Despite my prediction, Stoke will survive!

A hectic end to the transfer window meant Stoke's summer of dealings improved the squad. Steven N'Zonzi and Charlie Adam from Blackburn and Liverpool respectively are exactly what Tony Pulis's side need, and that's quality in the centre of the park. Even when the window was shut Pulis added a proven goal scorer in the form of the free agent Michael Owen, which could turn out to be a brilliant gamble!

Adam will bring a higher level of quality to the Stoke midfield

Before these additions I had tipped Stoke to go down, saying that I still expect them to struggle this campaign as more Premier League clubs have found them out; however I now believe they won't be playing the Championship next season!

Ryan Shawcross and Robert Huth are both very good defenders and given the fact they've been playing together for a while now has ensured they are one of the league's best central defensive partnership's. Their lack of real quality in the full-back position doesn't matter too much, as under Pulis, the full-back's main priority is to be solid defensively.

I really like the additions of Adam and N'Zonzi as I feel they'll compliment each other well in the middle of the park for Stoke. In Adam they've someone who can spread the ball around, whilst N'Zonzi is more of a stereotypical Stoke player given his height, strength and battling qualities. Given Wilson Palacios's poor form and the fact Adam is better then Stoke's other passer Glenn Whelan, expect to see the new additions fit straight into the side.

Key player - Peter Crouch. Crouch is key to the way Stoke play, his height is an obvious target with the Stoke long ball and high amount of crosses from the wide. He's scored twice already this campaign and if he gets double figures, which he should, then he should steer Stoke up the table. If Owen is fit and starting, the duo will be a good centre partnership, and like Adam and N'Zonzi in the centre of the park, will compliment each other well.



Crouch had a good first year with Stoke!

Prediction - 20th. I know I touched upon it before, saying that Stoke won't go down; however I've got to stick with my prediction! It's not inconceivable they'll be in trouble this season, but in their opening four games they've shown they can be solid against the top sides, whilst being difficult to beat away from home, gaining creditable points away against Reading and Wigan.

The Autopsy: Manchester United vs Stoke

After defeat to Liverpool in the FA Cup on Saturday, three points against a strong Stoke side was essential. Come the end of the evening the win looked even better thanks to an old boy in the form of Darron Gibson whose strike beat City to ensure we joined our city rivals at the summit of the Barclays Premier League. The game itself was a tale of two penalties as both Javier Hernandez and Dimitar Berbatov slotted home from 12 yards for a routine Old Trafford victory.

Team selection.
Ben Amos was selected for a Premier League debut ahead of David De Gea and Anders Lindegaard and he was a mere spectator for the evening as Stoke failed to trouble the youngster. Still no Nani, Phil Jones and Wayne Rooney available to Sir Alex; however Rio Ferdinand did return having missed the defeat away to Liverpool on the weekend. Its been a long time since the gaffer has been able to call apon a fully fit squad and that was no change for last night’s game; however with Chelsea up next on the weekend, Sir Alex will be hoping the aforementioned trio will be able to return come Sunday.

The match
To be honest I expected more from Stoke and the debutant Amos, a Cameron Jerome header aside, was so untroubled you couldn’t believe it. Stoke have only ever had more possession against a Premier League opposition twice in the whole of their three year stay in the Barclays Premier League, so the huge possession stats in our favour came as no surprise. Michael Carrick and Paul Scholes were again at ease in the centre of the park, I even heard a stat that both Carrick and Scholes completed 50 more passes then the whole of the Stoke side, which even by Stoke’s passing standard is poor.

In truth the game was quite dull and the only real talking point was should we have had more then the two penalties; with four that could’ve been given. 1) Park was fouled by Jermaine Pennant and we were rightly awarded the penalty. 2) Robert Huth handled a Hernandez cross, which wasn’t given, though to be fair probably was the least clear cut. 3) Valencia was bundled over by Jonathan Walters and was a stonewall penalty. 4) Patrice Evra was fouled in the box, wasn’t given, with even Tony Pulis admitting it should’ve been a penalty in his post-match interview.

Antonio Valencia
Stoke changed their mentality of fielding four centre halves at the back to deal with United’s in form wingers; however Antonio Valencia again exposed an opponent’s left back as Andy Wilkinson was given a torrid time. Before his recent burst of form I was starting to question whether Valencia could match his performance level prior to his horrific injury against Rangers last season; however on the back of being the best player on the pitch at Anfield last week, he was again at his tormenting best.

In truth Dickinson isn’t the best full-back Valencia will come up against this season, but the Ecuadorian international was probably again the best player on the pitch, as he highlighted that with a great run and pass to find Berbatov, who should’ve made it three late on.

With Nani out for an unknown period of time now, Valencia’s form is key as he is our only winger who you’d really fancy in a one-on-one with a full-back. With eight Premier League assists in just the 15 games, his crossing has become a key element to our game in recent weeks. Ashley Cole’s red card against Swansea last night ruled him out of the game on Sunday, meaning that Valencia is likely to be up against a defensively poor Jose Boswinga playing on the wrong side, so here’s to more Valencia chaos on Sunday.

A quick Pogba plea
Having seen Ravel Morrison leave for West Ham United on deadline day, I’m hoping the equally as talented Paul Pogba won’t leave come the end of the season.  The Frenchman came on for a brief 14 minutes last night and showed a lot of potential and despite his contract coming up at the end of the season, very much in the same fashion as Morrison’s, United are more confident Pogba will sign on the dotted line.

Overview
There is no doubt we weren’t at our best last night but again at Old Trafford we did the necessary and gained the vital three points whilst our main rivals for the title slipped up at their bogey ground. The penalties aside, we only really created a Berbatov chance late on, but when you turn into the New Year it’s not about how you win, it’s if you win? And currently we are doing that in the Barclays Premier League.

How would the Premier League look if the big calls were given correctly?

Ever wondered how the league would change if all the big refereeing talking points in games went correctly?

Here is how the league would look if the huge decisions in games were given appropriately.

The red card decisions are given by when they were (i.e David Luiz red card would've been in 3rd minute so unlikely Chelsea would've won all three points with ten men for 87 minutes)

Using this Stoke have been the most fortunate side this season, where as QPR and Liverpool have been the unluckiest.

Some big and incorrect decisions (i.e Gary Cahill red card vs Tottenham), I've not included as in all likely-hood they wouldn't have had an impact on the game.



Biggest movers up
QPR would move into the top half of the table (Three places)
Liverpool would move up one place, but gain four points (One place)
Wigan would be out of the bottom three (Two places)




Biggest fallers
Stoke would fall from 8th down to 12th (Four places)
West Brom would slip into the bottom three (Three places)
Chelsea would fall to sixth (Three places)


Manchester City (+1)

+1 vs. Chelsea- David Silva should have been awarded a penalty when they were leading 1-0.

Manchester United (0)

+2 vs. Newcastle- Demba Ba’s penalty was an incorrect decision.

-2 vs. Chelsea- 2 goals offside.

Chelsea (-3)
-2 vs. Chelsea- David Silva should have been awarded a penalty when Chelsea were trailing 1-0.

-2 vs. Newcastle- David Luiz should’ve seen red at 0-0.

+1 vs. Manchester United- 2 goals offside.

Tottenham (-1)

+1 vs. Stoke- Should’ve had either a goal or penalty at 1-2.

-2 vs. Fulham- Kyle Walker handball should’ve cost them a win.

Arsenal (0)

No point change

Liverpool (+4)

+3 vs. Fulham- Luiz Suarez disallowed goal at 0-0 plus Jay Spearing red card.

-2 vs. Everton- Jack Rodwell red card was wrong and could’ve changed game.

+1 vs. Stoke- Two penalty decisions went against Liverpool.
+2 vs. Sunderland- Kieron Richardson should've been sent off early on, probably wouldn't get a point.

Newcastle (-2)

+1 vs. Chelsea- David Luiz should’ve been sent off after 3 minutes, would’ve changed game.

-1 vs. Manchester United- Demba Ba’s penalty was incorrect decision.

-2 vs. Wolves- Wolves incorrect disallowed goal.

Stoke (-5)

-2 vs. Tottenham- Spurs should have had one goal or a penalty.

-2 vs. Liverpool- Two penalty decisions went against Liverpool.

-1 vs. Norwich- Leon Barnett red card was wrong, meaning Norwich might have held on.

Aston Villa (0)

+1 vs. West Brom- Chris Herd dismissal was wrong.

-1 vs. QPR- Villa’s penalty was an incorrect one.

Norwich (+1)

-1 vs. Blackburn- Incorrect penalty for Norwich in last minute.

+2 vs. Stoke- Leon Barnett red card was never a red card.

Swansea (0)

No point change

Everton (+1)

+1 vs. Liverpool- Jack Rodwell red card was incorrect, could’ve swung game.

QPR (+4)

+2 vs. West Brom- Shaun Wright-Phillips incorrect disallowed goal.

+2 vs. Aston Villa- Villa’s penalty was an incorrect one.

Fulham (-1)

-2 vs. Liverpool- Jay Spearing red card? Luiz Suarez disallowed goal.

+1 vs. Tottenham- Kyle Walker blatant handball at 1-2.

West Brom (-3)

-1 vs. QPR-  Shaun Wright-Phillips incorrect disallowed goal at 0-1.

-2 vs. Aston Villa- Chris Herd red card was never a dismissal at 0-1.

Sunderland (-2)

+1 vs. Wolves- Jamie O’Hara handled the ball before Fletcher scored winner.

-2 vs. Blackburn- Chris Samba disallowed header would’ve made it 0-2.
-1 vs. Liverpool- Richardson should have been sent off, they probably wouldn't get a point.

Wolves (-1)

-2 vs. Sunderland- Jamie O’Hara handled the ball before Fletcher scored winner.

+1 vs. Newcastle- Last minute disallowed goal was incorrect.

Wigan (+2)

+2 vs. Blackburn- Morten Gamst Pedersen corner goal.

Blackburn (+2)

+1 vs. Sunderland- Chris Samba disallowed header would’ve made 2-0.

-1 vs. Wigan- Morten Gamst Pedersen corner goal.

+2 vs. Norwich- Last minute penalty for Norwich was incorrect.

Bolton

No point change