Arsenal, Bournemouth, Burnley, Crystal Palace, Chelsea, Everton, Hull City, Leicester City, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Middlesbrough, Southampton
Last season
Having thrown off the Tony Pulis shackles of long throws and borderline violent play, Stoke have slowly become one of the better footballing sides in the Premier League. Having attracted the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Bojan Krkic, and most impressively, Xherdan Shaqiri, Mark Hughes has the Potters playing like a top half side. It showed too, with Stoke finishing an impressive 9th, with their highest points tally of all time.
Having thrown off the Tony Pulis shackles of long throws and borderline violent play, Stoke have slowly become one of the better footballing sides in the Premier League. Having attracted the likes of Marko Arnautovic, Bojan Krkic, and most impressively, Xherdan Shaqiri, Mark Hughes has the Potters playing like a top half side. It showed too, with Stoke finishing an impressive 9th, with their highest points tally of all time.
Backroom setup
Unsurprisingly, Mark Hughes is retained as coach, and will be charged with making his money continue to go further, as well as bringing in some defensive talent to even out the attacking flair currently at the club. Consistency was the only thing lacking last year, taking the Potters away from the European spots.
Unsurprisingly, Mark Hughes is retained as coach, and will be charged with making his money continue to go further, as well as bringing in some defensive talent to even out the attacking flair currently at the club. Consistency was the only thing lacking last year, taking the Potters away from the European spots.
Pre-season
Bookended by disappointing results, Stoke's pre-season arguably didn't provide the greatest challenge for a Premier League club. With two games against Orlando City's A and B teams offering little in the way of true match practice, with the Potters winning against the first team 2-1, before a 5-0 hammering of the reserves. However, their other matches presented a greater problem than they should have done, beginning with a 3-0 defeat away at Championship Burton Albion.
Having done that, they could only manage a draw at Preston North End before heading stateside, with a 1-1 result hardly a convincing performance. While Mame Biram Diouf did manage goals in each of those three matches, any momentum that Stoke had built up was gone with a final match defeat at Hamburg, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Bundesliga last year.
Bookended by disappointing results, Stoke's pre-season arguably didn't provide the greatest challenge for a Premier League club. With two games against Orlando City's A and B teams offering little in the way of true match practice, with the Potters winning against the first team 2-1, before a 5-0 hammering of the reserves. However, their other matches presented a greater problem than they should have done, beginning with a 3-0 defeat away at Championship Burton Albion.
Having done that, they could only manage a draw at Preston North End before heading stateside, with a 1-1 result hardly a convincing performance. While Mame Biram Diouf did manage goals in each of those three matches, any momentum that Stoke had built up was gone with a final match defeat at Hamburg, who narrowly avoided relegation from the Bundesliga last year.
Squad and signings
Mark Hughes has provided an overwhelming vote confidence in his Stoke squad, making just two signings for the first team. Most notably, the Potters signed defensive midfielder and 'Welsh Xavi' Joe Allen from Liverpool for a typically inflated £13m, while Ramadan Sobhi joined from Al Ahly for £5m.
Similarly, very little has happened on the reverse side, with only two first team players released in Steve Sidwell and Peter Odemwingie. Clearly, Hughes feels his squad has only improved since last year, and has the potential to compete with the sides around them, despite having spent considerable amounts.
Mark Hughes has provided an overwhelming vote confidence in his Stoke squad, making just two signings for the first team. Most notably, the Potters signed defensive midfielder and 'Welsh Xavi' Joe Allen from Liverpool for a typically inflated £13m, while Ramadan Sobhi joined from Al Ahly for £5m.
Similarly, very little has happened on the reverse side, with only two first team players released in Steve Sidwell and Peter Odemwingie. Clearly, Hughes feels his squad has only improved since last year, and has the potential to compete with the sides around them, despite having spent considerable amounts.
Tactics
Far from the long ball tactics employed in the original Stoke City Premier League side, you can expect to see more of the slick football witnessed from the likes of Shaqiri, Arnautovic and Bojan. They will remain physically imposing at the back, but it's a much more attractive style of play than the Britannia Stadium became used to under Pulis.
Far from the long ball tactics employed in the original Stoke City Premier League side, you can expect to see more of the slick football witnessed from the likes of Shaqiri, Arnautovic and Bojan. They will remain physically imposing at the back, but it's a much more attractive style of play than the Britannia Stadium became used to under Pulis.
Predictions
Stoke have been on a consistent roll, cementing themselves as a top half team in the last couple of years. I don't see that changing, but they may struggle over the coming years if more investment in players is not made.
Stoke have been on a consistent roll, cementing themselves as a top half team in the last couple of years. I don't see that changing, but they may struggle over the coming years if more investment in players is not made.
Final position: 9th
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