Stoke City's fate was sealed last weekend when a 2-1 loss against Crystal Palace ensured they would spend next season in the Championship. Since then several players have delivered hard-hitting interviews, with Charlie Adam adding his voice by condemning the 'disease' at the club.
In the aftermath of that game, England shot-stopper Jack Butland raged in his post-match comments at the "players you cannot rely on" and called the entire signing process 'farcical.'
As far as Afam is concerned, the situation is an embarrassment, as he told BBC 5 Live.
I'm embarrassed to be part of something like that, because we should never be in that situation.
But when a disease creeps in and separate issues go on, it's hard. As a group of players, we should hang our heads in shame, because that club should never be relegated. As players, you have your seven or eight in the group that try to make it work, and we failed.
The club made several signings that flattered to deceive in the last year. Saido Berahino has started just 11 games since his £12m transfer last year from West Brom and hasn't scored once. Record signing Giannelli Imbula, who cost £18.3m, is still on loan at Toulouse. Former Spurs man Kevin Wimmer cost £18m and is now training with the reserves. Ibrahim Afellay and Bojan Krkic have both been left out of the first-team squad.
Adam feels certain players have gotten away with too much.
A lack of discipline from certain players has been embarrassing. I think some players have been getting away with murder for a long time and it's difficult for supporters. It's not just one or two, I think there are four or five that could be counted.
It looks like some home truths will be delivered at Stoke this summer. The club could still have a say in the relegation race. Should Swansea and Southampton draw tonight, the last two spots will come down to next weekend. With Stoke playing Swansea and Southampton playing Man City, a loss for both of those clubs and win for West Brom against Cyrstal Palace would secure an unlikely survival for Darren Moore's side.
