Pelach's ideas will be 'brilliant' - Stoke's Gallagher

Sam Gallagher in action for Stoke CityImage source, Rex Features
Image caption,

Sam Gallagher scored 34 goals in 176 league games for Blackburn Rovers before joining Stoke City this summer

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Stoke City striker Sam Gallagher is adamant the different ideas and style of play brought to the club by new head coach Narcis Pelach will be "brilliant" when the squad fully adapt to them.

The Potters have experienced an unproductive start under their new Catalan head coach, losing to Hull City and Middlesbrough in their two games so far.

Pelach, 36, has only been in the job 12 days after replacing the sacked Steven Schumacher and has already said his task is to change the club's "culture, standards and play."

Part of that has been to make Stoke more comfortable in possession - particularly in their own half - and has operated with a 4-4-1-1 formation in the matches against Hull and Boro, rather than the 4-2-3-1 system mostly favoured by Schumacher.

"It's been an intense week, because we've been working on the new things and implement what the gaffer wants us to do," Gallagher told BBC Radio Stoke.

"We felt positive about it and felt like we're stepping in the right direction.

"These things take time and we're not going to get too disheartened by the results - we just need to keep going."

A summer signing by Schumacher from Blackburn, Gallagher missed the first game of the Pelach era after picking up an injury not long after joining.

Saturday's 2-0 defeat at the Riverside Stadium was his first appearance for the Potters as he came off the bench in the 55th minute. But he has seen enough from the club's new boss to be confident the club's fortunes will improve.

"This style of football doesn't happen overnight," Gallagher added.

"It's a system that's enjoyable to play in, it's high intensity, high pressure and when it all comes together it'll be brilliant.

"You only get a certain amount of days where you can really train properly without it taking too much our of our legs for Saturday.

"Hopefully the fans recognise we're trying to change the way we're going about the game. I'm sure it'll be positive in the long run."