Ahead of Stoke's visit to Pride Park, we caught up with Ben Rowley the founder of the YYY-Files about Stoke and their season so far!
How's Stoke season going? What's the story of the season so far?
We’re doing really well! Pushing for the top six promotion places was certainly a target but to actually be sniffing around there at this stage of the season is really pleasing. To be in the quarter finals of the League Cup is also a great achievement. We started the season with plenty of injuries and plenty more have followed in the first quarter of the season. Michael O’Neill has done well to blood a lot of our youth players into the team and still reach the lofty heights that we’re aiming for.
What's the expectations of the season? Promotion? Playoff push?
As mentioned, the ultimate target has to be promotion. We’ve had a great squad since we got relegated from the Premier League and now we’ve finally got a manager who looks like he can take us there. Considering the last couple of seasons, we’d have taken a season of stability in mid-table. But now we’ve had such a fantastic start in league and cup we should be aiming for the stretch goal.
Thoughts on Michael O'Neill? How is he doing this season? What style of play does he like the Potters to play?
Michael O’Neill is hand down the reason why we’re not a League 1 club right now. He’s done a magnificent job to turn around a hastily sinking ship. He’s sent Stoke back to basics: defending well, attacking quickly and getting the most out of his players wherever possible. He’ll vary his tactics for each team he comes across, which has its positives and negatives as you can imagine.
How is former Derby winger Tom Ince doing?
Tom Ince is looking nothing like the man who made the Championship Team of the Decade squad. He’s bombed out at Stoke and is only used when we absolutely need him. He’s been a failed move on the whole, only showing glimpses of what he’s capable of for whatever reason. He needs a new club, although he’ll be on decent money at Stoke so he may see no reason to shift in the near future.
How has Stoke acclimatized to life back in the Championship? ?
We found it tough initially. We had expectations (internal and external) of bouncing back to the top flight at the first time of asking. We almost fell to the third tier on the second time of asking and we’ve had to rethink our approach on and off the field. We look settled now, I think the culture amongst Stoke fans generally is to enjoy our time in this league rather than rush to get back out of it.
Who are the key men for Stoke?
A lot of them are sadly injured! Adam Davies was wonderful in goal until he suffered knee ligament damage, Tyrese Campbell is looking like one of the hottest forwards in the league until he pulled up with an apparent leg muscle strain against Cardiff. John Obi Mikel has had mixed reviews but has been an enforcer at the base of midfield. Harry Souttar has been a rock at the back all season until he was forced to self-isolate. Steven Fletcher has been one of the most promising Stoke strikers since Ricardo Fuller, although he’s been on the sidelines after colliding with an advertising hoarding. Someone’s gonna have to step up to fill their shoes.
Tyrese Campbell. What a player! What makes him so good?
Tyrese has such confidence for a twenty-year old. His athleticism is wonderful and has been utilised well out wide, rather than his natural berth as a centre forward. He’s never afraid to go for goal and he’s got such a cool head when taking on a defender and looking to finish. He’s still got plenty of room to improve, but he’s becoming one of Stoke’s key men and the League’s most exciting prospects.
Derby are currently bottom of the Championship, what are your thoughts about that?
Very surprised, admittedly! Although Stoke suffered from a similar syndrome last season and there’s plenty of time for Derby to turn it around. The key is finding that confidence after losing back-to-back-to-back. There’s little fans can do (especially right now) other than pray the players and management can find a way to turn it around. All hope isn’t lost, Derby fans, but it’s certainly going to require a colossal effort.
Fans are starting to come back into grounds around the country. How excited are you to potentially be headed back?
I’d love to be back in with a full-capacity crowd and have my Saturdays restored. Partially filled stadiums are far from ideal but I’m so glad people have the option to have that escape that, these days, they’re crying out for. Safety is paramount, but the sooner we can see, hear and absorb live football once again the better.
How do you see the game going? Where is this game going to be won and lost?
Stoke surely have to be going for the throat against a team who are bottom of the league. That said, we know how much motivation a team down in that position has the potential to have; and Stoke have more injured players than available players as I write this. If Stoke manage to haul a decent side together and turn up, then I expect them to win the game comfortably. Having said that, we’re capable of some awful defending at times, if Derby can capitalise on that then there’s an upset on the cards.
What is your score prediction?
I’m going with a 2-0 Stoke win. I’m hoping we’ll have Harry Souttar, Jordan Thompson and Steven Fletcher back to replace those that have recently found themselves on the injury table. If Stoke can find their feet with yet more enforced changes to their starting XI, I expect Stoke to continue their good work and push towards those all-important promotion places.
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