Pottering Around Europe - The Stoke City Story!

[willhoward42]

The Stoke City Story!


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William Howard ex-footballer who was forced into retirement early due to injury at the tender age of 24. Having been scouted at an early age as a potential 'wonderkid' fame and early glory at childhood club Arsenal went to his head which saw him encounter off the pitch problems and uncertainty to his playing career. The then 18 year old youngster was setting the football world alight with his technical ability and keen eye for goal. England fans were excited at the prospect of the next Pele! This soon changed when his 'Gazza' like personal life started affecting his game, he fell through the ranks at Arsenal and soon found himself in the lower tiers of the football league. Three years later and at the age of 21, now playing in League Two, William Howard found himself on the end of a horror tackle which ended his short and potentially record breaking career before it had got started. After three years assessing his future, dealing with his drink and drugs problems, he found himself earning his coaching badges with Stoke City and with a new lease of life, he was given an unusual opportunity...

Stoke City found themselves in need of a manager following the shock resignation of Mark Hughes. William Howard had impressed on the training ground and soon found himself in a unique position. His first managerial job was offered and he was quick to snap it up!

William Howard's aim is to bring the humble Stoke City team and surge them up the Premier League. He along with the squad are hoping for cup success and eventual European football. The long term aim of making them a future European Footballing Powerhouse.

Thus, the journey begins...

I will be using a tactic I have poached off of here and this is just a simple plug and play, this is just a bit of fun so won't be tinkering with anything. Just throwing the players out there and seeing how they get on!!

Friendlies will be taken over by my assistant manager, as will all other tasks. All I will be doing is employing my own assistant manager, head of youth development and director of football... I will then be handing over ALL tasks to those guys. I will simply choose the team to play each fixture!

 

[willhoward42]

Summer Transfers

Preseason & Summer Transfers

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On The Move
A few players made way in the summer as William Howard looks to bring a fresh change to the Stoke City squad. Some were unhappy at the decision, but this was a new look to the team which WH was hoping would bring early success.


New To The Dressing Room
William Howard was quick to bring in some new young talent to freshen up what is an ageing squad. He is wanting pace and panache to a hopeful attacking formation. Entertainment is key to winning over the fans early doors, and hopefully the new attacking style of play will bring along the results to also keep the fans singing!

Transfers In and Out

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The Friendlies

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The Formation & Starting Line Up

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[willhoward42]

August Results

August Results

Premier League - Game 1

Watford 1-2 Stoke City
M.Almiron, C.Pavon

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Premier League - Game 2

Stoke City 2-0 Liverpool
B.Martins Indi, S.Mignolet og

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Carabao Cup - Round 2

Preston North End 2-4 Stoke City
C.Pavon (2), S.Berahino, M.Dembele

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Premier League - Game 3

Huddersfield Town 1-1 Stoke City
J.Allen

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August Premier League Table

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[willhoward42]

September Results

September Results

Premier League - Game 4

Stoke City 5-0 Swansea
M.Choupo-Moting (2), R.Sobhi, M.Almiron, S.Berahino

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Premier League - Game 5

Stoke City 2-2 Arsenal
M.Choupa-Moting, S.Berahino

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Carabao Cup - Round 3

Hull City 2-1 Stoke City
M.Dembele

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Premier League - Game 6

West Bromich Albion 3-1 Stoke City
X.Shaqiri

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Premier League - Game 7

Manchester United 2-1 Stoke City
X.Shaqiri

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September Premier League Table

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[willhoward42]

Two Month Report

The Potters Monthly
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So a mixed bag of results to begin the first two months in charge for new manager William Howard. He will surely be disappointed that most will see as a shock exit from the Carabao Cup. Especially given the announcement of silverware being a genuine target for the boys in red and white! The team will now surely be concentrating and being determined to really force their way into the battle for a top 6 spot in the league. This is definitely a courageous and ambitious target... but William Howard seems intent on the teams pursuit of European Glory.

The Premier League is already looking like a possible three horse race even at this early stage. United the early pace setters and yet to drop a point! The battle for Europa League places is definitely wide open, with Arsenal and Spurs being out of contention as it stands for the top 4, they will surely cause problems for The Potters who have their ambitions set on a top 6 placing.

The squad are playing well so far, new transfers are integrating into the squad and so far the Stoke fans have little to complain about, with plenty of goals and entertaining football being played. William Howard is living up to his preseason predictions... let's just hope they can continue their form!

As for the monthly awards, William Howard picked up 3rd place in August's Manager Of The Month. With Jose Mourinho taking the accolade of top spot for August as well as September! New signing Cristian Pavon made a huge impact on his first month in English football picking up 2nd place in the Young Player Of The Month Award for August!

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(Pavon enjoying a great start to life in Stoke)

Don't forget to check back next month for the October Edition of 'The Potters Monthly'

 

[willhoward42]

October Results

View attachment 61794October ResultsView attachment 61794

Premier League - Game 8

Stoke City 5-0 West Ham United
C.Pavon, K.Stafylidis, X.Shaqiri, S.Berahino (2)

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Premier League - Game 9

Leicester City 3-2 Stoke City
X.Shaqiri, M.Dembele

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Premier League - Game 10

Stoke City 2-1 Southampton
M.Dembele, C.Pavon

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October Premier League Table

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Monthly Update

Another solid month for The Potters in the league, despite a late loss to Leicester City, Stoke City still find themselves well in contention for the European places in the league.

Another scintillating string of performances from Cristian Pavon, who is sure to bring in some bids come January time, but Stoke are in no position to have to sell! The whole team are starting to perform well with Moussa Dembele starting to fire in front of goal!

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3 Wins out of 3 for Manchester City saw The Manager Of The Month award stay in Manchester but this time across the city to Spaniard Pep Guardiola who dominated the Premier League in the month of October.

With 2 goals in 3 games and averaging a rating of 7.97, Cristian Pavon set a light the Premier League and took home the Player Of The Month as well as the Young Player Of The Month awards!

 

[willhoward42]

November Results

View attachment 61775November ResultsView attachment 61775


Premier League - Game 11

Stoke City 0-0 Chelsea

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Premier League - Game 12

Stoke City 4-1 Newcastle United
M.Choupo-Moting, M.Dembele, F.Gutierrez

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Premier League - Game 13

Everton 1-6 Stoke City
J.Kirchoff (3), M.Dembele (2), J.Allen

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November Premier League Table

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Monthly Update

Well, that was a great set of results in November, fantastic home draw to title contenders Chelsea. Then Stoke really tore apart their opposition! No idea what J.Kirchoff is doing bagging a hat-trick, but everyone seems to be enjoying their football at the moment! Further strong results from Bournemouth and West Bromich Albion keeps them in great contention for the European spots. Still a long season ahead, but Stoke have really hit the ground running. Also missing Pavon and Shaqiri through a lot of November to injury... so the high scorelines are very positive despite missing our main men out wide!


View attachment 61770 View attachment 61769 View attachment 61768

Huddersfield Town front man Laurent Depoitre was in fine form, bagging 5 goals in 3 games and earning himself the Player Of The Month award and it was well deserved as the Belgian averaged a rating of 8.10 across November. Young Player Of The Month Leroy Sane was on fire in November scoring 3 goals in 3 games helping to keep his Manchester City team hot on heels on Premier League Leaders and neighbours Manchester United, who themselves had an immaculate month which saw Jose Mourinho pick up the Manager Of The Month Award for the third time in four months! William Howard came in second after a superb month for the Potters.

 

[willhoward42]

Save Deleted

Hi all, I did something really stupid and saved over this game file. So unfortunately I am going to have to end this story short! However I have something new lined up in the Swedish lower leagues, so please join me there!