Firstyardleftinbed

Nakhi and Cam Pring have been very good but everyone else far too passive.

This really isn't a good Stoke team, we've given them two goals here. Far too easy

The positive side of that back 3 is that we should be good with the ball. Not confident about defending set pieces though...

It's a tricky one, having Naismith in the middle of the three does make us more vulnerable defensively as he's ok in the air but not great and can make mistakes. However, in the middle I think he's better placed to make the passes that will set up our attacks. We just need to not be so predictable with it and not have him start every attack, that way teams will push two men on to him (like QPR and Norwich) and it'll be impossible to get out. It might be worth trying him in midfield but I have a feeling he won't be any where near as effective getting the ball with his back to goal and would end up dropping so deep he'd end up on top of the back 3 or 4

Not a brilliant header out from the corner but it's a great strike from the Swansea player

Might be tempting fate here but Tanner and Pring have been really good as the wide CBs

That's the frustrating thing with Semenyo, the ball can bounce off him all game and then out of nowhere he'll make/score a goal. Would be looking at getting Williams on for him if he doesnt get in to the game more today though. Not looking very sharp at all

Great goal! Pearson's tactic to press high is risky but is getting us good chances so far ?

Also, the atmosphere in the City end sounds amazing. Coming through loud and clear on tv ?

Very good away performance so far. Midfield looking much better with and without the ball. Antoine looked like he had his boots on the wrong feet for most of that half but has a knack of coming up with something! Joe Williams has been the best player on the pitch so far. Just need to not do anything stupid...

Need to change it up here, lost all momentum. Pring, Wells and maybe even Kadji on for Dasilva, Conway and Williams

Teams have worked us out a little bit I think. Stack the middle of the pitch so we cant play through the middle and force us to cross it, which obviously isnt our strength... Still shouldnt be as crap as we were on the weekend though

We look decent until we get to the final 3rd and then awful. Sykes and Dasilva's final ball non existent again.

Completely agree. Hopefully Max playing the ball out quicker and more accurately helps avoid some of the errors we've seen recently trying to play out from the back

I'm sure plenty of people will disagree but I genuinely think Max is a better all round keeper and hope he takes his chance this time. He definitely didnt show it last year when he came in but I saw a bit of him when he was on loan and Shrewsbury a while back and he looked very solid. Bents isnt a bad keeper, just not consistent enough with some of basics. Also, not sure what Pring has/hasn't done to keep missing out. JD offering very little going forward at the moment is hardly a defensive colossus either.

Vice can be inconsistent at best but that article nails how I see Pearson. He's consistently had the backing of players and generally done well at every club but is woeful with the media. He seems to have got slightly better but obviously hates doing the media side of things and that can impact people's view on him. Given time, I think he'll be the manager we've needed for years.