Manchester United travel to Stoke on the back of a home victory against Cardiff, which saw Ole Gunnar Solskjaer return to Old Trafford for the first time as manager. However, today’s trip to Stoke will pose a different challenge to that of the mid-week game. Historically, The Britannia Stadium is a difficult place to visit; usually sitting tight and often physical they have the knack of grinding out results.
I think with the capture of Mata, we have a real attacking threat with the likes of Rooney, RVP and Januzaj all going forward and ideally I think we could pose big trouble with a 4-2-3-1 formation but is Moyes willing to go for it?
Here’s my predicted XI
Goalkeeper
Manchester United have had a love/hate relationship with goalkeepers over the past couple of decades. We seem to get some right stinkers before we find that gem amongst the lot. Schmeichel and VDS have been the two of the greatest keepers of all time and I believe that DDG is slowly on his way to achieving the same cult status at the Theatre of Dreams. Given how young he is, he is sure to be our number one for many years to come and it can’t be long before he’s considered as Spain’s first choice keeper too. Expect to see him start against Stoke.
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Defence
For me, the defence kind of picks itself right now. Rafael is our best right back without doubt and there’s no shifting Evra from left back. The only two places which come under change could be centre back but with Vidic suspended and Rio out, I think it will be down to Evans and Smalling to stop the likes of Crouch and Odemwingie from scoring.
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Midfield
Michael Carrick will sit out the game with injury hopefully meaning that Darren Fletcher will return to the side. I think Phil Jones may join him in the middle – a partnership which I can see working. Fletch has been great since coming back, he’s been dynamic and he’s kind of what we missed at the start of the season. With Phil Jones sitting back it will allow Fletcher to pick up the balls in midfield and feed attack. It was a good move to rest Januzaj against Cardiff, giving him just the five minutes at the end. I think he may end up on the bench again today if we play a three man midfield so I therefore expect it will be Cleverly who takes the final midfield starting place.
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Attack
Simply put, RVP is where the goals are at. He was last season’s top scorer and returned with a goal against Cardiff. I think he’ll start up front on his own with Mata and Rooney sat behind him in something of a 4-3-2-1 formation, using Rooney and Mata to push out onto the wings when needed. I wouldn’t usually predict such an attacking formation from Moyes but I think he’ll be eager to get Mata and Rooney in together to form a good partnership which could prove lethal come the end of the season.
Predicted XI
DDG
Rafael Evans Smalling Evra
Fletcher Jones Cleverley
Mata Rooney
RVP
Who would be in your starting XI against Stoke City?
16 replies on “Stoke City vs Manchester United - United's Predicted XI?”
This is good line up.Felline is not suitable man utd `s middle.It should sell to him next season.
DDG
RAF SMALL EVANS PAT
JONES FLETCH
ROON MATA JANU
RVP
I would pick this team all day long moyes…please…
Cleverley is an average pub player at best…why the fuck would u put such a useless player in our midfield…Moyes should have got rid of the prat
I like your formation but I’d have fletcher in the middle instead of jones, fletcher could push up and he can pass way better than jones.
David Moyes have to test squad of Degea,Rafael,Evra,Jones,Evans,Mata,Fleacher,Januzaj,Valencia,Rooney,Van Parsie for Man U to win EPL.
4-2-3-1 jones fletcher
. januzaj Rooney mata
. rvp
Same bk 4
Valencia,jones.cleverly
I luv ur formation but i dnt like fletcher in the middle instead of jones.fletcher could play front because he can creat more chance 2 van persie
de gea1
smalling12 evans6
rafael2 jones4 evra3
rooney10 mata8
januzaj44/valencia young18/kagawa26
RVP20
Awesome four please at 4-2-3-1. Januzaj, Rooney, Mata all feeding RVP.
Wooow carrick the “rock” and greatest midfieleder we have has just… Whimped away from the ball causing it to deflect into our own net…
horrific game from him so far where him and cleverley have done nothing to warrant a place in our team… For all his faults Kagawa would have been a million times more influential in a positive way!!
i did fortell this… carrick out we will win… yes……. carrick returns… we will loose… yes….
now will ppl finally believe me when i say kagawa in the middle (alongside mata ideallY) is out best option and real solution!!!
everyone is asking for a defensive midfield!!! well losing is what happens when we play that! city go all out attack and guess what… theyre top!!
oh and before everyone starts saying yh but kagawa has had chances and never proven himself…. what has mata really done so far… these are quality players thast need to be played behind rooney and RVP…. them two ned to satrt playing as strikers… with mata and kagawa dictating from deep, with two wingers to help and spread the play!!!
i am sooo right its frustrating!!!
temporary play valencia in de middle of the park n see something. valencia is no more dat winger we use know running on defenders on the wings. hes gona be very effective in the central midfield. Trust me. With his speed n power n ball control is better his played in the middle. moyes use what u ve will instead of playin jones in middle of midfield play valencia. .