Stoke City - The Beauty in the Beast

Yes Dennis Praet!! Told you he was good !!

"Top Ten Is The Aim" Hoekstra Says As Praet Signs

Peter Hoekstra has demanded that his players step-up and accomplish Stoke City's first top ten finish in the Premier League.

The new Potters manager, speaking on the eve of the opening day of the season, said "This season is about transition, as we try and develop a different style whilst brining the new boys through. However we would like to see progress, and the obvious aim is to get into the top ten, because it is something we have never achieved before."

Hoekstra also confirmed that Dennis Praet would be on the bench for the visit of Liverpool following his 4.7 million pound move from Anderlecht. "It's a great bit of business" said the Dutchman, "We have 3 very young, very talented Belgian players who will be in first team contention this season playing alongside each other, and hopefully they will progress along with the club."

2013-04-05 21:53#90178 joethequin : Yes Dennis Praet!! Told you he was good !!

I looked at him entirely upon your advice :P, and he looks phenomenal. There's one more signing on the way which (after budget adjustments) should leave me on about 7 million left.

Hoekstra slates Clattenberg following Stoke Battering: Stoke 0-4 Liverpool

Peter Hoekstra's ten man Potters slumped to an embarrassing 4-0 defeat at home on the curtain raiser of the new Barclays Premier League season.

A Coutinho goal in the third minute allowed Liverpool to gain early control of the game. However from 30 minutes Mark Clattenberg's refereeing impacted hugely. Clattenberg first gave Liverpool a penalty for a handball by Ryan Shawcross. Gerrard converted and Stoke trailed 2-0 at half-time.

As the second half-kicked off Clattenberg deemed Steve N'Zonzi to have dived in the box. This resulted in N'Zonzi's second yellow, earning him and early bath. Stoke couldn't handle the 4 pronged attack of Suarez Gerrard Coutinho and Sturridge after that, with Downing adding a third before Gerrard wrapped up proceedings.

Hoekstra was full of rage. "We put nearly two months of preparation into a game, in the hope that the fans will be entertained and pleased with our performance, but in the end one man has had a huge impact on the game. I would happily sit here and praise a wonderful Steven Gerrard performance, or a brilliant Luis Suarez goal, but I will not sit and try and justify 2 poor decisions by our oppositions performance."

Unlucky on that result there, always those sort of games

Do you think you have made the best decision with letting so many leave the club? I have never been a fan as it can disrupt the club but you will know Stoke better than I do. Good luck for the season.

Good luck!!

This ha to be the best title for a story I've seen in a while!!
The beauty in the beast