It was really cold and dismal winters night last year at Stoke but you do get fabulously cheap fish and chips near the railway station, so you have factor that in when predicting a battering.
Younes Kaboul’s hospital career has been blighted by Watford appearances. Could this be his next one?
watford have muffed my bets recently (literally being the only team to screw them up) but im feeling good gonna go for a watford win in my acca at 2/1 decent price we need to get at least 4 points from next three anything less is disappointing, i say three at stoke maybe one from chelsea and three from west ham revival starts here three nil to watford
Deeney (if he plays) scores a 92nd minute winner - which angers Peter Crouch - who gives him a face slap. Deeney walks over to the Stoke fans in protest of this event and steals some kid's chips and eats them walking down the tunnel as Gray and Holebas do their best to stop laughing.
...and then you wonder why watford have "muffed" your bets recently ???????? Think you need a dose of reality.
Stoke have the advantage of having rested players for 10 days since their last game, plus the longer time with their new manager, and will be buoyant after winning their last match. With BMuff and Brighton to come in their next 2 games they have a clear route away from the bottom 3 if they take it. I'm very worried about this game and would happily take a 0-0 but I struggle to see us either scoring or keeping a clean sheet.
I will go for an unusually optimistic prediction: Stoke 1-0 Watford Deeney (0g) 90+4; Deeney (miss pen 86, miss pen 90+2, sent off 90+4) MOTM: Deeney.
Rumours he has been sacked for the appalling run of results since he took over and lack of a "bounce". We are attempting a "double-bounce" by appointing a new man.
Cleverley and Deeney back for this one which probably explains why we didn't rush the DM and attacker signings. Kaboul not ready just yet so still weak at CB. Hughes, Femenia and Britos all doing light training so hopefully not too far away.
I am hoping for something like this. Karnezis Janmaat Pr*dl Kabasele Holebas Ricahrlison (RW) Cleverley Doucouré Pereyra (LW) Deeney Gray
Kaboul can be seen training in the Deulofeu interview - a centre back pairing of he and Kabasele is probably the best we have and should be just about good enough for this level - should he recover his form and maintain his fitness (the full-backs remain the main defensive concern).
Cleverley is not good enough for a two man midfield, and Pr*dl is a donkey now and appears to have fallen down the pecking order. Also why would you suddenly switch Richie to the right, where he has never played for us? I'd say: GK (don't care which) Janmaat, Kaboul, Kabasele, Holebas, Deulofeu, Cleverley, Doucouré, Richarlison, Pereyra, Gray
Cleverley has been a stand out player for us this season and our other current options are Watson and Capoue. Pr*dl is our only fit centre back except Mariappa who is crap unless Kaboul is fit now in that case I would go with Kaboul.
Slavi would have been planning for this game since last Sunday so you could understand why he wouldn't
He was alright at the start of the year, he's been one of the worst during our slump. However, I more mean it's too much of a risk to play 4-4-2 away from home with Cleverley as one of the two. As for Pr*dl, well I'm hoping for Kaboul instead.
I suspect Gracia would have been aware of the possibility of new signings in time for the game, plus Deulofeu has already had the opportunity to train with the squad. Also, maybe it's riskier with new defenders having to learn a system, but it should be pretty simple for Deulofeu to just slot in exactly where Carillo was operating.
To be fair I do like the look of this side. The only reason I wen 4-4-2 is because all of the research I did about Slavi suggested that is what his preferred formation is. I didn't actually watch the Southampton game as I was at work and I couldn't bring myself to look at it after what I had heard about it on here and from my dad that was at the game so wasn't sure what formation we played.
I would hope Javi wants to win the game. Pereyra hasn't had a decent game for about 15 months, and looks incredibly disinterested. I doubt an away trip to Stoke is going to suddenly snap him out of it.
