Source: Team_Talk
TEAMtalk Insider: Potters Predictions
The TEAMtalk office has been split all season over whether Stoke can compete in the Premier League this season so we decided to put our money where our mouths are and get our predictions down in writing. [LNB]Our Editor Simon Wilkes is confidently predicting the Potters will finish bottom but his Deputy James Marshment thinks they'll just survive while our Insider Mark Holmes, a Stoke season ticket holder, reckons mid-table security beckons. [LNB]We've drafted in another Stokie, James Knowles, to give his views each week and we're also speaking to an opposition fan each week to see how they get on predicting the Potters' results against their side. [LNB]Last time out[LNB]Stoke took on Portsmouth at the Britannia Stadium last weekend and it looked as though Potters fans Mark and James would bag the only points when their team took a 2-1 lead into stoppage time.[LNB]Ryan Shawcross scored a heartbreaking late own goal, though, and so our other three tipsters all claimed a point of their own after going for draws. The trio all predicted 1-1, however, meaning they missed out on the maximum of two points.[LNB]That leaves Mark and James cast further adrift at the bottom of our league table, with Simon continuing his long reign at the top.[LNB]The, based on a point for a correct result and two for a correct scoreline, now reads: Simon Wilkes 18, James Marshment 15, Opposition 14, Mark Holmes 11, James Knowles 6.[LNB]Stoke v Aston Villa Match Facts Stoke suffered the heartbreak of conceding a late equaliser in their last outing but Villa are stuttering themselves having taken one point from their last two home games and then going out in the UEFA Cup on Thursday, albeit with many of their top stars rested.[LNB]The Potters will not be daunted ahead of their trip to Villa Park either having beaten Martin O'Neill's side 3-2 at home at the start of the season. Liam Lawrence, Ricardo Fuller and Mama Sidibe scored the goals that day and all three could play a part this weekend.[LNB]Stoke are without Rory Delap and Matthew Etherington, though, and are still looking for their first away win of the season having so far suffered 10 defeats from their 13 games. Villa have dropped home points to the likes of Portsmouth, Fulham, Middlesbrough and Wigan, though, and Tony Pulis' side will be hopeful of taking their fourth point on the road.[LNB]To do so they must improve on a shoddy record at Villa Park that has seen them win six, draw seven and lose 31 of their league clashes with the Midlanders. In fact the last time Stoke won on Villa turf was way back in November 1965.[LNB]Predictions[LNB]Mark Holmes (TEAMtalk's Insider): I've got a lot of time for Villa and think they'll come through their recent stutter and hold on for a Champions League spot. [LNB]However I hope they're made to wait a week longer for a return to winning ways and I actually think Stoke will do that. Villa are brilliant on the counter-attack but I don't expect us to commit many men forward so they might struggle to break us down.[LNB]They've had a few bad results at home this season and haven't been playing at their best for a while so I really fancy us to frustrate them and nick something. I'd usually say 0-0 but we've got a striker who can't miss at the moment and I fancy Super James Beattie to net again. [LNB]We'd do well to win at Villa Park, though, so I'll begrudgingly tip up a 1-1 draw.[LNB]Simon Wilkes (TEAMtalk Editor): This was a massive Midlands battle before Saturday's games, but Middlesbrough's shock win over Liverpool put the Potters in the drop zone so has really cranked up the pressure on Tony Pulis' men.[LNB]At the other end of the table, Villa will be desperate to capitalise on Arsenal's draw with Fulham and pull even further away from them in the race for fourth place, and they'll be boosted by the return of the eight first-team regulars who were spared the long-haul trip to Moscow and back in midweek.[LNB]Stoke will rightly park the bus at Villa Park and challenge the hosts to break down them, as a point would be precious at this point of the season.[LNB]I do think, however, that Villa have got the manager and enough attacking options to unlock their defence, but only just and late on. 1-0 for me.[LNB]James Marshment (TEAMtalk Deputy Editor): Villa will still be licking their wounds from the manner of their late defeat at The Brit earlier in the season and will be wary of keeping their focus for the full 90 minutes this time.[LNB]I can't help but thinking, though, that the pace Villa possess down the flanks will just be too much for Stoke, although the possible inclusion of John Carew could make for a few interesting aerial duals.[LNB]Both sides need the points for very different reasons, and while I think Stoke will put in an honest shift, I think their efforts will go unrewarded. I'm going to say 3-0 to the Villa - and one of Stoke's biggest beatings.[LNB]James Knowles (Stoke season ticket holder): After the last minute heartbreak against Portsmouth, Stoke face the daunting task of going to Villa Park. Although not quite the fortress Villa would like it to be, they are in the top four on merit and it will not be at all easy.[LNB]I expect us to play for the draw, which is always a dangerous game. However, this attitutude was successful at Anfield so we might get lucky again.[LNB]It is about time we went for a win in an away game. Wouldn't it be lovely to complete the double over our Midland rivals?![LNB]As it is, if we are able to contain Ashley Young and Agbonlahor, I think we can keep the home fans quiet and steal a 0-0 draw. [LNB]And what the opposition think (Dave Goodban - Villa season ticket holder): I've seen a fair bit of Stoke this season and, looking at their fixtures, reckon they should stay up. They play counter-attacking football like us but sit back a lot away from home and that could make it difficult on Sunday.[LNB]We are at our best when teams leave space but I don't expect Stoke to leave much so I've got a sneaking feeling the game could be won by a set piece. We haven't been playing at our best for a while now, even when the results were going for us, but resting players in midweek was the right thing to do in my opinion. However I've just got a bad feeling it's going to be another frustrating home draw. I'll go for Stoke to go one up in the first half and for us to equalise before half-time, and I think it'll stay that way.[LNB][LNB]
