SSN - Stoke transfer tips

[shiny nosehair]

Sorry if posted before, I've not seen it


Stoke sit outside the Premier League bottom three at the halfway stage of the season and Mark Holmes assesses what Tony Pulis needs to do in January to keep it that way.
How new boys have done

Tony Pulis spent a fraction over £20million in the summer transfer window but the Potters boss was forced to settle for a series of players from his 'B' list after missing out on a number of top targets.

20 points from the first 18 games suggests the buys have worked out but Pulis' success rate in the transfer market has certainly not been exemplary, with a good few of his summer buys regularly seen sat on the Stoke bench.

Dave Kitson was the most high-profile arrival in a club-record £5.5million transfer from Reading, but the striker has remarkably failed to score once in the first half of the season. He has, in his defence, been asked to play a deeper role than he is used to but no goals in nine league games is not the greatest endorsement. He lost his place in the side to Mama Sidibe and has missed the last 10 games through injury.

The Potters' next most expensive arrival was Seyi Olofinjana for £3million from Wolves but he too has lost his place in the side in recent weeks. The midfielder scored memorable goals against Everton and Arsenal, but his displays have been largely mixed.

One player that has been anything but mixed is Abdoulaye Faye, who must surely be one of the buys of the season - for any side. He cost just £2.25million from Newcastle but has comfortably been Stoke's most consistent player over the first half of the season. An inspired bit of business from Mr Pulis.

The same can be said of the deal that saw Danny Higginbotham return to the club from Sunderland. The former Manchester United trainee has not been at his best in recent weeks, but he can easily count his bad performances on one hand - and that's in his unfavoured position of left-back.

Further money was spent on strengthening the defence in the shape of Andrew Davies and Ibrahima Sonko but both have been unfortunate with injuries. Davies is yet to make his first appearance for the club and Sonko has only recently returned to the side after a spell out, the Senegal star struggling for consistency in the outings he has made.

The man behind the defence is Thomas Sorensen and the Danish keeper has been Pulis' best signing behind Abdoulaye Faye. He came on a free transfer following his release by Aston Villa, but has been a revelation in the Potters goal and played a huge part in the solid start. His shot-stopping is perhaps weaker than his No.2 Steve Simonsen, but the way the Dane commands his box and organises his defence has established him as a key member of Pulis' side.

The rest of Stoke's transfer money was spent on midfielders Amdy Faye, Tom Soares and Michael Tonge but the trio have not enjoyed complete success. Amdy Faye has been steady if unspectacular in his 11 Premier League starts but Soares has started just five games and Tonge only one.

Soares starred on his full debut against Tottenham but has struggled to show the same form since, while Tonge has impressed more from the bench than in his one start at Portsmouth. Both have been overlooked recently in favour of Richard Cresswell.

What they need

Stoke still lack now what they lacked in the summer - pace and creativity - and their January targets list will contain many of the players that Pulis missed out on before the season got underway.

Pulis' top priority is a winger and both Joe Ledley and Jermaine Pennant remain firmly in the Welshman's thoughts. Stoke failed in a £6million bid for the former on transfer deadline day but the 21-year-old looks set to leave Cardiff in January and Stoke remains his most likely destination.

Pennant on the other hand is believed to be unwilling to leave Liverpool next month and so Pulis may have his work cut out if he intends on persuading the former Birmingham star to join the club at the second time of asking.

Pulis is also determined to strengthen his frontline and Manchester United's Manucho has been mooted as a potential loan signing. The Potters boss would prefer to buy than loan, though, and so has sent his scouting team around the world in a bid to find some unearthed strike talent.

Two British-based players Pulis is known to have looked at are young Southampton pair Andrew Surman and Adam Lallana. Surman has been on his radar for at least the past two transfer windows and could finally make the move north as Saints seek to ease their financial troubles, while Lallana is interesting a whole host of Premier League clubs.

Derby's Miles Addison is another mooted target, while other players to be linked with the Potters include Aston Villa's Marlon Harewood, Wigan's Henri Camara and Reading's Andre Bikey.

What they'll get

Ledley appears to be top of Pulis' wanted list and the Cardiff winger looks Stoke's most likely January arrival at the moment. He was said to be unhappy at being denied the chance to talk to the Potters in the summer and, after refusing to sign a new deal at Ninian Park, looks set to be sold in January. There are even reports the Bluebirds may already have sanctioned his move to the Britannia Stadium.

Pennant is less likely due to his apparent desire to stay on at Liverpool, while the likes of Steven Fletcher and Gary Caldwell, who were tentatively linked after Pulis was seen at a Hibernian v Celtic game, can more than likely be ruled out.

Addison could well arrive from Derby, while Surman and Lallana remain possible signings due to Southampton's financial crisis and Pulis' desire to mix experience with as much young talent as possible.

Manucho is believed to be on offer from United but he would probably be down the line of preferred options for Pulis, who could make a second offer for Wigan's Camara. Latics are unlikely to sell, though, unless they can persuade Emile Heskey to stay at the club.

Pulis is thought to have ruled out Harewood, while Bikey will more than likely stay with Reading. Do not be surprised, though, to see a defender arrive from somewhere.

[crimesy]

ruled out harewood.. very unlikely me thinks. Surman has been cropping up quite alot but he's not prem quality i dont think. good read though. cheers shiny.

G.

[Northy]

do we sit outside the bottom three ???

A good story which could have been made up from posts off here

[Lakeland Potter]

The story is a couple of weeks old which is why it says "out of the bottom three".

[frasiertruffles]

Mark holmes sounds like he knows his stuff. Good read that.

[white wall boy]

Interesting read, fair bit of insight and I must keep reminding myself what an inspired piece of business Sorenson is. Christ we could have wasted another £5m on a keeper for what ? Fullop and Carsen both look shite in comparison to Tommy

[nathan]

Homzy is a Stokie. Just saying, like.

[Bick]

suprised to see it say that marlon is out?

[danmase]

nothing earth shattering is there but to be fair we are fishing in a pretty small pond when you consider our reputation, finances and league position. All the names mentioned are predictable enough and probably feature on the possible hitlists of half the bottom half of the league

[th05]

I'm bored of the same old targets already.