“what a clownish response from dj. If that was the best that the manager and his 11 players can do, then something is seriously seriously wrong and the rest of the season is in great danger . He persists in putting in a run ragged, blown out Walters. He persists in NOT putting in an in form, energetic Jerome. He puts 2 target men in together, one of whom is a complete donkey, but then doesnt have anybody send balls to said target men! Ha has Whitehead as his forward moving midfielder instead of Palacios when it should have been the other way around. He uses an "attacking" lineup but doesnt attack !why ? We played the weakest Man U side we have played since being in the prem and didnt take advantage of it ! With no attack, comes ultra defending, with ultra defending comes the ever so grateful whole Man United squad to attack our goal, im really surprised their 3rd string goalie, Mr Amos didnt join in the attacks since we were giving them 3/4 of the pitch to play with !! If it wasnt for Wilkisnson, it probably would have been 4 - 0. If it wasnt for their bad aim it probably would have been 6-0. Wilkinson was MoM , if there was such a thing in that debacle !”

“I'll admit I picked a bad night to voice my concerns about recent results, but last night did highlight where we have been going wrong in recent weeks. Our performance away at Old Trafford did not appear any different to our home performances against WBA, Wigan and Villa. That is what concerns me, why we've dipped in form again, mainly because if it becomes more of a dip, we're about to play a team who scored four against us away from home when they weren't playing well! I've got faith in the manager to correct or solve what is going on, but in my honest opinion a shake-up in the line-up is needed, just to avoid player complacency.”

“All of the 'opinions' on here are well founded and basically confused as to TP's approach to tactics and selection. TP's comment, "Debateable", regarding the penalties. There is a deeper problem here that isn't going away in a hurry.”

“If anyone is guttless and pathetic is someone who derides 11 men online who did their best at old trafford today, let alone a manager who put out his best possible side.

We have not won there in 30 years, so whatever you think of the players or manager today, you must say that everyone proir to this date was ******* e as well.

If anyone is gutless and pathetic it is the lot on here who think they can manage a premier league football club and win at old trafford because they have wifi and a keyboard... bunch of wannabes....”

“Again an embarrassingly tepid, gutless, passionless performance of little or no intent to try to win the match - apart from the Jerome header in the 2nd half can anyone remember a "rookie" 3rd choice keeper having to save a single shot or indeed be put under any type of pressure ? No. We gave the game to United today like it was some kind of "gentleman's agreement" between Pulis and Fergie. What our side of the bargain is who knows - it certainly was not having the pick of any United fringe player as the clock ticked down in the Transfer Window. So maybe we might see some "player" dealings in the summer window when the Stoke Gift results in helping Utd win another title. But to put out a team which looked competitive and have them play with no ambition is just criminal. Again Pulis - like the Man city game - should come out and say we are not trying tonight because our eye is on games we think we can win - Sunderland and maybe Fulham coming up. I feel for the fans who spend good money going to the game and getting shafted once more. The players tonight showed no Unity for each other - Crouch and Jones looked like they had never seen each other before - no synergy or link play whatsoever. Our midfield was pedestrian and could not inject any tempo in the game for fear of being over-run by a rampant United led by 37 year old Paul Scholes - he made our lot look 3rd rate. Pennant tried to get things going at times but isolated without support. Jerome looked lively but came on way too late to have any kind of influence - another insane choice by Pulis. We dont seem to be showing any kind of progress - infact last season we played so much better losing only 2-1 - two mistakes by Danny Collins - to a much better United team than the one tonight. Something is clearly amiss with our whole approach to these type of games but as I said earlier it would not surprise me if Pulis and Fergie shook hands before the kick-off.”

“Not commenting on the match as I haven't seen it, but something has obviously gone wrong in recent weeks. Yes we were playing Man Utd, but I'm talking about results from recent league games, against West Brom and Wigan and Aston Villa where we would've expected more from them. With tonight's game we can't blame the line-up because TP put out an attacking team in the sense that he didn't field Shotton on the right wing and Delap on the left! Sadly I'm not one to blame TP as regulars on here will know, but I think something has happened just based on recent results. Jerome not starting was a huge mistake in my eyes, simply because he's in form at the moment, Jones isn't. I think not starting Woodgate was a mistake as well (debatable I know) simply because if you wanted a tackler with more finese then he is better than Wilko, sadly. I agree that passing back to Shawcross and Huth is resulting in long balls up field which we aren't winning. Perhaps it might be time for a change there, just so they don't get too comfy! Perhaps Shawcross and Woodgate in the centre or Shawcross and Upson as I think Huth (again sadly) is the more likely to hoof it upfield (pun intended). I'll repeat that I'm not commenting on this game but the ones I've attended since Boxing Day. If we play like we have recently against Sunderland then it could be like when QPR came to the Brit, fighting for a draw but failing.

Line-up against Sunderland: Sorenson, Wilkinson, Shawcross, Woodgate, Wilson, Pennant, Palacios, Whelan, Etherington, Jerome, Crouch.

I wouldn't advise anyone to get their knickers in a twist over my line-up simply because it's unlikely to be the one that starts! I know there are a lot of Shawcross/Huth fans out there, but in recent weeks it hasn't worked in my opinion due their tendency to play long ball. If they start against Sunderland, I ask people to watch who sends a long ball upfield more often. Palacios needs to start more often now otherwise I fear for his Stoke future (I know he has had injuries but still I feel he has had plenty of time to gain fitness, even to Stoke standard). As for Walters I agree with others that he needs a rest, simply because he's just becoming a body on the pitch. He does some useful things (i.e. how he caused the corner for the second goal in the FA Cup match against Derby) but his usual work-rate has decreased lately as well, like the majority of our team who look tired!”

“Not sure about Jones and Crouch together.....didn't work. Jones just doesn't look hungry enough to compete for 90 mins. Having said that nothing happened in the final 1/3 again anyway.
Thought Palacios played well today. Takes his time and looks for useful passes. It's a refreshing change from those useless forward chip balls which usually go the opposition. Every time and I mean every single time it was passed back to Shawcross he chipped it down the middle and we lost it every single time!! Whiteheads passing is awful, never thought I'd say this but Whelan might have been a better option...Still can't figure what Walters supposed to be doing. What a ridiculous penalty to give away. Just think we need pace up front to make any impact at all. Ah well at least Pulis picked a more positive side, should've been Jerome instead of Jones though.”

“Ok, one more thing from Macca, "stoke City have been really, really poor today, I just dont understand it, what happened to their physicality, their strength and determination"

Ok my view.
Is there, a bigger donkey, a bigger waste of a place in a squad than Kenwyne Jones, how miserably poor was he today ??
I have figured it out, Pulis just doesnt trust his very good defenders to do what they can do, defend! Thats why he has just about everybody else help them do it. AS i said, when you give a team like them more than 3/4 of the pitch to play on, they get goals, regardless of how they get them. We played about as poor as we have done this season (including the Man City game) and i didnt expect it really. I actually thought with that line up we would have actually tried to attack, but any time we got the ball we looked so slow, so lumbering to get the ball forward , it was if we were scared to attack !
What i'd give for somebody, anybody with the ability to actually play football for Stoke City!!
7 league games played since going 8th, 3 losses, 1 win and 3 draws.
Simply poor !!”

“Well Well, Pulis starts quite a positive, dare i say attacking line up !!Nice to see !
However, so as not to hurt the precious feelings of certain people on here I will just repeat what Steve McManaman , the commentator for todays game is saying.......
"why is Jones playing so deep, its like he's a midfielder" after they showed 72% of possession to Man U he said "they have quite an attacking squad on the pitch do Stoke but they are doing anything but", "this has been a walk in the park for United and it was only a matter of time until they scored" and "maybe the goal will push the negative play by Stoke City into doing something positive" ! Then at half time,to cap it all off, Ian Darke says to Macca, "do United need more goals" and Macca says "sure, just in case Stoke try"
How embarrassing !!
Pulis could start 10 strikers but im sure he would have them all play as defenders as he has so far in the first half. When you play Man United (although a seriously depleted Man U) at their place and give them from their goal line to our penalty area to play in,with all their little flicks, passes and shots they were bound to score.But for a bit of luck, it should be 3 - 0 by now
Can it change in the 2nd half ? at this point, what in the hell do they have to lose ???”

“Ok, just heard the squad for the game. no Etherington (groin injury) but Walters still in and Jones and Crouch (??). As Nige just commented with some surprise, he says Walters is like the bunny, he just keeps on going, which Dave Kemp agreed. We all agree, but what exactly is it he's accomplishing by keeping on going ?? Personally I hope he scores today, he needs the confidence and he needs the boost.
3-2 Potters !!!”