When England started and finished in humilating fashion this summer every football fan wanted the EPL to start as soon as possible. Pre season friendlies hadn't started yet and Stokes only player involved in the World Cup Thomas Sorensen was looking like he hadn't quite got over his injury at Chelsea. Stokies were on the hunt for transfer rumours, snippets and above all crying out for TP to come back from his well deserved jollies and start signing players before the garage sale begins.
Linked with every player under the sun doesn't help matters as the market value starts to soar but look at the Carlton Cole situation, last month £15 wouldn't get the West Ham striker but now with a bit of patience and Avram Grant bringing in new recruits, Stoke could have him at the Brit for £8m, if you read the Sunday People that is!
The club have impressed this summer with their handling of the blind Joe Ledley and haven't been held to ransom by a player preferring Celtic v Inverness Cally Thistle to Man Utd at home. Each to their own I guess but this is where TP comes into play, quoted recently as saying we are waiting for "apples to drop" could never be more true, in 'Tonyland' I tend to agree with his analogies.
We started our first ever EPL season without a full squad, brought in a certain Abdoulaye Faye when all the other teams had played their hands and look where we finished. Another darling quote about shopping at Battersea Dogs home brought us Matthew Etherington, 2 players who have won Player of the Season award respectively.
Our first day opponents in 2010/2011 Wolves have been very active buying all the Steve's relegated from the EPL last season in Steven Fletcher from Burnley, Steven Mouyokolo and the injured Stephen Hunt from Hull City. Mick McCarthy clearly just sent Santa (a fat Jez Moxey) a wish list before he bored us senseless on the BBC World Cup coverage.
Other sides to recruit early have been Wigan who have signed several unknown players from South America (they do have a good record for buying players from there though) and of course Man City who like the rich kid in school buys all the football stickers in one go to finish the album before any real exciting deals can be done.
Stoke City have been linked with decent EPL players with experience but Cole and O'Neil will only be considered if they are in the best interests of the club. I think TP and Coates would be superb antique dealers which is probably why be brought back Carlo Nash!
I also believe that if TP and Coates did set up their own business lastminute.com would be a great place to start.
