I don’t think there’s much new here that you won’t have already read on my blog somewhere, but I’m proud of Stoke and the season we’ve had.
I didn’t imagine at the start that we’d finish 9th with 50 points; our highest tally ever. That isn’t to say I didn’t trust Mark Hughes to do a good job, I just didn’t expect the season to go so well and that we might have had more of a transitional period, but I’m glad to have been proved wrong!
Quite often when clubs ‘lose patience’ with managers, and want to go in a different direction, it doesn’t work for them (although that time is usually part way through a season when there isn’t much the manager can change). But as with anything Peter Coates did it correctly; Hughes had the summer to make his additions under the ‘Coates limitations’ so couldn’t go crazy like he did with QPR's fortunes. But most importantly he had time to win over the dressing room.
As expected, we had our bad results; a 4-0 loss at Everton, that 5-1 drubbing at Newcastle - still one of the most shambolic refereeing performances of all time - which was followed by the 3-0 defeat at Spurs..
But there were the high points as well such as the wins over Chelsea and United - another two firsts for us in the Premier League - and the 4-1 victories away at Villa and at home to Fulham to finish the season off.
Looking back now it’s easy to think “well why didn’t we beat Norwich at home way back” and “how did we only manage a draw at Cardiff”, but that’s just being greedy. There was nothing I was expecting from this season, so to achieve all of that is an overachievement in my view, and something to be proud of. Any Stokies thinking like that should be ashamed…
The challenge now is akin to our second season in the league; proving we have what it takes to stay where we are and that this season wasn’t just a fluke, so it is far from a completed job.
I don’t mean to end this part on a sour note, but one thing I have noticed when I have made it back for home matches is that the support hasn’t always been as vociferous as it once was. That is something the fans owe back to the team next season, and hopefully in return we get another top-10 finish.
Player of the Season
At the club’s official awards ceremony, supporters voted Ryan Shawcross as player of the year.. As much as I like him as our captain, this hasn’t been his best year, despite playing 37/38 games and missing just the one through suspension.
9 clean sheets may not justify this, but Asmir Begovic has again had a fantastic season and it will be sad to see him move on to Real Madrid if rumours are to be believed that he is soon to become a Galactico.
Oussama Assaidi has been a thrill to watch too with his pace and skill on the ball, and it will be reassuring to see him sign a permanent deal in the summer, while on the other wing Marko Arnautovic has grown into the mould of a Stoke City #10; skilful, brilliant, and does what he wants.
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| N'Zonzi has controlled the midfield this season and been solid |
But my player of the year goes to Steven N’Zonzi. Without him controlling the middle of the pitch like he does, then we wouldn’t have the unit we need for the new style while retaining the defensive qualities the Frenchman has. It’s disappointing he won’t be representing France at the World Cup this year because to at least be considered is the least he deserves, but without a miracle it doesn’t look likely.
At the end of the season the midfielder indicated he was happy with the situation at Stoke, and told the club website:
“I’m really happy at Stoke and I want to be here for a long time. We are progressing as a team, and we can achieve even more than we have this season."However it has been reported he has again handed in a transfer request, and with Stoke remaining tight-lipped it suggests there may be some truth in the rumours. One thing for sure is that were he and Begovic to leave, we would need to get the right replacements in. That won't be easy...
Goal of the Season
Out of the 42 scored by Stoke players, there are definitely a few to remember… Begovic’s goal against Southampton from his own area:
Arnie’s free-kick at United:
Erik Pieters' cross-come-shot against Newcastle, and Charlie Adam’s screamers against United, Liverpool and the winner at West Brom (always a popular goal…).
Who can forget the 90th minute winner against Chelsea by Assaidi though? Not only the composure, but the arrogance to do that to risk all to win 3 points has put him high in the hearts of Stoke fans, and signing permanently is the one wish fans will have. He faces a tough decision because it is unlikely he will feature prominently for Liverpool next season, but he may get the opportunity of playing in the Champions League at some point with appearances here and there. Either that or a regular starting spot at Stoke.. One thing, he has contributed a bit more excitement at Stoke this season:
Sparky has already convinced some players of his ambitions and plans for the club, why not another? It may command a solid transfer fee, but surely one that is worth it given the contribution the Moroccan has made…
Moment of the Season
I made it to the last game against Fulham, and after a tense first half, the floodgates opened in the second, and when Arnie and Assaidi made it 3-0, the cheers and jubilation around the ground were a remarkable appreciation for a season well played, a season of progress; a season of trophy-less achievement.
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| Stoke vs. Fulham, pre-match view from the upper John Smith's stand |
Game of the Season
This is from more of a neutral perspective, and I think it will become quite obvious why, but this was a tough choice between the Chelsea game, the Fulham game and the Liverpool game. All three are memorable, but for me the Liverpool game edges it.. The Chelsea win was just a feel-good rarity, and the Fulham game was a symbol of the improvement we have made.
However it’s not often that you get a 5-3 thriller like Liverpool, and we were robbed of a point I felt because of various antics (diving, free kicks 10 yards further forward than the foul…), but it was exciting and entertaining which is what you want from a match, and something that has been missing from the Brit for years.
Signing of the Season
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| Aiming High: Arnie will be hoping to improve on a good first season |
When we signed him the first thing people pointed to were his impressive tricks, kicks, and flicks in the Bundesliga, and for me certainly I was straight onto FIFA to check him out.. The only worry was his attitude, and I could name more than one person who thought he may turn out to be another Mario Balotelli; brilliant and stupid.
Luckily he has been the former, and not the latter, although he has a tendency to over-do it sometimes, and occasionally runs himself out of energy and subsequently appears to become lazy, much like our former #10, the beloved Ricardo Fuller.
That name could soon be forgotten if the Austrian continues to amaze (and Fuller signs for the Vale), and hopefully he can kick on more from August.
Flop of the Season
Kenwyne Jones. Quite simple really, and we got a good deal in January by getting Peter Odemwingie, despite my initial concerns.
Another shout has to go to the FA and the immigration office who continue to deny Juan Agudelo a work permit. The USA international signed for the club in January, despite being denied a work permit in November, and was loaned to FC Utrecht for the rest of the season. But a recent appeal again denied the forward a work permit on appeal, leaving him in a precarious situation where the club may have little choice but to release him.
I could start a rant at the FA now about why they stuck their noses in saying that they want a greater emphasis on developing young, English talent.. Have they not seen or heard about our academy? I bet they wont deny other clubs the signing of young, foreign players. It hasn’t worked out well at all, which is a shame because he is a talented player and could have done well…
Chant of the Season
“You’re not winners, you’re not winners, you’re not winners any more! You’re not winners any more…” (Stoke vs. Man United, February 1, 2014).
I obviously haven’t heard all the chants from all the games, and without doubt there is one I have forgotten about that I’ve laughed at. But living in Salford and being friends with United fans, there was a very satisfying feeling from both the chant and the win that silenced them. All I got back was the very original - and may I add boring - “how many trophies have Stoke won?”. Wow.
On a serious note to finish though, it isn’t about our past. We aren’t a club blessed with a major UK city and millions of fans, or tens of trophies, but we are one of the most sustainable and secure clubs in the Premier League with a sensible chairman and board, and fantastic fans.
Perhaps this will work against my point, but we should be proud that we are the oldest club in the Premier League, and second oldest in the leagues, of which we are one of the founding members. That was 151 years ago, and we are still going strong, and that in itself is a remarkable achievement. We get the pleasures of watching Premier League football week in, week out, and now under a more fluent, attractive style, we can enjoy that even more.
We can’t forget the job Tony Pulis did either; without his discipline we may have faced the fate of many other clubs who make it into the top flight, but within a couple of years wither and slide back into the Championship. He took us to the glory of the Europa League, an FA Cup final, and six years (and counting!) in the best league in the world. The time was right to part, and it is a parting that has had it’s plusses for both parties. One thing that wont change is Pulis’ legendary status among the likes of Banks, Matthews and Shilton.
But here’s to next season, and without stealing the words of Sir Alex Ferguson, the best thing we can do is get behind the team no matter what because that is what makes us mighty; The Mighty Potters.
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