STOKE
StrumSolo > 16/08/2013, 10:08
In: Erik Pieters (PSV Eindhoven, £3m), Alex Grant (Portsmouth, Free), Marc Muniesa (Barcelona, Free).
Out: Matthew Lund (Rochdale, Free), Carlo Nash (Norwich, Free), Matthew Upson (Brighton, Free), Dean Whitehead (Middlesbrough, Free), Rory Delap (Burton Albion, Free).
Released: Mamady Sidibé.
Retired: Michael Owen.
Prediction: 16th
Mark Hughes’ reputation rightly took a battering last season after the QPR debacle, but looking at Stoke’s transfer activity so far this summer it seems as though he’s learnt his lesson. Of course, having a half decent Premier League in place already meant wholesale changes weren’t required, but the arrivals of Pieters and Muniesa, rather than the likes of Wright-Phillips and Jung-Si Park should come as a relief to Stoke fans.
Having said that, nothing’s happened to make me think their fortunes will dramatically improve under Hughes. I can’t see they’ll be in any danger of going down, but the top half looks a long way off as well.