It’s been a week of upheaval at Stoke City, with Steven Schumacher sacked from his role at the helm at the bet365 Stadium to the shock of many.
Spaniard Narcis Pelach was swiftly appointed to his first managerial role having cut his teeth as a coach at the likes of Huddersfield Town and Norwich City, and he has been tasked with restoring a team which has been in freefall since returning to the second tier in 2018.
It was a difficult start to the 36-year-old’s tenure last night, with a 3-1 defeat to previously winless Hull City. Despite the score, it wasn’t all bad, with some positives to be drawn regardless of the result. Here’s three things we learnt from the game:
They Look More Creative And Flexible
Judging by this game only, there looks to be more of an onus on creativity from an attacking point of view, with players encouraged to express themselves. They recorded more take-ons and shot-creating actions than their opposition, with encouraging movement and a clear confidence instilled in the players when they have the ball.
This is likely to suit the squad’s young attacking players, though they still have a lot to learn. There were several chances to score in the first half, but wrong decisions were made, with the likes of Million Manhoef often choosing to shoot rather than pass. Despite the good signs when attacking, this is something that needs to change if Stoke want to be more clinical in front of gaol to punish teams.
Tactically, there’s signs of flexibility from Pelach, though he needs to be careful not to tinker too much. They set up in a conventional 4-2-3-1 to start the game and continued with that setup until Ben Wilmot’s opener. After the goal, they shifted formation based on what Hull were doing, with various different plans out of possession.
It was difficult at times to distinguish what they were trying to do, changing from a 4-4-2 to a 4-3-3 and back again at different points. While this flexibility is good, it’s something they need to work on as the change coincided with them falling apart, so they clearly need more time to familiarise themselves tactically.
Set Pieces Will Play A Big Part
While the club have evolved over recent years which looks set to continue under a manager who counts the likes of Marcelo Bielsa and Pep Guardiola as his inspirations, there are still signs of the old Stoke we all know and love. Direct, counter-attacking and physical at times. And finally, after way too long, potentially a team that fully utilise set pieces.
Finally, a Stoke side that look as though they can play but who will also utilise set-pieces like they did in the good old Tony Pulis days. It felt somewhat fitting that the first goal of the Pelach reign was from a corner – their first such goal since April; a record which seems wrong for a team like Stoke. Pelach has made clear throughout his career so far of the importance of set-pieces, and it’s clear he’s learnt from current West Bromwich Albion boss and former mentor Carlos Corberan. His fellow Spaniard has become known for his set-piece successes, and it’s believed Pelach was the mastermind behind them when they were at Huddersfield.
While their opposition aren’t exactly known for their ability to defend corners, they were a constant threat from dead-ball situations. This could mark a return to the most successful Stoke sides of the early 2010s, but it’s unlikely that they will be as solely reliant on set-pieces. Pelach has spoken of wanting a versatile team, and given his influences such as Bielsa and Guardiola, as well as his Spanish nationality, it looks as if they will be a European-style team with a sprinkling of English directness as well as classic Stoke tactics.
They Are A Work In Progress
It’s important to note that Pelach was never going to be able to fix this team’s issues overnight, and any fundamental change is going to take time. This is clearly a project appointment, with Pelach trusted by the Stoke hierarchy to be the man to lead them long-term.
While the first-half was good, the second half really highlighted the ‘work in progress’ nature of the squad and the fact they were a team getting to grips with a new, inexperienced manager. Hull came out of the blocks a different team at the start of the second half, with Tim Walter having changed his team by bringing on Liam Millar while Stoke kept the same side.
Millar had a real positive impact and was key to the Tigers’ comeback, with Stoke looking like they had the stuffing knocked out of them. You could tell this was a young team with a manager taking charge of his first ever game; they were unable to respond to the changes and adapt in-game, but this will likely change as squad and manager learn.
In addition to this, they tired quickly and never looked like getting back into the game after Kasey Palmer’s equaliser. The second and third goals came quickly after, resulting in the Potters looking dejected, having been second best in a second half where Hull simply outperformed them under fatigue. Again, as they progress, the squad will likely gain stamina under the new system and see out games better, which Pelach will drill into them. While this is a clear teething issue, they have time to iron it out and while it won’t be a quick fix, it’s something that can be easily worked on.
Ultimately, the signs are good and despite the result, there’s clear cause to be optimistic for Stoke fans going into the Pelach era. One loss isn’t the end of the world, and if the actual content of the game is anything to go by, Stoke could be on the up.
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