Stoke City

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Ahead of Stoke City's upcoming home game vs Coventry City, Steven Schumacher has been speaking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans, external at his pre-match press conference, previewing this weekend's opponents, both on and off the pitch.

On Coventry: "We know the strengths that Coventry have got. They are up towards the top end of the division, they are in the play-off mix and they are going to be a good team, they are going to be hard to stop, so yeah, it's going to take everybody to play at their best again like they did on Wednesday night."

Mark Robins: "In my opinion, they've got one of the best managers in the EFL. I think the job that Mark's done there over the last few years is brilliant. He's built the club slowly, he's been there for a good number of years now and has put together a team full of young players who are hungry, got loads of room for development and last season showed how strong they were."

Support of the fans: "Being on the front foot and trying to take the game to teams is dead important at home because the fans can get right behind it. To get that first goal [against QPR] was huge, and as I say, give the crowd a lift and then that in turn lifted the players and we managed to get some energy for the second half to see the game out."

With Stoke City preparing to face Coventry City on Saturday, we asked you to send in your score predictions and thoughts on how the game could pan out.

Here are some of the responses that we received:

Graham: Stoke will be tighter in defence with more of the no-nonsense defending we showed against QPR on Wednesday night, but again will struggle to find the net. Burger to hit a tap-in in the first half, but Coventry will equalise quickly then sneak the winner in the second half. A decent effort from Stoke but 2-1 to a decent Coventry side.

Steven: It's taken a while but I think he is starting to find his first 11. Burger, Baker, Junho and Ennis all start. Getting the right players around them will only improve the team.

Decker: Think we'll probably lose. Coventry go one up after 30 minutes and it's all over. Most of our players (apart from Burger) will want to get home ASAP and relax after such a demanding night.

Seth: We are not playing to our full extent and need to explore other ways to maximise goalscoring.

Rob: Stoke loss unfortunately. We'll go gung-ho again and lose 2-1.

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Stoke City striker Ryan Mmaee has recently been omitted from the first-team squad and is currently training with the U21s due to disciplinary reasons.

However, Football League World's club fan pundit, Ben Rowley, external, has admitted that he would like to see the 26-year-old force his way back into the senior fold at the Bet365 Stadium.

"Ryan Mmaee isn't the first player that we've had at Stoke with disciplinary issues. We've had so many of them in the past that it's derailed our season, so I'm not surprised Steven Schumacher is intent on stamping out any discontent in the squad straight away.

"However, it appears to have been addressed in a very different way, with Schumacher opening the door back up to Mmaee if he's able to get his head straight and able to work hard for the team. Mmaee himself has come out with a statement saying he wants to prove himself to Stoke fans and ultimately with Schumacher that he can right his wrongs and play well for Stoke.

"That's completely different and why I'm glad we haven't sold him in the January transfer window. That's because he is a good player and I think Stoke would play better with him in the team.

"He may just be getting used to the new demands of Schumacher, who he may not have been pleased with at first, but if he's willing to knuckle down and deliver what Schumacher wants, then it's only a boost for this Stoke team. I don't think it's through any bad will that this disciplinary issue has happened and let's hope they can now get over it."

• When Stoke and Coventry faced each other in the reverse fixture of this game back in November, the two sides played out a 0-0 draw at the Building Society Arena.

• The Potters are winless in their last 15 home league matches against fellow teams who also have ‘City’ in their name (D8 L7), since a 3-0 win over Swansea in February 2022.

• The Sky Blues have won three of their last four visits to the Bet365 Stadium, having drawn the other one rather than suffering defeat.

• Mark Robins' side are unbeaten in their previous nine league games against clubs beginning with S (W3 D6), since a 4-0 home defeat to the red and whites in April 2023.

• Stoke could move up to 15th in the table this weekend dependent on other results should they secure a win, while Coventry will be looking to remain in the play-offs and compete for promotion to the Premier League.

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Welcome to your new-look Stoke City page!

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Stoke City are set to welcome Coventry City to the Bet365 Stadium on Saturday, with Steven Schumacher looking to seal back-to-back wins at home.

The Potters could lift themselves even further away from the relegation zone with another three points this weekend, but can they secure a second consecutive victory?

Get involved by sending us your score predictions and thoughts ahead of the visit of Mark Robins' side using the online form below.

Have your say here!

Stoke City head coach Steven Schumacher is fighting to keep his job at the Bet365 Stadium, according to a fresh report that has emerged.

Wednesday's 1-0 victory over QPR is believed to have eased the pressure, but that hasn't stopped the board from looking at potential replacements.

Gareth Ainsworth is one name to have been shortlisted if the 39-year-old was to depart, but at this stage, there is no indication that will be the case. (Football Insider, external)

Image source, Stoke City

Stoke City secured a much-needed 1-0 win over Queens Park Rangers last night thanks to the only goal of the game from Wouter Burger, meaning that they are now six points clear of the Championship relegation zone.

The Potters midfielder told BBC Radio Stoke's Sohail Sahi during his post-match interview that it was a relief to finally get the club's first victory at the Bet365 Stadium since October.

"I said to myself before the game, I don't really care how we win but that we took the three points today was so important I think for everyone to gain some more confidence for the fans, for the team, for everyone it's a big moment. We all realise that and think it was football wise not our best game, but at this moment, where we are in the league, I think the three points was so important and everyone is really happy with that.

"When I got subbed out, I was speaking with a few guys that I can't even remember when we won our last home game, so yeah that's something for us to work on of course, but when you are 1-0 in front, then you just need to get it over the line and luckily we did this time and it gives a really good feeling of course.

"There's not so much to climb anymore I think this year, but we can only climb away from the relegation zone and that's the most important [thing] because this club needs to be here.

"I have positive feelings for the coming years so we just want to be as far as possible away from the relegation zone, get better football. I think we've showed it a few times but without results, and today was just a mentality like keep it nice, we need to win, but in the dressing room I would have used other words."

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With Stoke City having now spent six seasons in the Championship, former manager Tony Pulis has admitted that he feels sorry for the Coates family during a recent interview with TalkSPORT, due to the club so far failing to return to the Premier League.

“They were held back a little bit with fair play and finances in the previous two years, that was cleared and then they brought in 17 players, 17, 18, it might even be more than that. John [Coates] has backed the manager to bring in players, John and the director of football, whatever his name is. They’ve brought those players in, the manager and the sporting director.

“It must be difficult for the family at the moment. They are a very, very wealthy family obviously but they turn around, they give managers, time after time, the amount of money that they’ve got and the option and the chance to change it and it just doesn’t happen. It must be very frustrating.

When asked about a potential return, he added: “No, I’m not. We were down on the beach yesterday and it’s just wonderful. I love my sport, I went to Twickenham on Saturday, I watch football as much as I can and golf. I’ve had my go and it’s been absolutely fantastic and I appreciate everything football has done for me.”

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Stoke City have been handed a boost after learning that Josh Laurent has trained all week and is set to come back into contention for this evening's fixture vs Queens Park Rangers.

After missing Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Blackburn Rovers having taken a knock to his knee, Michael Rose is also expected to return to the fold for the visit of Marti Cifuentes' side.

Enda Stevens remains on schedule with his recovery, but he's not yet ready to be thrown into the action. There are no other fresh injuries to report from last weekend's game.

Stoke City supporters and hosts of the Every Step Along The Way Podcast, Mike and Dan, have been speaking to BBC Radio Stoke's Lucas Yeomans to share their thoughts on whether the club will be able to avoid relegation.

When asked whether there was enough fight in the squad to stay up, they said:

Mike: "I think there are certain individuals, yes. I'd say the likes of Ben Pearson, Baker, Burger. I think we've got the players to grind a couple of results out and I think that's all's it needs. We get three points [against QPR], I reckon we'll be able to pick up the odd couple of points to keep us up, but we've got enough characters in this team, just about, by the skin of our teeth I think."

Dan: "I do worry because we've not shown the fight so far. I do wonder whether we have to just stick at it and try and play our way out because that is the strength of the players we've got, and if we try to go to some sort of team that battles, it's not necessarily the strength of the side, so are we going to end up being even more trouble trying to do something that doesn't come natural to the players? We have been creating chances until the last two games, just stick at it. Maybe we might just have to play out is what I'm trying to get at basically."

Discover more about the podcast here, external.

Chloe Chadwick
BBC Sport Journalist

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Despite Stoke City currently struggling to pick up any positive results, especially at the Bet365 Stadium, Steven Schumacher has admitted that he and the team are far from deciding to give up the fight to retain their place in the Championship.

"Nobody wants to be in this position, so when we analysed the game on Monday, we spoke about it, we were honest with it and that's another important thing that everyone accepts responsibility, me included.

"We're honest with what we are trying to do because we all want the same thing, nobody wants to be in a relegation fight, nobody wants to be losing games on the spin and we want to try and get the home form right so how do we go about that? The attitude has been fine as we would expect. I think we've got players in there that want to do well so we'll see how we get on on Wednesday.

"I felt that there was enough quality in the team and in the squad to not be in this position but there's obviously stuff that's gone on previously at the club that hasn't been right otherwise I wouldn't be here. I knew it was going to be a big challenge, but as I've said before, it's a challenge that I accepted and a challenge that I thought I was ready for. I still believe that.

"This, for me, is going to be good development. I've never lost three games on the spin, never lost four games on the spin, so how do I manage? How do I behave? Do I throw the white towel in or do I get up and try and have a go at the next day? Try and be positive, try and tell the players look, this is what we need to do, can we figure it out how to get the next win? It's a challenge, it's not great to be in the position where we are but still enjoying it."

With Stoke City having lost their last four consecutive games in the Championship, Steven Schumacher will be hoping that his side can return to winning ways by gaining a much-needed three points against Queens Park Rangers tonight.

We asked you to send in your thoughts on the difficult situation that the club find themselves in at the moment, here are some of the responses that we received:

Chris: There is a massive disconnect between the players and the fans at the moment and SS is drowning in the inconsistency of the players. He needs to find a team that initially becomes hard to beat and try to grind out a few wins.

Harry: 25 new signings since the end of last season including 5 in the last few weeks! 8 changes on Saturday from the previous match! It’s hardly surprising they look like a group who’ve never played together. The Chairman has put his heart, soul and money into this club and is desperate for success but what sort of strategy is this?

David: Once again we have been let down by a total lack of ambition by the board. Rushed out and got another unproven manager that appears to have no respect from the players, as they don't seem to want to try? Why they didn't let Campbell go in the window is beyond me. He obviously does not want to be involved at Stoke. No wonder the fans are not happy.

Robin: Schumacher is a great appointment and has already set about dealing with off the pitch attitudes that Nathan Jones hinted at on his last visit with Luton. Show some pride on the pitch, work for the shirt and results will turn around. Keep it going SS during this challenging time.

Ahead of Stoke City's crucial home game against Queens Park Rangers, the Potters head coach has been having his say about the match and his players ability to bounce back from four defeats in a row:

On QPR: "They're playing really well I think they have been like that a couple of times this season, they hit little purple patches. Their forward players are really creative and are playing well. We need to be ready for it because we know it's not going to be an easy game anyway and they're coming into it with a bit of momentum and we're not."

On Team Selection: "I always try and pick a team for that game, it's important that if you are giving people opportunities and I'm asking people to train well then the standards have got to be good and that I back that up. If they do train well and I do feel that they are the right personnel for that game then they get an opportunity, especially when results aren't going for you. We have to try and find a formula that works and try and get players who are playing with confidence in the right games. If we have to make changes then that's what we do and if we don't feel it is necessary to make changes then we won't just do it for the sake of it, so everything we do is for a reason and sometimes it works for you and sometimes it doesn't."

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The Plymouth Argyle chairman Simon Hallett has been talking to the The Pilgrims Podcast , externalabout Steven Schumacher's decision to join Stoke City.

Schumacher left the Devon club for Stoke in December following the departure of Alex Neil.

Hallett said it was a disappointing time for him:

"I'm not saying I didn't feel betrayed you know, I think we'd been very good to Schuey, betrayed is a very strong word. Did I feel like I'd been let down, yeah.

"I'll be back on good terms with Schuey one day, I hope. I don't think he has any reason to be bitter towards me."

In regards to Schumacher's replacement at Home Park, Ian Foster, Hallet said: "I think Fozzy [Ian Foster] is on the path to being a great manager in the same way that Steven is on the path to being a great manager."

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

Stoke City head coach Steven Schumacher reacts to the Blackburn defeat and the frustration of the fans. Listen to the show here from 6pm.

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

Stoke City left the pitch to the chant of "You're not fit to wear the shirt" as fans voiced their frustrations following another Championship defeat.

The Potters lost 3-1 at Blackburn Rovers, a fourth straight defeat for Steven Schumacher's relegation threatened side.

Stoke have won just twice in their last 18 matches and players bore the brunt of the supporters anger as they went over to the away end at Ewood Park.

Head coach Steven Schumacher says he understands why fans are feeling angry:

"It's not easy at the moment we're not playing well we're not getting the results we need and the fans are getting on the lad's backs.

"I've said the fans have got every right to be disappointed and have a go at you because at the moment we don't look like a team."

Schumacher continued, "They're having a go and we're going to need to stand up and take it on the chin and show some character to respond."

What do you think? Send us your comments.

You can hear more on BBC Radio Stoke's Praise and Grumble from 6pm

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Stoke City goalkeeper Tommy Simkin has been with the club since the very start of his career, but he's only ever made one senior appearance.

Due to his limited amount of game time, the 19-year-old has had loan spells with the likes of AFC Fylde, Solihull Moors and Forest Green Rovers.

Now being back at the Bet365 Stadium, Technical Director Ricky Martin has opened up on the next steps for the teenager, both in the short and long term.

"When you are talking about academy graduates, he's an England youth goalkeeper coming through the ranks and someone we think of very highly so he will be part of our plans and he will be part of our succession planning of who we bring in and when we bring people in.

"We need to ensure there is a pathway and he's had some great loans this season, some great experiences and he's back with us now training with our first-team squad. He's with Steven and the first-team squad every day at the moment, and from my point of view, I've got to have one eye on the future as well."

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Stoke City have been handed a boost after learning that Million Manhoef is eligible to make his debut for the club against Blackburn Rovers after gaining international clearance.

Potters defender Junior Tchamadeu is also set to come back into contention after recovering from an illness following his return from the African Cup of Nations.

Steven Schumacher's usual captain, Josh Laurent, has resumed training, though this particular fixture is expected to come too soon for the midfielder. Enda Stevens remains on the sidelines and will be out for several more weeks.

Image source, BBC Radio Stoke

On Thursday, Stoke City held the Fans Forum at the Bet365 Stadium, with Head Coach Steven Schumacher, Technical Director Ricky Martin and Chairman John Coates on the panel.

The first question Coates was asked on the night was regarding why the club have made so many managerial changes since being relegated to the Championship, to which he responded:

"The first thing to address is we haven't done well enough. We've performed well below my expectation, our expectation, and that's been a thing of great personal regret for me. I feel it very much and I feel very badly and desperately want to change that. What I would like to say, during that period, the support we've had as a club and from the supporters and from yourselves has been excellent and the patience that's been shown during that tough period, I'm very grateful for.

"When you look at a manager or a head coach and you see them in a particular environment at another club and he's done well, you never quite know until you take that person and put them in that different environment as to how they are actually going to perform. There can be a number of things different in any different environment, expectation size, the way maybe people expect you to play, but the fact is, we've had a number of managers that haven't quite been successful. There are some reasons beyond their control for that.

"When we came down to the Championship, that was the exact year they changed the profit and sustainability rules in order to make any breach of those [rules], severe points deductions. You are just seeing the alarm that's setting off in the Premier League at the moment. That happened the year we got relegated and so we went from a business model of when we got to the Premier League we were putting a lot of money into the club every year in order to try and punch beyond our weight, punch beyond our economic resource as a club and that was highly successful for us.

"When they made that change and we were down in the Championship, we had to change that business model and we had to somehow get ourselves compliant with the rules, and that was tough. That has had an effect, but I would still have expected us to be better and I still expect more and it's upon me to look at every aspect of the club, whether that be off the pitch, whether that be recruitment, whether that be the academy, and we've just got to make sure we are doing everything better, and with that, we give Steven the tools with which to get successful and break that cycle."

What are your thoughts on the comments made by John Coates?

Have your say here.