Stoke City fans experienced a rare happiness as the club announced its success in binding star defender Geoff Cameron for two more years till 2020. In an otherwise underwhelming campaign, where the Potters could barely churn out good results, this comes as an encouraging news for the next season, which they hope to approach on a stronger note.
Mark Hughes could be termed as the luckiest manager this season as his side’s pathetic form was time and again overlooked owing to the favourable results around them. It not only saved them from relegation but also helped them finish in a respectable 13th position.
Despite having a squad filled with some of the league’s most experienced and successful players, the Potters have managed to win just 11 games, two more than Hull City, the last club to get relegated. Clubs like Crystal Palace and Swansea City, who could only secure their position in the top flight on the second last week of the season, managed to win more games (12) than them.
Stoke managed to score just 41 goals this season, despite having the likes of Peter Crouch, Xherdan Shaqiri, Marko Arnautovic, Saido Berahino, Bojan Krkic and more. Bournemouth, who got promoted two seasons back, managed to score 55 goals with a below average attacking force. And although not being the worst defending side in the league this season, Stoke City have conceded 56 goals.
Things seemed to turn for the worst when one of their better defenders, Bruno Martins Indi, had to return back to Portugal. The FC Porto centre-half was phenomenal at times alongside Cameron and Ryan Shawcross, and the English club is yet to secure a permanent deal for him, which makes Cameron’s stay all the more important.
After finishing in the ninth position, in the top half of the table, for the past three years, the next realistic step for the Potters was to challenge for a European spot, but they could only manage to go downwards. At such dire times, holding on to the main players is the key and Stoke have done just that.
The 31-year-old US International has been a regular figure for the Potters since joining them back in 2012 from Major League Soccer side Houston. In his five years at the club, he has made 148 Premier League appearances becoming an established member of the squad. His dominance in the air and disciplined displays have been a huge asset for the club and they could surely attract more talents by having such players in the side.
