Stoke might not be the most fashionable or talked-about club in the Premier League but their achievements should not be overlooked and, as a die-hard Stokie myself, I'm not about to let that happen on TEAMtalk.
Staying up so comfortably last season was one hell of an achievement but what they've managed this term must rate as an even greater success.
The critics that tipped Stoke to go down two years ago were out in force again to predict a season of struggle for the Potters, who they said would surely suffer from second season syndrome.
The shock factor had disappeared, the long throws wouldn't work any longer and Tony Pulis' side would be found out second time around, they insisted.
In a way, they were right. Stoke benefited from a few surprise results in their first Premier League season - the two draws against Liverpool and victory over Arsenal spring to mind - but this time around they have claimed just one win from their 17 games against top-10 sides.
Their record against the top half is actually the joint second worst in the whole league and while that might not sound like something to crow about, I view it as a sign of how far the Potters have come.
The top eight sides are a cut above the rest of the league and, for a side like Stoke, any points you take from them are a bonus. This season they have managed only eight but that just makes their overall tally of 47 an even more remarkable feat.
The men from North Staffordshire have not relied on shock results; they have simply proved themselves as a better outfit than those sides below them.
Just two defeats against sides in the bottom half emphasises this point most clearly and Stoke's target now should not be another campaign of consolodation, but a charge towards the top eight.
It may be a step too far next season but they have improved their position in all but one of Pulis' seven seasons in charge to date and there's been no sign yet that the Potters are ready to stand still.
Now, for the Stokies, here are the awards for 2009/10:
Player of the Season
3. Ricardo Fuller - The big Jamaican has not always been a starter this season and three league goals is nothing to write home about, but he's proved particularly since the turn of the year that he remains the talisman of the side.
2. Ryan Shawcross - His season has been soured slightly by the Aaron Ramsey incident and subsequent spell out of the team, but that should not detract from what has been another terrific campaign for the youngster.
1. Matthew Etherington - His winner at Fulham was his seventh goal of a season that has established him as one of the most effective wingers in the whole Premier League. Constant running, terrific deliveries and his new-founs goal habit puts him up there as one of the club's best players of the past 30 years.
Goal of the Season
3. Ricardo Fuller v Arsenal (FA Cup) - A move started in midfield, culminating in Mama Sidibe racing down the right wing before crossing perfectly for Fuller to head home.
2. Glenn Whelan v Tottenham - This goal began 25 yards from Stoke's goal with Andy Wilkinson and almost every player was involved in a passing move that ended in Whelan lashing home in off the post.
2. Ricardo Fuller v West Ham - This one started from a throw - a West Ham one that is - and ended with Fuller superbly twisting past three home defenders before firing clinically past Robert Green.
Game of the Season
3. Fulham, Premier League, Britannia Stadium, 3-2 - It almost ended in disaster - Fulham came from 3-0 down to set up a grandstand finish - but Stoke's first-half performance was arguably their most swashbuckling of the season. Fulham were completely ripped to shreds for 45 minutes and their two goals just added to the excitement...honestly!
2. Arsenal, FA Cup, Britannia Stadium, 3-1- It wasn't Arsenal's strongest team but there was still plenty of quality in the Gunners' side so to beat them so convincingly was a great achievement. And the lads did it in style, scoring two super goals after Arsene Wenger brought on his big guns.
1. Tottenham, Premier League, White Hart Lane, 0-1 - Okay, it was backs to the wall for 90 minutes and Spurs could have won comfortably on another day. But the fact is they didn't and Whelan's winner four minutes from time sparked unbelievable celebrations in the away end. Stoke's most remarkable Premier League win to date and a day I remember little of after 5pm.
Let us know your thoughts on another terrific season for Stoke and how you see them doing in the Premier League next term. Can they continue their remarkable rise or will the freight train finally come to a halt?
Source: Team Talk
Source: Team Talk