Jose Mourinho's United continue to swing radically from one end of the
spectrum to the other in terms of performance as they strive to find a
firm footing under the new manager. They repeatedly punched
champions Leicester in the face last week in the Premier League in a rousing first-half display but then swung the other way in a ponderous 1-0 defeat of Zorya in the Europa League
Mourinho's decision to rest Daley Blind and the increasingly influential Ander Herrera on Thursday highlights his issues when delving just below his leading squad members when he chooses to switch things around. If history is anything to go by in terms of this fixture at Old Trafford, though, then the Portuguese could probably select the first 11 fans through the turnstiles. Stoke's miserable record now reads eight successive defeats on this ground in the Premier League and a fairly abysmal start to the season means the hosts are a prohibitive odds-on shot to heap more misery on Mark Hughes and the Potters. The latter are a top-10 outfit without doubt on paper but it just hasn't happened for them so far where it matters when they cross the whitewash with some sloppy efforts you would not associate with a team marshalled by Hughes. They almost got over the line last week until conceding right at the death at home to West Brom but there were clear signs that the tide was starting to turn a little. That certainly includes the return of Xherdan Shaqiri and the fact he got through 90 minutes and declared himself fully fit is a huge boost - it was no surprise to see him play a big part in Joe Allen's opening goal. "I will get better and so will the team. We will be okay," said the Swiss star this week and it would be typical of the current British top flight to see them come here against all the odds and land a 10/1 skinner for the layers. I would probably want to see a bit more from them in all honesty despite those green shoots against the Baggies but I do think there is enough optimism to see them make an impact. Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic, Wilfred Bony and hopefully Allen (slight hamstring issue) are a handful so I would back both teams to score at a fraction of odds-against.
champions Leicester in the face last week in the Premier League in a rousing first-half display but then swung the other way in a ponderous 1-0 defeat of Zorya in the Europa League
Mourinho's decision to rest Daley Blind and the increasingly influential Ander Herrera on Thursday highlights his issues when delving just below his leading squad members when he chooses to switch things around. If history is anything to go by in terms of this fixture at Old Trafford, though, then the Portuguese could probably select the first 11 fans through the turnstiles. Stoke's miserable record now reads eight successive defeats on this ground in the Premier League and a fairly abysmal start to the season means the hosts are a prohibitive odds-on shot to heap more misery on Mark Hughes and the Potters. The latter are a top-10 outfit without doubt on paper but it just hasn't happened for them so far where it matters when they cross the whitewash with some sloppy efforts you would not associate with a team marshalled by Hughes. They almost got over the line last week until conceding right at the death at home to West Brom but there were clear signs that the tide was starting to turn a little. That certainly includes the return of Xherdan Shaqiri and the fact he got through 90 minutes and declared himself fully fit is a huge boost - it was no surprise to see him play a big part in Joe Allen's opening goal. "I will get better and so will the team. We will be okay," said the Swiss star this week and it would be typical of the current British top flight to see them come here against all the odds and land a 10/1 skinner for the layers. I would probably want to see a bit more from them in all honesty despite those green shoots against the Baggies but I do think there is enough optimism to see them make an impact. Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic, Wilfred Bony and hopefully Allen (slight hamstring issue) are a handful so I would back both teams to score at a fraction of odds-against.
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