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20 July 2016 1728 comments
Paul Paul
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We continue our series of members’ articles, which review the numbers behind the 2015/16 season, with a look at Stoke City.

To get up and running, we delve into the Potters’ data and compare them to the rest of the Premier League, before assessing their first-team squad, main goal threats and creative sources as we look for some pointers ahead of the upcoming 2016/17 campaign.

Despite finding the net on 41 occasions, Mark Hughes’ side still finished in ninth position for the second successive season. Although they mustered just three points less than 2014/15 – picking up 51 points – it’s fair to say that the Potters’ threat in the final third took a turn for the worse in a season that saw just nine of their players find the net.

Paul Is certain he won't make the same mistakes next season. Follow them on Twitter

  1. Davido989
    • 15 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Prefer the budget mids to budget strikers. And there's a nice range of strikers in the 9m range too. 🙂

    1. JK - Cønt ⭐
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I've got a budget striker atm as I'm a big fan of Stone Cold Charlie Austin

    2. Hazard for Ballon D'or
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      What strikers you looking at? Can't even pick 3 I want

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        There's plenty. Aguero/Zlatan - Kane/Sturridge - Michy/Lukaku/Rooney/Giroud/Benteke

    3. Ayew Serious
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      No strikers between 7-8.5.

      Until Benteke moves

    4. Bøwstring The Carp
      • 14 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Agree, the likes of Tadic/ Townsend/ etc open up more options up front

      Jesus I hope Benteke moves to Palace 😡

      1. Davido989
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Some of the 6.5 mids are underpriced imo

        1. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          I have a 6.5 mid and a 7.5 mid

          but also a 6.5 striker

    5. Worzel Gummidge
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Rooney is a shoo in for me

      • ekul the lokonga enthusiast
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Currently on

        Aguero Gray Berahino

        If benteke moves to a PL team then I'm getting him.

        Considering Callum Wilson also

    6. Bambi
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Townsend vs Shaqiri - who would you pick any why? Leaning towards townsend - full pre-season and no euros. Well rested. eager to impress

    7. davies
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Fuchs worth the premium?

      1. Bambi
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        yes imo. defensively solid team. mops up the baps

      2. Zizoulicious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Remains to be seen how much the lack of Kante effects them defensively

        1. RustyBz
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          ^^ this.

    8. Zizoulicious
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      How's this for a first draft?

      Foster Jankupovic
      Shaw Funes. Mori Friend Souare 4.0
      Mkhi Eriksen Firmino Townsend Fletcher
      Aguero Costa Wilson

      Issues are Hazard vs Mkhi, and whether to keep Firmino despite figures (his price is wonderful). Also not sure on the defense!!

      1. Hurricane Gilbert
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Keep Firmino. He is FPL gold and will be nailed since he is Klopp's liebling no 1.

    9. DantheManinaPan
      • 11 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Who will play up front for Stoke? Thoughts on Diouf?

      1. Ayew Serious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Berahino?

      2. A.T
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Someone new probably. Bid for Berahino already rejected

    10. JJO
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      First Q this preseason

      A) Ibra + Mirallas/Delou
      B) Mikh/Martial + Lukaku?

      1. I Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        B quite comfortably imo. Mirallas/Deulofeu not nailed. If they were it would be much closer.

        1. JJO
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          THanks BFB

    11. I Member
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Hazard + Long vs Tadic + Costa/Batshuayi is giving me a real headache. Hopefully pre-season helps me out.

      1. Zizoulicious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Second one imo

      2. Worzel Gummidge
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Second one with Batshit

        • Däzzy
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          First one

      3. Over Midwicket
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Can I get a few of thoughts on this 3-5-2? Thanks lads.

        Heaton.
        Shaw. Azpi. Friend.
        Haz*. Mki. Eriksen. Siggy. Tadic*.
        Kun*. Gray*.

        Subs: Jaku. Kone. Paredes. Barnes.

        * indicate penalty takers. The rest of my front 8 are on freekicks and corners.

      4. Elniñorules
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Grav check.

        1. Ayew Serious
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Brunt incoming

          1. Elniñorules
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            BRUNT MANIA

        2. JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          this is a trend I get behind

        3. djenzio
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          we need some Brunt FPL names now!

      5. Over Midwicket
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Sorry got bottomed.

        Can I get a few of thoughts on this 3-5-2? Thanks lads.

        Heaton.
        Shaw. Azpi. Friend.
        Haz*. Mki. Eriksen. Siggy. Tadic*.
        Kun*. Gray*.

        Subs: Jaku. Kone. Paredes. Barnes.

        * indicate penalty takers. The rest of my front 8 are on freekicks and corners.

        1. George Sillett
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Bit light upfront IMO if any of the mids don't fire

        2. ekul the lokonga enthusiast
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          I like it!

          Eriksen to firmino maybe??

          1. Kered
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Spurs have much more favourable fixtures to start.

            1. djenzio
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Firm was involved in most goals in 2016 in the PL. Plus he is often used as a false nine.

              1. Elijah's Wood
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Only because Klopp was having to deal with multiple leagues/cups towards the end, not to mention Sturridge and Origi were injured.

                All their strikers are fit and currently only playing in the PL, i imagine Firmino will go back into an attacking mid

              2. Kered
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Not taking away from his potential. I think he's a great fpl asset if they use him correctly. Just unfavourable fixtures to start with most planning on using WC early to tweak things, might wait until then to consider pool players.

      6. tm245
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Just renewed membership and it's nice to play with the site again.

        One of the best upgrades with the redesign last spring was the ticker. Really like the functionality and the look.

      7. Gaffa914
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        This any good?
        Foster/Jakupovic
        Baines/Shaw/Simpson/Friend/Wilson
        Hazard/Siggy/Eriksen/Townsend/Feghouli
        Lukaku/Aguero/Long

        Decided I'm going to attempt a rotation between Feghouli and long

      8. davies
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        I've got 10.0 for my final spots...

        Heaton - Foster
        Shaw - *** - Friend - Souare - ***

        ... Any suggestions?

        1. George Sillett
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Baines , Kone ?

        2. Ten Season Wonder
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Coleman, McAuley

        3. Mavric Marco
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Baines or Fuchs & McAuley?

        4. Beavis
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Terry & Wollscheid

        5. Elijah's Wood
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Baines + Stoke/WBA

        6. davies
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          4/5 suggested Everton - Koeman factor?

          1. Elijah's Wood
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Pretty much, Everton have a lot of potential and seems as though Koeman should utilise it better than Martinez

          2. George Sillett
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Yep

      9. Kered
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Are there any 6.0 strikers worth considering?
        Currently looking at Rhodes, Borini or Grabban as a filler to spend funds elsewhere and only have 2 playing strikers.

        1. Elijah's Wood
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Maybe Valencia if he moves from West Ham, other than that its slim pickings unless you can find £0.5m

      10. The Saints of Footballing B…
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Looks like ozil, giroud, ramsey won't make it to gw1...
        Fancy Liverpool 1st keeper? IMO clean sheets this season are going to be way too unpredictable, as no club is very weak

        1. MitroGoal
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Ozil will play

          1. The Saints of Footballing B…
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Wenger tends to ease his players into action...

      11. Mavric Marco
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Just seen this & made me lol...

        Mario Balotelli - Liverpool
        Price - £6.5
        TSB - 0.3%

        😀

        1. Davido989
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          You caught me.

          1. Mavric Marco
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            😛

      12. MitroGoal
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Stupid question : how do you change your grav pic?

        1. TorresMagic™
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 16 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          http://www.fantasyfootballscout.co.uk/fantasy-football-faq-and-glossary/

          Make sure same email and make it G rated

        2. andy85wsm
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Check the hot topics 🙂

      13. George Sillett
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        If you were to make the worst team you think of using the whole budget ( give or take 1m) who would be in it?

        1. Sadio
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Ibra would be the first name on my team, followed by Ozil.

        2. davies
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Kolarov

        3. Bøwstring The Carp
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          And they have to start?

          Anything with Rooney and Barkley in it. In fact make the England squad as best as possible in FPL and you have it

          1. Funkyav
            • 16 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            you are so right, that is so depressing

          2. George Sillett
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Didn't think of England squad - that would take some beating.

          3. ashtini
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah thats a shout

        4. ashtini
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          I can only get 8m off:

          Robles - Mignolet
          Gibbs - Blind - Rojo - Olsson - Moreno
          Walcott - Oscar - Livermore - Henderson - Sterling
          Remy - Rooney - Balotelli

          1. George Sillett
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Looks wonderfully bad though!

      14. Zizoulicious
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Any Lie Chester fans about, what do you think of Schlupp's game time chances this season?

        At 5.0, I'm slightly obsessed with wanting him in my team

        1. davies
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Hello.

          Should see more gametime than last year due to rotation but Mahrez is nailed on one wing - leaving him to compete with Gray, Albrighton and possibly Musa for the other spot. I think CR sees him as a winger as opposed to fullback.

          1. Zizoulicious
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Cheers! That's a lot of competition for the wide spot. I rate him as a player so maybe Claudio will give him a run of games sometime in the season, but will leave him out for now

            1. davies
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Interesting to note that Musa played CF last night & Schlupp scored off the right wing though. And obviously Mahrez will rest at some point.

        2. The Saints of Footballing B…
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          With his pace and strength, might become an impact sub imp

      15. Hazard for Ballon D'or
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Keep changing my team and I think this looks quite good

        Courtois Pickford
        Baines Shaw friend Evans wolscheid
        Hazard mkhi silva cout lamela
        Giroud Wilson berahino

        Open to any advice, obviously if Arsenal sign a striker giroud goes but as it stands he looks certain

        1. Paracelsus
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Looks like me in back, but not sure about Giroud in Wk 1. I'd go elsewhere.

        2. The Saints of Footballing B…
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Giroud will miss earlier gwks tho...
          Afraid of berahino, he can throw a tantrum anytime now

        3. Hazard for Ballon D'or
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Thanks for the responses, if berahino stays at WBA I'll change him, is diouf an option? Any recommendations on who to change giroud to?

          Got 0.5 ITB

          1. The Saints of Footballing B…
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Diouf... Good shout, if you can dare punt on stoke
            Giroud> Lukaku?

            1. Hazard for Ballon D'or
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              I like Stoke but they have so many players and if they get barehino then diouf won't play

              Would Sturridge and Barkley for coutinho and giroud be good? Or would you rather firmino/coutinho and lukaku?

        4. money face bandwagon
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          dont see how a strong midfield can compensate the loss of not having aguero. but good luck

          1. Hazard for Ballon D'or
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Silva is my attempt at compensation, I love aguero but it does lose all balance and the forwards are too expensive this year, much more value in midfield imo

      16. Jay_
          9 years, 4 months ago

          What attack do you prefer?

          A:

          KDB Hazard Feghouli Fischer 4.5
          Aguero Ibrahimovic Gray

          B:

          Hazard Firmino Eriksen Townsend 4.5
          Aguero Rooney Gray

          C:

          Hazard KDB Mkhitaryan Townsend
          Aguero Wilson Gray

          * A & C would require turning my 5th defender from a 4.5 to a 4.0

          1. President Giggs
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            C is very similar to mine, can't decide on 4th mid slot

          2. Elijah's Wood
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Im pretty fixated on having both Ibra and Kun, so A. But think you can start with KDB and switch him to Hazard after Sunderland, giving you more choice in the rest of your mid.

            Also dependant on how strong your backline is

        • President Giggs
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Best 6.0m mid? Reckon Redmond is nailed?

        • Hurricane Gilbert
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          First effort on a balanced team. RMG - Rate my Grigg. How many Griggs out of ten do you give this team?

          Heaton/Foster
          Friend Shaw Azpi (Morgan, Lenihan)
          Mkhi Firmino Tadic Townsend (Feghouli)
          Aguero Lukaku Gray

          1. The Saints of Footballing B…
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Grey won't start

            1. fiveyears
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Why wouldn't Gray start??

        • jds
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Will Downing and or Stuani be likely to start for Middlesbrough?

          1. uptheboro
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Neither of them are nailed at this stage, but expect Downing to get lots of minutes initially either as a starter with Fischer coming on, or vice versa.

            Karanka does like Stuani, but only plays him on the right hand side, but Adomah has that shirt

        • thegreathoudini
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Jakupovic / Butland
          McAuley / Shaw / Morgan / Stones / Paredes
          Willian / Coutinho / Mkhitaryan / Silva / Fletcher
          Lukaku / Aguero / Gray

          Thoughts?

        • thepeen555
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          My team ATM but sure to be many ins and outs before the deadline.

          De Gea & Forster
          Ivanovic, Baines Otamendi, Morgan & Pieters
          Cabaye, Payet, Dier, Firmino & Hojbjerg
          Ibra, Vardy & C.Wilson

          1. thegreathoudini
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Too much money in defence.
            No Aguero for opening game.

        • Zizoulicious
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Mkhi or Hazard??

          1. Irish Madridista ⭐
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Mahrez or Martial for me until I see how both fit in.

            1. Zizoulicious
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              I like Martial as well, Mkhi seems like a more exotic option for some reason haha

              I'm tempted by Vardy but not Mahrez tbh. Not sure why

          2. The Saints of Footballing B…
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Both have great potential, I'd prefer hazard due to Chelsea's reliance on him

            1. Zizoulicious
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Very true, everything will go through him. Issue is whether he'll be doing a lot of the build up work rather than bringing home the points

        • adstomko
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Help on this please:

          Courtois - (Jakupovic)
          Shaw - Terry - Sagna - Friend - (Wasilewski)
          Hazard - Tadic - Dier - (Inler - Højbjerg)
          Aguero - Lukaku - Ibrahimovic

          Then if Aguero has an injury/bad start, I can swap him for a cheaper striker and better midfielder.

          1. Paracelsus
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Interesting. Terry downgrade and Dier upgrade?

          2. Trae44
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Get better forwards

            1. Kings of Lyon ★
              • 15 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              they are the 3 best forwards in the game 😆

              1. ManTree(v2!) or just JAY!
                • 14 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Sturridge is somewhat better than Lukaku

          3. Däzzy
            • 9 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Eric dier???
            4 man defence
            Top much on goalkeepers

          4. TorresMagic™
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • Has Moderation Rights
            • 16 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Why bother with Dier? His appeal has gone since moving from defence in FPL. Inler isn't much help there either.

            1. adstomko
              • 9 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Had a bit of cash left and didn't think haha. Thanks guys, will change Terry

          5. Elijah's Wood
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Terry > Baines/Coleman OR Courtois > Heaton/Foster (no need to double up straight away)

            Dont think Dier as a midfield is a decent fantasy option, his appeal last season was as an OOP defender playing in mid. There are better options for £5.5m, though if you downgrade your keeper you'll be able to upgrade to a £6.5m which have more options.

            City defence is iffy with a new manager coming in, Sagna may not be nailed

            Otherwise i like it, tough to create a team to accommodate the power house up front

        • JK - Cønt ⭐
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          didn't recognise my own post after changing my grav 😆

          1. Kings of Lyon ★
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            New grav, new name. Its almost like you didnt say you were chucking it 😉

            1. JK - Cønt ⭐
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              I have no idea what you are talking about 😉

          2. Elniñorules
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Ole Ole
            Ole Ole
            Chrissy Brunt
            Brunt Brunt Brunt

          3. Piggs Boson
            • 14 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            You're addicted to tinkering so much you do it with your grav and username too 🙂

            1. JK - Cønt ⭐
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              😆

              I've had this username for a while now

          4. Mavric Marco
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            You need massive JK lettering as your Grav really 😉

        • The_Socca_Philosopha
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          First RMT of the season, all thoughts appreciated!
          Heaton/Foster
          Shaw-Ayala-Pieters (Paredes/Robertson)
          Mhki-Erikson-Fabregas-Townsend (Whelan)
          Ibra- Aguero - Rondon

          1. Elijah's Wood
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Unsure of whether your two £4m defenders will ever play, Paredes has competition with Nyom i think(?)

            Great midfield except for Fabregas, how does he fit into the new Chelsea formation? 4-2-4 or 4-4-2 with both strikers playing?

            Think there are better options than Rondon. Hopefully if Berahino goes to Stoke then there is your 3rd striker but currently Wilson/one of the Soton boys are a better bet. Could even downgrade one of your keepers to a non playing to upgrade to Benteke (depends if you want to either rotate GK or stick and play one)

            1. The_Socca_Philosopha
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Paredes is just bench fodder tbh so I'm not worried about him unless a nailed 4.0 shows up. Fabregas is a risk, yes. May draft Siggy if he's 7.5 (can't remember atm). WBA have great opening fixtures, and Rondon looked good at the COPA. Not sure how Soton will set up their frontline. Wilson could supplant Rondon (good memories of him last year). I'm willing to pass on Tekkers with Townsend in my midfield. Thanks for the input mate!