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

    barkley or fab? not keen on tadic yet

    1. Worzel Gummidge
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Neither for me. Gun to head, Fabs

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

          thanks

    2. Mane Of Steel
      • 12 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I am a big Saints fan and maybe some of you would appreciate this: I have a feeling the Saints will roll with a midfield diamond formation. Hojberg will most likely be right above the one CDM. Basically a box to box player. Long seems to be the most "locked" forward at the moment. Charlie Austin and Jay Ro

      1. Mane Of Steel
        • 12 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Wow. Didn't mean to hit enter. But I think Austin and J Rod will fight for the second spot. Austin better option imo. Tadic will hophully be utilized in the number 10 role. Love his creativity.

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

          Surely redmond has a chance of competing for the other striker spot

          1. Mane Of Steel
            • 12 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Lots of competition! Should only help the players.

      2. Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        And Jay Ro? What about him?

        1. Mane Of Steel
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Read comment.

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

        Who will play DM then? Clasie?

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

          Oriol Romeu

        2. Mane Of Steel
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          With Europa league in mix it will switch up between clasie and Romeu probably.

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

            Massive step down from Wanyama & Schneiderlin

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

        Tadic will play AMC behind strikers no10 position

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

        I think maybe 4-3-3 could work with three of these four forward 3;

        J.Rod/Long - Long/Austin - Redmond/J.Rod

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

          I thought Redmond would be nailed on at number 10, are others thinking different? Could be a great budget mid if he starts each week.

      6. Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        And what about Clasie?

        Am pretty sure you will sign another DM, so it will be:

        --------New DM-------
        --Davis----Hojbjerg/Clasie
        -------Tadic------------

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

      Gabriel or Mert?

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Mertesacker is the new captain.

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

          so what? arteta was last years captain and he wasnt playing

          1. EmreCan Hustle
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            True. But Arteta had injury problems and had way better replacements.
            Ideally you'd want your captain to start most games.

    4. Cooper123
      • Fantasy Football Scout Member
      • 15 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      First RMT, would be grateful if you cast a quick eye over it and point out anything you think is a particularly grave mistake.

      Foster // Heaton

      Azpi // Shaw // Friend // McAuley // 4.0

      Hazard // Mkhitaryan // Tadic // Townsend // 4.5

      Aguero // Lukaku // Wilson

      Happy to have Chelsea and United cover in defence and midfield, think those 4 are strong value.

      If Benteke goes to Palace he will be in for Lukaku, and I'll use the surplus to upgrade elsewhere.

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

        No, it's actually quite a good team. If you're happy with it I wouldn't change anything

        1. Cooper123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Cheers. Don't like the 4.0 but otherwise pretty happy for now

      2. Spencer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Personally, I don't like having a 4.0 defender unless there is one that is nailed on. Apart from that, it looks good to me.

        1. Cooper123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Agree, I've been looking for 0.5 to rectify that but haven't found a downgrade that seems worth it.

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

        Really good squad. Might be a bit lacking in defence but if Benteke does go to Palace, you can get another premium defender using your plan. That aside, strong side.

        1. Cooper123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Yeah I would certainly use some if that on defence. Cheers

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

        Lukaku -> Gray, Tadic -> KDB and you've pretty much got my team!

        1. Cooper123
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • 15 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Can see the appeal, but (a) I like a strong front line and (b) I like to spread the love with my big hitters

    5. EmreCan Hustle
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      I think FPL prices Rhodes at 6m on purpose. Negredo should be 6.5m now.
      Gray, Negredo, Wilson and Long are all great options.
      But happy with Rondon atm.

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

        Rhodes is great value, but only if he plays

        1. EmreCan Hustle
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Not sure how often Boro play with two upfront, but Negredo is surely nailed on.

        2. Uppercut Panda - A legend i…
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          3 goals in 3 - Karanka better play Rhodes

    6. World XI
      • 13 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      How do you change Captain and Vice captain on new layout?

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Click on the player.

        1. World XI
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          cheers! simple but no idea at the same time haha

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

        Click on the player

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

        Click on the player

      4. Spencer
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • Has Moderation Rights
        • 14 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Click on the player and the options will come up.

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

      Wait, wait, wait....

      ...are you guys giving me Ibrahimovic AND Mahrez as differentials?! 😀

      1. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        For now. Enjoy!

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

          *rubs hands together*

          1. EmreCan Hustle
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Gameweek 3 mass WC should ruin your differential

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

              So I should sell Mahrez for Martial in GW3 you mean? 😉

              1. EmreCan Hustle
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Just get Martial now. I did 😉

      2. Kuqi Monster
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Seems plenty think Ibra/Kun is too much cash...

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

          So many bargains in defence though...

      3. Dušan Citizen
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        With all those Hull injuries, Mahrez, Vardy or Musa are fantastic options for opening fixture!

    8. Costa's Counsellor
      • 10 Years
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Kante is the 4th most selected mid!

      I would have thought the people on the game this early would know what they're doing...

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

        Autoselect maybe... hopefully not though 😈

      2. EmreCan Hustle
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        How much is Kante?

        1. Costa's Counsellor
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          5 gazillion.

          1. EmreCan Hustle
            • 13 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Overpriced!
            I think we'll find a real game changer in the 5.5m range this season. Like Mahrez.

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

              Gradel 😀

              1. Costa's Counsellor
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Markovic.

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

                  If he gets gametime he could be golden.
                  I like him a lot.

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

                this^

            2. Costa's Counsellor
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Mahrez is 9.5

              😉

              1. EmreCan Hustle
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                *Like Mahrez last year 😉

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

        not a bad chelsea starter for 5m.

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

      Which squad do you think would last with me for most of the season?
      A)
      Schmeichel // Valdes
      Morgan // Alderweireld // Cedric // Fernandez // Paredes
      Mahrez // Payet // Hazard // King // Fletcher
      Aguero // Lukaku // Grabban
      OR
      B)
      Forster // Myhill
      Terry // Shaw // Stones // Friend // Parebes
      KDB // Lamela // Ayew // Bolasie // Hojberg
      Aguero // Ibra // Afobe

    10. Worzel Gummidge
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Foster Janko
        Shaw Azpi Pieters Friend Kone
        Eriksen Firmino Tadic Miralles Leko
        Kun Batshit Rooney

        Quite happy with this actually. Question marks over Batshit and Miralles game time though.

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

          Batsh1t slipped thru the net 😉

      • luke25
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Foster Jakupovic
        Otamendi Van Dijk Wimmer Robertson Stones
        Hazard Martial De Bruyne Maloney Hojberg
        Aguero Wilson Gray

        How's it looking? Obviously Wilson and Gray is risky but I think both will do well this season

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

          Not that good really. Too much on the midfield, and still not convinced on martial and hazard. Hazard had a bad season and he has to improve before I bring him in. Martial costs a bit for a player who's not nailed.

      • Jimjam
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Wilson, Long or Gray for 3rd striker?

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

          Long

        2. Spencer
          • Fantasy Football Scout Member
          • Has Moderation Rights
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Austin?

      • Cactus League
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        First Cut...

        De Gea (Jaku)
        Shaw Olsson Bellerine Souare 4.0
        Ozil Coutino Tadic Ayew Fletcher
        Kun Lukaku Gray

        I know. No Spurs cover. Thinking of a 6.5 to replace Ayew and then Alli for Tadic.

      • Costa's Counsellor
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Anyone going without a premium (more than 5.0) defender?

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

          3 5.5 at the moment

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

          o/

          7 x 4.5

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

            and front 8?

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

              Gradel - Lamela - Ayew - Coutinho - Mahrez
              Wilson - Ibra - Kun

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

                Lamela Ayew > Eriksen Tadic/Siggy?

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

                  Would prefer Eriksen but he's 1.5m more than Lamela so not sure I can justify downgrading Ibra or Cout for him.

                  Ayew is worth it over Tadic and Siggy imo 🙂

          2. Costa's Counsellor
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Strewth.

            Who?

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

              Heaton - Foster
              Friend - Pieters - Koné - McAuley - Evans

              1. Costa's Counsellor
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Phwoar.

                Lots of eggs in a brummie basket. Leaves no room for Rondon too 😉

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

                  Yup, not sure about Evans..

                  Swansea's fixtures are putting me off them, same with Watford..

                  Palace aren't the best defensively, same with Bournemouth...

                  Miiiight go with a double up on Middlesbrough with their fixtures instead of a triple Brom..

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

          currently have shaw at 5.5m but tempted to ditch. plenty of options from 5m and below

          1. Costa's Counsellor
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Yeah, I've got Walker. Can't decide...

      • Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Do we think Shaw's minutes will get protected early doors this season?

        Coming back from a horrible injury and they have options at LB (Blind, Rojo, Fosu-M etc).

        I'm tempted with Shaw, but I fear rotation.

        1. Grand Thibauto
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Mourinho doesn't rotate much

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

            Yeah, this is true. If it wasn't for the injury thing I'd definitely get him.

            1. Grand Thibauto
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              You gotta have a Mourinho defender if not two. Shaw just looks the one with most points potential. I prefer De Gea though; but the value in 4.5 GKs are too hard to ignore.

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

            Did you watch the PL last year. Ask Chelsea fans if he didn't rotate.

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

              Difference between rotation and dropping players because they're playing terribly.

            2. Grand Thibauto
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              I'm a Chelsea fan. Ivanovic was pure bs the whole season. And yet he was pretty much nailed. Azpilicueta never missed. And Cahill/Zouma was the only rotation that was necessary to finally break out Zouma. Zouma had been way better than Cahill, but its hard to just bench a first team player all on a sudden.

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

          Will monitor his minutes in pre-season. If in doubt Bailly is the same price.

      • Eden Hazardous
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Predictions for Negredo's FPL price?

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

          7

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

          ~7.0

        3. Respect My Authoritah
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          6.5

        4. Blurryface
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          6.5

        5. Grand Thibauto
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          7

        6. The Sarjeant
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          7.

        7. EmreCan Hustle
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          6.5

        8. Tobiathan
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          11.6, just above Ibra

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

          6.0

      • adstomko
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Which one?..
        A) Ibra - Ayew - Tadic
        B) Long - Mahrez - Martial

        1. Respect My Authoritah
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          B

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

            B long>tekkers/berahino/rondón?

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

          B

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

          A

      • reason17
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Callum wilson, andre gray and Alavro negredo.

        Which 2? Thank you

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

          Gray and Long

          1. reason17
            • 10 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Long? Interesting thought.

            Long + sigurdason
            Or
            Wilson + tadic

        2. EmreCan Hustle
          • 13 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          The two with premier league experience.

      • conor23
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        A) Vardy and Antonio
        or
        B) Ibra and Drinkwater
        Ibra might be risky but he could be lethal with the favourable fixtures at the start

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

          A

        2. Grand Thibauto
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Costa+Sigurdsson?

        3. conor23
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Or Redmond instead of Drinkwater

      • BB-8
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Negredo likely price?

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

          7

        2. Hazari300
          • 9 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          6.5

      • Jinswick
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Hmmmm, anyone else tempted with a GW4 Wildcard strategy?

        First 3 weeks - load up on MCY, CHE, MUN and LEI attack before offloading when their fixtures turn in GW4 and replacing with ARS, TOT, WHU, EVE (whose fixtures improve considerably)

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

          Meant to add that 3 weeks should be enough time to assess the hidden gems, figure out line ups etc.

        2. Demí
          • 14 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Looks tempting for sure

      • Costa's Counsellor
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Anyone get burned by Coates last year? I think he cost me 0.4 in the end.

        1. The Sarjeant
          • 12 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          I had him in my Sky team at the beginning. -1 for every goal conceded. I wasn't happy after the first game.

        2. Grand Thibauto
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Yes. I am so going to avoid rotation this year.

      • Armchair Manager
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Hey Fellas, first RMT,

        Heaten (Foster)
        Delaney Terry Friend Shaw Williams
        KDB Hazard Eriksen Siggy Ibe
        Carroll Long Ibra

        what you guys think?

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

          Carrol injured

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

          Carroll, Williams, Haz, Siggy

          1. Armchair Manager
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            Think haz will provide an alternative to micky

      • Hazari300
        • 9 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Is Barnes on pens for Burnley?

        1. Grand Thibauto
          • 10 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Is Barnes nailed in the first place?

          1. The Hindu Monkey
            • Fantasy Football Scout Member
            • 11 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            not even close

      • Parm
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 13 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Anyone else keep clicking on Aguero to look at Forwards like the old interface?

      • Cradders
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        What do we think of Hojbjerg's minutes??

        Also would you replace Shaqiri with a different £6.5m mid?? Townsend etc even one of the £5.5m Bournemouth mids

      • TheSaint
        • 10 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        No love for Costa, Arnautovic or Silva?

        1. Respect My Authoritah
          • 11 Years
          9 years, 4 months ago

          Got my eyes on Costa and Silva. Think Silva in particular could be a real under the radar option.

          Arnie will be in my team during the season, but not to start with

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

        How will Swansea line up at the back? Any hope for Kingsley?

      • Respect My Authoritah
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Right so, taking on board some advice and ditching my medium-priced bench, come up with this:

        Foster Jak
        Shaw Baines Friend/Soaure/Kone
        Mahrez Mkhit Cesc Ayew Bolasie
        Kun 9.5 4.5

        Currently on Lukaku + Campbell + 0.5 for those striker slots.

        How's it looking?

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

          Looks good if you're happy to play 3-5-2 every game.

      • st4rt__
        • 11 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        http://image.prntscr.com/image/efd814790f884176bdd8f9303a831336.png

        Struggling here. £30m, suggestions?