Premier League 4th-5th January Discussion Thread

Man Utd XI: Kuszczak, Rafael, Vidic, Smalling, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs, Berbatov, Hernandez

Stoke City XI: Begovic, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Huth, Collins, Tuncay, Delap, Wilson, Whitehead, Etherington, Jones

United will win comfortably 2 or 3-0.

Fulham vs West Brom is the least interesting game I could think of for Sky to show tonight. I suppose the 500 Fulham fans who aren't at the game will be watching though.

Tuncay starting for Stoke
Never thought I'd see the day.

whats has happened to johnny evans haven't seen him play for united in a while

Messiah wrote:whats has happened to johnny evans haven't seen him play for united in a while

They've finally realized just how shit he is and cut him well down the pecking order. He'll be going to someone like Sunderland or Fulham before long.

Chicharito !! 1-0 Awesome finish

Hernandez why didn't barca sign him,

Nice goal.

But of course, Man Utd haven't played good football since Ronaldo and Tevez left.

Lovely strike for Fulham, but weak goalkeeping from Carson.

Inbred Butterface wrote:Nice goal.

But of course, Man Utd haven't played good football since Ronaldo and Tevez left.

BTW who is that in your avatar?

Stoke equalise through Whitehead. 1-1.

comon stoke you dirty cuntsssssss

Nani equalizes with a great finish. Chicha with the assist. Good game he's having.

forza_rossi wrote:Nani equalizes with a great finish. Chicha with the assist. Good game he's having.

Not exactly.

The avatar is our beloved PM.

Birmingham won in the last minute. Disgusting.

Blackpool are gonna start getting Hulled downwards now..

Thought Man U's tactics caught Stoke out re. the whole centre-half at right back thing. Giggs was coming inside to play ambitious passes (not with the highest success rate) while Nani largely played a direct game - staying wide in the build up then coming inside late. So it was a classic wing set up on one flank, and a more modern one against Stoke's wonky right side. Otherwise, Smalling embarrassed Jones and Berbatov had an off-day.

Tuncay's role seems to be based on the idea that, since Pulis's style isn't actually all that effective against top defences, by including the Turk Stoke might somehow turn into Middlesborough and illogically defeat United via some burst of attacking inspiration. He did get the assist, but the fact remains that he doesn't gel with the team - you usually need more than one sporadic talent to cause an upset, so it was a shame to see Fuller on the bench.

U*d scraping the wins in games they should be dominating, credit to them for getting the results but they just arnt that great and i think they will crack in some of the big games.

debaser wrote:Birmingham won in the last minute. Disgusting.

Blackpool are gonna start getting Hulled downwards now..

Its a tough one cos they have games in hand but they are only useful if they win them. I dont think they will freefall like Hull did but they have the problem that they are going to need more points than are normally needed to survive. Its incredibly tight at the bottom and they are only 5 points off the relegation zone. They've done very well but there is a long way to go. They seem to play better away than they do at home, its unusual for a promoted side to be like this and i wouldnt have epected it as i thought they could have made bloomfield road a bit fo a fortress like Pompey did with Fratton Park. It will be interesting to see what they do in the window if they can keep hold of Adam and if they can add in a few players.

One player that really caught my eye is Phillips, i heard about him at Wycombe and he looked promising and since signing at Blackpool he has looked very decent. I think they've missed Homer Simpson a bit cos he did well at the start and offers them something different upfront.

Hoping for the same team that beat Brum and Chelsea tonight.

Sgoater1 wrote:
U*d scraping the wins in games they should be dominating, credit to them for getting the results but they just arnt that great and i think they will crack in some of the big games.

I don't.

On paper it's one of the weakest United squads in years but they've beaten Spurs and Arsenal already, failed to lose to City, beat Liverpool in a 'big game' even though we're not in that category at the moment.

As much as we all hate it, United are the only side that know how to get results week in week out in the title race. Chelsea's capitulation will literally cost them the title. Arsenal are still lacking a solid defence, whilst it's too early for Spurs or City to win the title. They haven't got the experience it takes to hang on and win it.

United also have what the rest don't - 3 strtikers who can and will all score goals when they come into the team, and that is essential.

Reina
Johnson
Soto
Skrtel
Konchesky
Maxi
Lucas
Gerrard
Cole
Ngog
Torres

is our team tonight.

It's the same defence that has been mostly shambolic all season so not so happy with that but can't argue with the rest of it. COTR will be pleased that Dirk has been dropped I'm sure.

How exactly do you know what the team is ? The team posted up before the Wolves game was wrong so I'll wait until it's released before believing anything. It is very rare that Dirky boy finds himself on a bench.

The Ngog / Torres partnership is wretched. Can't believe he has stuck to his tired 4-4-2 throughout his time here when we don't have the squad to play it.

Why isn't Agger starting? Why Isn't Aurelio starting? Glad that Cole is starting but fuck you Hodgson. Betting tonight for a draw, that's if we're lucky

By the way, this game isn't being televised ?

COTR wrote:How exactly do you know what the team is ? The team posted up before the Wolves game was wrong so I'll wait until it's released before believing anything. It is very rare that Dirky boy finds himself on a bench.

The Ngog / Torres partnership is wretched. Can't believe he has stuck to his tired 4-4-2 throughout his time here when we don't have the squad to play it.

Maybe RAWK?

I do hope it's incorrect

COTR wrote:How exactly do you know what the team is ? The team posted up before the Wolves game was wrong so I'll wait until it's released before believing anything. It is very rare that Dirky boy finds himself on a bench.

The Ngog / Torres partnership is wretched. Can't believe he has stuck to his tired 4-4-2 throughout his time here when we don't have the squad to play it.

I don't. But good sources on RAWK do as they are in contact with players/coaches at the club.

The only time it was wrong was the Wolves game, but I'm not sure who that person was. There's a guy on RAWK called Djphal or something and he gets it spot on every time as he has contacts within the club.

I imagine Kuyt will be rested for his shift at Old Trafford at the weekend

Merieles is injured. I'm worried how tired Gerrard is as he was never meant to play the Bolton game but ended up playing around 75 minutes.

Chris 23* wrote:Why isn't Agger starting? Why Isn't Aurelio starting?

Mebbe 'cause they played their first full game for months just a few days ago and both are notoriously injury prone

Chris 23* wrote:

By the way, this game isn't being televised ?

debaser wrote:

Chris 23* wrote:Why isn't Agger starting? Why Isn't Aurelio starting?

Mebbe 'cause they played their first full game for months just a few days ago and both are notoriously injury prone

You could say the same of Gerrard.

I bet when Carragher comes back he'll be started straight away.

Aurellio I could understand as he can't play 2 games in one week but I'm sure Agger could have played tonight.

I'd have thrown Kelly or Wilson in ahead of the Greek as well.

We still should have enough to get a win but how often have I said that this season

Arse should be 1-0 up. Sitter has been missed.