Match Day Stoke v Man Utd, Saturday 9th September 17:30

[SALTIRE]

Match chat.

 

[Stevencc]

Hopefully we continue where we left off before the international break.

 

[SALTIRE]

Jese hattrick I foresee. 4 - 2 to Stoke.

 

[Stevencc]

Go on then mate, how many whiskies have you had?

 

[SALTIRE]

Go on then mate, how many whiskies have you had?

None since Sunday!! Just have a feeling in my water; and always thought Jese was dangerous.

 

[YorkshireRed]

Like the team Stoke are building, and it's always a hard game down there. Let's see how we go.

de Gea

Valencia-Bailly-Jones-Blind

Matic-Pogba

Mkhitaryan-Mata-Martial

Lukaku

Easiest team I've picked in a long time.

 

[Stevencc]

Like the team Stoke are building, and it's always a hard game down there. Let's see how we go.

de Gea

Valencia-Bailly-Jones-Blind

Matic-Pogba

Mkhitaryan-Mata-Martial

Lukaku

Easiest team I've picked in a long time.

Not quite...

 

[epic73]

We should have scored by now, starting to feel like last season.

 

[mistermagic]

Well that woke me up. This first half has been poor.

 

[Stevencc]

We've been pretty average so far - nice to see us come straight back with an equaliser, though.

 

[JimJams]

Shite from Bailly for the goal. Abysmal even. Gonna get chewed out by Jose for that.

 

[Super_horns]

Good game - not great defending though.

 

[G-Dragon]

Jones trying to defend the corner

 

[epic73]

Used to like Choupo-Moting.

 

[mistermagic]

Used to like Choupo-Moting.

That's because he played for Mainz.

 

[epic73]

That's because he played for Mainz.

Tbh I only remember him playing for Schalke.

 

[JimJams]

Rom com.

 

[Stevencc]

A good game of football.

I thought Stoke were very good, easily the best team we've faced so far this season. The front three of Chupo-Moting, Shaqiri and Jese in particular.

 

[epic73]

At least we didn't lose 5-0.

 

[JimJams]

Hughes looking a bit miffed at Mourinho at the end. Did Jose shake the hands of everybody from Stokes side apart from Hughes?

 

[epic73]

I think so, Hughes was walking away from Mourinho though.

 

[Renegade]

I thought the line up was a bit negative from Mourinho and also left United imbalanced, particularly from set pieces. Didn't see any reason to start Herrera instead of Mata. As good as he is, the side was missing creativity and a left footed option from set pieces. Low and behold almost all of United's attacks and thus corners and free kicks came down the right hand side, which really could have done with an inswinging delivery. The Rashford goal and the chance at the end showed that if the delivery was better, United had an advantage in the box. Could have simply played Blind at left back either.

Jones and Bailly were poor for the goals with the latter uncomposed in possession throughout the game. I thought Valencia and Rashford were really good and Martial had a positive impact when he came on, but overall Stoke were absolutely worth their point. They got behind United relatively easily a few times and might have won the game only for De Gea's reactions. I guess they had to drop points at some point, but I thought it was more likely to be in the Rooney revenge game next week.

 

[G-Dragon]

At least we didn't drop points against stoke!

 

[Stevencc]

At least we didn't drop points against stoke!

What was that phrase you used to use?

Keep Looking Up™

 

[Stevencc]

https://streamable.com/zisxt

Absolutely pisses on any other keeper in the league.

 

[JimJams]

Mignolet would have saved that.

 

[Humongous Fungus]

The ball hit his hand, world class keeping.

 

[Stevencc]

Hughes looking a bit miffed at Mourinho at the end. Did Jose shake the hands of everybody from Stokes side apart from Hughes?

Hughes was extremely animated during the whole game, disputing every decision and waving imaginary cards etc. The ref and fourth official spoke to him about this a couple of times and Jose did too, coming out of his "area" to do so. Apparently, Hughes took offence to this, swore at Jose and supposedly tried to get him sent to the stands.

 

[Leewilson]

Hughes is a numpty although he has bought well this summer with Wimmer, Jesé, Fletcher and Chupo-Motang whilst getting rid of Arnaotovic who is very overrated. If he fails to break 50 points again, he should be sacked. They should be nearer 60.

 

[Nilsson]

Didn't see any reason to start Herrera instead of Mata.

I thought that, perhaps Mourinho didn't expect Stoke to sit so deep in the first half.

But tbf, Stoke played well (their front 3 in particular), we're clearly not there yet, and Bailly and Jones won't each give a goal away in many games this season. Not the worst result.

LB is starting to become an issue. I really hope Shaw gets himself fit again and makes that position his own this season. If not we may have to invest in a proper LB next summer. Blind doesn't have the mobility and Darmian doesn't have much of anything.