YOU CAN'T TAKE YOUR EYE OFF THE BALL FOR A MOMENT!

They're at it again.There we are looking the other way, wondering what happened to the Collins deal, as Stoke pull another subtantial rabbit out of the hat.

Highly rated 21 years old Uruguayan international midfielder Diego Arismendi (right in pic) signs for The Mighty Potters for just shy of £3m,potentially rising to nearly £5m.

Arismendi leaves Uruguayan Champions Club Nacional.

Magicians!!

NOSE BLEED TIME....STOKE CLIMB TO FOURTH IN THE PREMIERSHIP TABLE

STOKE CITY FC 1 SUNDERLAND 0


Stoke came into this game with £14m + of talent sitting on the bench.Now it may not seem a lot when you take a look at Manchester's City and United, or at Chelsea,but this is Stoke we are talking about!How far we have come even since the beginning of last season when the team sheet substitutes list includes Robert Huth,with 20 caps for Germany,Tuncay with 50 caps for Turkey to boot!

Added to that we have a 'new' striker Kitson from Reading,another £5.5m purchase,getting a game only because of Beattie's injury. Last season's invisible man is showing distinct signs of life.

The received wisdom from the club was that Sunderland would be a tough nut to crack,and to be fair they looked a much better team than they did last year.

That said the Stoke defence ably marshalled by Abdy Faye and Ryan Shawcross restricted the powerful visiting attack to very few chances,no mean feat when you consider the size,strength, and mobility of Darren Bent and Kenwyne Jones.

The whole Stoke team worked really hard,closing The Black Cats down quickly when the ball was lost .

The deciding moment arrived just before halftime, when Kitson latched onto a loose ball in the six yard box,lashing his shot skilfully,deliberately,and cleverly into the ground for it to bounce up and past defenders on the goalline into the net.His first goal in The Prem for The Potters - it is to be hoped the first of many.



Fourth in the table then, 7 points from 4 games played, represents a very solid start to the season.The squad looks stronger than last year,and with seemingly no-one resting on their laurels the prospect of further additions in the next few days.

HAVE I DIED AND GONE TO HEAVEN?

Stoke continue to confound the doubters....the club have just pulled off two tremendous signings.

Robert Huth,German international defender,aged 25,cost £5 million (possibly rising to £6m),and comes on a 4 year contract.Sanli Tuncay,27,Turkish international team captain,costs the same,and has signed 3 year contract.Both players leave Middlesborough.

There can be no doubt, to my mind, that these signings are a serious statement of intent by the club.Seasoned international players,with plenty of experience in the Prem they will improve the quality and depth of the Stoke squad just as we were promised.

Who's next?.....or is that being a bit too cheeky.

KITSON BREAKS POTTERS DUCK! Carling Cup 2nd Round

LEYTON ORIENT 0 STOKE CITY FC 1 (after extra time)

True to his word Tony Pulis fielded his reserve team for this match.The exception would be Dave Kitson,included I would think to give him the chance to notch that first competitive goal for The Potters to get the monkey off his back.

The first half produced real chances for both teams with the defences looking shakey at times.Near misses but no goals.

The home team started the second half in very positive fashion,putting Stoke under pressure.Davies and Griffin replaced Sonko and Shotton very quickly to produce a little more composure in defence.

The ineffectual Tom Soares was replaced by prospect Lewis Moult,the youngster partnering Kitson up front with Cresswell dropping into midfield.Having hit the Orient wall with a freekick on 66 minutes,a minute later Kitson had a powerful shot blocked on the line.

Moult burst into the Orient area,but his squared ball was just beyond Kitson's reach.

The final 10 minutes saw Stoke coming on strong, stringing some passes together. One superb header from Kitson struck a defender on the head,rebounding onto the bar and away to safety.Stalemate at full time....now for extra time.

Within a minute Orient missed a golden opportunity from 6 yards out with the Stoke defence at sixes and sevens.

Kitson highlighted the "O's" waste when he scored from 30yards out with a half volley into the top corner (94 mins).Well deserved indeed, capping a fine performance from the ex-Reading man on the night,and reflecting his improved form and commitment this season.

Stoke played out the second period of extra time with relatively few scares.

Third round here we come......the draw....Saturday lunchtime.Could it be the Vale??

DISAPPOINTING STALEMATE AT ST ANDREWS

BIRMINGHAM CITY 0 STOKE CITY FC 0

Manager Pulis reverted to 4-4-2 formation,and left new signing Whitehead on the bench.

Not at all a memorable game.For long periods Stoke were on top without converting their superiority into goals and points.

James Beattie left the field early with what could turn out to be a serious leg injury.His replacement Kitson made a useful contribution.

Stoke's Man of the Match was Ryan Shawcross,dominating in defence,against a poor Birmingham side.

Sorensen in goal had little to do apart from one fine save in the second half.

LIVERPOOL 4 STOKE CITY FC 0

No repeat of the Alamo performance of last season in front of a 44,318 crowd.

Liverpool got an early goal to settle them down when Torres netted a Gerrard ball in from the right on 4 minutes.Defensively we coped until added on time at the end of the half when Johnson netted the second from a Gerrard corner.

Gerrard skilful cross from the right set up Kuyt (78 mins) for Liverpool's third goal.The home team continued to keep the ball well,mounted continous pressure on the Stoke goal,getting a fourth goal through sub Ngog in the final minute of added on time,giving a scoreline which Stoke's efforts did not deserve.

Tony Pulis, observing that this year Liverpool took their chances,was clearly dissappointed with the scoreline,and felt the team had created better chances themselves.The only shot of note came just after half time, with the score at 2-0, when Rory Delap's powerful effort brought a fine save from keeper Reina.


TEAMS:

Liverpool: Reina ,Johnson ,Carragher ,Ayala ,Insua ,Mascherano ,Lucas ,Kuyt (Riera ,82 ) ,Gerrard (Voronin ,81 ) ,Benayoun ,Torres (Ngog ,84)
Subs not used: Cavalieri,Babel,Kelly,Dossena,

Stoke: Sorensen ,Wilkinson ,Shawcross ,Abdoulaye Faye ,Higginbotham ,Delap ,Whelan ,Whitehead (Pugh ,69 ) ,Etherington ,Beattie (Fuller ,62 ) ,Cresswell (Lawrence ,62)
Subs not used Simonsen,Griffin,Cort,Kitson,

WE'RE 3RD IN THE PREM !!!

STOKE CITY FC 2 BURNLEY 0

Enjoy the moment....the weekend's results see us well placed for Europe!

Particularly in the first half Stoke looked good value for the win.The 2 goal lead was deserved,as Burnley were unable to cope at two of our set pieces.Ryan Shawcross headed the first from Lawrence's excellent free kick.Jordan added to that as he turned a Delap long throw into his own net.Carlisle prevented Fuller making it three in the first half when he cleared brilliantly as the ball looped down toward the net.

Burnley came into the game rather more in the second half,but only really threatened our goal on three occasions,each time being repelled by timely last ditch blocks.

Late on sub Kitson was unlucky when his firmly hit shot beat the keeper but struck the bar.Cresswell also had a chance on the break,but his shot across tubby keeper Jensen from the left,passed outside the right post to safety.

Lots of positives from this game no doubt. A full house 27,500.A winning start and 3 points in the bag.New signing Whitehead was always involved,but the midfield looked more assured when Whelan came on as sub.Certainly it relieves a little of the pressure from the upcoming away matches.

Hopefully Shawcross will still be Stoke player as the transfer window closes in two weeks time.He had a super game,and he could well be central to us retaining a place in the Prem. Abdy Faye had a little trouble timing his tackles....maybe early season rustiness.

Liverpool away on Wednesday.Hopefully Stoke can repeat last season's Alamo epic!!