To enhance my 2016/17 Premier League projection I’m reviewing factors that may impact each team’s strength compared with last season, as explained here. Next up Stoke City

Last Season

Stoke are an odd team. They appear to be brimming with creative talent (my abiding memory of Stoke last season is how they destroyed both Man City’s and Man United’s defence at home) – yet the numbers show that Stoke have real problems creating chances. Only Villa, Norwich and West Brom had fewer shots on target last season.

Player Turnover

To illustrate the relative strengths of key players joining and leaving, the numbers below compare defensive, passing and attacking strength against the average premier league player in 2015/16 (0% means at the same level as the average premier league player, greater than 0% is better and less than 0% is worse). Defensive assessment is the sum of defensive actions (tackles, interceptions, clearances and blocks). Passing is number of completed passes, and attacking strength is goals plus assists (all measured per match). This isn’t a robust statistical analysis, and can be skewed due to acquisition from a weaker league or lack of minutes played – but the purpose is to simply indicate the comparative strength of incoming and outgoing players.

Little change. One key signing that looks promising. Joe Allen may be the midfield addition needed to improve Stoke’s chance creation.

European Competition

No. No change.

Management 

No change

Overall assessment

Pretty much the same, maybe a little stronger.