Manchester United v Stoke City Preview

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Despite excellent home form in the Premier League this season,which is absolutely nothing to do with the potency of a certain players throws on our tiny pitch, I am all too aware that Stoke have failed to win an away game in the league this season, settling for just two goalle s draws on the road, at Liverpool and Wigan. That being said, there will be few better chances to gain an away victory than tomorrows visit to Kents favourite side, Manchester United. I fully expect Stoke, buoyed by the knowledge that unlike our opponents, we are the richest side in our city to tear apart Sir Alex Fergusonsbeautifully groomed side. Joking aside, a visit to the Champions of England and Europe, whose football is second only to that of Arsenal and West Brom, is surely the hardest challenge faced by Pulis men so far this season. Stoke fans can take heart from the knowledge that results have been gained over both Liverpool and Arsenal though, two sides generally considered to be close to Manchester Uniteds equals. A record of ten titles in the last sixteen seasons illustrates the Manchester clubs quality, and a hard task for the Stoke side looks to be on the cards. Few know more about hardne s than Stokes core of African colo suses though.Cristiano Ronaldo may just edge out Abdoulaye Faye in a beauty contest, but theres only going to be one winner for50-50 ball. When the commitment of Uniteds Portuguese star has been called into doubt recently, no such worries can exist for the Stoke squad. One hundred percent commitment is guaranteed from the Potters, and, as Arsenal recently discovered, this can be enough to throw up a shock result against a team of superior players. So, asPulis menrun out onto the pitch at the vomit-inducingly named Theatre of Dreams tomorrow, to the cries of We support our local team from the traveling ma ses, the overiding emotion amongst the Stoke Shaquille Leonard Jersey contingent will be one of hope for a result, and determination to enjoy our day, and season,with the big boys, ruffling as many feathers as po sible as we go. Marc Goodfellow celebrates scoring twice in a 3-1 friendly win for Stoke at the Britannia Stadium in July 2003, the last time the two sides metManchester United squad:Goalkeepers:Edwin van der Sar, 38Ben Foster, 25Tomasz Kuszczak, 26Ron-Robert Zieler, 19Ben Amos, 18Defenders:Rio Ferdinand, 30Nemanja Vidic, 27Gary Neville, 33Patrice Evra, 27Wes Brown, 29Rafael Da Silva, 18Fabio Da Silva, 18John OShea, 27Jonny Evans, 20David Gray, 20Richard Eckersley, 19James Chester, 19Midfielders:Cristiano Ronaldo, 23Anderson, 20Michael Carrick, 27Ryan Giggs, 34Paul Scholes, 33Nani, 21Darren Fletcher, 24Owen Hargreaves, 27Park Ji-Sung, 27Rodrigo Po sebon, 19Tom Cleverley, 19Sam Hewson, 19Forwards:Wayne Rooney, 23Dimitar Berbatov, 27Carlos Tevez, 24Danny Welbeck, 17Manucho, 25Federico Macheda, 17STAR MAN:Cristiano Ronaldo:The 23 year old is one of the most highly regarded footballers in world football today. The Madeira-born winger/forward, who recently claimed the FifPro World Player Robert Quinn Jersey of the Year Award 2008, joined United in 2003 from Sporting Lisbon and has since impre sed and annoyed everyone in equal measure, with his quick feet andarrogant manner. Ronaldo claimed the European Golden Shoe award for top goalscorer last year, hitting the net more than 30 times in the league. Key head-to-heads:Danny Higginbothamv Cristiano RonaldoRonaldo will surely pose the toughest challenge of the season so far for the Stoke left-back. Keeping Ronaldo quiet will go a long way to keeping United at bay as an atacking force so a good performance from Higginbotham is a must. Ricardo Fuller v Rio FerdinandWith so much of Stokes attacking play being centred on Fuller it is nece sary he gets the better of one of teh games best centre-backs in Ferdinand for Stoke to stand a chance going forward. At his best Fuller is unplayable, lets hope he produces a performance in that vein tomorrow. 2008/09 comparison stats: Manchester United StokePlayed: 18 15Won:106Drawn: 53Lost:36Home record (W,D,L):7,2,05,1,2Away record (W,D,L): 4,3,31,2,4Goals scored:3120Goals conceded: 12 23League position: 412Disciplinary (Y,R):28,2 27,1Top scorers:Ronaldo (7), Berbatov & Rooney (5) Fuller (5), Olofinjana& Whelan (2)Uniteds Old Trafford home