Stoke need to achieve top 10 status to quell disquiet

21Mar 2013

England - Premier League

Stoke City are the Premier League side everyone loves to hate, but now it seems even their own fans are growing restless at a team who are big spending yet low achieving. Hannah Duncan asks whether the Pulis era is coming to an end

Stoke City have been a Premier League side for five seasons now but rarely in that time have they been headlines grabbers or anyone's 'second' team, in the manner of Swansea or even Blackpool.

And now it seems they're barely their own supporters' favourite team, with what many perceive to be a bland style of football starting to wear a bit thin.

After five seasons, ensuring Premier League survival is no longer a decent excuse for the long-ball, physical tactics (Fulham boss Martin Jol even described them as being more like a 'rugby side'). The rough-'em-up approach may have served Tony Pulis' side well since their promotion from the Championship but, if you believe what you read, the fans are starting to get a bit peeved with it.

The Potters faithful may be grateful for their fairly secure - if somewhat dull, middle-of-the-road - top-flight status, but when they see teams such as Swansea gain promotion, make shrewd yet exciting signings with a young, promising manager, it must start to grate a little that their side isn't going down the same path.

The Swans are at 1.36 for a top 10 finish in just their second season in the Premier League.

Things were starting to look up in 2011 when Stoke reached the FA Cup final, even if they never really had a prayer of beating Manchester City at Wembley, but they've had little to cheer since.

Even Ryan Shawcross, widely regarded as one of England's most promising centre-halves, has been overlooked by Roy Hodgson for the national squad, despite a severe lack of defensive options. Even Joleon Lescott, who has barely kicked a ball all season, made the cut.

This week, the most interesting news involving the Potters is striker Michael Owen announcing his retirement at the end of the season. But let's face it, who even really remembers he plays for Stoke? Every retrospective of his career reels off Liverpool, Real Madrid, Newcastle and Manchester United, but few mention he currently plies his trade at the Britannia Stadium.

So is Tony Pulis' seven-year reign at the club winding down?

Since their promotion to the Premier League, Pulis hasn't exactly been working on a shoestring. In fact, their NET spend in that time has been an eye-watering £77.25 million - only Chelsea and Manchester City have spent more. The Welshman has signed the likes of Robert Huth (£5m from Middlesbrough), Cameron Jerome (£4m from Birmingham), Peter Crouch (£10m from Spurs), Charlie Adam (£5m from Liverpool) and Wilson Palacios (£8m from Spurs) - and that's just of his current squad.

Yet, in their four years in the top-flight, the Potters have racked up consistent - but uninspiring - results. They have finished 12th, 11th, 13th and 14th respectively and are currently just outside the top 10 this term. Since gaining promotion, Stoke have drawn 55 of 182 games (many of which have been 0-0s) and lost 73. The Potters have failed to score in 12 Premier League games this term - a stat only equalled by Swansea, but then the Swans have spent less, have six more Premier League points and a Capital One Cup trophy to show for it. And they play attractive football.

Stoke are trading at 3.7 for a top 10 finish this season - what would be their first in the Premier League - and with the fixtures they have remaining, it's not out of the question they could achieve it, but it's likely to rely more on the fortunes of the clubs around them than their own form.

It doesn't look like the Potters are going to be changing peoples' perceptions of them any time soon and while some fans may be content with top-flight security, others may just be getting a bit restless that little more of note is taking place at the Britannia Stadium. Pulis may just be starting to look over his shoulder.