Former West Ham United captain Matthew Upson is delighted with his move to Stoke City.

He admits that it was the search for stability after a chaotic last year with the Hammers that persuaded him to buy into Stoke boss Tony Pulis's master plan.

So far he has only seen evidence to support that decision, in stark contrast to his recent West Ham experience.

"There's not a lot I can look back on in a positive nature over the last year," said Upson, 32, who made his debut against Thun last week.

"People will say on paper that the West Ham squad was better than what they had here last season.

"But what makes football so interesting and intriguing to everyone is that it's not always about quality players, is it? Talent is maybe about 15 to 20 per cent in a team. The rest of it is all the other areas: discipline, organisation, commitment, spirit.

"Stoke proved this with the success they have had. Was the 80 per cent missing (at West Ham)? Clearly something was missing or the club wouldn't have got relegated."