Tommy Smith Reflects on His Underwhelming Tenure at Stoke City

Former Stoke City full-back Tommy Smith has expressed his confidence that the Potters will eventually achieve success and contend for promotion, despite his own three-year period at the club being described as underwhelming. The 32-year-old joined the Bet365 Stadium from Huddersfield Town in 2019, intending to play under Nathan Jones. However, neither Smith nor Stoke City performed to expectations under Jones or his successor, Michael O’Neill. Smith subsequently departed the club on a free transfer in 2022, signing with Middlesbrough. Speaking on the BBC’s Football Daily 72+ EFL podcast, Smith remarked that it was “a shame” that numerous high-cost signings had failed to make an impact since the Potters’ relegation from the top flight in 2018, following a 10-year stay. In the six subsequent seasons, Stoke has consistently finished between 14th and 17th in every campaign, accumulating 110 losses and securing only four FA Cup victories in total. Smith conveyed to 72+: “One thing that can’t be questioned is the chairman’s loyalty and commitment to the club. He’s put his hand in his pocket numerous times over the years because he’s desperate for his club to do well.“It’s a shame, really. One thing I saw when I walked in was a club that was desperate and geared up for the Premier League.” During his three seasons with City, Smith participated in 106 games and scored three goals. He further commented: “They were trying to find the recipe for it all to click – for whatever reason it just never did.“I’m still of the belief that at some point Stoke will get it right and challenge for the play-offs. It’s a fantastic club but the three years I had there we finished 15th, 14th and 14th – by Stoke’s expectation that’s nowhere near where we should have been as a team.” Narcis Pelach was appointed in September, and the Potters are currently positioned 13th in the Championship standings. Smith added, regarding the club’s current state: “They are in another transition now where they’ve got a new manager in and have gone down another route of signing players from overseas which is not really something Stoke have previously done,” and continued, “They are desperate to find that identity in terms of who they are and what they are. For so many years they have been real resolute, tough to beat.”