Match Preview




Louis van Gaal, the Manchester United manager, said he had the support of the club as his team prepare to face Stoke City at the Britannia Stadium on Saturday.

United have fallen out of the top four in the Barclays Premier League as well as exiting the UEFA Champions League in a run where they have won just three times in 13 matches.

Without a victory in any of their last six matches in all competitions, it is United's worst winless run in a single season since December 1998, the campaign in which they went on to win an historic treble.

"I held meetings with the players with my members of staff, I hold a Christmas lunch, I did a speech and I feel the warmth and support of everybody in Carrington,” Van Gaal said Prior in a press conference he cut short after three questions. "But I didn't feel that in the media.

“Of course I can imagine that you can write about that subject [our bad results] but you have to stick to the facts.

"Four weeks ago we were first in the Premier League and in about four weeks we could be back in that position.

"I only say now I am focused on Stoke City and that I help my players."

Van Gaal will hope United can continue their fine record in Boxing Day fixtures, having won 18 and drawn one of their last 19 matches played on 26 December.

Stoke's progress has slowed in recent weeks as they followed a run of five victories from seven league matches by only winning one of their last four, although that solitary triumph was a home victory over Manchester City.

Mark Hughes' men have slipped to 11th, but are only six points adrift of United in fifth. Stoke's Marko Arnautovic is the highest league goalscorer from either of the two teams with five and is optimistic about his side's chances ahead of United's visit.

"It is a huge game," the forward told the Stoke Sentinel.  "They come to us and know it is going to be a difficult game in Stoke and we know they are a good side.

"Manchester United is always a top game and we will try and win this game. If we perform like the last week [against West Ham and Crystal Palace], but score the goals, then I think we can take the three points."

Bastian Schweinsteiger is suspended, while United are also without Matteo Darmian and Jesse Lingard (both hamstring), although Van Gaal hopes the Italian will be back to face Chelsea on 28 December.

Stoke are still without Geoff Cameron (hamstring), Peter Crouch (groin) and Stephen Ireland (hamstring).

Stoke City (from): Butland, Haugaard, Bardsley, Johnson, Pieters, Shawcross, Teixeira, Wilson, Wollscheid, Adam, Afellay, Moha, Shaqiri, Shenton, Sidwell, Van Ginkel, Whelan, Arnautovic, Bojan, Diouf, Joselu, Odemwingie, Walters.

Manchester United (from): De Gea, Romero, Johnstone, Valdes, Jones, McNair, Smalling, Varela, Blind, Carrick, Fellaini, Herrera, Mata, Pereira, Schneiderlin, Young, Depay, Martial, Rooney.

Match Appointments
Referee: Kevin Friend Assistants: M Perry, D Bryan Fourth Official: N Swarbrick

Match Facts
- Stoke City have won just one of their 14 Barclays Premier League matches against Manchester United (W1 D2 L11), but have lost just one of the last four at home (W1 D2 L1).
- The Potters have never kept a clean sheet against Man Utd in the BPL.
- Man Utd have won 18 of their last 19 fixtures played on Boxing Day (W18 L1).
- Stoke have kept a clean sheet in seven of their last 10 league matches, but have conceded exactly two goals in the other three matches in this period.
- Manchester United have failed to win any of their last six matches in all competitions (L3 D3). The last time that they went on a run this long within a single season was in their treble-winning campaign of 1998/99 (December 1998).
- As a manager, Mark Hughes was unbeaten in his first three BPL matches against Man Utd (W2 D1) but has won just one of his 14 meetings with them since (W1 D3 L10).

Current Form
Stoke Stoke
L 1 - 2 v CRY (H)
D 0 - 0 v WHU (A)
W 2 - 0 v MCI (H)
L 2 - 0 v SUN (A)
W 0 - 1 v SOU (A)
W 1 - 0 v CHE (H)
Man Utd Man Utd
L 1 - 2 v NOR (H)
L 2 - 1 v BOU (A)
D 0 - 0 v WHU (H)
D 1 - 1 v LEI (A)
W 1 - 2 v WAT (A)
W 2 - 0 v WBA (H)

Last Corresponding Meeting
Thu 01 Jan 2015, Britannia Stadium
Stoke 1 - 1 Man Utd

Ryan Shawcross (2)



Falcao (26)

Head-to-Head
Stoke Drawn Man Utd
1 2 7


http://m.premierleague.com/en-gb/matches/2015-2016/epl.summary.html/stoke-vs-man-utd

It definitely going to be tough for Manchester united at Britannia stadium. God help the red

people still dey watch Man U match??





Lol.....





Van gaal must impact some level of confidence and courage in his squad otherwise it will be same recent results.



Verdict: Brittania is becoming too strong for United. Stoke to nick it 1-0.

how comes Man United no longer create chances?? Even when playing at home? Van Gaal's style of play is too pedestrian, lacking visions and directions. But that doesn't mean they should start conceeding and losing matches.








# change style to free flowing and attractive football.

Stoke will shock man utd

GGMU

Reporting for duty.....

LvG,behave yourself today oh

Why the hell is Schneiderlein on the bench and Fellaini on the field?

Memphis is a pure goat

STK 1-0 MUN

9 minGOAL! STOKE 1-0 MAN UNITED (BOJAN) 18 minSAVE! A bit more pace on the ball and United may very well have been in front. Depay whips the ball in from the left after Herrera is fouled. It was probably a cross from the Dutch winger, but it would have crept inside the near post had Butland not scampered across in time. 16 min"Boring, boring, boring" chant the Stoke fans as a patient United move sees Young win a corner down the right flank. Smalling darts to the near post to meet Blind's cross, but it's cleared. 13 minStoke fans have come prepared for Van Gaal! 8 minSAVE! A first venture forward for United as the ball is worked to Carrick 25 yards from goal. The captain for the day drills a low shot goalwards, but Butland is behind it all the way and gathers with ease. 4 minVery little to report from the opening few minutes. Stoke have perhaps had more of the possession, but they are yet to test David de Gea in the United goal. Bojan has tried his luck from distance, but shot well over. 1 minGAME ON! Visiting United, attacking from right to left in the first half, get us off and running. Big 90 minutes ahead for Van Gaal

STK 2-0 MUN

Lmao

aieromon:
STK 2-0 MUN

manure is a disgrace
Wia re de mods here
Mukina2 cum put dis tin for frontpage

match don start?? Na thread dry like this??

Van gaal must go

Damon Bojan and Anotovich

HabaaaaaHabaaaaa
This not fear @ all.....
Van garlic must go.

Am a ManUtd Fan but I placed my bet on ManUtd to lose

Statistics don't Lie!

Chai I don die I staked Man U to win both halves with 5k @ 9odds. Am finished

I am enjoying this mutiny by our players. LVG must swerve this month

mourinho warming up to take over man u..... man u owner will surely pull the trigger this time

Crazy game

Loose(Luis) Van Gaal OUT

Win Van Gaal IN

Pep should pls come and take over this team ooo

lloydpras:
I place my bet on ManU to lose

God bless you,i want us to lose big time for lvg to go

Wow,that should have been 3

Chivita fc

if Van gaal doesnt quit... den ahl quit Manchester United

khattab02:
match don start?? Na thread dry like this??

Xmas tinz