EFL pundit George Elek believes there are a lot of similarities between Stoke City and Bristol City at this moment in time, and their approach in the boardroom may be holding them back on the pitch.
Speaking on his Not The Top 20 Podcast, Elek was making the claim after reacting to the news that Stoke had axed Steven Schumacher after just nine months in charge.
The former Plymouth Argyle boss had overseen just 29 Championship games at the bet365 Stadium, earning eleven victories while succumbing to defeat 12 times.
But it is the decisions made behind the scenes that alerted the podcaster to the similarities between the Robin and the Potters, with the Coates family and the Lansdowns said to have a similar approach to managerial appointments
George Elek makes Stoke City, Bristol City comparison after Steven Schumacher dismissal
Stoke had won two of their opening five matches of the Championship season under Schumacher, with victories against Coventry City and Plymouth Argyle seeing them get six points on the board from their first five outings.
But a 1-0 reverse at Oxford United on Saturday saw the Potters’ hierarchy wield the axe in Schumacher’s direction, with the search now on to find a replacement in the dugout in Staffordshire.
The new appointment will be Stoke’s seventh different manager since 2018, with the revolving doors continuing apace at the bet365 Stadium, with Elek pointing the finger at the Coates family, who have been involved with the club for decades, before resuming ownership in 2006.
In doing so, the podcast co-host compared the family to the Lansdowns at Bristol City, with both sides consistently finding themselves in a mid table Championship position come the end of the season.
Speaking on the Not The Top 20 Podcast, Elek said: “It’s interesting in terms of the Coates in terms of their business savvy, which is undoubtable.
“But there are parallels with Bristol City, I would say, in terms of the Lansdowns, who have quite obviously made a lot of money through being smart business people.
“But I would also say they are perennial mid table, perennial under achievers, managers coming and going, basically being unable to find a system that works.
| Steven Schumacher Stoke City Championship Record (TransferMarkt) | |
|---|---|
| Games Played | 29 |
| Wins | 11 |
| Draws | 6 |
| Losses | 12 |
| Points | 39 |
“There are similarities there, and that’s where part of my discourse with disgruntled Birmingham fans, with my take on the Jay Stansfield transfer, and the constant referral to Tom Wagner being an incredibly shrewd businessman, as if that is the be all and end all.
“Actually, you can be smart and very good at business and investments and everything else, but that doesn’t really transfer into on-pitch success, and that’s what is happening here.”
Bristol City, Stoke City season comparisons
Since dropping back down into the second tier following their decade-long spell in the Premier League, Stoke have made the lower half of mid table their regular spot come the end of the season.
The Potters have finished between 14th and 17th in each of the previous six seasons, with their previous campaign being their lowest finish of the lot, as they finished just five places above the relegation zone.
It has been much a similar story for Bristol City, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Premier League back in 2008 after losing to Hull City in the playoff final, before a series of run of the mill finishes, as well as a two-year dalliance in League One.
While the Robins’ finishes have been a bit more erratic in their nine consecutive Championship seasons, a high of eighth and a low of 19th have seen them consistently stay in the second tier, but fail to kick on towards the next level.
As Elek says, decision-making is key in football, and while the Lansdowns [Steve, pictured] and Coates’ may be top businessman away from the game, they seem to be lacking that Midas touch in getting it all to click on the pitch to bring them success.
