Originally Posted by
Deadbat
Stoke – Hard to tell in a friendly and they seem to be packing in lots of games but are of course a bit behind our schedule in terms of fitness. However, I felt they looked poor at times and United actually looked the better side for long spells. They looked a bit disinterested and flat save for the lad Shaqiri and some glimpses from Berahino. Felt they were shell shocked at the pressing and harrying of United and also the passing and movement when we had the ball. They came into the game second half more and maybe could have scored a few but did not really deserve anything from the game so could not argue with the final verdict.
Stoke and Hughes have done superbly to keep them mid table or even higher at times. They have been remarkably consistent over the last few years and massive credit to Hughes for carrying on work of Pulis and slowly adding more quality each year. They have a squad packed full of experience and doubt will struggle but they have quite a few plodders that will be exposed against quicker, athletic Premiership players. They will miss the lad they sold to West Ham, Arnautovic, who was a bit of a talisman and probably need to sign a few players but then you see difference in levels when likes of Bojan, Crouch, Adam and Diouf come on. However, Hughes has admitted they need new players in and you sense they will struggle to match last years finish unless they get a few more in as many have strengthened that finished in and around them.
Opposition Man of the Match: Shaqiri was excellent in the first half, he showed some lovely touches and pieces of skill and drifted around the field. He took his goal really well and nearly assisted on a number of others chances. He is a portly looking fella to say the least but a class act on the ball. When he came off he got a round of applause from both sets of fans and gave a thumbs up to the United fans who were clearly appreciative of his performance. Grant made a few decent saves and I felt that Berahino made some good runs off the ball also but did not have much help playing up top on his own. Crouch won a few headers and held the ball up well when he came on but missed a good headed chance. I thought that Adam did well when he came on for the closing stages and nearly scored a great goal and sent another great crossfield ball in.
Opposition Weak link: I thought both centre backs looked clumsy and Shawcross made a right rick on our first goal. The other lad Zouma has come in from Chelsea on loan but he looked leaden footed at times also. I felt both struggled with movement of our play. Glen Johnson also looked a defender who has seen better days.
Eastwood 7.5/10 – Fine. Did really well in fact. Handling was good from crosses (think he came for one and did not quite get there but caught two others) and he made one good save from a free kick. He had no chance from the goal. He talked to his defence well and commanded his area. A really tall lad (6’2’’ at least and maybe taller than Moore) he has a really good kick on him too both from his hands and from back passes. We will bring someone in I am sure but he looks a promising talent on what I saw tonight.
Freeman 7.5/10 – As he was last season, a few bits of indecision defensively apart (one poor foul first half), he got on the front foot, drove forward and was involved in some good attacks. He always looked to get behind the defenders. He ended up as an almost right winger as the game ended and set up the winner.
Stevens 7/10 – Started the game a bit slowly and I felt Shaqiri who played down his side for spells caused him some problems and he could not get close to him. His positional sense was not great early on but then he improved and ended up having a decent second half including a few good runs/bits of link up. Be interesting to see if him or Lafferty gets the nod to start the season. Stevens seems a bit more mobile and maybe a bit quicker.
Basham 7.5/10 – Solid game. He won tackles, headers and used it well when he could. He stepped out quite a few times and tried to get us onto the attack by running or simply finding Coutts. One error second half where he over committed himself nearly let them in but he played well apart from that.
O’Connell 7/10 – He made a few mistakes tonight by trying to control it with a header or piece of control when he maybe should have just kicked it away but he needed a shout I feel on both occasions. One of these led to the goal. Still other than this he won tackles, got forward often outstripping Stevens down the left first half and continued to be attacking even from a defensive position. He got a few good blocks in second half also.
Stearman 7/10 – Looked our weakest defender in that he got caught square a few times and did not see Berahino get in behind. He also overplayed or gave it away a few times and seemed to not have the same ability in ball retention as his two fellow centre backs which is a surprise for someone who has been in the Championship. He struggled with how quick we passed it about but got better as the game went on. He is quite mobile and has long legs which saw him nick the ball away a few times from attackers.
Fleck 7/10 – Not his best game but he got his foot in and won a few tackles and did a job for the team. Played as our most defensive players with Coutts and Carruthers maybe both more advanced much of the game. Maybe you can see why we have signed Lundstram and are after Leonard as not sure he is a typical defensive midfielder and is better when driving forward but had to hang back a bit tonight. Still showed some of his usual quality with some of his typical runs and passes and harried the Stoke players to hold up attacks also.
Coutts 8/10 – Thought he was our best player and ran the game at times. Got on it and switched play often and just dictated the play. First half he seemed magnetised to the ball and everything seemed to come through him. Against experienced players like Fletcher, Allen and Adam looked better than all three! Looks fittest he has ever been and actually had some runs and shots also as well as his range of passing too.
Carruthers 7/10 – Started game really well and got on the ball, had 2 or 3 really good efforts, linked well and was able to be involved in most of our good attacks. He looked fitter than he ever has been since he came to United (maybe the bald head makes him look more slimline!). His passing was mixed with some things coming off and others not so. I felt he faded as the game went on but his effort was really good and kept pressing and hassling to get the ball back. Looks determined to be a starter but not sure him being the furthest forward of the three will be his eventual position. He is a good footballer though and showed that tonight in fits and starts.
Sharp 7/10 – Took his goal really well profiting on a mistake. He had a few other decent efforts including one good run and shot just wide. He linked well with Lavery and others behind. He held it up well. I felt at times his lack of pace showed but he has never been that fast really. He came off around the hour.
Lavery 7/10 – Looked lively early on. Had a few runs and shots and a header just wide. Showed some neat touches and bits of link play. Not everything came off and at times he got crowded out against two big lads at the back. Never looked like scoring though and I feel Clarke is more of a goal threat and you sense him and Sharp may get crowded out against big lads at the back. Good for him to get an hour under his belt but not convinced he is a starter.
Subs:
Clarke – Did ok when he came on as he won a few physical battles and helped the ball on a few times also. Looks a bit fitter and leaner than this time last season.
Brooks – A few runs at the defence. One saw him tackled, where as another saw a good ball knocked out for a corner. Had a shot well over but overall when he got the ball just has a nice poise and style about him. You kind of sense something might happen when he gets it. Took his goal well getting in the right area attacking the near post. Is asking strong questions to start but think he is best off the bench at the moment against tiring defenders. You just worry the more he plays, the more Premier League teams will be circling. Sadly, you fear he may not be with us long. Teams pay a lot of money for potential.
Duffy – Been a stop start preseason with his wife giving birth and him not playing that much but he did ok when he came on and you forget how much quality he has. He showed some neat touches and had a few efforts not far off.
Officials – Ref was fine really. The linesman on the South Stand side was useless not getting much of anything right and not seeing things right in front of him.
Crowd – 7,096. Stoke brought 632 fans which was decent for a friendly but then you remember we took 2-3,000 twice in the last week to games! The South Stand was fairly full and only a sprinkling in the John Street Stand. We have a new scoreboard and a new screen (that shows replays and you can see Gary Sinclair in massive also as he interview people etc). Desso looked grand. No complaints at all. Apart from no sign of any Moretti as promised; just Heineken and Fosters in the South Stand that I could see.