What's happened to the 'fortress' that is the Britannia Stadium
Stoke City has been a Premiership side for six seasons now but this season has been their toughest. They were sinking like a stone in water just a few weeks ago but managed to get the couple of wins that make then safe for another season.
Not many teams like going to the Britannia stadium as it's such a hard place to get anything; or used to be. Just seven wins at home tells its own story.
Does that mean that teams have worked out the 'up and at them' style of football they play?
If they go like for like it appears that Stoke don't like it and therefore don't win!
Tony Pulis is a very underrated Manager; people either love or loathe him but you can't say he hasn't done a great job at the Potters.
He knows it's a tough game and his players never pull out of challenges; some people call them a 'dirty side' but doesn't every player go in for the ball one hundred per cent committed?
It's scoring goals that seems to be a real problem for them. Michael Owen announcing his retirement hasn't really had that much effect; he's hardly started a game for the club. Former Spurs man Peter Crouch was linked with a move away from the club in January and Mark Walters scored two own goals in one game!
The Manager's future has been called into question but surely every team is allowed one bad season as long as they stay up?
To lose Tony Pulis from the Premiership would be giving football a kick in the balls.