Stoke City desperately need to improve in 2025/26 after coming close to League One football last season.
David Prutton predicted the Potters to get relegated on the final day of the campaign, but a 0-0 draw away to Derby County was enough to ensure that the Staffordshire outfit maintained their second tier status.
Stoke have a good record in last day clashes, and this once again prevailed, much to the relief of Mark Robins. However, they must not rest on their laurels and progression must happen this summer.
While promotion is a huge ambition, the Potters have a lot of work to do before they can think about that again, and Robins needs to make signings. Nevertheless, EFL Analysis has taken a look at the last time they were in the Premier League.
Stoke City’s last Premier League campaign came in 2017/18
Stoke spent the majority of the 2010s as a top-flight side, but they were ultimately relegated in 2018 after a dismal season.
Mark Hughes had enjoyed some success at the bet365 Stadium in the years prior, but this would prove to be a step too far for the current Carlisle United boss and he was sacked in January of that year.
A 1-0 win and a 2-2 draw against Manchester United early on did excite supporters, but this positive start quickly unravelled and it was clear that they were nowhere near strong enough defensively.
The Potters were beaten 5-1 by Tottenham Hotspur, 4-0 and 5-0 by Chelsea, while Manchester City ran out 7-2 winners in October 2017. Ultimately, they were relegated following a 2-1 defeat to Crystal Palace with one game to go with Paul Lambert in charge.
Mark Robins has a culture to reset with the Potters
Stoke have found it tough to bounce back since they were relegated, and they have been through multiple managers, most notably last season when they had three in one campaign.
However, they now have a head coach with whom they can build. Coventry City benefited greatly from Robins and he helped take the Sky Blues to within touching distance of a Premier League return.
It will take longer than one season for the Staffordshire outfit to take that next step, but if they hand Robins the opportunity to create his own philosophy, they will benefit greatly, and it would not be a surprise to see the Potters pushing for a top six finish soon.
