Formation: 4-3-3
Goalkeeper – Josef Bursik – Age: 20
The general consensus surrounding the club at this current moment in time is that Josef Bursik should be The Potters #1 coming into the 2021/22 season. As an England youth international, it is unsurprising that he is a goalkeeper of the highest quality. Bursik is what I would describe as the perfect, modern-day goalkeeper, comfortable with the ball at his feet, delightful distribution at both short and long ranges, commands his area superbly and most importantly, he’s one of the best shot stoppers around at this level.
It’s fair to say Bursik’s been well travelled this year, appearing for Doncaster, Stoke, Peterborough and Lincoln, helping the Posh to promotion and Lincoln to a play-off final, boasting a fine record of 13 clean sheets in 35 games for all the clubs listed, not to mention the fact that he’s an accomplished free-kick taker too!
I would be very surprised if the current number 32 was not wearing the number 1 shirt come opening day, despite high-quality competition for that shirt, with Wales international Adam Davies and new boy Jack Bonham pushing to claim the gloves for opening day.
Right-Back – Tommy Smith – Age: 29
Michael O’Neill’s men are yet to be heavily linked to a new right-back despite O’Neill confirming that it is a position they would be looking to add to, with Tommy Smith as the only recognised senior right-back at the club.
The only kind of competition for the ex-Huddersfield full-back at the club currently is lightning-quick youngster and local lad, Kieran Coates, however, it is believed that he will go out on loan this year to gain some much-needed experience. Meanwhile, Stafford-born academy graduate Tom Edwards won’t be returning from sunny America to fight for his place at boyhood club Stoke until January. Edwards has impressed whilst carrying the number 7 on the back of his shirt at New York Red Bulls.
Either way, it’s hard to see past Smith starting on the opening day against Reading as he’s a professional and trusted player by O’Neill, playing a total of 66 games under the Northern Irishman out of a possible 83 in all competitions.
Centre-Back – Danny Batth (C) – Age: 30
Likely to be the most controversial pick in this starting XI but hear me out. With defensive stalwart and Australian giant Harry Souttar likely to be unavailable for the opening game against Reading at the Bet365 due to his international commitments at the Olympics, O’Neill will need to make up for a lack of height at the back, especially against the likes of 6ft3 Lucas João, step up Danny Batth.
Since he’s signed for the Potters, Danny Batth has given everything whenever he has played in the famous red and white stripes, personified by an horrific head cut a few months ago, Batth will provide a physical presence at the back that we simply won’t have without Souttar at the back and provide an aerial threat in the other box, a threat which proved crucial when we avoided relegation in O’Neill’s first season.
Batth also gets the armband, with Mikel leaving this week, he becomes one of the more natural leaders in the squad, having captained Wolves for many years, and would likely be awarded the role of leader to not just the back four, but the rest of the squad too.
Centre-Back – Ben Wilmot – Age: 21
The first of the new boys on Stanley Matthews Way, Ben Wilmot has arrived at the Bet365 Stadium as The Potters first summer signing, with his arrival signalling Collins now confirmed move to Premier League side Burnley.
A proper example of a modern-day centre-back, Wilmot is comfortable with the ball at his feet and will help make up for Batth’s lesser ability to play out from the back. The Stevenage-born defender also possesses a decent amount of pace and comes with high expectation, with many Watford fans disappointed that he has left for a cheap fee, believing that he will one day play for England, if that’s the case, Stoke have a got a real talent on their hands and as such, you’d expect him to start against Reading.
Left-Back – Morgan Fox – Age: 27
Despite an injury-riddled season, Morgan Fox’s first season in the Potteries showed real promise. A solid defender, capable of pushing forward towards the final third, combined with a cracking left foot for crosses, Fox was starting to look like the answer to what was Stoke City’s problem position for years on end, until disaster struck and he picked up a hamstring injury. After a few months out, Fox returned from injury for a short while, picking up the same hamstring injury in his other hamstring this time not long after. What bad luck!
But you sense there is hope from the Stoke camp that the 27-year-old will be ready to go the full season as first choice left-back this season as there has been no indication that the transfer team are working on bringing in a left-back, although Wales U19s international Eddy Jones has been pictured training with the first team during pre-season so Fox will have to keep the hard work up to keep his place, not to mention that former Hull-man Josh Tymon can play there.
Central Midfielder – Mario Vrančić – Age: 32
Referred to by many of the Norwich City faithful as “Super Mario” an obvious reference to the popular video game character, Mario Vrancic has been a wonderful servant to the Canaries during his 4-years at the club.
The Bosnian, cultured midfielder is described by many as a technical player, suggesting a change in style from Stoke is in the offing. With the ability to pick out a pass, shoot from distance with either foot and his quality from dead-ball situations, the 32-year-old could be one of the more important signings for Stoke this season, adding that bit-extra to the midfield that Stoke desperately lacked last season and add goals from midfield, something we desperately lacked too.
Those 2 promotions on his CV won’t hurt our dressing room either! He really could end up being Super Mario for us.
Central Midfielder – Alistair McCann – Age: 21
Alistair McCann or as many refer to him “Ali” McCann has made waves in Scotland this season for Premiership side St. Johnstone as they won a historic double under former Stoke City coach Callum Davidson.
Valued at around £1 Million by The Saints, Alistair McCann is sure to be in the little black books of many Championship managers, including fellow Northern Irishman and former Northern Ireland manager Michael O’Neill. The Northern Ireland international’s work rate and ability hasn’t gone unnoticed by his teammates with former St. Johnstone defender Danny Griffin telling the Telegraph that “He’s box-to-box and gives you everything he has”. “Ali” McCann is a successful ball-winning, competitive midfielder who has started to add aggression to his game, exactly what The Potters have needed and I think the Northern Irish links will be more than enough to lure him here and I for one, would be very surprised if he wasn’t wearing a Stoke shirt on the opening day.
Attacking Midfielder – Nick Powell – Age: 27
The star of the show last season and hopefully that won’t be changing for a long time at Stoke.
Nick Powell has been nothing short of a diamond in the rough for Stoke, by far the most naturally gifted and most creative player in the entire squad, Powell has dragged Stoke out of the mud more times than I’ve had hot dinners!
There’s just nothing to hate about the former Crewe starlet, he’s talented on and off the ball but also has that grit and arrogance, in a good way, about him, allowing him to often wind the opposition up and get them sent off. Something he once did to former Potter Ashley Williams during his time at Wigan.
Powell will be a big player for Stoke for hopefully years to come and this obviously puts him into contention to be the first name on the team sheet. If he can repeat his goal record from last season, we really could be looking at something special at Stoke.
Right-Winger – Jack Clarke – Age: 20
Had just started to pick up some real steam at Stoke during his loan spell here last season before injury struck and ruled him out for the remainder of that season, with that in mind it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see Tottenham Hotspur wonderkid Jack Clarke return to what will be a packed Bet365 Stadium to finish what he had just started.
Clever, technical and a magnet for fouls, Clarke has all the potential to be a star in red and white next season, especially considering he’ll likely pick up far more gametime over the course of a full season, rather than just 6-months to adjust to his new team. It’s a real shame that we won’t be able to get him on a free but a loan and a start on the first game of the season would be a more than welcome alternative.
Not to mention that it would be nice to see how far that partnership with Fletcher and Powell could have developed.
Left-Winger – Alfie Doughty – Age: 21
Despite signing for the club all the way back in January for a reported fee of £650,000, Alfie Doughty is yet to play a game for Stoke City due to injury problems suffered towards the end of his tenure at League One outfit Charlton Athletic. However, he is now fit and ready for action going into the new season and it seems almost inevitable that if he’s fit, he will start the opening game of the season against Reading.
Doughty’s direct wing-play will certainly benefit any striking option we choose up top, with all of them (including strikers who have been linked with a move to the club), are decently tall and have exceptional heading ability. Doughty is another winger who possesses bags of pace, packaged together with a good cross on him and dazzling dribbling ability, Doughty could be a really shrewd signing from O’Neill, which seems to be the theme of the current window too.
Striker – Steven Fletcher – Age: 34
For me, Steven Fletcher is the obvious choice to start up-front against Reading for now. He could’ve easily hit double digits for goals last season, had he not had back luck with injuries and the now infamous amount of times he had perfectly fair goals given offside. Despite those shortcomings, “Fletch” still managed to score 9 goals and contribute 4 assists too, providing a total of 13 goals out of the total 50 scored by the Potters last season.
Fletcher’s ability to link up with the wingers and bring them into play using a mix of his flair and physical prowess became surprisingly obvious as he struck up a dangerous trio with Stoke City stars Tyrese Campbell and Nick Powell, picking up goals with their support and returning the favour to both players too, If the former Hibs striker can replicate that form and stay fit, he could hit high numbers this season. A striker is still needed to cover/provide competition though, there’s no denying that.
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