Nathan needs senior service
NATHAN JONES admits he needs to quickly win the confidence of Stoke’s senior players to support his revolution.
Jones, who succeeded the sacked Gary Rowett last week, saw his reign with the Potters get off to a losing start at Brentford.
But he believes that even gnarled veterans will soon buy into his vision.
Stoke, relegated from the Premier League last season, still boast star names such as Peter Crouch, Ryan Shawcross, Ashley Williams and Joe Allen.
“You have to change things gradually, you can’t have wholesale changes immediately or try to run before you can walk,” said Jones.
“We are a work in progress with a good group who want to learn. There is work to do or I wouldn’t be here, something is not quite 100 per cent. But we’ll get there.
“The senior players can be important in a dressing room and only your work and how you affect them can win their trust. If your work is good, you talk to them and build those relationships and they will respond to that.”
Jones arrived in the Potteries after an impressive spell in charge of Luton, transforming them from League Two strugglers to promotion-chasers in League One. Stoke winger Tom Ince believes the early signs are positive, despite this setback leaving the team still eight points off the play-offs.
He said: “The boss has only been in a couple of days and wants a different style of play.
“But he has already brought a buzz back around the place. The lads feel there is more freedom now.
“The boss wants aggression, people being brave on the ball and taking risks, and maybe that is something we haven’t been used to for a while. It is a change but one in the right direction, the players are buying into it.”
Stoke were swamped in the first 20 minutes with wing-backs Rico Henry and Henrik Dalsgaard raiding in the space left by Jones’s famed tight diamond formation.
An own-goal from Shawcross and a sweet strike from Said Benrahma put them two up before a fine goal from Benik Afobe got Stoke back into the game.
The highlight for Brentford, unbeaten in six, came in the 54th minute with a first goal for the club for Henry. It was a huge moment for the 21-yearold, whose time at Griffin Park has been hit by serious shoulder and knee injuries. He said: “To be honest I thought I was going to get a nosebleed I was that high up the pitch. I saw the space, skipped round the defender and swung the right foot I don’t usually use. Luckily it worked.
“It really meant a lot to me – I just didn’t know how to celebrate.
“Their diamond shape meant there was a lot of space for me and Henrik at wing-back.
“It was tough getting back from injury after a year out, but I feel back to 100 per cent now.”
BRENTFORD (3-4-3): Bentley; Jeanvier, Konsa, Barbet; Dalsgaard, Sawyers, Mokotjo, Henry; Benrahma (Canos 78), Maupay, Watkins (Ogbene 89). Goals: Shawcross 7 og, Benrahma 17, Henry 54. STOKE (4-4-2): Butland; Edwards, Shawcross, Williams, Pieters; Woods (McClean 68), Allen, Clucas, Ince (Crouch 82); Berahino (Etebo 45), Afobe. Booked: Edwards, Allen. Goal: Afobe 23. Referee: T Robinson (West Sussex).