Stoke v West Brom: Inside track on the Potters
West Brom make the short trip to Stoke on Monday, but what do you know about the Potters?
We spoke with Peter Smith from StokeonTrentLive to get a proper look at Albion's opponents.
See what he had to say here...
What have you made of Stoke’s start to the season, it seems to have been a bit turbulent?
Turbulent is putting it mildly. This is the worst start to a Stoke season since 1984 and a year that everyone thought would never be challenged for its awfulness.
There have been mitigating factors and games when they've not got what they've deserved... and games when they very much have.
There have been bad individual mistakes, including from players you wouldn't expect, and sloppy defending. And they haven't scored very many goals either. At first they could say they weren't taking chances but that ship has sailed too.
What happened regarding Nathan Jones, he seemed a man on incredibly thin ice earlier this campaign and has only now bitten the bullet?
Jones came in January with the second half of the season presented as a chance for him to lay the groundwork needed for whatever he wanted. It was all with the expectation that Stoke would come out of the traps firing this time around. It just hasn't happened.
He signed 12 players but only three of those can be pretty sure they will start on Monday. He insisted he had made big changes behind the scenes to 'the environment' but on the pitch, it carried on slipping the wrong way.
The fans had been incredibly patient. He was obviously giving it absolutely everything and his passion was infectious, regardless of results, but the wind turned and obviously the decision to sack him was made.
What’s been the main problem at Stoke since relegation, in your opinion?
You can point at a lot of things but recruitment is probably at the root cause of most of them.
There are expensive players signed in the Mark Hughes era who are shipped off playing somewhere on loan around Europe with years still left on their big money contracts.
And even the players brought in by Gary Rowett and Jones - even those with proper Championship pedigree - haven't delivered.
They've got the most expensively-assembled squad in the division but the only proof of that is on the bank balance.
What kind of football can we expect to see from Stoke against Albion on Monday?
Jones would have liked it to be on the front foot, aggressive and heavy pressing and we saw that a few times, although not for many complete 90 minutes.
Who are the big threats in this Stoke side for Albion to worry about and why?
Stoke have been better against teams who come to attack rather than sit back. It's no coincidence that the two wins have been against Swansea and Fulham.
Sam Clucas has shown a knack for getting in the right spots behind defences.
Badou Ndiaye has made a difference coming into defensive midfield having spent last season on loan at Galatasaray. There will probably be suitors in January.
What’s your predicted XI for the clash?
There's a choice between Sam Vokes, Scott Hogan and Tyrese Campbell to be Lee Gregory's partner up front.
Hopefully Peter Etebo and Tom Edwards are fit, so: Federici, Edwards, Martins Indi, Batth, Carter-Vickers, Ndiaye, Clucas, Etebo, Allen, Gregory, Hogan.
What have you made of Albion from afar, do you think they have what it takes to secure a return to the Premier League?
Hate to admit it but there's been a quiet jealousy about a team that looks like its got its act together. It'll be interesting to see Matheus Pereira in the flesh.
Promotion looks like it's anyone's for the taking if you can stay organised and have a goal threat. The Championship might be relentless but it's not big on quality this season.
Your match prediction?
I'd take a 0-0.
