Moving "to the next level"

[mrcoke]

A comparison of Stoke's and Swansea's performances last season shows that whilst the overall performances were similar in teams of wins, points, etc., a closer examination reveals Swansea achieved their full potential by not losing to any team below them at home, and not losing to any of the bottom 6 teams away. Conversely Stoke could have won significantly more points if they had done likewise and not lost to CP, Villa, Leicester, and Burnley at home and a very poor Sunderland side away. Stoke made major progress in away form last season, usually by strong counter attacks, but to move up the table they need to be better at scoring against teams that come to the Brit to defend, which they often looked like not achieving when Moses wasn't playing or Arni not in form.

An examination of Southampton's performance shows an outstanding defensive record last season with only 33 goals conceded, only 1 more than Chelsea. Considering the silly errors Stoke's defence made during the first half of the season and the disruption due to injuries in the second half, Stoke's record of 45 goals conceded was not bad and only bettered by the top 4 teams and Southampton. Given a settled back line, Stoke can look forward to an improvement. The main concern in this area is replacing N'Zonzi's ability to hold possession and not pass it away, thereby losing possession the danger area.



For Stoke to match Liverpool or Spurs performances last season would necessitate a 12 point improvement, which would be not so much the next step as next stride. It is not so much a question of turning last seasons 4 home defeats by weaker teams into victories but to do that and still achieve victories against all but 2 of the top teams (ManU and Chelsea last season) again; a mighty tough call. Personally I think it is possible for Stoke to match Liverpool and Spurs, but then I'm an optimistic glass half full sort of guy. Their records last season, when you examine them closely, are not that great.



But to return to reality, we have to remember that there are teams below Stoke that will be looking to overtake us next season and to be realistic CP, and Everton without European football, will be major forces in the Prem next season. Then there is the surprise package we are not expecting.



IMO it will take some time for MH and his team to get the team settled into the force they were towards the end of last season. Hopefully we can catch out Liverpool and Spurs before they are settled and not "drop" home points against WBA, Leicester, and Bournemouth. But even if the team start poorly, I'm confident there is sufficient quality in the squad for the team to become an even more potent force next season than they were last. Whether that is sufficient to lift them "to the next level" time will tell.