Stoke City Story -

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Winter of Discontent

The positive 1st half of the season ended over the festive period and into the New Year with a run of disappointing results and performances.

The defence has started to ship goals at an alarming rate with stupid errors and own goals.

Shipping 5 at home to Burnley was bad enough and after shipping 4 goals in 45 minutes at Pompey (see previous post) I decided to strengthen my full backs as Higginbottom, Wilkinson & Dickinson are not good enough.

To make things worse, my strikers and Tuncay have stopped scoring. They get chances galore but fail to convert any one on ones. I will definitely be looking to buy a goal machine in the summer.

Only decent result away to Man City coming back from 2-0 to beat them 3-2 with a brace from Glenn Whelan and an 87th minute winner.

I have now slipped to 12th and without any chance of being relegated, making Europe or a Cup Run to report I will post next at the end of the season...

During my 2 away trips to Pompey I suggested that Peter Reid stay down in Portsmouth both times and try and convince their Manager to sell Kaboul and David James who were both immense against me!!!
 
Peter Reid (Assistant Manager) has submitted a huge expenses claim for his nights out in Portsmouth which must mean he has convinced Avram to sell me 1 of his best players...

Time to get the champagne out!
 
After our poor run of form didn't expect to do the double over Man United.
Tuncay doubling his goals 4 the season...
 
Good result mate, I'm following this and enjoying it. I have just brought an AM called Tijini Belaid on my CSKA Moscow story (Check it out please ;)) and he has some great attacking stats.
 
Hi mate just found him and Hoffenheim have snapped him up.
His physical stats aren't great and I play a pressing game but his attacking stats are quality!!!
Will check out your story now!!
 
Some decent results there mate. Are you thinking about tweaking your defence a bit as you seem to concede a goal or two?
 
Thanks mate, yeah double over your boys a bit of a shock!!
In terms of personnel or tactics? My full backs are starting to settle in now - bought with next season in mind.
Conceding a lot of set piece goals which is annoying. Gonna get a decent technical coach for set piece training in the summer. Stuck with Peter Reid as the board won't sanction his sacking and can't hire anymore.
My defence is young so maybe some more experience required?
 
Thanks mate, yeah double over your boys a bit of a shock!!
In terms of personnel or tactics? My full backs are starting to settle in now - bought with next season in mind.
Conceding a lot of set piece goals which is annoying. Gonna get a decent technical coach for set piece training in the summer. Stuck with Peter Reid as the board won't sanction his sacking and can't hire anymore.
My defence is young so maybe some more experience required?

Depends on the tactics really. I personally prefer pacey defenders. But you should try tweaking with the mentality or marking to see if it tightens things up
 
Nice so far. Btw i;m playing with stoke too, 3th season and i have to say u are extremly lucky to had 30+M to spend, look what i had to stick with...
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Yeah I have never done transfers over 36/48 months before and I was surprised the board allowed me to bid so much.
I will update the end of season soon but not expecting a lot as they are increasing the capacity.
Are you doing a story about your game?
 
End of Season 1 Review

Without Europe or a trophy to play for and with no real threat of relegation the season drifted into a real anti climax.
The defensive errors improved in open play but from set pieces we were, at best, sloppy and at times suicidal.
Sorensen is an excellent shot stopper but seems to be suspect and getting worse at crosses.
At times it was like watching Cech in real life!!!

4 out of 5 games unbeaten saw us briefly challenge a top 10 spot but an inability to defend at Hull and a woeful performance against Sunderland saw us drift to an eventual 13th.
This was however exceeding media expectations of 15th so a reasonably successful 1st season with exciting signings who should improve in Season 2.

Fans Player of the Season - Sorenson

My Player of the Season - Sandro. An average rating of 7 after a big money move to a new country. He showed more than glimpses of his obvious quality and am looking forward to seeing improve this year.

Top Scorer - Tuncay got 9 League goals in 31 appearances. Beattie (Jigsaw as he went to pieces in the box) didn't score after the 13th January but still got 7.

Hot prospect - at times Traore looked like he was destined for a career at Blackpool beach with the other donkeys but as he settled into the area he came good at the end. I need to buy a quality target man for him to learn from in the coming season.

To push on in Sseason 2 the following must happen:
Improve set piece defending
Score the numerous one on one chances we create.
Improve our luck. My players do not seem like a bunch of moaners but I lost count of the amount of suspiciously offside goals we conceded and had seemingly good goals cancelled. Will that change as our reputation increases? I had to do the Wenger "I saw nothing" trick in 1 out of 2 press conferences due to some early FA Warnings!!!
 
Solid enough start. Try getting you strikers to learn the 'rounding the keeper' characteristic.. it might help score some of the one on one chances
 
Hi mate - good point never get into that much detail with Drogba/Anelka etc.
Or buy new ones???
 
why have you payed 30 million for two left backs? and defo overpaid for sandro, but he is quality so fair enough. good first season aswell mate, looking at your midfield i think all you need is a bit more creativity, keep it up mate
 
Yeah I was desperate to get Sandro and knocked them down from an initial £26.5m!!!
I am looking to play him in midfield rather than just as a DM or anchorman as he may provide some much needed creativity.

Like you I thought Renan was a LB but he is actually a natural RB who can cover left. Wanted to get a more solid defence but that didn't work in the 2nd half of Season 1
 
Thanks for that contribution

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Pre Season

A busy July strengthening my back room staff with no less than 7 new coaches coming in to improve the training which was sadly lacking last year.
The Board also agreed to my request to improve the training facilities.

The West Stand is being upgraded with an extra 5000 seats taking the capacity up to 32500

Peter Risdale appears to be in charge of financial control as they promised me £22m in exchange for a top half finish despite the cash not appearing in my bank balance.
Seth Johnson rumoured to be excited about receiving another 42k per week 5 year contract!!!
The minimum expectation is to avoid relegation which I thought was very unambitious.

My transfer targets were wide & varied with a new Keeper very much required and some decent goal scorers to finish off the many chances we were creating.

More to follow shortly...
 
Transfers

A year after trying initially I managed to yet highly rated Italian youngster Marco Verratti but he cost over double what he did a year ago. I now have 2 exciting Attacking Midfielders to nurture thru to World Class status.

I managed to snap up Milevskyi for £11m with the vast majority paid up front in cash. He is just the striker I need with good pace, composure and finishing and will hopefully get 20 goals in the coming season.

After Simonsen left on a free I needed some sort of keeper. I am delighted to get Joe Hart for just over £3m after his traumatic season getting relegated with Birmingham. His stats look good although at 18 looks on the eccentric side. However, he is tall & commanding which is where I needed to improve after so many set piece goals conceded.

Lastly, promising Spanish sensation Muniain has signed on the eve of the season for a whopping £10m. With my improved training facilities and coaches I am expecting him to develop quickly and start challenging for a 1st team place quickly.

I was unable to strengthen my centre backs with Burdisso chosing to go on a free to Zenit, Hangeland leaving relegated Fulham to join Chelsea (tough decision that) and Caceres turning down Staffordshire for a season loan with Celtic.
This was even more disappointing when Shawcross had a nightmare 2nd half in my last pre season game before the season against Rangers.

I got rid of some deadwood and sold Lawrence for £6m so I now do not have a winger at the club.
I am therefore relying solely on my full backs for attacking width.

I am looking at some potential loanees to strengthen the squad further but won't be too worried to start the season with my current squad.
 
August Update

Pre-season pleasing enough with only the suicidal defending inspired defeat against Rangers the only irritation.
I switched my centre backs to man mark from zonal after watching Liverpool flounder around the 6 yard box for Huth's equalizer yesterday and this seems to have helped. We will see against Man City on the opening day.

Man City

Once again a shocking display from the officials who ruled out a perfectly good Tuncay goal to put us 2-1 up at the end of the 1st half. We also conceded a bizarre 3rd which defied the laws of physics. Good to see Milevskyi score on his competitive debut.

Sandro

Ungrateful brat wants to leave even though nobody has actually bid for him. He can rot in the reserves until he apologises.

Newcastle

Another away game at TheSportsDirect.comAshleyisatit Stadium and we dominated from start to finish.Played really well and all my strikers scored and a debut goal for Muniain too

Charlton

Forgetting what the Potteries looks like as we descended on The Valley for a 3rd straight away game. We record a 2nd consecutive 3-0 away win. Muniain scoring a brace on his 1st start.

Burnley

Couldn't beat them last year but more than made up for it with a tremendous home win. The wait to play at home was worth it. Totally destroyed them only conceding from a another set piece. Milevskyi scored a stunning hat trick and Tuncay must win goal of the month for a cracking volley from the edge of the area. Things are looking good as we go into the next month in 6th place.

Just turned down a whopping £21m bid for Ansaldi and pleased to see Milevskyi win Player of the Month - my 1st award as Stoke boss.

Updated with screenshots as they did not save on Sunday
 
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