It is less a question of ‘why Delilah’, as Stoke City’s adopted song goes, but what exactly the club’s fans believe is the nature of any rivalry between them and Manchester United? After all, the visiting fans in Sunday’s match at the Britannia care little about Stoke, or the 42 mile distance between the clubs. Much to Stoke’s chagrin, it is a rivalry seemingly born only in Potters’ minds.
Still, the midlands club represents a significant hurdle in United’s faltering season. Victory will ease any palpitations Red hearts now suffer after last week’s reverse against Manchester City. Defeat, unthinkable given the hosts’ dire form, brings City squarely back into the title race with half-a-dozen matches to go.
City’s victory on Monday hurt United, although it has little to do with the Blues’ bizarre claim to the Champions of Manchester tag, but for the potential to derail United’s seemingly inextricable march towards the Premier League title. With a 12 point lead, and just seven matches to go, Ferguson’s team will surely still claim the title, but there is now at least a question mark. Not least because United blew an eight point lead with a similar number of fixtures remaining last season.
Still, if the derby loss does anything it should re-focus minds at Old Trafford, with Sunday’s visit to Stoke followed rapidly by a trip to West Ham United on Wednesday – surely a decisive week in the title race.
“The incentives are there for ourselves in the sense that we’ve only got seven games left,” said Sir Alex Ferguson.
“The challenge is there for Stoke as well. I don’t think they will go down but, nonetheless, they’re in a precarious situation because, down the bottom of that league, you don’t pick up a lot of points. I think they’ll get enough to get out.
“I don’t think we should look at our position in terms of being 12 points clear. What matters is winning on Sunday and we need to do that. As we always do, we should just try to do our best. We have a job to do on Sunday and we need to do it.”
Certainly, defeat is nowhere near as catastrophic as that in last April’s derby – a truly pivotal game. But United’s current funk may say much about the Reds’ state-of-mind. Real Madrid’s controversial victory in the Champions League at Old Trafford has sucked the wind out of United’s sails. It is Ferguson’s job to turn the tide.
But if Ferguson’s ship is listing it is still some way from the sinking below the waterline, even if defeat to City may feel a little deleterious. That Ferguson has sought to play down defeat as one born in the details says much. There must be no sense of panic at Old Trafford.
“It’s always disappointing to lose a derby,” adds Ferguson.
“There was nothing in it between the two teams. Possession-wise, they were better in the first half and we were better in the second half but lost two bad goals and you can’t do that in derby games. Both teams went for it. There was only one save in the whole match between the two goalkeepers. That gives you an idea about how close the game was.
“You don’t want to lose derby games. Nonetheless, we’ve got to dust ourselves down. We know we can recover from disappointments and we’ll do it again.”
Vidić and Smalling should be available next weekend, although Jonny Evans returns against Stoke. Meanwhile, Phil Jones – outstanding against City on Monday night – should retain his place in the United line-up. Paul Scholes could return to the squad.
“We are hoping Nemanja can start training today but he’s maybe a bit short for Sunday,” Sir Alex told MUTV.
“At least Jonny should be back and that’s the good news we’ve got on that front. Chris Smalling has started training running-wise and is not far away. Phil was fantastic and that was only his fourth game at centre-back this season.”
However, the squad’s rut of poor form poses plenty of questions. That none of his wingers claim any semblance of form is a challenge, while the balance between attack and defence is one that United has not always found during the campaign.
Still, Ferguson will field a strong side at the Britannia – a ground at which United has secured three wins from four visits despite Stoke’s reputation for an intimidating atmosphere.
Meanwhile, the hosts are in dire trouble at the foot of the Premier League, with just three points separating third-from-bottom Wigan Athletic and the Potters. Indeed, five defeats in the past six matches leaves Stoke bottom of the form table, with just five points secured in 2013. Even relegation-threatened Aston Villa won comfortably at the Britannia last weekend.
Under fire manager Tony Pullis welcomes back Matthew Etherington, defender Marc Wilson and midfielder Glenn Whelan to the hosts’ squad. The trio’s fitness proffers a boost in what has been an increasingly difficult season for the midlands outfit. After six season’s in the Premier League, the club is genuinely on the precipice.
And there is little comfort for Stoke in the side’s record against United; one that reads eight losses in nine meetings. Stoke has scored just two goals against United in four Premier League meetings at the Britannia, while the Potters must look back to Boxing Day in 1984 – and a 2-1 victory – for the last win over United.
Few will count on a repeat. Least of all Sir Alex.
Match details
Stoke City v Manchester United – Premier League, Britannia Stadium – 2.05pm, 14 April 2013 March 2013
Possible teams
Stoke (4-4-2): Begovic; Whelan, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Kightly, Nzonzi, Whitehead, Etherington; Jones, Walters. Subs from: Sorensen, Wilkinson, Adam, Cameron, Shotton, Owen, Crouch, Jerome
United (4-2-3-1): de Gea; Rafael, Jones, Ferdinand, Evra; Cleverley, Carrick; Valencia, Rooney, Nani; van Persie. Subs from: Lindegaard, Büttner, Evans, Powell, Scholes, Anderson, Giggs, Kagawa, Hernández, Welbeck
Match officials
Referee: Jon Moss
Assistants: M McDonough, J Flynn
Fourth official: M Jones
Form
Stoke: LLLDLL
United: WLDWWLL
Head to Head
Last 10: Stoke 26, United 38, Draw 32
Overall: Stoke 6, United 3, Draw 1
Stats
- Michael Kightly’s second half goal did not prevent Stoke falling to a 1-3 at the hands of Aston Villa last weekend;
- If the home side is to get anything from United’s visit then Ryan Shawcross is key – the Stoke captain lies second on the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index for blocks with 38 this season;
- Glenn Whelan boasts the best tackle success rate of any Potters midfielder, completing 55.5 per cent of his 63 challenges;
- Jonathan Walters has scored a number of late winners this season, but his shot accuracy is just 45.2 per cent from 42 attempts;
- Meanwhile, Antonio Valencia admitted this week that United’s players are “worried” following defeat to City on Monday evening – the Ecuadorian winger has been much criticised for his own performances this season despite leading the squad for crosses completed (49) and dribbles (18);
- Defender Jonny Evans continues to improve – highlighted by an excellent 71.8 per cent tackle success rate from 32 challenges this season;
- By his high standards Robin van Persie has been enduring something of a dry spell in recent weeks, although with the Dutchman having a shot once every 24.8 minutes on average a goal is surely around the corner.
Prediction
0-1
I wonder how many shots on target we have registered this season compared to other clubs.
It seems to me that we don’t shoot enough and spend too much time messing about in possession. I’m happy to be proven wrong.
Sheesh,
One of my weaknesses is an addiction to excel and statistics, so I have an excel sheet with some statistics for the Premiership, among them the average shots.
United have had (keep in mind this is only in the Premiership) an average of 13.87 shots per game, City for example have had 15.87 per game, Chelsea 15.00 and Arsenal 14.78
As for shots on target, United averaged 8.26 per game, while City 9.32, Chelsea 8.84 and Arsenal 8.72.
However, United have converted 17% of their shots to goals – which is the best conversion rate in the league, while City converted 12%, Chelsea 13% and Arsenal 14%.
We also lead the way on shots-on-target converted to goals with 28%, while City converted 20%, Chelsea 22% and Arsenal 23%.
So that might explain why United score so much without exactly looking very brightly.
*Data per match taken from BBC Sport website.
No excuses… Ferguson needs to field a team to play good football, and not some stupid formation/tactic to try and out muscle them.
BTW… I expect us to win… but make ridiculously hard work of it.
I’m hoping your predicted line up is wrong. for me kagawa is such an impressive footballer and i’m gutted we’ve not seen more of him. I think his ability to retain the ball could have given us less defending to do against citeh on monday night. if we don’t start playing him then we are going to lose him. time to sell roo and trust in shinji and bring in a ball winner who can play a little. the little portuguese fella would be great moutinho.
What is the point in leaving Kagawa on the bench he needs games to adjust and nani and Valencia have been poor all season
We’re 4th in the league in SOT/game with 5.8. Spurs top with 6.4, then City (6.2) and Liverpool.
We’re also 4th in the League for possession, behind Arsenal, City and Liverpool. Spurs are 9th in the league for possession, but have the most SOT and concede the fewest shots per game.
The extra shots City take are from lower % areas than United. We shoot the same amount from the most dangerous area and are much more clinical from there.
http://differentgame.wordpress.com/2013/04/04/manchester-united-conversion-kings/
Wow that’s a brilliant blog thanks for the link!
Surely this is the gMe where we wake up from our funk and give a lesser side a hammering…..
Based on absolutely no evidence save my own hope,,,
If we win the league we will all try to make a big deal out of it– but there will, in truth be a tiny little hole there.
If we don’t win the league the hole will be like the matter-swallowing singularity at the centre of the galaxy. Especially if such a loss is followed by affirmations of “every confidence” in the manager and players.
DDG
Jones Rio Vidic Evra
Carrick
Valencia Rooney Kagawa
van Persie Hernandez
Sure that’s not the formation. Probably Kagawa at CM (MUTV say Rooney?). Makes sense given how defensive Stoke are likely to play.
Apparently:
Rooney Carrick
Valencia van Persie Kagawa
Hernandez
or Valencia RB, Jones CM and some combination of Rooney, Hernandez, van Persie and Kagawa up front.
Good team, now come on United.
The wind might put Stoke off hoofing it as much
doubt it
waheeeeeeeeeeeey 1-0
Carrick 1-0
Carrrrrrrrriiiiiick
My stream is a little late!
Lovely start! Now lets kick on!
we’ll do some mish mashing and sweat it out for the next 85 mins
Hi Han, i have been away for a while, its mateing season in the jungle, bag empty, so back home.
MANCHESTER IS MY HEAVEN- SIR MATT BUSBY
hi mad red
was wondering where u’d got to!
Hopefully that’s the start of an absolute battering. It feels like such a long time since we’ve really laid siege on someone.
Hope so, that would be so nice.
There’s the Munich chants
Valencia grow some balls and take a man on FFS!
Is this the best game Rooney has had in midfield
As I typed that he gave the ball away under no pressure like
No booking for Shawcross, the dickhead ref didn’t see it
So why didn’t that cunt ref on the sidelines who saw it tell him
These cunts are there for the taking, lets arse rape em and move on
why make it easy for us
this team just don’t do it like that
My gran could outrun Charlie Adam. Lay off the fried mars bars you chubby jock cunt
When we play passing football like this we usually shit out in the second half
why is SAF having heated words with the 4th official at h/t?
Playing Rooney in midfield definitely working.
We’ve been our usual functional selves. We were in control in that first half and didn’t look in too much trouble but, other than the early goal, we’ve not done much up front.
What will happen in the second half is that Stoke will come out and start playing. It would be nice if, for once, we kill the game off with a couple more goals.
Stoke scum were singing Munich songs and doing the plane gestures.
Probably because Shawcross brutally took Hernandez out while we were breaking.
The ref didn’t see it because he’s an arsehole, but the fourth official did because it happened right in front of him. So the fourth official should tell the ref, and the ref should book Shawcross. But that would be too easy.
cheers Sid
Come on United.
Van Persie should have gone across goal
Good chance that ffs
suffering from valencititus virus
drains your confidence
If he doesn’t score this game, van Persie will match Torres’ longest drought for Chelsea
http://epltalk.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/stoke-city-supporters.jpg
Too many long balls
It’s daft because Stoke are letting us have the centre circle
Fucking get in, that was an ace move from back to front, started by some ace defensive work from Jones
rv pppppppppppppppppppp
Get the fuck in, top penalty
RVP 2-0.
A second goal at a crucial time n all, about time that happened
Great play all around. Great take by RVP. Did you see the bloody relief oozing from everyone?
Blimey, we had a penalty and didn’t miss it?? Crazy days!
now lets give them a good pasting
Class pen that.
Does every man in stoke where a baseball cap or something? God, they are such twats.
total Inbreads.
We’ve got all our strikers playing but none of them can score. The goal comes from Carrick and Van Persie into his eleventh game and so far has not scored. No wonder there is all this rumour about Falcao. Are we now got problems up front as well as midfield? Well at this point, a win is a win regardless of who scores the goals.
Vidic, son
Taking the piss out of them now
For all the macho posturing Stoke give it, they’re quick to stop playing when they’re losing
After 60 mins, sky showed that we only had 3 shots on target.
This is why I asked, before the game, how many shots we have had compared to other teams this season.
a 3rd would just be greedy i suppose
Lets be greedy.
Good save
Great save, De Gea
He has to wait to see if it gets a touch, then react at the last second
“You’re going home to shag your sister” United fans
They should sing the duelling banjos tune at em
haha
Top banter.
Class win, we’re better away from home
Fergie nailed the team, Rooney in midfield was class, MOTM
Bottom of table looks interesting.
3 teams on 34 points. Wigan on 31 points with 2 games in hand.
Newcastle still in trouble.
The precious bounce-back we needed. Odds tilt in our favour and players startto believe they can’t and won’t bottle it.
Rafael not even on the bench today. Is he injured?
Duelling banjos
http://oi52.tinypic.com/2ajufcm.jpg
We need to play this same winning team against West Ham.
Start with the same team and changes can always be made if necessary once the game is underway.
Have to agree. Would be crazy to revert to the MF pairing we had against City.
twwwanng
He’s done it again
http://www.101greatgoals.com/wp-content/gallery/gimages/bh0hmq4ciaaygtf.jpg
Just listened to SAF, he is very happy today and especially for Van Persie. Hopefully, he will get back his scoring touch. If Tottenham fail to make the Champions league, SAF will put in a bid for Bale but he is not going to pay 70 million. I hear Real Madrid is willing to pay that amount but that remains to be seen. I would pay 40 million for Bale instead of Falcao. And another 20 million for Varane as cover for Vidic or Ferdinand and a buy also a defensive midfielder and that would be a good picking for the summer.
Sidney @ 3:57: “Fergie nailed the team, Rooney in midfield was class, MOTM”
Right, TheWayneBoy in midfield was excellent – he needs to get regular game-action there so he can make the role his own.
The only selection I’d have changed was taking out AV7 and playing DannyTheLad. As usual, TonyV added next-to-nothing to the attack – runs into blind alleys and then turns and send the ball backwards. Where has the run-to-the-bye-line and square a low hard cross gone ?
UTD’s defensive cohesion was excellent – too many long, hopeful punts upfield from Rio, however. Against Stoke – especially against Stoke – the ball should be played upfield slowly, on the floor. How many of those punts actually found a man and led to anything positive ?
Coach Herbie @ 5:01: “I would pay 40 million for Bale instead of Falcao. And another 20 million for Varane as cover for Vidic or Ferdinand and a buy also a defensive midfielder and that would be a good picking for the summer.”
Then you’d get nought – I doubt that RM would sell Varane for any price; the kid is a future super-star (hell, he plays like a superstar already !) while the “UTD price” for Bale would be at least 10 million more than RM would pay – and it seems that what they’d pay is going to be conditional of what happens with CR7 (i.e., they’ll pay more if they off-load Ronaldo for mega-buxx) but I doubt that Spurs can get more than 40 million for Bale (the same price-range as Cavani/Falcao/Suarez).
Varane is one of our targets, so says SAF. He has not had much playing time at Real Madrid and they are willing to talk to SAF. Real are saying 25 million is what they would be looking for. Varane says he is also keen on a move to United. Bale has also hinted that he could move to United also if Spurs fail to qualify, so there could be alot of bidding wars this summer. We have the money to compete. Money from the Champions league, winning the premier league and I’m sure we will sell a couple or more players. Nani says he wants to stay but has still refused to sign his new contract. Now PSG has made a healthy bid for Nani and offered to pay him a high wage, so I don’t know what he is going to do. Macheda and Anderson will be sold.
I loved Van Persie’s celebration after he scored the penalty. He has so much enthusiasm.
I didn’t and don’t see the point of starting with RvP and Chicharito up front. It’s not like they compliment one another, and, together with Kagawa, they make three players who are not very useful defending in United’s half.
HA, a real classic that.
I have just realised how greedy and spoilt we United fans are. At the start of every season my one and only choice of Silverware is the title. Nothing even comes close. Now if we add a cup to it then am fine.
It seems that we are so upset with the two cup defeats to Madrid and Chelsea that we are treating with disdain this likely league title.
We have battled two money heavyweights in City and Chelsea to win it. And winning it at a canter even. Exceptional campaign and we bought only ONE player in the summer no matter what all the ABUs in the press would like to say.
I would have loved Wayne further up in a midfield trio with instructions to tell him that he is playing midfield though. I just want him firing well.
We will do West Ham. Those beasts can’t stop us now!
The midfield pairing against City was typical Fergie gamble. He wanted Vidic fit for the Stoke match and did not want to risk him against City so Jones played and Giggs went to ridicule himself there.
Agreeing with you again
http://i3.mirror.co.uk/incoming/article1832536.ece/ALTERNATES/s615/Stoke-staying-as-classy-as-usual-1832536.jpg
I don’t think anyone’s treating the league with disdain, just that at times the quality of our football leaves much to be desired.
RobDiablo @ 6:05: “they make three players who are not very useful defending in United’s half.”
And, what – pray tell – did they need to defend against today ?
Not me for one. I am loving it and this is a succssful season
And, who, pray tell, can determine how shite an offensive force a side fighting to avoid dropping into the relegation zone will be before the match has been played? It isn’t as if United has blown away sides like Reading and Sunderland recently.
When we’re lifting the trophy you’ll all fucking cheer up and quit your bitching
Then it’ll be back to food & drink stuff like Nani & Anderson, tranfers etc.
We should all celebrate at KFC when the title is won…
Not for me… I’ve been expecting us to win the title for over a month… when we were still on for the treble… not that I expected us to win all three, and that’s the point… I was expecting us to fuck it up… we’ve become a functional side, but not a great side… we won the league by default, Chump$ki are in transition, and City have become lazy, and in need of a proper manager.
I’ve seen United change from a club of substance and character, that played with real style, and offered its fans a lot to be proud of… into something else entirely… we may have the bragging rights, but honestly, is anyone really proud of United anymore?… The way we used to be?
Supporting United used to be easy, love the football, love the club, love the players, everything United… simple… but between the parasitic ownership of the Glazers, and the selfish dictatorship of Ferguson, all we’ve got left is the football… and now, even the football has been reduced to “results above entertainment”… that’s the same philosophy of Stoke…
Not good enough…
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Alf – to be fair “results above entertainment” is probably the corporate tagline of a club sponsor
I like what you have written here and feel very much these. it’s not a matter of being greedy –it’s wanting to see United play with style and class.
I don’t know which cunt’s the biggest cunt – you or Denton.
There’s always han I suppose…
Well said. I might quibble over a few, tiny points, but, overall, I am in complete agreement with you on this.
rooney in midfield is an embarrassing no, just brings back memories of that horrendous blackburn game where wayne an rio were our midfield pair, bentley scored a hattrick and we got beat
the apart from the odd little spell here and there the good football left with ron
And Carlos Queiroz too.
I think the rot set in before Ronaldo… but with two players like Rooney and Ronaldo in the same team, you’re bound to get some exciting football… but it was the players, not the manager who were responsible for that.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
Way too much nonsense for me to start to delve in. Please feel feee to carry on…
I can see that we’ve been lacking style in recent years. But for drama, and having things our own way, this season has been great. And you have to be happy at that, surely.
Rooney was quite good vs. Stoke. Not a long term solution, probably, but he’s better than Giggs, Anderson and Cleverley there.
What does it say about United that Rooney is one of our two best strikers, one of our two best wingers, and one of our two best CMs?
That Rooney’s ace and we did the right thing giving the ugly cunt a pay rise
Just seen this stat: * Antonio Valencia did not attempt a single cross v Stoke.
Fucking hell, what actually is wrong with him? Can’t just be a confidence issue, can it? Is a south american drug cartel bribing him to be shite?
On a related issue, what is Zaha’s best position/side?
Leroy – the joy of stats. He’s also the leading crosser (by successful crosses made) at United this season. Square that circle.
Fair enough, Ed. But when the competition is this season’s Nani and Young, and he’s played nearly as many minutes as those two combined, it’s not saying an awful lot!
Not United… Ferguson… he’s been ignoring the midfield, straight across from left to right for years… when he’s had the ambition to buy a player, he’s either been wrong, and bought a lemon, like Anderson, Hargreaves, or been too cheap to spend what was required, and settled for poor second choices like Valencia and Young.
He makes excuses for doing nothing, and stubbornly persists with his poor signings…he has become the very thing that drove him to oust the likes of Ince, Stam, Beckham… “no one is bigger than the club”.
Ferguson has reached a point in his life where he himself admits, if he stopped working, he’d probably stop existing… I’m not saying he doesn’t love his job, but I think his own selfish need to “do something to keep busy”, has become more important than the job itself… Ferguson is “old school”, and he’s done amazingly well, to last as long as he has… there’s no doubt that he’s evolved as a manager over the years, and adapted to change… but there’s only so much you can teach an old dog… he’s being left behind by a new breed of young, more creative managers…
I think the perfect example of this is his ability to spot great, old fashioned defenders… but elsewhere on the pitch, his signings have been increasingly poor.
Ferguson has been nothing short of a legendary manager… but he just can’t chew the leather like he used to… he needs to admit that to himself, and then move upstairs… there’s no reason why he can’t keep busy doing other things… his stature in the game would insure there are allways people who would be interested in what he’s got to say… but he needs to hand the day to day running of the club to someone younger, and hungrier.
“Badges, to god-damned hell with badges! We have no badges. In fact, we don’t need badges. I don’t have to show you any stinking badges, you god-damned cabrón and ching’ tu madre! Come out from that shit-hole of yours. I have to speak to you.”
yeah but its only since rons gone that taggarts gone all out with the movementless 442 table football shite with endless crossing an hoofs with defensive wingers an no one from cm getting forward
Is our problem with wingers Fergie’s fault? Last season we had the strongest wide men in the league and now they must be amongst the worst. Is it just bad luck/injuries or bad management? He chased Hazard and Moura last year so maybe he saw it coming (although I guess he was just trying to replace Nani at that point).
If Nani wasn’t such a dolt and nailed some form, and Fergie didn’t fuck him about, we’d have a monster type player who could take the piss on the wing or inside. He’s the best player in our team and maybe the Prem for beating people. It’s so easy for him. That, and his pace means he can slaughter defenders, especially riff raff shite.
last season we played crossing dross for all except the first five games when valencia wasnt in the side, this aimless crossing dross earned chief aimless crosser valencia the poty
weve played crossing dross since we decided valencia was the person to replace the best player in the world
A new phrase has entered the Rant dictionary: crossing dross
The last game of the season we put 50 crosses in to the box, most of them from Valencia, and hardly any reached their target
Tbf though other players should have stepped up a bit and tried other stuff rather than pushing the ball out wide and relying on Val to hoof it in to the box
you really should try taking your tongue out of unc’s anus and think of something to do with your sad muppet like existence
crossing dross
bollockless/bollocksy
pinchbeck
lkhf
xfactor
etc
I would, but you’re just…so…gullible lol
And your obsession with anus licking is very worrying…
oh so he reneged on his bet then
I’d be more concerned about his anus-licking fantasies involving me and thee tbh…
Oh ffs
Pfft