A THREAD:
With all our games for the year 2020 played, I thought I’d compare Stoke’s 2019 & their 2020.

League goals scored:
2019- 43 (15 in 10 under O’Neill).
2020- 60

LG’s conceded:
2019: 62
2020: 49

League Clean sheets:
2019: 12 (2 under MON)
2020: 20

Points gained:
2019: 41 (13 under MON)
2020: 70

Points dropped from winning positions:
2019: 25
2020: 13

Points gained from losing positions:
2019: 10
2020: 10

League position after our final game of the year:
2019: 21st (outside relegation zone on GD)
2020: 7th (point outside play offs)

Top scorers:
2019: Clucas-8, McClean-6, Vokes-5 Hogan, Gregory & Campbell-3
2020: Campbell-13, Powell-9, Clucas-6, Gregory, Fletcher & McClean-4

As you can see (it was quite obvious) we have vastly improved under Michael O’Neill in most departments. We’re leaking less goals, scoring more & more importantly gaining more points. The job he’s done within a year has been incredible.

We were leaking goals and not scoring many, we hadn’t scored more than 2 in a game since 2017. Then, within 31 games of his tenure, there were three 4’s, two 5’s & three 3’s.

He’s installed his confidence in youth. Players like Harry Souttar, Tyrese Campbell, Nathan Collins, Joe Bursik, Josh Tymon all regular starters for Stoke this season and all have been brilliant.

With that youth he’s found a good blend with experience to help them on their way. Steven Fletcher, John Obi Mikel, Morgan Fox & James Chester (was here on loan 2019/20) all added to the squad to accompany the younger players.

We’ve looked a lot more solid at the back. Four goalkeepers have featured this season (one in cup) & Adam Davies was superb, then, like it has all season, injury hit. But since then, Bursik stepped up and has looked brilliant. 7 clean sheets in 11 games & he’s only 20 years old.

Also solid, Harry Souttar, who has made team of the week a few times after solid displays. Nathan Collins has been brilliant and has also put in a shift at RB, running down the line and taking on players. This youth blended with the likes of Chester & Fox has worked wonders.

Going forward, Sam Clucas, Nick Powell, Tyrese Campbell & Steven Fletcher all bring something different to the side. Between them, they’ve scored 16 of Stoke’s 26 goals this season and with three of the four players missing games through injury this season, it’s had a big impact.

Onto 2021 we go. What’s going to happen, nobody knows, but I’m excited to see. Outside the play offs by a point (before tonight’s games). If you’d have said that this time last season, I’d have laughed at you. Thanks for reading. GOAAARN Stoke.