By Robbie Earle | Email to a friend | Digg |
Published: Friday 05 Sep 2008
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Sentinel and Why Delilah columnists gives his verdict on Tony Pulis's new signings

THERE was plenty of interest on transfer deadline day locally as Stoke were keen to bolster their ranks after a reasonable start to the season.

I believe their bid for Dimitar Berbatov fell just short of Tottenham’s valuation!

In the end, they had to be content with the final-day captures of Tom Soares, Michael Tonge and Danny Higginbotham, which takes their combined acquisitions to 10 players for £20m since gaining promotion.

Here’s a quick guide to what I’m calling ‘Tony’s Top Ten Transfers’.

THOMAS SORENSEN (goalkeeper)
Experienced Denmark international who will add stability to the back line. Having been squeezed out at Aston Villa, Sorensen will be extra determined to prove his Premier League worth. There’s no doubt he will have plenty to do, but has the capability and maturity to handle all situations8

DAVE KITSON (striker)
He’s a bit of a throwback, in comparison to today’s mobile, nimble centre-forwards. A big strong number nine (but wears 12), who will upset defenders and be the focal point of the attack.
Will make up for any possible lack of goals with his industry. The type who often battles for the benefit of his strike partners, rather than himself7

MICHAEL TONGE (midfielder)
Saw this guy playing for Sheffield United against Arsenal in an FA Cup game at Highbury a few years ago and he was as good as anybody in Arsene Wenger’s team. Somehow it has not all come together as it should and the move offers him a chance to display some of that undoubted ability. Could be a real bargain7

TOM SOARES (midfielder)
One of the fine crop of youth players developed at Crystal Palace. There is no doubt you are paying current value and future potential for Soares, despite the fact he has played 150 games and represented England at under-21 level. People in the south tell me this guy has the talent and that temperament to hold his own at the top level. It will be interesting to watch his development 6

DANNY HIGGINBOTHAM (defender)
I’ve got to know Danny through football circles and he is a great type of lad to bring into the camp. He’s the kind of player I liked to have in my teams, namely a defender who is committed and loyal, even when things can start to unravel. Having been at Stoke before it’s not really a gamble. Good, solid business 8

AMDY FAYE (midfielder)
Strong, no-nonsense midfield man who doesn’t need telling to “let people know you are about” (the politically correct phrase for kicking the opposition!). Still
striving to fully establish himself in the Premier League despite spells at Charlton, Newcastle and Portsmouth, but he could have a big role to play in Stoke’s attempt to stay up. Will need to temper his competitive edge as he has already been sent off at
Middlesbrough and is no use to the team sitting in the stands 6

SEYI OLOFINJANA (midfielder)
Another in the mould of industrious destroyer. I saw enough of this guy at Wolves to realise he has the capacity to cope with the demands of the Premier League, but some doubt remains whether he can convert Championship form on to the big stage 6

IBRAHIMA SONKO (defender)
Another strong athletic African purchase who has had good experience from his time at
Reading. Will have first-hand knowledge about the challenge of facing of Premier League
centre-forwards, and is one of those defenders who contributes the odd crucial goal from
set-pieces. Adds to the burgeoning pool of abrasive players in the squad 7

ABDOULAYE FAYE (defender)
It’s getting a touch repetitive, but another uncompromising, Senegalese signing.
Good athlete who is better on the ball than most would imagine. Having been at Bolton in the Sam Allardyce era, he will have learned a lot that can be passed on to a relatively inexperienced squad 7

ANDREW DAVIES (defender)
He first came to my attention as a member of a very successful Middlesbrough youth set-up which eventually won the FA Youth Cup.
Found it difficult to establish himself in the Boro first team and has had to move to Stoke via Southampton to get a chance of Premier League football. The statistics of great youth players who turn out to be great professionals is not that high, so Davies will have to work extremely hard and grasp this opportunity 6