Greatest Premier League XI: Stoke City

It is nine years since Stoke City arrived in the Premier League, and a bookmaker paid out on them going down just hours after an opening-day hammering at Bolton Wanderers.

How times have changed.

Rory Delap’s throw-ins, Andy Wilkinson’s thunderous tackles and the numbing cold of the infamous North Staffordshire wind – a trip to Stoke has never been relished, and plenty of clubs have left with a bloody nose.

Under current boss Mark Hughes, Stoke are a very different side than Tony Pulis’ before – but here we pay homage to both the old and new in our Potters XI.

Thomas Sorensen

Asmir Begovic can count himself very unlucky here, while Jack Butland is probably a couple of years away from taking this jersey from Thomas Sorensen.

‘The Great Dane’ was rescued from Aston Villa’s reserves the summer Stoke arrived but, like the club, went on to prove everyone wrong.

Strong under the high ball and a superb reflex shot-stopper with a knack for saving penalties, Sorensen was a big hit and was a key cog in a formidable defence.

Eventually displaced by the more athletic and stylish Begovic in 2011 – Sorensen spent several years on the bench before leaving in 2015.

Andy Wilkinson

Local boys rarely come good in Stoke-on-Trent, at least as far as football is concerned, and that is why Andy Wilkinson was the most popular player in the team.

The right-back was not especially fast, strong in the air, good on the ball, able to produce a good cross or defensively sharp.

But he bled red and white, and that carried him through. Wilkinson played the game at 100mph, delivered some crunching tackles, and got the crowd roaring throughout.

When Hughes arrived, he lost his place before retiring in February 2016 aged 31 due to a head injury.

Ryan Shawcross

When Stoke visited Cardiff on the opening day of the 2007-08 season, few fans there that day could have imagined the scrawny teenager making his debut at centre-back would go on to become one of the club’s greatest ever defenders.

But Ryan Shawcross scored the winner that day and has kept proving people wrong since. The gangly defender was so good Stoke bought him from Manchester United several months before his loan spell ended.

After a slow start in the Premier League, Shawcross became a rock and eventually replaced Abdoulaye Faye as club captain – leading them to the FA Cup final in 2011.

A year later, he was picked for England and, although he has not enjoyed the international career he hoped for, he has remained one of the most consistent defenders in the division.

Robert Huth

Eyeballs were rolled when Stoke splashed £6m on Robert Huth in 2009, with fans complaining they were unnecessarily splashing cash on players relegated the previous year.

But Huth quickly became a firm fans favourite – with his impressive goalscoring record, no-nonsense style and rather funny Twitter account endearing him to all at the club.

A serious knee injury ended his time at the club, and he was flogged to Leicester in 2015 – where he went on to win the Premier League title.

Danny Higginbotham

A man who loved wearing red and white, having also played for Southampton and Sunderland, Danny Higginbotham found a home at Stoke.

The left-back was strong defensively but surprisingly adept going forward, and possessed a hammer of a left foot which was deadly from free-kicks and penalties.

Another member of the 2011 FA Cup final side, Higginbotham scored the winner in the quarter-finals against West Ham. He left Stoke in 2013 for Sheffield United, and retired a year later.

Jonathan Walters

No Stoke City Premier League XI would be complete without ‘Super Johnny Walters’.

The Irishman arrived from Ipswich Town in 2010 and impressed fans from the off with his relentless work rate and versatility.

Confident on the right wing as well as up front, Walters has scored plenty of key goals for the club – including a brace in their 5-0 FA Cup semi-final win against Bolton Wanderers.

Glenn Whelan

Steady Eddie Glenn Whelan has been ever-present for Stoke in the Premier League, although that may end this summer.

Whelan joined Stoke from Sheffield Wednesday in January 2008, and at the time was regarded as their most creative midfielder.

Whelan struggled for game time in Stoke’s first Premier League campaign as he was considered too lightweight. But he learned how to play in front of the back four and has not looked back since.

Steven N’Zonzi

Steven N’Zonzi is perhaps Stoke’s best ever Premier League player, despite cutting a frustrating figure during his three-year stint.

The Frenchman was snapped up from Blackburn Rovers in 2012, and nailed down the spot beside Glenn Whelan in the heart of midfield from the get-go.

A classy passer with an eye for the spectacular, there was always a sense Stoke were punching above their weight with N’Zonzi – and so it has proven.

The 28-year-old is going from strength to strength at Sevilla, who he joined in 2015 for £7m after winding down his contract.

Matthew Etherington

Another underwhelming signing that turned into a Pulis masterstroke, Matty Etherington played a major role in keeping Stoke in the Premier League when he joined in January 2009.

Stoke were crying out for a wide player with pace and Etherington provided it. He arrived at Stoke under a cloud due to a gambling addiction but turned his life around.

He became a key player, reliable for goals and assists and was, at one stage, in contention for an England call-up.

He left the club and retired in 2014.

Ricardo Fuller

Ricardo Fuller scored the goals which carried Stoke into the Premier League, and he was pivotal in the early years.

The Jamaican was a free spirit and rubbed Pulis up the wrong way, but their love-hate relationship produced some stunning results.

When motivated, Fuller was almost unstoppable and his goal against Aston Villa in Stoke’s first home match is worth the inclusion alone.

Capable of the outrageous, Fuller is still spoken about at the bet365 Stadium even though he left in 2012 for Charlton Athletic.

Peter Crouch

Peter Crouch arrived at Stoke for £10m, a club record in 2011, as the club prepared for their assault on the Europa League.

Crouch became an instant fan favourite, with his steady stream of goals and infectious attitude guaranteeing his place among the greats.

The former England man has given the home fans some unbelievable highs, including THAT goal against Manchester City in 2012 and his 100^th Premier League strike against Watford earlier this season.

Honourable Mentions: Asmir Begovic, Abdoulaye Faye, Erik Pieters, Charlie Adam, Dean Whitehead, Rory Delap, Liam Lawrence, Bojan, Mamady Sidibe, James Beattie, Marko Arnautovic, Tuncay.