Manchester United vs. Stoke City

jem said:
I think Welbeck has been below par (as he has been most of this season,) but I think he should stay to give him confidence. Scholes has to come off. I'd even bring Giggs on for him now. He's in one of his prickly/retarded moods, one which inevitably leads to a sending off. He's been ok on the ball, but not dangerous enough to offset the danger when he is off it. I'd get Anderson on there, and if not him, then Giggs.
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Welbeck overall play has been good, he's just had a few poor finishes.
 
Slow start as usual but we got progressively better as the game wore on. Story of the half is our two superstar strikers giving us two great finishes to put us ahead. Both goals were brilliantly timed and expertly put away. This is exactly the type of impact SAF was probably expecting when he signed RVP to pair him up with Rooney.

RVP so far has been dominating stoke upfront. It doesn't matter whether he is drifting out wide on the left to put in a deadly cross or getting onto the end of Valencia's pass to deftly finish, he has been the difference maker today. What a class signing.

A bit disappointed with our midfield as usual though. Carrick and Scholes were getting bossed by walters and adams for most of the half. We are still so static and immobile when those two are in the middle of the park, especially on the attack. Everything just slows to a crawl. It shouldn't be the case because when Scholes bombed forwards and played that one-two with RVP it was a thing of beauty. Its just a shame why it doesn't happen more often.

Speaking of Scholes, he has been suicidal today with his tackling and he needs to be taken off at the half. Could have been sent off had this game not been at Old Trafford. He is clearly frustrated about being marked out of the game so far.
 
0-0 @ HT in the WBA-City game. City are down to 10 men. Don't know who got sent off though.
 
iAm20Legend said:
Not to mention that he gave away the FK that led to their first with another rash one.
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Yeah I can understand having a post-match chuckle about it: 'that's our Paul - bit mad, but we love him, etc...'

But during the match, there is nothing remotely funny about his tackling.
 
Looks like there are a hell of a lot of people at the "I am United" party in New York.
 
This game could do with more close ups of David De Gea. I need tips on maintaining a great hairdo in pressure situations.

Has Milner been sent off yet?
 
jem said:
Yeah I can understand having a post-match chuckle about it: 'that's our Paul - bit mad, but we love him, etc...'

But during the match, there is nothing remotely funny about his tackling.
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Just been a frustrating day for him. stoke clearly have set out to man mark him and deny him the ball at all costs. He is clearly frustrated by that and has been reckless with his tackling, even by his usual standards.

Needs to be taken off tbh. We need more mobility and pace in midfield for this one. stoke are there for the taking if we actually could bother with running with a little more pace on the counter attack.
 
Scholes should come off indeed, he can't contribute much from deep when Stoke's defensive line is so deep as well. Cleverley is great with one twos and could potentially link up nicely with RvP in and around the box.
 
We were brilliant after we equalized but we're still extremely vulnerable at the back. Really need a 3rd and maybe even a 4th.
 
Awful first 25 minutes but two good goals have seen us get back on top, not overly convincing though and Scholes needs to come off before he's sent off.
 
I just hope we don't go asleep now; we really need at the very least another goal.
 
Seeing the cross for Rooneys OG again, why didn't De Gea just made a step forward to clear the ball. I guess that experience will come with age, but he was poorly rooted to his spot..
 
I wouldn't risk another 45 mins with Scholes. He's already pushed his luck too far. Next one's his 2nd yellow.

Otherwise we're still a bit vulnerable in defence. We can't keep allowing them to bypass our midfield and have us chasing back so much. Also no more free kicks in dangerous areas if we know what's good for us. The attack is starting to come together quite well though. They've all linked up superbly and now that Valencia is awake, and the left wing is looking productive we will create more chances.
 
Hopefully Cleverley, Kagawa and Young comes on in the second half.
 
We've picked a bit of a rubbish team when it comes to defending, in all honesty. We're so pedestrian in midfield. And the frustrating thing is that there's no need for it. Ando and Nani on for Scholes and Welbeck please.
 
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