Got 30 mins today. Leeds were already 6 goals up so the only positive is that they stopped scoring after he came on. Replaced a striker but I assume played in a DM role
Definitely concerning looking at the state of the Stoke team right now that Lawal and Moran aren't getting a run. Might be next season before we know for sure whether Lawal's situation is fitness related or something else. I don't think Moran belongs in the Championship.
On after 33’ in midfield for Stoke tonight at home to SheffU. Blades scored after 38’ but wasn’t properly watching so don’t know if he was involved in any way. Won’t catch the second half either.
Played RCB today for Stoke against Liverpool. Didn’t go well for him at all.
First goal, is on his side, not his fault but looks sluggish. Second goal, he gives the ball away with a wayward pass and then can’t track Nunez who scores. Both goals he looked really slow. Third goal, Nunez shoots through his legs for his hat-trick. Fourth goal, Ngumoha shoots and it deflects off Lawal into the top corner.
As an aside, Jack Bonham made an appearances, not sure if it half time or when in the second half but he conceded one, nothing he could do about it, was a tap in.
Last edited by elatedscum; 21/07/2025 at 3:58 PM.
He's definitely not a centre back. I don't know why managers keep trying to play him there, he wasn't even any good in that position for Celtic B. Whether he's a decent centre midfielder or not remains to be seen. He's been good at League 1 level, but we need to see more than that.
The midfielder thing can't be going all that well, if the manager is trying him at centre-back !
Generally easier for teams to find decent centre mids than centre backs (Ireland being the obvious exception here of course). If a player plays both it's usually more likely that a club will try and turn him into a centre back.
Watching Stoke Derby. Lawal starting CB and is playing brilliantly. Strong, fast and can play a bit too.
Went down injured and was taken off shortly afterwards.
Seemed to be moving freely at the end of the game though.
Last edited by Eirambler; 09/08/2025 at 4:02 PM.
Rave reviews by the Stoke fans. Many mentioning him eventually moving to midfield due to incoming centre halves. Pray to God he does with our dearth of physicality in the middle. Certainly sounding like he’s playing with all the right attributes to succeed there. Great that him and Coventry are getting minutes at a higher level at least.
https://oatcakefanzine.proboards.com...d-lawal?page=1
They love a big man at Stoke. But yes, they seem to be really taken by his performances in pre-season this year. Obviously we need him to be playing midfield, the last thing we need is him being turned into yet another big, strong, imposing centre back to add to our extensive collection of those.
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