Its that time of year again as supporters. Were eagerly awaiting that first game of the season against wolves – but also have an eye out for who will be representing the potters again this season.
A big thank you should be said to Steve Bruce for his questionable transfer policy, which has once again benefited Stoke. After letting us have Dean Whitehead last year (for what I think was quite a small fee) he has kindly decided to let us once again have the services of Kenwyne Jones.
I think we all have faith that this bit of business by Pulis will really pay dividends.
Jones suites our existing style but also offers a bridging step to a better way of playing football. Having seen him play with Bent at Sunderland I can confidently say that as well as the obvious threat from set pieces and crosses, his link up play will help Fuller with his goal tally.
As excited as I am about this signing, many of us are now thinking of who may exit our forward line. Beattie is believed to have agreed to go to Rangers, a move that I have to say will benefit both parties. The rumours linking Kitson with a move to Bristol have drifted away with Steve Coppell’s managerial career.
But what concerns me is the future of Tuncay. I really wanted the guy to work out for us – but he didn’t have the most productive season for one reason or another. I know that he still has staunch support amongst many Stoke fans but I can’t help but think he isn’t going to fit into a Pulis team.
The talk of ‘Tunny’ playing as the creative midfielder has to be rubbished as well, unless we change our system. The skilful Turk has many positive attributes, but few of these are skills that assist a team like Stoke that statistically has less possession than any other team in the league.
Physically, he lacks strength that other Pulis players have as standard. And in the Premier League there are countless creative midfielders that still have the necessary steel to compete in midfield. Examples include: Kevin Prince Boateng, Lee Bowyer, Matt Taylor, David Dunn, Zoltan Gera, Jamie O’Hara, Morten Gamst Pederson, Wilson Palacios, Steven N’Zonzi ect
However a positive pre season may just be the tonic that Tuncay needed to be fully integrated into a Pulis mindset.
I hope that Tuncay works out for us. He seems like a player who lives to be adored by the crowd. And the crowd want to adore him.
As for the Wolves game I want us to win, but my head says 0-0