Stoke City opened up their pre-season game schedule yesterday as we faced League Two side Macclesfield Town in a behind closed doors match at Clayton Wood.
Manager Gary Rowett watched on as his side took a 5-2 victory on the day with goals coming from Benik Afobe, Maxim Choupo-Moting, Peter Crouch, Saido Berahino and Tyrese Campbell and whilst he knew it was too early to really draw a proper opinion, he was pleased with a lot of what he saw – especially the clinical nature of the attackers on the day.
Hell has frozen over if Berahino has scored ????
— Inappropriate truth (@andyhunt0903) July 11, 2018
Speaking to the Official Website he explained that he was looking at what the players weren’t doing as opposed to what they were doing but that was just him being a ‘typical negative manager’ and seeking improvements.
“But, that being said, all things considered, given the work we have been doing, the double sessions each day, I thought they all acquitted themselves pretty well.”
Robert Huth would be a good addition to the squad a great pity he was ever allowed to leave
— MobilityProducts4u (@mobprods4u) July 10, 2018
The biggest pleasure from the day was, of course, the five goals and seeing attackers get off the mark so quickly given the boost of confidence that it will give them moving forward – especially Berahino!
The delight for Rowett really was in seeing the options available to him through our frontline and fans can see that better for themselves at the Bescot Stadium.
Stoke City First-Half:
Haugaard, Edwards, Shawcross, Huth, Pieters, Fletcher, Imbula, Verlinden, Allen, Bojan, Afobe.
Stoke City Second-Half:
Federici, Bauer, Souttar, Martins Indi, Tymon, Adam, Afellay, Campbell, Berahino, Choupo-Moting, Crouch.
Goals – Afobe (7), Choupo-Moting (47), Crouch (59), Berahino (76), Campbell (90).
Rowett also confirmed that fans would see him likely rotate teams in the game against Walsall this weekend as he gets minutes into as many as possible to bring people on.
