A Difficult Time in the Season for Bae Jun-ho

The South Korean footballer is not in his best form at the start of this season. There are high expectations for his talent and future, as the 21-year-old is considered one of the standout figures for both his country and Stoke City. However, in the early stages of the season, he hasn’t shown his best version yet.

This is mainly due to a lack of comfort on the pitch, and his impact on the team’s offensive play hasn’t been as sharp as expected. This has become evident after more than 7 matches into the season, including the EFL Championship and the Carabao Cup.

READ MORE: The Possibility of Narcís Pelach Becoming Stoke City's Manager

Bae Jun-ho's performance against Fleetwood

In this match, Ryan Shawcross, Stoke City's interim manager, gave Bae Jun-ho the opportunity to start the game. He played 63 minutes but didn’t contribute much, as he struggled with concentration and Stoke City lacked offensive action on the left wing.

During those 63 minutes, the player had 29 touches of the ball and achieved an 82% pass accuracy, completing 18 out of 22 attempted passes. He showed some individual skill, completing 2 out of 4 dribble attempts, and winning 2 out of 4 ground duels.

However, his overall impact on the match was minimal, and much more is expected from him. His focus needs to be higher as he is a key figure for Stoke City's offense and in creating goal-scoring opportunities. If he doesn’t find comfort on the pitch and develop a better connection with the midfielders and his left-back, he won’t shine in the way everyone hopes.

As one of Stoke City’s brightest talents, alongside players like Million Manhoef and Sol Sidibe, who have also shown great potential at a young age, Bae Jun-ho needs to step up. Fans are hoping to see a more focused Bae Jun-ho in the upcoming match against Hull City, where he can compete at the highest level and help Stoke City achieve positive results in the EFL Championship and the Carabao Cup this season.