Replacing Pulis at The Potters!

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January Sales

On the 2nd January Stoke announced that long term target Steven Defour would join the club on 1st July on a free transfer.
With Jack Wilshere only being on loan Hammel has moved to secure a replacement for the Deep Lying Playmaker role.

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The following day some smart last minute scouting had identified another talented youngster, Clement Grenier as a free transfer target from Lyon.
Grenier is an attacking midfielder with good all round attributes.

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On 5th January Stoke stole the transfer headlines again as they announced the pre-contract agreement with Bosnian striker Edin Dzeko.
Quite how Hammel was expected to fit him into the squad next season was a mystery but added to speculation that Defederico and possibly Dentinho would be available at times throughout the next 6 months.
Dzeko accepted £91,000 a week to match the 3 highest earners at the club.

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The last inward transfer business was conducted just after as 16 year old Brazilian Pavao agreed to join on his 18th birthday for £450,000.

Pavao had been attracting interest from 6 of Europe's top clubs and this was down to his potential as one of Brazil's top strikers as well as his German passport.

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This meant that Hammel's summer transfer budget could solely be used on attracting a world class left back to provide competition to the erratic Monzon.
Man City had offered Vargas to Stoke for £4.4m in the January transfer window but his existing wages of £115k were a problem.

 

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February 2013

5 star February

Stoke 5 Doncaster 2 - FA Cup 4th Round

10 clear cut chances yielded 5 goals as Stoke progressed to the 5th Round.
The goals were, as usual, spread around the team with nobody scoring more than 1.
Defederico and Cairney scoring in the 1st half and a 1st Stoke goal for substitute Thorgan Hazard.

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Stoke 1 Aston Villa 0

A difficult home game against a determined Villa.
Pato scoring the opening goal moments after being switched from an inside forward to an attacking striker up top.

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Stoke 5 West Ham 0

Cash strapped West Ham led by under fire Israeli Avram Grant were next to suffer a 5 goal mauling at the hand of Stoke.
Babacar is currently unplayable supporting the 3 Brazilians playing behind him as a target man.
Pato scoring again at the death to continue his fine recent goal scoring form.

This started a bad week for The Hammers who sacked their manager after entering administration and dropping into the relegation zone as a result of the 9 point deduction.

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Arsenal 1 Stoke 1

A tight, boring game ended 1-1 as RVP equalised Neymar's early opener. A fair result with only the 1 booking in a good natured affair.
Man City also drew to maintain the status quo at the top.

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Werder Bremen 0 Stoke 5 - Champions League Knockout

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The Champions League returned as the season entered it's business end.
The last time the Manager had been to Bremen he was a fan who ended up getting mace in the face.
This time he was leading out some of Europe's brightest stars!

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Stoke carried on as they had left off in December with the result of the round smashing Bremen by 5 away goals.
The goals were all spread about as Babacar, Witsel (scoring his 1st Stoke goal from the spot) Rever, Dentinho and Neymar virtuallysecured Stoke's passage through to the Quarter Finals.

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Stoke 5 Man United 1 - FA Cup 5th Round

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Mind game playing Steve Bruce waved goodbye to any chances of winning the FA Cup as a Babacar inspired display brushed aside his United team.
Ex United schoolboy Shawcross had opened the scoring.
United's defensive high line was exposed time after time by Babacar who made way after securing his hat-trick for Kadlec who completed the rout near the end.

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Boardroom Changes?

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Stoke Chairman Peter Coates is looking to stand down sooner rather than later.
Despite being the 25th richest person in British football he feels he does not have the financial resources available to take Stoke to the next level.

 

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March 2013

March Madness

Stoke 0 Blackburn 0

Stoke entered the new month without their scoring boots in a dull goalless draw which hit their chances of returning the Premier League.

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Stoke 4 Werder Bremen 1 - Champions League Knockout

A weakened Stoke team confirmed their passage into the quarter finals as they raced into a 3 goal lead within 19 minutes.
Regen Wiltshire scoring his 1st goal for the club was the icing on the cake.
Dentinho and a Pato double had secured progression.

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Chelsea 0 Stoke 2

Stoke piled the pressure on struggling Chelsea with a 2 goal win at The Bridge.
Monzon opened the scoring from the spot and Babacar secured the points with a powerful shot midway through the 2nd half.

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Stoke 2 Chelsea 1 - FA Cup 6th Round

Chelsea were again beaten by Stoke this time in the cup.
They had equalised through Mikel, cancelling out Babacar's opener.
With 2 weeks off after this game Stoke did not want a replay so they piled forward in the 2nd half and Chelsea's resistance was broken on 83 by Lucas.
Stoke were into the hat for the semi final where they would draw Birmingham.

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Liverpool 4 Stoke 3

A stunning game for the neutral as Stoke lost their 1st league game since November.
It was still goalless after 10 minutes when Babacar was sent off for a viscous foul on Lucas.
Stoke were forced to play without a recognised striker and Kuyt opened the scoring soon after.
Man of the Match Lucas equalised however and then Shawcross put the 10 men ahead.
Gerrard scored soon after but Lucas but Stoke ahead to lead at half time.
This didn't last long as Kuyt scored a header at the far post. 3-3!
Deep in injury time Shawcross hauled Kuyt back on the edge of the box. He immediately knew he was getting his 2nd yellow card.
Worse was to come as Rat scored a wickedly deflected free kick after 93 minutes to secure the win.
Shawcross' red card had been in vain and he would now miss the important clash against league leaders Man City.

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Stoke looked like they would be settling for 2nd place in the League as unstoppable Man City moved 5 points clear with a game in hand.
Stoke needed to beat City in their next match.

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Other News

A transfer embargo was in force at Stoke as a takeover looked more likely.
The Consortium were lining up unemployed Chelsea destroyer David Moyes as their replacement.
Moyes had overseen Chelsea's worst season during the Abramovich era!

The Carling Cup was won by Man United against their rivals City in a game the moneybags should not have lost!!

Spain were dominating the Champions League with 3 teams in the Quarter Finals.

Hammel was the victim of a cruel April Fools hoax which was made believable due to the press rumours regarding the takeover.