These two Sheffield United players would make a huge difference to Stoke City as Tyrese Campbell laughs last Talking points from Bramall Lane as Stoke City were beaten by Sheffield United.
Stoke City were cursing missed chances but were still well beaten at Sheffield United. Here are the talking points from Bramall Lane.
Narcis Pelach has tried to be pretty consistent with his selection since arriving at Stoke last month. This time, at the end of the first of three back-to-back three-game weeks, there were four changes and a shift in formation to 3-4-3 or what turned out to be more like a narrow 5-4-1. The one didn’t get much action in that first half.
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This was always going to be a difficult fixture. No away team has won at Bramall Lane so far this season and Sheffield United, galvanised by moving tributes to George Baldock and appreciating the importance of getting back to winning ways after two defeats, always looked like they could find another gear or two if needed.
But Stoke, whether playing a back three, four or five, need to find a way to stop the opposition of any calibre taking so many shots. It was 28 against Bristol City and 19 here. Viktor Johansson is in excellent form but they have to give him a chance.
There were pantomime boos for Campbell when his name was read out over the Tannoy. To be fair, he got booed by Stoke fans sometimes when he was in a Stoke shirt.
It seemed inevitable to the doomsayers that this would be the day that he got his first Sheffield United goal and so it proved, allowed to shift the ball onto his left foot when anyone and everyone who has watched or played with him over the last few years knows the key is to make him use his right. Or his head. Easier said than done sometimes perhaps.
Campbell said in an interview for the match programme: “I absolutely loved my time at Stoke. I made my professional debut for them and really grew from a boy to a man there in all honesty. I left Man City purely for footballing reasons, looking at the bigger picture, and Stoke at the time just offered me the best pathway to try to realise my potential. I had the chance to be a first team player from a young age doing what I love to do and over the years I’d like to think we were a good match for each other. I’ll always be grateful for the opportunity and the time that was invested into making me a better player.
“Sometimes though, the time comes when you just need a fresh start, a change of surroundings and a new challenge and when a club like the Blades show interest in yo.u it makes you realise that you’ve been doing something right over the years.”
Two players who would make a big difference to Stoke
Harry Souttar and Vini Souza had strange seasons last year. Souttar barely played as Leicester won promotion, Souza was booed by his own supporters as Sheffield United were emphatically relegated from the Premier League.
But they were two who made perhaps the biggest difference when you weighed up these two teams. Souttar could take command from centre-half, reading the game, dominating in the air and winning interceptions. Souza took responsibility in midfield, making sure that Stoke’s danger man Million Manhoef in particular didn’t get a chance to run with the ball. Every time Manhoef took a touch he had Souza breathing down his neck and he just couldn’t get away.
Ashley Phillips is tasked with proving he can be that Souttar-like player in the back line.
Pelach, who picked him for the first time here, said: “I’m ok with what he did. He looked solid and Junior came into the team as well and he was quite ok. Phillips looked solid and it was a step in the right direction because I haven’t had the chance to see him. He had concussion when I first came five weeks ago, then he went away with England (under-20s) so I didn’t have the time to coach him
