de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Jones Evra
Nani Carrick Cleverley Welbeck
Kagawa
Rooney
Rafael Ferdinand Jones Evra
Nani Carrick Cleverley Welbeck
Kagawa
Rooney
Stoke City vs. Manchester United
- Thread starter nemanja15
- Start date
-
In the latest episode of the United Hour Podcast, Nik (@Rood) is joined by CEO Duncan Drasdo and Financial Director Andy Green from the Manchester United Supporters Trust for a special episode on all things behind the scenes at Old Trafford including a brief history of MUST and their aims today, views on INEOS and Sir Jim Ratcliffe so far, and the Old Trafford regeneration.
If we win this game, we'll win the league. If we lose... then feck 
9 points with Chelsea and Arsenal still to play? I'd be fecking nervous.
I don't relish the thought of dropping RvP, but I do agree with starting Hernandez for this one. Figure out a way to start cleverly, Rooney and kagawa and we'll get the goals.
Hopefully, Vidic will be back. Clean sheets follow him wherever he goes.
We will win this 3-0 and RvP will score 2 goals
Hernandez
Kagawa-------Rooney--------Nani
Cleverley-------Carrick
Evra-------Vidic-------Evans-------Rafael
De Gea
Kagawa-------Rooney--------Nani
Cleverley-------Carrick
Evra-------Vidic-------Evans-------Rafael
De Gea
We really need to win this game so City doesn't get another moral boost. Atm their players probably believe they have a chance to repeat last season and might really go on a run, if we win the next two games we can hopefully put their moral push to a quick rest again.
Teamsheet will tell you all. I fear scholes will start.
This really works for me. It has the potential to ring up a scary score on poor old Stoke.
Attack them FFS.
I don't know if this is the sort of game that will suit Kagawa.
----------De Gea
Jones--Vidic--Rio---Evra
----Carrick--Cleverley
Nani--------------Rooney
----Hernandez--RVP
----------De Gea
Jones--Vidic--Rio---Evra
----Carrick--Cleverley
Nani--------------Rooney
----Hernandez--RVP
Well, alot on here were saying they wouldn't mind if we dropped points against Sunderland to focus on the FA Cup the other week. The gap would already be 9 points if that happened.
I won't stop being nervous until we've won 3 games, hopefully as quickly as possible. Very hopefully the next 3 games!
No screwing around with this one. Not the game for either Hernandez or Kagawa, and no more pissing about trying to shoehorn Welbeck onto a wing.
Rooney & VP up front.
And then the usual rule for playing Stoke, make sure you pack the team with tall and physical players.
definitely a game for Vidic, Smalling and Jones to start.
Rooney & VP up front.
And then the usual rule for playing Stoke, make sure you pack the team with tall and physical players.
definitely a game for Vidic, Smalling and Jones to start.
Why persist in playing an out of form and tired RVP?
Neither have featured much in the last couple of matches and we've been pretty bad.
I can understand no Kagawa, but Hernandez? He always scores against Stoke - must be his second favourite team after Chelsea.
-------------------------de gea--------------------
smalling---------rio-----------------vidic------evra
valencia-------carrick-----------jones--------rooney
---------------hernandez-------van persie---------
need height defending their set pieces so rafael has to be sacrifice for smalling. jones, rvp and carrick can help out as well.
just realize hernandez got few goals against stoke so would start him upfront, plus he is the fresh. rvp looks tired and jaded but no way going to rest him. so does rooney.
need to win these next 2 away games or we will be in big danger once again. i know we always make things hard for ourselves but let's finish this up as early as possible lads!
smalling---------rio-----------------vidic------evra
valencia-------carrick-----------jones--------rooney
---------------hernandez-------van persie---------
need height defending their set pieces so rafael has to be sacrifice for smalling. jones, rvp and carrick can help out as well.
just realize hernandez got few goals against stoke so would start him upfront, plus he is the fresh. rvp looks tired and jaded but no way going to rest him. so does rooney.
need to win these next 2 away games or we will be in big danger once again. i know we always make things hard for ourselves but let's finish this up as early as possible lads!
Start Hernandez, please.
RvP, brilliant as he is, needs a break. And if we need to bring him on in the 65th minute, that's one fantastic sub to bring on.
RvP, brilliant as he is, needs a break. And if we need to bring him on in the 65th minute, that's one fantastic sub to bring on.
After the last few games i don't think this is so much about physical presence on the pitch as hunger and players in form.
Kagawa, Hernandez, Cleverley, i'd start all three of them if the choice were mine.
Psychologically Stoke aren't in the best of places right now you'd think, let's not send out an XI that's been as flat as a pancake for some weeks now.
Kagawa, Hernandez, Cleverley, i'd start all three of them if the choice were mine.
Psychologically Stoke aren't in the best of places right now you'd think, let's not send out an XI that's been as flat as a pancake for some weeks now.
Hernandez has a good scoring record v Stoke so I imagine he will start. Rooney coming off early will be fresh enough and I hope Nani/Valencia make the starting 11.
We do tend to battle hard v Stoke but come away with a draw/close win so I would go for a 1 goal united win.
We do tend to battle hard v Stoke but come away with a draw/close win so I would go for a 1 goal united win.
were gonna shit on em from a great height and shut them blue nose twats up until next year.
By the time our game starts Villa may have secured another three points [vs Fulham at home] and Sunderland on their way to doing so, defeat to us would put Stoke up to their necks in you know what.
For all that i don't think Pulis has been in the least prepared for this relegation battle, his post-match interview at the weekend was didn't strike me as encouraging were i a supporter at the Britannia.
For all that i don't think Pulis has been in the least prepared for this relegation battle, his post-match interview at the weekend was didn't strike me as encouraging were i a supporter at the Britannia.
Despite Stoke's lack of wins, their home form isn't that bad, and whilst they're not winning many, they are still losing few at home. I wouldn't be surprised at a draw, but I hope we kick them in half. Clean sheet, loads of goals, not even giving them a sniff.
Despite the fact that Hernandez has a good record against Stoke?
Hernandez is the perfect man to get behind sluggish lumps like Shawcross and Huth. You don't always need to combat physicality with physicality. Quick nippy players with acceleration and the ability the roll off the defender will cause the bigger, less mobile players some problems. You just play to your strengths. They are big boys, so keep the ball on the ground. Even if you do loft in a few crosses, it's not always the big man who gets to it. It's all about positioning. Who is better at finding a pocket of space in the box to attack than Hernandez? Not to mention that Hernandez possesses a Michael Jordan-esque leap anyway, and can challenge many in the air. Afterall, he scored a header against big, bad Stoke with the back of his barnet. Get him on the pitch!
We should absolutely play our small, agile attacking players. We should out play Stoke comfortably.
So long as we have enough height in the team to defend set pieces there is no reason to opt for more physical attackers if the small, agile players are more deserving of selection.
I want to see Cleverley and Kagawa play, definitely. Hernandez also probably merits a start.
So long as we have enough height in the team to defend set pieces there is no reason to opt for more physical attackers if the small, agile players are more deserving of selection.
I want to see Cleverley and Kagawa play, definitely. Hernandez also probably merits a start.
Takes more than three tall players if you're concerned about defending set-pieces. Van Persie's been brilliant at defending set-pieces all season. I'd say he's nailed on to start.
Not only all that, which is absolutely true, but RvP simply is out of form. Not just one game, but something like 6-7 of games now. He will break his funk, but how long do you keep a player like Hernandez on ice while your #1 striker is just not getting it done.
Benching Welbeck, who's scored only one goal in the English prem this season, is sensible. But benching a striker who's been scoring in buckets?
Hernandez could only start if we drop one of Rooney and Van Persie. Welbeck is irrelevant to this debate.
Pogue's right, we need Van Persie's defensive ability in set pieces irrespective of his goalscoring form. So if you want Hernandez to start, it has to be ahead of Rooney.
Pogue's right, we need Van Persie's defensive ability in set pieces irrespective of his goalscoring form. So if you want Hernandez to start, it has to be ahead of Rooney.
Wait, people are actually suggesting we don't play RvP?
I'm sure there's a gif for this, if they were allowed here.
I'm sure there's a gif for this, if they were allowed here.
I think it is. The way I see it, Kagawa is especially useful in three types of games:
1. Games where we play quick, offensive, entertaining and counter-attacking football, ala Dortmund. This is really rare, but it happens.
2. Even games where the ball is all over the pitch. Attack - defend - attack -defend - attack - defend etc. Chelsea and Real are typical opponents who make us play like this.
3. Possesion-based games. Basically games against weaker teams where we dominate possesion..
I feel that Stoke falls under the third category. Kagawa's ball controll, passing and vision will be extremely helpful, seeing as we're probably going to be on Stoke's half most of the time.
Kagawa mainly suffers when we fall back and start to shit ourselves. Lack of passing options and players running forward basically kills all of Kagawa's best abilities. If we dominate possesion and/or are very eager to go forward, then his abilities are gold.
Why not?
He hasn't scored in 10 games. He is obviously off form and a rest could do him good
Does anyone else feel he might drop Rooney and go with RVP and Hernandez?
I don't like all the talk about RvP's recent month. Don't remember what channel it was but after the city game they even asked the question if his form the last few weeks means he's not been a great signing after all.
People so easy forget how much he did from august - early feb.
People so easy forget how much he did from august - early feb.
Beating Stoke would be nice. Two clubs both in fairly poor form in all comps (Stoke evidently worse I know).
Sending them closer to the drop zone after their early season defensive record will be pleasurable. Probably the only team I'd ever genuinely want to go down...despite the fact that the long throw tactic has gone.
Sending them closer to the drop zone after their early season defensive record will be pleasurable. Probably the only team I'd ever genuinely want to go down...despite the fact that the long throw tactic has gone.
Considering the rather toothless nature of our attack as of late should we really be determining the selection of our forwards based on their defensive qualities?
He might work but I could just as easily see the game being too physical for him and therefore he might be drowned out and isolated. I won't be upset if he starts I just have a feeling SAF will want to go for players who are a bit more physical and able to stand up to Stokes tactics.
sure we will see Hernandez. Probably with Rooney. RVP and Welbeck against West Ham.
Exactly. I don't want to underestimate Stoke and end up with egg on my face, but they're hardly so prolific that we need to take an overly defensive approach, even from the front?
Last time we played them Kightly streamed through our midfield like it wasn't there but I don't remember any ridiculous aerial bombardment, and they were in better form then. I think we should prioritise playing our forwards who are currently in the best goal scoring form since we've not been as free scoring lately.
Wingers are the concern for me. They're rarely impacting games but I think I remember a few pundits saying Stoke are vulnerable down the flanks.
As an aside I remember at the turn of the year Tony Pulis mentioned Stoke targeting Europe. Since then they've won 1 game and lost 9 out of 12. Talk about jinx.
--------DDG
Rafa Vida Evans Evra
--Carrick Cleverley
Welbeck--------Kagawa
-----RVP Chicharito
Rafa Vida Evans Evra
--Carrick Cleverley
Welbeck--------Kagawa
-----RVP Chicharito