Football Season Guide

After narrowly avoiding relegation on the final day of the previous campaign, Stoke looked set for a seismic turnaround in their first full season under Mark Robins. A superb start saw the Potters hover in and around the automatic promotion places right up until November, but the turn of the year brought about a dramatic drop-off. The main factor in that decline was arguably the worst injury list in the Championship and one which Robins continually described as “unprecedented” in his managerial career. Key players throughout the spine of the team all went down one after the other. First choice goalkeeper Viktor Johansson, marauding right-back Junior Tchamadeu, goalscoring midfielder Lewis Baker and starting striker Divin Mubama were just a few of the names on the treatment table for extended periods. Robins was forced to adapt in terms of personnel, shape and tactics on almost a weekly basis. Players were shifted out of position and youngsters were brought in from the academy. Inevitably the squad couldn’t cope with the rigors of the Championship and finished in a lowly 17th place. Stoke were able to keep star man Sorba Thomas fit for most of the season and he had a standout debut campaign for the club – finishing as top scorer and finally showing the consistency to compliment his obvious talent. The winger has become a real leader in the team and almost single-handedly carried the Potters at times during the injury crisis. The club have been one of the biggest spenders so far in the transfer market in the hope of being better prepared squad-wise. Ethan Galbraith is an eye-catching acquisition having been arguably Swansea’s best player last season. Another two midfielders with Championship experience in Djibril Soumaré and Svante Ingelsson have also arrived. Milan Smit’s loan has been made permanent, but a more proven striker may be required to compliment the likes of Thomas, Million Manheof, Bae-Junho and Lamine Cisse in attack. The defence needs some work after their best centre-back Ash Phillips returned to his parent club and others struggled to stay fit last season. The worry for Stoke supporters it that they've seen the club spend big and bring in a host of new signings in the past, but the results on the pitch haven't translated.