After Stoke City's third, consecutive win in the Europa League and their seventh from eight matches in the competition, people may be wondering whether Tony Pulis' side can go all the way. The Potters looked a dominant force against the star-studded Turkish giants, Besiktas, and even more so as they brushed aside Maccabi Tel-Aviv for the second time in a fortnight.
Group E was acknowledged as a very tough group, particularly due to over 11,000 miles of travelling that Stoke will have to endure. But, if anything, they seem to have risen to the challenge. Unlike many away matches played in the Premier League, Stoke looked comfortable against an inferior Israeli side, despite an impressive unbeaten home record for the hosts, stretching back to a 2004 defeat to Bayern Munich. Far from being daunted by the task put in front of them, Pulis has managed to create a Stoke side that can pass the ball around with fluidity rather than simply troubling the opposition with a constant barrage from set pieces. Indeed, only six of Stoke's fifteen European goals have come from set pieces.
Another testament to Pulis is that every player looks proud to pull on the shirt and the group dynamic is certainly there for all to see. Pulis' late business in the transfer market was perfect for a team potentially looking to go far in Europe. Nine changes were made from the team that lost to Newcastle United on the weekend, allowing players to rest, especially important in a very busy period for the Potters.
One thing that may be playing on Pulis' mind is the danger of a European run. Despite a significantly larger squad than he has previously had at his disposal, Pulis will still have to ensure that the results keep coming in domestically. For the majority of Stoke fans, the Europa League is a fantastic sideshow for the club, but retaining Premier League status has to be the top priority. Pulis constantly stated this during the Potters' magnificent cup run last season and one can be sure that he won't lose sight of the main aim.
Just like Fulham a few years ago, Stoke City could be the big surprise in the competition this year; watch this space.
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