After a slow start in the Premier League, Stoke City are now back up into 11th and looking to build upon a 9th placed finish last season.
Having finished 9th in the Premier League in each of the last 3 seasons, the quality and spending power of the teams that consistently finish above Stoke City means that it is extremely difficult for Mark Hughes’ men to progress further than they already have.
That is unlikely to stop them trying though, and the club displayed ambition in the transfer market once again in the summer, bringing in high profile players such as Joe Allen, Wilfried Bony and Bruno Martins Indi.
Three of Stoke’s summer signings have been arguably their three best players this season, and that is reflected in their ratings. As part of our festive features, HITC Sport have rated each of the Potters senior summer signings:
Joe Allen – A
Joe Allen celebrates scoring for Stoke City
Stoke City’s most notable summer signing, Joe Allen joined the Potters from Liverpool for a fee of £13 million, having been linked with a number of other Premier League and Serie A clubs. Mark Hughes recently stated that he was surprised Liverpool allowed Allen to leave, and whilst the Reds are going strong this season without him, he has been in inspired form at the Bet365 Stadium.
The Welshman has carried his impressive form from Euro 2016 into the Premier League with the Potters, and is even Stoke’s top scorer with 5 goals, already his best ever tally for a season. The 26-year-old has brought quality and tenacity to the Stoke City midfield and has arguably been both their best signing and best player of the season so far.
Ramadan Sobhi – C
Ramadan Sobhi has had limited game time at the Bet365 Stadium
From a Stoke player who has had an enormous impact since his arrival in Staffordshire to one who has had very little, Ramadan Sobhi was a signing made with the future in mind. Aged 19 but already a full international, the young Egyptian is very highly regarded in his homeland. Signed for £5 million from Egyptian giants Al-Ahly, Sobhi has made 8 appearances this season overall, although that amounts to less than 300 minutes of football overall, often being utilised as a late substitute.
The only full 90 minutes Sobhi has played this season was in Stoke’s EFL Cup defeat to semi-finalists Hull City, although he was highly impressive in that game, being many supporters choice for the man of the match award. Sobhi ought not to be judged on this season alone, as his chance will come in the coming years and he could well prove a great signing for Stoke, but on current limited game time, he cannot be given higher than a C.
Bruno Martins Indi – B+
On-loan defender Bruno Martins Indi has found form at Stoke
After a slightly shaky start, along with most of the Stoke City team, Bruno Martins Indi has now established himself as a key man at the heart of the Potters defence. The 24-year-old arrived at the Bet365 with some pedigree; capped 31 times by the Netherlands, a World Cup semi-finalist and on-loan from Portuguese giants Porto.
He is now showing the type of form which saw him become so highly regarded at such a young age within the game. For a number of years now Stoke have been crying out for a genuinely quality centre-back partner for Ryan Shawcross, and they appear to have found that in the form of Bruno Martins Indi, who narrowly missed out on an A for his efforts so far this season.
Wilfried Bony – D
Wilfried Bony is yet to get going at Stoke
Wilfried Bony has been a real disappointment for Stoke City so far this season, the Ivorian scored 26 goals in 54 Premier League games for Swansea City, but has bagged just 2 goals in 9 Premier League games for the Potters, both coming in the same game and against his former club. The 28-year-old was signed for more than £25 million by Manchester City, a mark of how highly regarded he was a couple of years ago.
Powerful and prolific throughout his career, it may just be that Bony needs a bit more time to get up to speed, having had little game time at Manchester City, but given that he is only on-loan at Stoke and we are almost half way through the season, Potters fans will understandably be demanding more goals in the second half of the season.
Lee Grant – A
Goalkeeper Lee Grant is becoming a fan favourite at Stoke City
Former England under-21 international Lee Grant has been a surprise star man for Stoke City this season. Even with injury to Jack Butland the 33-year-old found himself behind Shay Given in the pecking order, up until some poor performances by the veteran goalkeeper prompted Mark Hughes to give Grant an opportunity.
It is an opportunity he has well and truly grasped with both hands, and one could even claim he has been the Potters best player in the first half of the season. Mark Hughes appears to be keen to sign the loanee on a permanent deal following his impressive form, but he has said Derby are asking for far more money than Stoke are willing to pay.
Who do you think has been the pick of Stoke’s summer signings so far?
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