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Ryan Shawcross is Stoke's star Potter
THE rebranding of Stoke has been obvious since Mark Hughes was appointed manager, but the Potteries club have been forced to take a step back in time this season.
Mark Hughes has rebranded Stoke since he took over
Gone are the days of Rory Delap and his long throw-ins, but injuries and the inconsistency of their home form have meant them reverting to a more direct style of attack.
Victories on their travels against Manchester City, Spurs and Everton and a home win against Arsenal have intermingled with defeats at the Britannia Stadium to Aston Villa, Burnley and Leicester City.
Hughes values the stability provided by defender Ryan Shawcross and Stoke must fight off interest from other clubs if they are to retain the hard-edged competitiveness in their back four.
HALF TERM VERDICT
Stoke are still confident of matching last season’s Premier League best ninth position and will steer clear of trouble if they stop losing to the teams below them.