Pete Smith reflects on Joselu’s journey to the Champions League final with Real Madrid, contrasting it with Maxim Choupo-Moting’s absence from the final with Bayern Munich. Additionally, Nathan Lowe is honored with an end-of-season award.
Critics aren’t being fair to Joselu when they judge his time at Stoke City. Despite not being the main player, his journey to the Champions League final with Real Madrid proves he’s far from a failure. He wasn’t always starting games at Stoke, but he still contributed. Joselu was part of important wins, like against Everton and Norwich, and played in almost half of the league matches, though mostly as a substitute.
Stoke tried to replace him with other players like Saido Berahino and Wilfried Bony, but those choices didn’t work out either. Joselu even impressed during loan spells and returned for pre-season with strong performances. Mark Hughes, Stoke’s manager at the time, acknowledged Joselu’s style, describing him as a clever player who knew how to score goals cleanly.
Despite his contributions, Stoke decided to sell Joselu to Newcastle United. However, this move didn’t stop his journey. He continued to excel, becoming one of La Liga’s top scorers and earning a place in big matches. Meanwhile, Stoke brought in players like Jese Rodriguez and Maxim Choupo-Moting.
In other news, Nathan Lowe, a young player at Stoke, has been recognized for his community work. Additionally, Stoke City Women’s team is optimistic about their future despite finishing fifth in their division. They aim to improve and potentially get promoted next season. Finally, the club commemorates various historical events and player birthdays throughout the week.