Stoke & Staffordshire

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  1. Is Stoke's physicality an issue?published at 16:33 BST

    Stoke City's Eric Bocat put under pressure by Southampton's Tom Fellows during their Championship match on SaturdayImage source, Getty Images

    Stoke City boss Mark Robins was frustrated with the quality of his substitutes in their loss to Southampton on Saturday, but former Potters defender Gareth Owen thinks the starting XI also needs to take some responsibility.

    "I'd also look at the starters because some of the changes he [Robins] probably didn't want to make," Owen told BBC Radio Stoke.

    "He didn't want to take Eric Bocat off, he didn't want to disrupt that back four, but because he was flagging from a physical perspective, he felt he needed to do that.

    "The circumstances for Stoke are a couple of players missed pre-season, two new players coming in haven't been the priority players at Ipswich so they have to get back up to speed, look how many games Sam Gallagher played last year, how many games Ben Gibson played last year.

    "The club have come out and said they get better over the course of the season but you don't want to give yourself too much to do. Certainly on the basis of that last 30 minutes, you definitely saw a difference in the physicality of the players."

    Listen to the full reaction below or on BBC Sounds here.

    Media caption,

    Owen: ‘When you get tired you make poor decisions’

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  2. Southampton 3-1 Stoke City - fan's verdictpublished at 12:54 BST

    A black banner with the words 'Your Opinions' written across in white lettering next to an image of a megaphone

    We asked for your thoughts after Saturday's match between Southampton and Stoke City.

    Here are some of your comments:

    Southampton fans

    Michael: With so much uncertainty hanging around thanks to the FA and subsequent player transfers, it's doubly hard for Southampton to make progress at the moment.

    So a win like this is vital. A testament to Tonda Eckert's coaching skills and his players' ability to overcome such a devastating end to last season.

    We stand by the Saints full of pride.

    Peter: Phew! A bit lucky! Was at the game on Saturday. Thought we looked very rusty. However, glad to get the result. We need to improve!

    Adam: Good win but need players in, especially in defence and midfield.

    Southampton's Cyle Larin and Stoke City's Djibril Soumare battle for the ball during their Championship match on SaturdayImage source, Shutterstock

    Stoke City fans

    Mark: Bad game management yet again from Mark Robins, we were holding our own until he decides to change it. It went downhill from there.

    There are people at our club that seriously need to take a long hard look at themselves.

    David: Strange selection from the manager playing Ben Gibson and not Luke Graham, and also not bringing Million Manhoef on. Shows negativity from the manager instead of trying to win the game. The chance of winning was there but the negative substitutions worked against us, and then to throw the subs under the bus was poor. Please be more positive, Mr Robins.

    Craig: Very lacklustre second half for Stoke. They fell to pieces.

    Second league defeat in a row for Robins this season and an abysmal record since last January. I reckon he could well be sacked this week as a result.

  3. Stoke undercooked as substitutes strugglepublished at 10:06 BST

    Mark Elliott
    BBC Radio Stoke’s Stoke City Commentator

    Robert Bozenik reacts after missing a chance at goal during Stoke City's game against Southampton at St Mary'sImage source, Getty Images
    Image caption,

    Robert Bozenik reacts after missing a chance at goal against Southampton

    The glucose gels were being passed around not long after the hour mark as Stoke's players began to flag in the heat.

    Up until then, they'd been the better side but fell away along with their energy levels against a Southampton team that kept the ball well and ran the legs from under the away side.

    The Potters have rebuilt their medical department and changed how they work between games to try and avoid the number of injuries that ruined last season, and they hope to get stronger as the season goes on, but right now, they look a bit undercooked.

    That means they need their substitutes to make an impact off the bench, but the manager, Mark Robins, was left questioning the attitude and motivation of the players he brought on after the game.

    In both of their opening matches, opposition substitutes have been decisive, while Stoke's have struggled to affect the action.

    Ben Johnson looks like a good addition to the squad, and George Hirst got valuable minutes under his belt as both made their debuts.

    Stoke need a positive result pretty quickly though, to restore the optimism created by a summer of significant expenditure in the transfer market.

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  4. Robins reacts after defeat at Southamptonpublished at 18:39 BST 22 August

    Media caption,

    Robins: ‘Clear things that need to be better’

    Stoke City boss Mark Robins spoke to BBC Radio Stoke after defeat to Southampton at St Mary's.

    For a written selection of his quotes, click here.

  5. 🎧Trip to Saints and a new signingpublished at 13:09 BST 21 August

    Media caption,

    A Cold Wet Tuesday Night (Extra): New signing!

    A new extra episode of BBC Radio Stoke's A Cold Wet Tuesday Night podcast is out now.

    Join Lucas Yeomans and Ben Rowley as they discuss new signings and Southampton away.

    Listen above or on BBC Sounds here - and don't forget to subscribe to get each episode into your My Sounds feed.

    Listen on BBC Sounds