Late news today that the 23 year old player Demar Phillips was signed on a 3 year contract.One out of the hat from the Stoke City management team,with one would imagine a fair bit of input from Ricardo Fuller.
He has 27 caps for his country and plays left midfield.
Friday, August 31, 2007
Gallagher Chooses Preston North End
Not much to be said on this....couldn't be much closer to his home in Blackburn!
James O'Connor To Return?
There are suggestions that midfielder James O' Connor could move back to Stoke from Burnley.He originally left Stoke in a move to West Bromwich Albion.
Transfer Deadline Day At Stoke City FC
Gabriel Zakuani,the Fulham defender,who was on loan at Stoke City last year,has rejoined The Potters,this time on a season long loan.
Forward Adam Rooney has been loaned out to Chesterfield.
Still no news at this stage on Paul Gallagher or Salif Diao.
Forward Adam Rooney has been loaned out to Chesterfield.
Still no news at this stage on Paul Gallagher or Salif Diao.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Club Confirm Interest In Paul Gallagher Loan
Stoke City have officially confirmed that talks have been going on with the Blackburn player,with a view to another loan period in the Potteries.
Similarly there is active communication with Salif Diao...but no further developments yet.
Radio Stoke have carried an interview with Danny Higginbottom,in which,amongst other things, he made it clear that he had enjoyed his time at the club,but that he had been presented with an opportunity which he felt bound to take with Sunderland.He encouraged fans to stay behind the manager,hoping that last season's success would be repeated.
Similarly there is active communication with Salif Diao...but no further developments yet.
Radio Stoke have carried an interview with Danny Higginbottom,in which,amongst other things, he made it clear that he had enjoyed his time at the club,but that he had been presented with an opportunity which he felt bound to take with Sunderland.He encouraged fans to stay behind the manager,hoping that last season's success would be repeated.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Stoke City's Higginbottom Is Gone....But Who Is Coming In?
I have little doubt that frantic efforts are being made to bring new players into the club,and that some names old and new to the club will be announced in the next two days.Salif Diao remains a favourite to return.Less likely maybe,but also rumoured is the return of Paul Gallagher.
Clive Clarke Ex Stoke City Captain Recovering
Whatever people may have felt about one time Stoke Captain and fullback it is good to hear that he is improving in hospital after collapsing at Nottingham last night.To be sure most thinking people will wish him a speedy and full recovery.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Higginbottom Transfer Saga Concluded? Stoke City Captain To Leave For Sunderland AFC
Danny Higginbottom and Stoke City are about to part company in a straight cash deal which could eventually be worth £3million to the club.£2.5million would be paid cash upfront.Stoke seem to have gone to great lengths to keep the player.
Chairman Peter Coates has repeated that should the deal go through the cash raised would be available to the manager.
Link SENTINEL
Chairman Peter Coates has repeated that should the deal go through the cash raised would be available to the manager.
Link SENTINEL
Monday, August 27, 2007
Southampton 3 Stoke City 2
By all accounts Stoke were lucky to escape from St.Mary's with this scoreline.Keeper Simonsen made a number of splendid saves to keep the score respectable.
On the plus side the Stoke goals were once again scored by forwards,with both Fuller and Parkin again getting on the scoresheet.
Last Saturday Manager Tony Pulis cautioned that his team was nothing like the finished article and that fans should not get too carried away just because the opening 2 league games had resulted in victories.The Southampton match confirmed that there is much work still to be done.
Stoke remain in 4th place in the league table,just behind next Saturday's opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers.
On the plus side the Stoke goals were once again scored by forwards,with both Fuller and Parkin again getting on the scoresheet.
Last Saturday Manager Tony Pulis cautioned that his team was nothing like the finished article and that fans should not get too carried away just because the opening 2 league games had resulted in victories.The Southampton match confirmed that there is much work still to be done.
Stoke remain in 4th place in the league table,just behind next Saturday's opponents Wolverhampton Wanderers.
Friday, August 24, 2007
We Are Going To Have To Wait Longer For Vincent Pericard's First Goal This Season
...the striker has been gaoled for 4 months for lying about a speeding offence.This happened when he was still with Plymouth on loan.With remission he should score his first goal around November ...2008 if he's still with us.His salary at Stoke,was revealed in court as £190,000pa.
Salif Diao
Salif has received a fair offer from Stoke City,according to his agent.He has still to put pen to paper however.
Thursday, August 23, 2007
Salif Diao To Sign For Stoke City FC.....Guarded Optimism!
The transfer window approaches, Salif has still not signed for anyone else,and his agent feels that agreement on a deal is close.Fingers crossed...he would be a great acquisition.
Surely no link here with Tony Scholes holidaying!?
Surely no link here with Tony Scholes holidaying!?
Wednesday, August 22, 2007
Danny Higginbottom........Tug O' War Inside The Club?
Very quiet on all fronts....ominous or encouraging omen?
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis did not seem as happy as we might have expected in his post match interviews having inspired his team to an excellent win against everyone's promotion certainties Charlton Athletic.We've seen him in that sort of mood before when something was bugging him.Last time it was the Icelandic owners.
For Stoke to retain the services of Danny Higginbottom - splendid in all respects on and off the pitch last season - would be symbolic as well as beneficial to the club's prospects this season.It's pretty certain that is how Pulis sees it too.
Who's been conducting the negotiations with Higginbottom with a view to an improvement to his existing contract?Apparently Tony Scoles,the club's Chief Executive, and he's presumably not only applying but bound by the agreed wage structure.Since Higginbottom has turned down an improved offer (there may have been more than one for all we know) and we have heard no more there is a likelihood that he is looking for wages well in excess of those envisaged in the wage structure.
It would be no surprise if TP's long face was a reflection of tension between himself and Scholes,with the former wishing to pay what it takes to retain a player who he sees as central to his team building plans and his ablity to attract other quality players to the Britannia Stadium,and the latter refusing on cost grounds.
Two weeks to the transfer window closing....and Scholes goes off (or is sent perhaps)on a 2 week holiday.Certainly he has to take his holidays sometime.....but just coincidence?Unlikely,especially when Chairman Peter Coates issues a statement that there are people perfectly well able to handle prospective deals in Scholes absence.
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis did not seem as happy as we might have expected in his post match interviews having inspired his team to an excellent win against everyone's promotion certainties Charlton Athletic.We've seen him in that sort of mood before when something was bugging him.Last time it was the Icelandic owners.
For Stoke to retain the services of Danny Higginbottom - splendid in all respects on and off the pitch last season - would be symbolic as well as beneficial to the club's prospects this season.It's pretty certain that is how Pulis sees it too.
Who's been conducting the negotiations with Higginbottom with a view to an improvement to his existing contract?Apparently Tony Scoles,the club's Chief Executive, and he's presumably not only applying but bound by the agreed wage structure.Since Higginbottom has turned down an improved offer (there may have been more than one for all we know) and we have heard no more there is a likelihood that he is looking for wages well in excess of those envisaged in the wage structure.
It would be no surprise if TP's long face was a reflection of tension between himself and Scholes,with the former wishing to pay what it takes to retain a player who he sees as central to his team building plans and his ablity to attract other quality players to the Britannia Stadium,and the latter refusing on cost grounds.
Two weeks to the transfer window closing....and Scholes goes off (or is sent perhaps)on a 2 week holiday.Certainly he has to take his holidays sometime.....but just coincidence?Unlikely,especially when Chairman Peter Coates issues a statement that there are people perfectly well able to handle prospective deals in Scholes absence.
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Deft Parkin Touch Turns Pies Into Points ...Stoke City 2 Charlton Athletic 1
Forward Jon Parkin answered his few remaining detractors amongst the Stoke support in the best possible way yesterday when he took an excellent through pass from Mama Sidibe,nonchalantly nutmegged Charlton defender McCarthy in the opposing penalty area, and cleverly curled the ball along the ground around goalkeeper Weaver into the net for the winning goal which gave a scratch Stoke City team a result they richly deserved.
Parkin's heavy build disguises a real deftness of touch around goal.Again he showed the abilities that we saw when he was on loan last season,not only to be in the right place at the right time,but also to finish cooly.He is a far far better player on this evidence than many doubters would have us believe.
Parkin's goal came in the 78th minute,adding to Fuller's beautifully taken 58th minute equaliser - a powerful right footed shot as he ran along the front edge of the penalty area, giving the diving Weaver absolutely no chance,entering the net just inside the post - after Charlton had taken the lead through a Fortune deflected free kick two minutes earlier.
Sidibe made a major contribution to the win.He ran two thirds the length of the pitch with the ball from his own half before putting the pass through for Parkin to score,and he caused sufficient chaos going for a flick on that a Charlton defender unintentionally nodded the ball into Fuller's path for his goal.
Defensively Shawcross and Dickinson gave a good account of themselves,the former getting a broken nose for his trouble.Special mention to stop gap loan signing Jody Craddock who had an outstanding game at the centre of defence,especially as he met his teammates for the first time in the dressing room before the match!!
A great result and top of the table after 2 games!
Parkin's heavy build disguises a real deftness of touch around goal.Again he showed the abilities that we saw when he was on loan last season,not only to be in the right place at the right time,but also to finish cooly.He is a far far better player on this evidence than many doubters would have us believe.
Parkin's goal came in the 78th minute,adding to Fuller's beautifully taken 58th minute equaliser - a powerful right footed shot as he ran along the front edge of the penalty area, giving the diving Weaver absolutely no chance,entering the net just inside the post - after Charlton had taken the lead through a Fortune deflected free kick two minutes earlier.
Sidibe made a major contribution to the win.He ran two thirds the length of the pitch with the ball from his own half before putting the pass through for Parkin to score,and he caused sufficient chaos going for a flick on that a Charlton defender unintentionally nodded the ball into Fuller's path for his goal.
Defensively Shawcross and Dickinson gave a good account of themselves,the former getting a broken nose for his trouble.Special mention to stop gap loan signing Jody Craddock who had an outstanding game at the centre of defence,especially as he met his teammates for the first time in the dressing room before the match!!
A great result and top of the table after 2 games!
Saturday, August 18, 2007
Will He Go...Or Will He Stay?....The Danny Higginbottom Saga
Stoke have signed Richie de Laet an 18 year old defender from Royal Antwerp.Also another defender Jody Craddock - 32 and experienced at Championship level - has been taken on 1 month loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers,with the possibility that the loan period will be extended to January.
It is possible to read a great deal into these signings especially with regard to Craddock.Certainly there could be a link to the ongoing contract renegotiations over improved terms between Stoke captain Danny Higginbottom and the club.Having rejected a new offer to stay with The Potters he could well be on his way to Sunderland,whose £2million bid for the player Stoke turned down a few weeks ago.
Time will tell....as indeed the starting line up for today's SKY televised match against Charlton will.
It is possible to read a great deal into these signings especially with regard to Craddock.Certainly there could be a link to the ongoing contract renegotiations over improved terms between Stoke captain Danny Higginbottom and the club.Having rejected a new offer to stay with The Potters he could well be on his way to Sunderland,whose £2million bid for the player Stoke turned down a few weeks ago.
Time will tell....as indeed the starting line up for today's SKY televised match against Charlton will.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Sunday, August 05, 2007
Some Weekend Away!!
Can you believe it? You go away for just two days and things change round so quickly....
Carl Hoefkens now going to WBA as Stoke City have accepted their offer...ONLY personal terms to be sorted out.
But I applied that very phrase to the Fortune signing which looked cut and dried on Friday...today comes the - albeit unofficial - news that the Charlton player isn't coming to Stoke afterall because personal terms have not been sorted out to his liking.
And where's Salif Diao?
Carl Hoefkens now going to WBA as Stoke City have accepted their offer...ONLY personal terms to be sorted out.
But I applied that very phrase to the Fortune signing which looked cut and dried on Friday...today comes the - albeit unofficial - news that the Charlton player isn't coming to Stoke afterall because personal terms have not been sorted out to his liking.
And where's Salif Diao?
Friday, August 03, 2007
Magic Player Roundabout (2)
Round and round it goes...today Stoke City signed full back Stephen Wright from Sunderland on a 5 month loan....Hoefkens is still with us....Fortune about to join us,fee agreed between the clubs,with just personal terms to be sorted out.....still no sign of Salif Diao though.
Thursday, August 02, 2007
Magic (Player) Roundabout
Still no news on Salif Diao.
Carl Hoefkens according to the Daily Mail could be on the verge of joining West Bromwich Albion for close on a £1 million.Jonathan Fortune according to the Times could be coming in for £400,000,although he would prefer an extended loan initially,presumably to preserve is current wage status for as long as possible
Things are warming up... excellent stage management,perhaps,by the club.
Carl Hoefkens according to the Daily Mail could be on the verge of joining West Bromwich Albion for close on a £1 million.Jonathan Fortune according to the Times could be coming in for £400,000,although he would prefer an extended loan initially,presumably to preserve is current wage status for as long as possible
Things are warming up... excellent stage management,perhaps,by the club.
Richard Cresswell Signs For Stoke City
Well there's one we never expected.Hull City withdrew from their prospective deal for the Leeds player,initially -it was indicated -on medical grounds,but now less specific unresolved issues.He breezes through Stoke's medical,and signs up....assuming he stays injury free the club now have plenty of competition up front.
Cresswell,of course,joins up once again with Ricardo Fuller,with whom he enjoyed a very profitable partnership at Preston a few seasons back,when - if my memory serves me well - they reached the playoff finals.
Salif Diao next? Fingers crossed.
Cresswell,of course,joins up once again with Ricardo Fuller,with whom he enjoyed a very profitable partnership at Preston a few seasons back,when - if my memory serves me well - they reached the playoff finals.
Salif Diao next? Fingers crossed.
Stoke City 0 Aston Villa 2
Stoke went down to their second successive pre-season defeat against Aston Villa at the Britannia Stadium in front of just over 7,000 fans.Czech midfielder Patrik Berger,loaned to Stoke last season, netted in the 17th minute,with substitute Agbonlahor completing the scoring on 77 minutes,for a Villa side that was more or less in command throughout the game.
Fuller was Stoke's liveliest performer up front,and The Potters had a number of chances variously hit or headed over the bar or wide of the posts by Parkin,Lawrence,and Pericard.The latter again spurned two gilt edged chances.
Stoke: Simonsen, Wilkinson, Hill, Higginbotham, Dickinson, Lawrence, Matteo, Delap, Sweeney, Pericard, Fuller. Subs: Pulis (Matteo 73), Eustace (Sweeney 57), Parkin (Fuller 73), Sidibe (Pericard 53), Buxton (Dickinson 67)
Wednesday, August 01, 2007
And Another One Bites The Dust
Andy Griffin has moved from Portsmouth to Premiership newcomers Derby County,not to Stoke City,as we were hoping.
With family considerations in mind a further 3 years on Premiership pay would have made the choice an easy one, whatever emotional attachment he may have felt towards Stoke City.
With family considerations in mind a further 3 years on Premiership pay would have made the choice an easy one, whatever emotional attachment he may have felt towards Stoke City.
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