BEN Foster will start in goal for Manchester United at Stoke after being given a public vote of confidence by Sir Alex Ferguson.
Tomasz Kuszczak had been hoping to get the nod after keeping a clean sheet against Wolves in midweek but Foster will return as deputy for Edwin van der Sar (broken fingers), who is out for another three weeks.
Plenty of changes are anticipated from midweek, with Wayne Rooney, Nemanja Vidic, Rio Ferdinand and Patrice Evra among those certain to be recalled.
Ferguson said: “Stoke are going to be a force.
“They have a fantastic support. They say it is the noisiest in the country and I wouldn’t disagree with that.
“Last season was about survival. It is not easy for anyone coming out of the Championship.
“But I saw a marked change there. There is good ambition, they have a good managerial structure and a good chairman.
“It is a club on the up.”
Stoke strikers Ricardo Fuller and James Beattie are both doubtful for the game.
Fuller suffered a groin problem in the Carling Cup victory over Blackpool while Beattie is struggling with a recurrence of an ankle injury.
Manager Tony Pulis could recall Richard Cresswell to the attack to partner Dave Kitson.
Stoke City (from): Sorensen, Simonsen, Huth, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Faye, Collins, Delap, Whitehead, Whelan, Etherington, Fuller, Beattie, Kitson, Cresswell, Cort, Higginbotham, Griffin, Lawrence, Pugh, Tuncay.
Manchester United (from): Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, O’Shea, Brown, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Fabio, Valencia, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Gibson, Giggs, Nani, Rooney, Berbatov, Owen.
Stoke league form: LDWLD
United league form: LWWWW
Key opponent: Rory Delap - he will be firing in the long throws to test Foster
Prediction: Stoke 0 United 1 - the Britannia Stadium is a tough place to go but United are playing well
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Stoke v United: Preview
September 25, 2009
Comments
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Be happy for Owen to start alongside Rooney.
Quite a few predictions for a close game but i think we'll dominate and be a couple up by half time.
Following the defensive 'mares of late i'm sure they've been drilled to be as tight as a camels arsenal.
Looks like Foster, O'Shakey, Rio, Vid & Patrice. Fletch, Scholes, Anderson & Nani / Giggs.
Rooney & The Berb.
dont be fooled by there lacklustre performances in the league of late; united are in town and that means another 20% in terms of commitment; we should have enough quality to survive the new wimbledon
Well said monkey tennis lol
i certainly hope our defence is tight and vastly improved after the fiasco last weekend !
Would like to see Anderson start but not a chance as his height is no match for Stoke's set pieces, same with Scholes so the team practically picks itself. It will be Carrick and Fletcher centre midfield with Valencia and Giggs, Berba and Rooney. 1-0 United, Berbs.
A tough game as always at Stoke. United to win 1-0, Rooney.
As long as he doesn't pick Giggs..........Well, it wouldn't be a regular week if someone didn't write that.
I assume Scholes is banned so Fletch and Anderson in the middle with Giggs and Valencia wide. Roo and Berbie up front and Brown, Rio, Vidic and Evra in defence. I'm assuming Brown over JOS as he is now fit and a better right back. 2-1 United.
I've been looking forward to a Rooney, Owen partnership developing along the lines of Cole and Yorke, only better. I think the future for Man U's attack is Rooney & Owen, with Berbatov as the closer when a game is already won and Owen can be rested.
Ideally, United would have a backup man that can score, work hard and make something out of nothing, but we'll have to make do with Berbatov instead.
Hard game as always at Stoke but I dont see Giggs playing as keeping him the Euope. It would be nice to get another win to keep the pressure on Chelsea.
Scholes wont be banned (2 yellows for a Red = 1 game ban). So it'll be ...
Foster
O'Shea
Ferdinand
Vidic
Evra
Valencia
Fletcher
Scholes
Giggs
Berbatov
Rooney
Stoke shouldn't have anything to worry us except long throws and height. OK with Foster in goal and Ferdinand that may give us some cause for concern. I think SAF will give Rooney and Berb another chance to grow their partnership and hope we get a look at Macheda if we get ahead. Trying to pick the team is pointless as SAF normally goes crazy on these lower team games.
We need to keep our early season momuntem going, all the talk is normally that we dont start playing well until December...so lets kick on and build on this early form.
We dont want tomorrow to be another 'taken for granted' match, as Burnley was. The attitude has got to be correct, so Rio have the weekend off!!
Foster(going to be a legend for us, he will learn from mistakes as all great's do)
Wes, J Evans, Vida, Evra(the worlds greatest left back)
Valencia(please attack the full backs more), Fletcher, Anderson, Nani
Berbatov(a hat trick is coming soon) & Wazza
Subs...
Kitkat, G Nev, Owen, Tosic, Gibson, Carrick, De Laet
If the attitude is correct we could destroy Stoke, 3-0 with at least a brace by Berbatov
Thats why were champions! Thats why were champions!
I still think thatRooney would be great playing behind Barbie and Owen. Noone makes those darting runs like Owen does and Rooney would pick up on that. Last week showed that Giggs playing wide left is far more effective than playing him in the middle so I would go with, Forgiving Oshea and Rio for last weeks debacle by them, Foster - Oshea - Rio - Vidic - Evra - Valencia - Rooney - Anderson - Owen - Barbie and Giggs.
sad times when SAF is even giving Stoke a chance. 4-0 United. nearly everybody is fit so lots to choose from. Rooney, Nani to score.
Lets hope the defence turn up this week, It is going to be a hard physical game, and the team should know from last season al about the long throw in, hope Ferguson sticks with Rooney andBerbatov and Valencia out wide, and lets get of Fosters back and give the lad some support thats what we are supposed to be there for. STOKE 0 UNITED 2.
the match will b d day 4 Ben...if he cant handle the heat , makes another mistake thats the end of the line for him.Personally dont think hes up for it...should b Tom Kuzzie instead up there...dont regret choosing ben, fergie!This could be like the mc game minus the great comeback.
Tough game Stoke have a great home record tight pitch physical team and we will know we wrer in a game.I feel they will score and predict a 1-2 victory with Berbatov scoring a winner.
"I've been looking forward to a Rooney, Owen partnership developing along the lines of Cole and Yorke, only better. I think the future for Man U's attack is Rooney & Owen"
Sparky was the best ever,
25/09/2009 at 18:16
I don't see where some people are getting the idea that owen is the future of our strike force.....Owen is optimal for the second half cameos, not a full blown partnership with Rooney, besides it doesn't look like Owen would still have it in him to make a partnership with Rooney that would surpass the cole/york partnership.
Anyways, I cant believe that we spent 30 million for Berbatov, I personally love to watch he's skill on the ball, but I really thought that by now we would be treated to a show when he was coming......sigh....lets hope that show is still on the cards.