Junho provides glimpse of Stoke future after quickly becoming a favourite with the supporters...
THE history books will show that Stoke City have come to the end of another season in the bottom half of the Championship, a sixth in a row, but that only tells half the story. The 2023/24 season saw an overhaul in the playing squad, a mid-season change in manager and technical director, a descent into a relegation scramble and a fight to safety.
Here is the first of a two-part run through of the 35 players used in the Championship by Alex Neil and Steven Schumacher on the way to a 17th-place finish.
LEWIS BAKER (12 starts, 8 sub - 4 winning starts; 2 goals, 0 assists, 4 clean sheets)
Demoted as captain by Neil last summer and future might have been up in the air except for needing knee surgery in preseason.
Returned in December and started some key games under Schumacher, adding a goal threat from midfield to a team that was really struggling to score. Outstanding free-kick at Rotherham the obvious highlight. Fewer appearances in run-in and only year left on contract. Out of gas or out of favour? Seems at a crossroads ...... 5.5/10
JACK BONHAM (14 starts, 0 sub - 2 winning starts; 5 clean sheets)
Got the emergency call again between Mark Travers and Daniel Iversen and superb late one-on-one save earned a crucial point in Schumacher’s first match in charge at home against Millwall.
That’s 55 starts in three seasons for a player who had arrived as supposed third choice. Seems like a popular member of the goalkeeper’s union ................................... 6/10
JACOB BROWN (1 start, 0 sub - 1 winning start; 1 goal, 0 assists, 0 clean sheets)
A star turn in a 4-1 opening day win over Rotherham before he was whisked away to the Premier League by newly-promoted Luton Town.
Stoke have missed the drive he brought to the forward line ..................................... N/A
WOUTER BURGER (31 starts, 8 sub - 7 winning starts; 3 goals, 4 assists, 8 clean sheets)
An encouraging first season in England which he will see as an important development chapter in his career.
Moved around midfield roles and probably at his most effective when he’s directing traffic and things can flow through him next to a holding player. Will want to change more games in his second season plus cut out the silly moments that saw him clock up 11 yellow cards ...................................... 7/10
TYRESE CAMPBELL (14 starts, 9 sub - 4 winning starts; 3 goals, 1 assist, 3 clean sheets)
From being booed in March to a standing ovation in May as he leaves with best wishes.
Final four games leading the line were a reminder of his potential and he will need to harness that aggression and hunger to make an impact wherever he plays next season.
Just never really got going for the first eight months of the season, partly due to injuries, partly due to not having a run of games and partly he has to take responsibility too.
Crucial and beautifully-taken winner at Southampton ......................................... 5.5/10
CHIQUINHO (1 start, 2 sub - 0 winning starts; 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 clean sheets)
Remember him? Winger arrived on loan from Wolves in late July, didn’t particularly look up for it and ended up playing back in Portugal by the end of August ...............