Stoke 1 Manchester United 1: Review and Player Ratings

Manchester United below par away performance continued into the new year as the team could only manage a 1 – 1 draw at stoke, their second draw in five days. It was a game with few chances, but with United conceding their first goal of the year in less than two minutes into the game, the game had the making of a cracker. But didn’t live up to its expectation, as Falcao scored from a corner to cancel out Shawcross goal, - that was the first Premier League of the year.   With United’s game the early kick off, hopes were that a United  may put pressure on the top two teams in City and Chelsea, but the draw means that United have more chasing to do.
Redly United looks at the United players individually and rates their performance
De Gea: 7
The United keeper’s first game of the year was one he didn’t have much to do. He conceded his first goal of the year in less than two minutes into the game, one he couldn’t have done anything about.
Young: 6.5
It was his first start at right back in a while and was unlucky to be injured late on during the game. He had little to do defensive wise, but could have added more to the attack.

Jones: 6
An average performance from the English defender, he alongside his co – central defenders do well enough to stop Stokes’s set - pieces and crosses.
Smalling: 6
It was a good but less than perfect return for the defender. He was stable in the centre of the back three, but generally the United defence wasn’t top notch
Evans: 4
One wonders how he still gets to start games for United. It was below par performance from the defender, United were lucky not to have conceded a goal from his howler against Diouf.
Shaw: 7
He was beauty to behold in a match that was his first start in eight games. It was a more than decent return for the defender before he was substituted in what looked like a strange substitution for Adnan  Januzaj.
Carrick: 6
He was present in the midfield, but couldn’t fully stamp his authority on the game. He didn’t fully shield the defence from the terror of the stoke attack.
Mata: 6.5
It was another fine performance from the Spanish midfielder who was a constant threat to the stoke defence always looking to connect to the strikers with that final pass. He was full of live, especially in the second half, and was unlucky not to connect to a Herrera long pass into the box.
Rooney: 6
Another silent performance from the captain. He was seen all around but wasn’t effective in the final third, and couldn’t control the game and pose much threat to the stoke defence.
Van Persie: 5
Another below top notch performance from the striker. He couldn’t get the balls in the dangerous positions. He had just 17 touches throughout the game and only completed three passes in the first half.
Falcao: 8
He’s blending in into the united team, and seems to be getting better by each game.  He showed his predator instinct in his goal, and showed his physical presence on a couple of occasions. He had about 40 touches in the game before he was surprisingly substituted.

SUBSTITUTES
Herrera: 5
Nice to see him back play football, after his illness, though he didn’t do much to control the game.
Januzaj: 5.5
Good to see him back, but in a strange substitution by Van Gaal, he came on for Shaw and played as a left wing back, he put in some decent crosses and was lively.
Rafael: 5
Came on for injured Young, and was lively especially in helping out attacking wise.