English Premier League preview: Stoke City
Since arriving in the English Premier League in the 2008-09 season, Stoke City have become one of the most feared opponents due to their tough tackling and rock-solid defence. However, their lack of threat in front of goal could well turn out to be their downfall.
First-team manager Tony Pulis knows what his team’s strengths are and prefers to use the same players regularly. While this consistency is admirable, it may also prove to be a deterrent for any players Stoke hope to sign – Stoke have a specific approach to playing the game and will not bend this for any one player. Despite Pulis having been given a sizeable transfer budget after leading his team to a respectable 11th-place finish in the league last season, he does not look likely to change up his system.
Pulis is seeking to recruit two strikers to add to his squad, but this will not solve the problems plaguing Stoke - the side created the fewest shooting chances of any team in the EPL last season, had less ball possession than any other club and completed the fewest passes. It is this dearth of creativity in the middle of the pitch that is Pulis’ problem, along with the fact that his strikers find themselves regularly tracking back to help defend against attacks.
Long throw specialist
Rory Delap’s long throw is an effective, unique weapon in the Stoke armoury but a proper right-sided winger is needed to thump crosses into the box for a striker, along with an industrious attacking midfielder. Stoke have few problems winning and clearing the ball in defence, so allowing one of their midfielders to play higher up the pitch in an attempt to score more goals should be of the utmost importance to Pulis.
Perhaps Stoke’s most creative player at present is Matthew Etherington, who was named the club’s player of the season last term. In 38 matches in total last season, he notched seven goals, including three in the league, himself but was always capable of crossing from the left wing. More of his type of craft is needed if Pulis’ men are to push on and avoid making a step backwards.
The defence recorded the most clean sheets of any team outside of Chelsea, Manchester United, Aston Villa and Liverpool, with Thomas Sorensen proving an able goalkeeper. Ryan Shawcross is a hulking central defender not to be messed with, while Abdoulaye Faye will have to recover from the loss of form that plagued him if he is to take his place in the Stoke starting line-up. The full-backs are also good, effective players, with Danny Higgenbotham on the left and a variety of options on the right.
Menacing presence
Up front, Ricardo Fuller can be a menacing presence but his paltry three league goals last term is a woeful return for a club’s main striker. The other strikers – James Beattie, Mamady Sidibe, Dave Kitson and Tuncay Sanli – also managed between just two and four goals each, further proof that more chances have to be created for the frontmen if the club are to make any progress this year.
With Stoke scoring the second fewest goals of any club in the league last season (34, two more than the 32 Wolverhampton Wanderers scored), Stoke’s failure to create chances for their strikers will come back to haunt them, as games that they should win will quickly become draws.
Despite their robustness in defence, the lack of creativity in the squad is a major problem and they could soon find themselves playing in the Football League Championship once again.
Prediction: 19th
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