RADIO
Stoke City were for many years the club that everyone apart from their own fans wanted to be relegated. Under Tony Pulis they played a style of soccer that was not pretty on the eye, but was so effective that relegation was never in doubt.
Eventually even the Stoke fans had seen enough and wanted to progress their style. So it was that Mark Hughes was invited to try to achieve that aim and at the same time retain their much valued EPL status. It was a risk. However so far Hughes has not only maintained their status but has delivered their best EPL finish. He has done so playing a much more expansive style as illustrated in the 6-1 thrashing of Liverpool on the last day of last season. So far so good.
Editor’s Note: be sure to check out all of our articles, and read more about English Premier League (EPL, BPL) fantasy analysis and European football news.
England U21 Goalkeeper Jack Butland becomes the new No 1 following the departure of Azmir Begovic to Chelsea while additional defensive experience arrives in the shape of Glen Johnson (Liverpool) & Phillipp Wollscheid (Bayer Leverkusen). Ryan Shawcross remains the clubs most reliable defender who can also contribute at the other end of the field. It remains a mystery why Shawcross has not been given further opportunities at international level in a position where England lack options.
Meanwhile the midfield finds new energy in the shape of Marco Van Ginkel on loan from Chelsea. He will join Charlie Adam who scored that amazing goal vs. Chelsea last season, but remember he is also their set piece expert and likely penalty taker this season.
Bojan Krkic, who was signed from Barcelona, suffered a cruciate knee injury in an FA Cup tie in early January. He is hoping to be fit in time for the season opener, ironically against Liverpool. If he is good to go, it will be like securing an additional signing. Krkic had shown in the short time before his injury what a quality addition he is to the Stoke squad.
Expect much more to come in 2015-16. The attacking threat is also boosted by another arrival from Barcelona in the shape of Moha El Ouriachi, and by Joselu, a former Spanish U 21 international who arrived in a $8 million deal from Hannover 96.
Hughes is still seeking one more top quality addition to his squad and rumors suggest his target is Ukrainian winger Andriy Yarmolenko. If Hughes gets him, then Stoke will be even more formidable, especially at the Brittania Stadium.
Prediction: Stoke will have an excellent season and finish best of the rest (7th).
Players to watch: Ryan Shawcross (Defender), Charlie Adam (Midfield), Bojan Krkic (Attacker).
Football Chat Room
Share Your Thoughts
[iflychat_embed id="c-60" hide_user_list="yes" hide_popup_chat="no" height="400px"]
