‘Oakley-boothe needs a couple of pints of ale and a chippy tea, but he can help to unlock defences...’
STOKE City have a weekend off because of the international break - but that means it’s the ideal time to assess the Potters’ start.
This week’s fans’ panel of ADRIAN BUTTERS, from Stone; JON OWEN, from Seabridge; and KEVIN BOOTH, from Waterhouses, offer their thoughts...
WHAT ARE YOUR THOUGHTS ON STOKE’S START TO
THE SEASON? Adrian Butters: A bit of a curate’s egg I suppose. Five points from four games is probably three under par, but quarter-finals of the Carabao is way above expectations.
There’s no doubt in my mind that we’re better away from home. I didn’t see the Millwall game, but a point there should never be underestimated and given the presence of Mr Rowett, it was never going to be a thriller.
Preston was frightening until the sending off as we looked completely outpaced, but then once we got time and space we could have won comfortably.
At home we seem to have been sussed out with both Bristol City, who looked a good side, and Birmingham allowing us to have plenty of the ball and then defending deep.
Unless Vokes plays, and even then it has to be accurate, we pose insufficient threat to be able to launch it into the box, so look a little devoid of ideas.
We need some flair and pace to get behind sides or break them down.
Despite all that against Villa, we looked a different side, the first half link up play and speed of movement and thought were exceptional with Thompson and Tymon especially prominent.
By all accounts we were good value at Wolves too.
Jon Owen: I think average would be the best word I could find.
Nothing disastrous, like last season’s horrendous start under Nathan Jones which saw us gain just two points from the opening 10 games, but nothing to shout about from the rooftops either.
Away from home, four points from the Millwall and Preston games, two of the tougher away games this season you would imagine, is a very satisfactory return.
At home, however, just the one point from Bristol City and Birmingham games is disappointing, although it’s the performances which have concerned me the most.
We have started both games so slowly which has set the tone for the afternoon, and the team that played so often on the front foot and scored goals for fun under MON at the bet365 last season has not reappeared, yet.
There’s time, and once the manager has tweaked his system, I think we will be better, I just hope that happens sooner rather than later.
Our lack of goals remains a concern so far.
I can’t, of course, ignore our run into the quarter-finals of the Carabao Cup either.
Two excellent performances against Wolves and Villa, and Harry Souttar and Nathan Collins looking so impressive in defence has been good to see, and very promising.
Kevin Booth: The euphoria of impressive cup wins at Wolves and Aston Villa has been punctuated by stuttering home performances against Bristol City and Birmingham.
Which tells me something the realists amongst us have known for some time. We are still very much a work in progress.
There was never going to be any silver bullet. No miracle solution to a footballing conundrum that landed Messrs Rowett and Jones with their P45s.
The problems we have - not least a bloated playing staff which has placed Michael O’neill in a transfer straightjacket - were too deep-seated to turn around overnight. It was - and still is - a long haul back to the big time.
Encouragingly, the green shoots are there as evidenced by a four-point return from difficult trips to Millwall and PNE, games we’d probably have lost under previous regimes.
And there’s much to admire about the way some of the younger players are starting to force their way into the manager’s thoughts, particularly Harry Souttar who, at 21, looks a real prospect.
But patience will be needed this year, and probably next. There’ll be more of the highs of nights like those recently enjoyed at Molineux and Villa Park.
But expect them to be tempered with the blips of Bristol and Birmingham, too, as we search for a level of consistency that will eventually lead us out of this most demanding of divisions.
HOW DO YOU ASSESS STOKE’S TRANSFER BUSINESS? Adrian Butters:
Ok, on the basis that, in a departure from previous windows, they got it done early and seemed to give the manager time to work with them.
FFP must have played a part in Bruno’s departure and in some ways that’s a shame as from what I saw against Villa, he would be a good fit for the left centre-half of three.
I like Mikel, the new Salif Diao! He should have the class to ensure we get enough possession and makes time for himself. Jury’s out still on Fox, Fletcher and Brown.
Fletcher is too similar to what we already have and Brown’s exuberance seems to be a little at the expense of control and composure. Time will tell.
The fact Tom Ince, Wimmer and Bauer haven’t gone speaks volumes as to how bad the deals have been previously.
In Bauer’s case it’s a shame as he may just be a fit for the 3-5-2.
As for poor Jack Butland, he needs to go, he’s a good keeper and his time will come again just not for us. Wouldn’t surprise me to see him on loan at Liverpool and do well while Allison is injured.
Jon Owen: At the end of last season, I said I’d like to see us buy a left-back, a defensive midfielder, pace on the wing and a striker suitable to playing the lone frontman role.
You could argue we’ve ticked all those boxes in acquiring Morgan Fox, John Obi-mikel, Jacob Brown and Steven Fletcher.
I was a bit surprised, with those four signing especially, that we’ve stuck with three at the back, but I do trust the manager to get it right.
His stubbornness reminds me a
little bit of Tony Pulis – and him being in charge certainly did us no harm!
So I’ve been pleased with the signings, but I’m not sure we’ve seen anywhere near the best of them yet - or the system gets the very best out of them.
Kevin Booth: As mentioned, the big squad Michael O’neill inherited and the constraints of Financial Fair Play have the club in a transfer stranglehold. There appears little or no room for manoeuvre.
What business we have done
- under these most difficult of circumstances - has understandably been steady rather than spectacular. John Obi Mikel and Steven Fletcher - though both 33 - could prove astute short-term signings that cost the club nothing, while at the other end of the age range 22-year-old Jacob Brown has arrived from Barnsley hopefully as the pacey young forward we’ve all been screaming for.
For me that leaves us needing another right-back to challenge Tommy Smith, a Barry Bannan
type creative midfielder and, of course, that 20 goals a season striker everyone seeks.
Let’s not forget, though, that even if nothing further develops between now and deadline day - outgoing players are surely the key here - there’s still Joe Allen and Thibaud Verlinden to return once injury-free.
That in itself could be like two news signings if both can hit the ground running.
IN YOUR VIEW, WHAT IS STOKE’S BEST TEAM AND FORMATION? Adrian Butters:
I’m not sure and suspect I’m in pretty good company as I think Michael O’neill isn’t either.
Away I’d stick to 3-5-2, but at home 4-3-3. Mikel allows fullbacks to get forward in both systems and provides protection for the centre-halves.
So Tymon plays on the left in both systems. I’m assuming Allen and Shawcross are injured. I’m glad Gregory is back in favour, his work rate is not far behind Jon Walters and that brings others into play.
Oakley-boothe needs a couple of pints of Bass and a chippy tea now and again to build him up, but there’s definitely a player there with the ability to unlock defences. We need to pick as many goal scorers as we can and have pace up front, so Campbell must start.
My home team (4-3-3): Davies, Smith, Souttar, Chester, Tymon, Clucas, Mikel, Oakley-boothe,
Campbell, Gregory, Powell.
My away team (3-5-2): Davies, Collins, Souttar, Chester, Smith, Clucas, Mikel, Powell, Tymon, Campbell, Gregory.
Jon Owen: Looking at the players we have, I still think 4-2-3-1 would be the formation I’d go for.
I think it gets the best out of our key players – Sam Clucas and Nick Powell – and with the summer signings fitting into that formation too.
Like I’ve said before – MON keeping us up against so many odds last season has certainly given him lots of credit in the bank.
Playing 5-3-2/3-5-2 has given us a solid look, which I know he was keen to implement due to our poor away form last season.
At home, though, I think we’ve got the players to cause teams problems and I’d sacrifice one of the defenders for an attacking player.
I’d go: Davies, Smith, Souttar, Collins, Fox, Mikel, Clucas, Powell, Campbell, Mcclean, Fletcher. Kevin Booth: Personally, based on what the manager has at his disposal, I tend to think 3-5-2 suits us best.
Under the system we have looked solid defensively, as demonstrated by the number of clean sheets chalked up in all competitions this season.
The issue seems to be at the other end of the pitch where our goals per game ratio is just as miserly.
Getting enough players into the box and finishing chances when they come along are our weak suit.
As I say, we’re a work in progress and this is an area of our game I’m sure Michael O’neill is only too aware of.
Can I come and watch please? It’s just not the same watching streams from empty grounds and the FA must work 24/7 on finding a solution.
The clubs with less fans can probably segregate more easily and our friends in Burslem could easily fit all their fans in with an abundance of social distance.
It’s more difficult when there’s 20,000, but the red and white idea was sound thinking.
It could still work with sensible policing and stewarding. We as fans just need to play our part by behaving responsibly, obeying seating arrangements and wearing masks if necessary.
No ale at half-time or beforehand. I’d even forego the pies if it meant taking my seat again, it’ll be worth it!
Jon Owen: Not going to the game due to the pandemic means this season has felt a little bit flat – harder to get interested in and watching a game on a tablet isn’t anywhere near as exciting. It all feels very underwhelming.
I miss the walk to the game, seeing the friendly faces of the people who sit near us, time with my dad and a chance to support the manager and players.
We’ve not given MON a big cheer for keeping us up yet either, which he completely deserves!
I actually thought Stoke’s 11 game offer was the best idea around, and credit to the club and supporters’ council for that.
It was an innovative, fair and well put together idea – but one which it looks like won’t need to be used.
I just hope we can get back into the stadiums and football grounds again soon, as long as it’s safe to do so. It’s clear that without fans, football really lacks the excitement it needs.
Kevin Booth: Like all supporters, I can’t wait for the COVID restrictions to be lifted and fans allowed back into grounds.
Trouble is, it doesn’t look like happening any time soon.
Clubs up and down the country must be haemorrhaging money. In many cases, it threatens to be terminal. You sense the next Macclesfield Town is only a matter of weeks away.
Yet, at elite level the game’s still awash with cash. It’s estimated, for instance, that Gareth Bale’s loan move to Spurs will set the London club back £20m. That’s £20m for a player who won’t even be theirs at the end of the season.
The distribution of wealth within the game concerns me, particularly at times like this.
I hear players and managers repeatedly refer to the “football family”. If there is such a thing, it’s time the well-heeled gave their poorer relatives a look in.
Before it’s too late.