Stoke City

Stoke City's relegation from the Premier League was confirmed on Saturday, as they suffered a 2-1 defeat at home to Crystal Palace.     

The team's relegation from the top flight after a 10-year stay was highlighted by the club's Twitter account:

The Potters took the lead in the contest before half-time with a Xherdan Shaqiri free-kick. However, Palace were much stronger after the break and battled back with goals from James McArthur and Patrick van Aanholt.

During their time in the Premier League, the club developed a reputation for being aggressive, organised and difficult to beat. However, those traits have been scarce this season in a campaign to forget.

After a summer that saw the team make minimal major investments in the transfer market, there were fears from the off as the side slumped to a 1-0 loss against Everton. And while victory over Arsenal offered fans some hope, it proved to be a rare high point in a season of lows.

While the team has struggled throughout the league season, it was a 2-1 defeat to Coventry City in the FA Cup that eventually cost Mark Hughes his job in January.

As noted by Planet Futbol's Mark Holmes, while the decision had to be made, it left the Potters in a tough position in pursuit of a replacement:

Eventually Paul Lambert was appointed with the team in the drop zone. And while performances have improved slightly under him, Stoke have not consistently been able to string results together.

They've let crucial points slip, too, surrendering leads against West Ham United and Burnley that would have given them an excellent chance of staying up. Instead they required wins from their final two games and for other sides around them to drop points.

Per commentator John Bradley, with the team in desperate need of wins late in the season, there have been times when Stoke have been too cautious:

In the Championship, it will be intriguing to see what direction the Potters go in. Early in their Premier League years, they had a clear identity under Tony Pulis; it wasn't pretty, but it was effective and everyone associated with the club rallied behind it. That sense of togetherness has seeped away.

There are some talented footballers in the squad in the form of Jack Butland, Joe Allen and Xherdan Shaqiri, all of whom Stoke will find difficult to keep at the club this summer. With those men potentially gone and a summer of major transition on the cards, getting back to the top flight at the first attempt will be a challenge.

Stoke City hired Paul Lambert as their manager on Monday after they sacked Mark Hughes earlier in January.

The Potters announced the news via their official website, with the former Aston Villa boss signing a two-and-a-half-year deal at the bet365 Stadium.

Lambert arrives with Stoke 18th in the Premier League and the team having shipped a total of 47 goals in 22 matches—the worst defensive record in the division—though he won't officially take charge until Tuesday after the team have faced Manchester United.

Stoke confirmed in their statement that Lambert's remit first and foremost is to keep the side in the Premier League.

Chairman Peter Coates said: "Paul greatly impressed us with his knowledge of our squad and had a clear plan of how he would improve our results."

Vice-chairman John Coates added:

"Paul has been successful in management at clubs with a strong and stable background and with local ownership—the kind of foundation we are able to give to our managers.
 
"We were determined to appoint someone with Premier League experience or an extensive knowledge of English football. We look forward to working with Paul and supporting him to help achieve our goals."

Football journalist Andrew Musgrove questioned Lambert's appointment, while the Telegraph's John Percy gave some insight into the decision:

The former Scotland international gained back-to-back promotions with Norwich City in 2010 and 2011 before keeping the Canaries in the Premier League the following year.

Lambert then guided Villa to consecutive 15th-placed finishes, but he failed to see out his third season at the club and was replaced by Tim Sherwood with the team 18th in the league.

In 2016, Blackburn finished 15th under him in the Championship, while his Wolverhampton Wanderers side finished in the same position in England's second tier last year.

The appointment isn't one that particularly inspires, but his feat of keeping Norwich and Villa in the Premier League is one Stoke will be hoping he can repeat given their situation.

Mark Hughes was relieved of his duties as manager of Stoke City on Saturday, hours after his side fell out of the FA Cup third round following a 2-1 defeat at League Two Coventry City.

The Potters confirmed Hughes' departure via the club's official Twitter account.

Monday's 1-0 defeat to Newcastle United was their 12th loss of the season, two days after shipping five against Chelsea having rested players ahead of the clash with the Magpies.

Stoke recently slipped into the Premier League's relegation zone and sat 18th at the time of Hughes' dismissal.

Football365's Daniel Storey was critical of Hughes following the defeat:

Hughes took over at Stoke in 2013, replacing the long-serving Tony Pulis after seven straight years in charge.

The 54-year-old enjoyed a strong first campaign in the job, guiding the Potters to a ninth-placed finish—by finishing in the top half, the club enjoyed their best season since 1975.

Stoke matched that finish in each of the next two seasons, but the latter part of the 2015-16 season left much to be desired. They picked up just one win in their last seven games and suffered several heavy defeats, which could perhaps be looked upon with hindsight as a turning point in his Stoke career.

Despite the additions of players such as Joe Allen, Wilfried Bony and Saido Berahino the following year—seemingly strong acquisitions to give the team more depth in midfield and clinical options up front—they were unable to improve and came 13th.

In cup competitions, the best they fared under Hughes was to reach the League Cup semi-final in 2016, which they lost to Liverpool on penalties.

During his time with the Potters, Hughes has set about attempting to change the club's play from the physical, long-ball approach favoured under Pulis to a more progressive, passing style.

To do so, he brought in a number of more technically gifted players, including the likes of Bojan Krkic, Xherdan Shaqiri, Giannelli Imbula and Allen.

However, they've struggled to produce positive results on a consistent basis, and the team have perhaps also lost the edge they once enjoyed.

They've struggled for goals in recent years, too, mustering just 41 league strikes in each of the last two seasons. This season, they have produced 23 goals in 22 games and conceded 47 times—the worst differential in the division.

Football journalist Kristan Heneage painted a disappointing picture of the Potters' last 12 months:

As they look to recruit a new manager, Stoke could attempt to target someone who can restore their lost identity and return to the style that brought stability under Pulis.

After bringing in more technical players, though, that won't be easy—they're somewhat committed to making the current squad work. Either way, survival will be their immediate priority.

Hughes' record of three consecutive ninth-placed finishes will no doubt appeal to clubs hoping to establish themselves as regular top-half finishers in the Premier League.

However, his failure to successfully reinvent the team and their relative struggles in recent years leave him with questions to answer.

Saturday's Premier League fixture between Stoke City and West Ham United has been delayed by an hour due to a power failure. 

The Potters announced the news via Twitter:

Per the Mirror's David Anderson, kick-off will be at 4 p.m. GMT.

Anderson was at the scene when the power went out an hour before the scheduled 3 p.m. kick-off, and it took a long time to get the issue resolved.

He had some advice for fans attending:

Stoke City and West Ham are both involved in a battle against relegation, sitting in 16th and 19th place entering the weekend, respectively. The Potters have won just three of their eight home fixtures.

Stoke City completed the signing of Jese Rodriguez from Paris Saint-Germain on a season-long loan on Wednesday.

The Potters confirmed the signing of the Spanish forward on their official website, with Jese joining the Premier League outfit after a disappointing 2016-17 season with PSG.

Club chief executive Tony Scholes welcomed him to the bet365 Stadium:

"Jese was a man in demand when PSG made it clear they would allow him to leave on loan and we’re delighted he has chosen to join us. He hasn’t had the happiest of periods in his career in Paris but he’s still only a young man and is hungry to make a big impression in the Premier League. His pedigree speaks for itself and he will most certainly add to the firepower at our disposal."

Stoke seemed to fire back at their critics and recently departed forward Marko Arnautovic with their announcement video on Twitter:

Jese, 24, began his senior career at Real Madrid—where he made his first-team debut in 2011—before moving to PSG for €25 million.

He struggled in the French capital, though, making only one start in the first half of 2016-17, and he was loaned out to Las Palmas for the second half of the campaign. 

Per WhoScored.com, back in La Liga, he netted three goals and provided an assist in 16 appearances for Las Palmas, and Stoke will be hopeful he can use his pace and dynamism to fine effect in the 2017-18 campaign.

Jese inflates Stoke's remarkably large group of UEFA Champions League winners, per BT Sport Football:

The former Spain under-21 international is Stoke's sixth signing of the summer after Darren Fletcher, Kurt Zouma, Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting, Bruno Martins Indi and Josh Tymon. 

Stoke City have confirmed the signing of former Hull City defender Joshua Tymon on a five-year contract until the summer of 2022.

The club's official Twitter account got creative when announcing the left-back's capture on Wednesday, and Tynon has earned an immediate return to the Premier League following Hull's relegation to the Championship last season:

The 18-year-old moves to the Bet365 Stadium after making 14 senior appearances for the Tigers, five of which came in England's top flight, and will look to help Stoke improve upon last season's 13th-placed finish.

The Potters have recruited Tymon for a low cost after the defender ran down his contract at the KCOM Stadium, although the Telegraph's John Percy noted a fee will still be agreed due to the fact he's under 24:

Already boasting experience in England's top tier, Tymon has featured regularly for England's youth teams and has earned caps at under-17, under-18 and under-20 level, per Transfermarkt.

Furthermore, Tymon started in all five of England under-20 matches in this summer's Toulon Tournament, where the Young Lions successfully retained their crown.

Just what the youngster's first-team prospects will be are up for debate considering Erik Pieters looks to be firmly planted as manager Mark Hughes' primary option on the left side of defence after 36 league appearances last term.

That said, there is space to stake a claim behind the Dutchman and to even rival for his place, beckoning good prospects and scope for a young, English hopeful to gain more experience in a top-flight senior side.

If Tymon's international involvement and academy development thus far are anything to go by, Stoke may have snapped up a starlet capable of becoming a Premier League regular in the years to come.

BR Video

The transfer window is shut, and some excellent deals have been made, as well as some terrible ones.

In the above extract from our Facebook Live show, Marcus Speller, Dean Jones and Sam Tighe discuss the worst moves in January.

Stoke City completed the signing of West Bromwich Albion striker Saido Berahino on Friday after agreeing to a long-term contract with the player. 

The Potters announced the transfer via their official YouTube channel after they acquired the forward's services following a long bout of speculation linking him with numerous Premier League suitors:

Berahino leaves the Hawthorns after a difficult spell at the club, having failed to feature regularly since the 2015-16 campaign when he scored seven goals in 35 appearances and started in just 17 of his 31 Premier League outings.

Following the transfer saga that unfolded in the summer of 2016, West Brom manager Tony Pulis held the striker back from his starting XI, despite Berahino's promise as a bright, young talent.

The 23-year-old will now hope to regain the kind of momentum that saw him score 20 goals in 45 appearances for the Baggies during the 2014-15 season, his breakout term in England's top flight.

Stoke have signed a player who was once on the brink of breaking into the England team. He will hope to do so again if he gets the proper starting opportunities at the bet365 Stadium.

Berahino's attitude proved to be a stumbling block in his development over the past year, but he'll try to put those concerns behind him in pursuit of greater on-pitch achievements under new manager Mark Hughes.