The MNF offering has tempted me to get involved in some of the games Goal mkts. This season has seen the emergence xG, Expected Goals etc  from the Analytics Hipsters enter the mainstream.  There's no doubt it can be a valueable tool to have in the punting amoury, although the meticulously styled facial hair & skinny jeans are deffo uneccesary.

I've read a fair bit of stats citing Utd were outperforming  their expected goals tally and i suppose those authors will be smugly sat sipping their latte's with the slight correction that occured over the busy december period. Taking a more  old skool look at the figures combined with a less scientific view of how the game may pan out i'm backing Utd to heap more misery on Stoke.

Some vitals :

Stoke have conceeded more than anyone to date..47, away they've shipped 27 in 11 scoring 10.

Their away defeats include ..7-2 City, 5-1 Spurs, 5-0 Chelsea & at home they've been on the end of a -2 hcp,  0-4 Chel, 0-3 Liv & 0-3 WHam.

Utd have scored a respectable 45 goals to date...25 at Home from 11, with only 5 conceeded in the process.

If we drill into Utd's record it shows an obvious trend in putting away the 'lesser' opponents especially before the fixture pile up.

PL Home victories of 4-0 against West Ham,Palace,Everton & 4-1 Newc. On the road 4-0 Swansea, 4-2 Watford & cup wins of 4-1 versus Burton & CSKA.

The title is gone for Utd, not even Devon Loch ridden by Kevin Keegan could throw it away.  Stoke was dubbed 'the Brexit Capitol of Britain' after the Referendum. The blue passports they valiantly fought for at the ballot box will not be required by their support next season.  For Utd & the rest of the so called big clubs they all have to at least save face & qualify for the CL, potential humiliation awaits for 2 of the 5 Managers who miss out.

On paper Stoke's visit to Old Trafford should be the perfect way for Utd to start the 'new' campaign on the right note.  A ten day break at this stage was a godsend for Mourinho, the 5 day warm weather trainiing in Dubai and it's rays of Vitamin D should see them re-energised enough to produce the type of 'Flat Track Bully' performance so evident early doors.

So far i've gone with Utd -2 on the Hcp @15/8, although that's with Sportsbook & they only let me have £13.80... i'll be topping up elsewhere & Utd to score  4 or more @11/4 Slybet & Sportsbook

Any football gambling i do till the end of the season is gonna have a positive outcome & not just for the cream-cookies.  It's been bl00dy cold in Mcr recently & even the predicted warm front from burning Coutinho shirts drifting down the East Lancs didn't bring any respite.... @Coffee4Craig are a local charity dealing with the worsening homeless situation, they recently appealed for sleepingbags & with a positive expectancy of a result on Mon i've paid it forward with a donation. I'll be more than happy sending them a fiver on top for every goal Utd manage.