The Demise of Stoke, Southend’s Saviour and the Bury Saga Continues – Talk the Football
- Sam Greasley-Machin
- Oct 26, 2019
- 4 min read
Stoke’s mascots, credit WikiCommons (Ronnie Macdonald)
The Bury saga is the news taking the headlines this week with the pure failures of the EFL beginning to gain more exposure and a hint at the clubs future plans. Elsewhere Sol Campbell became the manager of Southend despite initially looking like Henrik Larsson would take the role, the former Arsenal star has a mammoth task on his hands. We also take an extensive look at how the mighty have fallen in Stoke as their demise continues despite a promising victory over Fulham last weekend. All of this to come in this weeks Talk the Football League column.
Statement from Bury Football Club – https://t.co/wHdw3A5ufV — Bury Football Club (@buryfcofficial) 25 October 2019
The Bury saga continues
Absolute failure is the only way the EFL can describe how they’ve handled the whole Bury saga. This column has been very critical of the Football League and their pure incompetence to handle the situation better and now Bury have been handed the potential of a winding up order with the case currently adjourned. Naturally rumours began circulating online that the club would be no more, not just abolished from the Football League but wiped out entirely. The club categorically denied this in a statement and insist they “are not dead”, won’t be forming a phoenix club and that their stadium and training pitches are still in match ready condition.
The reality is life was portrayed to be over for Bury just because they were expelled from the EFL, but there is a wealth of football beyond League Two and that should not be shunned or looked down upon. It also offers a chance for the club to rebuild under the right people with the fans at heart and not some failed businessman trying to make a quick buck. After all football is about community which is often forgotten about with the globalisation of the sport.
“There is a lot left in the guys’ tank. I don’t think anyone is playing at their capacity yet” – Sol Campbell
Sol Campbell to save Southend
Southend played host to their new manager watching in the stands to a 7-1 defeat to Doncaster, who hadn’t won away all season. The task ahead of the new boss Sol Campbell is a massive one to say the least with the Essex side 22nd in the league table after an abysmal start under former manager Kevin Bond.
The first outing for the new Shrimpers manager isn’t an easy ask as they host second from top Ipswich, with Southend looking to build on their dismal five points so far and without two first team players through suspension. The former England international of course managed to save Macclesfield last season which was a big task in itself but that is dwarfed by the challenge at Roots Hall. In a season where Bolton started on minus 11 points Southend still look like they could finish below them, which is utterly ridiculous. Good luck Sol, you’ll really need it.
The fall of the Potters
24th October 2016 the same game week as this weekend but three years prior and Stoke were setting up to play Watford on the back of beating Chelsea on penalties in the Carabao cup, a season in which the Potters finished a commendable 13th. Now three years later Stoke set up to face Millwall second from the bottom in the Championship.
Stoke’s home ground, credit; WikiCommons (Ronnie Macdonald)
Relegated along with Swansea and West Brom in 2017/18 the three clubs remained in the Championship comfortably. The trio of clubs all brought in new managers in an attempt to see a return to the promised lands of the Premier League. Where West Brom and Swansea are now succeeding as they look to be promotion contenders, Stoke’s demise has only continued as they look to be relegation candidates. All three had appointed managers with great promise, Nathan Jones being Stokes choice and it looks like he will make a great manager just perhaps not with Stoke.
Playing host to Fulham at the weekend Stoke surprisingly came out victorious with a 2-0 win, but the winning feeling was short lived as Sheffield Wednesday inflicted their ninth defeat only days later. It’s hard to point exactly where its going wrong, but the squad is far from inspiring. They announced what was supposed to an impressive quintuple (five) signings at once, but in reality they were all free transfers all from sides that finished towards the bottom of the Championship, other than Stephen Ward, so if they weren’t good enough for the likes of last seasons QPR, Wigan and Millwall why should they suffice for Stoke?
The quality is of real concern and as good as Tom Ince and Scott Hogan once were in the Championship they are far from them players now, as goes for Jack Butland who appears miles away from the next England number linked with Liverpool only a few seasons ago. The truth is Stoke need a squad overhaul with an injection of quality and for now perhaps a change in tactics, sticking with Nathan Jones could have potential to be rewarding in the long term but in the short term could be very risky.
Why not check out last weeks column here looking at the managerial madness at Reading, over the top fines for Lee Bowyer, the punishment of Derby’s drunk drivers and meet the manager who has never paid for a player.. Don’t forget to follow Talk the Football League on Twitter to hear all the latest Football League news and join in on the discussions @TalktheFL.
By Sam Greasley-Machin
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