Carl Asaba - Millwall(Free) Signed just 5 days before the start of the 2003/4 season. Had a disappointing season playing mainly up front but occasionally out wide right. Strong, fast and with bagfuls of experience at division 1 level he didn't improve in the next season after handing in three transfer requests in during the mid season. Was a first team regular until the arrival of Ade Akinbiyi when he had to drop to the bench. Had worked with Tony Pulis before at Gillingham and after signing for the potters he described Pulis as a great man manager who really knows how to get the best out of him, which seems to be a popular opinion among players. He feels that he has to be able to get the ball down in the area which he feels is his strength. Left for Millwall just after the start of the 2005/6 season and played for the Lions as they got relegated. Player who when signed on a season long loan from Anderlecht was promised as a player who was in the same mould as Stoke former left winger Peter Hoekstra. The Czech star had a promising career at the Belgian side before getting a serious injury which kept him out for months and he then failed to get back into the squad and decided a loan move away would allow him to put his name back in the limelight. Started off well, scoring a great goal in the 3-1 win over Norwich and setting up Paul Gallagher for the winning goal at Preston after tackling the full back who was attempting to clear. Faded after as he lost his place to Peter Sweeney, Peter Kopteff and Paul Gallagher and returned to Anderlecht where after being linked with Scottich team Hearts he decided to stay at home and was loaned out to another Belgium team. Started as a very promising young player who broke into the team and seemed to be preferred for the big games someone who performed in every game he played. Another academy graduate and one who may have a top level career in front of him maybe he'll get there with Stoke. Unluckily for him he played where Stoke had there most skillful player Pater Hoekstra and there goldenball Kris Commons so maybe a trip to centre midfield would have been good but his only appearance in his favoured position saw possibly his worst ever performance. Set up the winning goal against Reading for Ade Akinbiyi that kept us in Division 1 with a clever little run behind the full back and a precision cross that was glanced home at the near post. Another big crowd favourite. Was involved in a swap deal with Marlon Broomes where the defender came to the Britannia and Neal signed for Preston. Great future for this kid. A snip at £50,000 from Arsenal and a candidate for MOTM in most of his appearances since his initial loan move from Arsenal that was made permanent as soon as Stoke saw the potential. Arsenal were talking about him as the next Tony Adams just a couple of seasons ago. Decided that Stoke wasn't the place to further his career and refused to sign a new contract in August 2005. After numerous attempts to get him signed up the club decided to sell him and cash in as best they could. He joined Reading for £300,000 which is a figure that would have been a lot higher had the clubs hand not been forced into the sale. Signed by the board as part of there attempt to get Tony Pulis to explore the foreign market and subsequently was not played that much by the manager. Has played top level Champions League football and looked to have a good track record when he arrived but a lack of action in the 12 months before left him short of match fitness but he still managed to show glimpses fo skill during his brief spells on the pitch. Was not played by new manager Johan Boskamp and was eventually released and returned to Iceland. Signed on a free from Watford after scoring in two consecutive pre-season games but failed to find the net in competitive football for the Potters. Only played due to a chronic plack of striking options and left for Millwall on loan just 8 weeks after signing. Returned just before new year and was quickly shipped out to promotion chasing Sheffield United but played a minimal part in there season before being released in May 2006. Was arguably been the man who has saved the Potters from another relegation battle. When he arrived initially on loan Stoke were in the bottom 3 and looking at a battle for survival, but a run of 7 wins and a draw took Stoke well away before he was recalled by Leicester. Was released a couple of weeks later and instantly joined the Potters and had an incredible record in a Potters shirt. Became a big part of the coaching staff under Johan Boskamp after the managers fall out with his assistant and was being tipped to go far and is widely regarded as a man who will go far in management and it is a shame that Stoke have let him go. Was brought on 1st August 2003 and came and immediately takes over as number 1. Immensely experienced at the top after six successful seasons at Chelsea where he won seven trophies at home and in Europe. Played over 120 games for the Blues and has collected 39 Dutch caps and surely would have had more but for Edwin Van Der Sar. Signed for 2 years and beat Raimond Van der Gouw in the race for a contract. Was number one in his first season despite going off injured numerous times including in the first minute against Coventry in a game where Stoke ended up with defender John Halls in goal after sub keeper Neil Cutler got injured aswell. Lost the number one spot to Steve Simonsen the season after after new signing Simonsen shone during a spell out for De Goey. Left on a free in June 2006 and returned home amid interest from Sparta Rotterdam. Brought for £100,000 from Tiverton Town in November 2001 as a bright prospect and had rave reviews from the reserve team and also loan spells out at Bristol City and Wrexham. It was at Wrexham where he was spotted by Alex Ferguson who took him to Manchester United for an initial £1m deal that could rise to £3m with club appearances and international appearances. Was immediately loaned out to Watford where he helped them gain promotion to the Premiership and is now trying to help them stay there. Bright future and was called up to the England squad as back up for the World Cup before making his debut in the friendly with Spain. A big hit during his initial loan spell at the club but a far less successful second spell. Joined for initial 6 months from Blackburn after being frozen out at Ewood Park and played the last few minutes the day after when Stoke beat Norwich 3-1. Loan was extended until the end of the season in January and he ended up being top scorer with goals before being recalled days before the final game of the season. Scored many spectacular goals and seemed to be that every goal he scored was a winner and from outside the box. Scored the winning goals away at Hull, Preston, Coventry, Crewe and Luton aswell as at home to Millwall and Burnley and the equaliser away at Tamworth that set up the victory on penalties. During his second spell in 2007/8 he rarely featured and failed to impress on his few outings leading to his early return to Blackburn. Signed on a season long loan from Belgian champions Anderlecht. Very promising player when he broke into the Anderlecht team but got held back by injuries and went out on loan for the 2004/5 season before joining Stoke for the next campaign as part of the double swoop as new manager Johan Boskamp called on his old club for a favour. Got sent off in his second game after kicking out to a Leicester defender and struggled to make an impact at first as he found it difficult to adapt to the English game. Did hard work on his game and developed into a reliable player when called upon in the latter stages of the season when he was called upon and many Stoke fans were calling for him to be signed after earlier in the season saying he should be returned back to where he came from. Came from Wigan to play in the midfield. Played well and linked up the midfield with the attack and showed how valuable a player he can be by scoring twice in his 8 appearances. Returned to Wigan and played a part in Australia's 2006 world cup squad.
#7
Striker
d.o.b:28/01/73
Signed: August 2003
Games in last season:0
Goals in last season:0
Total club games:44/31
Total club goals:10
#20
Left wing
d.o.b:18/09/83
Signed: July 2005
Games in last season:13/2
Goals in last season:1
Total club games:13/2
Total club goals:1
#18
Left wing, Centre midfield
d.o.b:14/07/81
Signed: Youth team
Games in last season: 11/13
Goals in last season: 1
Total club games: 35/46
Total club goals: 3
#21
Right back, Centre back, Right Midfield
d.o.b:14/02/82
Signed/Sold: October 2003/January 2006
Games in last season:14
Goals in last season: 2
Total club games: 71/2
Total club goals: 2
#14
Left wing, Striker
d.o.b:23/01/73
Signed: February 2005
Games in last season:0/1
Goals in last season:0
Total club games:0/3
Total club goals:0
#16
Striker
d.o.b:13/04/75
Signed:August 2005
Games in last season:3/9
Goals in last season:0
Total club games:3/9
Total club goals:0
#32
Centre back
d.o.b:18/10/70
Signed: December 2003
Games in last season: 3
Goals in last season: 1
Total club games: 56
Total club goals: 4
#15
Goalkeeper
d.o.b:20/12/66
Signed/Sold:August 2003/June 2006
Games in last season:1/2
Goals conceded in last season season:1
Clean sheets in last season:2
Total club games:56/2
Total goals conceded/Clean sheets:62/20
#14
Goalkeeper
d.o.b:03/04/83
Signed: November 2001
Games in last season: 0
Goals conceded in last season: 0
Clean sheets in last season: 0
Total club games: 0
Total goals conceded: 0
#24
Striker, Attacking midfielder
d.o.b:09/08/84
Signed/Sold: January 2008/May 2008
Games in last season: 2/5
Goals in last season: 0
Total club games: 37/10
Total club goals: 12
#18
Defensive midfielder
d.o.b:01/06/82
Signed:July 2005
Games in last season:16/7
Goals in last season:0
Total club games:16/7
Total club goals:0
#20
Centre midfield
d.o.b:10/12/75
Signed: February 2006
Games in last season: 8
Goals in last season: 2
Total club games: 8
Total club goals: 2