He’s been part of a Holland squad that finished third in the 2014 World Cup. He’s played for Ronald Koeman, Louis van Gaal, Guus Hiddink, and Danny Blind, so away to Barnsley is not the stuff of his dreams.
Martins Indi said towards the end of Stoke’s first failed attempt to get out of the Championship that he would be looking to get back into the Premier League, whether that was with the Potters or not.
On the Friday night two weeks ago when Stoke suffered the worst beating of Michael O’Neill’s, below, three-month reign, 4-0 at Derby, it was the last day of the January transfer window and Martins Indi expected to be leaving.
There was interest from Premier League clubs, there was interest from abroad and Martins Indi did not play for Stoke that night. Bit of packing to do.
But it didn’t happen. Martins Indi is still at Stoke, still fighting relegation, still a player better than his current job and defying anyone, with that self-confidence that the Dutch have, to say, to his face, that he won’t be doing his best.
Stoke’s public are still sceptical but in his first game since that aborted move, Martins Indi was a powerful defensive influence in their 3-1 win over Charlton last Saturday, making it a successful 28th birthday in the process.
The Potters failed to follow that up and were beaten at home in midweek by Preston. A relegation battle is likely to blight Stoke for the rest of what is a difficult season, both for club and Martins Indi.
He was said to be ‘ill’ prior to the Derby defeat but it is thought he was upset at a move not going through at the last minute.
Chris Brunt was also left fed-up at West Brom because his loan switch to Stoke was called off because Martins Indi was still going to be on the wage bill and the Potters hadn’t got the money for the both of them.
Denne historien er fra February 16, 2020-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
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Denne historien er fra February 16, 2020-utgaven av The Football League Paper.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
FUMING GRANT'S BLAST PAYS OFF
CHOICE words from Grant McCann at half-time did the trick as Doncaster Rovers came back to secure a point against classy Notts County.
BOSS MARTI'S ON A MISSION TO RESCUE R'S ALL OVER AGAIN
ARTI Cifuentes proved he was up for a challenge when he took the manager’s job at QPR just over a year ago.
HUSTLE FROM RUSSELL NETS DERBY SPOILS
HEAD coach Darrell Clarke praised goalscorer Jon Russell as his Barnsley side earned all three points in a home victory over South Yorkshire rivals Rotherham United.
DAVIES AGONY AS BLUES BLOW IT
ADEJECTED Chris Davies gave a bleak assessment of his Birmingham City side’s draw against Northampton Town.
WARNOCK: ONLY A GAME? IT'S LIFE OR DEATH IN SHEFFIELD!
JUST another game? Don’t pull that one on Neil Warnock, a Sheffield native, boyhood Blade and managerial veteran of nine Steel City derbies.
BISHOP AT THE HEART OF POMPEY WIN
COLBY Bishop’s spectacular return after heart surgery was a well-kept secret, said Portsmouth manager John Mousinho.
ACE VAKOUN CLEANS UP FOR THE HORNETS
VAKOUN Bayo took the plaudits once more after his goal sunk Oxford on Friday.
ANDI'S AT DOUBLE TO SPARK AWAY JOY
BLACKBURN Rovers boss John Eustace believes his team gave a text-book performance to get a first away win of the league season at Cardiff.
COV CATCH BLACK CATS NAPPING
SUNDERLAND head coach Regis le Bris was frustrated his players couldn’t build on two moments of first half magic that should have seen off managerless Coventry City at the Stadium of Light.
FARKE: WE HAVE THE WINNING MENTALITY TO STAY COURSE
Pressure mounts on Hoops manager
