A 4-1 defeat against Arsenal in their last game was a result that guaranteed a finish outside of the top 10 for the first time in Mark Hughes' tenure at Stoke. In fact, aside from his spell with Queens Park Rangers, when given a full season anywhere, he has never finished in the bottom half of the Premier League.
In that respect, on paper it would suggest that his latest campaign was somewhat of a blip. But with all things considered, the league table does not tell the whole story. For example, take last season's ninth-place finish, the third such in succession for the Potters but one that belies the final stages of that period.