PORTSMOUTH, ENGLAND - OCTOBER 25: Ike Ugbo of Sheffield Wednesday in action during the Sky Bet Championship match between Portsmouth FC and Sheffield Wednesday FC at Fratton Park on October 25, 2024 in Portsmouth, England. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)
Hard truth for Stoke City to swallow as EFL rumours throw another hurdle in the way.
Talking points from Stoke City’s defeat to Burnley amid reports of new EFL draft proposals to change financial fair play rules.
Stoke City gave Burnley an intriguing first-half tactical battle before being pretty much pushed aside in the second as they fell to a 2-0 defeat. Here are the talking points from the bet365 Stadium.
A hard truth to swallow
Stoke surprised Burnley with their set-up and were undoubtedly hard working as they tried to find a rare way through the visitors’ defence through the opening 45 minutes.
Only Leeds United (17) have managed more shots against Burnley this season but Stoke (14) couldn’t get that vital first goal. When it came to the crunch, Burnley had defenders who were in positions to make key blocks, saves or tackles.
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And when the first goal went to Burnley, it felt like everyone in the stadium on and off the pitch knew that a team that had only conceded six goals in their opening 17 games wasn’t going to concede two in 38 minutes.
That cruise to the finish line from that point was a painful reminder of the gulf between where Stoke are to Burnley, let alone to where they really want to be. No one can really say they didn’t already know it before kick-off but no one needed it sticking down their throats like this, complete with a former captain gormlessly dancing in front of the away end as if he had scored the winner at a World Cup final.
Narcis Pelach is significantly evolving Stoke’s approach with the belief that more time on the training ground, plus a piece or three of canny transfer business, can gradually close the gap.
The trouble is that the gap between the Premier League and the rest is gradually getting bigger at the same time and the rumoured first draft of new EFL spending rules are more focused on limiting investment in non-parachute clubs rather than addressing that chasm, despite EFL chairman Rick Parry previously referring to it as the biggest problem in English football.
The proposal believed to be on the table is that only 85 per cent of revenue can be spent on wages transfers and agent fees while owners will be further restricted in terms of what money they can put into the pot. It is only the first draft and hopefully serious people will get involved before any more damage is done.
