Sir Alex Ferguson has backed his squad to recover from FA Cup defeat at Anfield just three days ago, with the Scot’s Manchester United side facing Stoke City at Old Trafford on Tuesday night. The fixture offers Ferguson’s side a rapid opportunity to put the loss in Liverpool to one side and continue the pursuit of Manchester City at the top of the Premier League. Yet, with 11 players likely to be on the sidelines for Tuesday’s fixture, Ferguson’s side must recover the hard way against a typically committed Stoke outfit.
United’s record against Stoke at Old Trafford – eight wins in a row dating back to 1981 – suggests a routine three points. But with Ferguson’s players once again bruised by crushing defeat at the weekend, the Scot will do well to raise his troop’s spirits. Indeed, it is a season in which ‘recovery’ has been discussed far too often for some supporters’ liking: after heavy defeat to Manchester City in the league, when United crashed out of Europe, and now FA Cup disappointment.
Yet, Stoke, says Ferguson are unlikely to give United an easy ride at Old Trafford despite the poor record over the past 30 years in the Reds’ back yard.
“You know what Tony Pulis’ teams are like, they’re always the same with one hundred per cent commitment,” Ferguson told ManUtd.com.
“They all get stuck in and you have to cope with that. I quite enjoy that. When we used to play Wimbledon, at the beginning when they first came into our division, nobody enjoyed playing against them. But then I started and my team started to enjoy it because it was a challenge, a physical challenge in the way they played and a physical challenge in terms of trying to take control of the possessions and play your football.
“Stoke are a different team altogether from Wimbledon, obviously, but they still have the same quality of never giving in; they keep going, so it’s a good challenge for us.”
Ferguson is again without half a squad’s worth of injured players. Long-term injury victims Tom Cleverley, Michael Owen, Darren Fletcher, Fábio da Silva and Nemanja Vidic are definitely out. Meanwhile, United will also be missing Ashley Young, Nani, and Rio Ferdinand, while Wayne Rooney and Phil Jones are unlikely to be risked.
Uncertainty also surrounds Ferguson’s choice of goalkeeper. While the much criticised David de Gea phoned in sick this week, Anders Lindegaard left training in a protective boot on Monday. The crisis may mean a recall to the squad for the long forgotten Pole Tomasz Kuszazck, who had been widely expected to leave the club this transfer window. Reserve Ben Amos could start.
Despite the ongoing injury crisis Ferguson maintained an upbeat mood this week, backing his players – especially the club’s much maligned midfield – to drive United towards a 20th domestic title come May. Indeed, in Tom Cleverley significant strategic hope is being placed, with United having failed to sign a midfielder of note for the past four seasons.
“Cleverley is doing a lot of running. He’s nowhere near the first team at the moment but he’s doing a lot of running,” confirmed Ferguson of the midfielder who has played just 58 minutes football since 10 September.
“Michael Carrick’s form has been unbelievable – he’s been playing fantastic – and we’ll also have Giggs, Scholes, Cleverley and Anderson, so that’s a great group of midfield players that will definitely help us. He’ll be a terrific boost. It will be great to get the boy back because I think he’s special.
“I expect (Young) to start training in the middle of the week, so he’s on his way back. Cleverley is two weeks behind that. Anderson will be ready this week, too. He’ll start training with us on Monday or Tuesday and then it gives me a collection of midfield players that should cope with anything that happens in the run-in.”
Meanwhile, Stoke arrive in decent form, some 12 points beyond the relegation zone, safety already assured for another season. But Pullis may be without winger Matthew Etherington who has a groin injury. Cameron Jerome could make his first start of the year after scoring last week.
Yet, for all Stoke’s progress the focus is squarely on whether United can remain in touch at the top of the Premier League. With Manchester City away at Everton there is a realistic chance that Ferguson’s men will gained ground on the Blues. But to do that, United must overcome both mass injury and the obvious disappointment of the past week.
“Every player at this club knows what’s expected. When you’re at Manchester United you know defeats like that aren’t acceptable. We don’t need anybody else to tell us that. We know it deep down,” adds defender Jonny Evans.
“We’ve played really well against Stoke in the last few games, both at home and away. I think we’ve dealt particularly well with their long throw-ins. There isn’t much of a run-up at Old Trafford on the side of the pitch, which will probably help us. We’ve beaten them comfortably over the last few seasons but they’re improving all the time and nobody ever looks forward to playing against Stoke.
“They have a different approach to the way most teams play. People have this preconception of them and think that because they’re a big side they’re a dirty side. But that’s not the case at all. I think they’re hard but fair and Tony Pulis goes out of his way to make sure they don’t cross that line.”
And that may well be a relief to the few remaining United players not yet injured! Yet, there is no doubt the fixture is pivotal to United’s hopes of silverware this season. Indeed, it is the first time in the Premier League era that United has been out of the Champions League and FA Cup by this stage of the season. Anything less than a comfortable win tonight is unthinkable.
Match Facts
Manchester United versus Stoke City, Premier League, Old Trafford, Tuesday 31 January 2012, 8pm.
Potential Line-ups
United (4-4-1-1): Amos; Rafael, Smalling, Evans, Evra; Valencia, Scholes, Carrick, Park; Hernández, Welbeck. Subs from: Kuszazck, Fryers, Cole, Giggs, Lingard, Pogba, Keane, Berbatov.
Stoke (4-5-1): Sorensen; Wilkinson, Huth, Shawcross, Wilson; Pennant, Palacios , Whitehead, Delap, Walters; Crouch. Subs from: Begovic, Wilkinson, Whelan, Jones, Fuller, Etherington, Jerome.
Performance Stats
- United kept pace with league leaders City with a 2-1 victory over Arsenal in the last Premier League game at the Emirates;
- Michael Carrick covered the most ground for United in that game with 6.06 miles, while Antonio Valencia and Danny Welbeck scored for the Reds;
- Valencia’s goal was just his second of the season, but the winger has also contributed an impressive eight assists;
- Valencia has the joint second highest number of assists and the fourth best minutes per assist in the EA SPORTS Player Performance Index, with one every 139 minutes;
- Ryan Giggs has the best minutes per assist rate in the league, with an assist every 117 minutes (seven in total);
- Welbeck’s goal was his sixth of the season in the Premier League from 34 attempts. He has achieved 74 per cent of shots on target, the third best percentage on target (among players who have had more than twenty efforts at goal);
- Nani has now delivered over 100 crosses for United (105), topping the Index, 28 crosses ahead of second place Sebastian Larsson;
- Meanwhile, Stoke’s last Premier League outing was a 2-1 defeat at the hands of West Bromwich Albion;
- Peter Crouch covered the most ground for Stoke in that game with 5.8 miles;
- Cameron Jerome scored Stoke’s goal in that game – just his second Premier League strike of the campaign.
Form
United: LLWWWL
Stoke: DWWDLW
Officials
Referee: Mike Jones (Chester)
Assistants: P Kirkup, A Garratt
Fourth Official: C Foy
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I wonder if De Gea will start. We can’t afford any more fuck-ups.
according to the paper he will lingard has a knock, will have to see. AMOS?
looking at that front four berbashite should probably start
you started taking the happy pills haven’t you unc?
berbs will not start a game this season even against shite like stoke
he must have run over SAF’s dog pre season for his arse to stay on the bench so often this term
SAF will bring him on in the 86th minute, you wait and see
oops
berbs in the starting 11 along with rio
Amos
Smalling
Ferdinand
Evans
Evra
Valencia
Carrick
Scholes
Park
Berbatov
Hernandez
SUBS: Kuszczak, Rafael, Fabio, Giggs, Pogba, W Keane, Welbeck
De Gea either fucked, a bottlejob, or is being punished
I hope Pogba comes on for Scholes after 60 minutes. Unlikely though, unless we’re 3-0 up
stoke will hoof it up to jones and crouch and work on their corners
amos is going to need protecting from those twats
Hi HAN, could be a long night.
hi mad red
hows tricks?
de gea is ill? then why isn’t he at home instead of sitting in the freezing cold at OT?
smells fishy me thinks
still trying to get over saturday, but 3 points will help .
Scholes wins the ball with a clean tackle
Anything is possible
started slowly again ffs
Any working soapcast?
Scholes is ace
Sopcast… 125505
Working well
aye he is but a sad fact that we have to rely on a 67 year old
Shut the fuck up Tony Pulis ruining my stream with your gobbing off FFS
Thanks mate!
stoke taking the game to us thus far
we don’t look very interested at the moment
part one sign teenage keeper for megaprice and throw in at the deep end when not ready, part two destroy his confidence at the first signs of difficulty, part three slowly and delibrately publically humiliate, part four sell at a substantial loss, part five watch as he becomes top draw spanish number one, part six sign given on free transfer
preferred it when you were a miserable bastard
bender
oooooooooo Scholsey…
shite hart laners 2-0 up already
They’re a cunt to break down
It’s going to have to come from a belter or a class move
swansea 1-0
someone kick their arses
Lots of scouse bashing from United fans
Another rendition of murderers
sweet pea is playing poorly
swap him for welbeck at h/t
Swansea up 1-0…
Pulis, fucking hell, he’s telling each player what to do
Let them get on with it FFS
ah carrick you fanny
That’s what Berbatov is brilliant at.
I’ve got a commentator with a fucking speech impediment!! FFS
pen.
Clear pen
pen…yessssssssssss
sweeeeeeeeeeeeet peaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
sweet pea.
Scholes senses the run, plays a nice ball n all
Nice one. Clever pass by Scholesy, clever movement by Park.
Well taken.
That’s fucks Stoke’s plans!
Theres a bloke handcuffed to the goal at Goodison Park.
The fuck???
saha doesnt want to move to spurs
Fuckin hell Scholesy…
Let’s put the Pog on in the second half.
that goal was all hernandez, the pass by scholes, the run from park, the decision from the ref, the goal, all proof that hernandez is better than welbeck
… that was sarcasm right?
Because Hernandez has done nothing in this game. his half sums him up… great finisher, average all round play.
Berba has been good though.
At work so not watching. People just keep the updates coming.
Oh, ignore Knobby. He is just being silly as usual.
Knobby, behave yourself please!!
carroll scores at wolves for the KKK
now you really have set unc’s arse on fire with that comment on berbs
2-0 to the racists
Bellamy
I will soon be patronised and called a welbeck fanboy extraordinnaire for defending welbeck by individuals who defend hernandez no less vehemently yet with increasingly less credibility judging by what we’re seeing this season
zzzzzzzz
zzzzz
zzzzzzz
zzzzz
Morrison’s transfer is official btw.
Nice work Tony V.
pen….berbssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss
great pen from Berba.
LEGEND.
First gear this
Stoke are shite away from home
They only give it the big un at home
lets improve the goal difference now
That’s 7 goals in 5 league starts for Berba. just sayin’…
We might see the Pog now we’re comfortable
whisper it man
very quietly
Berba, what a battler.
Uh oh, Stoke have suddenly had the bright idea of testing our shite defence, this could turn things around for them…
Much easier to be adventurous when the game is already lost
gibson scores for the toffees
ffs lol
what’s wrong with rooney then
Gibsssooooooooooonnnnnnn
The G-bomb!!!!
hehe fat irish gibastard
There’s only one Darron Gibson, haha
Mr and Mrs Charlton enjoyed that
What a dumb fuck…
Oh well… if he’s that stupid… good riddance.
We love you Everton
That’s going too far
Sprained his hair.
That was a pen
Ref bottled it
POGBA
THE MAN, THE HYPE
Cole sent off
THERE’S ONLY ONEEEEEEE DARRON GIBSON!!!!!!!
Jaysus Park’s footballing quality really showed there with that “shot”.
Pog’s shown a bit of quality actually. Two decent crosses put in.
Swarming…
Goal coming…
stoke have played 100 games already this season since they started in may
should really be ramming the goals in against them
Pog looks less Crouch like then the last time I saw him
He looks quite agile, quick off the mark and a decent turn for a lanky streak o’ nowt
Top ball from Scholes
Got it to hold up when it hit the turf
Can cross a ball Pogba!
fucking hell, Berba
OK, c’mon Everton hold on.
quality play by valencia
getting better by the game
shame we couldn’t improve the goal difference against shit stoke
but never looked to get out of 2nd gear
Job done
I like Pogba
Amos did well n all
Fuck off Berbs… Valencias play deserved a goal.
well done United.
yes everton won.
FT, Everton 1-0 City
Pogba’s looked very good.. impressive performance from the team. Should have been more. But can’t complain, Stoke never got a look in.
EX REDS DO IT AGAIN! Fergie masterplan…. you know it. Only thing better than having United in the league is having two of them.
I can’t believe I sat in the freezing cold just to watch us score 2 penalties. Shite game. We didn’t play particularly brilliantly, Stoke turned up to spread their cheeks and allowed us to slip a length in.
FFS. At least we won.
Talk about ungrateful
Give me your ticket
No, ungrateful is having a ticket and choosing not to go. There were a few empty seats near where I was sat.
I had a spare for tonight as well tbf.
Doesn’t that tell you something?
I showered before leaving the house!
Dammit, why didn’t you tell me?! We could have sat and talked about the Tory’s during the boring bits of the match
I could have done with the hot air last night
Pogba looked silky. Keeper doesn’t convince me at all. He had little to do but still fumbled a simple stop in the second half. I remember him not playing well against wolves in a carling cup game. Can’t remember when it was.
I would worry if amos gets the nod against rent boys.
It feels like a fucking long time since we had Edwin between the sticks.
The pig is playing for the reserves today. Match practice possibly for Sunday. Generally he hasn’t let us down when he’s come in.
aye but you forgot to put your kegs on