Verdict from inside Stoke City changing room amid confidence and realism
News from the bet365 Stadium as Stoke City try to find form that can propel side up the Championship table
Ben Pearson remains confident that Stoke City will come good as injured players return and new signings gel.
Pearson is one of 17 summer signings in a changing room which has then been almost overwhelmed by injuries during a spell when they have played seven games in 21 days. They have only picked up one win in the last eight in the Championship but key players are returning to fitness over the two-week international break and there is hope that a refreshed group can pick up the pace.
“I’ve said it for a few weeks, this team needs time to gel,” said Pearson. “It hasn’t helped with the amount of games we’ve had, which has meant a lack of training time so players can get used to the system – and obviously injuries haven’t helped either, against Leicester especially.
“At times we look like a good side. At other times we probably don’t. I think that’s what happens when you bring so many players into a side. We’ve got a breather now after so many games in the last three weeks. It’s time to refresh, mentally as well, before we go again.”
Pearson spent the second half of last season on loan at Stoke from Bournemouth and made the move permanent in July, one of a handful of experienced campaigners tasked with helping a small army of other new signings find their feet at the club and in the Championship.
He said: “It’s a breath of fresh air sometimes when new lads come in. It can take time to adapt, with language and everything else, but I’m enjoying being a senior player.
“It’s frustrating when you’re not picking up results and everyone is frustrated, not just me but the fans, players and staff. We have to keep going, don’t give in, trust the process and we’ll be fine.”
Stoke went into the break with a 2-0 defeat at league leaders Leicester but Pearson is adamant that parking the bus will not be a regular tactic.
“If you look since I’ve been at the club, the last 30 games we’ve played, that was the first time we’d done that,” he said. “It was a case of coming to the best team in the division, away from home, with a depleted squad. It’s difficult to start pressing them and when we did you could see the quality they had, they had a couple of opportunities.
“It’s a one off. It doesn’t happen often. The manager likes to be a high pressing team but it was one of the games when it was required. We knew we couldn’t concede early – but we conceded in the 25th minute which killed the game plan a little bit.”
