Stoke City sack their manager Michael O’Neill after six games into the season, picking up one win in the opening five league games.
The Potters ended the 2021/22 Championship season in a disappointing 14th place and have opened this campaign with just one win in their first five league matches.
They were also dumped out the Carabao Cup at the first round stage, losing on penalties to League One outfit Morecambe.
Story: Michael O’Neill sacked at Stoke City #SCFC https://t.co/WgKIX8Er0s
— Mike McGrath (@mcgrathmike) August 25, 2022
🔷 = Good
🔶 = BadMichael O’Neill’s time at Stoke according to xG.
A struggle to maintain consistent levels of improvement.#SCFC pic.twitter.com/JctQdfg8TO
— Sporting Life Football & Infogol (@InfogolApp) August 25, 2022
O’Neill was in charge at the club from November 2019 and has now become the first managerial casualty since the second tier season started, as reported by the Daily Telegraph.
Stoke fell to a 2-0 defeat at Millwall on the opening day of the season before beating Blackpool by the same scoreline.
They then lost 3-1 at Huddersfield Town, drew 2-2 with Middlesbrough and then suffered a 1-0 home defeat to Sunderland on Saturday that sealed O’Neill’s fate.
It left them 21st in the early season Championship standings, just a place above the relegation zone.
In addition, they lost 5-3 on penalties to Morecambe following a goalless draw in their Carabao Cup first round tie.
Sean Dyche, who was sacked by Burnley as they slid towards Premier League relegation in April, is expected to be a candidate to replace O’Neill according to reports. And the fans want him in. It would be a surprise if he does take the job considering many feel he’s holding out for a return to the Prem.
CLUB STATEMENT:
CURRENT FAVOURITES (via Sky Bet)
Alex Neil – 8/11
Sean Dyche – 5/2
Chris Wilder – 12/1
Dean Holden – 12/1
Daniel Farke – 14/1
Duncan Ferguson – 16/1
Joey Barton – 16/1
John Terry – 16/1
Mark Robins – 16/1
Fans gave their reaction as Stoke City sack their manager six games into the season…
@Duff_no7: Got to say, on the whole, MoN did a good job. He came into an absolute shit show and not only saved the club from the abyss of L1, he also got rid of the wankers and hangers that had blighted the squad for years. His time was up though, results in last 12 months showed this #SCFC
@souttarSzN: Has to be dyche
@d_dean90: I don’t trust the board to make the right managerial appointment! We’ll go from Plan A to Plan Z real quick! #SCFC
@pettini24: Deserves credit for getting us out of the shit but had to go. Very odd timing unless a replacement is lined up already #scfc
@STOKEDTR: Shame but right decision.. he saved us from relegation 3 years ago.. I thank him for that
@Cotterillnath11: It is the right decision, But why give a manager a full pre season and 6 games. He’s got in a squad of players to suit his system and even appointed his own coaching staff. Strange timing. He’s done his bit and it’s time to move on. Let’s make an inspiring appointment now. #scfc
@ayres_dan: Incredibly excited to see what a capable manager can do with this squad, onwards & upwards! #SCFC
@J0sh687: Think this is the right decision but will always appreciate what he did when he first came in
@Bickstoke: He’s worked wonders getting rid of so many players his predecessors couldn’t. Stabilised is financially and built a team that the fans can get behind. Unfortunately results and performances recently have slipped so it’s not a big surprise (although doing it so soon is)
@Banksy1Art1: Thanks Michael for everything. Good luck for the future boss 🤝
@LouisEccleston7: Looking back I think MON deserves credit for his off the pitch rebuild of Stoke City & keeping us in the Championship in 19/20. Lost his way towards the end with the back 5, shame really but the next appointment needs to be spot on for us. #SCFC
@proctor_dre: Make sure it’s bloody interim as well
@dompisciotto: Right decision? Yes. Timing though? It just further shows the board haven’t got a clue. Why not let him go at the end of last season, manager-less after 6 games just shows the abysmal planning. New boss could have had a full pre-season and transfer window, they’ve now got days.
@m_kirby95: Please tell me there’s a plan in place to replace MoN. Previous sackings haven’t had a contingency plan, leading to the wrong appointment. #SCFC
@DanDeavall: Genuinely gutted, really wanted it to work out for him and thought it would after the last few disasters of managers we’ve had. Did a great job in his first season with us but results have not been good enough given the squad we had.
@StokeTom__: Thanks for keeping us up, just turned a bit sour towards the end
@BrynShurgold; O’Neill initially did a good job and I’m grateful to him for clearing out a lot of the deadwood that shouldn’t be ignored. That said results and performances were well below par and change needed to happen. Glad the board have acted swiftly
@tsproston: Unbelievable. Less than a week from the end of the transfer window. O’Neill has his squad in place. What a time to make a change. #scfc
@AnalysisBCFC: Job for Holden? 🤣 I honestly think he did quite well for us with a the most ridiculous injury list you will ever see
@jabbotts11: Sean Dyke is the only man I want to take Stoke . #SCFC #StokeOnTrent
This is what MON brought to us when he first came in. He’s sold 50 odd players, balanced the books and stabilised the club from relegation. But with the players we have, we should be doing better than where we are. If it’s his time, thank you MON. #UTP #SCFC #stokecity pic.twitter.com/lcwJ88Mr7A
— Portuguese Pulis Pod 🎙 (@PortugueseTPpod) August 25, 2022
Only one man for the job pic.twitter.com/uyFTyT5Kd9
— Josh (@joshpearson180) August 25, 2022
DYCHE BALL pic.twitter.com/Y06KoJLNmn
— Luke Furnival (@LukeJFurnival) August 25, 2022
You must be logged in to post a comment Login