Stoke City’s final pre-season friendly in the buildup to life back in the Championship in 2018/19 ended in defeat to FC St.Pauli on Saturday afternoon.
A fairly even contest at the Millerntor-Stadion against our partner club saw them come out on top with more clinical finishing as second-half strikes from Mats Daehli and Jan-Marc Schneider put us to the sword and the game finished 2-0.
FT: Second half goals from Mats Daehli and substitute Jan-Marc Schneider see the Potters fall to a 2-0 defeat against partner club @fcstpauli_EN in the final pre-season friendly.
Our focus is now firmly fixed on the season opener against @LUFC next weekend.#SCFC 🔴⚪️
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) July 28, 2018
It was another worthy work out from a fitness point of view though and with chances of our own manager Gary Rowett will have been happy with some parts of our play, but he’ll certainly be looking for improvement as we go into next weekend’s opening clash against Leeds United.
Stoke:
Butland, Bauer, Shawcross, Martins Indi, Edwards, Fletcher (Adam 74), Ince (Choupo-Moting 74), Etebo, Allen (Crouch 74), McClean (Imbula 74), Berahino (Diouf 46).
Subs:
Haugaard, Federici, Tymon, Souttar, Sorensen, Cameron.
Speaking to the Official Website following the game as he spoke to the clubs’ media staff, our gaffer explained.
“I think in the first half there were some positives but not enough if I’m being honest. Look, I think it’s easy for me to start criticising the performance the week before the season start. This is about preparation and getting ourselves ready for next week. At the moment we have an awful lot of work to do and that’s what it is. I was disappointed and told the players that. If this was next week I would be really disappointed.”
📝 Manager seeking improvements following @fcstpauli_EN loss.
👉 https://t.co/X8xzC35Bil#SCFC 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/EgyhHorB2n
— Stoke City FC (@stokecity) July 28, 2018
Seeking the positives Rowett went on to say that it should serve as a nice ‘kick up the backside’ for the group in terms of the improvements we still need to make ahead of the season kicking off for real so it’s going to be a busy week in training now.
Rowett also said that although he felt close to what he thought would be his starting XI for the big kick-off following the midweek draw with Wolverhampton Wanderers, this game had made him doubt some things so places were still wide open for those who impress over the next few days.
Pre season means nothing. I’ll pass true opinion after 12 games. We will have an idea then.
— Neil Smith (@Neil_Smith78) July 28, 2018
It's preseason but anything is better than what Hughes and Lambert did to the club. Will judge it all when we get about 10 games or so in
— Liam Clowes (@LeekStokie) July 28, 2018
What's changed? Still can't score. No creativity. No cover at LB, Old, slow, crap players (Fletcher, Adam) still getting on the pitch. Diouf still can't score from 3 yards, still can't keep a clean sheet, STILL LOSING. "Massive Overhaul" just a myth? BIG transfer week needed!
— Stokie'73 ????⚪️????⚪️ (@potter2207) July 28, 2018
McClean was my Man Of The Match! Full of pace! Diouf needs to go though! Need to bring in somebody like Andre Gray or Troy Deeney if we want to score some goals! Diouf is way too much of a liability!
— Nathan .S. (@TheBrutalSniper) July 28, 2018
Defensively it was absolutely shambles and story of a life time diouf misses another 2 yards open goal , scares me thinking the season starts next week I just hope there’s a massive massive change because if there isn’t we are in for another rough long season
— Mrafrican77 (@MrAfr1can77) July 28, 2018
