1. Steve Simmonsen – Not quite the commanding Simmo of last season, conceding one or two goals he would normally have saved. However, still a valuable asset to City and still one of the best ‘keepers outside the Premier. 7/10
2. Carl Hoefkens – Perhaps has not been quite as dominant in the air as your average English Championship centre back he has easily compensated this by looking very quick and skilful in defence (the run for the penalty against Wednesday comes to mind) and has excellent timing in the tackle. 8/10
3. Marlon Broomes – Clearly not an out and out full Broomes has for most of the season looked solid rather than spectacular at left back. Chipped in with two goals in Stoke’s first four games this season – an excellent contribution from his position. 7/10
4. John Eustace – Sadly, still no news on when or even if we’ll see him return from his terrible injury problems with have hampered his Stoke career for the past 18 months or so. It would be fantastic to see John back in the midfield providing some of the surging runs forward we all loved him for during his first 6 months with us – but sadly we’re not holding our breath.
5. Michael Dubbery – Has had to adapt to life as captain and as the left-sided of the two centre backs quickly and has provided Stoke with some solid defensive performances and some good vocal leadership from the back. 7/10
6. Clint Hill – Not made an appearance yet this season due to injury but is expected back around Christmas to provide competition for Carl and Doobs at centre back and will probably vie for Marlon Broomes’ left-back slot as well.
7. Sammy Bangoura – The enigma. Dragged out contract negotiations, going ‘missing’ and being refused at immigration – not the start Johan had in mind for his million pound signing.
8. Dave Brammer – In a complete turn-around from last season where, under TP, Brammer began to come under pressure from some of the Stoke crowd, turning in a series of very average performaces, Brammer appears a new player under Boskamp. He is fierce in the tackle, has displayed an excellent range of passing and isn’t afraid to have a crack at goal – a 40 yard screamer to beat Luton! Brammer is without doubt one of the early contenders for player of the season. 9/10
9. Mama Sidibe – Has toiled well for the cause using his physical presence to hold-up the ball for his team mates. He is however screaming out for a goal scoring strike partner as sadly Mama just doesn’t have that cutting edge in front of goal we crave. A decent start to the season however and great enthusiasm – 7/10
10. Hannes Sigurdsson - Signed on deadline day from Viking, Stoke fans will be excited to see the young Icelandic prospect when he recovers from a minor knee injury
11. Kevin Harper – After a disastrous start to the season against Wednesday where he blazed a penalty over the bar, Kevin began to impress with his pace in a few more sub-appearances, earning himself a full start on the right against Norwich where he performed brilliantly. 7/10
12. Peter Sweeney – Still not played a league game for the Potters after sustaining an injury in a friendly against Newcastle Town in pre-season.
14. Toddi Gudjonsson – Confined to one first team start so far this season where a terrible performance perhaps shows why he hasn’t featured more in the first team. However, we have to reserve judgement as to be fair, even the likes of Chadwick and Brammer came out of the game with no credit perhaps meaning Toddi should be judged by any future league performances. 5/10
15. Ed de Goey – Simmo’s experienced understudy has seen very little first team action so far this season. Bid Ed did get his chance against Watford upon the sending off of ‘England’s number 1’ but looked very shakey and showed all the signs of a keeper past his best. 5/10
16. Bruce Dyer – Really a panic buy in pre-season when it looked as if we were struggling to get anyone else in, Bruce has appeared to struggle when given his chance in the Stoke first team and it wouldn’t be surprising if he moved on in the January transfer window. 5/10
17. Darel Russel – Out most for most of the season with injury and now facing an uphill battle trying to get himself back into his attacking midfield role currently occupied by the excellent Chadwick, with Scottish U-21 Paul Gallagher also apparently in front of him in the pecking order. 6/10
18. Junior – Not really made the impact we thought he’d have. The Belgian signed on loan from Anderlecht appears to have struggled to adapt to the English game. A stupid sending off against Leicester compounded a poor start to the season. Hopefully he’ll settle in soon and begin to show some of the talent Boskamp hailed him as having. 5/10
19. Luke Chadwick – Arrived on a 6-month loan deal from West Ham and has been simply superb for the potters. Quick and skilful going forward, willing and able to track-back all combined with an excellent attitude and high work-rate Potters fans will be keen to see his move made permanent. 9/10
20. Martin Kollar – Perhaps a little bit too inconsistent, the Czech u-21 has shown some fantastic touches and wonderful skill since his loan move from Anderlecht. A superb game against Norwich where he appeared to have upped his work rate earned him rave reviews and Potters fans will hope for more of this for the rest of his time with us. 8/10
21. John Halls - Oh dear. John has absolutely done himself no favours this season by refusing to sign a new deal and by subsequently doing himself no favours in a radio interview when he firmly placed the blame on Stoke City – a view not shared by many Stokies who believe Halls’ agent is to blame. A series of indifferent performances on the pitch plus an injury have added to Hall’s disastrous 2005-6 season at Stoke. 3/10
22. Lewis Buxton – Bought in to do a job for the injured/estranged John Halls. Apart from the Norwich game where Lewis was excellent, he appears to be struggling to adapt to the role, often getting caught out of position or beaten by pacey wingers. 5/10
23. Karl Henry – Not a bad start to the season by Karl. Looked calm and composed when replacing Junior in the city midfield. However he still needs to work on his creative play with many of his passes going backwards when forwards and wingers have been screaming out for that killer ball to be played. 6/10
24. Paul Gallagher – Recently signed on loan from Blackburn. In brief appearances Paul looks very good playing behind a target-man striker, having a wide range of passing and creative skills. 6/10
32. Gerry Taggart – Confined to a role on the bench, Gerry has attracted more attention for his ability off the pitch than on it. Manager Boskamp has been so impressed with his motivational skills that he is considering employing him as a coach when his contract with the Potters expires this summer. 6/10
M. Johan Boskamp – After being bought in from the Middle East in the summer, Johan Boskamp immediately endeared himself to the Stoke fans by his direct talking, his attacking style and his unique sense of humour and fashion style. Boskamp clearly has a plan for Stoke City, and despite mixed results from the first 7 games, the majority of Stoke fans now believe we are better off under Boskamp than Pulis. 8/10