{"id":905,"date":"2016-07-20T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2016-07-20T00:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/webinology.website\/nation2021\/epl-previews-can-stoke-city-finish-higher-than-9th\/"},"modified":"2021-11-03T12:50:11","modified_gmt":"2021-11-03T16:50:11","slug":"epl-preview-stoke","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.coachup.com\/nation\/articles\/epl-preview-stoke","title":{"rendered":"EPL Previews: Can Stoke City finish higher than 9th?"},"content":{"rendered":"

EPL Previews: Can Stoke City finish higher than 9th?<\/strong><\/p>\n

After Leicester City\u2019s 5000-1 odds to win the Premiership, capping off what is, in all likelihood, the most fantastic championship in major sports history, the perennial powerhouses have gone hard towards defeating the slew of underdogs currently rising up the table. With the addition of three world class managers, Antonio Conte, Jose Mourinho, and Pep Guardiola, this season could shape up to be even crazier than the last. While international competition has been outstanding, as usual, we can\u2019t help but miss that massive hole in our heart and pine for the return of the soccer league CoachUp loves the most.<\/p>\n

In order to prepare the loyal and initiate the newcomers, CoachUp will have you all ready for the August 13th showdown between the current title-holders Leicester City and newly-promoted Hull City. We\u2019re counting down by previewing the league\u2019s top ten clubs from 2015-2016, detailing the players to watch, and their European (or lack thereof) adventures. So, without further ado, here\u2019s number nine and the suddenly consistent club, Stoke City.<\/p>\n

STOKE CITY<\/strong><\/p>\n

The Skinny
<\/strong>Are Stoke City here for good? Will they forever be a top-half of the table contender? Or was last season\u2019s 9th place finish an aberration instead of a growing trend? Since 2010-2011, Stoke has finished in 13th, 14th, 13th, 9th, and 9th — so will this season be the fourth consecutive time the Potters have finished in 9th, or can they grow even taller? Last year\u2019s finish could be in part of the frenetic and unpredictable Premier League, but with the major television deal bumping up every team\u2019s available \u201cwarchest\u201d on the transfer market, Stoke City will need to bring consistency on all fronts — which means more from goalkeeper Jack Butland, defender Geoff Cameron, midfielders Xherdan Shaqiri and Bojan, and the ageless forward, Marko Arnautovic.<\/p>\n

The Upbeat
<\/strong>As of publishing, this Stoke City side is mostly unchanged from the 2015-2016 season, but with rumors swirling around the acquisition of, potentially, Robin van Persie or Saido Berahino, they could easily make an assault on a Europa League spot. With the Potters come a reputation of heavy tackles, undisciplined play, and boring, boring football — however, now under manager Mark Hughes, who was appointed in 2013, they’ve developed their own brand of semi-stylish football. If they\u2019re able to add either of the aforementioned strikers, Stoke City might be well on their way to the club\u2019s highest league finish ever. Although it will always be tough to get past big spenders like Manchester United, Chelsea, or Arsenal on the table, the Britannia Stadium, now renamed Bet365 Stadium for 2016-2017 and beyond, is one of the most difficult home fortresses to navigate in England. Most clubs dread heading there and, at the very least, Hughes and the Potters would do well to help continue that aggressively growing trend.<\/p>\n

Perferred Starting XI
<\/strong>Unless Stoke City add a late striker this window, their starting lineup should be fairly familiar to what they trotted out for most of 2015-2016. With Butland back in net, Stoke’s defensive third will be anchored by stalwart, and an American hero, Geoff Cameron, as well as the steady Erik Pieters. The midfield, however, is where Stoke City has begun to build something special. Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan, and Ibrahim Afellay should terrify plenty of back fours across the Premiership. Up front, of course, depending on tactics, Stoke will have a small litter of options to choose from Peter Crouch, Jonathan Walters, or Arnautovic.<\/p>\n