Mark Holmes

Head of Sport and Gaming at LADbible Group. Also a husband, dad and Stoke City season ticket holder.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

I'm so pleased with this. I honestly believe he's the player with the highest ceiling in the whole squad.

[Stoke City FC @stokecity]

More to come ⏳

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@Nich8 Twelve out of how many, though?! That's not a big list from nine years. And the majority of those you've just listed were actually alright for us.

I've got no issue with the odd Lyndon Gooch in the side to back up the talented players we already have.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

I'm torn on Robins' comment about transfers.

He says "the culture needs to change", but surely he has a big role to play in that? And he wasn't making these comments when things were going well.

He's been throwing players under the bus & not taking much responsibility himself.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@Nich8 The list doesn't go on that far though! And even of those players, Gibson and Johnson were on the decline and weren't likely to play 40+ games the next season.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@Mikeyboy1863 Yep, completely agree. That's partly down to recruitment, but hopefully Damien Roden can get those we already have fitter too.

It's a joke that Pearson for eg seemingly isn't fit enough for two games in a week.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@PitterPotter619 @caribbeanpotter People are conflating what I'm asking for with experience. I don't care how old they are so long as they played 40+ games in the Champ this season or we're very confident they can do without any adaption period.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@bayernoatcake2 And I think your point about resale there is too big a part of the club's strategy.

Of course you need that (we're bad at selling too!), but it's also fine to sign some players at 28 and just keep them!

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@bayernoatcake2 I haven't mentioned experience. I don't care if we sign a 20-year-old so long as they've been a regular part of a Champ side the season before. It's durability and being seen as key to a Champ team that I want.

Or even L1 - Junior has been one of our best signings IMO.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@gazproc_6 Like I say, mate, wasn't especially aimed at your post so sorry for QTing, but I keep seeing that Robins is subtly making it clear he blames Walters.

I don't actually agree with that, but I certainly don't agree he's had players handed to him without a say.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

Not picking on Gaz here, but I disagree with this rhetoric.

Earlier in the season, when we were doing well, fans were saying it's because Robins had taken charge of things.

Since they've gone wrong, fans are saying it's because Robins has no say in things.

[Gaz Proctor @gazproc_6]

@Homzy He’s played nice as he’s on the biggest wage of his career probably. Walters recruitment has about 20% success rate. Sorba, Vik, Lawal, Ash & Cannon. He’s letting it be known, What has been served up by the clubs decisions is useless. Is he deflecting also 100%

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@caribbeanpotter 100% agree.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@bayernoatcake2 Chez was another one with an injury history. I'll accept some of those players from the first season, and obviously you need good recruitment irrespective of the strategy, but I maintain we need to prioritise players who've played 40+ Champ games the previous season.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@bayernoatcake2 We have some decent players, but we lack the players with the experience, know-how and dare I say fight to win games at this level.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@bayernoatcake2 Well, marquee is pushing it, but we've certainly signed a lot of recognisable names. Right from the first season down.

I'll reiterate that what we absolutely haven't tried is signing players from top-half and mid-table Champ sides who've played 40+ games the previous season.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@scfchbbz Emil Riis is the one that always springs to my mind. He's not a world beater, but he knows how to play and score goals in this league. And you just know we were never even looking at him.

Not saying we should have signed him, but we don't shop in that market.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@bayernoatcake2 Only Pearson fits my description there: ...'who've played 40+ games the previous season.'

Experience is no good if the players aren't fit!

It's like we think we're too big now to sign the modern-day equivalent of Glenn Whelan. We don't need marquee signings and big names.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

We keep signing talented players thinking we can jump from 16th to 6th, but we never sign players from Preston, Bristol City, Millwall et al who've played 40+ games the previous season.

That policy has been consistent since we were relegated and it HAS to change this summer.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

On the other hand, I couldn't agree more with this comment: "I would rather take some players of a lesser ability who would run through a brick wall for you but have the know-how and understanding of doing it."

There's an arrogance to our transfer policy that needs to stop.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@Rainbowsendmfo Yeah, conditioning is a big part of it and Roden should help. But we need to take fewer risks and sign players with a history of playing 40+ games a season at Champ or L1 level.

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

I vote to retain the status quo at Stoke.

I have gripes with recruitment and tactics, but I think injuries have been the biggest factor. Albeit linked to recruitment.

But does anyone think our overseas policy is Walters'? Or one from above that would remain even with a change?

[Mark Holmes @Homzy]

@Rainbowsendmfo Bojan definitely did to be fair, but we're talking about a very different level of player!

I actually think we've signed some good players from overseas, but it's frustrating that we seemingly can't make finances work to make marquee signings already proven in the Champ.