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

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De Gea

Rafael Smalling Evans Evra

Jones Fletcher

Januzaj Rooney Mata

Van Persie

 
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.

:lol:

Are you trying to counter jinx this to be a 2 - 6 thriller of end to end football, accompanied with an over head bicycle kick goal by Smalling from the half way line?
 
De Gea

Smalling - Rio - Vidic - Büttner

Cleverley - Giggs

Valencia - Welbeck - Young

Hernandez

:drool:
 
De Gea

Rafael Smalling Evans Evra

Carrick Fletcher

Mata Kagawa Rooney

Hernandez


I'd rather ease Van Persie back into the first team after such a long term injury, particularly since we're travelling to the Brute-annia. Not sure I like Moyes' confession that Van Persie dictates whether or not he's fit enough. Likewise, Januzaj against Stoke is only going to end in injury. Rooney and Mata, although not 100% fit, both just need games. Kagawa hasn't featured in the league for a while, but him coming off was the reason we started shipping possession against Sunderland. Hernandez too was clearly gassed at the end of 120 minutes, but still bought us another chance, and deserves a few games himself - plus, he has a pretty good record against these trolls. Carrick and Fletcher are (in the absence of Toni Kroos) probably our strongest CM partnership and if both are match fit, then I'd like to see them each get the minutes. Evans and Smalling are, on form, our best CB pairing. I want to see the Evans-Smalling-De Gea triumvirate continue a while longer, as it's rarely let us down this season, while Ferdinand and Vidic have both looked shaky. Full backs are an obvious choice, seeing as we'll be relying on them for width.

Shame to drop Young after his goal midweek, but against Stoke, the cross-and-hope strategy he and Valencia go for is a fool's errand. Better to keep it on the ground and beat them with our superior technique.
 
DDG
Rafael Smalling Evans Evra
Jones Carrick
Valencia Rooney Mata
RVP
 
Hope we ease RVP in to form by subbing off the worst playing AM after 60 mins with RVP and then playing Rooney in the AM role and RVP on top.

Rafael-Smalling-Evans-Evra
-----Fletcher-----Fellaini-----
Januzaj-----Mata----Kagawa
------------Rooney-----------
 
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.

If Utd get the same amount of luck Liverpool had a couple weeks ago, we'll win easy.
 
I am actually genuinely excited. The last time I was that must have been... well, probably last game, because of Mata. Most of the time I've just been sort of "it's happening and I'm going to watch it, but I don't think miracles are going to happen".
 
Carrick and Fletcher are (in the absence of Toni Kroos) probably our strongest CM partnership and if both are match fit, then I'd like to see them each get the minutes.

Agreed. And in the absence of Lionel Messi, RVP and Rooney are our strongest forwards.
 
I am actually genuinely excited. The last time I was that must have been... well, probably last game, because of Mata. Most of the time I've just been sort of "it's happening and I'm going to watch it, but I don't think miracles are going to happen".

I hear ya loud and clear
 
If Carrick is fit would would be very nice to see him and fletch, mata, rooney and januzaj ahead and RVP leading the line. Offensively Carrick will surely benefit from having much better options ahead of him and them from having someone of his range available, defensively getting the balance right would be tough but if we're gonna get the best out of those attacking players then we need to find it sooner rather than later. I think if Rooney drops in and mata/janzuaj do their bit it should fine, I reckon if we do click well, then teams would be more likely to be hesitant to commit a fullback and wide player against us in attack if it meant leaving mata/januzaj in a lot of room for a counter. That's a big part of the issue, teams haven't had to fear our counter as the wingers have been largely poor and we've not had RVP much to lead the line, the team we could play today would pose a lot more problems for them and they'll know that.

Plus if we do allow januzaj/mata to tuck in then you'd imagine that it would allow us to be better at keeping the ball as it will increase the amount of options our players will have and might allow us to better utilise a quick press which we've seen flashes of recently.
 
-----------------De Gea-----------------
Rafael------Evans------Vidic----------Pat
-------------Jones---Fletcher------------
Valencia-----------------------------Mata
-----------------Rooney------------------
------------------RVP---------------------
 
I really do hope that we see the front four that everybody wants to see, but in all probability Valencia will start over one of them and shit on everything.
 
Can't see both Rooney and RVP starting. Moyes seemed cautious about them coming back from injuries, especially RVP.
I can see Young starting, after playing well las time. And therefore lots of Moyes Out! calls as per fecking usual...
 
I really do hope that we see the front four that everybody wants to see, but in all probability Valencia will start over one of them and shit on everything.

Valencia would be the most frustrating one. I mean i generally prefer him over Young but at least with Young we could alternate what side Mata is on assuming he plays wide. With Valencia the only thing without really unbalancing the team the other winger could do is tuck in a bit from his side. With Mata and the sort of player he is you'd want him to be able to cut in on to his left which he can only really do from the middle or from the right and Valencia playing doesn't really allow that.
 
I really do hope that we see the front four that everybody wants to see, but in all probability Valencia will start over one of them and shit on everything.
Basically this, although if we're lucky he'll only come on as a sub. If he's available he plays, whether it's as a starter or a substitute. Every game since the start of November proves that.
 
I don't think we'll see the team everybody wants to see until the Fulham game. I'd rather Adnan didn't start as he needs that little bit of a rest as a youngster. Young is in decent enough form and doesn't really deserve to be dropped and his pace might help. Kagawa would be no use in this game so leave him on the bench. Hernandez up front, let RvP have another week to get ready.

-----------------De Gea-----------------
Rafael----Smalling----Vidic------Evra
-------------Jones---Fletcher------------
Mata-----------------------------Young
-----------------Rooney------------------
----------------Hernandez------------------
 
Am I the only one who is a little excited to see if Fellaini will perform better than he did before the surgery? I believe he is better than what he has shown so far in his time here.

Yup, you're the only one.

I don't want him anywhere near the team.
 
Important for us to get a solid win today. Tottenham on the back of that City mauling could be a bit shaky and Everton got hammered against Liverpool could mean if results go our way today we could pip 5th. Would change the entire dynamics of the fight for fourth.
 
Important for us to get a solid win today. Tottenham on the back of that City mauling could be a bit shaky and Everton got hammered against Liverpool could mean if results go our way today we could pip 5th. Would change the entire dynamics of the fight for fourth.

Yeah, and I think we need to start getting the GD up, atm it's an extra point for Liverpool and making up 6 will be tough enough.
 
Yeah, and I think we need to start getting the GD up, atm it's an extra point for Liverpool and making up 6 will be tough enough.

Oh god, how devastating would it be to lose out on CL football because of GD especially against the scousers? Heres hoping that Rooney, RVP and now Mata bag 4 each today.
 
Oh god, how devastating would it be to lose out on CL football because of GD especially against the scousers? Heres hoping that Rooney, RVP and now Mata bag 4 each today.

We'd probably still find some way to only win by 2 in that scenario. But yeah need them to start getting some goals.
 
I've a feeling he will go for the same team that played against Cardiff, maybe with a Rooney/RVP swap.
I can't see Giggs playing 2 on the trot but other than that it's possible.
 
Rvp
Mata rooney januzaj
Fellaini fletcher

Please.
 
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