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
TWITTER-ohiskaka1990
