Sep 26
Stoke City vs Manchester United: Preview
Having edged into the fourth round of the Carling Cup, albeit with an ultimately monotonous performance, the Premier League returns for United on Saturday and a somewhat tricky trip to the Britannia Stadium awaits.
Stoke have started the season in a pretty decent fashion having picked up seven points already and been extremely unfortunate not to have come away with something more last weekend against Bolton and previously against Chelsea too.
You would expect that will give them legitimate confidence that they are capable of getting something against us and expect nothing short of a hard-fought and closely contested encounter.
The corresponding fixture last season was a noticeably tight and tense affair, certainly from a United perspective, as a late winner from a certain Argentine striker claimed all three points against the resilient Potters on Boxing Day.
Ferguson rung the changes on Wednesday evening and expect similarly wholesale changes as the league focus returns. The major confirmed team news is that Ben Foster, who hardly covered himself in glory with his display in the Manchester derby, will continue to deputise for Edwin van der Sar.
The back-four almost inevitably picks itself, with Patrice Evra and John O’Shea returning at full-back while Rio Ferdinand should line-up alongside Nemanja Vidic.
I don’t expect Sir Alex to deviate too much from the midfield that played against City although if anyone was to drop out, I would expect it to be Anderson and Park for Scholes and Nani respectively.
That should see Ryan Giggs keep his place in the starting eleven and after having run rings around Micah Richards on Sunday, it was revealed this week that Giggs had created more goalscoring opportunities than any other player in the Premier League with 24.
It’s little statistical titbit’s like that that help give an indication of just how important the Welshman has been to the United cause thus far this season, even at 35-years-old.
It’s fair to say that going away to someone like Stoke may bring about a change in formation, although with the opposition most likely lining up in a 4-5-1 formation themselves, you would think it would be a wise move to avoid the temptation of going like for like and adopting the 4-4-2 system that has served us so well with Rooney and Berbatov lining up in attack.
As well as confirming that Foster would indeed be starting on Saturday, Ferguson moved to provide some good news regarding the recovery of a somewhat forgotten midfield man, Owen Hargreaves, who has been out of action for the last nine months as he recovers from double knee surgery.
“Hargreaves is back now and I hope the boy gets a break and continues his rehab without any further mishaps,” the United manager said.
“It’s been a long time for the lad. Normally, when a player has been out for that length of time, he has been helped by doing his rehab with the other players.
“But the fact he did it on his own in America, under the guidance of Dr Steadman, is not easy.
“He has shown the determination and resilience to see it through, though, and he is now back with us.
“I feel that maybe it will still take us four weeks to get him into the rhythm of training again and get to the point of match-play, but hopefully he is on the way back.”
Stoke boss Tony Pulis, meanwhile, spoke of the departures of Carlos Tevez and Cristiano Ronaldo in the summer, praising the likes of Scholes and Giggs for the way they continue to defy the odds with such assured performances.
“Clubs do not get over losing players like Ronaldo and Tevez quickly,” he said.
“It is very difficult whether you are Manchester United or Stoke to lose a player who has been scoring so freely and creating goals for his team-mates.
“The greatest thing for Alex is how well players like Scholes and Giggs are doing. It is pretty amazing they are not just still going but going strong as well.
“It is amazing. When Giggs finishes playing he will be seen as one of the greats of the game, I am sure.”
While the Potters will no doubt have their tremendous support behind them whatever scenario they are faced with during the 90 minutes (plus stoppages!), on paper we certainly have enough quality and we are a side in form with six successive wins.
Stoke will certainly battle for everything and, in terms of physicality, they may just have the edge. Foster will need to have all his wits about him as Pulis I’m sure will be desperate for every conceivable set-piece (including the Delap throw) to be arrowed in and around his six-yard-box. One would suspect it will prove to be the ultimate test for the England goalkeeper following on from events in Manchester on Sunday. Let’s just hope he gets through unscathed.
Prediction: 1-0 United
Related items from Red Rants:
- Man Utd v Stoke: Preview
- Man Utd v Everton: Preview
- Manchester United 2006/2007 Season Review
- Stoke City vs Manchester United: Match Preview
- Man Utd v Middlesbrough: Preview
Tags: Manchester United News
Opti (541)
Stephen (485)
RedDevilEddy (459)
Craig Mc (345)
Moscow is my heaven (272)
@Roge9: Fuck-a-duck mate, we just won six in a row. Your timing for this kind of comment could be better!!
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@Grognard: Agreed. Valencia is one dimensional and far too predictable. Nani is caught between two minds -cementing his place in the first 11 and emulating Ronaldo- once his distribution and decision making improve he’ll become the player his potential promises. It doesn’t help that fergie rotates him (and anderson) inconsistently. Scholes is never punished for a poor performance, but these are two often benched, even after excellent games rather than demonstrate faith that they will deliver.
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@Redrich: Beastility is not my thing…
And we won last year, but that was the most drab season in recent memory. We’ve had some stellar performances this year, but some not-so-eyecatching ones, too. 9 games in, that shouldn’t be the tune; the problem didn’t evaporate overnight. We still lack a creative force in mid, though fletch is taking up the mantle. Our forwards could and should be more clinical; rooney can’t carry the weight alone for an entire season.
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@Roge9:
Always room for improvement, mate.
I would have wished that the funds from the Ronaldo sale could have been reinvested into players of like quality.
It was kind of like selling your Mercedes and buying a Hyundia with the spoils.
It still leaves a bad taste in my mouth, and I’ll use that whenever I feel United are not performing to my expectations.
But we’re in the midst of a season, and we are dealt with a squad of players that won’t change now (possible January, but I doubt it) and so, it’s really best to accept what we have and do what us United fans do best, support, support and support.
We can be critical and cynical, but as I write this we are at the top of the league and most things point toward good things.
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Been a very busy sporting day, watched the United-Stoke match, then some cricket and then it’s been all college football. The Texas Tech – Univ of Houston game is very compelling.
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@Red Ranter: Ow’d you get watch some Cricket, mate.
Love to do that here!!
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@Redrich: Illegal streams
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Germany Under 20 beat USA 3-0 yesterday. United (and German) ‘keeper Ron Robert Zieler played for Germany.
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@Red Ranter: Pakistan beat India!!! YAYYY!
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Im just sooooooo fucking loooking forward to when Foster is gonna shut all you critcisers up!
Ive got faith in the lad, and I consider him a good goalkeeper. In fact, I am gonna use him ahead of Edwin Van Der Sar in FIFA 10. That tells you how much faith I have in the lad! 
You know, the day you all realise how good Foster really is I will be a really happy bun. Because even though I am not his biggest fan, I do think he is a good player. And I stand up for the little guy. He is a class act and when he gets some experience and knows how to deal in every situation he may go on to be one of the best goalkeepers in the world. Yeah, I rate him that highly and dont care shit about what you guys think about that! 
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Oh, and my first FIFA 10 video is up!
Check it out and tell me what you think!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQrKWwhRj4Y
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@[OPTI]Madschester United: I thought he beat his man well and put in good crosses, the only thing wrong with them was the lack of anyone getting on the end of them. I put that down to a lack of attacking from deep from CM.
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Also, Scholes is dreadful. In his last 2 games he’s been sent off and almost sent off. Both because he can’t tackle. Carrick hasn’t been as bad as that and he’s on Fergie’s leper island!
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Hey, Grognard could u pls get in touch with me on sachincristianoFANish@gmail.com ?
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It is difficult to believe some of the bollox that gets posted on here.
There are usually a couple of players that become fashionable to slag off.
It used to be Sylvestre, then Giggs and Neville now unbelievably it’s Scholes, Foster and the perennial O’Shea.
Scholes (Tackling apart) has been excellent this season, as he was yesterday if you actually watched him play the game, instead of waiting for him to make a tackle and then posting shite.
As far as Foster is concerned, I have to fully agree with Dan (I may have to go and lie down after saying that
)
While Foster was at Watford he was bloody fantastic. Speak to any Watford supporter and they will tell you that he was their player of the season by a mile. He has only had a handful of games for us and playing for us is different to playing for Watford. He won’t be called upon as much and will need to learn to concentrate better. He will get better the more he plays.
He will be our next keeper because he has the ability. He just needs the confidence to go with it.
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@Redrich: Sorry mate but it really bugs me to the core of my being that Fergie continues to play this guy in goal. I am not a big Kuzczak fan but I personally feel he is a safer bet in goal until EVDS returns. Foster just gets under my collar and he makes me very nervous. I have zero faith in him to do anything good. And when he does, it absolutely shocks me. Also, call it frustration but I am fed up with the pro Foster crowd on this blog. Generally I respect everyone’s right to like and support any of our players but this group is so delusional and so patiently naive that it brings up my rage and frustration to epic levels. Lets just say I am not overly tolerant of stupidity.
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@Redrich: Nani is my Foster fetish. I like the lad and I so want him to do well but unlike all the Foster fetishists on this blog, I am not as patient nor am I willing to compromise the team’s season to see him come good. He needs to get his shit together and start playing with purpose and with intelligence or he will be back on the bench and he could be gone in January. In fairness to him though, there isn’t a winger right now in England that can match Giggs for class or talent. He defies age and expectations and continues to amaze. His pass into Berbatov yesterday was class but I am still salivating over his pass to Owen vs City, as well as his overall play in that game. It’s too bad that at his age, he has to be monitored carefully and not overplayed. So the club has to figure out a way to play well when he is not on the pitch.
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@Redrich: If the players were truly great I could say that I don’t blame them but as they have sucked supremely of late, it only makes our friends look a little foolish and obsessive. Fact is 95% of the public think Foster is a washout. So to continually sing his praises against that kind of mismatch smells of stubbornness and nothing else. Some people have a hard time admitting they are wrong. As for Nani, I think the vote is split a little closer. More like 60/40 against him. I am one who likes Nani a lot but unlike Craig, I am not willing to tolerate too many more performances like the last two he has given that have left me cold and frustrated. Like i have said many times, tons of physical talent in that boy but a ten cent head. And one cannot get around that lack of intelligence in on field decision making. Giggs has proven that the head is much more valuable than the foot. Nani should learn from him as Anderson should learn from Scholes, but in Andy and Nani you have tow of the dumbest and most stubborn players to ever come to United. Well all I can say is that as easy as they have come to United, they can easily leave United. I have to add that the lads seem committed to the club and that they love, respect and want to do well for the club, but how long can we be expected to wait for them to turn good? I hope for all our sakes that the magic button is pushed and they do a Darren Fletcher and finally just have things click.
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@Roge9: I’m sorry mate but that’s just not the case. Does Rooney slack off? Does Fletcher or Vidic or Giggs? Many players continue to give a 110% despite the negative tactics. It’s not all about pace, it’s about decision making and getting oneself involved in the game. Nani makes poor decisions and Anderson avoids getting involved, especially in the second half of games. Their problems have nothing to do with the tactics. In fact, the tactics suit Nani and Valencia more as they have never utilized their speed much anyway.
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@Roge9: It’s kind of funny but Wigan found Valencia’s replacement in this Rodillega fellow and I have to say, that player is twice the player Valencia is. He completely murdered Chelsea yesterday.
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@[OPTI]Madschester United:
Carrick can only improve from here on out; he doesn’t play with the same vision as he has in previous seasons. And, Anderson needs to realize that even though he is in the first team he still has to fight for his spot. Laslty, Nani needs to realize that he is not Ronaldo (yet) and he needs to be more unselfish.
Scholes, Giggs, Evra, Rooney, and Fletcher have been amazing this season, especially the latter two.
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@Roge9: Thats why I believe that in January Fergie is going to break January tradition and go after David Silva. We need him and we will be able to afford him then much more so then after the World Cup when his price could increase greatly. For me Silva and a goalkeeper are the only missing pieces for us becoming as good as Barca and Madrid. It’s not about having a team of galacticos, it’s about having a few in the right positions and then having a lot of good players in the rest of the positions. For me we have Rooney, Rio (yes, he’s still great), Vidic and Giggsy and now Fetcher is quickly becoming a dominant force in midfield. Give him that great attacking midfielder and we will be hard to stop. And next season we add a great keeper to replace EVDS and the puzzle is almost complete. It was never about replacing Ronaldo. It has always been about building a great team. Ronaldo is and always will be impossible to replace.
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@Red Ranter: Naturally Dan would assume that since he is German I am now going to get on this vigil to have him take over for Foster.
To quote Sven,…….”Wella”
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@Footy4Eddy: You’ve got a long wait then. You’ll probably be a United player yourself well before Foster becomes good.
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@Footy4Eddy: Another great job mate but i do have a disappointment with the game. It’s still looks the same as 09 and the movement of players still seems blocky and less fluid. That’s the one thing I can say Konami does better than FIFA is their player movement seems so natural. Good job by you though. Can’t wait for the game. I wonder what kind of ratings they are going to give players like Fletcher, Foster, Rafael, Scholes, Owen, Berbatov and Carrick this year? Some deserve considerably higher ratings and others, not so high. Last year Scholes got an 86 when he deserved 80 and Fletcher got 77 when he deserved 80. This year Fletcher deserves nothing less than 83 or 84 and Rafael needs to be bumped up to 77 or 78 for sure. Carrick needs to come down as does Berbatov.
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@Gubby: It’s because at Watford he was able to utilize his two strongest assets as a goalkeeper, shot stopping and reflexes. Plenty of work also makes one’s concentration better with less chances of it waning. He unfortunately has too many missing pieces at this level. We are not Watford, we are Man Utd. It’s kind of vital that we all remember that and continue to have and demand high standards for the club and it’s players. Average and mediocre is not good enough.
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@Grognard: Have you gotten a chance to play the demo yet? It may look the same buy EA did a great job in improving the game play. It’s a much more fluid and dynamic game.
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@Grognard: Im no foster supporter but there is no way I would bench him for Pig. That man scares me more than foster.
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Fucking hell we won two nil had the best start to a season in ten years and all people can still go on about is Foster, jeez change the record
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@Traverse: Funny but Pulis said he was the best player on the pitch, maybe he needs to change his nationality to Brazilian get dreadlocks and then yesterday he would have been MOM.
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@Stephen: Pulis knows dick about shit.
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@Grognard: My intent wasn’t to bring up the Foster debate again (I’m tired of the sniping on both sides – not to mention, the intolerance for one another on both sides). So, I’m sorry I brought up the German keeper.
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Intersting read on llijacic or however you spell it
http://www.skysports.com/football/transfers/scout/0,24035,15198_5293960,00.html
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@Grognard: I guess i would have to say that a player represents himself to me as to how well he performs his position.
I try hard not to have favorites or lepers because it’s very hard to become objective with how they are actually playing.
There are obvious exceptions to any rule and for me, I must say I have an admiration for Wayne Rooney. His skill set, intelligence on the field and magnificent work ethic makes it difficult for me to not like him. At the other end of the scale, Carlos Tevez was one of those players that makes me unexplainably cringe in horror whenever he scurries around.
But to have an almost idolic connection, to a player, and especially those that have not yet proved themselves, is not only unintelligent, but downright child-like!!
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@Grognard: Mate, the game is very different from FIFA 09!
So much its actually annoying! The running is different, the shooting is different, strength now matters an awful lot and its just completely different. You are gonna see what I mean when you play it, you will be positivly surprised because its changed so much but angrily surprised because its so annoyingly realistic! 
Just cant wait to play as United! Barca and Chelsea are good teams, but Barca play 4-3-3 and Chelsea play a 4-4-2 with Essiena and Malouda on the wings. A natural 4-4-2 suits me, and I look forward to using the game as its supposed to be. Wazza behind Berba, Nani and Valencia on the wings and with the pic-to-box new thingy I am gonna make myself and play as the RB. Comepting with Brown and Rafael wont be easy, but you know… Im just too good! 
Really looking forward to thursday! 
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Would not surprise me to see United adopt a flexible 4-3-3 against Wolfsburg.
- Foster -
- Evra – Vidic – Rio – Neville -
- Valencia – Fletcher – Anderson -
- Giggs – Rooney – Berbatov -
Not sure how they will come at us – perhaps using a 3 man front also or maybe playing it safe with 1 or 2 strikers. If we line up 4-3-3 it would be easy to adapt to any in-game change they might make!
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@Johnsom33: I don’t play demo’s of games I know i am buying. I don’t want it to spoil the the full game for me when I bring into my home. You could let me know however if there are improvements in the editing of players and teams and if they have done a better job of defining tactics. I would also like to know if they make it easier to create a player and making him awesome from the very beginning as opposed to a rating of around 60? And how is the AI regarding goalkeeeping and the way minnow teams defend? One thing I never see in their games is the AI defending by placing ten men behind the ball. I also would like to see the AI play zone defense where they do not harass you much in your end, like real football. Finally, what are the ratings grades they have given Fletcher, Owen, Gibson and Rafael? Let me know if you can indeed answer these questions for me through the demo.
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I read an article saying that the only way we will know if Hargreaves’ operation is a success is when he actually starts playing. So we should probably mentally prepare for the possibility Hargreaves will play a few games the injury will return and he’ll not play the rest of the season. Thank God for Fletcher.
I agree we are overly reliant on Ryan Giggs. He and Fletcher and the best midfielders we have. Luckily Fletcher is pretty indestructible and never seems to get injured and is hitting the prime of his career. But Giggs will not last the season if he gets overused like this. He should be playing once or twice a month so he is fresh as a daisy. Unfortunately the supporting cast of Carrick and Anderson just aren’t good enough.
Nani I still think will one day come good. Most wingers are frustrating when they are young. But Valencia was a dud signing. I am praying that Obertan steps it up and fulfills his potential with us and kicks Valencia to the bench. It makes me crazy we spent £15 million on Valencia when we could have probably got Silva for £25 million.
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@Johnsom33: Baede on what, the numerous horrendous mistakes he has made? Come on mate, you are being really unfair because in all the games PIG has played, he has never made half of the blunders that Foster has made. His only glaring weakness other than his kicking accuracy is his tentative nature on high balls. Other than that, I think he is quite good really. I hope it isn’t a British vs Polish thing mate. I for one couldn’t care less where a keeper comes from as long as he is good. Although as Dan would point out, I do have my German favoritism (not bias).
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@Stephen: The record is on digital repeat mode. Foster sucks…Foster sucks…Foster sucks….Foster sucks….
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@Traverse: I’ve heard that he also knows shit about dick.
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@Red Ranter: Not a problem mate. I too am tired of the topic but people keep on defending the ass clown and i for one just can’t handle that. It irritates my inner being and I just have to reply. Two things I can’t stand, tolerance of Foster and tolerance for the Dutch.
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@Redrich: I totally agree. My admiration on this club is also for Rooney and for Vidic. I just love the way both carry themselves and play the game. I’d include Hargreaves in that if we ever see him again and Fletcher is really starting to grow on me. Players who have always rubbed me the wrong way are Neville, Evra and Scholes. Solid players and consummate professionals but no matter how hard they try or play, there has always been something about each one’s respective game that drives me crazy. Notice I don’t even mention players like Anderson or Foster because they are and always will be dead to me.
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@Footy4Eddy: That pic to box thingy where you can create a player based on your image is neat but does it allow you turn that player into an instant god? I’d hate to go to that trouble to look for a picture of when I was younger, skinnier and much more handsome and then have to put up with a rating of 60 while Ronaldo is an 90, know what I mean. Grognard would enter united as the Huntelaar that was never bought. Grognard von Krautstein the second coming of Gerd Mueller.
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@colver: Problem that occurs now is not only does Valencia know we covet Silva, but their argument over price will be determined not just by his on field play but the fact we were willing to play close to 20 million for a useless Valencia. Now they will come back to us and say hey, Silva is twice the player Valencia is and so what do you think it will cost us then to get him? I think it will be impossible to get him for less than 30 million unless Valencia is bloody desperate. And I don’t think they are because they recently got credit from a bank which helped bail them out of recent financial troubles.
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@Grognard: Tolerance for the Dutch annoys you? Aren’t you the Huntelaar/Sneijder fan who defended the Dutch league for producing technically superior players? Or has someone hijacked your username?
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@Red Ranter: Obviously you never got the joke. It’s from Austin Powers – Goldmember. When Michael Caine says there are only two thing he cannot tolerate. One, is people who are intolerant and two, are the Dutch.
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@colver: I wouldn’t be that quick to judge Valencia.
He’s not performing great right know, I know, and I think he probably needs to be transitioned slower into the first team than his inclusion right now.
He seems to be suffering from performance anxiety, and need to gain confidence and relax. His fluidness seems affected by this, as you see when he transitions from a run into delivering the final ball. Delay and hesitancy!
Don’t count on much from him this year, but he has good physical attributes to accompany his speed, and this will be good for us in the long run!
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@Grognard: We’ll definitely pay over the odds for Silva, but even at 25m he would be a bargain. The difference he would make to the dynamic of this team would be huge and if SAF can make the case that he’s cheaper now than he was in the summer, the money would probably get released for him.
I just don’t think he’ll dabble that much in January though. It’s not usually his style (although Evra and Vidic would be the exception) and he has been adamant that his squad is good enough to compete.
Injuries could effect this, so could VDS’ return. If Edwin has a shaky time between the sticks, it’s highly likely that he will be convinced to retire and new top class blood brought in. Foster can continue as our #2 and if he doesn’t like it, he’ll be sold!!
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Looks like Craig’s become a celebrity on the Stretford-End blog.
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