In his two years at the helm of the Britannia Stadium, Mark Hughes has made understatedly excellent progress with Stoke City

Taking over from Tony Pulis, who forged the side in his own gnarly image, was never going to be an easy task. But Hughes has preserved the pragmatic principles that were instilled by the Welshman before adding some aesthetic qualities that have delighted the club’s supporters. As they go into the 2015-16 season, expectations are high.

Hughes has been a beneficiary of the club’s shrewd ownership and has been allowed to spend money again this summer. But there’s a core of longstanding figures to build this Stoke team around and that will stand the side in excellent stead moving forward.

After finish in ninth position last season, those associated with the club will be looking up. But Hughes is a realist and will be acutely aware that given the amount of strengthening done by other sides around City, another top half finish will represent a significant achievement for the club.

 

Best XI

 

Reasons to be Positive

After having his season curtailed early because of injury, Bojan Krkic has played an active role in pre-season and should be fit enough to play a part from the off. The ex-Barcelona man was a refreshing presence at the Britannia Stadium in 2014-15 and Hughes will be desperate to get him on the field again to put a stamp on important games.

Ibrahim Afellay is another Barcelona oldboy who will be hoping to rekindle his career in the Potteries after his summer switch. Hughes has a settled back four to call upon too, although Ryan Shawcross will miss the beginning two months of the campaign because of surgery to cure a back problem.

 

Reasons to be Negative

Stoke have lost some key figures this summer. Asmir Begovic has decided he’d be better off sat on the Chelsea bench than between the sticks in Stoke colors, while Steve N’Zonzi was lured to Andalusia by the prospect of Champions League football, having signed for Sevilla.

Jack Butland and Marco van Ginkel will be the men tasked with replacing each of the aforementioned players. Both have showed a lot of promise as youngsters, but neither has been able to fully convince at the very highest level yet. Starting the season with the talented but raw Butland in goal is certainly a calculated risk from Hughes.

 

Key Player – Charlie Adam

His stunning strike from 70 yards at Stamford Bridge late last season made Charlie Adam an instantly recognisable figure amongst the football firmament, but the Scot finished the campaign with an all-round flourish last time out, proving he has the comprehensive qualities to dictate matches in English football’s top flight.

Adam has never been the most dynamic player, but he has a cultured left-foot, can strike a ball from distance and is a massive danger from set pieces. With N’Zonzi gone, the onus will be on the former Liverpool and Blackpool man to pull the strings in the middle of the park; if Adam can perform with the same swagger he did last season, the Frenchman’s departure may not be felt too harshly.

 

Prediction – 11th

Hughes has done some smart recruitment in the window, but the teams around Stoke—like Swansea City, Southampton, Everton and Crystal Palace—all seem primed for better campaigns this time around. The squad still looks a little short in a lot of areas too, especially at full-backs and on the wings, meaning Hughes will be praying for a clean bill of health.

As such, without Begovic’s calming presence in goal, N’Zonzi’s multifaceted midfield play and the lack of a dynamic winger like Victor Moses, they’ll just slip out of the top half.

 

Expert Opinion – Jason (FourTwoThreeOne Stoke)

I’m so glad the season is back.  I always enjoy a break from football after a long season of watching Stoke, but the excitement of new arrivals and new hope soon takes over. It’s definitely going to be our most transitional season to date, with key players (Begovic and N’Zonzi) departing for the first time in nigh on a decade and long term injuries (Shawcross) still looming. I’m excited for it, though. Hughes has strengthened in good areas and whilst they’re not my first choice signings (such as Glen Johnson), they add to the side, which is never a bad thing.

Stoke under Mark Hughes tend to start the season quite slowly and come alive in the final months, and I fully expect this to continue. The early months will be key for settling the likes of Johnson and Marco van Ginkel into the side, whilst allowing Shawcross to recover from injury and getting Bojan back to 100% fitness. Working out how and when to deploy either Mame Diouf or Joselu to lead the line will also be key, and once there is a clear Plan A and Plan B to matches I think we’ll see the form pick up.

Overall I think the continual progress at Stoke will have its peaks and troughs, so I expect us to be around the 11th-12th mark this season with a couple of scalps along the way. I have every faith that the season will be entertaining and a joy to watch as a Stoke fan. Keep an eye out for Marko Arnautovic this campaign, he’s looked frightening in pre-season.

 

Follow Matt on Twitter @MattJFootball