The Potters have been in the second division for some time, and they have failed to launch a genuine promotion drive since being demoted from the Premier League.
The arrival of Alex Neil a few games into the season last year marked the beginning of the club overhauling its ways with the goal of climbing the table.
However, that has yet to materialise, as the team spent much of last season in the bottom half, and so far this season has been the same.
Neil received backing from the club’s owners throughout the transfer window, but nothing has connected on the field, with the team currently lying in 20th position with seven points after eight games.
Their most recent game was a loss.
Hull strengthened their unexpected play-off hopes, while Stoke disappointed and frustrated their home supporters.
It was a close game until the half-hour mark, when Hull gained control of the game in less than two minutes.
Aaron Connolly put them ahead following a deflection from Michael Rose, and Adam Traore finished comfortably from 10 yards out two minutes later.
The rest of the game saw Stoke under pressure to turn the game around, but the away team was in command and outplayed their opponents.
Regan Slater scored from long range following a deflection to give the Tigers a commanding victory. Andre Vidigal pulled one back, but it wasn’t enough as the Potters suffered their sixth league defeat of the season.
Stoke were many people’s dark horses to win the Championship this season at the start of the season.
They brought in a lot of new players and spent a lot of money, indicating that Neil had completely rebuilt the squad he inherited last season.
However, it has had little effect on the team’s performance, and considering what they accomplished in the summer window, Stoke should not be fifth from bottom and two points above the relegation zone.
So far in their eight Championship games, they’ve won two and lost two at the Bet365 Stadium, averaging 1.50 points per game.
The Potters have yet to win a game away from home, drawing one and losing the other three. As a result, their points per game on the road are almost nothing, at 0.25.
While other teams have scored the same amount of goals as Stoke, they appear to be a side that is afraid to move forward, and when they do, they are at a loss for ideas. One thing that has changed under Neil is that they prefer to have more ball possession, yet they are a team that dominates the ball but lacks a cutting edge at the top end of the game.
What will be troubling is that they are allowing goals, with them averaging just 13% for a clean sheet thus far and yet to pick up one on the road.
The figures are troubling, and it appears that things will worsen before they improve.
But you have to question how long Neil has to attempt to change things.
The fans’ dissatisfaction following the game against Hull was not good, and you have to ask if Stoke should act now before another season is squandered in the bottom half of the standings.
Archie Grey, a teenage midfielder, started the club’s first seven league games of the season, with new head coach Daniel Farke giving him the opportunity to shine alongside new signing Ethan Ampadu in the engine room.
Grey has already piqued the eye of the Premier League, which is unexpected given how at ease he has shown in the English second tier.
Crystal Palace have been monitoring Grey for a long at youth level and for England, according to Alan Nixon through Patreon, but his ascent into the United first-team has only heightened the Eagles’ desire to sign the 17-year-old.
Nixon argues that Leeds may be forced to sell if they do not gain promotion at the conclusion of the 2023-24 season, implying that it is more likely to be a signing for the 2024-25 season rather than the following January transfer window.
In terms of Gray’s contract, Leeds will be relatively relaxed for the time being.
He was on scholarship for the majority of the 2022-23 season, but not long after turning 17, Grey signed a full-time deal with the Whites, despite FA regulations saying that you must be at least that age to become a professional.
Grey signed a new contract with Leeds a few days after his birthday, which will extend until the summer of 2025, according to the club’s official website.
However, if he does not extend his deal at Elland Road before next summer, he will only have one year remaining on his contract, which might be concerning if United does not instantly regain promotion to the Premier League.
Several of Palace’s midfield alternatives for deeper duties are now in their late twenties, including Will Hughes and Jefferson Lerma, as well as Jeffrey Schlupp, who is now 30.
There are younger possibilities, such as Cheick Doucoure and Naouirou Ahamada, but their long-term scouting of Adam Wharton implies that another young player for their engine room is a priority in the next year.
Whilst Wharton has impressed for Blackburn, Grey is much younger and has stepped into a Leeds midfield with a lot of expectation and has looked pretty comfortable thus far, however he was rested by Daniel Farke this weekend against Watford.
However, despite Palace’s ambition to recruit Grey due to his tremendous potential, it is doubtful that they would do so until Leeds stay in the Championship next season – and even that may not be enough.
Grey has a long history of playing for the club, and the midfielder is sure to want to establish himself, and consistent Championship action might catapult him to superstardom in a few years.
