Steven Schumacher manager of Plymouth Argyle applauds the fans at full time looks dejected during the Sky Bet Championship match Coventry City vs Plymouth Argyle at Coventry Building Society Arena, Coventry, United Kingdom, 28th November 2023 (Photo by Stan Kasala/News Images)
Stoke City in big trouble as fingers point back to recruitment
Peter Smith looks at the big talking points from Stoke City’s 3-1 defeat at Blackburn Rovers as Steven Schumacher feels the heat
Stoke City have sunk into the Championship relegation soup with another run of four straight defeats, capped by a first-half horror show at Blackburn Rovers. In a classic six-pointer, Stoke came out of the game with none ands now face a tricky home game with Queens Park Rangers in midweek with no clear suggestion they will arrest a disturbing slide on home turf.
Stoke are in big trouble
Four defeats in a row, conceding 11 goals in their last three, has seen the mood change sharply at Stoke. Supporters aren’t sure where the next meaningful goal is coming from, never mind the next win. It is a dreadful time to be slipping into the wrong end of the table, with momentum going one way.
“It is but we knew that’s where we’re at,” said Steven Schumacher. “It’s why I was brought in because we were in a bit of trouble. As I said to the players
before, we had a five, six-game period when we looked really solid and committed to what we were trying to do. In the last couple of games we’ve just been too open on the transition and we keep getting punished for it. We have to make sure we get the basics right and get our heads on it for the next game because Wednesday night (against QPR) becomes even more important after a poor result and a poor 40-minute performance.”
Can Stoke defend with these players?
Stoke didn’t buy a centre-half in the January transfer window, nor a left-back, but they did look tough to beat in Schumacher’s first five games with this group of players.
