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reputation. Good to see his support for teammates while injured in the run-in .......... 5/10
MICHAEL ROSE (35 starts, 2 sub - 12 winning starts; 1 goal, 0 assists, 11 clean sheets)
Always committed, quick across the pitch and comes across as a good, hard-working guy. Like Mcnally and Ben Wilmot, might benefit from being partnered with a Gerry Taggart or Abdoulaye Faye-style battle-hardened director of defenders.
Only Mcnally (3,202) has played more minutes than the 28-year-old (3,139) and Stoke (60) ended up conceding fewer goals than two teams in the play-off places (Southampton, 63, and Norwich, 64) ..... 6/10
SOL SIDIBE (0 starts, 4 sub - 0 winning starts; 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 clean sheets)
A first glimpse of a midfielder who could be a big part of Stoke City’s next decade or beyond.
The club’s youngest player in a league game for 65 years when he made his debut at 16 years and 176 days back in August. Pushed down the pecking order by transfer business, he has made an impression with the under-21s and will be back to stake his claim in pre-season.
Clearly a huge talent ............................ 6/10
TOMMY SIMKIN (1 start, 0 sub - 0 winning starts; 0 clean sheets)
Thrown in for what turned out to be Neil’s last game as manager, at home against Sheffield Wednesday, after being recalled from a successful loan at Solihull Moors due to an injury crisis.
High hopes for this England youth keeper who is as brave, strong and agile as you would expect from a junior martial arts champion. Loan to struggling Forest Green Rovers in League Two was the wrong choice, ultimately, especially when Steve Cotterill took over as manager. The right loan next season will be important ............................................. N/A
ENDA STEVENS
(18 starts, 3 sub - 8 winning starts; 0 goals,
0 assists, 8 clean sheets) Perhaps the most difficult player to mark here. Only available for 18 starts but made a vital difference when he played. No coincidence that players alongside him and in front of him looked better when he was around and that Stoke’s results were decent too. Can handle the best wingers in the Championship, can keep possession and just know what to do.
Extend Stoke’s points return with Stevens in the starting XI (1.5ppg) over a full season and they would be knocking on the door of the top six. If only he was a decade younger ................... 6.5/10
JUNIOR TCHAMADEU (9 starts, 6 sub - 2 winning starts; 0 goals, 0 assists, 2 clean sheets)
Some glimpses of potential with barrelling power down the right wing but still quite raw. Got a taste of international football with the African Cup of Nations too and will hopefully benefit from his experiences of the last few months ...... 6/10
JORDAN THOMPSON (23 starts, 9 sub - 9 winning starts; 2 goals, 2 assists, 9 clean sheets)
An increasingly popular player thanks to his willingness to get stuck in and do a job for the team, whether that’s in holding midfield or at left-back.
His work releasing Laurent and Cundle in the last three matches did not go unappreciated. A bit of a yellow card collector (13 in all, two more even than Pearson) but got a couple of goals too, both against Birmingham ...... 7/10
MARK TRAVERS (13 starts, 0 sub - 5 winning starts; 2 clean sheets)
Was enjoying his time at Stoke and playing with increasing confidence when he was recalled to sit on the bench at Premier League Bournemouth. A shame and a hammer blow for Neil, albeit that he knew the risk with a loan keeper ...................... 6.5/10
JOSH TYMON (1 start, 1 sub - 0 winning starts; 0 goals, 0 assists, 0 clean sheets)
Started the season at Stoke before becoming a player of the year contender with Swansea. Didn’t seem to enjoy life under Neil but was missed when Stoke were scratching around for a left-back with Stevens in the treatment room.
Unassuming and hard-working. Played in a couple of Carabao Cup wins too, including a 6-1 pasting of Rotherham ...................... N/A
ANDRE VIDIGAL (18 starts, 11 sub - 6 winning starts; 6 goals, 0 assists, 7 clean sheets)
A terrific start to life at Stoke, with stand out performances against Rotherham and Watford, impressing at Millwall and scoring against Hull in his first five appearances… and then, thud.
In and out of the team and not doing enough to keep hold of a shirt. Still ended up as top scorer but with six goals, that said a lot about the rest of the squad too. Where does he go from here? ....................................... 5.5/10
WESLEY (5 starts, 15 sub - 2 winning starts; 0 goals, 0 assists, 1 clean sheets)
Giant striker apparently broke the strengthtesting machine in pre-season but even on what was believed to be a heavily subsidised contract as a free agent, he didn’t particularly prove value for money.
Forced a winner at home against Leeds but struggled to make an impact and was only used twice in the league in 2024.
Rarely even in the match day squad and release was announced a day after the final game ............................................... 3.5/10
BEN WILMOT (23 starts, 2 sub - 8 winning starts; 1 goal, 1 assist, 5 clean sheets)
Last year’s player of the season started this one in decent nick but admits he was derailed by another freak injury.
In April 2023 he fractured his back with a heavy landing, in October he smashed his knee into a post while trying to block a shot against Southampton which was actually blocked before it reached him anyway. Painful. He was honest enough to say he didn’t really find his best form again until the final four matches – but he ended up playing a key part in three successive clean sheets .......... 6/10