Andy Tillson - Pottering On

Stoke City can announce the signing of Frank Lampard on a free transfer. The 99 England capped player was made available for free after his contract with Chelsea expired. Lampard spent 13 years with the London based club and was a firm fan favourite. Now 36 the player decided it was time for a new challenge, he was offered a contract by Stoke and he quickly moved North.

Lampard has made 99 appearances for England, scoring 27 times. He was left out of their World Cup squad by Roy Hodgson and new England boss Brendan Rodgers is yet to decide whether Lampard is part of his sort term plans.

Joining Lampard as at Stoke will be Zambian keeper Kennedy Mweene. The goalkeeper was a free agent himself after his contract with South African side Free State Stars, he spent 8 years there. Mweene was part of the 2012 African Cup of Nations Zambian winning side. He was one of the heros in the final shoot-out saving one and scoring one of his own. Remarkbly Mweene has scored an international goal for Zambia, he has played 69 times for the Chipolopolo.

Geoff Cameron has finally been allowed to leave Stoke City after a miserable 2 years at the club. He made just 17 appearances during his 2 year stay at the club. Unsettled with no chance of games the American had wanted out since the beginning of the second season. Tillson would only sell for a certain price and no one was willing to match it. Finally Genoa made the required bid for the versatile player, £1.3m and he was allowed to leave for the Italian side.

Lampard! <3 #Legend

Fantastic signing, even though he's old and Stevie G is better than him

2013-05-04 18:33#97586 Arvind : Lampard! <3 #Legend

Fantastic signing, even though he's old and Stevie G is better than him

He's done a good job rotating out with my usual CMs. I hope he doesn't retire from football before I (hopefully) get the England job. He deserves 100 caps.

I won't get into that.

Results

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Stoke got off to a flyer to start the season off, 3 wins in 3 games. Everton proved a stern test for the Potters who had to battle hard to gain the all important first day victory. Sunderland and Aston Villa were easier tests for Stoke scoring 4 times over the 2 games.

Table

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Stoke City's Player of the Month - Jack Butland

The Bristolian goalkeeping sensation has really come into his own over the course of the 6 months. He's cemented his place in Stoke's starting eleven over the impressive Asmir Begovic. His continued good form has left Begovic frustrated and the Bosnian keeper has requested to leave the club to regain first team football.

Group A

Real Madrid
Juventus
AZ Alkmar
Lech Poznan

Group B

Manchester City
PSG
Fenerbahce
Sevilla

Group C

Bayern Munich
AS Roma
Benfica
Brugge

Group D

Manchester United
Schalke
Anzhi
Olympiakos

Group E

Barcelona
Borussia Dortmund
Dynamo Kiev
Partizan

Group F

Porto
Marseille
Borussia Monchengladbach
Rapid Wien

Group G

Chelsea
Atletico Madrid
Kopenhagen
Hadjuk Split

Group H

Lyon
Napoli
Celtic
Stoke

Wow, 2,000 views! Thanks everybody who has taken the time to follow my story and read it. Never thought it would reach that many views.

Results

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A great month for Stoke, unbeaten in the Premier League still and 2 wins out of 2 in their maiden Champions League season. Going unbeaten in the Premier League this month Stoke had to beat off some stern tests in sides not willing to say die. The solitary loss of the month came against West Brom which knocked them out of the Capital One Cup, the competition that Stoke won last season.

The Champions League campaign is one many Stoke fans, employees and players a like were highly anticipating. They kicked off the campaign in France taking on Lyon, a side who tried to lure Tillson to them last season. Lucas Digne scored his first ever Stoke goal and their first ever Champions League goal to kick off the tournament for Stoke. A late goal from Wilfried Bony won the game. Celtic proved a different kettle of fish but it was the same player who scored the winner, Bony.

Table

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Stoke City's Player of the Month - Wilfried Bony

Bony had a solid month for Stoke, his physical presence made him a daunting task for the opposition to deal with. His presence alone forced opposition players into mistakes which allowed other Stoke players to score goals. Bony scored 1 goal himself.

Stoke City manager Andy Tillson has today come and hit out at new England boss Brendan Rodgers, again. This time it's over Rodgers leaving Carrick out of England's last 2 international squads. Carrick, 33, has made 26 England appearances through out his career, a stat many believe to be too small. Carrick was ever present in Stoke's fantastic season which saw them win the Capital One Cup and finish 3rd in the Premier League.

Then England manager Roy Hodgson called Carrick up to the 30 man preliminary World Cup squad, which he was cut from for the World Cup competition. A controversial decision but one that was accepted by Carrick. However since Tillson's outburst over the FA's decision to appoint Rodgers as England boss Carrick has been constantly overlooked.

"Carrick has been the best English midfielder in the league so far this season, you cannot deny that. Rodgers is letting his personal opinion on me affect his judgement over the England national team" said Tillson.

Carrick isn't the only Stoke player Tillson is upset with Rodgers for overlooking. 21 year old goalkeeping sensation Jack Butland has been left out of the senior England side since Rodgers came in. Butland was a major part of the final 6 months of Stoke's season and has continued his great form into this season.

"Jack (Butland) has had a great 9 months here. He's the in-form keeper in the league, not just the in-form England keeper. Personal feelings between myself and Rodgers shouldn't be affecting the international future of my players" Tillson went on to say.

Rodgers is yet to respond to Tillson over this matter.

Not the hardest group you could have get, you can win the group.

Results

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Stoke City had an unbeaten month, which means they remain unbeaten in the Premier League after 3 months of football. It also means that they have not lost a single Champions League tie in their history, beating off Italian side Napoli. Stoke stated of the month beating 2 sides based in London, Fulham and Chelsea. They followed up beating Chelsea by winning away from home in Naples and rounded off the month with a draw with Arsenal.

Table

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Stoke City's Player of the Month - Jack Butland

Jack Butland continued his fantastic start to the season with another spectacular month in goal. He made crucial saves in the big games of the month and both goals he conceded this month were from the spot. A truly remarkable keeper the 21 year old cannot be ignore much longer by England boss Brendan Rodgers.

Great start to the season, you're on top! Your CL group is somewhat of a "medium" difficulty but I think you'll get through.

Could I have a screenie of Butland, please?

2013-05-05 12:55#97835 Arvind : Great start to the season, you're on top! Your CL group is somewhat of a "medium" difficulty but I think you'll get through.

Could I have a screenie of Butland, please?

I'm so pleased with the way the team has started. Lyon and Napoli are both great sides, I was a little worried about them. Celtic not so much. Winning my first 3 games in the CL has put me in prime position to qualify from the group.

Here you go

Jack Butland looks unbelievably good. He's always shit in my FM13 saves

Butland looks immense, it's just a shame Joe Hart will keep him out of the England squad for most of his career

Stoke City have agreed to sell Bosnian goalkeeper Asmir Begovic to German giants Borussia Dortmund. Begovic, 27, had been out of favour since January when Tillson allowed youngster Jack Butland a chance in the first team. Butland played a stormer and Tillson made him his starter. Begovic has made just 2 appearances in 4 months for Stoke and only made 5 in the second half of last season.

Begovic requested a transfer at the end of the last season and Tillson accepted the request but set a price that the teams would have to match in order to buy him. No one met that price, £15m. Fast forward to November and Stoke were now growing tired of Begovic and his constant moaning. His lack of games meant his stock had fallen. Dortmund made a bid of £7.5m which was accepted and Begovic met with Dortmund in Germany to discuss personal terms. He will join up with his new team in January.

In other news Stoke have captured young Japanese starlet Yoshikazu Ogino from Kashima Antlers for a fee of £3m. The youngster can play multiple positions namely center back, right back, center midfield, defensive midfield and right midfield. He has made 11 senior caps at the age of just 18. He will join up with Stoke in January.