EPL ~ Manchester United vs Stoke City - Jan 4
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PREMIER LEAGUE 2011
VS 
Manchester United vs Stoke City
Tuesday, 4 January 2011
Time: 4:00 am - (Live) (Wed)
Mio Channel 102 / 110
EPL Game 20
Manchester United :
Van der Sar, Brown, Rio, Rafael, Smalling, Vidic, Evans, O'Shea, Fabio, Evra, Park, Carrick, Berbatov, Nani, Scholes, Hernandez, Anderson, Giggs, Rooney, Obertan, Macheda, Owen, Bebe.
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its 5th january
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We know Stoke will give us a right royal battle! Manchester United star Darren Fletcher prepared for a tough test
Up for the battle: Darren Fletcher in action against West Bromwich on Saturday
Manchester United star Darren Fletcher admits the Reds are prepared for a tough battle against Stoke on Tuesday night.
Tony Pulis's Stoke side are likely to provide the toughest of opposition for United, who have already played three games over the festive period.
'We know what to expect from Stoke,' Fletcher told Manchester United's website.
'They’ve really consolidated themselves as a Premier League side and Tony Pulis has done a great job. 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.
“It’s going to be a difficult game. We experienced that at the Britannia and we’re expecting more of the same at Old Trafford. They always have a go. They look at home in the Premier League now and they know what it’s all about.
'They have some players who like to attack and Tony Pulis doesn’t like his side to sit back. We expect them to come and have a go at us, as most teams have done at Old Trafford this season.'
Stoke are known for their direct approach, but Fletcher insisted they could also play some good football.
Heading for victory: Hernandez scores during United's win at Stoke back in October
'Stoke have some good footballers in their side,' he said. 'Etherington and Pennant in the wide positions like to get at you and dribble. They’ve definitely got options.
'They can go direct if they want to but they also have some good footballers up front, players like Ricardo Fuller and Tuncay, who like the ball to their feet and can play some good stuff on the ground.
'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. It’s important you defend as a team and that starts with the front players.
'Our defensive performances have been very good and we’ll do our homework and prepare for Stoke’s threat. We know they’ll be a danger from set-pieces – they’re a big, strong, physical side, so we’ll have to match them and make sure we’re on our toes.'
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a good win, put pressure on the rest to catch up..
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i think man utd are really strong at home, they string the kind of passes which they rarely do while away.
Fletcher once again for me is the above average kind of player, dependable one moment and inconsistent the next. He's really not good enough for utd. Gibson was missing most times.
And giggs lasted the entire match 2nd time in a row! haha he's no more running down the wings but playmaking these days. He had great ideas the whole 90 mins last night but i just wished his passes were more accurate. Nani was really on form and when the ball's at his feet, one can be sure things will happen. Hernandez as usual the natural goal poacher's instincts again.
Smalling was excellent and steady. The next ferdinand? Kuhzcak was quiet, not really tested, he doesn't look assertive at the goalmouth too. Lacking confidence?
Chelsea are behind utd by 9 points and i would consider them as out of the title race, no matter how mathematically possible their chances are. Spurs too. Depending on results tonight, either city or arsenal would be out too.
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buddy, at home, with the crowd on their side, it is encouraging mah. mufc depends on certain stars to perform while the rest are workhorses, without much glamour like fletcher, carrick, etc.
i think MUFC's effort in blending the youth with the experienced is helping to give all a good run of games, and keeping all fresh for the last 18 games.
hopefully, MUFC can go on and do their best..
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I watched the match last night and overslept this morning. I wouldn't have watched the entire match had Whitehead scored that equaliser because I thought the points were in the bag.
Kuszczak had nothing to do really, Stoke only made 5 shots in the entire match and only 1 was on target, which is of course the goal. I thought at times he was shaky and miscommunicate with the back 4 while rushing out to claim the ball. An experienced striker like Drogba or Torres would have stole in a couple of times.
Rafael had a decent game but still lack the cutting edge in making decision: whether to press the opposition or to hold position to prevent crosses from coming in. Etherington threathened a couple of times because of his error in judgement.
Smalling really had a magnificent game. He had Jones in his pocket the entire match. Maybe he should work on his clearance, which was rushed and wayward. Thank goodness Evans was on the bench!
Skipper Vidic was at fault for Stoke's equaliser. He was sucked into Jones when Smalling had him covered.
Nani returned from injury and it's actually quite nice to see him continue producing the form before he was injured. But sometimes he was selfish when Berbatov was in a much better position to play to.
Fletcher produces yet another fine display, snapping at the heels of every Stoke's attacker. His workrate and stamina proved to be vital.
Gibson had an average game. Tries a couple of long shots and thats about it. Hardly an attacking midfielder who threads ball through. I think he would be sold and make way for Cleverley who is doing really well at Wigan at the moment.
Giggs is 37 years old? It certainly doesn't appear to be after he clocked in another full 90 minutes. He's more effective than Gibson.
Chicharito is really the new Solskjaer. In terms of his boyish looks and poacher instincts. He always impressed everytime Fergie plays him and my guess is his place in United is all but cemented for the next couple of seasons.
It's good to see Berbatov finally tracking back and help out with the defence. Did we see that from him last season? No right? But maybe he should work on short sprints like Rooney's. All he needs is a couple of yards further in front of defenders to make a shot.
It's good to see a half strength United securing all 3 points but please try not to be complacent next time. It could well be a trashing had half the 19 shots be on target.
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Originally posted by iceFatboy:
buddy, at home, with the crowd on their side, it is encouraging mah. mufc depends on certain stars to perform while the rest are workhorses, without much glamour like fletcher, carrick, etc.
i think MUFC's effort in blending the youth with the experienced is helping to give all a good run of games, and keeping all fresh for the last 18 games.
hopefully, MUFC can go on and do their best..
fletcher's standard, can he handle the likes of barca and madrid? Honestly, I don't think he can. Out of 20 clubs in the EPL, he can easily walk into the lower 15s' first eleven but he cannot cut it as top class. Imo, it's a necessity for european success.
I have seen him outmuscled from the ball on a few occasions. Yes he has a good workrate, retains good possession of the ball and has a decent distribution but he cannot cut it at the highest level.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
fletcher's standard, can he handle the likes of barca and madrid? Honestly, I don't think he can. Out of 20 clubs in the EPL, he can easily walk into the lower 15s' first eleven but he cannot cut it as top class. Imo, it's a necessity for european success.
if players like babel & kuyt can play 90 minutes against real, i think fletcher's good enough lah
he won't be looked upon or marked like rooney, and i wouldn't rely on him to win a match singlehandedly or score a crucial goal, but he certainly has his 'place' in a team of 11 (or 16, on the bench =D)
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
fletcher's standard, can he handle the likes of barca and madrid? Honestly, I don't think he can. Out of 20 clubs in the EPL, he can easily walk into the lower 15s' first eleven but he cannot cut it as top class. Imo, it's a necessity for european success.
I have seen him outmuscled from the ball on a few occasions. Yes he has a good workrate, retains good possession of the ball and has a decent distribution but he cannot cut it at the highest level.
I think United lacked the cutting edge when it comes to the middle of the pitch.
Scholes is retiring soon and Hargreaves is just going to make yet another comeback only to be out again after coming on for 5 minutes.
Carrick is sloppy and slow.
Anderson has recently rediscovered his form - temporary just for the sake of a long-term contract or he finally realises his potential? Only time will tell.
Gibson has only his long range shots to thank for his prolonged stay in the first team.
O'Shea makes a couple of appearance but seriously, that guy cant pass, cant dribble and bloody slow.
So the only player churning out performance week-in and week-out is Fletcher.
Unless rumour on Kaka is true.
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Originally posted by CKeer:
I think United lacked the cutting edge when it comes to the middle of the pitch.
Scholes is retiring soon and Hargreaves is just going to make yet another comeback only to be out again after coming on for 5 minutes.
Carrick is sloppy and slow.
Anderson has recently rediscovered his form - temporary just for the sake of a long-term contract or he finally realises his potential? Only time will tell.
Gibson has only his long range shots to thank for his prolonged stay in the first team.
O'Shea makes a couple of appearance but seriously, that guy cant pass, cant dribble and bloody slow.
So the only player churning out performance week-in and week-out is Fletcher.
Unless rumour on Kaka is true.
and you guys are leading the league. claps.
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Originally posted by Zweiz:
and you guys are leading the league. claps.
we're leading not because we're good
its because the rest are worse
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Originally posted by CKeer:
I think United lacked the cutting edge when it comes to the middle of the pitch.
Scholes is retiring soon and Hargreaves is just going to make yet another comeback only to be out again after coming on for 5 minutes.
Carrick is sloppy and slow.
Anderson has recently rediscovered his form - temporary just for the sake of a long-term contract or he finally realises his potential? Only time will tell.
Gibson has only his long range shots to thank for his prolonged stay in the first team.
O'Shea makes a couple of appearance but seriously, that guy cant pass, cant dribble and bloody slow.
So the only player churning out performance week-in and week-out is Fletcher.
Unless rumour on Kaka is true.
true, fletcher's the only midfielder who has been turning up haha. Carrick seems to have lost the plot.
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i wonder how come we are still unbeaten? lol
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And the funny thing is there's no team worthy of relegation this season, not even wolves. Teams who get relegated are those who have only won once by xmas but that's not the case with EPL at all. Wolves, bottom of the table has won 5 freaking times.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
And the funny thing is there's no team worthy of relegation this season, not even wolves. Teams who get relegated are those who have only won once by xmas but that's not the case with EPL at all. Wolves, bottom of the table has won 5 freaking times.
yeah and they just beat chelsea 1-0
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Originally posted by jonchao72:
we're leading not because we're good
its because the rest are worse
or maybe it's because the rest are improving, and instead of walking over matches you actually need to put up a fight now, which make your players seems less good
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
fletcher's standard, can he handle the likes of barca and madrid? Honestly, I don't think he can. Out of 20 clubs in the EPL, he can easily walk into the lower 15s' first eleven but he cannot cut it as top class. Imo, it's a necessity for european success.
I have seen him outmuscled from the ball on a few occasions. Yes he has a good workrate, retains good possession of the ball and has a decent distribution but he cannot cut it at the highest level.
barca...who can live with them...
but mardrid, maybe... some of them old boys from EPL mah.. :P
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Originally posted by CKeer:
I think United lacked the cutting edge when it comes to the middle of the pitch.
Scholes is retiring soon and Hargreaves is just going to make yet another comeback only to be out again after coming on for 5 minutes.
Carrick is sloppy and slow.
Anderson has recently rediscovered his form - temporary just for the sake of a long-term contract or he finally realises his potential? Only time will tell.
Gibson has only his long range shots to thank for his prolonged stay in the first team.
O'Shea makes a couple of appearance but seriously, that guy cant pass, cant dribble and bloody slow.
So the only player churning out performance week-in and week-out is Fletcher.
Unless rumour on Kaka is true.
the funny thing about MUFC this season is the slotting in/out or the cut/chop of players, that i believe is giving a nightmare to opposing managers.
Individually, MUFC's midfield can't match the barcas, but collectively, they are doing their job. i don't deny, replacements are needed, but @ the moment, I feel the players know what they are doing, what their team-mates are doing, bonds are strong. So the team dynamics is quite good @ the moment.
rem, we used to have CR7, and we played eye-catching counter football, but somehow, the team dynamics is not their strongest. maybe now, with the goals shared, everyone getting some limelight. it is good too.. right?
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i agree on the teamwork thing....remember keano and scholes back in 1999. They weren't exactly the best midfielders around if you compare with the likes of rivaldo and deschamps.
But fletcher.....hehe. Ok la, wait till utd fights a big team then see how he performs.
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Originally posted by Rock^Star:
i agree on the teamwork thing....remember keano and scholes back in 1999. They weren't exactly the best midfielders around if you compare with the likes of rivaldo and deschamps.
But fletcher.....hehe. Ok la, wait till utd fights a big team then see how he performs.
he will stand up and ROAR!!!! hahaha.. my fingers' all crossed.
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lol! hope so!
