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

[Antisocial]

My choice:

De Gea
Rafael---Smalling---Evans---Evra
Fletcher---Jones
Kagawa---Rooney---Mata
Van Persie
​

I agree we shouldn't change ourselves just because we are playing the mighty Stoke. The one concession I would make would be to keep Januzaj out of the starting line-up out of fear of what the meatheads might do to him with the referees refusing to give him any protection. Other than that just go for it attack-wise. Jones can drop into defence if Evans or Smalling have to cover for Rafael or Evra if they caught too far forward, and with Fletcher there should be enough energy to combat Stoke and feed the attackers.

A front four of Kagawa, Rooney, Mata and RVP seems pretty exciting, and a line-up I'd like to give as much time as possible ahead of the Arsenal game.

In reality I expect Young to start, and probably rightly so given his goal against them last time as well as against Cardiff. Valencia of course will be there as well.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Would agree with that side @Antisocial

Also, that I expect to see one of, if not both Young and Valencia

 

[gasmanc]

Valencia is a given somehow and Youngy might have scored his way into the team also, still it would leave us with a damn fearsome bench

 

[Eric'sCollar]

That is a positive that we are getting now, our bench is starting to look a lot stronger than it did earlier.

 

[Pexbo]

What I'm expecting.

DDG
Rafa - Smalling - Evans - Evra

Fletcher - Cleverley

Mata - Rooney - Young
RVP

 

[Anderson's Cat]

I think I have some ironing to do on Saturday afternoon.

 

[LR7]

What I'm expecting.

DDG
Rafa - Smalling - Evans - Evra

Fletcher - Cleverley

Mata - Rooney - Young
RVP​

​

That would be quite good actually. Not sure I can see Moyes not starting Valencia or Jones though.

 

[Lowkey]

Keep Januzaj well away from these thugs

 

[ashgabat]

Every single lineup seems to have an offensive 3 line behind RvP, with Rooney in the middle. What do you guys think about putting Rooney on the side and Mata in the middle? Mata's favoured position is behind the striker, and Rooney with a free role from the edge, sort of.

I'm not really a tactician, just asking those who know better!

 

[Adebesi]

Every single lineup seems to have an offensive 3 line behind RvP, with Rooney in the middle.

I was thinking the same thing, in the sense that people seem to be posting what they hope to see but not what they expect. Surely what we will actually see is 442? Something like:

----------------------Back 5

Valencia (or Young) --- Fletcher -- Cleverley---- Mata

-------------Rooney -------------------------------

------------------------RVP -----------------------

Now we have Mata I think it is highly unlikely we will see Valencia and Young in the team at the same time, assuming RVP, Rooney and Mata are all essentially undroppable.

 

[Eric'sCollar]

Every single lineup seems to have an offensive 3 line behind RvP, with Rooney in the middle. What do you guys think about putting Rooney on the side and Mata in the middle? Mata's favoured position is behind the striker, and Rooney with a free role from the edge, sort of.

I'm not really a tactician, just asking those who know better!

With that 3 behind, there is plenty of movement in there, all 3 will take up wide positions at time, they will have no set role.

 

[Thisistheone]

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

Would be nice. Don't see Young being dropped after his screamer in mid week. Hopefully Fletcher comes in, if not, Cleverley.

 

[LR7]

Every single lineup seems to have an offensive 3 line behind RvP, with Rooney in the middle. What do you guys think about putting Rooney on the side and Mata in the middle? Mata's favoured position is behind the striker, and Rooney with a free role from the edge, sort of.

I'm not really a tactician, just asking those who know better!

If he moaned about playing in midfield on a handful of occasions last season I can only imaging there'd be more displeasure if he has to play 'wide' with Mata in 'his' position. Moyes will be trying to keep him sweet too. They're three intelligent players who don't need too many positional restrictions imo so it'd be nice to see them interchanging rather than occupying fixed positions.

 

[Adebesi]

Its quite a turnaround, Rooney used to be the player we could play almost anywhere and he would usually deliver, he was shunted around all over the place to make room for Ronaldo or to solidify our midfield or whatever. Now he is the player who cant be moved in case it triggers one of his rages.

 

[dmode]

I reckon it'll be a 6-1 or something... we'll murder them... from now onward... as I said it's pay back time!

 

[Anduin]

Moyes talking about 'managing' RvP and Rooney... guess we'll see only one of those two tomorrow to accomodate Valencia or Young somewhere in there. There is really no excuse not to field Mata, Januzaj, Rooney and RvP. Let's just play our game and destroy Stoke, they are very, very average.

 

[Red Dreams]

Rooney for 60 minutes and then RVP for 30 minutes is my guess.

 

[Kaos]

---Valencia---Cleverley---Jones----Giggs
-----------------Mata--------------------
----------------Welbeck--------------------

subs: Lindegaard, Kagawa, RVP, Rooney, Pavel fecking Nedved.

 

[KGBhoy]

---Valencia---Cleverley---Jones----Giggs
-----------------Mata--------------------
----------------Welbeck--------------------

subs: Lindegaard, Kagawa, RVP, Rooney, Pavel fecking Nedved.

WTF!?

 

[Carl]

---Valencia---Cleverley---Jones----Giggs
-----------------Mata--------------------
----------------Welbeck--------------------

subs: Lindegaard, Kagawa, RVP, Rooney, Pavel fecking Nedved.

I, erm.... ok.

 

[KiD MoYeS]

Fellaini vs. Cattermole

This is why we follow Manchester United.

 

[Man-United]

Cattermole won't play, missed the deadline to be able to play tomorrow.

 

[Gerald G]

After listening to Moyes' press conference...

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

Subs: Lindegaard, Cleverley, Valencia, Kagawa, Welbeck, van Persie, Hernandez

This would be the perfect game for Fellaini but he isn't match fit yet.

 

[rio's upper lip]

Potentially tricky away ties for Liverpool, Spurs and us this weekend. Should be a decent opportunity to make some ground on at least one of those teams.

 

[gooDevil]

---Valencia---Cleverley---Jones----Giggs
-----------------Mata--------------------
----------------Welbeck--------------------

subs: Lindegaard, Kagawa, RVP, Rooney, Pavel fecking Nedved.

I'm afraid to ask what you're on about...

 

[Mad Winger]

---Valencia---Cleverley---Jones----Giggs
-----------------Mata--------------------
----------------Welbeck--------------------

subs: Lindegaard, Kagawa, RVP, Rooney, Pavel fecking Nedved.

Daddy, I'm scared

 

[Revan]

---Valencia---Cleverley---Jones----Giggs
-----------------Mata--------------------
----------------Welbeck--------------------

subs: Lindegaard, Kagawa, RVP, Rooney, Pavel fecking Nedved.

Why?

 

[Ash_G]

Would love to see

DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Fletch Jones
Mata Rooney Januzaj
RVP


Jones sitting to allow Fletch to be the one to push forward, but mainly those two holding and Januzaj/Mata coming inside from wide. Young had a pretty good game against Cardiff but don't think that should be enough to bring him in over Januzaj, and clearly not starting over the other 3, needs to play like that over a couple of games. Don't see any reason why we should be afraid to play januzaj here, plus we need to start making up the goal difference as well as getting the points.

 

[sammsky1]

We need to win the next 6 or 7 on the bounce and with decent goal margins. No messing around. Solid backline and midfield and with our world class trio up front. Kagawa, Januzuj and wingers to come on the hour mark if we need some fluidity.

DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Fletch Jones Cleverley
Mata RVP Rooney

 

[DomesticTadpole]

At least there won't be anybody asking why Zaha isn't on the bench.

 

[Anduin]

Hope Rio stays well away from the pitch, but other than that it's great news if Carrick is fit and Fellaini's back.

There really is no excuse for being cautious here, play our own game, attack them, earn the rewards. Kagawa, Januzaj are both fit and rested, and RvP, Rooney and Mata need game time.

 

[Buchan]

I haven't been looking forward to a United match this much in a long while. I hope Moyesie goes for it; there's not too much need for the pragmatism and robustness when going to Stoke anymore.

 

[Glanville95]

That is a positive that we are getting now, our bench is starting to look a lot stronger than it did earlier.

Probably because we are persisting with a shit first eleven.

 

[Ronaldo's Mum Eh?]

Rooney for 60 minutes and then RVP for 30 minutes is my guess.

If RVP doesn't start I'm going to fly to Manchester and smash Moyes in the face for screwing up my fantasy team.

 

[bosnian_red]

Carrick and Fellaini might be back for this? Great news. Our only injury now is Nani who is out for a month (he's gotten worse then Hargreaves with these injuries), amazing how much can change in just over a week. I'd probably keep them as subs, start Fletcher and Jones in midfield then have our fab 4 in front of them, maybe Young for Januzaj in case Moyes is cautious to keep him from getting injured. RVP, Rooney and Mata all better start though. It's been so long since we've had so many options, let's hope we can stay relatively injury free from now on (at least with out key players).

 

[Jacob]

Daddy, I'm scared

 

[Jacob]

If RVP doesn't start I'm going to fly to Manchester and smash Moyes in the face for screwing up my fantasy team.

I'll join you since he's my captain!

 

[Scrumpet]

No point leaving Nedved on the bench, he's well rested.

 

[edn33]

We need to win the next 6 or 7 on the bounce and with decent goal margins. No messing around. Solid backline and midfield and with our world class trio up front. Kagawa, Januzuj and wingers to come on the hour mark if we need some fluidity.

DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Fletch Jones Cleverley
Mata RVP Rooney

Not Cleverley please...

 

[Thisistheone]

Jim White will have a fecking stroke when he finds out we signed Pavel Nedved.