Jordan Thompson is going into the new season tasked with a big job by Steven Schumacher
Jordan Thompson is ready to dig in away from the headlines in a pivotal job for Steven Schumacher that lets flair men like Million Manhoef and Bae Junho taste the spotlight.
Thompson, now Stoke’s longest serving first teamer, has been playing in the midfield holding role of something like a 4-1-4-1 formation through pre-season. He has shifted around the park through his career and if he’s willing to go wherever he’s needed it’s clear he enjoys this important task as blocker and feeder.
“We want to play with a lot of energy, we want to play with runners off the sides and number 8s or 10s playing off the striker,” he said. “The way we play with a 6 it’s important you have a really strong partnership with the two centre-backs. The more games we play together and with the new faces we’ve got coming in we’ll build that.
“I kind of played anywhere in midfield when I was younger and at Blackpool I probably played a little bit higher off the striker. Since I came here and worked under different managers I’ve kind of fallen back into a number six role but I like it and I think I’ve adapted to it quite well. I think with the strengths I’ve got as a player it suits me.
“I don’t really mind where I’m playing to be honest, whether it’s at left-back or as a six which I’d prefer or as an eight I’m not too fussed as long as I’m on the pitch and playing and trying to help the team.”
Thompson joined Stoke from Blackpool in early 2020 and has since played under three different managers and alongside dozens of teammates, leaving him as the last man standing from the squad he initially entered.
The 27-year-old had a one-year contract extension triggered this summer and he is determined to help the club raise standards and expectations.
“I’ve loved it,” he said. “Longest serving is a great achievement for myself and I love being here. Hopefully there are many more games.”
He added: “We don’t want to be in the same situation as last season. The ability we’ve got in the changing room everyone knows that we have to be looking further up the table. When you’re at this club you should be in the top six, we should be pushing towards those positions.
“Everybody knows. We are obviously not going to be shouting and bawling about it but everybody inside the changing room, everyone at the club, knows where we need to be.”
“We did all right towards the end of the season, got ourselves out of the situation we were in, and when you’re playing like that over a run of games there aren’t many better places to play.”
The Coventry game on Saturday will be the first league fixture since the bet365 Stadium opened in 1997 that fans will be allowed to stand during play, with licensed standing across the south stand.
There will also be home fans either side of the tunnel, which has been a long-awaited move by fans and players alike.
“It’ll be good,” said Thompson. “It’ll give us a lift when we’re coming in or going out at half-time. Hopefully we’ll get a wee bit of a boost coming out for the second half. The stadium is looking well, the pitch is looking lovely and I can’t wait to get going.
“It’s perhaps been a bit weird when you have to walk back in and you have to walk past the away fans and they’re up and trying to get them going. But it’s all changed now and we’ll be buzzing to go.
“The atmosphere always comes from us anyway. It comes from us starting the game well and on the front foot, full of energy, leaving everything out on the pitch. They’ll back us to the hilt.”
