For people questioning the selection...Fergie has obviously gone for the player's to counter Stoke's strength, aerial combat and physical style. This is not a game for your Rafael's, Obertan's or even shrinking violets like Carrick. This is a game for men.
Stoke City vs. Manchester United
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I think it is definately going to be a 433 but Hernandez will be up top with Berba on the left, just a thought
We have gone 2 up top in every league game this season. There really wasnt any doubt
Better than Hernandez on the wing where he's just ineffective and awful.
I have faith, but SAF has made it difficult a few times this season. Why is Nev playing, seriously? it's just a unnecessary risk, same goes for O'Shea in centre mid.
1-1
You seen Obertan recently?
Controlled the game last year with Scholes, will be very surprised if he gets given so much time on the ball this year though. Berbas due a goal now, hes gone a few games missing good chances since his hattrick, time to produce again.
Hopefully he comes on in the first minute for O'Shea.
Hopefully he comes on in the first minute for O'Shea.
Nonsense. Would Barcelona make these kind of changes if they were playing Stoke? being a game for men and all.
I still think we'll win but we'd wipe the floor with them if we just picked our strongest fecking team.
O'shea didn't do too badly against Everton in (I assume) the same position.
It was only when he went to full-back and we didn't have him sitting in front of the back 4 that we capitulated at the back.
It was only when he went to full-back and we didn't have him sitting in front of the back 4 that we capitulated at the back.
Shouldnt be picking a team play to our strengths rather than picking a team to nullify the oppositions strengths?
No disrespect to Stoke (well a bit since i dont like em) but its a bit weird seeing us do this. Maybe Fergie has the goals we keep conceding in mind?
Glad to see Berba/Chico and Nani all start though. Still would have liked some balance and a left winger. I seriously hope we dont stick chico on the left. I do hope Evra is pushed up and Oshea is actually left back.
Odd squad.
Can't see Hernandez out wide. For me is 4-4-1-1 with Fletch on the right and Berbatov just behind Chicarito..
Can't see Hernandez out wide. For me is 4-4-1-1 with Fletch on the right and Berbatov just behind Chicarito..
O'Shea ahead of Carrick in midfield is madness.
Now that's one hell of a post, agree with every word.
Maybe Neville has been outstanding in training this week.
4-0 United
Our best away league performance of the season contained O'Shea in midfield...
On current form Carrick doesn't deserve to start.
Hernandez wide left is interesting. Hope he does ok.
On current form Carrick doesn't deserve to start.
Hernandez wide left is interesting. Hope he does ok.
I've always quite liked O'Shea in midfield actually. Thought he did a good job against Everton earlier this year (no coincidence we conceded the goals once he had gone to left back). He holds his position well, passes the ball neat and tidy from that position and provides a physical presence. Think its his best position actually, just maybe he's not good enough there to justify being in a Manchester United team.
Oh yeah that old one, "we don't know how they were in training".
Playing Gaz Nev is a risk, it might pay off but it's a risk, simples.
The JOS at left back with Evra left wing is the only way to make sense of that formation.
I can't see Fergie playing O'Shea in midfield when we have a fully fit Carrick and Anderson. It would be fecking stupid.
I can't see Fergie playing O'Shea in midfield when we have a fully fit Carrick and Anderson. It would be fecking stupid.
So you know better than the greatest manager ever now? Seriously, get a grip. Fergie has always picked our biggest, most physical team possible on visits to Stoke, the net result has been two wins and none conceded.
The last paragraph is arrogant beyond belief, Britannia is a fortress for Stoke and today will have been a tough, testing game no matter what team SAF picked.
I think that's definitely a big factor in the line-up.
With Scholes, Nani and Berbatov on the pitch creating goals shouldn't be a problem and Hernandez is a decent goal-poacher, which means O'Shea doesn't need to do anything other than sit in front of the back four and give the ball to Scholes/Fletch.
I'm assuming we'll play 433.
Fergie must think carrick is filth at the moment. O'shea is midfield is a bizarre one. I hope Hernandez isn't wide because that isn't his game at all. Weirdish team that. I'd prefer o'shea at left back to deal with stokes height.
Lets face it lads. Oshea's our most solid defensive minded midfielder at this moment.
Ah yes, possibly. I doubt it but I would quite like it. My money's on a 433 myself, O'Shea anchoring and Hernandez as a wide forward.
That didn't exist when I began typing my post, honest.
Great minds, just saw your post as well
.Saying that if we come back and win 4-0 or something I will rofl
Id like to see Fletcher dropped for a few games. His passing hasnt been great recently and it almost seems like he thinks "ive got my place now". He tries but some of the fight from last season isnt quite there. I think it would do him a world of good.
Totally expecting Stoke fans to be singing about us (rooney) rather than getting behind their own team, as per the norm.
Nice to see Brown on the bench. C'mon United !!!
I know I'm in a minority but I thought they were both dire in mid-week. Anderson at least ran around a bit but neither of them could pass the ball to save their lives.
Indeed. Sadly, but it's the truth.
Who plays on the left wing for Stoke? If it's not someone with a tremendous amount of pace I wouldn't be too worried about using Gary Neville. He's received a lot of criticism over the last couple of years but it often seems as though it's regardless of how he actually plays. He did a great job on Malouda in Old Trafford last season and got criticised, for me he is still very reliable.
We going to play like them as well then?
People not wanting O'Shea in a line-up against Stoke must be clueless in my opinion. If there ever was a match to use O'Shea - it's against Stoke at Brittania.
He wants a quicker player against Etherington - my guess was Rafael - but he opts for Neville because he is better in the air and more experience. And he wants O'Shea in the team - and there is definately room in midfield where we haven't exactly looked too good.
Team makes perfekt sense to me
He wants a quicker player against Etherington - my guess was Rafael - but he opts for Neville because he is better in the air and more experience. And he wants O'Shea in the team - and there is definately room in midfield where we haven't exactly looked too good.
Team makes perfekt sense to me
It's bizarre sticking your best poacher wide left, no?
Rubbish
Neville makes United appearance number 600 today. Well done Gary.
going by our away record thus far, let's just get a win. Any sort of a win. Even if it's scrappy, let's just get the win. If we get a strangle hold then we can change things about but we have to start the game on the front foot even if it's getting stuck in
It would be more bizarre playing Berbatov wide left.
Hernandez needs game time. It should do him some good to improve his overall game. He should still get plenty of opportunities going forwards.
Stoke has one offensive strength apart from set-pieces - and that is crosses from Pennant and Etherington. With a 5 man midfield - we can limit the service they get - while having room for counters with rockets like Nani and Hernandez
Considering SAF could have played O'Shea or Rafael at RB instead I would say he doesn't think it's much of a risk at all.