Stoke City are shedding their ‘rugby game’ brand of operating the game under the tutelage of Mark Hughes. The Potters were plying their trade with a needlessly overaggressive physical touch when Tony Pulis was at the helm, which was infamously known ‘hoof-ball’. Such days are far behind them now as they have ventured into a much more civilised and easy on the eye approach.
The football fraternity generally keeps itself confined to the competition of bragging rights that exists at the top four spots as well as the relegation fistfight that tends to get brutal near the end of the season. The mid-table spots are overlooked more often than not, but then there are quite a few sides who find solace with steps towards development.
They are placed 10 with an eight-point gap separating them from Everton who are 7th. Nonetheless, Hughes now has a very formidable side with a couple of fantastic signings to face the animosity that’ll come in the next few months and here is how we rate their recent investments.
Lee Grant (8/10)
After impressing one and all during his first six months at bet365 Stadium owing to the injury to Stoke City’s Jack Butland, Hughes wrapped up a permanent deal for the 33-year-old goalkeeper Lee Grant on a permanent basis with a two-and-a-half-year deal from Derby County for a nominal fee of £1.3 million.
Grant has been absolutely fantastic for the Potters, having had the opportunity of being handed the gloves on as many as 17 occasions, wherein he has bagged 6 clean sheets alongside making 2.76 saves per game. His ball distribution, positional sense and sublime reflexes have been applauded and it was a no-brainer to make the move permanent.
Saido Berahino (9/10)
Saido Berahino’s innumerable tantrums paid off as he could finally muster a move away from the Hawthorns. Stoke City came calling with the cash to tempt the Baggies, to which they eventually succumbed.
The 23-year-old striker had fallen out of favour with West Bromwich Albion owing to the diabolical situation that was created but he is undoubtedly one of the sublime strikers which Premier League has on offer.
Without any shadow of a doubt, Berahino would be an impetus for Hughes’ setup up front. With his sharp movements, clinical finishing abilities and burst of pace, his value should not be doubted or underestimated and he will definitely play an instrumental role in helping Hughes & co. in complying with the demands of the club.
Statistics Credits: Squawka.
