Steven Schumacher Tactics At Stoke City 2023/2024 – A Tale Of Defensive Structure And Attacking Woes

The Championship table is incredibly close, and there is plenty still to play for as we enter the home stretch of the 2023/24 campaign.

The race for the playoffs and automatic promotion both promise excitement, but it’s the bottom half of the table that guarantees a few twists and turns in the remaining 13/14 fixtures.

The battle for survival is ridiculously close, with just nine points separating 23^rd and 12^th.

As the season closes, we could have an absolute thriller on our hands.

Unfortunately for Rotherham United fans, the Millers’ fate is practically sealed, barring a miraculous run of form – the club currently has 19 points and will need to produce more than that tally to have any chance of staying up; we’re talking title-challenger form in the remaining games.

Elsewhere, a cluster of clubs, including Stoke City, are trying to escape relegation to EFL League One.

Prior to their 2-0 win over Middlesbrough over the weekend, reports circulated that a defeat could result in the sacking of manager Steven Schumacher.

The Potters are currently sat in 22nd place, occupying the final relegation spot.

Stoke’s defensive record, especially compared to their relegation rivals, is one of promise (48 goals conceded in 35 games).

In fact, their record is better than, or on par with, some clubs chasing the play-offs.

What lets them down more often than not is their attacking output.

They have scored just 33 goals—only Sheffield Wednesday and Rotherham have managed fewer.

What a time to be alive if you’re a supporter of a South Yorkshire club, eh?!

A key part of Steven Schumachers tactics at Stoke City this season has been the tendency to press and be generally aggressive out of possession—the data supports this notion.

This scout report will provide a tactical analysis of Stoke’s pressing tactics, identifying key strengths and weaknesses.

It will also analyze their disappointing attacking performance this season.

Steven Schumacher Tactics  Midfield protecting the back line

Deploying tactics that demand a high intensity in several areas of the pitch requires a tactical balance in the sense that you can’t just have all of your players chasing aimlessly and endlessly – you need that positional protection in case the initial press is ineffective/the opponent reaches higher areas of the pitch.

The midfield unit plays an important role here. Understanding individual tasks and positions is critical to success, and one little slip-up can be costly.

Stoke City Defensive Territory Map

When we say Stoke are a high-pressing team, they are, but they also act with caution and structure, as we will see from the match examples soon.

The visual above gives us a good idea of how the Potters operate off the ball. They take a highly active approach in midfield areas.

Stoke ma