Stoke vs Manchester United Match Thread 1/1/2015 k/o 12.45 Sky.

Cantona's Collars

Head-to-head

Manchester United have won six of their last seven games against Stoke City in all competitions.
Their only defeat was a 2-1 loss at the Britannia Stadium last season.
The Potters have not keep a clean sheet against the Red Devils since a 1-0 win in a top-flight match at the Victoria Ground on 2 March 1983.

Stoke City

Victory would give Stoke three successive top-flight wins for the first time since last March.
The Potters have kept consecutive clean sheets in the Premier League for the first time since September 2013.
They had conceded in each of their previous 11 Premier League runs prior to that run.
Stoke midfielder Steven Nzonzi ran further than any other Premier League player in the first half of this season, covering 214.8 km (over 133 miles).

Manchester United

The Red Devils have won just two of their last 11 away games in the top flight (D6, L3), although they are unbeaten in their last four (W2, D2).
United have gone nine league matches without defeat since losing to Manchester City two months ago (W7, D2).
The last time United failed to score in back-to-back league games was in December 2013 against Everton and Newcastle.
They have scored seven goals from outside the penalty area this season - the joint-highest figure in the top flight (along with Everton and West Ham).

Possible Lineup:

Demosthenese

What about Stokes possible lineup?

Will I Amnt

Demosthenese wrote: »

What about Stokes possible lineup?

Why don't you put one up?

Hotblack Desiato

How many times are we going to hear that, "the first defeat of Man Utd in XXX years to club YYY was last season" :rolleyes:

Our away form needs to improve to make a CL spot secure, we need a win here.

Awful shame that we couldn't take advantage of Chelsea and City dropping points last weekend, teams behind us won, so we need to win to protect our position.

2-1 United

Edit: is there a reason Shaw can't start?

Demosthenese

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Why don't you put one up?

Cos that's the job of the poster :P ... it's just plain lazy!

The Moldy Gowl

Demosthenese wrote: »

Cos that's the job of the poster :P ... it's just plain lazy!

Didn't know there was so many stoke fans here.

They might pop in tomorrow though

Johner

1-1.

dmc17

Demosthenese wrote: »

What about Stokes possible lineup?

Here's one

Demosthenese

Gowlasauras Rex wrote: »

Didn't know there was so many stoke fans here.

They might pop in tomorrow though

So your saying the title should read "There's no fans in Ireland so lets not even bother post anything about them" v Manchester United?

... thought it was a match thread.

anyways ... I'd expect United to win this 2-1, or 3-1 ... but would also expect Stoke to give a better account for themselves than Newcastle did. Stoke have been pretty decent this season and should have taken a few more points off the better teams. Would be good to see Whelan and Walters to give a good account of themselves from an Irish perspective.

Will I Amnt

Demosthenese wrote: »

So your saying the title should read "There's no fans in Ireland so lets not even bother post anything about them" v Manchester United?

No, they're still called Stoke.
The OP is a United fan and started the thread to talk about the match, he's not obliged to research the opposition.
I don't get people who want all the bells and whistles in a match thread OP anyway, especially a bloody guess at the lineup.

Hank Scorpio

Got a bad feeling about this one. Alot depends on if Herrera and Di Maria are fit but even then I don't see either starting.

PhlegmyMoses

Demosthenese wrote: »

So your saying the title should read "There's no fans in Ireland so lets not even bother post anything about them" v Manchester United?

... thought it was a match thread.

anyways ... I'd expect United to win this 2-1, or 3-1 ... but would also expect Stoke to give a better account for themselves than Newcastle did. Stoke have been pretty decent this season and should have taken a few more points off the better teams. Would be good to see Whelan and Walters to give a good account of themselves from an Irish perspective.

Is there a specific template for match threads? It's just somewhere for us mentals to vent throughout a match, no need for something fancy. Weird complaint imo

adox

Had a bad feeling about the Spurs game but have a good feeling about this one.

Another draw so. :pac:

RayCon

A Utd win.

Cantona's Collars

Gowlasauras Rex wrote: »

Didn't know there was so many stoke fans here.

They might pop in tomorrow though

Only if United drop points.;)

Cantona's Collars

https://twitter.com/BBCRedWednesday/status/550418631482298371

K4t

Utd will wear Stoke down eventually.

2-1 Utd.

Vic Vinegar

Bojan will miss the game through injury, big miss for Stoke. he's been in good form.

Hoping to see a return to a back four now Shaw and Rafael are back.

Oranage2

United playing like a wet sock lately, wouldn't be surprised if stoke get something here.

adox

Oranage2 wrote: »

United playing like a wet sock lately, wouldn't be surprised if stoke get something here.

You obviously missed the first half of the Spurs game.

Oranage2

adox3638835 wrote:

You obviously missed the first half of the Spurs game.

I.saw it, united ran out of steam around the 46th minute, they'll probably carry that form on.

glued

Oranage2 wrote: »

I.saw it, united ran out of steam around the 46th minute, they'll probably carry that form on.

Did you see that ludicrous display last night?

NUTZZ

Kerrigooney

I hope Stoke annihilate Man Utd. Not gonna happen but it would be a lovely start to the new year.

ShaneU

Young playing down the right?

Lord TSC

Young at rwb while Raf is on the bench

Cantona's Collars

Lol,Sky ticker has 2 Phil Jones' playing.:pac:

RobbingBandit

No Di Maria

Manutd_4life

RobbingBandit wrote: »

No Di Maria

He's only just begun training.

Oranage2

Lord TSC wrote: »

Young at rwb while Raf is on the bench

Young has been one of your best performers this season

Mantis Toboggan

Don't think LVG fancies Rafael on the bench again. He's surely fit!

Hidalgo

If Utd carry on from the Spurs game regarding chances created they should score today.
With the quality they have up front its unlikely theyll have back to back games without scoring.

Stoke 1
Man Utd 2

glued

Young playing from the right hasn't worked all year. He's been super from the left but hasn't done it at rwb.

So many missed chances against spurs, can't let that happen today

Also hoping theres an actual competent referee in charge

Tom.D.BJJ

Stuck in work....any team news

MagicMarker

Oranage2 wrote: »

Young has been one of your best performers this season

Not on the right he hasn't.

Kerrigooney

M!Ck^ wrote: »

So many missed chances against spurs, can't let that happen today

Also hoping theres an actual competent referee in charge

Good luck with that...they all look incompetent this season.

They're getting worse year on year. It's ridiculous.

Will I Amnt

Was really hoping it would be a return to 4 at the back today :rolleyes:
I'd be a lot more confident if it was.

shadowcomplex

Rafael is muck and LVG knows it

adox

shadowcomplex wrote: »

Rafael is muck and LVG knows it

No.

Rayne Wooney

Inswinging crosses suit our forwards a lot better than out swinging ones, defenders will almost always win the latter

Young is much better cutting in

adox

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Was really hoping it would be a return to 4 at the back today :rolleyes:
I'd be a lot more confident if it was.

He will switch to a back four when everyone is up to speed. Both Shaw and Rafael just returning from injury.

It's frustrating but a back four will be the preferred formation when everyone's fit.

grames_bond

United: De Gea, Young, Jones, Smalling, Evans, Shaw, Carrick, Mata, Rooney, van Persie, Falcao.
Subs: Lindegaard, Blackett, Rafael, Fletcher, Herrera, Januzaj, Wilson.

Liam O

Will I Amnt wrote: »

Was really hoping it would be a return to 4 at the back today :rolleyes:
I'd be a lot more confident if it was.

Shaw and Young at least is more defensively sound than Val and Young.

Kerrigooney

Who is the ref?

adox

Rayne Wooney wrote: »

Inswinging crosses suit our forwards a lot better than out swinging ones, defenders will almost always win the latter

Young is much better cutting in

I think if Mata can find space like he did against Spurs,which I think he will as Stoke are a much more offensive team under Hughes, he will be the key and his through balls will have the likes of Shawcross struggling badly in reverse and will be hopefully the winning of the game.

NUTZZ

Kerrigooney wrote: »

Who is the ref?

Michael Oliver

RobbingBandit

Hope Herrera and Januzaj get a look in in the second half, however bad the defence may look In DDG we trust, we can win this today and then on to Yeovil at the weekend.

newballsplease

Fancy Utd for this

Professional Griefer

Last thing I need after booze is watching us play Stoke. Easy win pls

Billy86

THREE senior defenders and an actual fullback? Holy sh*t!! :eek: