Premier League 2013-14: Season Predictions

Stoke

The last team featured that has utilised the managerial merry-go-round, Stoke City look to continue their stay at the top flight since 2007-08 Last season arguably saw the first time that the Potteries had a brush with relegation, yet they finished in a comfortable 13th in the end. So, to this summer and the appointment of Mark Hughes has led to some fans, unfairly in my eyes, criticising him and his managerial style and his financial dealings. Yes, he did have a bad time of it at QPR, but he has performed admirably at mid table sides (you could say Stoke are one) Blackburn, Fulham and Manchester City and brought in some real classy players such as Vincent Kompany, Pablo Zabaleta, Roque Santa Cruz and Junior Hoilett. And again he has pulled of a shrewd signing in the capture of rising Dutch star Erik Pieters from PSV for a fee of just £3million to shore up options on the full back front. Furthermore, Marc Muniesa and Juan Agudelo have also put pen to paper on a contract to sign. Time will tell how these people will bed in, but they have made positive impressions for their respective clubs, so there is hope that they can fuse their talents to ensure Stoke's success. However, their lack of goalscorers was apparent at times when Jon Walters was injured, so Hughes needs to make sure that he can try to sign a partner for him, so that this problem isn't so evident this season. Prediction: 14th