The Next Big Thing pt. 1

The Premier League tome of 20 years provides endless stories, dripping with emotion, pathos, grandeur and glory. Remarkable teams have been constructed and cities have thrived from footballing success. Aside from the Manchester Uniteds, the Chelseas and Arsenals; underdogs have risen and written their own fairytales - and this draws your attention to the quality and legacy of British football. Nottingham Forest, Leeds United, Leicester City, Sheffield Wednesday, Wimbledon, Southampton: All sides who were top 10 clubs; and then fell to the third tier of the relentless pecking order.

This year Blackburn Rovers, once great champions of the battleground, look destined to fall from the echelons of British football. Whilst a tragic fall from prominence, the potential lies for new challengers to evolve into footballing superpowers.

The question is; who is the next big club to succeed in the Premier League?

The Contenders:

      STOKE CITY -----

The most progressing club in the recent premier league past is Stoke City. 10 years ago, Stoke won the 3rd Division play-off final. 4 Years ago, they came second in the Championship. This season, they are 8th in the Premier League, in the Europa League knock-out phase and are developing a squad seasoned with international footballers. There is a real air of excitement in the city that the club has established itself as perennial top flight team with the foundations to become a perennial winning team. Stoke's success is built upon 3 factors: The fans, the club structure and the spirit.

The season ticket holders in the Boothen End of the Britannia Stadium are undoubtedly the noisiest, rowdiest and most passionate fans in the country. Defenders facing a corner, free-kick or Rory Delap throw-in are gladiators in a cacophonic amphitheatre, only the striped tigers they fight are >6ft brutes intent on battering their goalmouth.

Stoke's philosophy to date has been hire terminators, press the opposition constantly, score through sheer brutality. They have been a shining example of how to survive in the premier league in the face of the 'play "like" Barce, go down with some swagger' sides. The interested now watch how Pulis develops the side. The additions of Palacios, Crouch, Woodgate and Upson add pedigree to the side (as well as 71 England caps), without compromising the bite of Shawcross and Huth and the Stanley Matthews-ery of wingers Pennant and Etherington. Now the Potters need attacking full-backs, a play maker midfielder and a clinical marksman to push them even further towards the league's elite.

In keeping with the Coates ownership style, this metamorphosis will be done slowly and to a budget - keeping the club in its comfort zone. If constant success continues, the club will be a prime takeover target for overseas investors and that is what will take Stoke City to the top of the English game.


What the future holds for Stoke City:

1. Potential signings 2012: Full-Backs - Wayne Bridge, Nedum Onuoha Midfielders - Junior Hoilett, Nigel Reo-Coker, Jermaine Jenas Attackers - Yakubu, Victor Moses
2. Fill in the stadium corners - lift the stadium capacity to over 30,000 to fund long term development (3,000 extra seats could increase ticket revenues by £2.5m per year). A dome will have to be installed to stop the noise complaints from neighbours in Wales.
3. An England call-up for Ryan Shawcross.
4. Continual top 10 finishes for the next five years, adding good players until European football is more than a one-off. Then the big money will move in and the bigger name marquee signings.