The Stoke City supporters at the Football Transfer Tavern are looking forward to the season opener, against Middlesbrough that is just around the corner.
The Stoke fan at the bar is very confident that his side is going to get a win.
Stoke have been very consistent over the years, finishing ninth in the last three seasons, but with Middlesbrough just coming into the league, they could be a bit of an unknown challenge, but the consensus at the Transfer Tavern is that Stoke will be the victors at the end of the 90 minutes.
The tavern landlord runs through the team that could start for Stoke City against Middlesbrough and why they will begin their season with a win.
Who would you start if you were Mark Hughes and what do you think will be the outcome of Stoke’s opening game of the season?
GOALKEEPER: Jack Butland
He will have been frustrated at getting injured towards at the end of last season, but Jack Butland will come back determined to do well for Stoke City and get into the England starting XI.
He is one of the most promising goalkeepers in the Premier League and will be very tough to beat for Middlesbrough.
Having Butland will also make Stoke’s defenders be more confident and assured throughout the game, and they will be looking to keep a clean sheet against the newly promoted side.
RIGHT BACK: Glen Johnson
Johnson is confident defensively and can also cause problems when he goes forward.
The former England international has famously scored some incredible goals and could potentially do this again.
He is not just about the spectacular moments and he will be a reliable player for his team and he will help his team to overcome Middlesbrough.
CENTRE BACK: Ryan Shawcross
A very reliable centre back, Ryan Shawcross will lead the Stoke defence and make sure that Middlesbrough have trouble getting any sort of goalscoring opportunity.
He has a massive presence, is good at tackling and is good in the air and so he is a vital part of the Stoke City defence.
His aerial presence also makes him a threat from set pieces and could help him get a goal.
CENTRE BACK: Philip Wollscheid
It is between Wollscheid and Cameron who will take the centre back spot but Wollscheid could take it due to the performances that he has given in a Stoke shirt.
He has some bad games, but there have been times where he has been almost unbeatable, and if he has one of those games then it could be a very frustrating game for Middlesbrough.
LEFT BACK: Erik Pieters
Pieters has tied down the starting spot at Stoke City and will be solid for Stoke, completing what is a very good defence that will be difficult for Middlesbrough to get past.
He is tall for a full back and so this will help his side when defending at set pieces.
He is also good going forward and his deliveries into the box could get him an assist.
HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Joe Allen
After a brilliant Euro 2016 and a move that gives him a fresh start, Allen will be raring to go and will be looking to ensure that he is a first team regular.
The Welshman and Imbula could form a good partnership in the holding roles in midfield.
Allen will be industrious in defence and will be composed and efficient on the ball, and will help make sure that Stoke are able to dominate the ball and get it to the attacking players in the team.
HOLDING MIDFIELDER: Giannelli Imbula
Imbula is the bigger and more physically imposing of Stoke’s holding midfielders and will be able to win most aerial challenges in the middle of the pitch.
As well as helping him in the air, his physical qualities will allow him to drive through the midfield with power and will help him to create openings for himself and his team mates.
The contrast between him and Allen could help them to be a very effective partnership.
RIGHT WINGER: Xherdan Shaqiri
The former Inter Milan and Bayern Munich man showed what he is capable of with a spectacular strike for Switzerland at Euro 2016.
Stoke fans will be hoping to see more moments like that this season, as he showed glimpses of brilliance last campaign, but didn’t do it on as regular a basis as he or Stoke would have liked.
Nonetheless, if he turns up then Middlesbrough could be in trouble.
ATTACKING MIDFIELDER: Bojan
The Spaniard had some injury troubles last season, but this could be the year where he shows England the promise that he had when he was in Barcelona’s famous La Masia academy.
Bojan is incredible technically and if he able to perform consistently and add some more goals to his game, then he could be the key to Stoke pushing up the league.
LEFT WINGER: Marko Arnautovic
He was linked to Everton, but Arnautovic has signed a new deal with Stoke, which could prove to be one of the biggest signatures that Stoke get this summer.
He has occasional games where he seems distant, but when he turns up he is a brilliant player and he could be a real danger that Middlesbrough could struggle to deal with.
If he, Bojan and Shaquiri are all on top of their games, it could be a very difficult introduction to the Premier League for Middlesbrough and their defence.
STRIKER: Mame Biram Diouf
Stoke have been looking to bring in another striker in this window, but that hasn’t materialised yet and so Diouf is probably their best option up front.
He can be deadly when the ball is delivered to the box and he is a real handful due to his movement and physical presence.
He will test the Middlesbrough defence and make sure that have no time to rest.
