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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. Speaking Words of Wisdom, R…
    • Fantasy Football Scout Member
    • 10 Years
    9 years, 4 months ago

    Did they get rid of the Notes feature???

  2. Jay_
      9 years, 4 months ago

      Hit the first 3 gameweeks hard then wildcard team;

      -------------------Heaton---------------------
      ---------Souare Wasilewski Shaw-------
      DeBruyne Sigurddson Hazard Fischer
      -----------Aguero Costa Rondon----------
      ---------------------------------------------------
      Substitutes: Foster Watson Baines Kone

      * Heaton and Foster rotate
      * Use Wasilewski for gw1 then swap to Baines after he plays Spurs gw1
      * Souare and Kone rotate, with Baines/Shaw sticking gw's 2 and 3
      * The whole front 7 dominate the top 5 spots of the attack setting on the ticker

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

        That's one option. I'm doing the opposite though. Trying to hold onto WC until later.

      2. The Real Big Vern
        • Fantasy Football Scout Member
        • 15 Years
        9 years, 4 months ago

        Utd is top of the attack ticker for first 3 gws and you have none?

        1. Jay_
            9 years, 4 months ago

            United are 7th and Rooney or Mikhy is a straight swap away from Hazard or Costa depending on start/form

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

          Great... Gw3/4 wc worked marvellously well for me in last 2 seasons

          1. Jay_
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Same

          2. The Bandit
            • 15 Years
            9 years, 4 months ago

            I have a similar plan but you need Man U attack

            1. Jay_
                9 years, 4 months ago

                See above, Mkhy or Rooney easily can come in for Haz or Costa

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

              Looks good.

              But tbh, I don't see where targeting only the first 3 weeks has gained you? Most teams I see feature very similar players

              1. Jay_
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  That's the thing, the team can actually do well up until around gw10, defence wise and I've willdcarded gw3 the last 2 seasons anyway

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

                  This. I was planning for a GW4 WC myself but then I realised my long term plan produced a very similar team. Too similar for it to be worth a planned early WC.

              2. The Real Big Vern
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 15 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                im wrong, was looking at overall ticker, not attack

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

                Mkhitaryan or Martial in for Hazard. Don't need double Chelsea attack imo.

              4. Chandler Bing
                • 9 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Is Wasilewski nailed on for the first game? Surely de Laet ahead of him?

              5. SBronz
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Wouldnt bother making a plan that would change after week 1, you'll be kicking yourself if something unexpected comes up. scrap wasi in my opinion. COYI.

            3. Return Of Chamakh
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Anyone seen the new red and yellow cards rules the FA are bringing in this season?
              http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/36844570
              Costa won't last 5 minutes, for one! Reckon there's going to be a lot in the first few games if they are serious about this - maybe be wary of any hot-headed dissenting types of players to start off at least...

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

                Well, maybe he'll just stop doing it?

                He seems a smart enough dude to me. Messes around just enough that is allowed and so that he gets his way. Will just temper it imo

                1. Return Of Chamakh
                  • 12 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  Very possible yeah. I'm just guessing that a lot of the players won't have it drilled into them how big these changes are (or indeed aren't - let's wait and see how much they are enforced) and so there are likely to be slip ups in the first few games.

                  If the FA are really serious about these it could be excellent in terms of player behaviour I reckon - almost a step towards the relationship between players and ref in rugby!

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

                "A yellow card for at least one player when two or more from a team surround a match official." LOL. oh man

                1. Return Of Chamakh
                  • 12 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  Haha exactly! That's like 2 or 3 times a game 😀 !

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

              Heaton//Foster
              Wimmer//Friend//Morgan//Stones//Naylor
              Tadic//Hazard//Martial//Eriksen//Ayew
              Aguero//Gray//4.5 striker

              Thoughts?

            5. Nick12345
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              RMT

              Courtois // Jakupovic

              Koscielny // Walker // Stones // McAuley // Pieters

              Mkhitaryan // Hazard // Townsend // Bojan // Hojbjerb

              Aguero // Lukaku // Long

              Mkhitaryan or Ozil
              Lukaku or Costa

              Thanks

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

                Kosc likely not back at the beginning of the season, otherwise pretty good.

            6. Boris Bodega
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Too early for a RMT?

              De Gea - (Hennessey)
              DVD - Stones - Rose - (Evans - Friend)
              Firmino - Walcott - Sigurdsson - Fabregas - (Elmohamady)
              Sturridge - Lukaku - Costa

              🙂

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

                Looks different from others. Could be good.

              2. Bouncebackability
                • Fantasy Football Scout Member
                • 16 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Would ditch hennessey though

            7. Syphras
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Hey All,

              Anything glaringly bad that stands out in this team?

              Mandanda/Valdes
              Bellerin/McAuley/Cedric/Moreno/Ake
              Ozil/Payet/Fabregas/Eriksen/Fletcher
              Aguero/Long/Wilson

              Many Thanks

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

                As above, a lot of key Arsenal players are likely not starting the season, Ozil included. Otherwise pretty sound.

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

                Yes

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

                Maybe avoid Cedric early on... He has had a long euro

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

                Moreno is poor. Hoping Klopp signs a replacement.

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

                  He might have improved his defensive game over preseason? Dunno why can't he, given he has all pace, strength and stamina
                  I like him fpl wise, as cleansheets aren't guaranteed in any match and his attacking potential rivals bellerin's

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

                    I would be amazed if he is first choice this season, and I wouldn't be surprised at all if he was sold. He cannot defend for toffee!

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

                      This ^

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

                    Try supporting Liverpool and then defend him! Fpl wise, he could be OK. Just makes far too many mistakes.

              5. Random Name
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                One of the more solid teams i've seen

                Both long and wilson though is a bit of a risk

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

              A. Townsend and 6.0 Striker (Rhodes?)
              B. Bolasie and 6.5 Striker
              (Gray? Wilson?)

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

                I would go for B. Ideally You should be aiming for townsend + 6.5 striker.

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

              Kdb, coutinho, kane, kun, ayew, long all in my team. With £2.0m to spare. Legend.

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

                Amazing.

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

                  Lovin the grav. Toast to Bruntiesta

              2. Kirwan24
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                What's the rest of the team?

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

                  For fear of plaigarism, i refuse to divulge confidential info

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

                    I don't think plagiarism can apply to Fantasy Football.

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

                      It does now.

              3. Random Name
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                I shudder to think what the defence is like

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

                  Its fantastic, by my own admission. Wouldnt swap any of them if i had a budget of 200m tbf. Appreciate your concern, but I think that concern would be much more wisely focused on that pile of s that is your "team"

                  1. Random Name
                    • 10 Years
                    9 years, 4 months ago

                    haha competitive already i see

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

                    You are something else,
                    I love it

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

                      I love it top

                  3. VS10_
                    • 10 Years
                    9 years, 4 months ago

                    For anyone to take you seriously maybe start by linking your team/history.

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

                      I dont wish to be taken seriously. I wish to be feared.

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

              Once more unto the breach...

              Foster / Jaku
              Azpil / Evans / Friend / Amat / Parades
              Hazard / Alli / Coutinho / Townsend / Fletch
              Kun / Ibrahimovic / C Wilson

              Hmm. Mmm? Nnn...

              1. Random Name
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Missing ozil or de bruyne

              2. Krul Runnings
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Amat and parades are non starters

            11. Kirwan24
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              What do people think of Diomande? Will he get game time or do Hull plan on using one striker? They only have two listed

            12. Random Name
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              You need either Ozil or KDB in midfield - that is essential

              If you don't have either of them you're gonna run into trouble...

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

                Ozil probably won't play gw 1.

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

                Will Ozil start the season? If so he will be considered

              3. Ziegler1988
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Thanks for the warning, I will put both in my team since they are essential

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

                Don't have either. Not concerned about it.

            13. Mark-O
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Any good picks for defenders at 4.0m? Preferably if they are tipped to start.

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

                No one knows if any of the 4.0 defs will start. Thats the sorry truth.

            14. Thomass
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Hi

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

                Hello friend

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

                  Hi, how you?

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

                    Great. How's everything in school?

            15. George James
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              A) KDB - Siggy - Costa

              B) Hazard - Ibra - 6m Mid

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

                A

              2. Random Name
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                A - KDB is almost essential

                Also hazard and ibra are both gambles

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

                  How on Earth is KDB essential? I'm avoiding him on purpose!

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

                    Then a therapist is essential in your case

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

                      Not at all lol

            16. Slam
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Mahrez+Firmino or Hazard+Coutinho?

              1. Random Name
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Mahrez+firmino

                Not liking Hazard this year... 😉

              2. Yank Revolution
                • 14 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Dont like Pool's early fixtures

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

                First pair

            17. Boris Bodega
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Mane - Firmino - Coutinho
              - Sturridge -

              One hell of a front four!

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

                A resting Arsenal and a promoted Burnley. *Licks lips*
                But who's the best option fantasy wise?

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

                  Firmino in the middle, very tempting indeed!

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

                  Bob

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

                Shame the rest of team is crap.

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

                  At the moment yes, I can only think that Clyne will be kept, and maybe Lovren. Will Mignolet lose his place to Karius?

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

                Miki - Rooney - Martial
                Zlatan
                #justsayin

              4. ⭐ Bemba_Da ⭐
                • 15 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                sturridge to ibra

              5. King Kohli
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Origi / Lallana / Ings / Milner as backup

                I see Liverpool scoring a lot of goals

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

                Too much Liverpool

              7. Ziegler1988
                • 11 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Too many Liverpool players selected

            18. King Kohli
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Best mid for 8m for the first 3-4 weeks?

            19. Jafooli
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Fabregas & Rooney currently in my team.

              What year is it?

            20. Jafooli
              • 13 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Is Valdes first choice GK for 'Boro?

              1. Gooner97
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                G2G

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

                We'll have to wait and see later in pre-season. Not clear yet

              3. thepeen555
                • 9 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                i would have thought he would have to be, u thinking of having him?

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

                  Him and Foster rotate like perfecto......

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

                    Yeah, it's him or Heaton with Foster for me.

              4. Random Name
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Boro's manager would have to be one of the most deluded and stubborn people ever to grace the planet if valdes isn't first choice

              5. Trigg ⭐️
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Should be!

              6. Clump
                • 10 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Probably. Heaton / Foster for 9.0 all day long for me Jaf.

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

                  Burnley are pure pumpathon in defence no?

                  Foster & Victor?

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

                    Think Heaton scored well a couple of seasons ago if I remember. Think he'll do a bit like Gomez did at Watford last year.

              7. Jafooli
                • 13 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Cheers all, will wait out, but looks good....

            21. Gooner97
              • 12 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Atletico Madrid are the only club to have bid for Arsenal target Gonzalo Higuain, according to Napoli president Aurelio De Laurentiis.

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

                so he's not an arsenal target?

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

                Arsenal wont pay £94m for him so dont understand why hes still a target ?

              3. Give The Todd Some Love
                • 14 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                De Laurentiis does chat an unbelievable amount of sh*te to be fair

              4. Gooner97
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                "The only offer I've had was from Atletico [Madrid] president [Enrique Cerezo] a month ago and I told him we couldn't do it," De Laurentiis told reporters at the pre-season training camp in Dimaro.

                "He offered me €60m plus two or three players and I said no."

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

              The lack of Arsenal & Spurs players in my team is worrying.

              1. Gooner97
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                Only Eriksen here

              2. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                I have none..... yet.

              3. thepeen555
                • 9 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                i keep waiting for lamela to show up, but not sure if the EPL is his stomping ground

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

                This.
                Spurs players are still good but their confidence must have taken a beating. Doubly so for all the England players.

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

              Opinions of the team
              Forster, Jakupovic
              Williams, Shaw, Souare, Evans, Kingsley
              Mkhitaryan, Townsend, De Bruyne, Drinkwater, Watson
              Aguero, Ibrahimovic, Long

            24. Yank Revolution
              • 14 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Getting closer....

              Manchester United have agreed personal terms to re-sign Paul Pogba with the player's agent. The Juventus and France star's representative Mino Raiola has agreed terms with the Old Trafford side on a five-year deal believed to be worth over £200,000 a week. Jose Mourinho's side now face the task of agreeing a transfer fee with Juventus. The Italian giants say their prized asset is not for sale but United are confident of brokering a deal for a world-record £100 million.

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

                which united player will pogba 'bench'?

                1. Yank Revolution
                  • 14 Years
                  9 years, 4 months ago

                  Mata most likely (who is likely on his way out)

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

                    ok thanks

            25. SaintBegbie
              • 11 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Foster

              Shaw Evans Taylor

              Fabregas Mhkitaryan Siggy De Bruyne

              Tekkers Aguero Lukaku

              Jaku Wilson, Paredes, Fletcher

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

              RMT
              Panning to wildcard gw4
              Hoping Jones will be nailed
              Foster, Jakupovic
              Ivanovic, Jones, Souare, Taylor, Paredes
              Hazard, Tadic, Sigurdsson, Lamela, Kirchhoff
              Aguero, Zlatan, D.Gray

            27. Boris Bodega
              • Fantasy Football Scout Member
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Hands up if you have Ibrahimovic in your team?

              1. thepeen555
                • 9 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                ATM me, and i think a lot of people will too

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

              Now Huddlestone and Livermore injured

              Swaps Firmino for Mahrez

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

                *Steve Bruce puts on boots*

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

                  Hull are in a right state. They're only out for 2 weeks but it totally disrupts their pre season

            29. Jonjo Shall_We? (Flowers - …
              • 10 Years
              9 years, 4 months ago

              Guys any good leagues out here?
              Both cash and ones without it

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

              What's everyone's thoughts on De Bruyne now? He was one of the first players in my team but now I feel the opposite. Hasn't gone on City's pre-season tour and they have CL qualifiers early in the season. No one else worried about rotation and his minutes early on?

              1. Cpt Crunch Scott talent
                • 12 Years
                9 years, 4 months ago

                not worried, see it as a plus that he is not on tour.