Premier League, Stoke City
Season Preview: Stoke - A season to savour
James Knowles assesses Stoke's chances of survival in their much-anticipated - and long overdue - return to the top flight.
2007/08 In a Nutshell: After 23 years of waiting, Stoke City finally clinched promotion back to the top flight of English football. Having done their best to throw the opportunity away, Stoke raced across the finish line with an impressive final four games, culminating in a wild pitch invasion at home to Leicester. All in all, it was a perfect season for The Potters.
Summer Activity: Stoke have added just three players thus far, the most impressive being Reading’s Dave Kitson for a club record £5.5 million. Despite having plenty of money at his disposal, manager Pulis is looking for the right character of player to add to the ranks, resulting in him turning down a move for Valencia’s Nikola Zigic. More faces must follow soon for Stoke to stand any chance of survival.
Key Men: Set pieces are going to be huge for Stoke this season, and it will be hoped that last season’s player of the year Liam Lawrence can replicate his form. At the back, ex-Man Utd man Ryan Shawcross will have his work cut out but he has shown the potential to be a future England centre half. If Kitson can score another ten goals (like he did last season) then it will be money well invested.
Rising Star: With committed youngsters Carl Dickinson and Andy Wilkinson waiting in the wings, this will be the season that Shawcross comes of age. Weighing in with some superb defending, as well as a healthy tally of eight goals last season, there are high hopes for the under 21 international. His progress could well hinge on whether Pulis decides to sign a new centre back to partner him this season.
Coach: The Welsh wizard Tony Pulis has performed miracles to get Stoke into the top flight. Working with a tight budget, the chairman’s wallet opened a little last season to ensure The Potters secured promotion. Pulis has worked shrewdly in the market this summer but needs to work quickle to add more. If anybody can keep Stoke afloat this season, it is Pulis.
Prospects for 2008/09: Surviving relegation would surpass Stoke’s achievement of gaining promotion last season. It is as simple as that. In Pulis, Stoke have a cautious manager who will be able to grind out results when the chips are down. Make no mistake, Stoke won’t ‘do a Derby’. This will be a tight season at the bottom end of the table and it will be hoped that the new faces at the Britannia Stadium have enough class to keep them above the drop line.
Footballing World Prediction: 18th
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I think it will be a very tough year for Stoke. They must invest more, or otherwise they will head down the same path as Watford and Derby.
Out of the three promoted sides, West Brom appear to have the best chance of survival, with Hull very much in the same boat as Stoke.
Cuellar would not have joined Stoke, are you kidding! the UEFA cup final to premiership relegation NO CHANCE !! Good luck Stoke….but stop kidding your fans on with unrealistic signings!!!
a great honest report. better than all the other useless drivel ive read
you should be a journo
Very good report Knowles!
Well done to you!