Well the waiting is over, the excitement is mounting, and Stoke City’s first match in the top flight for 23 years is a few hours away. I’m going over to Bolton tomorrow to cheer on the Potters in their first ever Premiership clash. Stoke have made two more signings today, no relation but both called Faye and both are Senegalese internationals, one a defender the other a defensive midfielder. Given the limited number of signings made so far, they are welcome, if very late additions.
Obviously I’ll be cheering Stoke on and hoping they get off to a good start in what will be a massive test over the coming season. But the realist in me is very worried. The new signings tally now stands at five. However we propped up a thin squad last season with loan players and remarkably got by with a collection of hard-working average Championship players peppered with a few quality individuals who could muster a bit of skill occasionally. I estimated we ended the last season with about three lower table Premiership quality players. With the new faces I’d say that number was now seven or eight. It’s still not enough and we may pay dearly for it. Stoke cannot rely on the loan system to bail them out of trouble this season, and the Premiership is a huge step up from the very average Championship they were promoted from. Tony Pulis’ teams are typically well organised, physical and stick to a well rehearsed game plan that favours functionality over flair. But his trademark solid defence had too many cracks last season, and these concerns have not yet been addressed. Now faced with faster and more skillful opponents I fear the worst.
Some Stoke fans will leap on this as negative “doom-mongering”, but I love my football club and think the concerns are valid and needed to be debated. A healthy dose of realism is needed, and supporting a football club involves both praise when due and criticism when merited. If supporters think something is not good enough for their beloved club then they should make their voices heard. Tony Pulis will receive a justifiable extended honeymoon period from the fans following our promotion. I am often a critic of Pulis, no great fan of his style or approach, nor his persona for that matter and have been frustrated by the slow arrival of desperately needed new signings. Yet I want him to succeed, because that is for the good of Stoke City. My head says were are favourites for relegation but my heart has to believe otherwise. The Premiership may expose all the limitations I suspect Pulis has, or he might rise to new levels and surprise us all. As the season transpires Pulis may prove woefully inadequate, and I will not be shy about voicing my criticism, even fury. However for now it is time to pull together, cheer on the lads in Red ‘n’ White and wish the whole club the best of luck for the coming season. I think we might need it!
Goaaarrrnn you rip-roaring Potters!!
