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Mark Robins has made a fantastic start to the Championship season with Stoke City, as he finally managed to get some fresh additions into the club and work with the squad across the summer in pre-season.
The Potters attempted to bring in their recruits early in the summer transfer window to give Mark Robins more time to work with them so they could make the best possible start to the season.
This has seemingly had the desired impact, as Stoke City almost equalled their best start to a campaign in 27 years, until the defeat to West Brom halted this.
While they announced a later signing in Tomas Rigo ahead of the West Brom match, one of their early summer signings will prove to be crucial this season.
Maksym Talovierov will be Stoke City’s most important signing
Stoke City’s centre half is yet to start a Championship match so far this season; however, he has made an appearance in the EFL Cup, with Maksym Talovierov demonstrating his ability at the back.
The Ukrainian international had an incredible season in the Championship with Plymouth Argyle last year despite them getting relegated, proving to be crucial in their spirited battle to stave off the drop and in their FA Cup run.
He has proven he is a reliable option at the back, which is something Stoke City sorely lacked last season, as they shipped 62 goals in the Championship; only three sides outside the relegated clubs had a worse defence than the Potters in the previous campaign.
Mark Robins has brought in several defenders to sort this issue, and it seems to be having the desired effect so far, as they have only conceded three goals in their opening four matches.
Talovierov should prove to be a fine addition and help ensure they do not get dragged back into another relegation battle, as teams with resolute back lines hardly ever find themselves in trouble.
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Miron Muslic on Maksym Talovierov
The Ukrainian international proved to be crucial to the survival battle last season for Plymouth Argyle, as he helped solidify their defence after signing in January before suffering a knee injury.
Miron Muslic was impressed by the impact he and Nikola Katic had on the team, as he explained to the BBC about how he drove standards off the pitch at the club after joining from LASK.
He said: “”They’re top professionals, top, top guys.
“A big improvement already in the locker room because those guys are arriving first at 08:30, so it forced the other guys to come a little bit early.
“Those guys are the first in the gym and are the last to leave the gym after training, so they’re raising the bar on the pitch, and they’re raising the bar off the pitch, so I’m very, very happy with both signings.”