Preview: Stoke v United

看板ManUtd作者Fergie (弗Sir)時間14年前 (2011/09/24 13:11)推噓0(0推 0噓 0→)

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Stoke v Man Utd Barclays Premier League Venue: Britannia Stadium Date: Saturday, 24 September Kick-off: 1730 BST (台灣時間 9/25(日) 00:30) 直播頻道 CSPN新疆、CSPN山東、廣東體育、北京體育、上海體育、廣州競賽、深圳體育、重慶體育、上海新視覺、天津體育、香港有線HD200、香港有線CH300、新浪體育 TEAM NEWS Stoke striker Kenwyne Jones is out after picking up a hamstring injury in their midweek Carling Cup tie. Matthew Upson's man-of-the match display against Spurs in that game could see him rewarded with a place in the starting line-up. Manchester United are hopeful that Rio Ferdinand will be fit to return after three games out with a calf strain. Javier Hernandez should also feature, having overcome the bruised shin he suffered against Chelsea. Manchester United: De Gea, Lindegaard Evans, Evra, Fabio, Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Giggs, Nani, Park, Valencia, Young Berbatov, Hernandez, Owen, Rooney, Welbeck Out: Smalling (calf), Rafael (shoulder), Cleverely (ankle), Vidic (knee). Tests: Ferdinand (hamstring), Welbeck (hamstring). Referee: Peter Walton (Matches 3, R1 Y16) MATCH PREVIEW - I would guess that some will predict that this is the game that ends Manchester United's perfect start to the season - their best since Ron Atkinson's Red Devils notched 10 straight wins in 1985/86. There's plenty to back up the bet too - a Stoke squad that now has quality in depth, a record of only one defeat in their last 16 home games, and the Britannia Stadium packed, loud and rocking. - Here comes the big BUT. In statistical terms there's the fact that United have never dropped a point to Stoke in six Premier League meetings, and in terms of what we've all seen on the pitch, there's the reality of them looking nigh on invincible in the games they've played so far. - A 2-1 win at Stoke was, remarkably, one of only five away from home for the champions last season. It wasn't comfortable either, with Javier Hernandez settling matters in the 86th minute of a game that should have seen the visitors reduced to 10 men just before half time - Gary Neville somehow escaping a second booking for clattering into Matthew Etherington. - That all happened without Wayne Rooney, who was sunning himself on a birthday trip to Dubai having just settled his Old Trafford future. With nine goals from his five league games this season, it's hard to imagine that he won't play a major part this time against a club that last beat United in the league before he was born! - Incidentally, Atkinson's 1985 team finally dropped their first points with a 1-1 draw at Luton, who this weekend visit York City in the Blue Square Premier. How times change. MATCH FACTS Head-to-head Manchester United are the only Premier League side to still have a 100% winning record against Stoke since the Potters won promotion in 2008. United have scored 16 times and conceded only twice in six Premier League meetings against Stoke. Both of those City goals came in 2-1 wins for Sir Alex Ferguson's side last season. The Potters last league victory over United was a 2-1 win on Boxing Day 1984 at their former Victoria Ground home. Stoke Defeat at Sunderland last weekend represents the Potters' only loss in 11 matches in all competitions this season. They have kept seven clean sheets. If they keep a clean sheet it will be the first time they have not conceded in their opening three home matches of a top-flight season since 1970-71. Tony Pulis' men have not scored more than once in any of their five league games to date. They are they equal lowest scorers (3) along with Swansea and West Brom. Peter Crouch is looking to score for a sixth different Premier League club; Les Ferdinand, Craig Bellamy, Andrew Cole, Nick Barmby and Marcus Bent have already achieved this feat. Crouch has never scored in 13 previous league meetings against United and never been on the winning side against them. Stoke have had only 35 shots in their five league matches this season - fewer than any other club in the division. Man Utd United have scored 21 goals in five Premier League matches this season. If they score twice against Stoke, they will beat Newcastle's Premier League record for the most goals in the opening six matches of the season (22 goals in 1994-95). Nine-goal Wayne Rooney is the only Premier League player to have scored in every round of fixtures so far this campaign. However, he has never scored in three previous league matches against Stoke - they are the only current Premier League club he has previously played against and failed to find the net. If Rooney does score against Stoke this time around, he will become the first player to score in the first six top-flight matches of the season since Alan Smith, who scored in Arsenal's first eight league matches in 1988-89. No United player has ever scored in the first six league games of a season. Manchester United have allowed their opponents more shots on target (34) than any other team in the Premier League. Yet only Newcastle (2) have conceded fewer goals. Nani (17) and Ashley Young (14) have provided more assists in the division than any other players since the start of last season. Lawro's predictions Stoke 1-2 United The way Stoke conceded four goals against Sunderland was so unlike them, so haphazard. Tony Pulis does have a good squad, actually, but even so Manchester United just keep rolling over everybody at the moment. And their big names have had a week off. Mark Ogden's (Daily Telegraph) prediction: Stoke 1-2 United Stat of the game: United have visited Stoke three times in the Premier League and won all three. http://tinyurl.com/3j8qolm (Daily Telegraph) http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/14958150.stm http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/football_focus/15017088.stm http://www.premierleague.com/page/MatchPreviews/0,,12306~57508,00.html -- ★ ╔╦═╮╔╮ ╭╔╮ ╭╔╦═╮ ╔╮╔╮╭╦═╮╔╮═╮ ☆ ☆ ╠╬╦╯╠╣ ║╠╣ ║╠╣ ║ ╠╣╠╣╠╬═╣╠╣ ║ ★ ★ ╰╝╰╯╰╝═╯╰╝═╯╚╯═╯ ╰╰╯╯╰╝ ╰╰╝ ╰ ☆ ☆ SCORING MACHINE︰ Ruud van Nistelrooy ★ ╔╮═╮╭╦╦╮╭╦═╮╭╦╦╮╔╦═╮╔╮ ╔╦═╮╭╦═╭═╦╮╮ ╔╮ ╠╣ ║ ╠╣ ╚╩╦╮ ╠╣ ╠╬╣ ╠╣ ╠╬╦╯╠╣ ║ ╠╣╚═╬╣ ╰╝ ╰╰╩╩╯╰═╩╝ ╚╝ ╚╩═╯╰╩═╯╰╝╰╯╰╩═╯═╩╯╰═╩╝ -- ※ 發信站: 批踢踢實業坊(ptt.cc) ◆ From: 114.38.59.10