Stoke City manager Mark Robins wants a solid midfield core ahead of a crucial Championship run-in, and rarely-seen combination Ben Pearson and Jordan Thompson could be the answer to his selection problems following a strong performance together in the Potters’ goalless draw against Watford last time out.
Stoke City’s Championship status seems uncertain for the upcoming season. Robins, who was appointed in January, is the club’s third manager this season to keep them in the second division.
He has had to deal with numerous issues regarding his squad’s availability since taking over at the bet365 Stadium, particularly in the midfield, where he has struggled to select the same players every week to maintain continuity and cohesion in his squad, despite the Potters’ desperate need for points to move out of the bottom three.
Last time out against Watford, he surprised Ben Pearson and Jordan Thompson by starting in midfield for only the third time in their respective Stoke careers, according to Transfermarkt data.
The two players have quite similar personalities and have both had extended injury layoffs in recent seasons, so while it is surprising that they have rarely been put together in the middle of the park, the low number is also somewhat understandable.
Robins will no doubt have been happy with Pearson and Thompson’s performance, as they delivered the grit, commitment, and energy required to contain a play-off-chasing Hornets team and help Stoke earn a point.
They may have influenced his thinking together, and with crucial player Wouter Burger being back fit, the Potters could be constructing a potentially advantageous midfield trio at the perfect time.
Ben Pearson and Jordan Thompson have rarely played together in midfield for Stoke City
Thompson, 27, is the Potters’ longest-serving player, having arrived from Blackpool in January 2020. His influence has fluctuated under different managers during his tenure at the bet365 Stadium.
The Northern Ireland international has frequently been used as a rotational player in ST4, but he started 25 games in all competitions in 2023/24, a figure only surpassed by his 29 starts in 2020/21, and was a key player in midfield and left-back in the season’s final stretch under Steven Schumacher, helping him reach 150 games for the club.
Thompson appeared set for a great campaign this time around after impressing last term, but the ex-Plymouth Argyle boss was ousted early on. He struggled for game-time under new boss Narcis Pelach, before being sidelined in November due to a groin injury.
Robins has already granted him a respite in his recovery to health, and with his current contract scheduled to expire in June, he may easily earn another new contract with some strong performances over the next three months.
Pearson is a defensive midfielder who, like Thompson, prefers to get involved and win the ball in the middle of the park. After starting at Manchester United, he advanced to Preston North End, where he made a permanent move in 2016.
The Oldham-born enforcer appeared 165 times for the Lilywhites over five years before his departure in 2021, and was an important player as they came close to the play-offs twice under Alex Neil.
After struggling to make an impression at AFC Bournemouth, he was loaned out by Neil-managed Potters midway through the 2022/23 season.
He was a crucial player for Stoke in his first few months, so he moved permanently to the bet365 Stadium that summer, but the last 18 months have not gone as planned for him.
Pearson struggled under Schumacher and was sidelined for nearly a year due to a significant hamstring injury sustained in March. He returned last month.
Pearson and Thompson had only played together 18 times before Saturday’s game, with only two starts in midfield – against the Hornets in 2022/23 and at Bournemouth in the EFL Cup last season.
Pearson and Thompson will have given Robins food for thought after their Watford showing
Boss Robins likely chose the two for a rare midfield outing against Watford because he had few other options. Stoke were soundly defeated by Middlesbrough just days before the game, with Lewis Baker and Tatsuki Seko unable to establish themselves in the middle of the park, with the former being declared ill for Tom Cleverley’s visit.
Stoke recovered from their Boro defeat, as well as their previous 4-2 thrashing at the hands of Norwich City, with a controlled performance at home to the Hornets, and much of their good defensive play could be attributed to much more spirit and passion being shown in midfield with Pearson and Thompson combined.
The Potters lined up with Andrew Moran as the number 10 in front of the pair of holding midfielders, limiting Watford to only one shot on goal in the 0-0 draw, in stark contrast to the reverse fixture, which did not feature Pearson and saw the Hornets cruise through the middle of the park with ease at Vicarage Road.
| Ben Pearson & Jordan Thompson’s statistics vs Watford | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Player | Minutes | Tackles won | Clearances | Interceptions | Pass accuracy | Ground duels won |
| Ben Pearson | 90′ | 3/4 | 4 | 2 | 76% | 5/6 |
| Jordan Thompson | 75′ | 1/1 | 2 | 2 | 78% | 2/4 |
Their combined grit and desire made them operate effectively together, and their good connection allowed one to press, usually Pearson, while the other, usually Thompson, stayed on the halfway line and waited to pounce on a loose ball or make a tackle in midfield if necessary.
In an interview with StokeonTrentLive, the Northern Irish international expressed that he “enjoyed” playing with the 30-year-old and felt they had “a good bit of chemistry” on the pitch.
Robins should consider deploying a three-man midfield, including fit-again Wouter Burger, to allow him to roam forward and play as a box-to-box number eight. This would also provide security with two holding midfielders to prevent the Potters from conceding too many goals.
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