2013–14 Stoke City F.C. season
Date Pos Name From Fee
28 June 2013 DF Erik Pieters PSV £3 million
2 July 2013 DF Marc Muniesa Barcelona Free
2 September 2013 FW Marko Arnautović Werder Bremen £2 million
14 January 2014 MF Stephen Ireland Aston Villa Free
21 January 2014 FW Juan Agudelo New England Revolution Free
28 January 2014 FW Peter Odemwingie Cardiff City Player-exchange
Transfers -- In
The 2013-14 season was Stoke City's sixth season in the Premier League and the 58th in the top tier of English football. Stoke went into the 2013-14 season under new manager Mark Hughes following the departure of Tony Pulis at the end of last season. Hughes stated his intent to change the teams' style of play to a more possession based game but a lack of transfer activity before the season started saw Stoke installed as one of the bookies favourites for relegation. Stoke began well narrowly losing to Liverpool and then beating Crystal Palace and West Ham but the club failed to address their goalscoring problem in the transfer market with winger Marko Arnautović the only forward signed during the summer. This proved problematic for Stoke as they went through September and October without a win, picking up just two points and scoring only three goals. Stoke improved in November and December going a run of one defeat in seven games which included a 3-2 win over Chelsea although they did end 2013 with heavy defeats at Newcastle and Tottenham. Stoke had a poor January picking up just one point and defeat at Sunderland left the side on the edge of the relegation places. However the arrival of Peter Odemwingie from Cardiff City in a swap deal with Kenwyne Jones saw Hughes able to change his formation and tactics which instantly paid off with a 2-1 victory over Manchester United on 1 February. Stoke's form and performances improved thereafter and they went through March unbeaten with four victories. Stoke maintained their form until the end of the season where they finished in 9th position with 50 points their best finish since the 1974-75 season.