Alex Neil provides Stoke City transfer update ahead of January windowStoke City manager Alex Neil has admitted that the club will have certain plans in place ahead of the January transfer window opening but stresses that the four Championship fixtures between now and the new year are the immediate focus. After being appointed Potters boss on the penultimate day of the summer transfer window, January represents the first full window for Stoke with Neil in charge.
Stoke City team news as Alex Neil names starting line-up to face Bristol CityAlex Neil has named his Stoke City line-up to face Bristol City this afternoon ahead of their clash at Ashton Gate. The Potters will be eager to right the wrongs from their first fixture back in the Championship following the mid-season break for the World Cup, after squandering their 2-1 lead against Cardiff City to draw 2-2 last weekend. Neil cited poor decision making from the match officials as well as a certain level of naivety from his players as the reason behind the dropped points.
You're going to Old Trafford, you don't just get to show your players, you get to show yourselves as a club. We had 7, 000 there and they were loud and we'll need the same support against Birmingham now. " Midfielder Jack Cork, who knows Burnley through and through given his several years at the club, also recognised the togetherness around Turf Moor right now. “They’ve been incredible all season [the fans], " said Cork. "I don’t know what it is - if it’s the excitement about the club at the minute - but it just feels like a real good place, a good club to be part of at the minute. In the club, the staff, the players and the fans, it’s just a real positive atmosphere. You can tell from games like today, we bring 7, 500.
The small matter of hosting the current league leaders, Burnley, is the final fixture on New Year's Eve Eve before deals can be done two days later. READ MORE: Neil and Stoke handed January transfer windfall after World Cup decision READ MORE: Stoke receive EFL update on Netflix-style TV plans and Saturday blackout "The January transfer window feels so close, " Neil admitted at his pre-match press conference, "but also a million miles away at the moment because I’ve got crucial games between now and then, and they are, obviously, the focus. "But, as always, what you've got, is the immediate term, which is tomorrow, and then you've got a little bit longer term, which is the January window.
I thought it was going to go straight in, but when it hit the bar I thought it was going to come out. Luckily the spin took it back in. ” Stoke were 16 unbeaten at home at the time and fresh from beating Liverpool 3-1 on Boxing Day. However it had looked like they would lose that record, trailing 3-1 at the break after some uncharacteristically sloppy defending without suspended defenders Ryan Shawcross and Geoff Cameron. Cameron Jerome smashes in an equaliser against Southampton But Matthew Upson got Stoke back in it just after the hour mark before the hosts survived Steven Nzonzi’s 71st-minute dismissal to equalise through Jerome’s wonder-strike.
So, I would be telling porkies if I said that we weren’t looking at the January window in terms of what could potentially happen. "The difficulty you've got with that, always, is that you're not in control of all the dynamics. There are different factors that are going to come into account, and that's something that we’ll just need to adjust to as it goes, but we'll have certain sort of plans in place, independent of how things pan out, we’ll be prepared, whatever the outcome looks like. " While no players can arrive yet, the season's pause did see two members of staff start work at the club.
Jerome said: “It was a fantastic game and in the second half we came fighting back. We were a little bit disappointed to be 3-1 down at half-time. Southampton fully deserved their lead, but I thought the manner in which we conceded our goals was so sloppy and the gaffer will be disappointed with that – and the boys at the back will be as well. “But we had great team spirit and we fought back and fought hard, even with 10 men. The crowd here was amazing again. They were right behind the boys.
Bristol City vs Stoke City LIVE: Championship result, final score and reaction Burnley were relegated from the top tier in 2022 but return refreshed and
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READ MORE: Stoke City boss reveals what he wants to add to squad READ MORE: Shotton still baffled by Pulis decision over Pennant “There had been one before that Pete could have laid off to me. I was kind of angry with him and that’s why I smashed it so hard, ” he said at the time. “I knew it had a chance.
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Kompany and Cork salute Burnley faithful after Man United backingBurnley's backing at Old Trafford on Wednesday night left Vincent Kompany proud on the touchline. His side were ultimately knocked out of the Carabao Cup by Manchester United, with Christian Eriksen breaking the deadlock for the Red Devils before Marcus Rashford netted the killer second. But Kompany took plenty of positives away from Manchester, on a night of learning for his group of players. The Belgian was left with a tinge of regret that Burnley failed to find the back of the net, but the overriding emotion was one of pride given the seven thousand away end sell-out.
Only Dujon Sterling arrived on a season-long loan from Chelsea during transfer deadline day on September 1, meaning that the first permanent signing of the Scotsman's spell may finally arrive in the weeks to come. There are, though, a quartet of Stoke matches before any business can be done. Cardiff City coming to the Potteries ends an almost month-long absence of Championship football for Neil's side before back-to-back away trips to face Bristol City and Rotherham United on either side of Christmas Day.
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And with another maximum following at Stoke on December 30th, Kompany knows how big of a role the fans will play over the festive period. "It was great, " said Kompany. "I think the lads wanted to make them proud. I wish we could've given them a goal, but in the end we've been living through so many games this season where this is still a stand-out game.
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Man United sell-out underlines Burnley togetherness instilled by Vincent Kompany And with another maximum following at Stoke on December 30th,
Midfielder Jack Cork, who knows Burnley through and through given
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Anger at Peter Crouch inspired Cameron Jerome's great Stoke City goalCameron Jerome can’t have hit many strikes sweeter or harder than when he caught the ball in the 90th minute against Southampton on this day 10 years ago. The groundsmen are on alert to put an extra few pegs in the nets when Jerome returned to the bet365 Stadium with Luton earlier this season as they remembered one of the best goals at this ground since it opened 25 years ago. Stoke were losing 3-2 when Jerome ran onto a knock down from Peter Crouch and sent the ball hurtling in off the bar from 30 yards out. Some game and some equaliser from the forward, who was hopping mad when he hit it.
” Jerome had joined Stoke a year previously, scoring on his debut in the Europa League at Dynamo Kyev. He scored against Maccabi Tel Aviv too and ended up with 12 goals over his full two seasons in the first team squad. He went on to join Crystal Palace on loan and then Norwich, winding his way to Luton via Derby, Goztepe and MK Dons. What's your favourite Stoke City goal? Have your say in the comments section READ NEXT Four moments which Stoke City must hope show turning of tide Stoke City in desperate need of being shaped as a side and club Stoke City boss picks out change in Liam Delap's game after two goals in two games Stoke City hero Jon Walters appointed technical director of two clubs Latest Stoke City news and transfer gossip Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.
Stoke City team news as Alex Neil names starting line-up to face Bristol City Stoke City boss Alex Neil during the Sky Bet Championship match against
Cardiff City at the bet365 Stadium. (Image: Nathan
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Read More: 'The difference' - every word from Alex Neil's pre-Bristol City press conference Read More: Bristol City set for double boost vs Stoke City but star striker is ruled out However, there is no time to dwell on previous disappointments as he prepares his side for an important fixture within the second division of English football, with both Stoke and Bristol battling it out in the bottom half of the table.
On Martin, Neil added that: "Ricky will oversee the departments, which means he’s not necessarily one that's going to be in the dugout. He's there to basically make sure that the club, in terms of all the different sort of departments that we've got, are functioning as best they possibly can. he'll oversee those departments, so that'll be his key role. " So it's just the one new face in the dugout when Cardiff come to the city on Saturday afternoon. A few more could be present on the pitch in two months' time, though, should those plans fall into place, and then dynamics dictate that those external factors Neil alludes to work in Stoke's favour rather than against them in 2023. What are you expecting from Stoke during January? Have your say in the comments... Harry Souttar tipped for 'bright future' amid Stoke transfer claims O'Neill 'delighted' as former Stoke boss returns to management Former Stoke number two 'among the favourites' for League One manager job Tyrese Campbell makes Stoke vow and gives fitness update after Nottingham Forest boost The latest Stoke City news in one place Story SavedYou can find this story in My Bookmarks.
Ricky Martin became the club's technical director, while Jonathan Gould came in as the club's goalkeeper coach to replace the recently-departed David Rouse in that role. Both were familiar with Neil before arriving in the city, Gould having worked with the Stoke boss previously at Preston North End and Martin was at Norwich City during the manager's first foray into football management in England. "I feel as if you want to add a little bit of diversity to your backroom team, " Neil said when asked about the arrival of Gould. "John's got really good experience. He's been about the block, he's played at a good level, he's coached at a good level, and I think that his experience and wisdom would be really beneficial for the team.
Preston North End player ratings vs West Brom: Ryan Lowe's men well beaten The rest of the half turned into a possession drill for Albion, who saw the
points home with utmost ease. North End move on to Stoke City