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English Premier League: Stoke City season review – A cold, rainy campaign

By Orri Benatar

STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Xherdan Shaqiri of Stoke City reacts at the full time whistle after the Premier League match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace at Bet365 Stadium on May 5, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images)
STOKE ON TRENT, ENGLAND - MAY 05: Xherdan Shaqiri of Stoke City reacts at the full time whistle after the Premier League match between Stoke City and Crystal Palace at Bet365 Stadium on May 5, 2018 in Stoke on Trent, England. (Photo by Gareth Copley/Getty Images) /
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The team that usually finishes ninth finished in 19th. Stoke City are going down after a long stay in the Premier League.

Stoke Season Review

The Potters start to the season was typical. A loss here, a win there, a draw over that way. Pretty plain and simple. But as the campaign rolled along, Stoke kept falling into these constant ruts of losing three or four straight. Mark Hughes was in charge at the bet365 all the way until January 6th when he was sacked. He managed Stoke for five wins.

Paul Lambert stepped in and did not improve anything whatsoever. After a 3-1 win over West Brom two days before Christmas, Stoke won just two more games for the remainder of the season. They finished in 19th place on seven wins, 12 draws, and 19 losses. The Potters became an EPL regular after they earned promotion ten years ago. They will seek to get promoted again in 2018-19.

Biggest Win: 1-0 vs. Arsenal (August 19th)

With only seven choices in this category, it was easy to pick the first one cause it was by far the most impressive win. This was Stoke’s only big victory of the entire season and the win gave us false hope they would finish ninth again. Jese’s goal wasn’t just the winner in the match, but the highest point of the season.

Heaviest Defeat: 7-2 at. Man City (October 14th)

With 19 defeats to choose from, even this category was easy. Stoke was absolutely crushed by Manchester City in a mid-October game at the Etihad. Rarely do you see any Premier League team get five goals in a game, but seven? Unheard of. Plainly, this loss defined Stoke’s season. Hopeless.

Best Player: Xherdan Shaqiri

Xherdan Shaqiri might go down as the greatest player on a relegated team. The former Inter and Bayern star came to Stoke to much shock and awe from soccer fans. A player this talented shouldn’t be playing for a Championship team. If there is one transfer that must happen this summer, it’s Shaqiri getting out of red and white. Stoke’s leading goalscorer should not come back.

Worst Player: Mame Biram Diouf

Next: Huddersfield season review

Biram Diouf scored six goals for the season. That’s actually the second most he has scored in the Premier League. In his four seasons with Stoke, he has scored 23 goals in 122 appearances. That’s simply not good enough for a former Man United product who has the speed and strength to be a decent EPL player. A year in the Championship should help regain his confidence for the future.

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