“We’ve tried everything” – Stoke City fan pundit talks potential Alex Neil replacements

This Stoke City supporter is skeptical about the prospect of attracting a competent manager to address the ongoing challenges at the club. The recent dismissal of Alex Neil, the fourth manager in five years, has left the team once again in need of a new leader. Neil’s departure followed a 15-month tenure, culminating in a decisive 1-0 home loss to Sheffield Wednesday.

Despite being backed with 19 new signings in recent months, Neil struggled to achieve cohesion among the players, resulting in a win record of only 33.33%. The fan pundit, Ben Rowley, expressed uncertainty about identifying an ideal replacement due to the variety of managers who have attempted the role since 2018. The club has experimented with experienced managers, those with fresh ideas, and even someone with Championship promotion experience, all without success.

Rowley emphasized the critical nature of the upcoming managerial appointment, acknowledging the immediate risk of relegation while expressing concerns about the club’s long-term future. He suggested that the recurring failure might be attributed to the club’s setup and tools provided to managers. Despite having had capable managers in the past six years, none have succeeded, leaving Rowley unsure about the club’s direction and who would be willing to take on the risk.

While early links to potential replacements included Dean Smith and Graham Potter, both seem unlikely candidates. Another former player, John Eustace, who recently left Birmingham City, is reportedly interested in the position. However, the article suggests that Stoke City has not extensively explored the option of recruiting a manager from overseas, which is becoming a trend in modern football. The article speculates that given Stoke’s recruitment of foreign players in the summer, a younger foreign coach could potentially bring a fresh perspective and success to the team compared to domestic options.