Football Season Guide

Another turbulent season with little stability for Stoke eventually ended in survival. Steven Schumacher was sacked after just five league games, which seemed a strange decision given the club paid compensation to lure him away from Plymouth the previous winter. Even more baffling was the appointment of Narcís Pèlach, who had no experience of being a head coach at a prominent club, and it came as little surprise when he was dismissed after winning just 3 of his 19 games in charge. The club then opted for a much safer pair of hands in Mark Robins who had built a lasting legacy at Coventry, taking them from League Two to the brink of the Premier League, but even he struggled at times to steady the ship. The experienced coach has since revealed his first few months were challenging because of how many “hand grenades” were thrown his way. The Potters were ultimately able to clinch their safety on the final day of another season they’ll want to put behind them quickly. Stoke have made some shrewd signings in the transfer market. Left-back Aaron Cresswell arrives with a decade of Premier League experience under his belt at West Ham whilst centre-back Maksym Talovierov joins after an impressive spell at Plymouth. Both will play in front of Viktor Johansson who was one of the most impressive goalkeepers in the Championship last season. Sorba Thomas provides some much-needed flair to the attack, but the Potters are still missing a proven striker at this level. Losing top scorer Tom Cannon in January was likely one of the “hand grenades” Robins was referring to and summer signing Róbert Boženík hasn’t been particularly prolific in his career so far, whilst Divin Mubama is an unproven prospect. Midfield also looks an area that needs strengthening after the departure of Wouter Burger and Jordan Thompson.