Bolton Wanderers vs Stoke City Preview

Well, that was just awful. My prediction of a Stoke win didn't quite go to plan as we were thumped 5-0. You could say its revenge for Wembley, you could say its about time they got a bit of luck or you could say its about time Pulis changed his dinosaur tactics away from home.

It all began to go horribly wrong when Glenn Whelan was accused of a back-pass after Asmir Begovic picked up his pass, our opponents quickly took the indirect free-kick and Kevin Davies put them 1-0 up. That was the beginning of the end for the Potters, after more suicidal defending Chris Eagles put the home side 2-0 up. That's how the score remained until half time, maybe at this point Stoke fans believed deep down that we could get back into the game and put our awful away record behind. This was but a dream, as confirmed by Chris Eagles' second just past the hour mark. From this point it just went from bad to worse as Bolton added their fourth and fifth in the 73rd minute and 82nd minute.

So what went wrong? We'll start with the team selection. Huth should only play if he's at center back, Woodgate shouldn't play at all unless he has to, Palacios has to play instead of Whelan whether he's 75% fit or not and Jon Walters shouldn't be wasted on the wing. Last season we had a starting XI and barring injuries the team stayed the same, it worked and we got ourselves to an FA Cup final. Why is it that we seem to be changing our lineup each time we play in the league? The second problem is the manager, Pulis is far too negative away from home. He's always been like this, travelling with the thought that if we defend well enough we'll snatch a point. We're now in our fourth Premiership season and this isn't the mentality we should have, I'd rather lose trying to win than lose trying to keep it tight.

So yes, it was a very bad day at the office. But will Pulis do anything about it? Our next away game is at Blackburn, we lost 4-0 against struggling Sunderland, we lost 5-0 against struggling Bolton, surely we aren't going to get battered against Steve Kean's side too? If we do not get at least a point from that match then I will really start to get worried about the Premiership status of Stoke, we can't just rely on our home form, we need to start picking up points away from home more often which requires a complete mindset change from the manager.

Maccabi Tel Aviv vs Stoke Review

Well once again my prediction was wrong, I expected a 1-1 draw but instead Stoke went on to win 2-1! This fantastic result means we remain unbeaten in Europe and with a huge chance of going through in first place.

All of the goals came in the second half, the first coming from goal machine Dean Whitehead before Peter Crouch netted with his first touch. However the end wasn't as easy as it should be for Stoke because Tel Aviv pulled a goal back right at the start of the three added on minutes.

Finally

Danny Higginbotham got 90 minutes tonight, Wilson Palacios showed he's quickly heading towards fitness having played over an hour and wingers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant were given a nice rest ahead of the weekend game away at Bolton. But even more so we showed that we can win away from home, yes we were only against a poor team who completely lack creativity but its still a massive positive - especially just days before an away game in the league we really could do with winning.

So many positives to take from tonight, apart from my poor predictions. The group isn't over yet, both Dynamo Kiev and Besiktas could catch us if we crumble in our remaining games but we are in pole position with one home game to play as well as the worrying away fixture against Besiktas, a match in which I believe we'll lose our impressive unbeaten European record. Come on Stoke!

Stoke vs Newcastle Review

Well my prediction was way off. The result: Stoke 1 - 3 Newcastle. With Demba Ba annoyingly getting himself a hat-trick.

His first, a well worked goal after a fantastic cross from Obertan - awful marking from Wilson and Woodgate practically giving them the goal, shame the move begun with Leon Best being yards offside. The second, a miss-hit shot from Best luckily found it's way to Ba to simply tap in, once again poor defending from Stoke who were now without Shawcross who had gone off injured - replaced by Matthew Upson. Our goal was a penalty, Ba ironically barging Crouch who fell to the ground, Jon Walters leathered the ball as hard as he possibly could straight down the middle, maybe using his anger created by the frustration of playing with Glenn Whelan. Minutes later Huth was rightly accused of a push on Leon Best and Demba Ba calmly slotted the penalty away to put the game to bed.

Excuses

What an awful midfield. Whelan tried, and failed. Delap tried, and failed - although he did try an alternative throwing method that almost worked. This duo have about as much creativity as Andy Murray's interviews, at the weekend it was revealed Wilson Palacios was 75% fit. So why didn't he play some part tonight? Each time he got the ball against Maccabi Tel Aviv he did something, something that Whelan and Delap haven't seen or tried before - Wilson Palacios played a creative pass. Crouch did his best tonight, as did Walters but neither were allowed into the game at all by an excellent defensive display from Newcastle and a poor attacking display from Stoke's non-existent midfield.

Now onto the defense, weeks back Gary Neville went as far to compare our defense to a small team in Spain called Barcelona. Didn't see one iota of similarity between Stoke against Newcastle and Barcelona against Mallorca. The Catalans are organised and always have one eye on the attacker, Stoke were constantly out of position allowing Newcastle to walk it in.

To conclude it was poor from Stoke, we may have had the ball for 96% of the match (spot the exaggeration) but nothing was done with it. 1-3 flattered Newcastle, we didn't deserve to win but we didn't deserve to lose by two. Newcastle got lucky.

Stoke's New Signings, Any Good?

As always the Stoke City manager Tony Pulis has been a busy bunny in the transfer window. Having signed five players in the 2011 summer transfer window. Jonathan Woodgate from Tottenham, Matthew Upson from West Ham, Wilson Palacios from Tottenham, Cameron Jerome from Birmingham and Peter Crouch from Tottenham. Abdoulaye Faye was the only notable exit, leaving for West Ham whilst some reserve players went out on loan. I'm reviewing what has seemed to be an excellent summer of signings for Stoke.

Jonathan Woodgate - Ex Real Madrid Player

'Woody' has made an impressive start to his Stoke City career having looked solid in his 4 Stoke City appearances since signing on a free transfer from Tottenham on July 11th. Unfortunately for Woodgate he is competing for places with two of the Premiership's best defenders (Robert Huth and Ryan Shawcross) and an England international in Matthew Upson. However in Stoke's opening 3 Premier League matches he has made an appearance in each, including a sterling defensive performance against title contenders Chelsea!

I am delighted that Jonathan Woodgate has put pen to paper with Stoke. Many have doubted the signing by rightly questioning the 30 year olds fitness but he will add to the depth of this superb Stoke City defence with his experience of playing for his country and his time at Real Madrid. Whether he can knock either Huth or Shawcross out of the team remains to be seen but with European games to cope with this season, this squad needed more strength in depth and Woodgate certainly offers this! Brilliant signing.

Matthew Upson - With His World Cup Goal

Bizarrely Stoke's second summer signing was another centre back, this time another England international Matthew Upson. The same Matthew Upson that had scored England's only goal in the knock-out rounds of the 2010 FIFA World Cup! Upson has played twice so far in his Stoke career, both against Swiss side FC Thun scoring one goal in process! An impressive start to his so far short time at the Britannia Stadium but Upson wasn't the most popular addition to the squad, lets not forget he was part of a side that finished bottom of the Premier League last season. However he is now part of a team that isn't known for conceding goals, a team that is moving up the footballing ladder and he is sure to be a popular player in the North Staffs in the not too distant future. 

Stoke now have 9 defenders (including Marc Wilson). And although I'm delighted with the strength in depth the club now has in defence I fail to see what the manager's plans for Upson are. He's a good defender and with Europe, FA Cup, Carling Cup games to cater for it means that we now have an extra defender to cover for any injuries the defence gets. However my concern is that if Stoke needed to strengthen in one place it wouldn't be the defence, and despite the fact I'm a fan that rates Matthew Upson as a player I would much rather we brought in a spare winger than another spare defender. Good signing, but not perfect.

Wilson Palacios - 71 International Appearances

The first of three deadline day signings for The Potters. After a week of speculation the deal was finally completed and the Honduras international signed a 4 year deal for a believed fee of £6 million. Apparently part of a double deal with Peter Crouch, Palacios arrives with the advantage that he didn't play in any of Tottenham's Europa League qualification games meaning he isn't cup tied for Stoke's European adventure. Certainly a popular signing, Stoke fans were excited from the moment it was a rumour to the moment it was announced in the late hours of August 31st 2011. He will have to wait until September 10th to make his debut (that is of course if Pulis picks him ahead of Rory Delap) which is against Liverpool. Exciting times.

Like most fellow Stoke City supporters I am delighted with the signing of Wilson Palacios. The Potters have been crying out for a creative central midfielder since promotion to the Premier League and although Palacios is known as a holding midfielder he is certainly a step up from Dean Whitehead and Rory Delap. The kind of step up the club needed if it is to succeed in Europe and become a side regularly finishing in the top half of the league. Would of been happier if we'd signed a creative midfielder as well but still delighted with the signing. Excellent addition, good work!

Peter Crouch - Gives the team a little more height

Right at the end of what was a tense yet exciting transfer deadline day was the signing of England international Peter Crouch. Having signed for what is believed to be a record signing for Stoke, Crouch arrives with the advantage that like Palacios, he is not Europa League cup tied. So far in his career he has been capped 42 times for England, scoring 22 goals and appearing at two FIFA World Cups. He's certainly experienced and that is exactly what Stoke need this season with all those extra games to play. Only problems I can see is that one thing Stoke didn't need was extra height up front with Kenwyne Jones already and will Pulis play Crouch alongside him? Seems likely.

I have mixed feelings about the signing of Peter Crouch. On the one hand he is a very good player who has European and international experience but on the other hand he isn't the sort of player Stoke needed. The club needs a flair striker, another Tuncay but with the right mentality. Someone that offers the team something different. Crouch is another tall player to get on the end of the long throw, like we haven't got enough of that already. Having said that I'm really looking forward to seeing how Crouch fits in at the Britannia Stadium and we're sure to see many goals from him. Good signing I suppose.

Cameron Jerome - Looks like Lemar

The last signing of the 2011 Summer transfer window was 25 year old Cameron Jerome. He's quick, works hard and is admired by Pulis but for a striker his scoring record is worrying having scored just 37 goals in 181 league appearances for Birmingham City. He's obviously the sort of player that fits in really well at clubs like Stoke and we all know how much Tony Pulis likes a hard worker. Lets also not forget that Pulis is known for getting the best out of his players, he has done with Walters, Jones, Pennant etc. and I'm sure Jerome is the next victim of superb man management from Tony.

Not a signing I am fully convinced with quality wise but Stoke needed strikers with only Jones and Walters being out and out strikers in the squad before Crouch and Jerome signed. Excellent player for the bench, not sure if he's good enough to make the jump to the first team but with Jones, Walters and Crouch ahead of him with Fuller to return from injury he's going to have to work very hard to have a chance at regular first team football, competition is good. So despite earlier on in the transfer window me being anti-Jerome now I'm feeling much more pleased knowing we have decent cover if one of the other strikers gets injured.

Transfer Window Overview

Yet again Stoke left it's fans waiting until the last moments of the window to make the needed signings. Obviously earlier on we saw Woodgate and Upson sign but what Stoke needed for the coming season is a creative midfielder, spare winger, depth up front and possibly a full back. We didn't get a creative midfielder but I'm more than satisfied with Wilson Palacios, certainly a player we needed to get us to the 'next level'. Nor did we get a spare winger, Adam Johnson and Shaun Wright-Phillips were both linked but neither joined and this is risky considering both Etherington and Pennant are injury prone and sometimes need their rest. It took us until the last seconds to get the depth up front, but with Crouch and Jerome we now have it and with Fuller and Sidibe yet to return overall we have six strikers. Less importantly we didn't get another full back. We weren't in desperate need but it would of been good to give us more depth.

Weren't as many outgoings as incomings with Abdoulaye Faye being the only notable exit. He left for West Ham after being released by Stoke. I'm happy with his departure, he was a fantastic player in the 2008-09 season and rightfully won the player of the year award for his solid defensive performance. However in the latter stages of his Stoke career he became accident prone and injuries became regular. In the end we have replaced Faye with Matthew Upson and Jonathan Woodgate, something you can't help but be pleased about.

Transfer Window Rating - 8/10