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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 9:13:53 GMT
It's another one of those games to 'enjoy'- a bonus game. Just like in the Arsenal fixture, we won't write this off as an automatic defeat. We will fight for every ball and get in Manchester United's faces- it won't be pretty to watch but it could be effective.
Mama Sidibe returns from his ankle injury but I have a sneeky feeling that Dave Kitson might start after his impressive performance in the Carling Cup this week.
Team prediction:
Sorensen
Griffin Shawcross Ab. Faye Higginbotham
Olofinjana Am. Faye Diao Delap
Fuller Kitson
Substitutes: Simonsen, Sonko, Wilkinson, Soares, Whelan, Cresswell, Sidibe
Score prediction: A gallant defensive display sees Stoke hold out until the 62nd minute but a quickfire double from substitute Tevez breaks Stoke's hearts.
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Post by salopstick on Nov 14, 2008 9:18:40 GMT
goarrrn stoke - now im excited
lets not set out for a 1-0 defeat but have a go gallantry and see what happens
they do have the habit of losing one game at home per season to a relegation favourite and the boro have a good record there
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leescfc84
Academy Starlet
Abuuuuuuuuuuuur
Posts: 115
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Post by leescfc84 on Nov 14, 2008 9:21:23 GMT
the quick fire double bit made me sad however... i reckon we'll get a point
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Post by starkiller on Nov 14, 2008 9:47:09 GMT
Where is the official pre-match thread?
Anyway, I'm just a bit concerned that we can't just allow the opposition to have possession tomorrow and hope to shut them out around the 18 yard box.
It may have worked at Wigan but I'm not convinced it will at the shit.
We need to be, at least, trying to dispossess them earlier.
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Post by JoeinOz on Nov 14, 2008 9:53:41 GMT
I'll be relieved if we only get beat 2-0.
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 9:54:57 GMT
SK- they haven't bothered to do it in recent weeks so I've started my own PROBABLE TEAMS
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Anderson, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov.
Stoke: Sorensen, Griffin, Higginbotham, Shawcross, Ab Faye, Olofinjana, Diao, Am Faye, Delap, Sidibe, Fuller.www.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/stokecity/Stoke-City-Vital-statistics/article-474370-detail/article.htmlwww.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/stokecity/Stoke-City-Higginbotham-aims-bring-home-bacon/article-474395-detail/article.htmlwww.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/stokecity/Stoke-City-Sidibe-prays-dream-result/article-474496-detail/article.htmlwww.thisisstaffordshire.co.uk/stokecity/Stoke-City-Fergie-s-Welsh-wizard-best-lot-says-Pulis/article-474415-detail/article.html
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 10:13:07 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Nov 14, 2008 10:22:24 GMT
i dont know why but this does not look as scary as what it probably should
PROBABLE TEAMS
Man Utd: Van der Sar, Neville, O'Shea, Ferdinand, Vidic, Carrick, Anderson, Fletcher, Ronaldo, Rooney, Berbatov.
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 10:36:10 GMT
It's fine up until the last three Van der Sar- ageing Neville-well past his sell by date O'Shea-shite Ferdinand-more composed than he used to be but still has his 'hairy' moments Vidic-good defender Carrick-coming back from injury and I've never particularly rated him Anderson-just pull his hair ;D Fletcher-Scottish Ronaldo-alright I suppose Rooney-I thought he went to Inverness? Berbatov-delicate touch of the ball but won't be up for any fight
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Nov 14, 2008 10:42:39 GMT
Do you reckon they might play Rafael at right back, or will they see it as an oppurtunity to get some more minutes under g-nev's belt? Hopefully the latter, I'd much rather have neville crossing balls in for us to defend than have rafael making penetrating runs as he overlaps.
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Post by Mr Jon on Nov 14, 2008 10:45:25 GMT
Agree with Starkiller - we have to be up and at them from the start and not let them settle.
I would rather we at least have a go and lose 3-0, rather than shut up shop and lose to an inevitable 1 - 0 late goal
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Post by Beloved Monkfish on Nov 14, 2008 10:56:51 GMT
Agree with Starkiller - we have to be up and at them from the start and not let them settle. I would rather we at least have a go and lose 3-0, rather than shut up shop and lose to an inevitable 1 - 0 late goal I disagree, goal difference could be crucial come the end of the season
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Post by fortressbritannia on Nov 14, 2008 11:02:37 GMT
Van der sar- past it
Neville - past it as well Ferdinand - good but can slip up Vidic - good O'shea - hardly plays
Ronaldo - leave him to dicko ;D Carrick - kick him just come back form injury Anderson - never really haerd of him Fletcher - ???
berbatov - lazy sod Rooney - he'll get sent off after half an hour
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Post by Kelkerstokie on Nov 14, 2008 11:09:15 GMT
Van der sar- past it Neville - past it as well Ferdinand - good but can slip up Vidic - good O'shea - hardly plays Ronaldo - leave him to dicko ;D Carrick - kick him just come back form injury Anderson - never really haerd of him Fletcher - ??? berbatov - lazy sod Rooney - he'll get sent off after half an hour Easy then ;D
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Post by apb1 on Nov 14, 2008 11:27:05 GMT
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Post by Mr Jon on Nov 14, 2008 11:28:00 GMT
John Locke - that's a fair point, but we have more chance of actually getting points if we go at them, as we did v Arsenal. Extra points could then render goal difference irrelevant, hopefully!
If we sit back, as we did at Anfield and Wigan, then I fear that they will have more guile than Liverpool and put one past us.
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Post by apb1 on Nov 14, 2008 11:33:20 GMT
Two places up for grabs in the official site's should play, could play listings: www.stokecityfc.premiumtv.co.uk/page/MatchPreview/0,,10310~1453804,00.html One place up front (I want Kitson regardless of Mama passing a late test) and one in midfield, to go with Seyi, Salif and Rory. Soares, Tonge, Whelan, Pugh, Faye, Cresswell??? Matteo? ;D
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 11:42:16 GMT
You laugh but Matteo could well be the calming influence we require tomorrow. ;D
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 11:50:55 GMT
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Post by salopstick on Nov 14, 2008 12:06:20 GMT
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Post by scfc75 on Nov 14, 2008 12:11:23 GMT
Have to say when looking at their probable line up, it seems very 'top heavy' in terms of quality - going forward they look great but that defence isn't hugely impressive (i.e. when compared to Chelsea), so the possibility of a goal for us is there I think.
Daft as it sounds, an early goal for them might just spur us to come out and attack a bit more, we do seem to play better when a goal down than when we are defending a 0-0 away.
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Post by apb1 on Nov 14, 2008 12:53:43 GMT
You laugh but Matteo could well be the calming influence we require tomorrow. ;D Does he still do his jokes in the dressing room or whatever we give him a squad number for? Or is he pretty much a full-time coach and scout now?
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 12:56:24 GMT
apb- the impression I get is that effectively he won't play again for Stoke, although he is registered incase of an extreme injury crisis.
We've heard that he was scouting at Leeds the other day and apparantly he helps out a bit on the coaching field.
His actual role is a bit of a mystery though.
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Post by thepremierbanksy on Nov 14, 2008 12:59:00 GMT
It seems I hold the Ferdinand and Vidic partnership in higher esteem than the majority of you. Reckon ric & partner are going to have a pretty tough time of it tomorrow.
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 13:02:13 GMT
Personally banksy, I can't see us scoring tomorrow. Vidic especially is a very strong centre half but I don't think we will have many chances to test him and Rio.
70% of the possession will be Manchester United's.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2008 15:43:11 GMT
I'll go with 10 of your starting eleven, Knowlsey. The only way Mama won't start is if he's on cruches and/or one of legs has fallen off. Tomorrow we will need an out-ball and that out-ball is hoooooooof it long to mama. So I reckon kits from the bench at some point after 60 minutes. Other than that ... Let's just hope it isn't embarrassing and that the supporters lucky enough to be there do us proud. 3000-odd out-singing 60,000-odd will be some achievement! I'd say let's try and emulate Hull, but they have received the only penalty for the away team that will be awarded this season at Old Trafford, so we'll never emulate that! Oh - And to counter a point made above: We have only gained points this season either: a) When neither team has scored b) When we have scored first So hoping a Manure goal will spur us on isn't .... well, sensible. Is it!? Hope them that's going have fun and make sure the prawns have been properly washed before you try any ... You can get rate sick from unwashed prawns ah
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Post by georgeberrysafro on Nov 14, 2008 16:10:42 GMT
It seems I hold the Ferdinand and Vidic partnership in higher esteem than the majority of you. Reckon ric & partner are going to have a pretty tough time of it tomorrow. Nope, I quite agree. Vidic is one of the best, if not the best CB in the Prem. However, he has to have an off day sometime, OG, pen? Still, we'll see what Fuller is made of tomorrow when he comes up against him. Rio is good, just not as good, but I'd happily take and OG from both tomorrow. Even if we get a chance Van der Sar is an excellent shot stopper. Tough tough game...so I'm going 3-1 Stoke A point would be fantastic!
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Post by serpico on Nov 14, 2008 16:35:46 GMT
I think we should look at Uniteds game at Everton as a blue print for how to approach this one, particularly the 2nd half where Everton were up and at em, in their faces, closing them down quickly and not allowing them any time on the ball, if we let them play they will kill us, people say that United are tougher than Arsenal, but in that Game Vs Everton they were bullied out of the game fairly easily.
Keep it tight and play for set pieces when we go forward.
United 1-2 Stoke ;D
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Post by jaybee on Nov 14, 2008 16:46:20 GMT
Anderson - never really haerd of him Come on ......... Viv Anderson, the first Black player to play for England Surely you remember now? ???
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Post by knowles on Nov 14, 2008 17:03:02 GMT
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