O’neill deserves praise for putting us back on track
MICHAEL O’neill celebrated two years as Stoke City manager this week - and you have to say what a job he has done. When he walked in the door back in November 2019, Stoke were rock-bottom of the Championship under Nathan Jones.
O’neill must have wondered what was awaiting him as he stepped back into the club game from the international scene.
Winning that first game away at Barnsley was a big thing because as a manager you want that first victory under your belt as soon as possible.
He backed that up, but then it was a bit of a rollercoaster at times.
But he managed 14 wins, six draws and 11 defeats before the end of the season to leave the Potters in 15th in the table.
And I’m sure when he first took charge, he’d have snapped your hand off for that finishing position.
Last season was mid-table again, but the signs were there of the progress being made under him.
We were eighth after 15 games and then dropped off, having a poor January, February and March and a very poor April.
After 15 games this season we had 22 points, but we’re now up to fifth after those back-to-back 1-0 away wins at Blackpool and Luton.
I said at the start of the season that the aim should be to finish in the top six, the play-off places.
And those two away wins have put us right in the thick of things when we resume after the international break.
The first match back is at home against Peterborough and gives us the chance to make it three successive wins for the first time since we dropped out of the Premier League.
We have to take these opportunities, but you have to earn the right to pick up points, they are not just handed to you.
That’s why the wins at Blackpool and Luton were so impressive.
You can’t always play the way you want to. You sometimes have to adapt and the way O’neill, his coaching staff and players did deserves praise.
There have been ups and downs for O’neill since he joined the club, but he’s now put us on a much firmer footing with plenty of players departing and new players coming in to fit his style.
You have to say that he deserves plenty of plaudits for the work he has carried out.
Long may it continue, but we know that the Championship is a scramble and anything can happen.
One of the issues which has cropped up for the manager in the international break is the make-up of his defence.
Harry Souttar has picked up what looks like a serious knee injury playing for Australia - and O’neill has to come up an answer.
Will he delve into the January sales? Who knows? But one thing I have been crying out for is the return of Danny Batth.
He did come back for the away games and we’ve seen the
results, and his impact is going to be even more significant now Souttar looks like he’s out for a while.
Batth is a defender. Defending is his priority, not necessarily playing out from the back.
And he has the experience as well - let’s not forget he helped Wolves to win promotion to the Premier League.
O’neill has some decent options at the back with Leo Ostigard, Baath, Ben Wilmot and James Chester, while Will Forrester, an up-and-coming centre-half, is gaining experience on loan at Mansfield.
But make no mistake about it, Souttar’s absence is a big blow. He’s irreplaceable in defence.
It just makes me wonder whether he should have played as much as he has this season.
Harry had Premier League scouts watching him closely, but now Stoke must find a solution at the back.
I see chief executive Tony Scholes will be leaving the club to take up a Premier League role in the new year.
My view on the development? Perhaps a call should be made to Tony Pulis, Mark Hughes and Gary Rowett for their comments!