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
Under Schumacher, Stoke had already secured two wins from their first five Championship games.
Their triumphs against Plymouth Argyle and Coventry City gave them six points from those five games. However, following a 1-0 loss to Oxford United on Saturday, the Potters’ administration decided to fire Schumacher.
As a result, the Staffordshire search is currently underway to find a new manager.
Elek blames the Coates family, who have been associated with the team for decades until taking back ownership in 2006; this will be Stoke’s eighth manager since 2018.
The turnover at the bet365 Stadium is continuing at a rapid pace. The co-host of the program then likened the family to Bristol City’s Lansdowns, pointing out that both teams usually finish in the middle of the Championship table.
Elek stated, “It’s interesting in terms of the Coates in terms of their business savvy, which is undeniable,” on the Not The Top 20 Podcast.
“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 | |
|---|---|
| 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
After spending ten years in the Premier League, Stoke returned to the second division, but by the end of the season, they had established themselves as a permanent fixture in the lower half of the midtable.
In the six seasons prior, the Potters have placed between 14th and 17th. Their most recent campaign saw them finish just five spots above the relegation zone, which was a record low. Bristol City’s journey has been quite similar.
After losing to Hull City in the playoff final in 2008 and barely missing out on promotion to the Premier League, the team experienced a string of unremarkable results and a two-year stint 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.
