Opinion: Managing Stoke City with ‘New Signing’, Trio at Crossroads and Decisions on Five Prospects
Mark Robins is overseeing his first pre-season at the helm of Stoke City, and while there’s excitement around the club’s transfer business so far, he has a complex to-do list as he shapes a squad ready to compete in the Championship.
It’s promising that the club’s first three additions this summer — Maksym Talovierov, Sorba Thomas and another incoming loanee still to be unveiled — look like they’ll significantly strengthen the starting XI. Talovierov brings height and composure to the backline, while Thomas adds Championship-proven quality and drive on the wing. These are signings made with purpose — the kind of players who can lift the team physically and technically.
But Robins’ most important “new signing” might not have arrived from the market. It could be **Josh Laurent**. The midfielder endured a frustrating 2024/25 season due to injuries and inconsistent form but remains one of the most experienced players in the squad. Fully fit, he offers bite, leadership and the ability to carry the ball through midfield — a skill set Stoke sorely missed last season. If Robins can get Laurent firing again, it could feel like a bonus addition.
Alongside that, there’s a trio of players standing at a career crossroads: **Mehdi Léris, Wouter Burger and Ryan Mmaee**. All arrived with big expectations last season but failed to consistently deliver. For Léris and Burger, adapting to the Championship’s intensity and inconsistency was perhaps underestimated, while Mmaee’s injury-hit campaign has left question marks over his long-term future at the club. Robins now has a decision to make — whether these are players he can reintegrate or ones to move on while they still hold market value.
Then comes the next generation. Five young prospects — **Emre Tezgel, Christy Groves, Nathan Lowe, Tom Sparrow and Josh Bickerton** — have been given a chance to impress in pre-season. For Tezgel and Lowe, the expectation is high. Tezgel has long been touted as a future star but must now make the step from youth prodigy to first-team contributor. Lowe’s raw talent and physicality give him a fighting chance, especially with attacking options still looking thin. Sparrow and Bickerton, meanwhile, could serve as valuable depth or benefit from strategic loans. Groves is perhaps the surprise package — a dynamic midfielder whose energy has caught the eye early in training.
Robins’ challenge is not only to blend the new with the old but to foster an environment where competition drives standards. The manager is known for building disciplined, energetic teams. If he can translate that to Stoke — while managing expectations and tightening a defence that leaked too many soft goals last season — then supporters have reason for cautious optimism.
The rebuild isn’t complete. Stoke still need to reinforce at full-back and in attack. But with smart recruitment, key players returning and a few academy talents knocking on the door, the early signs of the Robins era suggest Stoke might finally be turning the page.
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