Mike Pejic, a Stoke City legend, is in charge of Steven Schumacher’s team construction and hiring decisions.
Stoke City’s transfer planning for this season clearly started in earnest last January or February, with Steven Schumacher conducting a detailed review of the squad. Some decisions were quick, such as letting go of Dwight Gayle after two substitute appearances and reducing Wesley’s playing time after Christmas. Ciaran Clark didn’t play at all post-Christmas. However, Schumacher took a more systematic approach, assessing players in different systems and marking those he deemed fit to keep, move on, or reconsider.
He was evaluating areas that needed strengthening, particularly in central midfield and centre-forward positions, while identifying players already within the squad, like Junior Tchamadeu, whom he could trust and develop. Although there was a period of inconsistent results, it allowed Schumacher to think long-term and make decisions on underperforming players.
This led to significant changes in the squad, as seen in the contrast between the 3-0 loss to Norwich in March and the recent match against Plymouth. Only Ben Wilmot and Bae Junho, from the starting XI in that Norwich game, featured in the Plymouth match, with Wilmot being the only one who also played in the February defeat to Coventry.
Schumacher was given the backing to make these decisions, leading to the departure of key players like Tyrese Campbell, Lewis Baker, Josh Laurent, Daniel Johnson, and Ryan Mmaee. In their place, new recruits have been brought in to raise the team’s standards. The recruitment process focused not just on stats, like signing a striker with 15 goals, but on finding players that fit the specific style of play Schumacher wanted to implement.
The squad now appears balanced and more suited to the way Schumacher wants them to play. With the transfer window closed, the focus shifts back to the training ground for the next phase of development.
It’s important not to underestimate the significance of this period. Drawing a parallel with Pep Guardiola’s coaching style, Schumacher must not only have the right players in place but also ensure they fully understand their roles. Guardiola doesn’t just bring in talented players; he continuously teaches and coaches them, shaping them into a cohesive unit that makes intelligent decisions within the team’s structure. Schumacher, in a similar vein, must drill his squad until they understand and execute the plan instinctively.
Stoke’s signing of Tom Cannon, a forward known for making smart, fast runs in behind defenders, reflects this approach. Teams need a striker like Cannon who can exploit space in the final third, while the rest of the team plays forward-thinking football, looking to break the lines and create scoring opportunities. This is one of the three key principles of attacking play: getting in behind, stretching the opposition wide, and exploiting the gaps through the middle.
Now, with all the pieces in place, the challenge for Schumacher and his coaching staff is to ensure everyone understands their roles and can bring the team’s vision to life. The focus will be on key instructions like “Create space to exploit space!” and “Quick play in the final third!” to ensure Stoke starts scoring goals, keeping clean sheets, and winning matches. It’s been a long road to reach this point, and it will require even more effort to make sure the team reaches its full potential.