mata
Rooeny, RVP

I think Fletcher in front of Fellaini as he'll be able to play with the attacking 4 and has the ability to run with the ball forward. Fellaini can ease back by sitting deep, taking care of hoofed balls should Stoke resort to that and just break up play and get the ball to others to make things happen.

If not Januzaj to start, then Young on the right would be good shout to start.

 

[Keenst]

Stoke aren't even that big and strong, Crouch is tall but he's a fecking rake. Under Hughes they try to play a bit more which is admirable but it makes them easier to beat.

 

[gooDevil]

Bring back the diamond!

DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Jones
Januzaj_______ Mata
Kagawa
Rooney RVP​

Could Mata play in that position? Even if he could, I think it would be a waste of his talent.

Kagawa on the other hand has played in that position for us and done well. So I would switch Mata and Kagawa there.

Adnando certainly hasn't played that role before, I think it's a bit too far back for him, I think we would need a central midfield type to go with Jones/Fletcher and Kagawa. When SAF was using the diamond (4312) it was Carrick, Cleverley and Kagawa who tended to make up the line of 3. Stick Cleverley in there to keep possession and keep the ball moving and I think you'd have something there.

De Gea
Rafael Evans Jones Evra
Fletcher
Cleverley Kagawa
Mata
Rooney Persie

​

However, I expect we'll see this instead, which is pretty sexy.

De Gea
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Fletcher Jones
Januzaj Rooney Mata
van Persie​

 

[AngeloHenriquez]

@gooDevil

Agree with your point completely, but perhaps my initial post wasn't clear enough, I saw the system as more of a 4-1-3-2

 

[Rado_N]

Bah, two bloody threads.

A startling lineup without Valencia please.

DDG

Back 4

Jones
Fletcher

Mata
Rooney
Januzaj

RVP

 

[Nickosaur]

Bah, two bloody threads.

A startling lineup without Valencia please.

DDG

Back 4

Jones
Fletcher

Mata
Rooney
Januzaj

RVP

This.

 

[gooDevil]

@gooDevil

Agree with your point completely, but perhaps my initial post wasn't clear enough, I saw the system as more of a 4-1-3-2

Well it's arbitrary I suppose whether you call it was 4132 or 4312, but I think 4312 is the typical way. Really it's a midfield 4, but to differentiate it from a flat 442 they use 4312.

 

[a_devil_inside]

4-4-2 with Mata on the left and Valencia on the right

 

[FreakyJim]

Actually I think Young deserves another start after his last performance.
So Young on the left, Januzaj - right, Mata behind RVP or Rooney.

 

[Diabo_Sam]

can we play 4-1-4-1?

Rafa--Smalling--Evans--Evra
----------Carrick-----
Val-----Mata--Roo-----Adnan
-----------RvP-----

 

[Alex99]

-----------------DDG
Rafael---Smalling-----Evans---Evra
---------------Jones



Mata---------Kagawa-------Januzaj
---------- Rooney--RVP----------

 

[SirFergie]

De Gea

Rafael
Smalling
Evans
Evra

Valencia
Jones
Cleverley
Mata

Rooney
RvP

 

[Anduin]

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Evra
Jones - Fletcher
Januzaj - Rooney - Mata
RvP​

I really, really can't see Valencia starting in this one. Adnan got a rest and surely Moyes won't bench any of Mata, RvP or Rooney? Valencia might have a shot at right-back, but even that would be beyond stupid with Rafael being fit.

 

[Rowem]

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Evra
Cleverley - Fletcher
Mata - Rooney - Januzaj
RvP​

It would be nice to actually see our best front 4 together with 2 real midfielders.

 

[Goooose]

I predict we will feature last on MotD.

 

[buckooo1978]

De Gea
Rafael - Smalling - Evans - Evra
Cleverley - Fletcher
Mata - Rooney - Januzaj
RvP​

It would be nice to actually see our best front 4 together with 2 real midfielders.

that is a winning team - maybe give Young another start and use Januzaj from the bench

 

[Gerald G]

The diamond is shit. No thanks. It's easy to play against in my opinion.

De Gea
Rafael--Smalling--Evans--Evra
Fletcher--Jones
Mata--Rooney--Januzaj/Young
van Persie

 

[Rowem]

that is a winning team - maybe give Young another start and use Januzaj from the bench

Yeah it's hard to leave out Young to be fair, he'd be deserving of a place in that side. I think he might step up a level playing alongside 3 world class players in RVP, Rooney and Mata.

 

[Sean_RedDevil]

that is a winning team - maybe give Young another start and use Januzaj from the bench

100% yes

I think Januzaj needs another break + Young was quite good in the last weeks

 

[charlenefan]

Team should be...

GK: De Gea

RB: Rafael
CB: Smalling
CB: Evans
LB: Evra

RM: Valencia
CM: Fletcher
CM: Jones
LM: Young

CF: Mata
CF: RVP

Sub: Lindegaard, Buttner, Cleverley, Giggs, Januzaj, Hernandez, Rooney

Unleash the fantastic four at home to Fulham next week

 

[gasmanc]

Anything with Valencia in it, gotta be the first name on the sheet in the lineups game, I reckon he's donating his wages to Moyesy.

 

[RDCR07]

David

Rafael-----Chris-----Johnny-----Patrice

Darren-------Tom

Juan-----Wayne-----Adnan

Robin​

 

[Mystry]

----------------De Gea----------
Rafael--Smalling--Evans--Evra
-------Fletcher----Cleverley----
--Januzaj---Rooney-----Mata--
--------------RVP---------------

Unleash the fear! Chances are Young might play with only one of Rooney and Van Persie starting.

 

[buckooo1978]

I wouldn't but I feel Moyes will try to use the squad - wouldnt be surprised to see Welbeck pop up on the left or something

 

[DocRockter]

I wouldn't risk Januzaj against this bunch.. Start Valenica or Young(remember he played great last time at Stoke) on the wing.