http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...ng-record/article-3207523-detail/article.html ROBERT Huth is on course to break an all-time goal-scoring record for Stoke City. The German has hit three in his last three appearances to reach seven league and cup goals for the season so far. Not only does that make Huth the top-scoring centre-half in the Premier League, it also gives him a minimum 14 further fixtures to bag the three goals he needs to become the first defender in Stoke's history to hit 10 in a season. In fact, he might even end up laying claim to being the first Stoke defender to finish a campaign as the club's leading scorer. Huth's late double against Sunderland last Saturday leaves him neck-and-neck with Kenwyne Jones on seven goals for the season, while Jon Walters is one behind on six. Ricardo Fuller is lagging behind for once on a relatively modest three and now looks unlikely to finish leading scorer for a fifth successive season. Huth's collection is all the more remarkable because he doesn't take penalties, although he did claim a deflected free-kick in the 2-2 draw at Wigan. The rest of his efforts have understandably been the product of set pieces, while Saturday's 93rd-minute winner was nothing new after guiding home the clincher against Aston Villa in the very same minute back in September. High-scoring defenders are evidently a rarity at Stoke when you leaf through the record books. Denis Smith once scored eight in the 1971/72 season and George Berry eight in 1986/87. In more recent times, Danny Higginbotham claimed seven in 2006/07, while Ryan Shawcross and Leon Cort both benefited from Rory Delap's throws to net eight apiece in the 2007/08 promotion campaign. Smith, who concedes that not many of his eight goals in 71/72 were smashed in from 35 yards, isn't too surprised to see the likes of Huth banging in the goals this term. "The deliveries into the box are good for a start, as we saw against Sunderland on Saturday," he says. "Then there's the movement from everybody else in a crowded area. "The opposition aren't just picking up one because they've also got to worry about John Carew, Ryan Shawcross, Danny Higginbotham and Jon Walters, if he's playing. "If you attack the ball bravely, as Huth does, you've always got a chance of getting something on the end of it. "And if you work as hard on set-pieces as Stoke clearly do, then there's always a great chance of them paying off like they are. "That said, getting 10 goals as a defender would be rare. I remember John MacPhail getting 18 in one season for me at Sunderland, but 10 of those were penalties. "As for myself, the majority of mine were Huth-type goals ââ¬â a toe-poke here and a header there ââ¬â because set-pieces are the only time you get into the opposition penalty area." Historians may quibble with Huth's claim to fame in the scoring stakes, however, as the record books show that one Tom Holford scored 15 goals in league and cup fixtures way back in the 1907/08 season. The controversy arises because Holford was recognised chiefly as a wing-half, that now defunct position in what was called the "W" formation until its demise in the late 50s and early 60s. The wing-half essentially played in front of a solitary centre-half and would support his colleague round the sides. He was a kind of holding midfielder in today's terms and therefore wasn't the out-and-out defender we recognise in Huth. For that reason, we reckon the record is there for the big German's taking. http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...snia-snub/article-3207246-detail/article.html STOKE goalkeeper Asmir Begovic is in hot water with the Bosnia national team after missing last night's international friendly against Mexico in the U.S. city of Atlanta. City's 23-year-old number one has been accused by his national coach, Safet Susic, of putting club before country for a second time since joining the Potters. Despite initially threatening Stoke and Begovic with sanctions after he missed a clash with Slovakia last November, the keeper was eventually let off after protesting he was too ill with flu to travel. But now Susic is warning again there will be repercussions after Begovic, pictured below, chose to missing Bosnia's latest game. The keeper is understood to have told Susic he needed to focus on keeping his first-team place at Stoke rather than travelling to America, but the coach responded by saying: "After this we will initiate proceedings against him. "I could not believe it when he cancelled against the Slovaks, but I forgive him because he is an outstanding goalkeeper. "But we will do everything that needs to be done when it comes to this case. After doing this for a second time, it will not be overlooked again." Begovic was unavailable for comment last night, but Bosnia's loss is Stoke's gain. Begovic would have faced a minimum 12-hour flight back to England before landing some time tomorrow ahead of Saturday's Premier League trip to Birmingham. Stoke boss Tony Pulis has frequently criticised the timing of friendlies and the rigorous travelling often involved, but has stopped short of pressuring players into pulling out of internationals. Stoke fans would applaud a decision to put their club before country after seeing Begovic oust Thomas Sorensen and impressively establish himself as the club's undisputed number one during a run of 16 successive Premier League games.
How the hell can a country take action against a player because he doesn't want to play for them. Personally I am right behind him....he feels it's more important to safeguard his place in the team...clean sheet this saturday Bego??.
I can't blame Begovic for not wanting to go. Why have a midweek friendly that far away? Congrats to Huth, keep em coming. To be fair to Ricardo he has not played as many games as usual.
