Mark Hughes made his first move into the transfer market as Stoke City manager last week with the acquisition of Erik Pieters from PSV Eindhoven for a fee of 3.6m Euros. The 24-year-old joins up at the Britannia on a four-year deal and, although predominantly utilised as a left-back, also affords the Potters a versatility at centre-half, according to his new manager.
“I am delighted to have secured Erik’s signature. The main focus this summer in attempting to strengthen the squad is ensuring it is balanced in key positions. While Erik is predominantly a left back, he has also played for his country as a central defender, so he gives us other options. We need good quality in our starting eleven and good quality back-up for all areas, which Erik will certainly give us defensively.”
The History
Pieters initially started out as a central midfielder before being converted to a defender upon joining the FC Utrecht youth system. Making his debut as an 18-year-old in 2006, he produced two goals and three assists over a couple of seasons before PSV came calling in July 2008. His time in Eindhoven has been plagued by injury, though – knee, metatarsal (twice) and hand injuries (caused by his decision to punch a window after being sent off) have seen him sidelined for months at a time. As a result, he featured just 93 times in the Dutch top-flight over five years at the club, providing a total of nine assists.
On the international stage, Pieters helped Holland to the European U21 Championship Trophy back in 2008 and has since went on to represent the senior side on 17 occasions, though missed out on last year’s Euro 2012 due to injury.
The Prospects
While Hughes talked up the new boy’s versatility, it seems certain Pieters has been purchased to solve the Potters’ problematic left-back area. Tony Pulis utilised Marc Wilson, Andy Wilkinson, Geoff Cameron and even Robert Huth on the left of his defence last term but the Dutchman is determined to nail down a regular role, saying:
“I’ve had a few injuries but that’s all in the past now; I feel really good and can’t wait for my time as a Stoke City player to start. My first job is to defend but I always want to attack and contribute as much as I can for the team. I’ve played a couple of times in the centre of defence as well but left back is my position.”
Pieters’ runs down the left look set to offer Stoke more of an attacking approach from deep as Hughes attempts to bring a little more flair to their football after seasons of dour displays under Pulis. The above-mentioned quartet managed a single assist between them all season – alarmingly, a tally mirrored by Matt Etherington and Michael Kightly, who started a combined 28 games on the left of midfield.
With creativity required throughout the team in order to help address the dire 34 goal haul from last season, the Dutchman certainly looks fundamental to Hughes’ plans, with the likes of Wilson and Wilkinson set to play the part of bench-warmers. While a consistency of starts looks on the cards – providing he steers clear of injury, of course – price remains an issue for the Potters rearguard options after they shipped a mere 45 times in Pulis’ last season.
A rise across the Fantasy games for Asmir Begovic is anticipated – popular opinion anticipates a move to 5.5 in Fantasy Premier League (FPL) for the stopper, while there’d be no real surprise if Huth and Ryan Shawcross come in at a similar cost. Given that Pieters looks likely to be nailed-on under Hughes he may well follow suit; such a scenario may ultimately leave the Stoke right-back spot as the best value – with Ryan Shotton, Cameron and Wilkinson all capable of filling in, the hope is their prices will remain a little lower due to the uncertainty, affording us a cheap option around the 5.0 mark.
The opening fixtures hardly fall in Stoke’s favour, though, and even if Pieters is handed a more favourable cost across the Fantasy games, initial investment seems unlikely. Hughes’ rein kicks off with trips to Liverpool, West Ham and Arsenal in the opening five and with a home clash against City also on the cards, the Gameweek 2 visit of Palace seems the only kind favour over that period. As featured in our recent series of rotation articles, a Stoke/Norwich combination has plenty potential for the season ahead, though whether Hughes can bring an extra attacking verve to the Potters’ play without sacrificing some of the resilience instilled under Pulis remains to be seen.
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