Stoke City January Transfer Deals

Article by e-Stoke City Correspondent Alastair Turner

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As a Stoke City fan I tend to get excited on transfer deadline day. This January was no different. I was Mark Hughes to use his friends and former teammates within the game to bring in some much-needed signings. On deadline day I felt Stoke City needed a striker, with scoring goals and converting chances a massive problem this season. A winger that can attack, and cross a decent ball in, rather than just sit in front of the wingbacks, and finally a midfield enforcer would be nice too. However the day was a pretty dull one for the Potters fans, as other clubs, domestic and foreign, yet again, toyed with Stoke and no one came through the door on deadline day. So what did we actually manage to bring in this window?

Sparky and Coates came out early January stating they wanted to do business early. Juan Agudelo was the first in. A long awaited deal after being snapped at the ground for numerous games and even at the Christmas Party but superb signing on paper and if you look at his YouTube goals. Only we all remember Freddy Adu, the guy who was the next superstar but is now on trial at Blackpool after being released by Bahia in Brazil. However being a small club we struggle to get players work permits sorted and Juan has had to join Utrecht, already being successful playing 1 game providing 1 assist, until we gain a work permit. West Brom don’t seem to have a problem, Goran Popov signed at the death of deadline day, August 2012. This was after the player apparently signed for Stoke earlier in the month, but Stoke late pulling the plug on a loan deal, as we couldn’t gain a work permit. Are Stoke and West Brom not in the same country, with the same requirements?

Hot prospect who showed a superb willingness to sign for the club.

Transfer Rating: 9/10

Stephen Ireland signed permanently from Aston Villa on a 18-month deal. Ireland has been a fairly successful player within the team this season, scoring 3 goals from midfield and it seemed logical to try and get him from Villa for nothing even if to free up a domestic loan space. Ireland gives the Potters something different from the middle of the park, he has an acute eye for a pass. Players such as Whelan and N’Zonzi are great ball winners, and battlers, but Ireland possesses the finesse needed to feed passes through to the forwards, that aren’t thought to be possible, through gaps that most players in the squad don’t see.

Playing well, and freeing up a loan space, and will do a job for this season.

Transfer Rating: 6/10

Freeing up the loan space for a striker seemed to be the idea. It was indeed, and the day Ireland signed permanently John Guidetti joined the Potters on loan from Manchester City. A youngster chomping at the bit to get game time, with a great scoring record on his previous loan at Feyenoord, with 20 goals in 23 games. He has also been capped for Sweden and looks to be a promising youngster, still only 21. He will bring a bit of pace to a tall but slow looking front line. He also has the talent to finish opportunities that come his way, unlike the current forwards that seem to be slightly wasteful, something that could cost us in the relegation dogfight. He has shown a great desire, even if some fans think he is disrespectful for publicly stating he was annoyed at not getting more minutes after his first 3 games. Walters and Crouch not particularly on fire, although Crouch was good against Manchester United, why not give the lad a starting berth and a chance?

Proven record at Feyenoord and determined to do well, get him on the pitch!

Transfer Rating: 10/10

Finally Peter Odemwingie was brought in during the final week of the window, sending an on strike Kenwyne Jones to Cardiff as a swap deal. Odemwingie, finally checked with all the right people before turning up at the ground for his medical was signed on an 18 month deal. He will bring pace and trickery to the club and hopefully a goal or two. Personally I think it’s a pretty shrewd bit of business getting rid of a player who doesn’t want to play anymore and bringing in a guy who has something to prove. A few years ago whilst at WBA Odemwingie was a wanted man, with even Arsenal rumoured to be looking at him. After a deadline day mix up he became a laughing stock and has seemingly slowed down the goal rate. Fingers crossed he finds his shooting boots at Stoke. However there were preferred guys I would have liked to see brought in before trying to bring in Peter, such as Diouf and Ramos from the Bundesliga.

A point to prove and a player on strike shown the door.

Transfer Rating: 7/10

All in all Stoke City have done fairly tidy business during the window, however being messed around by Sunderland, changing their mind on the deal for Cattermole, and Rennes not submitting the paperwork in time for Jonathon Pitroipa put a large dark stain on the window. Stoke seemed to have a list of targets, but not as long as you would expect for a team in a poor run of form. The club did show great ambition and intent in trying to sign Thomas Ince permanently from Blackpool, only for him to sign for relegation rivals Crystal Palace, I think location and current form played a large part in his decision to join them.

I think and hope that Mark Hughes has brought in enough, Sunderland, Palace and Hull all making big and bringing in plenty new faces to freshen up the squads. Are they bringing in too many that may rock the boat and if relegated will the cost them too much money? We will see in the near future. I have faith in Hughes and the win against Manchester United should get a lot of fans back onside. I just hope he’s happy with the transfer dealings, and we won’t be left ruing missed chances come May.

Up the Potters, and its time to get behind the lads.

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