da dobrowin：
da spicy bet： Stoke City’s revolution under Mark Hughes seems to have stagnated somewhat. The initial change under ‘Sparky’ was remarkable, as they drifted away from ‘Pulis-ball’ and became one of the better teams at keeping the ball on the deck.However, we have seen the Potters struggle a bit of late, and the demanding fans at the Britannia Stadium are wondering if they have peaked under Hughes. Their side is blessed with a great deal of talent, along with the mettle of Pulis’ era, yet they aren’t quite pushing on to the next level, like other clubs in their position have done.Stoke are a club that has been made by the Premier League. Their promotion was greeted with a wave of pessimism, but the irrepressible Pulis kept them up year after year. Pulis, however, was accused of stagnating the club as they ground to a halt in the middle of the table, and Hughes was brought in to bring more aesthetically pleasing football along with improved league finishes. Since Pulis’ 13th placed finish in 2012/13, the Potters have failed to take the next step. Each of the last few seasons there has been a threat of Europa League contention, yet they haven’t – and will not – exceed Hughes 9th placed finish from 2013/14.Hughes’ side have markedly improved as a team to watch over that period, but you wouldn’t blame the fans for questioning the lack of progress. A squad that now boasts Giannelli Imbula, Marko Arnautovic, Xherdan Shaqiri, Bojan Krkic and Ibrahim Afellay should really be achieving more than they are currently. Just a look at this season makes it easier toÂunderstand why the Potters’ fanbase might be growing in frustration, as, with two games to play, they are very unlikely to finish higher than tenth. Around the turn of the year Stoke were being spoken of in the same vein as Southampton and West Ham as making a potential charge on the top six, but a run of six points from their last eight league games has been symptomatic of a side that look set for a sun lounger at a Maltese villa.The progress of their on field style, paired with the ability to attract the bigger name signings like Imbula, does tend to represent a club that is treading water. Hughes would, understandably, put the under-achieving season down to a number of factors. Bojan, Shaqiri and Imbula did not have a proper pre-season with the club and Shaqiri particularly has been in and out of the side with knocks throughout the campaign. Meanwhile, the recent injury to Jack Butland, poor form of Ryan Shawcross and another long lay-off for Afellay have all meant that the Potters have hardly been able to put their best XI out this season.Next season will be huge for the club.ÂHughes has a reputation for looking secure at a club beforeÂthings drastically decline. Afellay will miss the start of the campaign and, depending on the summer business, they may have to rebuild somewhat. Keeping hold of their top scorer, and top-bunned, talisman Arnautovic is imperative, whilst the risk of rotting in midtable is very real. The crushingly poor momentum of 2016 cannot continue into the start of 2016/17 or the Potters will quickly find themselves feeling like the red and white of Sunderland, not Atletico Madrid.Stoke are treading water, but they’ve managed to swim against the tide for some time since Hughes arrived. The risk at the club is that the floodgates will open up the Premier League river and they will be wiped out as they slide down the footballing ladder.
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