Favourites to become new Stoke manager as club sacks Narcis Pelach after 19 matches in charge

Stoke City boss Narcis Pelach told BBC Radio Stoke: “Leeds have a lot of quality. They have very fast players and can be dangerous, as they showed.

“I’m pleased with the effort. We connected with the fans in the stadium – but then they scored their second goal.

“We use a back four or a back five, depending on the opponents. I don’t think that is having a negative effect.

“We find ourselves now in a place with less confidence, which will test our dynamics. We have to put this to bed quickly.”

Pelach per Sky Sports: “We had the good moment at the beginning of the game, we wanted to start with energy. But then the game totally changes.

“We knew they were going to have the ball more than us. They have speed and when they break the press, they create chances. When you are deep, they have talent to manipulate the ball well.

“The team, the body language was good, but we were beaten by quality. We had to be resilient, to try to be consistent and not get bored of defending.

“Then you need to take advantage when you have your chances. We couldn’t score and then the game is more difficult.”

Ged Scott, of BBC Midlands Sport, said: Narcis Pelach made a belated appearance in the Stoke City pressroom late on Boxing Day night – although one of impressive bonhomie.

After being kept waiting by Leeds United boss Daniel Farke, who had just spoken at considerable length about his side’s comfortable victory, their next game, going top of the league, German values, coaching in general and how little activity he expected to have in the January transfer window, Pelach then entered.

The Catalan politely circuited the room, shaking hands with every member of the press corps present and wishing each one a Happy Christmas.

As it turned out, fatefully, these were to prove parting handshakes.

When Pelach finally sat down, it was to defend his constant changes of tactics, while at the same time stating his intention to sign more players in the January window.

But it only took a quick chat with Potters legend Mike Pejic, BBC Radio Stoke’s match summariser on the night, to get another slant on this latest Potters crisis.

Maybe judging any team after just being beaten by the new league leaders is a little unfair.

But possibly the last thing that Stoke need right now is yet another major influx of players, brought on by yet again changing their manager and being cast now as the Watford of the North.

As Pejic said, he already has good players. Maybe he just needed to play them in the right positions.

Fans reacted amid the favourites to become new Stoke manager as the club sacks Narcis Pelach after 19 matches in charge…

@1863TTKK: Walters next please… THEN JC THANKS 👍

@stokiesc: An absolutely ludicrous desicion from start to finish

@OrbsSCFC: That’s 3 managers in 2 seasons. Just didn’t expect those 2 seasons to be Autumn and Winter.

@CxdyWood: @Argyle See, it’s not that hard lads… #pafc

@joemorgan2000: Good luck to Peach wherever he goes. Was a breathe of fresh air when at Huddersfield Town with his set pieces. Hopefully this is a setback for him and he goes on to better things in the future.

@TimCotton81: Helicopter on the way to Plymouth yet?

@vis_unita: I am glad. But…… The same people who’ve made mistake after mistake still preside over the monumental mess that is our football club. There has to be some serious reflection and honesty to the fans about why things are going so badly wrong. You owe us that much at least.

@djmidge1: Part of me feels sorry for him because the job was too big for him, we need a manager not a coach and I feel the players have also let him down!!

@FTM1042: The problems at Stoke lie a lot deeper than the managers. Coates is the main problem at Stoke & Walter’s. Schumacher I felt was starting to turn results around but they sacked him and brought in what they felt was a young dynamic coach. Who do you want as your new gaffer?

@HornWendover: Already! If this was Watford, Lineker and co would all be having a go! How many head coaches have Stoke got through recently!

@DaveStubbs14: Another one we all wanted to work but he nullified his own players with the tactics. Walters needs to clear his desk too.

@LrdofGlencairn: The only consistent thing about the clubs mistakes over the past 8 years is the man who has autonomous control and no one to be accountable to, John Coates.

@benarowley: I honestly cannot believe we’ve hired and fired this guy all within the period that Wayne Rooney has been manager of Argyle (who are rock bottom). Words cannot describe my fury about the whole situation. Total incompetence.

@ChrisTheLewis:
1. Obliterate us
2. Lose every other match.
3. ???
4. Sacked.

@_harrymcbeth: Very real possibility that we play Stoke 3 times within 5 weeks and each time they’ll have had a new manager.

@connordavies612: Wonder how long we will carry on with Riza also tbh

@jasesherratt: All banter aside, what’s going on at Stoke. It was a catastrophic appointment in the first place. JW & JC have a lot to answer for in my opinion

@LTFC_Dave: It’s all Nathan Jones’ fault 😂😂😂

@EinarTornquist: Thank you. He was a nice guy, but that was one crazy appointment.

@liam_kelly3: John Coates to follow him out the door as well

I’d go for Tony Mowbray in my opinion. If he is 100% fit and healthy and has got the green light from his medics team then Stoke should go for Tony. A superb man manager who will instill fight & hard work in the team & did a fantastic job at my club Sunderland. pic.twitter.com/W4JeEejJkR

— STIDKTF18🔴⚪️🐈‍⬛ (@FTM1042) December 27, 2024