Stoke City is not a happy place to be right now.
The Potters’ plight at the foot of the Premier League table has come about after a string of poor results, with Mark Hughes’ attempts to get his side playing decent football not paying off at all.
It was always clear that they were going to be in for a tough season, but after two 4-0 defeats on the bounce, no-one would have predicted it would be quite this tough.
Despite some decent signings in the transfer window, it’s just not working for Hughes. Joe Allen hasn’t reproduced his best form, while Wilfried Bony – a loanee from Manchester City – isn’t scoring goals.
It is the latter who is proving a particular bone of contention. According to the Sun, Hughes, and the rest of the dressing room, are furious with the striker for a perceived lack of effort.
The Ivorian has only been in the Midlands for three weeks, but already his attitude is being questioned. Earning £120,000 a week, he is the club’s highest earner, but hasn’t found the back of the net once.
If his move to Stoke was going to be a means of impressing Pep Guardiola, he certainly isn’t achieving it. It already looked like his City career was dead and buried, but this has just confirmed it.
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