Stoke City

Stoke City are interested in a move to sign Manchester United defender Will Fish this summer, according to a report that has emerged.

The Red Devils centre-back, who is currently on loan at Hibernian, is also being monitored by Ipswich Town, Middlesbrough, Sheffield United, Hull City, Sunderland and Blackburn Rovers.

The Scottish Premiership side are keen to buy the 21-year-old on a permanent basis, but that is currently looking like a difficult task to complete. (HITC, external)

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Ahead of Stoke City's upcoming away game vs Cardiff City on Saturday, Steven Schumacher has been speaking to BBC Radio Stoke's Matt Sandoz at his pre-match press conference to discuss a variety of different topics.

On Ricky Martin's departure: "It's important for us to try and stay focused on our jobs and what's at hand. Ricky was a big part of what was going on here at Stoke and it's not nice for anyone to lose their job, but obviously that was the decision that's been made and we have to try and keep moving forward as best as we can."

His message to the team: "Be clinical with the chances that we're getting, we're getting into the final third a lot. We're creating opportunities that we're not making the most of so that's a bit of confidence, that's a bit of belief and a bit of quality. We need to add some quality where we can and then defensively we've got to concentrate and be committed to defending your goal."

On the positive signs he's seeing from the squad: "There isn't loads wrong with how we are actually playing. For me, that's what we can focus on. If the performances continue at a consistent level then the results will turn. I'm not losing sight of how I want the team to play, how the supporters want to watch their team play, and as long as we are committed, as long as we give it 100% effort like they did on Saturday, then the fans will appreciate that."

As Stoke City prepare to travel to Cardiff City this weekend, BBC Radio Stoke commentator Sohail Sahi has named the squad and formation that he would most like to see start Saturday's game in South Wales.

The Potters are in desperate need of three points to lift them away from the relegation zone, but is this the right team to lead them to victory?

What would be your best eleven? Let us know here.

• Stoke City are winless in their last five away league games against Cardiff City (D3 L2) since a 1-0 win in August 2007.

• In the Championship, five of the last six meetings between these two sides have ended as a draw – the other was a 2-1 victory for the Bluebirds in March 2022.

• Erol Bulut's team have lost their previous five league matches against fellow ‘City’ clubs, their worst run against City sides since suffering six defeats in a row between November 1994 and March 1995.

• Since the Championship 4-1 win over Rotherham United in August, the Potters have averaged just 0.8 goals in their 32 league games that have followed, scoring more than once in just one of their last 15 fixtures.

• Steven Schumacher's outfit could move up to 15th in the table with a win this weekend, dependent on the results of those around them. Cardiff are unlikely to climb any places with three points due to their current goal difference.

The Potters are set for some difficult upcoming fixtures against Cardiff City, Middlesbrough, Leeds United, Preston North End and Norwich City. We asked you to send in your predictions as to how many points the club will take from their next five games in the Championship.

Here are some of the responses that we received:

Jack: Stoke will be fortunate to get any more than 1 point from the next 5 matches. There's little evidence of teamwork and lack of a fighting spirit in the team selection each game. There are issues within the club that seem to be festering, no matter who the manager is...

Graeme: I can only see us getting maybe 5 points from these games. It's going to be scraping draws and getting the odd lucky win if we're going to stay up.

Jay: 1 point from the next 5 games... relegation looming I'm afraid.

William: 6 points - at most.

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Ahead of Saturday's trip to Wales, BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans has been speaking to Ben James from the 'View From The Ninian' podcast to discuss which opposition players could cause the biggest problem for Steven Schumacher's side.

"We've got Karlan Grant who's been really good, he's come in on loan from West Brom, he's really dangerous on the wings. It looks like Aaron Ramsey is going to be injured, he has a bit of history with you guys. I know you are probably looking forward to booing him.

"We've got Rubin Colwill who is a young Welsh international coming in the midfield who I think is a lovely footballer. If we can get him on the ball, I think he could cause you a lot of trouble. He just finds space where other players can't find space and he's always dangerous when he gets the ball so I'm hoping he causes you some trouble on Saturday."

When asked for his score prediction, he added: "I think we'll beat you. We are due a home win. It'll be tight, maybe 2-1, 2-0 at best but I think we'll get the three points."

You can discover more about the podcast here, external.

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Stoke City have sacked their Technical Director Ricky Martin, with former striker Jonathan Walters having taken over the role on an interim basis until further notice.

The Potters first appointed the 47-year-old back in November 2022, but he's failed to live up to expectations following his 24 new signings this season, including 19 last summer.

Speaking of his departure, John Coates said: "Ricky has worked tirelessly in his attempts to bring success to Stoke City, and I am appreciative of his hard work and dedication.

“With results on the field having fallen significantly short of our ambitions during the current season to date, we believe it is essential to take-on a new direction. We will run a full and robust recruitment process with immediate effect.

“Jonathan is ideally suited to the interim role and I’m thankful to him for stepping in to support Stoke City, a club I know is close to his heart, at this time.”

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Stoke City striker Ryan Mmaee is expected to be ruled out of action for three to four weeks after sustaining a new knee injury in the Premier League 2.

The Potters forward is believed to have picked up the problem while playing for the U21s having joined them as part of his disciplinary procedure.

Therefore, Steven Schumacher is set to have to wait even longer before reintroducing the 26-year-old back into the first-team fold. (Fraser Fletcher Gillan, external)

Stoke City have a huge few weeks ahead as they continue their fight to avoid getting relegated from the Championship to League One.

Potters fans will know that the home match vs Middlesbrough followed by a midweek trip to Leeds United will prove to be difficult back-to-back fixtures.

How many points do you think the club will be able to pick up from the next five games? Send us your predictions here.

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Stoke City are making the trip to face Cardiff City on Saturday, with a victory on the road desperately needed should they want to avoid relegation.

The Potters are only three points above the drop zone as it stands, but Steven Schumacher has high hopes that his players are capable of retaining their status in the Championship.

“It’s a big game but they all are. There are 13 games to go and loads of teams in the bottom half of the division in the same situation as we are. We’ve got to make sure that we’re ready to stand up for the fight and that’s what we keep asking the players to do. I know we’ve got the right characters in there to get the results we need.”

On whether the team need favours from other clubs to get them over the line, he added:

“No but that’s the reality of it, that’s what it is. Every week there will be teams who come up with a win here and there and there will be teams who lose throughout the bottom half. That’s what it’s like. We can’t focus on what anyone else is doing, we’ve got to focus on sorting out our own game and pick up points where possible.”

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Stoke City centre-back, Jaden Dixon, was part of the U21s side who secured a 4-3 victory over Brighton and Hove Albion in the Premier League 2 on Monday.

Potters legend, Ryan Shawcross, is a coach of the youth team, and the teenager told the club's official website how much he has appreciated the backing of the former captain.

“I feel as though I have improved following my arrival here, especially as a centre-back, the help of Ryan Shawcross has really benefitted me. He has been helping me a lot with my positioning, what I need to do in 'one-v-one' defensive situations, and I feel like those aspects of my game have continued to improve.

“Ryan has taught me a lot, especially when it comes to my game off the ball and out of possession. I also feel like I’m naturally more of a player who is comfortable on the ball, but he has really implemented those necessary traits off the ball into my game, which has added good balance.”

Stoke City supporter and host of the Potterlytics Podcast, George Weaver, has been speaking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans to share his thoughts on whether the club have enough in their squad to avoid relegation to League One.

"I think they are capable of getting a couple of wins here and a couple of draws there. I'm still on the confident-ish side that we've got enough to scrape some wins and stay up. I don't know if that's just blind hope or that's a bit of arrogance, but I get the feeling there's enough in the side to get some wins.

"I think that's going to be a big issue for the club if we do stay up. It's going to be a struggle to get the positivity in if those wins are like they were against QPR if we are scraping things together with the squad that we've got, with the ability that we've got. That's going to be difficult for people to get excited about next season because without Schumacher's positivity and the good vibes that he brought when he first came in, if that starts to disappear and we're just scraping together results, I think people are going to get a little bit annoyed a little bit quickly.

"I think my worry is that it's similar to what it's been for a few seasons now that I don't really think the club has a coherent direction. The results can get better, they can get worse. It's obviously going to annoy people on the pitch if it gets worse and rightly so, but I still get the feeling that the main thing the board want from the club is promotion or 'we'll be good', and I'm not necessarily sure there's much more depth in their view of what they want for the club than that."

Discover more about the podcast here, external.

Stoke City midfielder Wouter Burger is reportedly gaining attention from several unnamed clubs around Europe ahead of the summer transfer window.

The Potters star has scored three goals and provided the same number of assists in 30 appearances since joining from FC Basel in August 2023.

The Dutchman recently captained Steven Schumacher's side in the absence of Josh Laurent, with this being a situation to keep a close eye on over the coming months. (Fraser Fletcher Gillan, external)

As Stoke City prepare for a trip to South Wales to face Cardiff City at the weekend, BBC Radio Stoke commentator Sohail Sahi says the club's supporters have been brilliant for sticking with the team.

The Potters faithful have had little to cheer about over the last six years and are currently enduring a period where they've witnessed just three wins in the last three months.

Sahi said, "There is something very fragile about the players, I’m not saying the management because it was happening under Alex Neil. It’s the Stoke City players whether it’s home or away, when they go a goal down it seems like they haven’t got any fight in them to get back.

"I don’t know if that's a fragile state of mind or something else more concerning, whether they have got the desire and hunger, they should have. When you think about the support it’s unbelievable" he added.

"Steven Schumacher understands the Stoke City supporters and how big an advantage they can be for his side. I think they need to stick by the team whatever happens. I know it’s easy for me to say perched up high commentating on the game, but I think if Stoke City are to get themselves away from the bottom of the Championship they will need the support.

"Sometimes when managers are in a pickle they start asking for the fans support but Schumacher has understood the importance of Stoke City fans from day one. I think most supporters will agree with that."

How good have Stoke fans been? Leave your comments here.

You can listen to Stoke City home and away on BBC Radio Stoke 94.6fm.

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Stoke City academy coach Dave Hibbert says reaching the Under 17's Premier League cup semi-final is great for the development of the club's young players.

Stoke take on Wolves next week for a place in the final having already beaten the likes of Liverpool and Aston Villa to reach the last four.

Hibbert said: "We prioritised this competition at the start of the season, we want our players to experience these situations where they are playing in big games and against big teams as well, it's fantastic for their development.

"We knew we were never going to have a settled team with the size of the squad that we have got. Obviously we have a small under 21's group, so a lot of the u'18's and u'17's have been involved in that, but we prioritised this tournament where we tried to bring all those players together if we could.

"There has been a few situations where we haven't, but in the quarter-final we did and probably produced our best performance of the season. Which shows we have got some good young players that we have huge aspirations for moving forward, so it's great they are in this situation.

Hibbert is expecting 16-year-old Sol Sidibie to play a big part in the semi-final having spent much of the season training with Steven Schumacher's Championship squad.

"Sol has played in the first team so has played in bigger games than this but the other lads see him coming back down and it gives them a lift, and helps them because ultimately we want to put out the strongest team we possibly can."

Send us your thoughts on Stoke City's academy.

Phil - The quality that they bought in the summer wasn't what I consider really good players, they are at best average players. Whoever is responsible for the procurement of those there needs to be some serious sort of reviews being made within the club itself. Whether it is Ricky Martin or John Coates or whoever I don't know at the end of the day. The players that have been brought in are they better than the ones that have been shipped out? I've got to say I don't think they are, no where near. Schumacher has got a job and a half on his hands to get the best out of this group.

John V - Stoke have become a joke , teams must look forward to playing us ….. any league , any age if you can’t defend and can’t score you will go down. Simples.

Mark - The last two games we have seen an improvement. I think Schumacher is at the point where he knows who he can trust and I think the others have got to prove themselves.

Daniel - It's the same thing week in week out with Stoke unfortunately, the exact same thing over and over again. Rinse and repeat, we keep saying now that the performances have been slightly better but the team just hasn't got any fight.

What do you think? Leave your comments here.

Another home defeat for Stoke City at the weekend, but was their signs that your team can avoid relegation?

Lucas Yeomans is back with BBC Radio Stoke's Praise and Grumble. (Monday, 18.00 GMT)

Call Lucas to talk about what's happening at Stoke City on 0800 1218080

You can also send us your thoughts here.

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Following the 1-0 defeat to Coventry City the former Stoke City midfielder Glenn Whelan believes he's seen enough from the Potters to suggest they won't be relegated from the Championship this season:

"I've watched a lot of Championship football over the last few weeks and they definitely have enough to stay there, the frustrations and what you can see on the pitch, you can understand where they [the fans] are coming from because of what they've had.

"They've talked about recruitment and different managers but for me it's digging in and working hard. It's not giving teams opportunities and easy goals to concede by and lose one nil because that's what obviously kills them.

Whelan added, "They've definitely got enough to stay up this year and hopefully build from that but they're dead right [the fans] things need to change and you need to see it on the grass."

Do you agree? Click here to send us your thoughts.

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Stoke City's former defender, Philipp Wollscheid, spent two years at the club from 2015-2017, and was a regular feature of the first-team, making a total of 56 appearances.

The German was the matchday guest for the recent 1-0 home win over QPR, and he told BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans how special he found his spell with the Potters.

"I had several clubs and I'm proud and happy to have been part of those clubs and Stoke was the first step abroad. I always wanted to go abroad, especially England, was my full focus and eventually I could make it here and I'm very happy that they gave me the chance to be part of a Premiership team, even of a decent Premiership team. Also character wise for me as a human being, it's made me grow as a human, so I'm very grateful that I had the chance to play here."

When asked if he still checks the results of Steven Schumacher's side, he added: "Yes. I do that with all my former clubs. There are four, five in Germany, one in France and one in England so it's not that difficult to get an overview of how they are doing."