Wayne Rooney will miss Stoke City’s visit to Old Trafford on Tuesday with an ankle injury sustained in Manchester United’s fortunate victory over West Bromwich Albion on Saturday. However, the 25-year-old striker, who scored just his third goal of the season against the Baggies, could return for next weekend’s FA Cup Third Round tie with Liverpool.
Rooney twisted his left ankle at the Hawthornes following Chris Brunt’s challenge, although the United star returned for the final few minutes of the game. However, with the player having suffered two serious ankle injures in the past nine months, it seems unlikely Sir Alex Ferguson will take any risks at Old Trafford.
Ferguson may also be without Patrice Evra, who suffered a nasty black-eye at the hands of team-mate Nemanja Vidic this week, while Nani may again miss out with an ongoing hip problem. United will also be without long-term absentees Antonio Valencia, Owen Hargreaves, Paul Scholes, and John O’Shea, while Park Ji-Sung is at the Asia Cup.
Not that United’s manager will be keen to risk too many of his stars against the robust Potters, who have gain a reputation for physicality and ugly football since returning to the Premier League.
“We know what to expect from Stoke,” Fletcher told MUFC.com.
“‘You know you’re in for a battle when you play Stoke and you have to win that battle and earn the right to play. They always have a go. They look at home in the Premier League now and they know what it’s all about.
“They can go direct if they want to but they also have some good footballers up front. You know Stoke will be physical at times because they lump free-kicks and long throw-ins into the box but we can’t neglect the other ways they can cause problems.
“Our defensive performances have been very good and we’ll do our homework and prepare for Stoke’s threat.”
That Stoke supporters spent 90 minutes at Old Trafford in May jubilantly cheering each Chelsea goal in a match taking place 200 miles south is to the club’s eternal shame.
Meanwhile, Stoke defender Robert Huth will play after sitting out the Potters victory over Everton at the weekend through suspension. Manager Tony Pullis may opt to leave out both Jon Walters and Ricardo Fuller, with Kenwyne Jones ploughing a lone furrow.
One striker who may not feature in United’s matchday squad is Federico Macheda, with Sampdoria president Riccardo Garrone claiming a loan deal has been struck for the teenager to spend the next five months in Genoa.
“Macheda has easily filled the void left by Cassano, he will definitely do well,” Garrone told reporters today.
“In these five months we will try to treat him well. With him here, the enthusiasm has increased tenfold.”
Not that United should need the former Lazio striker against Stoke having won 10 of the last 13 league meetings without the Potters scoring. Stoke managed a goal at the Britannia earlier this season, only for United’s Mexican striker Javier Hernández to win the game for the visitors.
Opposition
Stoke – 451 – Begovic; Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Higginbotham; Pennnant, Whitehead, Faye, Delap, Etherington; Jones. Subs from: Fuller, Walters, Sorensen, Gudjohnsen, Wilson, Whelan, Collins, Wilson, Tuncay, Diao.
United
United – 442 – van der Sar; Rafael da Silva, Vidic, Ferdinand, Fabio da Silva; Fletcher, Anderson, Carrick, Giggs; Berbatov, Hernández. Subs from: Kuzszazk, Amos, Evans, O’Shea, Brown, Anderson, Bébé, Gibson, Macheda, Owen, Obertan, Smalling.
Officials
Referee: Mark Clattenburg
Assistant referees: Scott Ledger & Glenn Turner
Fourth official: Neil Swarbrick
Form
United – LDWWDW
Stoke – DDLWLW
Stoke City and their fans are the footballing equivalent of Aids.
By the way, where’s Hargreaves these days? He was only supposed to be out for 5 weeks.
Comparing the second oldest football club in the world to a disease that kills over 3 million people a year. Matt Busby must be turning in his grave at what has become of Man Utd fans nowadays. “We’ll do what we want………blah blah blah”
Hang your head in shame.
Emily – Stoke aren’t even close to being the second oldest football club in the world. Perhaps the second oldest currently in the football leagues (inc PL)… but I’ll check my notes on that. Am writing book on the subject.
Certainly closer to being the oldest than United/Newton Heath etc. Stoke were formed in 1863 and there is no need to check your notes – they ARE the second oldest currently in the English Professional league pyramid as well as being founder members of the football league – I will gladly help you with you’re book if you like 😉 Stoke are certainly the oldest team to have played in the “Premier League”.
My point being lets have a little respect. Thankyou.
Emily – respect? from a Stoke fan? You’re also helping me to define irony I guess. Glad you’ve caveated your glaring error.
//Certainly closer to being the oldest than United/Newton Heath etc //
Sounds like City’s “we have the biggest floodlights” or Dipper’s “we have the loudest fans” bollocks to me.
You’re still shit.
Actually you’re not shit.
But I still hate you.
I wouldn’t be surprised if we see Wes Brown or John O’Pie playing in place of one or maybe both of the twins – a bit of height and um, weight in the mixer for those set-plays…
There is a slight inaccuaray in Eds article where he states
“After all, Stoke hasn’t emerged victorious at Old Trafford in 34 years nor, indeed, beaten United at any venue since 1984.”
Didn’t Stoke win the first leg of a league cup encounter in 1993 2-0.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoke_City_F.C.
Spike – Problem with wikipedia is that its too often a copy & paste of accepted wisdom. I can name a dozen clubs formed before Stoke – Sheffield, Crusaders, Dingley Dell, Barnes, Crystal Palace (no relation), Civil Service, War Office, Surbiton, No Names, Forrest Club, Wanderers, Hallam, Notts County.
// Problem with wikipedia is that its too often a copy & paste of accepted wisdom //
Well then Ed dearest, may I humbly suggest you correct the entry? Wiki is all about the community (us) improving accuracy.
That said I keep editing Widnes when Joey Barton lived there so nobody knew he lived in my hometown, shithole that it is 🙂
anyhoo
1:1
According to Danny Taylor at the Guardian, Nani’s on the bus but Rio isn’t
a bus to OT? i thought the players just drove?
No idea mate – but here’s his twitter message: http://twitter.com/#!/DTguardian
Didn’t Stoke hang a National Front banner in their ground
And Pulis basically defended it
…
Anyway, score early and it’ll be piss
True Ed-but its on their Banner, who gives a fuck anyhoo?
I’m expecting atleast a 3-0 scoreline with Berba scoring a brace and Hernandez grabbing the third.
Unless we happen to slacken up big time today.
Is this for sure? That Rooney will miss this game?
Heard that they will test his form today to se if hes fit.
stoke are down syndrome cunts
lolpissedmyself
as is Joke Cole
hughferris No Rio Rooney or VDS for #mufc: Kooshack. Rafa, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Nani, Fletch, Gibson, Giggs, Berbatov, Hernandez
Horrific midfield – Gibson & Fletch – but it should be enough to beat the NF
not that enthused with that team
sweet pea is best as a sub in my opinion and can’t do the same when he starts
berbs hopefully will get some decent service from gibson and fletcher today
play anything resembling saturday and it will be a long 90 mins
come on united
come on united, an early goal would be nice.
hi mad red
nowt happening thus far
just fingering each other
Hello Han, it would be nice for us to play well, and win easy tonight.
we can but dream mad red
stoke are no mugs this season
defend in numbers and channel the ball to jones
need to keep the ball on the ground rather than in the air which suits them
ken dodd is at OT
oops sorry thats harry rednapp
come on united
sweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeet pea yesssssssssssssssss
yes 1-0 , the little man does it again.
come on reds
score another before the break and take it easier in 2nd half for the scouse bin dipping team on sunday
yeah Hernandez is just a finisher and can’t do fuck all ?!
what u talking about willis(danni)?
What I expected and what I hoped for so far
First gear
well i wish they would up it a tad and score a couple more before deciding not to bother
sluggish start to 2nd half
come on united – up the pace and give stoke a workout ffs
OT morgue like not helping
fucking cunts
PLEASE EXPLAIN TO ME WHY gIBSON IS IN A uNITED SHIRT?
AND WHY HAVE THOSE CUNTS SCORED??
those cunts have scored cos united have been playing like pussies since hernandez scored in the 1st half
YES…IT’S CALLED FAFFING
FAFFING
giggs has been poor im saddened to say
but there is no urgency at all in that side
everyone is acting like berba
i’ve decided…Gibson is our new Richardson
what the fuck are these twats waiting for?
come on reds
and gibson is pretty fucking shit as per usual
caps boys are gonna win
we don’t like it up us
send owen on or do something ffs
nannnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnni
fucking push on now
put this to bed
THAT was Ronaldo-esque.
He is a genius.
need a 3rd
wheres OG when u need him?
come on united
would love berbs to score
bring amos on for gibson
bring on amos from emmerdale for that waste of space in a red shirt
Is’nt nik nak head on the bench? He’s our new Bellion.
everytime gibson touches the ball, god kills a puppy fergie you cunt
michel silvestres younger sister is on the bench, yes
but i don’t think she will be used today since gibfanny is still walking
come on united
stop fucking around with the ball
Well as soon as cuntson gets the hook, on comes nik nak!
come on berba
faffing
come on united , finish this game off.
a bollockless man has come on
do we only sign bollockless players from Spurs?
teddy excluded
tbf teddy was a self satisfied ponce
he did ok for us though.
well, ponce or no ponce, we won tonight….we were shit, but we won tonight against a very physical shit stoke side.
what a feast of football
indeed
win is a win. an easy win soon please. pool?
Nani scored a great goal! Not yet impressed with the overall play of Hernandez, although he has scored some vital goals. But Giggs and Gibson should stay home and watch the game on TV.
We did enough when we had to
All the creative, thoughtful, intelligent balls from the midfield came from Giggs. And most of them didn’t come off as you’d expect
Fuck all from Fletch & Gibson in terms of creativity. Gibson never really once went looking for the ball
I really don’t think SAF has any money from the Glazers to do any business in January. We know, SAF knows and everyone around the world watching Man Utd play every week knows the midfield is crap. So the conclusion is, NO MONEY!
We should consider playing Rooney in the midfield as he will definitely be more creative than Gibson and Carrick put together. He drops deep most of the time anyway. Hernandez is our fox in the box and should be in the team as part of a 4-4-2.
Hernandez is a poacher, a different kind of striker and a poacher is a dangerous man in front of goal. A poacher usually ends up to be the leading goalscorer in a team and if Hernandez plays and starts in more games, he could catch or pass Berbatov in the most goals department. You will see more creative play from the midfield when we play Liverpool. Somehow, the midfield gets it together when we play top teams. Its against these lower rated teams were we seem to struggle more. SAF has admitted that he is interested in winning the FA Cup, so we will see.
some people never happy. we rested what is essentially the backbone of our team (VDS, Rio, Anderson, Rooney) and still win.
the team needs replacements for giggs and scholes (although anderson seems to be starting to step up) gibson is def not good enough. essentially john oshite in midfield. thats it.
the sooner valencia gets back the better
sky “pundit” saying sweet pea didnt touch the ball for the goal…….obviously a jealous scouse or bitter blue fan
PIG should have saved the Stoke equaliser. It wasn’t even a particularly difficult stop to make. The sooner we get Lindeggaard in the better.
now i know what if feels like to commit suicide.
bindippers will not be easy – sunday will be their biggest game of the season and neanderthal gerard and ladyboy torres will be up for it no doubt
hence why SAF rested a few tonight
3 more points… Nani fit again, Rooney not missed… can’t be too bad.
result welcome but yet again flatterring to deceive
just can’t see why SAF persists in gibson because apart from his 30 yard cracks, he offers little
stoke had 1 shot on target in the game
should have given them a good shafting if the players looked interested
wasnt he about 45 when he left us
3 mins added on for what?
alan brazil wasnt too bad either
why is corner taking so poor from this side?
aye but he was a smug twat at times after
remember his love in with cole?
Well he’s gotta be better than Gibson was.
faffing cunts around again
give the ball to berba
Good subs.
Gibson was refused entry into the Spastics Society on the grounds that he was too much of shithouse 4 eared, seven armed, six left footed, 8 tongued, MEGA MONG.
hmm
gibcunt and sweet pea off
carrick and owen on
id take giggsy off and send on easter island head
Fuck Berby, “Go Go Nik Nak!”
gibcunt surely
has a certain ring to it
Gibsons biggest problem, is he doesn’t play enough simple passes, and he’s rubbish at the clever passes.
What about Ando?
Who do we have on the bench?
at least we got some money for Richardson. We would have to pay to get rid of this shithouse cunt.
we might as well have Stephen Hawing playing in the middle. Fucking Gibspakmongoflid.
Good lad Nani!!!!!
Fuck.
LINKS!!???? ANYONE?
Now… let’s open these cunts up for a fisting.
Any good links ladies?
Great goal…
That’s better.
Crowd’s woken up a bit as well.
Shit game so far.
Where’s the Cap from?
LOLOLOL
Any links fucko’s?
Good to see Nani fit… hope he has a cracker…
You’re either a Stoke fan (in which case you have no business hanging about on a United forum) or, in the alternative, you’re a United fan who spends more time at DFS than watching football.
I couldn’t give a fig that they may be one of the oldest teams in the country. The simple fact is that their fans are a bunch of simple muppets who sing about Munich and make aeroplane gestures. They consider United to be their closest rivals, such is their pathetic bitter hatred of us and they are so small-time that they celebrated every single Chelsea goal whilst watching their own team at Old Trafford on the final day of last season.
Their club is shit, their style of football is shit and their fans are shit.
In short, they ARE the footballing equivalent of AIDS and if this concept is a bit difficult for you to understand, kindly do us a favour and clear off so that no one needs to waste further energy explaining things to someone as clueless as yourself.
Oh, and it’s SIR Matt Busby to you. Stupid woman.
That’s the way to extend the hand of goodwill.
This your first visit to Rant?
Perhaps… if you approach the game defensively minded… you could make an argument for countering their height/aggression with speed and attack.