Premiership preview, table prediction: 11. Stoke City

Stoke City

Stoke City Barclays Premier League position preview 2011/12

Manager: Tony Pulis

Ground: Britannia Stadium

Nickname: The Potters

Capacity: 28383

Squad:

·         Goalkeepers 1 Asmir Begovic 27 Carlo Nash 29 Thomas Sorensen Dave Parton ·         Defenders 3 Danny Higginbotham 4 Robert Huth 5 Danny Collins 17 Ryan Shawcross 20 Matthew Upson 28 Andy Wilkinson 30 Ryan Shotton 39 Jonathan Woodgate

·         Midfielders 6 Glenn Whelan 7 Jermaine Pennant 8 Tom Soares 12 Marc Wilson 14 Danny Pugh 15 Salif Diao 18 Dean Whitehead 23 Michael Tonge 24 Rory Delap 26 Matthew Etherington 32 Diego Arismendi 35 Ben Marshall 38 Florent Cuvelier

·         Forwards 9 Kenwyne Jones 10 Ricardo Fuller 11 Mamady Sidibe 19 Jon Walters 42 Louis Moult

I want to start this preview with giving some well deserved credit to Stoke and of course to Tony Pulis for their excellent progress in the premiership. A lot of managers and supporters get frustrated with the style of play Pulis have brought in to the premiership. But one got to give them respect and for how much they have progressed as a club with little or no resources. After landing a 13^th place last season and qualify for Europe play for the first time in 37 years, Pulis keep on taking Stoke even further then I think he would ever dream about. I see the club climbing even further up the table this season and I hope they manage to capture a spot in the Europe League this season.




Pre-Season Fixtures/Results

July 16 vs Newport Country 1-1 – Jones July
17 vs Newport YMCA 6-1 – Marshall (2), Lund, Arismendi (2), Delap
July 20 vs Newcastle Town6-0 – Stambolziev, Jones (2), Pennant, Whelan, Walters
July 22 vs Brentford 0-1
July 23 vs Aldershot Town 0-1
July 28 vs Hajduk Split (Europa League qualifying) 1-0 – Walters
July 30 vs Sheffield Wednesday 0-0
August 4 vs Hajduk (Europa League qualifying) 1-0 Shotton)



Players in


07/11 Diego Arismendi MF Barnsley FC
07/11 Ben Marshall MF Carlisle United
07/11 Jonathan Woodgate DF Tottenham Hotspur
08/11 Matthew Upson DF West Ham United



Players out
07/11 Matthew Lund MF Oldham Athletic
06/11 Abdoulaye Faye DF West Ham United




Tony Pulis have done good signings in both Jonathan Woodate and Matthew Upson so far, and roumers are spreading that they are looking to strengthen the team even more before the window closes.



Most likely starting lineup for Stoke next weekend:


                                                      
                                                                1 Asmir Begovic




4 Robert Huth        17 Ryan Shawcross   Jonathan Woodgate      12 Marc Wilson

    18 Dean Whitehead       6 Glenn Whelan  

7 Jermaine Pennant                                                               26 Matthew Etherington

   9 Kenwyne Jones            19 Jon Walters

I think Pulis will take Stoke even further this season. Only problem for the club might be the Europe cup play. It’s a new experience for the club, and playing 2-3 matches per week can be though for some of their players. But I believe Pulis is a class manager and will be able to cope with the Europe League play as well. It’s going to be interesting to watch Stoke this season if they qualify for the European League.