AN exclusive look at what is going on within the Potters training camp out here in the United States of America...
(Local time is 5 hours behind BST)
19.15: Needless to say, most of the media want to talk to Crouchy, but Andy Wilkinson is another requested due to his friendship with Chris Birchall, who is now with Columbus Crew.
19.08: Now it's time to face the media, a very informal session of interviews at the side of the training pitch. Martin Spinks from the Sentinel and Graeme Bryce from the Sun, who has flown down from Chicago where Aston Villa, are both warmly greeted by the manager.
18.48: After much emphasis on fitness for the majority, it's down to some ball work as thoughts turn to the game 24 hours later for the final part of the session.
18.00: The Columbus Crew training ground is some distance out of town, but it's not long before the squad are into their first training session of the trip, and it's tough, incredibly tough.
17.45: The sun has burnt off the cloud cover and it's incredibly hot and humid as the players board the coach.
17.30: As the players begin to gather in the air-conditioned lobby of the hotel, one step outside offers an insight into what is to come.
17.00: The Manager and members of his coaching staff head off to the Obetz Training Complex to prepare for the forthcoming session ahead the players' arrival.
14.35: All is quiet, but preparation work continues and combatting the heat is clearly one of the key objectives in terms of rehydration.
14.00: After lunch, it's off to their rooms for the players to get some well-earned rest before the evening training session.
13:35: Just working on the Jamie Ness video for all of you Stoke City Player subscribers. Hope you like the new website. It is taking time to load through the servers to everybody out there, but we are convinced that you will all be pleased with the final product.
13:08: Phil Greig has snapped some fantastic images of the lads out and about in the City! We will publish them in a gallery for tomorrow morning!
12:55: Lunch has been served; and prawns, salmon, chicken, potatoes and pasta were all on the menu. It's pretty quiet around the hotel right now, but we are still working to bring you the best coverage of the Potters training camp out here in the US.
12:28: Just had a chat with Jamie Ness for the website, so look out for that on Stoke City Player later today, well early tomorrow for you guys back in the UK. My colleague Nick is putting together a written piece, so keep your eyes peeled for that.
12:09: The players and coaching staff have just arrived back in the hotel following their one-hour walk. There will be lunch serve shortly, then the lads will be back off to their rooms for more rest ahead of the 6pm session.
11:15: The lads are starting to gather together downstairs ready for their walk around the City in around fifteen minutes. From there, it will be a spot of lunch and then further rest ahead of the training session across the City at 6pm tonight. The manager will also hold his press conference at this time, so be sure to log on late this evening to hear his thoughts on all things Stoke City.
10:55: Just had a little wander outside, and it is very humid out there, with small drops of rain beginning to fall. The staff and locals here have been very welcoming to us all, and even at the airport yesterday there were many of youngsters asking for pictures with the lads, and despite their obvious tiredness, they posed for a lot of photos and penned several sutographs.
10:40: Mark O'Connor and Adrian Pennock re-ignited their table tennis rivalary, with O'Connor reckoning that now he is 'European' champions, given his 'victory' in Switzerland, he now wants to beat Pennock to become the best in the world. We will see how that develops over the coming week and a half.
10:36: Assistant Manager Dave Kemp has been writing the schedule for the two days up on the board in the dining area, and he was doing his best Tony Hart impressions as he conducted that task. His attention to detail was quite incredible, using two different colour pens to give the itinerary a thoroughly professional look.
10:35: Myself and Phil have just wandered downstairs for breakfast, and the management were in there putting the plans in place for the few days we are spending here in Columbus.
10:01: There will be a little walk for the lads to loosen off at around 11:30am this morning. Our official Photographer Phil Greig will be out with them so log back on later today, or early tomorrow, for an exclusive picture gallery.
09:42: Temperatures out here in Columbus, Ohio, are currently at 76 degrees, but the forecast is showing that today's high will be 92 degrees, with a 50 percent chance of thunderstorms. That does look pretty likely given the clouds which are currently hangining above us.
09:37: I would imagine the vast majority of the squad made the most of the opportunity of having something of a lie in, giving the long journey yesterday.
09:23: A scattering of the travelling party were out and about relatively early taking in the hotel's surroundings, before enjoying a spot of breakfast down in the Judicial Room.
09:02: We finally arrived at our final destination at around half past midnight, bringing an end to a near 20-hour long journey which began at the Clayton Wood Training Ground at 10am (UK time) yesterday morning.
09:01: Well, after such a long day of travelling yesterday, the lads have been given the morning off to recharge their batteries ahead of the first training session here in Columbus later this evening.