MANAGER: Tony Pulis (June 2008)

MAJOR INS: Dean Whitehead (Sunderland, £3m), Robert Huth (Middlesbrough £5m), Tuncay (Middlesbrough) £5m

MAJOR OUTS: Seyi Olofinjana (Hull, £3m)

KEY MAN: Ricardo Fuller (113 apps/37 gls)
Squad selector: Pick your Stoke XI

LAST SEASON: 12th

OUR VERDICT: 16th. It will be difficult to improve on their first successful season in the Premier League with such a limited budget, but survival will do once again for Pulis.
Watch Lawro's verdict on Stoke