Is it deja vu for Mark Hughes?
When Tony Pullis left the Britannia stadium after seven great years many Potters fans expected the great work to carry on with the new Manager; but every Manager is different.
The Stoke City board gave the job to Mark Hughes which surprised many in football considering his recent managerial record.
The Welshman started his career as a football boss in charge of his national side, Wales. With a limited squad to choose from he picked up some great wins but when the Blackburn Rovers job came up he took over at Ewood Park; and used the word 'ambitious' as a reason for taking over and it wouldn't be the last club he said it about.
Like any young Manager Hughes wanted to do well and prove himself. He did very well at Rovers but as soon as the Manchester City hot seat became available he was off; the team from the blue side of the city were a club on the up.
Many felt he wasn't given a fair crack of the whip and he was shown the door once Roberto Mancini was on the scene.
Fulham was his next port of call and again he did well enough but his reasons for leaving Craven Cottage; 'no ambition'.
He crossed over the borough to Queens Park Rangers; another club with money.
He was allowed to buy a new team but it was a disaster; in his second season he was shown the door.
His position in his present job isn't great but at least he hasn't gone out and spent millions; he still has most of the squad his fellow Welshman left him.
If you look at his record his career as a Gaffer started off well; at some clubs he spent a lot of money and yet nothing to show for it.
Hughes worked under one of the best football Managers of all time, Sir Alex Ferguson. If he learnt anything from him it's hard to figure out what!
To be a great football Manager you need to be on the ball every minute of everyday: so why does he turn his mobile phone off at half past five in the evening?
If a player has a problem about something he wants to talk to the boss but if his phone is off then what?
Footballers live in another world than us 'ordinary' people and the Manager is like a second Dad; look at Beckham and Ferguson.
The Stoke boss needs to know that his team need him all the time; not just nine to five!
I will be surprised if they pull away from the relegation zone; the team spirit and fight Pullis instilled in the side isn't the same as it was.
If a Manager loses the dressing room for any reason it's like sailing on the Titanic and we all know what happened then.
Mark Hughes admitted the wind played a huge part in Stoke's 1-1 draw with Southampton at the Britannia Stadium.
The wind played a part in both goals, especially Asmir Begovic's opener after just 13 seconds, when the Stoke goalkeeper's long kick from his own box took one bounce and flew in over Artur Boruc's head.
Jay Rodriguez's downward header three minutes before the break then looped over Begovic for the equaliser as the two sides shared the spoils.
https://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/9005541/?
The goal that went past Southampton goalkeeper Boruc was a sheer fluke and you sometimes need that in football. The goal was scored by the Potters keeper from a long kick out; it also makes the Stoke keeper joint top scorer at the club this season. Tony Pullis did a superb job in the seven years he managed the club; my fear is all the work he put in may be undone by a Manager who wants an easy life and doesn't seem that bothered what happens.
Written by Paul Moore, a football fan.