‘There was a lot of frustration, done is galvanise the group in
ARE STOKE CITY NOW ON THE RIGHT PATH? BOSS GARY ROWETT HAS LOOKED BACK AT HOW THE POTTERS HAVE FARED SO FAR. MARTIN SPINKS REPORTS ...
GARY Rowett has taken a step back from the hurly burly of one game after another to assess Stoke City’s current position and concluded that his team is turning a corner.
He admits the process is slower than he and supporters want, but he believes his players are shedding the painful and dangerous legacy that comes with relegation.
In one of his frankest interviews on the subject of Stoke City, and his part in the revival process, Rowett has stated: “We have to remember this team got relegated with the most goals conceded, so you’re coming into a group where quite a few would have vocally said they didn’t see themselves in the Championship.
“It means you haven’t got that motivation right away at the start of the season.
“I think one or two of the lads have spoken about how hard it felt for the first six or seven games, mentally, after relegation, and so early season it was difficult to get that momentum.
“There was a lot of frustration around for everybody - for me, for fans, for everybody connected with the club - and I think what we’ve done now is settle down and brought in some good signings at this level, in my opinion.
“It’s difficult to stop that slide when you’re not winning games, confidence is fragile. We saw it early season, even in a lower division, but what we’ve done now is galvanise that group in terms of team spirit and team ethos.
“I think the players now understand that they’ve got to work hard, regardless of how much ability we think we have in the group.”
Rowett, who takes his team to Villa Park this weekend on the back of an eight-game unbeaten run, believes a decade in the Premier League can be quite a burden to bear once you are then relegated.
“I think it’s sometimes easier for the teams that have been up there (in the Premier League) for a season or two and then come down, rather than Stoke who’ve had a fantastic 10 years in the Premier League, because it’s not then easy to just flip it around to the Championship.
“We’ve had some fantastic players here, but maybe not players you’d associate with playing in the Championship.
“So those are some of the challenges and I take on board that that’s my job to change it and I’d have liked to have had a quicker impact, so I take responsibility for that, but what we are seeing now is the team starting to settle down a lot more and perform at a better level.”
He acknowledges the summer expenditure which strengthened his hand thanks to the acquisition of nine senior players, permanently and on loan, but which also increased everyone’s expectation in the process.
“I don’t think it’s any real pressure for me, but it raises expectation,” he continued.
“I think if you’re a team that comes down and doesn’t spend any money, then perhaps people see you in a different light.
“But the owners here have always said that Stoke City are in their heart and they want to do the very best for the club.
“I think you have to give them incredible credit for that.
“Of course, we’ve got money in for players also, but it was a big amount (to spend) for a Championship side and I’m sure they expect, I’m sure fans expect and I’m sure people outside expect the team to perform better, quicker.
“But I’ll say it again, it was a team that hadn’t won many games of football and at times early season you could see the fragile confidence.
“But I have to give the players credit because they have taken it all on board and they are starting to show more resolve, more confidence and I think we will go from strength to strength.
“Sometimes the challenge is to stop the slide and we are in a good position and are building the right way, but of course we are all
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