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Stoke City are a club on the up and it is all thanks to Mark Robins.
Robins is Stoke’s best manager of the last eight years statistically and has them sitting second in the Championship table.
There is still a long way in the season to go, and they certainly aren’t getting carried away at the Potters.
We at EFL Analysis revealed that Robins and the club aren’t going for promotion this season, unless things change, and it seems to be something that is resonating among the fanbase.
- READ MORE: Aaron Cresswell reveals bizarre reason he joined Stoke City and it’s nothing to do with Mark Robins
Stoke City fans willing to invest in the long-term project
The Premier League is a daunting prospect and can swallow teams up.
In both of the previous top flight campaigns, all three teams who came up have gone straight back down.
It’s a vicious cycle hoping to be broken and Stoke fans admit they would be happy with another decent showing in the Championship before really going for the top prize in the 2026/27 season.
Writing on Reddit, GriffinXD said: “The turn around is fantastic and I hope we are flirting with the play offs come April, we have a more favourable run in on paper at the end of the season and I’d love us to be really pushing. Promotion feels too early and if it happened it would be a one and done season.”
| Position | Team | Played MP | Won W | Drawn D | Lost L | For GF | Against GA | Diff GD | Points Pts |
| 1 |  MiddlesbroughMiddlesbrough | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 13 |
| 2 |  Stoke CityStoke City | 5 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 9 | 3 | 6 | 12 |
| 3 |  Bristol CityBristol City | 5 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 12 | 4 | 8 | 11 |
| 4 |  LeicesterLeicester | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | 5 | 3 | 10 |
| 5 |  West BromWest Brom | 5 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 2 | 10 |
Dame87 added: “It would be amazing if we did, still very early days. I would take a top half finish right now.”
Mindless_End_139 commented: “Christmas is when I start to look at the table. It’s nice to look at now but it’s five games.
Mrquattro1863 agreed, replying: “I am just truly enjoying myself! I would be happy to finish in the top half for the first time. I think to myself, this is the foundation of Robins time at Stoke. So over a few windows I will think about promotion. I would hate to get promotion and then go straight back down.”
Stoke City could finally bury demons from seven years ago
The lights went out on Stoke’s Premier League journey seven years ago and since then, it’s been a real slog.
Seven managers have been in the dugout at the Bet365 Stadium since, all of them unable to get a tune out of the squad.
It seems that the Staffordshire club have gone back to basics, buying smartly while also playing a way that gets the best out what they have.
Promotion might be considered too early, but if they’re still in the mix with a few games to go, then never say never.