Pre-Season Discussion: A Look Ahead to the Future: Stoke City

A silent campaign for the Potters ended with them finishing 13th; sacking Tony Pulis, playing hard-style football and getting booed wherever they played throughout the country. Although you do not expect much from Stoke but just hanging on to their premier league status, their owners have taken a gamble by sacking the man who is primarily responsible for two things; a) keeping Stoke in the premiership b) by playing a very physical style of football. New manager Mark Hughes does not have a glittering history as manager and this gamble of breaking-up with physical football may prove to be a grave mistake. We take a look at expectations, transfers, and who to watch from the Britannia Stadium this season around.

Season 2012/13

• Jonathan Walters was top scorer scoring 11 goals.
• Stoke won 9 games (lowest), with 15 draws and 14 losses.
• Stoke City scored 34 premier league goals; only bottom-placed QPR scored less (30)
• Stoke City best win was a 3-1 home triumph against Liverpool.
• Stoke sacked Tony Pulis and replaced him with Mark Hughes. 

Transfers

Signings

Erik Pieters (PSV), Marc Muniesa (Barcelona)

 

Departures

Dean Whitehead, Matthew Upson, Rory Delap, Mamady Sidibe, Carlo Nash, Matthew Lund

They have not gone on a spending spree but what they have bought is an indication that Mark Hughes is looking to change the style at the Britannia. Erik Pieters is primarily an offensive left-back while Barcelona products are renowned for their ball-possession skills even if they are Center-backs. They might need a center-forward who can play the ball on the ground before the transfer window shuts close.

Man to Watch

Jonathan Walters

If Stoke City are to stay in the premier league; they will have to rely upon the goals of their most productive offensive player Walters. After single-handedly bearing the responsibility of scoring goals for Stoke last season around and considering no offensive players have bought in, it has to be understood that Hughes is looking at Walters to provide the spark again. Rest of the forward line consists of players like Crouch and Jerome who like the physical approach; that may collide with how Hughes wants Stoke to set up this season and thus the bulk of responsibility comes down to Jonathan Walters.

Verdict

Relegation: 19th

The only reason why Stoke are still in the top flight of English football is because of their hard and physical approach. Hughes after failing with a glittering squad of Manchester City and a cash-packed QPR side is not someone who you would entrust the responsibility of taking a club forward while changing its entire philosophy. The decision of changing the complexity of Stoke may end up being a mistake the Potters' Chairman will regret. Their is not enough quality in the side to play expansive football and the manager in itself is a liability when it comes to working under immense pressure; pressure of saving a club from relegation.