Friday, 25 October 2013

MANCHESTER UNITED-STOKE CITY PREVIEW.....No more slip-ups for the defending champions, else they forget about the EPL title.

                                                      


MANCHESTER UNITED-STOKE CITY PREVIEW….No margin for error(s) anymore for the defending champions

Fresh from grinding out a 1-0 victory over Basque opponents, Real Sociedad in midweek, Manchester United face a third successive home game in all competitions later this afternoon against a Stoke side short of ideas especially in front of goal. Managed by a United Legend, the Potters have not had the best of times in the League so far, only earning a draw because Stephane Sessegnon left his brain at the midlands and Howard Webb was either lenient or plain stupid not to give a penalty for the obvious infringement on Mulumbu at the Britannia

In the build up to this game, the Sir Alex Ferguson book with startling revelations about former and current players, has dominated the headlines. However, it will have very little to do with how things turn out after 90 minutes. Mark Hughes has also said that since the great man’s retirement, the red army has looked very vulnerable and his Stoke side are prepared to capitalise on any slip-ups like Southampton and West Brom before them, did in the last three weeks. It hasn’t been the best of times for David Moyes. His substitutions have been disappointing too.

United seek an 11th consecutive home win over Stoke and will have the record books firmly in their favour. The last time the potters won at Old Trafford was 37 years ago. That will affect them somehow, but if they borrow a leaf from their last opponents (West Brom), things might be very different. The baggies ended a 30-something year wait for victory at OT a few weeks and they did it in spectacular style…aided by the amateurish defending of Rio Ferdinand who has unsurprisingly been excluded from recent lineups. They say he’s injured. Yeah right.

Inigo Martinez was the reason why we beat La Real on Wednesday. Despite vast improvements in the performance, the 3 time European Champions could not find a way past Bravo. Chances were wasted and it could have been a different story if Carlos Vela and co didn’t leave their scoring books in faraway Spain. Wayne Rooney and Shinji Kagawa were excellent and Ryan Giggs played like he was a hungry teenager looking for a starting spot in a team of seasoned professionals. With the way the Welsh legend played on Wednesday, no one would have realised that he turns 40 in a little more than a month.

PROBABLE LINEUPS-

MANCHESTER UNITED-
DDG, Rafa, Jones, Evans, Evra, Carrick, Fellaini, Januzaj, Kagawa/Nani, Rooney, RVP

In the continued absence of first choice defensive partnership (Rio and Vidic), Phil Jones and Northern Irishman, Jonny Evans will play their third consecutive game together in central defence. They have conceded just one goal in two games and should be comfortable this afternoon, barring any monumental collapse. The return of RvP should boost the entire squad. The Dutch all time highest goal scorer missed the Champions League game in midweek, but is set to partner United’s most in-form player, Wayne Rooney, in attack. Welbeck and Cleverley may also sit out this one as they are struggling with injuries and form. The Japanese Samurai should retain his place in the starting eleven after an inspired performance last time and Belgian teenage sensation, Adnan, has a role to play.

STOKE-
Begovic, Cameron, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Walters, Adams, Nzonzi, Aissadi, Ireland, Crouch

Asmir Begovic is one of the top goalkeepers in the League. The Bosnian helped his national side secure automatic qualification to their first ever World Cup two weeks ago and has seen his reputation rise to new heights since he made his League bow. Touted to become one of the all-time goalkeeping greats, he can make life difficult for the famed United R&R front line. Ryan Shawcross was at United sometime ago and has been linked to them in the past because of his good showings. Alongside Robert Huth, they have been one of the better defensive pairings in the League for some years now. Peter Crouch knows all about United and Jon Walters still carries the hopes of the team. He shouldn’t be allowed to take penalties anymore though.

Ohireime P Eboreime

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