At the final whistle Van Gaal had the haunted look of a man running out of ideas – and time – to turn around a team whose season is collapsing around them. Van Gaal had demanded apologies from the media but, after this, should expect them from his players while delivering one himself also to the club.
Man Utd attacking thirds
So far there has been little real appetite to sack Van Gaal from the United hierarchy – despite Jose Mourinho’s overtures to succeed him - but that is being severely tested right now after a fourth straight defeat and a seventh match in a row now without a victory.
It is not just the losses the terrible performances also as United crumpled here and showed little sign of recovering after conceding two first-half goals. No player performed well as they were deservedly beaten by a Stoke side not even close to performing to their best. But they were plenty good enough to win this.
Captain Wayne Rooney started on the bench, the first time he had been dropped for a Premier League match in almost two years, but could not inspire a turnaround as he came on at half-time for the hapless Memphis Depay. Instead his frustration was evident.
The tension was palpable from kick-off. And then, after 20 minutes, Bojan Krkic cut it. He scored. It came after a terrible mistake by Depay who headed weakly back towards David De Gea as Glen Johnson chased down Geoff Cameron’s ball forward. Johnson ran on, anticipated the mistake and collected possession. The right-back then had the calmness to cut the ball back into Bojan path and he took a touch before poking it into the net.
It got worse for United. Ashley Young, inexplicably, raised his arm to protect his face as a cross came in from the corner of the penalty area and conceded a free-kick. Bojan’s effort was blocked but it rebounded to Arnautovic who lashed a fierce shot from 25 yards that flew past De Gea. As fine a strike as it was there was no attempt to close Arnautovic down. Again Depay was culpable.
United desperately needed a response and Depay almost caught Butland out with a free-kick that bounced in front of the goalkeeper who turned it back into play and straight to Marouane Fellaini but he was flagged for offside even as Butland held his mis-hit shot from close-range.
In fact, before half-time, Stoke should have gone further ahead with Ibrahim Affelay threading the ball through to Arnautovic, who got away from Young again, but he took the shot early and it bounced narrowly wide when he had time and space to run at De Gea.
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Stoke were in command without having, actually, played that well. They could also have been out-of-sight with United a desperate, disorganised collection of players who did not appear capable of rousing themselves even if they needed to find a response before half-time.
Possession stats
Maybe it was the predictably blustery conditions, maybe it was the sense of turbulence around this fixture, but it was also scrappy, disjointed.
It felt nervous and fraught with United pushing Fellaini into the “number 10” role behind Anthony Martial and launching the ball long towards him in a kind of role reversal to what they experienced at the Britannia Stadium not so long ago.
Van Gaal had explained explained that he had omitted Rooney as part of his “game plan”. A game plan that meant he included Ander Herrera – although that did not quite explain why a striker had to give way for a midfielder.
A free-kick from Xherdan Shaqiri was allowed to run through to Bojan Krkic who was afforded time and space but whose eventual shot was blocked. At the other end and Juan Mata’s free-kick was held by Butland at his near post.
There was more urgency from United with Rooney on the pitch – and presumably a flea in their ear from Van Gaal – although the loss for Stoke of Glenn Whelan through injury, was also a factor given his replacement Marco Van Ginkel struggled to impose himself.
Stoke attacking thirds
United continued to dominate possession without threatening the Stoke goal until Rooney finally created down the right, pulling the ball back for Fellaini. His shot was deliberate, lacked pace but still Butland reacted superbly to push it away one-handed. Even so Fellaini had to score.
Butland also denied Anthony Martial, who had endured a difficult time, as he tried to place the ball around him and Juan Mata with a near post shot but Stoke had their half-chances as they deservedly ran out winners.
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