After a lot of activity in the last window, and a large output for large forward Peter Crouch, Stoke probably won't do a lot of business this time out, but there are certainly moves to make if Tony Pulis wants to bring European football to the Britannia Stadium for the second season in a row. Eighth in the league at the half-way point is nothing to be sneezed at, and 2011/12 so far has definitely been heading in the right direction, though a Goal Difference of minus 10 at this stage in the season is bottom five form, and it is something that Tony Pulis seriously needs to address if the end of the season is to bring success. Like a few other clubs in the Premiership, Stoke will fall under the Sell to Buy banner, though there may be a few millions available if the right player becomes available, especially if that player is a young winger who can offer some cover to either Matthew Etherington or Jermaine Pennant. But fans can expect Pulis to spend most of his time looking to move excess out first, with an eye or two on potential loans to cover key positions. One place Pulis doesn't need cover at the minute is upfront with Peter Crouch, Jon Walters, Cameron Jerome, Kenwyne Jones, Ricardo Fuller and Mamady Sidibe all vying for consideration for two striking berths. You get the feeling that at least one of those, if not two or three will find themselves at pastures new sooner rather than later.
What They Need
Cover, mostly. Stoke have very limited options on the wings, aside from first choicers Matthew Etherington and Jermaine Pennant, and while they have done well do far this season, neither is invincible and neither has any real cover at all. Rumours have begun to surface that Pulis would be willing to get rid of Pennant, if first choice Junior Hoilett from Blackburn can be dealt in, but the truth is that the manager would do well to keep both if that move does indeed come off. Though there are a number of centre-halves on the books, Stoke's defence is still shipping goals and that must change. Given the quality and/or former glories of those players, Pulis isn't likely to be given the opportunity to reinvest in that area, but ideally it would take a better defensive midfielder than Wilson Palacios' current form to arrest the trend. But there is another option: rather than shore up the defence, the goal difference could be balanced through more positive means. To achieve that, Stoke could do with an instinctive goal-scorer in the Kevin Phillips, Michael Owen style mould - someone who can take advantage of the balls put into the box by the two excellent wingers, or set-up thanks to strong approach play by either Jerome, Crouch or Walters. Then the team might be able to put their much-mentioned physicality to more prolific use, and make the amount of goals conceded less of a concern.
Outgoing?
With the greatest respect, Stoke currently still have a number of players in their squad who one might expect to see at a newly promoted team: right now, expectation levels have changed and so too have the club's objectives. Players like Michael Tonge, Tom Soares, Salif Diao and Ricardo Fuller will represent viable options for upwardly mobile Championship clubs, but none are particularly Premiership class anymore and all are completely expendable considering what other options Pulis has to choose from. The abundance of striking options currently at the Britannia might be beginning to worry the chairman - all those wages and little pitch time for three of the six recognised strikers currently at the club does not make good business sense, and Kenwyne Jones, Ricardo Fuller and Mamidy Sidibe look the most likely to be up for the chop if the right offers come in. All three would offer strong options to lower level Premiership clubs, or top Championship sides, with Jones the pick of the bunch (it wasn't so long ago he was linked with a big money move to Liverpool, after all). So, Potters fans who would you like to see shipped out this January, and who would you love to see in the famous red and white stripes of Stoke City? Let us know below.