Stoke City vs. Manchester United

Need Vidic fit for this, it's sort of game he lives for.
 
Kagawa deserves to play off the back of his form IMO, good call, and I don't agree with those who say he isn't suited to go against Stoke.

Huge 7ft tanks aren't the only way to beat physicality, if Kagawa can keep the ball well and shift it about a bit, he is quick enough the physical side of Stoke couldn't keep up with him...

I don't want RVP dropped either, he could do with a goal and Hernandez should get a start after playing well....

I would go for

________________DDG_______________
Rafael__Ferdinand___Smalling____Buttner
________Carrick____Cleverley_________
______Welbeck___Kagawa__Rooney_____
_________________RVP_______________
 
After seeing Stoke first hand against villa last week I honestly can say there should be 0 chance of us not getting the 3 points.
The fact that they had a total of 3 attempts on target says it all. We have way too much firepower for them even if we a re a little low.

**** Please god don't let me have jinxed us.....
 
It doesn't work lite that. Stoke and their fans will be more up for this game than the one against Villa how weird it may sound because of both Stoke and Villa are in a relegation battle.

That said, I understand what you mean. If we can't beat Stoke then I will be very nervous for the last few games.
 
This is what The Guardian thinks:

image-7_zpsc3a415b9.jpg



• United are unbeaten in eight Premier League games away from home and if they avoid defeat here it will be their best run of the season

• Stoke have not beaten United in a league encounter since Boxing Day 1984

• United have had 17 different scorers and 17 different players with assists this season, both league highs

• Antonio Valencia has won every Premier League game in which he has scored (16), no other player can match that ratio over so many games

• Stoke have scored just two goals in their past six league games and one of those came from the penalty spot
 
LR7 said:
• Antonio Valencia has won every Premier League game in which he has scored (16), no other player can match that ratio over so many games
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How random but interesting.
 
tippex said:
After seeing Stoke first hand against villa last week I honestly can say there should be 0 chance of us not getting the 3 points.
The fact that they had a total of 3 attempts on target says it all. We have way too much firepower for them even if we a re a little low.

**** Please god don't let me have jinxed us.....
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4 months & that's the best you can come up with?

If we lose this, it's your fault...:mad:
 
How great would it be if we won 8-0 and all but put Stoke City down?

We'd have done the entire league a favour, and we'd be celebrated champions round the country.
 
I'd love a good complete all round performance, like Newcastle away earlier in the season. Doesn't have to be perfection but I think a good performance would help to reassure the players and the fans restoring a bit of confidence which is important.

I expect at this stage of the season it's too much to ask though? Three points are three points even if we win ugly I suppose ...
 
I'd love a game where we go into the final 10 minutes more than just 1-0 up. However, I'd also gladly take a scrappy 1-0. Really feel that we desperately need atleast one of Vidic/Evans for this sort of game and atleast one of Nani and Kagawa to inject some creativity upfront.
 
LR7 said:
• Stoke have scored just two goals in their past six league games and one of those came from the penalty spot
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And we've conceded one shot on target in our last two away games. If we can get two of Rio, Evans and Vida on the pitch this'll be a walk in the park, but if we have to play Jones it might get a little hairy.
 
Looks like I'm going to miss this game, the first game this season I won't be seeing. I'm signed up for a visit to London Zoo, I don't know if there is any way I can get out of it either.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see the zoo, I love animals, but not when there is a match on.
 
de Gea
Rafael Ferdinand Evans Evra
Jones
Carrick Cleverley
Rooney
Hernandez van Persie
--
Lindegaard; Buttner; Anderson, Valencia, Nani, Kagawa; Welbeck​
 
Chabon said:
And we've conceded one shot on target in our last two away games. If we can get two of Rio, Evans and Vida on the pitch this'll be a walk in the park, but if we have to play Jones it might get a little hairy.
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Actually I think Jones will be perfectly fine dealing with Stoke and their long balls. He's been perfectly capable of handling himself in the air this season but yes I'd feel very comfortable with Vidic at the back.
 
Colin129 said:
Looks like I'm going to miss this game, the first game this season I won't be seeing. I'm signed up for a visit to London Zoo, I don't know if there is any way I can get out of it either.

Don't get me wrong, I'd like to see the zoo, I love animals, but not when there is a match on.
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Through a football amongst a bunch of elephants and you may well get the same effect as the match.
 
I don't get all this Hernandez has a good record against Stoke business.

He had a good record against Chelsea and didn't score.
VP had a good record against everyone until mid Feb.

VP has started all the main league games, only rested when it's been a Wigan at home or 2 games in 3 days or something.
 
Sandikan said:
I don't get all this Hernandez has a good record against Stoke business.

He had a good record against Chelsea and didn't score.
VP had a good record against everyone until mid Feb.

VP has started all the main league games, only rested when it's been a Wigan at home or 2 games in 3 days or something.
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But to be fair, only one of the saves of the season from Cech stopped him, and he did score in the first game.
 
Carl said:
Kagawa won't start away at Stoke.
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If he isn't suitable for Stoke at the Britannia, Man City at OT, or Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, for whom will we bestow that particular honour exactly?

The last time he was afforded some serious game time he did well for us, that's the bottom line here.

None of our wingers have any real form to draw upon and RVP/Rooney are stuttering along, adding to that the threadbare nature of our central midfield there appear to be plenty of openings wouldn't you say.
 
Nick 0208 Ldn said:
If he isn't suitable for Stoke at the Britannia, Man City at OT, or Chelsea at Stamford Bridge, for whom will we bestow that particular honour exactly?

The last time he was afforded some serious game time he did well for us, that's the bottom line here.

None of our wingers have any real form to draw upon and RVP/Rooney are stuttering along, adding to that the threadbare nature of our central midfield there appear to be plenty of openings wouldn't you say.
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Yes. But I still don't think he'll start away at Stoke. Valencia will start on the right. Rooney and Van Persie will start up front. That leaves left wing open and I think Fergie would go for Giggs or Nani before he would go for Kagawa in that position in this game.
 
Carl said:
Yes. But I still don't think he'll start away at Stoke. Valencia will start on the right. Rooney and Van Persie will start up front. That leaves left wing open and I think Fergie would go for Giggs or Nani before he would go for Kagawa in that position in this game.
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That is...an all too likely prediction of where Fergie's thinking may reside on the matter.

Sir Alex as we all know can be a most stubborn character so there's every chance he'll persist with tho0e of greater reputation, personally however i would acknowledge the decline in performance of some players and change personnel. *shrugs*
 
I think kagawa is perfect to start against Stoke, excellent ball controll, can wriggle out of tight areas and has good balance / low centre of gravity. You can't out lump stoke, out play them.
 
I watched a replay of the Stoke game at OT. Wing play (but not necessarily wingers!) will be important I think. RvP played a brilliant cross from the left wing to Rooney for his first, and Rooney played a great cross from the right wing for Welbecks diving header. Valencia also crossed from the right for RvPs goal. Not necessarily saying we need the exact same strategy but the wing play undid them that day and I vaguely remember them being vulnerable down the flanks in recent games too. Welbeck and Kagawa tend to drift inside rather than supplying crosses from the wings, in which case I wonder whether Valencia/Nani might get the nod?

Manchester United 4-2 Stoke City highlights
 
As I walk through the valley of the thugs and anti-football, I shall fear no evil, for RvP is with me.
 
VP's tail off has been such that In actually considered not captaining him in fantasy footy this week.
Early season it would have been madness not to captain him if he had 1 game in the week.

He usually starts though, so any reason to think he won't start both games?

Young's out for 2weeks, so Welbeck might even get the nod there.
It's just whether Hernandez might steal a start in one of these 2 games.
 
Sandikan said:
VP's tail off has been such that In actually considered not captaining him in fantasy footy this week.
Early season it would have been madness not to captain him if he had 1 game in the week.

He usually starts though, so any reason to think he won't start both games?

Young's out for 2weeks, so Welbeck might even get the nod there.
It's just whether Hernandez might steal a start in one of these 2 games.
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I sold him off right at the time he started to dip and avoided the price drop. On this merit, I say he will come back into his best very soon, if not tomorrow.
 
Ta Jacob, I'm backing our man, and VP over Caz as captain.

A slight risk, as I was at the Emirates watching Caz utterly smash Reading, and was unlucky to only get 1 goal and 1 assist.
Norwich are poor, but they have Walcott, Gervinho and Giroud totake the points off him.

Stoke are poor, VP is due a stack of chances and we have to back him to rediscover his usual level.
 
Sandikan said:
Ta Jacob, I'm backing our man, and VP over Caz as captain.

A slight risk, as I was at the Emirates watching Caz utterly smash Reading, and was unlucky to only get 1 goal and 1 assist.
Norwich are poor, but they have Walcott, Gervinho and Giroud totake the points off him.

Stoke are poor, VP is due a stack of chances and we have to back him to rediscover his usual level.
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I myself have Cazorla as the captain, but I don't have RvP in my team. Apparently, having sold him off takes a lot of weeks to restructure and accommodate his cost once again. As good as he is, I personally think he isn't worth it since you lose so much in other areas, I have had Benteke in my team for quite a while and he has given me loads of points for half the price.
 
it seems greedy, especially as VP mostly scored each game for most of the season, but he only got more 1 than goal twice in the league.

I suppose he has been coping with our wingers worst collective season in 10years.

Hopefully he'll explode again today, and we can help Stoke on their tumble down the table.
 
I am really excited for this game, hoping for a bit of impetus and bite back into the team after the last few weeks.

It can be a tough place to go and a hostile atmosphere at times, and I feel that should work in our favour as it will force the team to up their game.

Would like to see Hernandez and Kagawa start, but doubt Hernandez will, a goal for RVP would be nice too.

I'm going for a 1-3 victory.
 
We better not lose this. We rarely thrash Stoke at their place, so I expect a slim win, possibly 1-2 or 0-1.

I'm also backing RVP or Hernandez to score, because of they're history vs Stoke. It'd be great if both did though!
 
I fancy Stoke to score first. Cue mass panic on here. We'll then go on to win 1-2. Van Persie will score.
 
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