Although their most recent outing was a dour draw with relegated Burnley, that point ensured Stoke will amass their record points tally in the Premier League. With 51 points they are guaranteed to finish in ninth place, as they did last year, but in Mark Hughes’ second season in charge they are beginning to rid themselves of their offensive reputation.
Under Tony Pulis Stoke achieved great success, but it came at a price, their uncompromising style and physicality earned them few admirers out of the Potteries. Going to Stoke was less of a football match and more a battle in the swirling winds of The Brittania, punctuated by set pieces and long throws.
Since Mark Hughes has taken stewardship they have slowly tried to dispel the myths of what football in Stoke entails. However, changing people’s opinion on the club has proven extremely difficult; even though they no longer exclusively rely on the set piece side of their game, many members of the press still feel that is the only weapon in their armoury.
The acquisition of players like Bojan, Arnautovic and Diouf have changed the way in which Stoke play football, of course they still possess the kind of bruising power that has always been in their game, but that is simply now an added bonus.
In years gone by The Potters have relied on their home form greatly in order to reach Premier League safety; however this season has seen Hughes’ men pick up 21 points away from ‘the harsh Siberian climate’ of Staffordshire.
Playing for Stoke is still seen as an unfashionable career move, although they only sit five points behind much lauded Swansea and only a further four behind the ‘miraculous’ Southampton. Few have recognised what a good job the former Wales man has done for Stoke and few see what a good side he has built.
In terms of The Potters still not being a fashionable destination, look no further than Ryan Shawcross; aside from John Terry he has been the stand out English defender this term. His performances have stood head and shoulders above Jagielka and Jones but his name is ominously still missing from Roy Hodgson’s squad.
Mark Hughes is beginning to build something really special down in the Potteries and although everyone is quick to dismiss them, they have become a mainstay of top flight football and don’t appear to be going anywhere but up.
The harsh stereotyped opinion of Stoke still persists, but that is simply only working in their favour. If teams go and simply expect an aerial bombardment from Hughes’ charges they will be painfully surprised. No longer are they simply long ball merchants, although they can still mix it with the best, they play as good as football as any of the teams around them.
‘He’s good but can he do it on a wet and windy night in Stoke?’
That phrase is one that is dished out all too freely; it once meant something pertinent , a symbol of their physicality. But that is now a lazy assumption of the way The Potters play, they should be respected and they should be admired. They are a team that have come from the Championship, survived, evolved and now thriving.
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