FIFA 16: If Real Sociedad are the hipster choice for La Liga, Stoke are the Premier League equivalent. In England you've got the so-called 'top teams' made up of Manchester City, Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea (more on them later...) and the chasing pack of Euro-contenders includes Spurs, Liverpool and Everton. However, Stoke City find themselves on par with those 4.5 star teams, with Bojan, Xherdan Shaqiri, and Ibrahim Afellay in their squad. Reality: Stoke were widely tipped to be this season's dark horses after an impressive summer spending spree and solid management from a settled Mark Hughes, though in reality, their stars haven't quite lived up to their billing. Bojan is yet to get back up to top speed following injury, Shaqiri has only shown glimpses of his class, and Afellay is yet to truly cement down a first team slot. They're a good team, but they're simply not great.
What Culture contributor. NCTJ accredited Sports Journalist. Regret-filled Sunderland AFC season ticket holder. Optimism-filled NFL fan. Lover of all things Game Of Thrones, Breaking Bad, Walking Dead & more.
