It is almost two years since Wayne Rooney last came on as a substitute for Manchester United. It's almost seven years since he came on and scored.

The England international is straight into the action as he stands over a United free-kick, floating the ball to Marouane Fellaini but the midfielder commits a foul in the area and Stoke get a free-kick.

The whistle goes and we are back under way. 

Could this be the last 45 minutes of Louis van Gaal's Manchester United career? Or will he live to fight another day?

Image source, Reuters

Wayne Rooney is indeed coming on. Louis van Gaal feeds him some instructions before slapping him on the back. Memphis Depay is the man to make way.

Stoke also make a change as Marco Van Ginkel replaces Glenn Whelan.

Wayne Rooney is out warming up and in discussions with one of the Manchester United coaches. Coming on? Will it even make a difference?

United finished that half with three shots on target, but none of them really tested Jack Butland. 

Big improvement needed.

Stuart Tunstal: Big difference is Stoke attackers have had to fight their way to the top. Depay, Martial and other big money players with big egos have been spoon fed. An arrogant manager as well to match.

Alex, Somerset: Another Louis van howler. Forget signing a striker in January and sign Guardiola NOW!

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Jimmy Armfield
BBC Radio 5 live at the Britannia Stadium

Image source, Reuters

"The Manchester United team has to improve somehow in the second half. Louis van Gaal needs some strength in the team. Morgan Schneiderlin has that. Wayne Rooney is named on the bench so he must be fit.

"The one thing they wanted here today was solidity at the back and no errors. It happened though,. The first goal was a walk in and United were scattered, they have not recovered from that, the second goal was well struck but nobody was closing him down.

"Louis van Gaal has to do something about the midfield area. There are good players in this team, but we have not seen them."

Image source, .

Manchester United's misfortune is summed up as Daley Blind slips as he crosses and the ball bobbles out for a goal kick. That rather embarrassing moment happens to be the last action of the half.

It has been a comedy of errors from United so far. Remember when they were a team to be feared?

Juan Mata curls a ball into the box but it is just over the head of Ander Herrera. How Mata will have wished that was Marouane Fellaini making the run, the cross was probably the perfect height for the big man.

Image source, PA

Gary Robert, mid-Wales: Only change at half-time should be a taxi for LvG. Get stripped Jose, you're on.

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Three minutes of added time as the camera focuses on Louis van Gaal. There's no urgency from the Manchester United boss as he remains sat in his seat, binder in hand and one of his coaches instead standing up to urge the players forward.

Shaun, Somerset: Crickey! I see LvG has saved his portion of Turkey for today with former Red Devil Mark Hughes happy to offer him as much 'stuffing' as possible... Time for Giggs.

Jeffery Nabong: Van Gaal is living on past reputation. His authoritarian style of management is slowly and surely killing this team.

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Manchester United, though, are pressing a bit more now as half-time approaches. If they can grab one before the break, then who knows what could happen in the second half.

Glenn Whelan heads a corner into the sidenetting, but the hosts get a free-kick as Marouane Fellaini is spotted grappling his marker.

Image source, Getty Images

OK, Wayne Rooney's form has been poor but the service a Manchester United forward receives is often poor this season. Anthony Martial, playing as a lone striker, has touched the ball just twice inside the area, and is often having to drop deep to get the ball. His frustration at getting little inside the box is highlighted when he smashes the ball well over from outside the area.

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Better from Manchester United as Anthony Martial wins a corner. Daley Blind takes it, aiming for the head of Marouane Fellaini, but it is knocked behind again by a Stoke player. Glenn Whelan then sweeps up the second corner.

Big moment as Marko Arnautovic spurns the chance to seal the three points. 

Both Ashley Young and Phil Jones fail to pick up his run as he breaks the offside trap to latch onto Bojan's ball. He is one-on-one, looks certain to score, but shoots wide.

That's about the only thing that has gone right for Manchester United so far...

Image source, Reuters

What can Louis van Gaal do to rescue this? 

If I was him, I'd be having a serious look at Ashley Young at right back. He is getting torn apart by Marko Arnautovic and Bojan. Time to throw caution to the wind?

Nothing much to report from matters on the pitch. Stoke, at the moment, are fully in control.

Josh Hammond: Well... who didn't see this coming...  

Jean-Paul Brayer: If Man United get to the 40-point mark they will be safe - just let us have a bit of confidence in Van Gaal! 

Adesanya Gabriel: The only silver lining about the score right now is that Louis van Gaal will be sacked. It wasn't this bad under David Moyes

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